Meal Plans

[footballmouse]

Has anyone heard about meal plans coming back? A friend is going in May and heard that they are coming back, I haven't heard this, maybe I missed something.

 

[AvidDisReader]

From what I have read on other forums, meal plans are not coming back due to staffing issues. Restaurants still are not operating at 100% capacity and they are concerned about being able to meet demand (plus it is more profitable to charge full menu prices).

 

[thanxfornoticin]

There's not even a hint of a rumor that I've read that indicates anything about dining plans coming back by a particular time. I'm wondering (just my opinion) if they'll ever come back. Right now, prices are changing so much, it's probably tough to price out the plans like they used to. The plans didn't really save a lot of money in most cases, and I expect they'll be much more expensive if they do return.

 

[sponica]

They did say the plans would be returning...at some point...but in order to have a dining plan, you need fully staffed restaurants.

 

[Garyjames220]

There's not even a hint of a rumor that I've read that indicates anything about dining plans coming back by a particular time. I'm wondering (just my opinion) if they'll ever come back. Right now, prices are changing so much, it's probably tough to price out the plans like they used to. The plans didn't really save a lot of money in most cases, and I expect they'll be much more expensive if they do return.

disney have already said they will return

 

[BrightMorningStar]

Has anyone heard about meal plans coming back? A friend is going in May and heard that they are coming back, I haven't heard this, maybe I missed something.

As I understand it, the meal plans should be returning in 2023. I bet at a 200% increase.

 

[snikki]

I think dining plans will return when all character meals are up and running the proper way. They can’t justify the price of the DDP without those $50+++ meals.

 

[bluezy]

I have no doubt they'll be back once restaurants are operating at 100% and Character meals are back. The dining plans are a HUGE money maker for Disney....they won't let that cash cow get away.

 

[LillsnJills]

I find it strange that they’ve been including the DDP snack credit symbol on Festival menu boards when no dining plans are available. You’d think they’d not bother and just maybe have stickers at the ready to put on existing menus when the plans come back.

 

[tup1830]

I find it strange that they’ve been including the DDP snack credit symbol on Festival menu boards when no dining plans are available. You’d think they’d not bother and just maybe have stickers at the ready to put on existing menus when the plans come back.

I was thinking the same thing...but for the magical express signs everywhere

 

[bsmcneil]

I find it strange that they’ve been including the DDP snack credit symbol on Festival menu boards when no dining plans are available. You’d think they’d not bother and just maybe have stickers at the ready to put on existing menus when the plans come back.

The signs are fairly easy to print as one large thing. Even if they didn't have the DDP logo and added the DDP on short-notice, it would be considerably more work to add stickers to each item (vs. printing one new sign).

 

[DISNEY1975]

(plus it is more profitable to charge full menu prices).

Not so sure about the last part. I guess it depends. We usually go with the DxDDP and leave a bunch of credits behind...especially since they did away with the BBQ and evening shows during covid. Even CRT, 2 credits is more expensive than paying OOP. Lots of others too using 2 credits (signature dining). That being said, we never had 2 rooms and shared credits with other people (except one time in Germany we paid for our tablemates with our credits because we knew we'd have leftovers)..so maybe between my family and someone elses, Disney came out even, or took a loss. Who knows.

 

[David Gardner]

My experience is that the Dining Plan costs more than "rack rate" menu prices without doing a lot of planning.

 

[austinalexander]

disney have already said they will return

Source?

 

[bsmcneil]

Source?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...l-during-walt-disney-worlds-50th-anniversary/

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Is there any money saving to this or people just like the system of paying in advance?

 

[Ensusieasm]

Is there any money saving to this or people just like the system of paying in advance?

For the most part, the latter.

 

[Her Dotness]

Agreed. It's more a matter of ease and convenience when all you pay for at the table are charges not covered by your plan and tip.

There's also something very liberating about not caring how much anything on the menu costs. You just don't notice prices when you've only to choose what you'd most like.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Agreed. It's more a matter of ease and convenience when all you pay for at the table are charges not covered by your plan and tip.

There's also something very liberating about not caring how much anything on the menu costs. You just don't notice prices when you've only to choose what you'd most like.

Also if you are travelling from outside of the US it's easier to do as you don't have to worry about foreign transaction charges when you get your credit card bill

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

I was told by one cast member that Disney is definitely bringing back the DDP in 2022, but the time frame is unknown. There are a few different Disney blogs that speculate the DDP might be around late April or May after the rush of the Spring Break crowds have subsided. The concern was that if they tried to bring it back too soon, restaurants were not properly staffed to help navigate through the rush of people returning to WDW and during a slower period before the summer crowds ramps back up, Disney will have an idea on how to address the staffing shortages. I hope this is right, because we are making our first trip in over 10 years and I don't know if I would be overly happy with the prospect of no DDP- regardless of whether its overpriced or not.

Regarding price, the price is expected to be increased significantly- at least according to the other blogs and newsletters I have read.