Is the dining plan going to change in 2011

[Cafeen]

This is from complete orlando. It might be that Virgin gets it wrong, but 2 Travel Companies?

Images snipped

In the 2011 sections it shows - (dessert no longer available) for ALL THREE categories!

I'll mention again, multiple travel companies does not necessarily mean that the original source of information is correct. If Disney inadvertently left out the dessert (..I almost spelled it DISsert.... ) on the information given to the international agencies, then they all would show the same (incorrect) information.

We'll all just have to wait and see to find out which is correct . (Though speculating is fun )

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I agree, 2 different travel agencies saying the same thing, come on. I would be ever so suprised if this is not what is offered to the US next year.

 

[sandym718]

I'll mention again, multiple travel companies does not necessarily mean that the original source of information is correct. If Disney inadvertently left out the dessert (..I almost spelled it DISsert.... ) on the information given to the international agencies, then they all would show the same (incorrect) information.

We'll all just have to wait and see to find out which is correct . (Though speculating is fun )

i agree with you, at this point it's still just speculation, but... the fact that both sites go through the trouble of completely listing the plans separately for 2010 and 2011 (instead of just listing the plan components and then the different prices for the two years), to me that lends itself to the fact that there are "significant" changes.

 

[2Tiggies]

Very interesting..... I can live without the CS desserts as we hardly ate them anyway, but taking away the TS dessert bums me out! I think this means that the buffet meal locations are going to get a lot more popular when these changes roll out! Boo!

So if this turns out to be true, the buffets will be the ADRs everyone is fighting for to support their need for a sugar rush!

 

[Cafeen]

i agree with you, at this point it's still just speculation, but... the fact that both sites go through the trouble of completely listing the plans separately for 2010 and 2011 (instead of just listing the plan components and then the different prices for the two years), to me that lends itself to the fact that there are "significant" changes.

It's true, it is a bit of work on the TA's side to list them separately, and I simply don't know. I'm just tempering the potential outcry over the speculation with some possible alternative explanations .

And, if the TA's got the same document, chances are they'd too think there were changes, and thus list them like that . To throw a wrench, they do have different prices on their documentation (QSDP: 20/23, DDP: 28.5/32, DxDDP: 45/47, all in £ ). Could mean nothing, but who knows.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

So if this turns out to be true, the buffets will be the ADRs everyone is fighting for to support their need for a sugar rush!

 

[mickey2000]

Don't be upset! Disney is doing this to make your meal more healthy They will also gain 78 cents in profit

 

[DCDisney]

This is exactly the way things happened when they dropped the app and tip. Saw it first on Virgin but not on WDW UK site. You can choose not to believe but change is coming It all works out for Disney though because most people don't even bother checking how much any of the meals cost anyway. Perhaps they want more of the DDP people to eat at buffets so by not including TS dessert maybe they think it will steer some people to those meals. WHen I add things up we don't save money on the DDP because my kids are technically adults now but don't eat enough to make it worth it plus we like breakfasts and lunches which make it almost impossible to save anything on the DDP. We do much better just ordering off the menu, kids usually share an adult meal, share a few desserts, etc. Over time DDP seems to be more of a pre-paid option than a savings option for most people. As long as people keep buying DDP and eating predominantly relatively inexpensive character buffets it's great for Disney (they keep making the food less and less expensive at these like dropping the carved roast beef and the jumbo shrimp). The cash customers end up paying more too eating at the menu places. Win win for WDW. Even for free we don't want the DDP anymore because it's not the best discount for deluxes even with 4 adults.

 

[Tricia1972]

We were toying with the idea of the DDP in 2011. Financially it hasn't worked for us in the past, but in 2011 we'll have three kids and two adults on the plan, so it may have worked out for us. (Previously we've always had four to five adults and one to two kids)

These changes may sway us against the plan.

 

[2Tiggies]

Don't be upset! Disney is doing this to make your meal more healthy They will also gain 78 cents in profit

We were toying with the idea of the DDP in 2011. Financially it hasn't worked for us in the past, but in 2011 we'll have three kids and two adults on the plan, so it may have worked out for us. (Previously we've always had four to five adults and one to two kids)

These changes may sway us against the plan.

The funny thing about the dining plan, whether you have it or not, you have exactly the same food choices at the participating restaurants. If the rumored changes come to pass next year and it looks more sensible for me to go without the plan, it doesn't mean that I can't eat the same things I enjoy now.

I agree Tricia, the way the rumor has it right now, it's not looking too peachy for any of us. Hopefully you guys (in the US) won't get any price increases. If Disney gets a sense once they have announced changes (if they do) in a few months, that this is just not going down well with the guests they will be quick to respond with some kind of incentive to draw people back to the plan. They want us to use it - it means we WILL be eating at the resorts/parks.

 

[patclairesmom]

I noticed the deluxe plan also drops the dessert. I can't say that I mind as long as the price also drops. I would much rather have an appetizer than a dessert and I think it will be fun to use our snack credits for sweets other than Mickey Bars.

 

[hushupu]

We have always purchased the DDP but we probably wont for our 2011 trip if they are raising the prices and taking away the deserts. We drive and having a car on site gives you a lot of more affordable off site options. Especially for breakfast and dinner. Lunches we would probably stick with CS at the parks so we wouldn't be breaking up our day going off site.

 

[MichaelColey]

We have always purchased the DDP but we probably wont for our 2011 trip if they are raising the prices and taking away the deserts. We drive and having a car on site gives you a lot of more affordable off site options. Especially for breakfast and dinner. Lunches we would probably stick with CS at the parks so we wouldn't be breaking up our day going off site.

That's similar to how we have done Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. Breakfast off-site, pack snacks for lunch (although CS isn't unreasonable), and eat dinner off-site. Disney gets far less money from us when we do that. We really enjoy the dining plan (especially during free dining), but if there's further devaluation it's much more tempting to move off-site.

 

[2Tiggies]

That's similar to how we have done Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. Breakfast off-site, pack snacks for lunch (although CS isn't unreasonable), and eat dinner off-site. Disney gets far less money from us when we do that. We really enjoy the dining plan (especially during free dining), but if there's further devaluation it's much more tempting to move off-site.

Well Disneyland Paris ... it's the only way to afford the trip Of all the Disney resorts, this is by far the most ludicrously expensive. I live in the UK - a quick flight to Paris. My 5 day quote for value season for early December last year came to the same as a 2 week trip to Disney World and that was inlcuding trans-Atlantic flights!

I am really like the QSDP. I like it because it works for me right now. If it changes and it still works for me, including being fairly decent value, I will continue to use it. If not, I will rather pay OOP and use it as an excuse to try out non DDP restaurants.

 

[Lewisc]

This could be a "preliminary" plan. UK guests won't complain if the plan is later changed to include a dessert but would complain if the plan is later changed to delete the dessert.

There is a rumor Le Cellier will be changing to signature status. That suggests the possibility other WS might do the same.

JMO but I can't see any reason to purchase a dinning plan unless I think I'll be saving at least 20%. I doubt I'll be buying a 2011 dining plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

In my opinion none of the other WS restaurants can be considered popular or good enough to warrant 2 TS but if Disney thinks they can get people to pay it, anything probably goes.

 

[dixonsontour]

Well I finally got round to walking into the travel agent today and got a Virgin 2011 brochure.

Sitting here now with it in front of me it makes it seem alot more real although I realise nothing is certain until disney officially announces it.

It's a 2 page full colour spread in the brouchure though - very clear so definitely not a typo!

Looking at the pricing deluxe seems the better deal - maybe that's the idea..

DDP is listed as 1TS, 1 QS, 2 snacks for £32 ($46 dollars at todays exchange rate) so an increase in price.

DxDDP is listed as 3 QS or TS, 2 snacks and 1 resort mug for £47 or $67, I think it's $72 this year.

We wont be looking at booking until after our October 2010 trip so it will be interesting to see how things pan out.

 

[Secretmagic]

Well I finally got round to walking into the travel agent today and got a Virgin 2011 brochure.

Sitting here now with it in front of me it makes it seem alot more real although I realise nothing is certain until disney officially announces it.

It's a 2 page full colour spread in the brouchure though - very clear so definitely not a typo!

Looking at the pricing deluxe seems the better deal - maybe that's the idea..

DDP is listed as 1TS, 1 QS, 2 snacks for £32 ($46 dollars at todays exchange rate) so an increase in price.

DxDDP is listed as 3 QS or TS, 2 snacks and 1 resort mug for £47 or $67, I think it's $72 this year.

We wont be looking at booking until after our October 2010 trip so it will be interesting to see how things pan out.

Could you please tell me if it says anything about the quick service plan?

 

[dixonsontour]

Hi its says QS is 2 QS meals and 2 snacks for £23 (exchanges to $33 today). So no mug.

Small print is what has been posted already ie QS is main course and a drink, TS is one main course and a drink or one full buffet and a drink.

 

[TDC Nala]

More summary, on what to be prepared for based on the British literature:

No desserts on any plan, no mug on quick service, two snacks on basic.

Price of basic and quick service goes up; price of deluxe remains about the same.