I hate to say it , and I hope I'm wrong , but ...

[captain america 2003]

Thanks for the info Larryz but I think I'll leave my signature as is .

 

[Doug M]

When comparing the RD vs DDP you really should estimate your OOP costs for food not what Disney values the plan at. We would never eat nearly the food required to get full value out of the plan. Plus remember tips are not included. We usually have a lower food bill than the per meal cost of the plan, even including tip, the plan is pre tip.

 

[captain america 2003]

We've used the plan many times and understand its true value and how to maximize its benefit . So , for us it works and saves us more money than a room only discount . I understand that other families can't get full value for their family out of the plan so the room only discount works better for them and thus saves them more money in the end .

 

[GaryDis]

I hate to say it, but I hope the OP is right, because it will mean lighter crowd and easier ADRs for our trip. We're renting DVC points, so free dining doesn't help us.

And it is a gimmick.

 

[Saimaeve]

I would be perfectly fine if this happens! And I wouldn't be surprised. Especially with people booking their rooms in hopes of FD.

 

[captain america 2003]

OK , well you guys are forgetting that little by little we are all getting less but paying more .

 

[Saimaeve]

no one is making you go

 

[MamaMaleficent2016]

Thanks for the info Larryz but I think I'll leave my signature as is .

He meant other people can turn off signatures. In other words, I have chosen the no signature option, so I don't see your signature. He was offering that tip to the other poster. You keep on keeping on.

 

[captain america 2003]

We want to go but we don't like and don't think all these changes and charges are necessary or fair. We will deal with it as best we can but in the meantime we will continue to denounce them .

 

[UncleMike101]

I can see how all of the money grabs being enacted now would tend to thin the herd at the parks which would be to the advantage of those who either have the income to afford the new costs or who are such die hard Disneybots that they don't care what it costs.
However as I've stated before, people whom I know to be HARD CORE Disney addicts are planning on going to FL and spending their time at two places that they've never been to.
Daytona Beach, and Universal.
Disney's thinning of the herd may well result in the herd becoming so thin that it can't support the mega costs of running WDW.
Iger and his cronies are, IMO, completely out of touch with the realities of being an "average" American these days.

 

[DIS_MERI]

Rivers of Light has already begun accepting reservations for "a $pecial viewing area " for those who purchase the $pecial dinner package

To be accurate, they haven't begun offering this yet, it is just rumored. You could search, but could only find it on mobile, and aren't yet able to book it.

 

[DebbieB]

Four adults staying in one room can max out the benefit of "free" dining. Any less than that, it's probably cheaper to take the discount.

A value or moderate discount is typically 20%, even with 2 adults you will get more with free dining. Deluxe may be better with the discount.

I hate to say it, but I hope the OP is right, because it will mean lighter crowd and easier ADRs for our trip. We're renting DVC points, so free dining doesn't help us.

And it is a gimmick.

The only reason they will not have it is if room bookings are high. Which will not translate to lower crowds.

 

[gdrj]

You know when you get a song stuck in your head because someone mentions it..... well now as I try to read this thread all I can see is Captain America's signature and bouncing heads

Ahhhhhh

 

[5kidsmommy]

A value or moderate discount is typically 20%, even with 2 adults you will get more with free dining. Deluxe may be better with the discount.



The only reason they will not have it is if room bookings are high. Which will not translate to lower crowds.

If it doesn't come out though I wonder how many people would just cancel their trips? I always plan my trips at rack rate and stay at FW which rarely ever offers discounts so it's not a big deal to me but many people only go with the discounts, I wonder if they'd still be willing to go if they had to pay full rack rate. Disney makes it really easy to cancel trips.

 

[Shanti]

Whenever we were able to go and get the "free dining" pkg. we always found it cost us less than a room only discount . It really boils down to how well you use the dining plan and what resort you stay in .

I think it's also about the size of your party & type of resort. I usually go with my young son, so we don't pay too much for food for just two of us, & we don't have 3 sit-downs a day, so the 30% deluxe resort discount is a much better deal for us. If you've got five big people in a moderate room, then I suppose that free dining can really pay off.

 

[Sytrace]

I am going to be thinking about the Muppet Vision 3D character "jumping on people's heads" all night now because of Captain America's sig line.

 

[Tomh]

The price increases, while not something I am particularly happy about, are not a deal breaker. The bit that bothers me is that on top of all these price increases, they are cutting service / entertainment. You are not only paying more, but at the same time, getting less.

 

[Shanti]

It can be a good deal for families. Say you have 2 parents and 2 kids 10 or over. The quick service plan would be worth $176, the regular dining plan $254 per night. You're are not going to get those kind of discounts on a value or moderate. An All Star standard room is $111 to $127 a night in September, a 20% discount is only around $22. A moderate resort runs $206-$215, a 20% discount would be worth around $40. Deluxes are a little harder to figure. A Poly standard room is $529 to $582, a 35% AP discount would be around $200.

How are you getting a $254 value for the deluxe dining plan for 2 adults 2 kids? In my (recent) experience, the food doesn't cost that much even at MK.

 

[Shanti]

Thanks for the info Larryz but I think I'll leave my signature as is .

Your signature rocks.

 

[Ellwood970]

The first time I went was March 1972 I thought it was overrated then, but for 3.75 a good bargain, and way overrated now. But there are no other parks that compare, then or now, except the competition is catching up quickly now only because Disney is lowering their standards.