Increase in meal prices because of DDP?

[DVC Grandpa]

A question for those DVC people that opt not to participate in Disney’s Dining Plan but who frequent WDW often, do you believe that the DDP has resulted in increased dining prices through out the complex? I have been looking at prices for 2006 Christmas and Thanksgiving diners in comparison to 2005 and if my memory hasn’t failed me, prices have increased around $5 per adult at the hotels and EPCOT holiday buffets. Has anyone noticed a larger increase in prices during other times of the year? If so has, is the introduction of DDP partly the cause?

 

[Chuck S]

Yes, prices are up, but energy and employee costs have risen as well. I'm sure the Dining Plan has had some impact, but I doubt it is the reason for the bulk of the increase. I think the dining plan has had more of an impact on overall food quality/selection as feeding the sheer number of folks on the plan would require less prep time to get those meals out faster.

As this is not a DVC specific questions, I am moving it to the restaurant board.

 

[bicker]

I agree. There is probably no relationship between the Dining Plan and menu prices.

 

[gina2000]

I do believe, however, that there may be a correlation between the DDP and the size of appetizers and entrees.

 

[keishashadow]

The tix & resort rates go up every year too, unfortunately.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I think you need to determine the % increase of the meal over last year and not just the $ amount. If it is a double digit % increase, I think that accounts for more than energy and employee costs and may very well be due to the dining plan to encourage people to sign up when they do a price comparison. Just my suspicions. But I am also of the opinion that the quality of dining at WDW has decreased since the implementation of the dining plan. It appears to be a gold mine for Disney so I doubt we'll see any changes soon. DH and I were talking last night about ADRs for our April trip and he told me he wants to go to Emerils at Universal Citywalk! I love Emerils but when I am in WDW, I want to stay there. I told DH that was blasphemy!

 

[TDC Nala]

I think the prices have been going up for years, not just after the Disney Dining Plan was implemented.

The dining plan has everything to do with the restaurants being overcrowded and not as clean as usual (it's too busy, and WDW is currently too short-staffed, to give them a good cleaning during eating hours), as well as the change in portion sizes (which isn't a terrible thing because they were too big to start with) and ingredients (one-credit TS restaurants have shown a tendency to remove menu items that use more expensive or time-consuming ingredients; so have some of the 2 credit restaurants during the free dining period. Not that there still isn't plenty to order).

 

[dumbo71]

It is absolutely related. Not the only reason as Chuck pointed out but even the most die hard DDP plan fan would be naive to think otherwise.

It also has led to a dummying down of menus, loss of to go orders at some restaurants and a reduced portion size. It also neccesitiates ADR's WELL in advance.

 

[dumbo71]

I think you need to determine the % increase of the meal over last year and not just the $ amount. If it is a double digit % increase, I think that accounts for more than energy and employee costs and may very well be due to the dining plan to encourage people to sign up when they do a price comparison. Just my suspicions. But I am also of the opinion that the quality of dining at WDW has decreased since the implementation of the dining plan. It appears to be a gold mine for Disney so I doubt we'll see any changes soon. DH and I were talking last night about ADRs for our April trip and he told me he wants to go to Emerils at Universal Citywalk! I love Emerils but when I am in WDW, I want to stay there. I told DH that was blasphemy!

Emerils is booked a year in advance, you won't get in anyway. Solves your problem. Tell DH , sure we'll try to get in, knowing you won't.

Emerils is far superior to anything at WDW. WDW knows it thus the DDP forcing guests to stay on site and not see what else is out there.

 

[TDC Nala]

Emerils is booked a year in advance, you won't get in anyway. Solves your problem. Tell DH , sure we'll try to get in, knowing you won't.

Emerils is far superior to anything at WDW. WDW knows it thus the DDP forcing guests to stay on site and not see what else is out there.

I have booked Emerils at much less than a year in advance.

Try www.opentable.com

 

[Pedler]

It is absolutely related. Not the only reason as Chuck pointed out but even the most die hard DDP plan fan would be naive to think otherwise.

It also has led to a dummying down of menus, loss of to go orders at some restaurants and a reduced portion size. It also neccesitiates ADR's WELL in advance.

I think the argument that could be made for the dinning plan being partly to blame for the price increases is that the restaurants are operating at a higher utilization level as a result of the dinning plan. I don't think there is much disagreement that the dinning plan has resulted in more people eating at the TS places. It only makes sense to increase prices if you are starting to hit capacity. The price increase doesn't affect the DDP patrons but does hit those that are not on the dinning plan. This can reduce demand from the non dinning plan people, increase revenue from the non dinning plan people or encourage those people to stay on site and get the dinning plan. That of course furthers the goal of getting more people to stay on site and spend all of their vacation dollars at WDW.

 

[bicker]

I think the argument that could be made for the dinning plan being partly to blame for the price increases is that the restaurants are operating at a higher utilization level as a result of the dinning plan. I don't think there is much disagreement that the dinning plan has resulted in more people eating at the TS places. It only makes sense to increase prices if you are starting to hit capacity. The price increase doesn't affect the DDP patrons but does hit those that are not on the dinning plan.

Well, okay; I'll take back what I said before based on your logic. Perhaps there is a tangential impact. However, that impact would affect Dining Plan patrons as well as cash patrons, since the more popular/crowded Disney Dining is (regardless of whether the restaurants are full due to the Dining Plan or not), the more upward pressure there is on prices even for the Dining Plan itself (i.e., the $1 per person per night increase over the last year). Of course, by the same token, Dining Plan patrons are both a "voting bloc" and perhaps a set of rather "price sensitive" customers, so that might give the Dining Plan patrons somewhat of an advantage.

 

[Ed_Roch]

I wonder if Disney is using the DDP as a "loss leader" To get the plan, (withthe exception of DVC) you must stay on site and you must buy a full price package. (agai nthe one exception being AAA packages) So maybe the lose money on the food, but make it up other places.

 

[bicker]

If that were the case, though, wouldn't they have charged a higher fee to DVC members (or forced DVC to pay a subsidy)?

 

[The Sweetness]

It makes sense to me that WDW makes up for its *losses* with the DDP by me paying rack for accommodations and tickets. I don't doubt that some people don't use all of their credits, but somehow I think that people who carefully plan out their meals (who is going to want to share at which meal etc) do use their credits up.

I also agree that even though it's been a long time since I have been to a WDW TS, the portions would be adjusted, to *help us* leave room for dessert

I wonder if people would change their minds about the DDp if TS portions were different for those on the DDP, and those not

 

[PaulaSB12]

Why assume the ddp is to blame for increases? Every year prices for produce, staff fuel and general running expensis of a business go up. It happens everywhere even the ticket prices at disney go up. I know they do in my home town so why should the prices at disneyworld stay the same? It isn't in a vacuum its still part of the real world and in the real world prices go up.

 

[Pedler]

Why assume the ddp is to blame for increases? Every year prices for produce, staff fuel and general running expensis of a business go up. It happens everywhere even the ticket prices at disney go up. I know they do in my home town so why should the prices at disneyworld stay the same? It isn't in a vacuum its still part of the real world and in the real world prices go up.

The items you mention are definitely a factor but I don't imagine that Disney prices solely on a cost plus basis. Its more of a what the market will bear pricing model. Their costs could go down but if demand was up they would still probably increase the price. If the increased demand at the TS places was a part of the calculation for raising the price then the DDP could have been a factor.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Found Emeril's for next week but not for 12/31 on that site you posted.

 

[TDC Nala]

Found Emeril's for next week but not for 12/31 on that site you posted.

12/31 is not going to be so easy to book...

 

[ImprovGal]

Found Emeril's for next week but not for 12/31 on that site you posted.

Opentable.com is just a website for online restaurant reservations. It connects directly to the restaurants' reservations systems; it's not a consolidator that may set aside blocks of tables for its patrons. Naturally, busier times (and Xmas - New Years is probably the busiest time for the Orlando area resorts and attractions) book up quicker so a bit of advance planning may be necessary.


Back on the thread topic -
Meal prices have been increasing since before DDP was created. I don't think it's really a loss leader, as much as it's just a shift in discounting from the resort rooms to food & beverage. I think DDP, Disney's Magic Express, and the Magic Your Way ticketing are being used to keep guests and their dollars onsite. For non-DVC guests, it's a good promotion to entice guests to book packages including Magic Your Way ticketing while paying rack rate (or sometimes AAA discount) for resort rooms.

Offer free Disney's Magic Express to guests staying at WDW resorts. It makes rental cars and alternate transportation less attractive.

Offer low-priced incremental ticketing for Disney's theme parks. ("Hmmmm... a one day park ticket to Universal is an additional $70+ but it's only $4 more to add another day on our WDW park hopper.")

Offer a discount dining package to encourage guests to eat at least one counter service and one table service meal on property every day.

If you can keep guests on site, then all their extra spending money stays on site.