Magic your way and food options?

[tjkraz]

But I really appreciate you taking the time to answer. I still do not see how extending this card would not benefit WDW's bottom line.

Simple. If a larger group of people starts to receive a 20% discount, yet the revenues do not increase, then it would not have a positive impact on the bottom line.

Obviously neither of us has any facts or figures to use as a basis for discussing the number of WDW guests that do or do not have access to a car. And really that portion of the debate may be irrelevant. Heck, we almost always have a car at WDW, but honestly we have never had a single meal outside of WDW (with the possible exeption of fast food on the way in or out) when visiting.

The key is generating new sales as a result of the discount card. I just don't see that a 20% discount would generate sufficient NEW sales to offset the losses on sales that were already guaranteed. For Orlando residents--sure. I can very easily envision scenarios where the discount card would make somebody choose The Yachtsman over Outback.

But with any captive audience that is either unable OR unwilling to leave WDW property for a meal elsewhere, there is little new business to be gained via additional discounts.

YMMV.

 

[BCV23]

Could be that WDW numbers support this argument. I wonder.

I still think that a 20% discount might entice a DVCer to buy a burger at B&C rather than make a ham sandwich in the room not to mention spend $30 on a steak at TSH rather than make a box of mac n cheese.

In our case, we already eat almost all our meals in WDW sit down restuarants so WDW might not make anymore on us....that's why it is so appealing to me!

On the other hand, that 20% discount might entice my husband to agree to V&A more often. The man enjoys a good discount.

Also, the argument seems a little thin to me because with the new dining program I would think that most people who qualify will be saving more than 20%. And that group would seem much larger than AP/DVC in any given week.

I'm enjoying thinking about this though.

 

[Dean]

DVC originally offered a dining package. It was underutilized by members and eventually dropped as an offering. With a past record like that and kitchens in every room, it's unlikely that such programs will be offered again. As with everything though, if there are features you'd like to see added to the DVC program, let DVC know. If enough members indicate and interest in dining options beyond the discounts presently offered, something may eventually come of it.

Doc, I think that's true only to an extent. In my view, the original Food n Fun plan WAS utilized and Disney lost money on it. It's only when they made it so it wasn't a deal that it was underutilized, Disney essentially priced themselves out of the market by being greedy. Predictably, any time you can buy the same items as cheap or cheaper separately than as a package, many will not take advantage. I wonder why.

 

[NMW]

My family would LOVE a food option. In fact, as crazy as it sounds, it was one thing holding me back from joining DVC. We loved the whole idea of the silver plan. A nice character breakfast in the moring and a nice dinner at night, ordering anything you want (appetizer, entree, dessert). The only thing we had to "pay as we go" was a fast food lunch. We do not want to cook on our vacation. That is not fun for us. We like to eat out, especailly dinner at nice places. We are a family of five and would love a meal plan option. I think I will take previous poster's advice and write to DVC about this. I'm sure we are not the only family who would love a plan like this.

 

[sarhenty]

Doc, I think that's true only to an extent. In my view, the original Food n Fun plan WAS utilized and Disney lost money on it. It's only when they made it so it wasn't a deal that it was underutilized, Disney essentially priced themselves out of the market by being greedy. Predictably, any time you can buy the same items as cheap or cheaper separately than as a package, many will not take advantage. I wonder why.

That's a very good point, Dean. If they make it worth our while, then we will bite!

 

[Dean]

That's a very good point, Dean. If they make it worth our while, then we will bite!

There were many variations of the FnF card. But the earliest versions I had direct knowledge of had it good for Breakfast and dinner including a non alcoholic drink, dinner, desert along with recreation including horseback riding and the fishing excursions. Price was somewhere in the $43.50 pp range and kids were $13.50. The first change I recall was they made it breakfast OR lunch. Now they did control the restaurant choices but not stingently if I recall. There were no restrictions on kids ordering so mine ordered from the adult menu. Then they changed it where kids had to order from the kids menu and soon after took the fishing excursions off and added the parasailing, both reasonable changes IMO even though it kicked it over to where it didn't work well for us at the time. Prices started going up then they changed it to where it was like a prepaid cash card with a MINOR discount. If I recall, it was $50 give you $55 to spend for adults and $22/25 for kids. And you technically could not combine with other discounts but at least early on it still included some recreation options at that price. Later they changed it where it was JUST the dinning and you had to pay extra for the recreation.

Other rules were must be for the entire LOS and for all in the party. I can tell you that even at 2 meals a day, no reasonable person can eat that much for more than a couple of days. So it was only reasonable for shorter stays where you'd use some of the recreation options.

 

[BCV23]

I remember a food and fun package that was available to anyone staying on site although we never used it. I also remember the advantages to it dwindling as Dean describes.

Was there ever a dining package just for DVC? From some people's posts, I had gathered that there was?

NMW, I know what you mean. In the 80's and early 90s, our family of five visited WDW most years but usually only once for 5-7 nights. We loved doing the Gold Plan (different names over the years). It was a great way to enjoy sit down meals with our family. My DH has always traveled a great deal so those meals are precious to us. In addition DS2 has type I diabetes juvenile onset and with the insulins he used to be on had to have 3 meals/day and 4 snacks! In the old days, counter service at WDW was pretty basic with heavier foods so sit down meals worked better for him too even though we usually packed up those great desserts as he could not enjoy them. My family really enjoyed renting the boats and the guys golfed, etc.. For us it was a great deal and lots of fun.

We explored DVC when it first opened. Missing the "plan" as my kids called it was one factor in not buying.

Of course a much bigger factor was not being able to buy out right at that time.

Another factor was that with a family of five, we would have always had to get a 2 BR. If we had 6, I'm sure we would have bought DVC. But with 5, the Polynesian was a winner for us.

Anyway, I know what you mean about enjoying the plans.

I wish somthing was available for DVC/AP.

 

[Dean]

NO DVC specific plan but the FnF was available as an add on to DVC members.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I really don't see how they ever could offer an option that would be win-win.enough to survive. The moment they offered a DVC food plan (or any plan available to DVCers), we'd be dissecting it just like we are the AP discount and the MYW tickets. If it wasn't "a good deal" for DVCers, no one would buy it; if Disney was losing money on it, it wouldn't last long.

 

[Chuck S]

With the APs, if the discounts follow through next year, we get 10% off at many locations. I actually hope DVC will continue the 20% off lunch at some of the EPCOT countries, we use that often on our trips.

A standard 10% to 15% off at all full service restaurants would be nice, not confusing, and easy to implement. Or, allowing DVCers access to the Dining Exp. cards (even though we'd have to pay for them) would probably work out for a lot of DVCers as well. Personally, I really like discount plans better than pre-paid plans...that way I can order what I like, without having to "over-order" to make it cost effective.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks for the clarification Dean.