Ideas for changes to the 2008 Dining Plan

[apostolic4life]

Personally, I am all for the app/dessert option. And I dont see the problem with splitting. Yes, I know most apps cost more than most desserts, but that little price difference shouldnt matter. I still am against getting rid of desserts.
As for the idea of more CS and less TS, I am sure we could find a lot of people to argue for and against that. It is up to each family to decide what fits them. Maybe Disney needs to come up with a "build a package" dining plan.......

Most of the time it is not a "little" price difference. The cost of making an entire portion of dessert is literally 70-80% cheaper than most appetizers. This is one reason desserts are offered as compensation for a bad experience in so many restaurants (inside and outside of WDW). Splitting the appetizers and desserts also would eliminate the benefit of quicker table turnover which was gained by eliminating the appetizer. The idea of getting a choice of appetizer or dessert will never happen because of cost and table turnover times. Sure, you can buy an appetizer and stay at the table, but when you do this they are making more money......which is what WDW is actually all about from a corporate standpoint.

 

[Silver Queen]

Interesting thread...we're trying the meal plan for the first time in April. We're disappointed with the changes but figure that we should just about break even and have the convenience of having it paid for as well as the option to get a more expensive entree without feeling guilty. We do like to have a salad with our dinner so we'll miss the appetizer option. We normally don't have dessert that often but will enjoy at least trying the desserts on the menu. As far as gratuity is concerned we almost always tip more than 18% so no savings there. All in all we would have preferred it if they had just raised the price of last year's plan.

 

[WishesQueen]

Well, since this is a year of a million dreams again!! Maybe they will grant our dream come true!!!

 

[bicker]

Maybe it's a little like the DISboards Tag Fairy: Asking for it is the only way to ensure you won't get it!

 

[kamgen]

I understand the cost difference in producing the apps vs dessert, however I can get an app for 5-8 dollars and a dessert for 5-8 dollars.....so that was my comparison. All businesses, from a corporate standpoint, are there to make money and if we act like Disney is different, then we aren't as smart as we think we are here on the DIS! LOL!!!!
Seriously though, a choice would be nice, but I dont see it happening either. All I would like to see is go back to the way it was and just raise the price.....if people dont want it, they dont have to get it. But I dont forsee it happening.....

 

[apostolic4life]

Maybe it's a little like the DISboards Tag Fairy: Asking for it is the only way to ensure you won't get it!

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

I would like to have a choice between appy and dessert....

cuz, if you think about it - DH can order an appy, and I can order a dessert - and we could enjoy both!!!!

 

[sandym718]

I would like to have a choice between appy and dessert....

cuz, if you think about it - DH can order an appy, and I can order a dessert - and we could enjoy both!!!!

And that's exactly why it's highly unlikely they'd offer the choice!! you wouldn't be paying OOP for either, yet you'd be extending your table time. Part of the reason for the change was to have shorter dine times (higher table turnover=more $$$ for Disney) OR for people to buy the appetizer OOP, thus offsetting the longer dine time.

 

[hammie59]

My first choice (other than going back to the old plan) is to add the appetizer back and drop the tip.

Second choice is still to still drop the tip, but give choice of appetizer OR dessert. Not everyone one eats dessert after a full meal.

I, for one, was really looking forward to that "free appy" since we don't get them very often when we go out. I'm not huge on dessert.

This is me when I found out they changed it

 

[yankeepenny]

I would fogo the app and dessert, include the tip and give 1 snack credit extra per day

 

[apostolic4life]

I would fogo the app and dessert, include the tip and give 1 snack credit extra per day

This sounds like an option that is very realistic. I would be happy with this option too. WDW would gain better table turnover and make more money since the snack credit is often used on items of little cost to Disney. Great contribution yankeepenny!!!! Way to use your noggin.

 

[bicker]

My first choice (other than going back to the old plan) is to add the appetizer back and drop the tip. Second choice is still to still drop the tip, but give choice of appetizer OR dessert. Not everyone one eats dessert after a full meal.

I'm surprised to see so many people invite changes that would be accompanied by a hefty price increase. Did the economy get better while I wasn't looking?

 

[hammie59]

I'm surprised to see so many people invite changes that would be accompanied by a hefty price increase. Did the economy get better while I wasn't looking?

Well, my reasoning for this is because Disney says that having to cover the tips has made them lose money. So that's my idea of compromise I guess. We pay the darn tip and they give us some food back!
My husband thinks the whole thing is a crock and thinks they make enough money as it is. He wants me to cancel the dining, but I can't bare to do it.

 

[party_of_five]

I wouldn't mind paying more for the plan and having tip included again.

Why can't Disney give us the option they are giving us now of deciding which tip amount we leave (15% 18% 20%) but having it included in the plan. That way the server would still work for a tip but we wouldn't have to worry about dealing with cash or credit for tips. Of course the bigger tippers would still have the option of leaving extra cash on the table.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you're using ME you are onsite anyway. And you probably didn't spend extra money on a car, so there you are eating onsite. No idea why WDW needs the dining plan to keep you onsite once you're there. The dining plan is there to encourage you to stay onsite in the first place.

What would Disney do if not enough people decide to stay onsite because they don't like the current dining plan and they'd rather have the option of eating offsite? Who knows? Personally I don't think it would spur them to practically give away food again - that's why they now have that Deluxe plan. You can get the appetizer if you want it, plus extras, if you pay for it.

As far as the tip being included - that's where the big expense is for Disney. They probably have the option of pricing both plans into the stratosphere which won't help lure onsite guests, leaving them the way they are which will continue to lure some onsite guests, or putting the tip back in, which would probably get them more onsite guests but then they're stuck paying everybody's tip again.

 

[apostolic4life]

If you're using ME you are onsite anyway. And you probably didn't spend extra money on a car, so there you are eating onsite. No idea why WDW needs the dining plan to keep you onsite once you're there. The dining plan is there to encourage you to stay onsite in the first place.

What would Disney do if not enough people decide to stay onsite because they don't like the current dining plan and they'd rather have the option of eating offsite? Who knows? Personally I don't think it would spur them to practically give away food again - that's why they now have that Deluxe plan. You can get the appetizer if you want it, plus extras, if you pay for it.

As far as the tip being included - that's where the big expense is for Disney. They probably have the option of pricing both plans into the stratosphere which won't help lure onsite guests, leaving them the way they are which will continue to lure some onsite guests, or putting the tip back in, which would probably get them more onsite guests but then they're stuck paying everybody's tip again.

I agree with your assertion that the goal of the DDP has now changed. It no longer is a tool being used to fill resort rooms, rather it is a way for WDW to guarantee you spend your dining budget on-site. Since the rooms are now filled to capacity year round, the new purpose is to offer a slight discount for those who would like to eat their meals without leaving Disney property. Also,WDW is getting full rack rate for the room while offering a food "discount".

WDW has made two different options available to its patrons; WDW probably figures most people will be happy with one of those two plans. The appetizer vs. dessert option is something WDW has factored into the plan options by offering the deluxe plan......many here have said they would be willing to pay more for that option and Disney has a plan for those who are willing to buy it. Now the tip is the other sticking point for most, but as TDC Nala has said, the DDP tip was a big expense for WDW. They eliminated the tip so the plan could be more profitable for them.

WDW no longer needs to use the DDP as a loss to lure people on-site. Now they must make strides in showing the shareholders the DDP can be a profitable incentive. The DDP could eventually be eliminated in all forms if the shareholders see it as an offer that costs them too much money. Only time will tell.

 

[bicker]

If you're using ME you are onsite anyway. And you probably didn't spend extra money on a car, so there you are eating onsite. No idea why WDW needs the dining plan to keep you onsite once you're there.

I think that's really the crux of the issue. Disney's Magical Express has obviated any need for the Dining Plan to be anything other than a dining pre-payment plan.

What would Disney do if not enough people decide to stay onsite because they don't like the current dining plan and they'd rather have the option of eating offsite?

That's a big IF, but one option, I suppose, would involve terminating the Magical Express service, and pouring that money into some more effective incentive. In the end, there is a limited amount of money they're going to play with here, and they're not going to spend any of it on things that don't show very positive returns.

As far as the tip being included - that's where the big expense is for Disney. They probably have the option of pricing both plans into the stratosphere which won't help lure onsite guests, leaving them the way they are which will continue to lure some onsite guests, or putting the tip back in, which would probably get them more onsite guests but then they're stuck paying everybody's tip again.

Yes, indeed. This is a balancing act. If they did as a lot of folks here suggested, i.e., put stuff back into the Dining Plan and raise the price to $50 or more pp per day, then perhaps those folks would be happier, but perhaps a lot of the folks who are doing the Dining Plan as it is this year would be less happy.

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree with your assertion that the goal of the DDP has now changed. It no longer is a tool being used to fill resort rooms, rather it is a way for WDW to guarantee you spend your dining budget on-site. Since the rooms are now filled to capacity year round, the new purpose is to offer a slight discount for those who would like to eat their meals without leaving Disney property. Also,WDW is getting full rack rate for the room while offering a food "discount".

WDW has made two different options available to its patrons; WDW probably figures most people will be happy with one of those two plans. The appetizer vs. dessert option is something WDW has factored into the plan options by offering the deluxe plan......many here have said they would be willing to pay more for that option and Disney has a plan for those who are willing to buy it. Now the tip is the other sticking point for most, but as TDC Nala has said, the DDP tip was a big expense for WDW. They eliminated the tip so the plan could be more profitable for them.

WDW no longer needs to use the DDP as a loss to lure people on-site. Now they must make strides in showing the shareholders the DDP can be a profitable incentive. The DDP could eventually be eliminated in all forms if the shareholders see it as an offer that costs them too much money. Only time will tell.

I agree with your entire post. I highlighted the line about the tip because I see this as even more important.

Disney spent a lot of money covering the tip in the past. Figure it cost Disney $18 per $100 spent. That $100 isn't per $100 paid by the DDP users to Disney, rather it cost them per $100 of food that you ordered. Regardless of any discounts that Disney gets on food, they paid tip on the full menu value of that food.

They have transferred that cost to the consumer, which will save them millions of dollars per year.

I just realized something. Assuming that the average DDP user can get up to $50 out of a TS credit, the price increase to the consumer is greater than the 18% I previously believed it to be.

$50 Dinner = $9 tip (18%)
$37.99 Cost of Plan = $6.84 (18% increase)

If you pay a $9.00 tip for one credit, the cost of the plan (for this day) is 24% more than last year. (Not including the loss of value in the removal of the appetizer)

 

[apostolic4life]

Another thought on the tip issue:

This is kind of out there, but it is something that could be possible. If a person is paying for the tip OOP, they may be inclined not to order the most expensive items on the menu since it will increase the amount of the tip they will pay. The OOP tip could be a way for WDW to nudge customers towards buying cheaper entrees too. If you order the catfish instead of the filet mignon WDW would be happy.

 

[midge3426]

I liked the old plan and would be willing to pay a few extra dollars for that plan. So, I wish they would go back to the original. But, I do wish some of the quality would return to the food. The food quality has gone down hill the past couple of years. Also, they have removed some entrees from the menu because they were too expensive to offer on the dining plan. I wish they would put these items back on the menu and add a surcharge if you wish to purchase them. I also wish they would return CRT to its former self. The castle is not worth two credits per person, the food has gone severely down hill, and that I miss the wonderful chocolate mousse cake that was served a couple of years ago. The one I had the last time we went was a poor imitation of the spectacular original.