Jim Hill's article on free dining

[rstamm]

"Magic Your Way Plus Free Dining" promotion. Which will allow guests who book at least a four night / five day WDW vacation package (That must start sometime between August 26 to September 22) to then dine for free during the length of their stay on property. FYI: The domestic booking window for these WDW dine-for-free vacation packages will be April 12 through June 24th. So plan accordingly, people.

This is from his article today and this guy usually knows what he is talking about.

 

[CathrynRose]

THAT is what I am TALKING about!!!! WHOOOOOP - WHOOOOOOP!!!

**doing the cabbage patch.....doing the running man.....bringing it arouuuuund towwwwwn***

 

[annie1995]

Doin the happy dance with ya!

 

[Sammie]

I was told if it was offered this year, it would be a shorter time period, so this is probably accurate.

 

[nbodyhome]

Jim is sometimes right, sometimes wrong - but that sounds pretty much like what has been talked about for a couple of weeks now.

The funny thing is, he also talked about the resorts not being busy - but this has been a HUGE year for Disney. August/Sept seems to be one of the only real downtimes for them right now.

 

[Disneydreamer5]

Well if this is true I guess we are going in August and dealing with the heat.
I heard it is pretty HOT, but with free dinning for 7 people somehow I think I can handle it.

 

[darkcyber]

Well if this is true I guess we are going in August and dealing with the heat.
I heard it is pretty HOT, but with free dinning for 7 people somehow I think I can handle it.

We have been stupid several times and been to WDW in July and August and it is miserable hot and sticky to say the least. But, as you said, FREE dining will help make up for some of that.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Sigh, there is only one way to deal with the heat AND get the Free Dining. Make your ADR's for a TS, long meal, in the middle of the summer heat as a break between those cooler mornings and evenings.

Slightly Goofy

 

[ChipNDale]

"Magic Your Way Plus Free Dining" promotion. Which will allow guests who book at least a four night / five day WDW vacation package (That must start sometime between August 26 to September 22) to then dine for free during the length of their stay on property. FYI: The domestic booking window for these WDW dine-for-free vacation packages will be April 12 through June 24th. So plan accordingly, people.

This is from his article today and this guy usually knows what he is talking about.

Sorry if this question has been asked and answered before, but who is Jim Hill and were is the article? Could you provide a like to the web page,blog,forum,podcast,video or what ever this information appeared in. Thank you.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Jim Hill ... while generally a well read guy who has *some* inside sources at Disney.. is playing the numbers to tickle his and his reader's fancy for most of this article.

I believe what he says about free dining is true. I've heard it from enough sources with that same date range and booking period to be convinced that's pretty close to what we'll probably see announced.

But the bulk of the rest of his article is heavy supposition. While I believe that at least half of the weeks of the year.. Disney probably does have 5000 available rooms. Sure.

But... and this is a big but.. the annual occupancy rate for resorts is 86 % according to the 2006 annual report. That's enviable in the industry to be sure. And if resorts developments that DO NOT have theme parks, stores and the range of dining establishments that Disney does can make a nice living on 70-77% occupancy.. I believe Disney is probably rolling in it at 86% occupancy.

The changes he attributes to minimizing inventory .. well that's just silly. If Disney wanted to seriously minimize room inventory.. they'd do it.. And in a big way.

I attribute at least some of those changes to keep the resorts interesting and current with the marketplace. You don't change, you die. Disney brought a lot of resorts online between 1988 and 1998. I suspect as some of those resorts approach their 20 year mark, major changes will be coming to many of them.

Some of those changes will be exciting and interesting.. And some of them may be upsetting to regular visitors.

On the whole, I don't buy the premise for Jim's article. Time will tell who's right. My money is on Disney vs. Jim Hill.

Knox

 

[pamouselover]

FREE DINNING= I GET TO GO TO MY HAPPY PLACE!

 

[CathrynRose]

Jim Hill ...



Knox

Dont be a wet blanket! Dont rain on my food-parade!! Bring it 'round town with me!!

***cabbage patch'n' ***

Positive thoughts only!!

 

[nbodyhome]

The changes he attributes to minimizing inventory .. well that's just silly. If Disney wanted to seriously minimize room inventory.. they'd do it.. And in a big way.

First, I've met Jim Hill on two occasions and found him HIGHLY interesting to talk to. Very entertaining, and he does know quite a bit.

But I do disagree with the minimizing inventory. Disney is adding a LOT. I really believe that Disney created the AS Music family suites because of guest demand. I think it's LONG overdue, I've thought they should have family suites for years. And often, those families would have taken two rooms - so essentially it's still two rooms, just together.

I was told by someone who would know that occupancy this year is running over 90%. It does seem even much busier than last year. So there is no reason for me to doubt that. If - well, when, because the economy does ebb and flow - there is a downturn again in travel, Disney can always shut down sections of resorts as needed (or give huge breaks to locals like me!) They are doing very well right now, and creating more rooms than they are taking away with suites. DVC is big money for them, so they just seem to be focusing more on that. DVC is more of an emotional and financial long-term investment for guests, so I can understand why Disney is focusing in that direction.

But what he said about the free dine doesn't seem different than what is rumored elsewhere. So we'll see - in 10 days together - what happens.

 

[kimberh]

How do you find the Jim Hill info?

 

[mking624]

How do you find the Jim Hill info?

Jimhillmedia.com

I do occasionally visit his site, but typically take his words with a grain of salt unless I see other sites reporting the same thing. While he does have quite a bit of accurate information on his site, he also has a lot of inaccurate information as well. As a result, there are other sites I go to for information WELL ahead of Jim Hill.

 

[minnie61650]

How do you find the Jim Hill info?

The article is linked in this thread posted on the rumors board:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1407464

Have fun at Disney!

 

[minnie61650]

First, I've met Jim Hill on two occasions and found him HIGHLY interesting to talk to. Very entertaining, and he does know quite a bit.

But I do disagree with the minimizing inventory. Disney is adding a LOT. I really believe that Disney created the AS Music family suites because of guest demand. I think it's LONG overdue, I've thought they should have family suites for years. And often, those families would have taken two rooms - so essentially it's still two rooms, just together.



But what he said about the free dine doesn't seem different than what is rumored elsewhere. So we'll see - in 10 days together - what happens.

I really think it is a little of both.

I think Disney is minimizing inventory at some their lesser booked resorts while meeting guest demand.

I think that is why Disney added the Family Suites to All Star Music first.

The last several years DH visit Disney during the slow season in the fall and usually stay at All Star Music.

All Star Music tends to be less crowded than the other values.

Pop and Movies seem to fill up first, than Sports and lastly Music.

We notice it most when we are at the bus stop waiting to return from the parks.

The line waiting for the All Star Music bus is about 50% shorter than the
other All Star bus lines.

The busline for Pop seems to be the longest.

JMHO

 

[nbodyhome]

From a booking standpoint, Sports seems to go last - at least in my experience. But this year, almost everyone is busy. I hope they change more rooms into suites.

The suites are more expensive than 2 rooms, don't include discounts, they are a win-win situation for everyone.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Yeah it's kind of a toss up.. The last few times I tried to book during an extremely busy time.. one time Sports had availability ... the next time it was Music. (Both times I held out for Pop..)

Knox

 

[ukcatfan]

I am a FL resident AP holder and can't get the free dining, but I am happy also b/c that means many people are going to change their dates from mid August to late August. That means less people there when I am going.

For any others out there that are FL AP holders; for our family of five, the crossover point where it seemed to actually save $ and go with the plan anyway was about eight days. I did my analysis pretty specific by even looking at the menu prices where we plan to eat, so other people could get a different point. Just add up how much you plan to spend and see which option is cheaper. This was also considering rack rate, and there could be AP or resident discounts available that make the free dining option much more expensive for us. From what I know, you cannot combine a room discount with free dining.

Kevin