Let's Engage in Wild Speculation

[Disfan1968]

So, something has obviously stopped Disney from publicly finalizing the changes to the Dining Plans that it has already done a "soft opening" for... perhaps something that's not working they way they intended, costing them too much money, causing operational problems, etc.

1. What do you suppose might be the problem(s)?
2. What tweaks to the plan as it has been implemented thus far do you think they'll need to make?
3. When do you think they'll get around to making it official?

Again, this is conjecture for the sake of amusement... I realize that "no one knows for sure."

 

[MakiraMarlena]

1. They never intended to publicize these changes. They only got out because they were released to cast members and somebody leaked them.
2. I don't get this one. they're already making tweaks.
3. Don't hold your breath for an official announcement to be published.

 

[Disfan1968]

1. They never intended to publicize these changes. They only got out because they were released to cast members and somebody leaked them.
2. I don't get this one. they're already making tweaks.
3. Don't hold your breath for an official announcement to be published.

Kind of a nasty response. You must not like fun very much, or are having a tough day at work/home. I'll encourage you to feel free to ignore any threads that annoy you in the future, mine or otherwise.

For the record. There are plenty of people that might disagree with things you state as fact. And if they plan to allow substitutions such as salad for dessert in order to make their dining plan more attractive/sell more of them then they will make it official at some point.

I am sorry you didn't understand point number two. I'll try to speak in plainer terms in the future for you.

As for holding my breath on point #3. How did you know? I have, in fact, been doing just that, and I am nearly out of oxygen. My years of pearl diving experience have paid off thus far, but may not ultimately be enough.

 

[newestkg06]

1. I think they are going to get rid of the using credits for others on table service thing. As you can see from the boards, people are already talking about getting the Deluxe plan on only 1 room with 1 adult and kids and pooling all of those credits to be used with other adults not on the plan.
3. I think it will be announced when they announce the 2016 packages on the 22nd.

 

[Disfan1968]

As you can see from the boards, people are already talking about getting the Deluxe plan on only 1 room with 1 adult and kids and pooling all of those credits to be used with other adults not on the plan.

Yeah, holy jeez. That seems like a hole they'll have to plug for sure!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Sorry, but they won't make it official in the way you are expecting, and I am not offended by the post. Just saying. They are going to have each restaurant handle that with the customers, because they will have different things available for the substitution. You won't see Disney listing out what is available for the public to read. the rest of it is that they will cease enforcing some policies they had in place previously.

 

[newestkg06]

I think the whole point of these changes is to woo people back to staying onsite and buying the dining plan (and keeping all the $ onsite). If you don't make these official, it wouldn't serve that purpose. Why offer the flexibility (when many of these rules were unofficial already) if you don't let people know? Of course, why does Disney do anything?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Disney will let you know when you are at the restaurant. They are not going to be specific about what kind and size of soup you can get instead of a dessert before you get there and your server explains to you what is available.

With these changes, they appear to be showing that they are no longer concerned with guests using one dining plan to feed multiple people who are not on the plan, nor are they concerned that guests might purchase a child's dining plan and using those credits for adult meals (except on the regular DDP). I do expect to see a price increase, especially with the children's plans (outside of the regular DDP).

 

[rainboots]

I feel like the purported changes are also largely for the sake of the CMs, so there is more consistent service across the board. Some people were able to sub CS credits for snacks on departure day, but others weren't. Yes, they want to keep our dollars on property, which it also helps with. I don't think an announcement will ever be made, it will just be something people learn along the way.

 

[Disfan1968]

Makira, this all what "you think" of course. Who knows, you could be right. But you could be wrong too. I find it hard to believe they would make changes like this unless they were trying to, as Newestkg06, puts it, "woo more customers" to their plan. If that is the case, then it'll damn well be advertised I imagine.

If there is a price increase (which there may well be) I'd be shocked if it were appreciable, as I doubt they are trying to sell less plans. If people see too big a price jump, they'll jump ship on these plans and pay OOP. THAT, I would respectfully submit, is NOT going to be Disney's goal.

Time will tell of course. My OP was really just designed to hear what people thought... is the profit margin on the plans taking too big a hit with these changes? Are places having too much trouble stocking snacks? We hear that's true... and if so, what will THAT look like when the changes "go official" etc.

 

[Disfan1968]

If they never do plan to make this "official" since that's where this thread ultimately seems to be going, what do the changes accomplish? Make guest happier who happen to be "in the know" but continue to frustrate the average Disney vacationer who does not understand these changes by overfeeding them with desserts they don't want? A very, very strange policy indeed.

 

[rainboots]

I really hope they don't close the loophole about using DLXDP credit for ppl not in the plan. I would like 2 rooms on DLxDP & 2 rooms on Std pooling our combined entitlements. If they close it, we will likely all stay as standard dining. It nets them more $ if we can pool!

 

[Disfan1968]

It nets them more $ if we can pool!

That's what matters to them in the end. If they come out ahead, they'll let it slide, no questions asked.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

1. A soft opening doesn't have a standard length of time so far as I know, so I imagine Disney does not see this as a problem. Those who are there and have purchased a plan should be able to ask their server or any food-service cast member about their options and get an answer, so the only inconvenience is for those of us trying to plan how we will use credits in the future or those trying to decide whether they want to add a plan to their future trip. Therefore, there's not much need for Disney to rush the announcement, and they'd rather make adjustments during a soft opening than make an official announcement followed by having to announce new changes days later.

2. They will need to do something about using children's credits for adults not on the plan... It's a smaller issue with QSDP in my opinion, but something definitely has to be different from what has been implied with DxDP changes or people can take huge advantage.

Same example I gave in the sticky:
Family of 5 - mom, dad, 3 Disney children (9 or under) traveling with 2 grandparents
Book 2 rooms: first room has mom and kids on deluxe plan, second room has dad and grandparents with no plan
At current prices Deluxe plan is costing them less than $200 for 12 meal credits and 8 snack credits a day
With the proposed flexibility, the four adults can use these credits for three TS meals or a regular TS + Signature TS each day and let the kids eat off their plates or pay child prices for buffets or kids' meals.

In this scenario the adults are paying less than $50 a day (ETA: that's less than Chef Mickey's dinner!) each for a ton of food. They're getting the child price break twice. Either there will be limitations or prices are going to increase significantly for the kids.

3. They'll make it official whenever they're good and ready, but June 22nd (when 2016 packages are released) seems like a decent guess to me. I expect them to increase plan prices and use the announcement of increased plan flexibility to justify/soften the price increase.

MakiraMarlena, I agree that they won't make official exactly what you can substitute, but there still should be an official announcement on the changes. For example, Le Cellier probably won't officially state you can substitute dessert for their cheddar soup, but it should be official that you will have an option to substitute dessert for at least one option out of soup, salad, or fruit. It should be official at QS locations that dessert can be substituted for any snack credit item, but Disney will probably not officially state what qualifies as a snack so that they can change these things on a whim.

 

[supersnoop]

I really hope they don't close the loophole about using DLXDP credit for ppl not in the plan. I would like 2 rooms on DLxDP & 2 rooms on Std pooling our combined entitlements. If they close it, we will likely all stay as standard dining. It nets them more $ if we can pool!

What loophole? There's only speculation that they've opened a loophole.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

What loophole? There's only speculation that they've opened a loophole.

I believe a few people have reported asking if they can use credits on those not on their plan in Disney's chat and been told yes. That doesn't change the current print on the brochure, but it may be more than pure speculation.

 

[supersnoop]

I believe a few people have reported asking if they can use credits on those not on their plan in Disney's chat and been told yes. That doesn't change the current print on the brochure, but it may be more than pure speculation.

People have been told that in chat and by CM's on the phone for years. That doesn't make it valid.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

People have been told that in chat and by CM's on the phone for years. That doesn't make it valid.

I completely agree with what you said, but if multiple people are being told something that is obviously contradicting the current brochures by Disney employees coupled with the unofficial reports...it sounds like a bit more than pure speculation to me.

 

[supersnoop]

I completely agree with what you said, but if multiple people are being told something that is obviously contradicting the current brochures by Disney employees coupled with the unofficial reports...it sounds like a bit more than pure speculation to me.

I think we're disagreeing over vocabulary. What would you call it, if not "speculation?" It's not confirmed. The "evidence" is not supported by fact, but by random, non-reproducible responses. Would "conjecture" be a better term? What falls between "speculation" and "confirmed?"

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

I think we're disagreeing over vocabulary. What would you call it, if not "speculation?" It's not confirmed. The "evidence" is not supported by fact, but by random, non-reproducible responses. Would "conjecture" be a better term? What falls between "speculation" and "confirmed?"

Sure, conjecture or assumption works for me. I just associate speculation with things like talk of an Inside Out reboot of Wonders of Life etc. The hopes for these changes seem more valid than simply pipe dreams was all I was trying to say.

Also editing to add that the point of this thread is fun and "wild speculation", but I think some things being discussed such as using credits for those not on the plan are reasonably likely conjecture and I suppose I was trying to differentiate between that and the speculation that they had the announcement ready to go out on the 4th but Stitch ate it. I won't derail further with quibbles over word choice.