Idea on how to make DDP better

[GrumpyFan]

Here's an idea I came up with to enhance and add flexibility to the Disney Dining Plan. I call it, (without any legal claim), the Disney Dining Your Way Plan. Basically, it would be a credit system where all snacks, drinks, meals, etc. could be pre-purchased using x number of credits. Call them Disney Dining Credits, and make the plan available only for resort guests and tied into their Key to the World resort key. They would be available for use at most restaurants on-property like the DDP.

They could sell the "Dining credits" for somewhere between $3-4. For example, if it were $3.50 for a credit,

- Snacks or drinks would require 1 credit, equivalent $3.50
- Counter Svc, 2 credits, equivalent $7.00
- Table Svc Entree, 4 credits, equivalent $14.00
- Table Svc Appetizer, 1 or more credits
- Table Svc Desert, 1 or more credits
- Dinner Buffets 8 credits, equivalent $28.00
- Deluxe table Svc 10 (or more) credits, equivalent $35.00

Child meals and credits could be structured very similar using a lesser priced Child credit.

The advantage of the plan, would be a slight discount on meals. Another advantage would be the flexibility to spend your credits however you saw fit. For those who didn’t want a lot of TS meals, they could just buy as many credits needed for CS and/or snacks. However, the obvious disadvantage is that it might require a bit more planning on the part of the guest on how and where to spend their credits.

Any restaurant (even Deluxe or Buffets) could offer meals or options, that cost more/less than the "standard" for that class of restaurant.

For example,
A Table Service restaurant might offer:
- Special of the day" that costs 5 dining credits
- They could have 1 or 2 smaller portioned meals, and only charge 3 credits for them.
- Another option might be a salad at a cost of 2 or 3 credits.
- They could sell mixed drinks at a cost of 1 or more credits

A Counter Service Restaurant might offer:
- A small salad for 1 credit
- A half-sized portion of a regular/combo meal for 1 credit
- A “plus-sized” portion of a regular/combo for 3 credits

To make the plan easier to use/understand, they could add a dining credit "wizard" to help guests figure out how many they would need for their trip.

They could also offer packages with dining credits included. I figure about 8 credits per day, per person, would be close to the equivalent of the free DDP promotions they've run. 8 or 9 credits per day would work out into 1-Snack(1 credit), 1-Counter Svc(2), 1-Table Svc(4), plus an appetizer(1 or 2), or a dessert (1 or 2). Of course, they could offer packages with fewer credits for those who don't desire that many Table Service meals.

Other packages might include:
- half price credits or 2 for 1
- 1 free child credit for each adult credit purchased
- Include x number of credits for free
- Include x number of credits for each day purchased
- Sell/Include them with the park tickets for resort and even non-resort guests

Make the dining credits available for (discounted?) purchase for Annual Passholders and DVC members.

To add more value for Disney, and perhaps even the guest, they could set the credits to expire at the end of your trip, or like MYW tickets, for a fee, you could make them non-expiring. Also, guests should be able to buy more credits during their trip, if needed.

 

[Tricia1972]

I think that's a fantastic idea for Disney experts! Kudos to you for thinking outside of the box. I think if there were more free thinkers out there like you, Disney would have a plan that may work for more people.

However, I think your plan may be too involved for Disney novices. It took me a few days of explaining (and re-explaining) the DDP to my husband, my mom, my dad and my sister, before they finally 'got' what they could and couldn't order at each meal. They just had one credit to worry about, and didn't understand what they could get. One credit for this, two for that, and 8 for the other thing may cause my family's heads to implode.

Also difficult would be knowing how many credits you will need before you check into your hotel (for DVC), or when you book your package (for everyone else). I would think that the slight cost savings for the average person would not 'even out' to the amount of headache they had to figuring out how many to order for their group.

 

[Lewisc]

The present plan works, and is popular, because it's simple.

Your plan makes theoretical sense but couldn't be marketed.

It would make much more sense to simply charge $40/night and allow the guest to order $50 worth of food, in whatever combination they want.

 

[GrumpyFan]

The present plan works, and is popular, because it's simple.

It works to a degree. I've heard complaints that the current plan offers too much food for the TS. I've heard others that it would be nice if it had another CS for each day for breakfast. I even heard a comment about how maybe just a 2 CS package + snacks might be a good offering.

Your plan makes theoretical sense but couldn't be marketed.

Disagree on the marketing. They market and sell the Magic Your Way tickets, even though they can be somewhat confusing to the unitiated. I think the biggest market for this would be the seasoned Disney park veterans, like us here. It could be marketed via packages, or the could have a dining credit "wizard" on the tickets/reservations system. For those of us who are veterans though, and know how to find all the restaurant info and prices and whatnot, we would be the ones who would get the most from it.

It would make much more sense to simply charge $40/night and allow the guest to order $50 worth of food, in whatever combination they want.

Hmm, maybe so, like a voucher program, kind of like what Disneyland offers. But, I like this idea because of it's flexibility, and the possibility of being able to make it non-expiring. But, I guess you could do the same with vouchers.

 

[Nancyg56]

I like the DDP because it is easy to understand and I can keep track of my family's credits. While your plan may make sense financially I would pass because the work involved outweighs any savings.

 

[THERESA522]

What if Disney just put a cost on each CS and TS and snack credit and you could buy as many as you wanted?

For example:
1 CS = $10
1 TS = $25
1 Snack = $3

Isn't this a simple plan? They could still charge 2 TS's where needed, but you'd also have the flexibility of buying extras if needed. Disney could put a minimum on how many you'd have to buy, but no cap on it. It wouldn't be confusing for those who are used to the old plans, and I think it's just as easy to learn for the newbies.

To me, that would be the best plan!

 

[wezee]

Interesting, but complicated. We actually save quite a bit of $$ by using the DDP. If I understand your math ( not knowing if appetizers or deserts would be included) the savings seems minimal at best. I would probably opt out of a plan like this.

 

[noahdove]

I really like your plan Who can you send it off to??

 

[bicker]

What if Disney just put a cost on each CS and TS and snack credit and you could buy as many as you wanted?

The problem with that approach is that the Dining Plan is priced based on factoring in a certain amount of use above-and-beyond what the typical patron is forecast to incur in the absence of the Dining Plan, as well as based on factoring in a certain amount of non-use. So if people could just "buy as much as they wanted" the prices would be almost exactly $1 for $1. Where the benefit of the Dining Plan to the guest comes from is when the guest gives something extra to Disney (i.e., the commitment to eat most of their meals at participating restaurants, for example).

For example:
1 CS = $10
1 TS = $25
1 Snack = $3

Yeah, that's no where near what the numbers would be. The TS credits would be closer to $35, and the snacks would be closer to $4.

 

[THERESA522]

Yeah, that's no where near what the numbers would be. The TS credits would be closer to $35, and the snacks would be closer to $4.

I was just trying to base figures on what the dining plan now costs (it's $38/day now, isn't it?).

I think I would just like to add a few "extras" to the existing plan without having to buy the deluxe plan. Obviously you can pay OOP for, say, a character breakfast, but I'm just one of those people who like to have it all paid for before I go. And with 2 small kids that eat 3 meals a day, I'd LOVE to have a few more options.

 

[bicker]

Yup, understood, but if you add more value to the plan (by adding more flexibility) then the price would surely go up.

 

[Lewisc]

Yup, understood, but if you add more value to the plan (by adding more flexibility) then the price would surely go up.

I think the plan suggested by the OP would be like some of the older plans, nothing more then a discount in exchange for pre-paying and making a "quantity purchase". Guests would have to purchase a minimum dollar amount per night. Something like $40 which would give the guest $50 in spend for food. Guests might be allowed to purchase more then the minimum, probably before check in.

The current plan is popular because guests are purchasing meals. 2007 and earlier the guest has no out of pocket expense and in 2008 the guest knows the only expense is gratuity.

 

[GrumpyFan]

I think the plan suggested by the OP would be like some of the older plans, nothing more then a discount in exchange for pre-paying and making a "quantity purchase". Guests would have to purchase a minimum dollar amount per night. Something like $40 which would give the guest $50 in spend for food. Guests might be allowed to purchase more then the minimum, probably before check in.

Not sure I follow the logic or reasoning here. I wouldn't propose any minimum amount whatsoever. Credits would be available for purchase at the time of booking the reservations, or at anytime prior to and during your stay. Like DDP, they would only be available for resort guests.

The idea (in basic form or if offered in a package) could work very similar to the current DDP. However, the difference is that instead of 3 set meal options a day (Snack, CS, TS) for $37.99, you get the eqivalent credits which can be broken down the same way, or however you wish. So, if they were to offer them in a package, you wouldn't necessarily be restricted to having a snack, CS and TS each day. If you had the eqivalent number of credits to the 2008 DDP, it would be 6 credits. So, using the example above where a CS might cost 2 credits, you could use those 6 credits to have 3 CS meals in a day.

The credits themselves could sell for $3-5 each. Snacks and meals throughout WDW could be priced just slightly higher than what a credit or combined credits might cost. So, guests using credits would get a slight discount than those paying by cash or other means. For example, if credits cost $4.00, and most snacks were available for $4.50, and could be purchased using a credit, the savings would be .50. Obviously, for snacks, there would be some that were priced less than what a credit cost might be, in which case the guest could pay OOP or they could choose to use a credit at a loss. CS & TS restaurants could have similar pricing. Meals could be priced at 2,3,4,5 or more credits. However, a CS restaurant's meals would for the most part be priced around 2 credits, most TS meals would be priced around 4 credits. Appetizers, Desserts and mixed drinks would be 1 or 2 credits, depending.

 

[Markstudy]

Funny thing.... I don't think Disney is trying to make the dining plan better

Disney only has so many seats. DDP was too popular in 2007 and Disney needs to find a way to make the plan less popular and more profitable.

I just wonder if Disney's goal (fewer people paying more) is the same as our goal?- A plan with great flexablity that is a great deal for every tourist.

The main factor will always be- not enough resturants at disney for everyone in the parks to have a table service meal

 

[Tricia1972]

I still think that while your plan would technically work, there are a few big drawbacks.

*Your plan is no less constricting than the current DDP. You still need to know where you are going to eat prior to arriving. Your plan is a bit more constricting because now you need to know what you are going to eat once you get there.

*It would require more research on the part of the guest to know what to eat and where. I love planning for Disney, but quite frankly it's a lot of time and a lot of work. If I had to figure menus before I went (menus I had to stick to) my head might explode. I know some love figuring our their menus ahead of time, but they're the minority in sheer numbers of people coming to Disney.

*The DDP, as imperfect as it is, is relatively simple. Guests purchase it largely because of the simplicity.

*It'd be fairly difficult to market a complex plan.

 

[GrumpyFan]

I still think that while your plan would technically work, there are a few big drawbacks.

*Your plan is no less constricting than the current DDP. You still need to know where you are going to eat prior to arriving. Your plan is a bit more constricting because now you need to know what you are going to eat once you get there.

*It would require more research on the part of the guest to know what to eat and where. I love planning for Disney, but quite frankly it's a lot of time and a lot of work. If I had to figure menus before I went (menus I had to stick to) my head might explode. I know some love figuring our their menus ahead of time, but they're the minority in sheer numbers of people coming to Disney.

I don't see where my idea is any more complex than the current DDP. If anything, I see it as easier because every CS restaurant would have mostly 2 credit meals, every TS would be guaranteed to have mostly 4 credit meals, provided of course those restaurants allow the credits to be used. There would probably be a few of the higher end restaurants that start their credits higher, like 6, but those would most likely be the ones that currently require 2 TS on DDP. So, guests could conceivably walk up to any CS or TS restaurant and order using their credits without having done any research whatsoever.

You could still plan if you want to, (and it would still be beneficial) and make ADRs just like now, and it would be helpful to know which restaurants accept credits, but all of this is true for the current DDP. The difference might be in knowing exactly what meals cost more than the "standard" (2 or 4 credits) for that restaurant category.

 

[Tricia1972]

I think when you're using 10 (or more) or 1 (or more) credits, then you are needing to plan out what you're going to eat. You need to know how many credits to buy before you get there.

Also, when you say "or equivalent" are you saying that the value of the meal is "equivalent to $14". If you're using the definition as equal too then that's where you need to plan what you're going to eat. The Steak at LeCell is $28.99 and the Chicken is $19.99. You'd need to know what you are going to order before you buy credits.

In re-reading your plan just now I see that you may have meant to say "your cost". If that's the case your plan is a bit less confusing. Just the "or more's" could throw a person's planning. How would you know when an 'or more' would be in effect?

Like I originally said, my comments are no way an attack on you personally. I think more people should think outside of the box like you. It's way more productive to come up with possible solutions than just complain about what you have. It really is fantastic to think like that! I just think that your plan isn't perfect as it is right now and in order to fly would need to be simplified slightly.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Tricia, thanks for your comments, I'm not in the least offended. I know perfectly well that my idea is far from perfect, and I'm not bothered by the questions and comments about it.

I used "equivalent" as the estimated cost of what the credits might be.

I agree, the "or mores" could throw a person's planning, and might require more than the "standard" amount of credits per day as well as require more research. However, since the plan would allow purchasing more credits during your stay, you could always buy more while you're at WDW and add them on, if you were to use more than you planned. Or, you could simply adjust accordingly, and go without a snack or two, order a smaller credit meal next time, or pay out of pocket for something to compensate. It's really about the same as what you would do if you were on DDP and decided to do a 2 TS meal.

I tend to see a problem and immediately start thinking of a better solution. But, I know that many times my solution needs a lot of improvement before it's ready for the "real world". It's just fun to talk about it sometimes, even if it may never be picked up by Disney.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Thanks for having fun with this Grumpyfan. A little outside the box thinking is never out of place