Is Disney's free dining fair?

[Gigi22]

It is not an issue of fairness, it is an issue of timing more than anything. If you consider a trip to WDW to be a bit like purchasing airline tickets, you will see what I mean. Does everyone flying in an airplane pay the same rate for their ticket?

 

[chiamarie]

As a passholder, and local who doesn't stay on property, but still loves to eat on property. I find it very annoying that you can never get reservations, anywhere. We always end up eating at Kona because that's about the only place we like that we can get into because people with the dining plan have taken up all the reservations so far ahead of time.

I'm happy to hear that starting soon, it will cost two points to make reservations at La Cellier, maybe than I will acutally be able to get a reservation there for dinner.

 

[Anthony1971]

I would think at some point Dinsey may Limit ADR'S for differnt catagories DP, TIW, DVC, AP etc.
This is not to single out FD as there are many people who pay for the DP even during a FD period.
The DP pays a lower amount to a restaurant that in the case of EPCOT and DTD is not owned by Disney and that translates to less profit then a full paying guest.
Disney in the past before the online asked about any discounts or DP... They know now this whithout asking as you need your reservation # to book. For all we know Disney could already be doing this.
I would not see it as being unfair after all you can pay for Club level and get faster check and better service, pay for a better view etc.... Getting a room with a less than perfect view in a Catagory is like more like having steak with a lot of fat or a rude person serve you it is just the luck of the draw. In the end even at Disney money rules never heard of a suite with a bad view ....

 

[goofy4tink]

I would think at some point Dinsey may Limit ADR'S for differnt catagories DP, TIW, DVC, AP etc.
This is not to single out FD as there are many people who pay for the DP even during a FD period.
The DP pays a lower amount to a restaurant that in the case of EPCOT and DTD is not owned by Disney and that translates to less profit then a full paying guest.
Disney in the past before the online asked about any discounts or DP... They know now this whithout asking as you need your reservation # to book. For all we know Disney could already be doing this.
I would not see it as being unfair after all you can pay for Club level and get faster check and better service, pay for a better view etc.... Getting a room with a less than perfect view in a Catagory is like more like having steak with a lot of fat or a rude person serve you it is just the luck of the draw. In the end even at Disney money rules never heard of a suite with a bad view ....

Won't happen. There are just too darn many people that use some kind of discount program for dining at WDW. If Disney ever decided to allow only so many ADRs per restaurant for each 'catagory' it would be a nightmare...not only for those trying to book ADRs but for Disney Dining as well. Can you just imagine??? You go to do an online ADR booking. You now would have to imput the type of dining program you participate in. Oh..no spots for those with TiW. But, those with an AP can get a spot. I just foresee way too much 'tracking' being done at that point. Disney can barely track what they have now. Much easier to leave the system the way it is. Everyone gets to book at the same time..as long as they are staying onsite. Of course, the really fair way to do it is to go back to the 180 days before the date you want the ADR for. Of course, that means calling every day!!! And that is not a good thing.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You were there for the very early days of free dining this time around. That first week is always notoriously busy..no way you can do a last minute ADR at a popular spot.
Everyone is able to book at the same time. I would have an issue with it if those getting free dining were able to book before I could. Now, that wouldn't be fair. But, since we can all book at the same time, it's fair. Just because you are paying for dining doesn't mean you should get more. Those getting free dining are paying a ton for their rooms..most of us like a room discount over free dining. I'm sure that if you had wanted to, you could have booked free dining....or whomever booked the trip. But, a choice was made. Your party opted to stay Club Level, which is probably not open to free dining offers. That's the same as when I stay DVC...sure, I can buy the dining plan but free is just not an option for me. My choice.

But, those who go often, and your group falls into that catagory, know that places are not going to be available for last minute bookings..especially during free dining. You probably should have thought about making an ADR at Cape May before you left home. Last minute choices are not a good idea during free dining periods.

Honestly it wasn't until we walked by Cape May on our way until Beaches & Cream that we thought about going there, so until then it never entered our minds to try for an ADR. Also like I said before I had a good feeling we would have been told that no ADR's would have been available, so we were not shocked or disappointed by that. We were also told by the Boardwalk Club Level Cast Members that we might have had a better chance going as a walk-in because they get a lot of now shows and etc, however decided to eat at the Bonefish Grill in on Sand Lake Road.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

It's fair. Anyone can book free dining and make ADRs.

 

[Anthony1971]

Won't happen. There are just too darn many people that use some kind of discount program for dining at WDW. If Disney ever decided to allow only so many ADRs per restaurant for each 'catagory' it would be a nightmare...not only for those trying to book ADRs but for Disney Dining as well. Can you just imagine??? You go to do an online ADR booking. You now would have to imput the type of dining program you participate in. Oh..no spots for those with TiW. But, those with an AP can get a spot. I just foresee way too much 'tracking' being done at that point. Disney can barely track what they have now. Much easier to leave the system the way it is. Everyone gets to book at the same time..as long as they are staying onsite. Of course, the really fair way to do it is to go back to the 180 days before the date you want the ADR for. Of course, that means calling every day!!! And that is not a good thing.

while my somewhat young mind can fail me.. This topic was on the DVC board a while back and someone claimed he could not get a reservation when he said he had a TIW card and could when he called back and said he did not-- before the online system came about...
I do not think Disney would seperate each and every catagory but I could see a discounted and cash CAT. at some point.. although just like everything else you could get around it... They know if you have the DP and if you are DVC the other 2.... maybe they can track it or use the honor system.. hence getting around the system...
Or as we are seeing they will keep raising the price of DP and make it have little or no savings-- it is getting close already...

 

[Tiger926]

I'm confused by this whole line of thinking...

Everyone has the same opportunity to book ADRs, whether you are using a discount or not, has no bearing. I don't understand why some people would ask for this type of system, as it just invites trouble, not to mention that tiering always leads to exclusions. Who is at the top of the list? DP, TIW or cash with no discount? Doesn't even make any sense at all.

I've never gone during Free Dining, but being a teacher, I've gone during peak seasons: July 4th, Christmas/NYE and March Break, and I have rarely had troubles with securing ADRs. I always book 180 days out, and make changes accordingly. This is the way the system is set up, so I take advantage of that. Everyone else has the same opportunity to do so, so it is a fair system.

Now, the only way I see this being a problem is for locals, who want to do walk-ups, or make spur of the moment reservations. This I do see as being problematic, but I'm not sure what solution there would be for this? I can't see Disney holding spots for locals, as they could be losing out on business that never materializes.

Tiger

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

while my somewhat young mind can fail me.. This topic was on the DVC board a while back and someone claimed he could not get a reservation when he said he had a TIW card and could when he called back and said he did not-- before the online system came about...
I do not think Disney would seperate each and every catagory but I could see a discounted and cash CAT. at some point.. although just like everything else you could get around it... They know if you have the DP and if you are DVC the other 2.... maybe they can track it or use the honor system.. hence getting around the system...
Or as we are seeing they will keep raising the price of DP and make it have little or no savings-- it is getting close already...

Now this only applies to restaurants at the resort you are staying at, but the Club Level Cast Members told us when they log onto the dining system it knows they are doing it from a Club Level computer. So if a restaurant located where you are staying was sold out it's a very good chance the Club Level Cast Members can get you an ADR.

 

[skater]

I don't see how I'm not paying for dining? Just because my code is for the free ddp? I'm paying rack rate for the room instead of using a room discount code. Oh, I have no doubt I'm paying for it .

 

[Tiger926]

Now this only applies to restaurants at the resort you are staying at, but the Club Level Cast Members told us when they log onto the dining system it knows they are doing it from a Club Level computer. So if a restaurant located where you are staying was sold out it's a very good chance the Club Level Cast Members can get you an ADR.

Yup, this is how the Concierge explained it to us the few times we stayed Club Level as well. I think they hold a few places for Concierge guests, because they have to justify the high price to stay up there!

Tiger

 

[derricksonb]

Sure it's fair. As pointed out everyone has the same opportunities to book ADR's whether they are paying for the meal OOP, purchase DDP or are on the free DDP promotion. The ADR's are first come first serve so IMO it's game on. Also as pointed out above there is no such thing as "free DDP." In one way or another Disney is still getting paid whether it's raising the costs of their rooms or using this in lieu of other discounts/services.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

i wouldn't say it's any more or less fair than any of the other policies and promotions they have.

I don't like the dining plan because it fundamentally altered the way the dining system was run. free dining didn't cause that...the beancounters did...free dining does put more stress on it though.

free dining is also a bait and switch. they adjust the room rate to offset some of the costs...so nobody is getting it for free...they're just getting a discount. and there are many othere people/ ways to get a discount. a florida resident can get a room at 40% off and get a 20% discount on food and alcohol much more often that just for selected "dead" calender months and recessions....so its really just another promotion in my book.

 

[TheNewMrsB]

Yup, this is how the Concierge explained it to us the few times we stayed Club Level as well. I think they hold a few places for Concierge guests, because they have to justify the high price to stay up there!

Tiger

This doesn't always even apply to the cimputer system - a couple of years ago, while staying Club Level, a kind CM made a call to a "fully booked" signature restaurant for us and he got us a table.

We're actually hoping for a little of that magic this time around - we're happy with where we're already booked but it would be super fantastic if we could get that one elusive ADR we keep trying for...

 

[tami82]

Probably not. It is fair for the people who do their homework and make their reservations at 180 days ahead. Also knowing the popular places to go helps. I did mine at the 180 mark and got my choice of places and all times so in my case it was fair. This year decided to only go to the places which got the best reviews and we werent disappointed at all, i didnt have one bad meal the whole trip, they were all excellent in my opinion.
I knew which places were the best, which were the best value as far as quality & quantity so it worked out for me. I was proud i did such a great job with my reservations.
I do feel sorry for the people who dont know any better any may get stuck with so so places or who make them last minute but then again its their fault for whatever reason.

 

[tony67]

Is life fair?

 

[2Tiggies]

Is life fair?

We all know the answer to that!