I'd like to see a Customizable Dining Plan.

[dskib]

We just got back October 1st, and it was our first time using the dining plan for a 6 night stay.

I have to say that I LOVED the convenience of having the dining pre-paid so that I only needed to use my KTTW card, but I started to get a bit frustrated by how much time was spent dining instead of touring the parks!! I think next time, even though I won't be getting the same value, I may use the TS meals for a few character breakfasts so that every single day isn't suddenly interrupted with an hour / hour and a half dinner reservation.

I thought about getting the QSDP and just getting a few TS or Character breakfasts out of pocket, but the difference in price between the 2 dining plans is only $180 for the 3 of us for the whole week. One expensive TS meal would eat that right up

So what I decided is that Disney needs to offer a customizable dining plan Has this been suggested on the boards before?? Because I think it would be totally doable!! We would get to choose how many CS and TS meals we want instead of it being all or nothing. It would be added to the KTTW cards and used in exactly the same way.

What do you think??

Deb

 

[mcd2745]

We just got back October 1st, and it was our first time using the dining plan for a 6 night stay.

I have to say that I LOVED the convenience of having the dining pre-paid so that I only needed to use my KTTW card, but I started to get a bit frustrated by how much time was spent dining instead of touring the parks!! I think next time, even though I won't be getting the same value, I may use the TS meals for a few character breakfasts so that every single day isn't suddenly interrupted with an hour / hour and a half dinner reservation.

I thought about getting the QSDP and just getting a few TS or Character breakfasts out of pocket, but the difference in price between the 2 dining plans is only $180 for the 3 of us for the whole week. One expensive TS meal would eat that right up

So what I decided is that Disney needs to offer a customizable dining plan Has this been suggested on the boards before?? Because I think it would be totally doable!! We would get to choose how many CS and TS meals we want instead of it being all or nothing. It would be added to the KTTW cards and used in exactly the same way.

What do you think??

Deb

It's a pretty good idea and certainly seems do-able. They would have to exstablish a fixed price for each TS & CS meal you "pre-purchase".

I would love to see a plan that was in between the basic and deluxe plans with two TS per day, plus a sanck.

 

[jblrn2b]

Interesting thought. Like a punch card maybe? Never heard of this on the boards but I'm kind of a newbie.

This is kind of why we get the deluxe dining so that (along with stuffin our selves silly - and that we can't feed our 16yo on less that $70 a day) we can choose any 3 meals we want during the day.

We all like the interruption to go eat - especially the 16yo. Last trip in July he made me take pictures of the food so he could remember - lol. I've never done that before, although I know tons of posters do.

Hope your trip was fun.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

I wish there was a snack plan. We love the snacks!

 

[Pakey]

There is a customizable plan. It's called paying OOP. We are very happy with it.

 

[dskib]

There is a customizable plan. It's called paying OOP. We are very happy with it.

Thanks for that. However I added up all of our meals from our last trip and compared them to what we spent on the dining plan and we saved a TON by using the plan. I would just like it to be more flexible while saving money at the same time. For us, paying OOP is not a money saving and convenient alternative.

Deb

 

[Pakey]

Thanks for that. However I added up all of our meals from our last trip and compared them to what we spent on the dining plan and we saved a TON by using the plan. I would just like it to be more flexible while saving money at the same time. For us, paying OOP is not a money saving and convenient alternative.

Deb

But that flexibility would cost Disney money in managing the numerous combinations and that wouldn't save them money. I don't think they are interested in saving the consumers money.

 

[LilyWDW]

There is a customizable plan. It's called paying OOP. We are very happy with it.

That would have been my answer as well.

For some people the dining plan is just not the best deal. Nothing wrong with that. It's not meant to be the be all, end all of a Disney vacation. I would only use it if it was the only "deal" being offered for the time I am going (I am currently booked rack rate for next October and if the only deal I can get is "free dining" then I may as well), but I would never pay for it. It wouldn't be a deal for us because we don't eat the way it forces you to do.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

This strikes home for me tonight. After a few trips with the DDP, DH and the kids wanted to not do it this trip. The kids felt it took too much time and DH didn't like how high the tips were. I was fine with that but there were a couple meals they wanted and one we never did that I wanted to do before DD8 outgrew it. Well the cost of the upgrade is less then what we will be paying for the few meals so I keep thinking we should upgrade. BUT, we saved over $600 on our room and $300 on my grandparents & DD16's room when we added the free QSDP over the room only discount we had, so DH says just pay OOP for what we want and not worry about it. But now that we are 26 days out the thought is making me nervous, but we are going for 10 nights and don't want 10 sit downs. The meals we want to do are so high. So while it isn't likely to happen, I too would be interested.

 

[havoc315]

The problem is the wide variation in prices, especially of TS meals. Disney bases the price on people paying a wide variety of meals. At $46 per day (2011 pricing), they are counting on the fact that not every person is going to get a $40-50 table service meal per night. They are counting on the fact that many TS credits will be "wasted" on $20 meals.

If they offered a "customizable plan," where people could pre-pay $30 for each TS meal--- then Disney could lose tons of money, with people paying for all the $20 meals oop, and only using the credits for the more expensive meals.

Truthfully, at $46, they are really giving many diners a minimal discount. Making the best ways to customize simply paying oop. (or if you really like a significant dining experience, the dxdp can work).

 

[2Tiggies]

I thought about getting the QSDP and just getting a few TS or Character breakfasts out of pocket, but the difference in price between the 2 dining plans is only $180 for the 3 of us for the whole week. One expensive TS meal would eat that right up

We have done this twice now and it worked out perfectly for us. I could have saved a little overall by upgrading but my consideration was what we wanted. I didn't WANT all those TS meals, even if it could have meant more value on the grand scale of things. The value for me has to also encompass what works for us on our vacation. It's not all about the food and I don't like being tied down to to reservation every day as from time to time we switch parks around on our itinerary to suit.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it is customizable. You don't have to use your dining credits for a meal if you don't want to. You can choose what kind of plan you want, quick service or regular or deluxe, and even add on a wine option if your choose.

In my 12+trips to WDW I have only used the dining plan once. And that was because we were doing a lot of character meals, so it more than paid for itself. I plan on using it for the 2nd time this December, because getting the Free Dining package will once again be cheaper for us than each part purchased seperately.

But you do have to run the numbers, and see what makes the most sense for your family. The Dining Plan is not meant to work for all guests all of the time.

 

[mousebit]

I would love to see a plan that was in between the basic and deluxe plans with two TS per day, plus a sanck.

YES! That's my Disney Dream Dining Plan! For $56.99 (half the increase between basic and deluxe - but price would be negotiable) we could do one breakfast or early lunch (QS or TS), one non-signature TS dinner and a snack. Throw in a refillable mug and I've gone from a happy camper to an ecstatic one!

We don't care for QS every day. But the deluxe plan was just too much for us - as I would think it would be for most families.

Don't see why the "Dream" plan wouldn't be a money-maker for Disney and a crowd-pleaser for lots of guests.

 

[Sandisw]

I also think it would be nice if they offered the option of buying different plans for your stay.

For example, you would still be required to buy the plan for the entire length of stay but could mix and match between the plans.

For example, you could buy 3 days of the DDP and 3 days of the QSDP. They could then just load the correct amount of credits based on the plan.

I am lucky in that I am a DVC member and have been able to do a split plan by doing a split stay since we don't have to buy tickets to get the plan.

But, we realized this summer that having all the TS meals lumped together is not ideal so next summer, we may just go OOP.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I really don't see it working. As it is- Disney has lost $ on the dining plan... hence why they keep stripping various perks from the plan. They can't strip much more, so portion size (not that I need to eat more, but you get the point) and quality is what is starting to suffer at the 1 credit TS restaurants. They've also started offering free dining more than discounted rooms b/c they know which is the better money maker. Plus, cast members get confused about credits for anything beyond a TS meal. You often have to watch like a hawk just to make sure you don't lose CS credit when you're ordering an approved snack. Anything more complicated would be a nightmare.

 

[mcd2745]

I would love to see a plan that was in between the basic and deluxe plans with two TS per day, plus a sanck.

YES! That's my Disney Dream Dining Plan! For $56.99 (half the increase between basic and deluxe - but price would be negotiable) we could do one breakfast or early lunch (QS or TS), one non-signature TS dinner and a snack. Throw in a refillable mug and I've gone from a happy camper to an ecstatic one!

We don't care for QS every day. But the deluxe plan was just too much for us - as I would think it would be for most families.

Don't see why the "Dream" plan wouldn't be a money-maker for Disney and a crowd-pleaser for lots of guests.

I know it would be the ideal for my family. A nice TS breakfast (I'm a breakfast person 100% - I could eat breakfast foods all day), and then an early TS dinner with just a snack and/or perhaps a shared CS meal during the day would be perfect. The deluxe plan is entirely too much food unless we were eating at a lot of signatures to use up the credits - which we wouldn't do.

 

[princessbride6205]

The way they have the plan is probably as simple as they could get operationally (and there are still problems with guests and CMs not understanding everything).
I was thinking about a points system. Where a snack is 1 point, CS is 3 pts, TS is 6 pts, Signature is 12 pts. And you could chose the level you wanted - 10 pts/day, 15 pts/day, etc. That way you could get 7 snacks and a counter service, or a TS and 4 snacks, or one of each like the current plan.
Working within the current plan, I would like to see appetizer and dessert interchangeable on TS - or have dessert removed from all meals and get an extra snack credit or 2 each day. You end up paying tip on TS desserts you didn't really want, or not ordering the dessert at all.
I'd really like to try the plan, but I need to crunch the numbers to make sure it's a good value for us. I know we won't save much money based on how we like to eat, but if we can save a few bucks, we'll give it a whirl.

 

[triciari]

I also think it would be nice if they offered the option of buying different plans for your stay.

For example, you would still be required to buy the plan for the entire length of stay but could mix and match between the plans.

For example, you could buy 3 days of the DDP and 3 days of the QSDP. They could then just load the correct amount of credits based on the plan.

I am lucky in that I am a DVC member and have been able to do a split plan by doing a split stay since we don't have to buy tickets to get the plan.

But, we realized this summer that having all the TS meals lumped together is not ideal so next summer, we may just go OOP.

Disney Vacation Club (the timeshares) is rolling this out now. (Meaning that you can stay in the same resort and "split" your stay.) You just have to technically split your reservation into different groups of days and you can choose different dining plans, or none, for those groups. The big wow - you don't have to have everyone in your room on the dining plan!! (This is only for DVC members and guests, though!)

 

[TDC Nala]

The big wow - you don't have to have everyone in your room on the dining plan!!

Yes, you do, for each segment of the stay. You can add or remove people in different segments. However, you cannot have four people in your room on the same segment, and only three of them get the dining plan.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I like the idea, but If it happened, I would love to see it completely customizable. Like, we get to choose how many credits we want and if we want to include an appetizer or dessert or none.