NEED HELP ?s about saving 40% on DINING PLAN!

[SGMCO]

Hi,
I'm trying to understand this
2007 years Dining plan discount savings of 40%
because last year it was 30%,
does this mean that the Dining Plan cost less per person or
does this cover inflation? Thanks for any help

Coronado Springs October 2006
Port Orleans Riverside Sept/Oct. 2007

 

[JimMIA]

I'm not sure what you are referring to, but it sounds like you might have the discounts mixed up a little.

I think there was recently a 40% ROOM discount promotion, and the DDP was available through that promotion. In the past, DDP has not been available for any discounted rooms except AAA packages, so those who got the 40% and were able to get DDP too were very happy.

 

[SGMCO]

Hi,
Thank you for your reply,
I'm refering to Disney's Website which gives info
on the DDP and there is a advertisement which
says Save 40% on Dining and
it is an active clickable ad.
Whenever you read about DDP on the extended info
on the site it says save 30% on Dining,
there is a 10% difference on Disney's Website and
I'm trying to understand is this just a misprint or
is there a discount on DDP?
Thanks:hea dache:

 

[Katiebell]

I think what the website is saying (and I have some printed materials from Disney that say the same thing) is that if you purchase the DDP for $39 a day, you could save 30%-40% over what you would have paid for that food out of pocket -- in other words, it would cost you a lot more if you were paying for all those meals cash. HTH

 

[Allison]

I think what the website is saying (and I have some printed materials from Disney that say the same thing) is that if you purchase the DDP for $39 a day, you could save 30%-40% over what you would have paid for that food out of pocket -- in other words, it would cost you a lot more if you were paying for all those meals cash. HTH

Exactly. Here is the information:

Theme Park excitement can really make you hungry! Fill up on the Disney Dining Plan that's a part of the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining. It's a tasty way to save up to 40% per person on dining. Choose snacks and meals at selected restaurants throughout Walt Disney World® Resort including some that feature Disney Character Dining! Best of all, you can relax knowing many of your meals are paid for in advance, including gratuities where applicable.

The cost of the dining plan did not decrease from last year. The calculated number changed based on the dining plan cost vs. "retail" cost.

 

[JimMIA]

Exactly. Here is the information:

Theme Park excitement can really make you hungry! Fill up on the Disney Dining Plan that's a part of the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining. It's a tasty way to save up to 40% per person on dining. Choose snacks and meals at selected restaurants throughout Walt Disney World® Resort including some that feature Disney Character Dining! Best of all, you can relax knowing many of your meals are paid for in advance, including gratuities where applicable.

The cost of the dining plan did not decrease from last year. The calculated number changed based on the dining plan cost vs. "retail" cost.

In that case, I think the 40% claim is pretty overstated.

The cost comparison I make is between what we really would order in the real world if we were paying cash...and the daily cost of the DDP. The "retail" prices on the menu have no relevence to our decision because we would ordinarily not order an appetizer and dessert with every TS, nor would we order dessert with a CS.

We save money with DDP, but nothing like 40%.

 

[SGMCO]

Thanks for the help,
I think I get it now, the DDP in not going down,
the price of everything else is going up,
so it makes it seem that it is a better deal.

 

[Allison]

In that case, I think the 40% claim is pretty overstated.

The cost comparison I make is between what we really would order in the real world if we were paying cash...and the daily cost of the DDP. The "retail" prices on the menu have no relevence to our decision because we would ordinarily not order an appetizer and dessert with every TS, nor would we order dessert with a CS.

We save money with DDP, but nothing like 40%.

I completely agree with you but I think we are in the minority. That is also how I would compare it.

But, I have seen a lot of posts from people saying how much they saved using the dining plan by comparing their receipts to the cost of the dining plan. They are not taking into consideration that they would not have ordered that much food to begin with if they weren't using the dining plan.

 

[Lucky82061]

I completely agree with you but I think we are in the minority. That is also how I would compare it.

But, I have seen a lot of posts from people saying how much they saved using the dining plan by comparing their receipts to the cost of the dining plan. They are not taking into consideration that they would not have ordered that much food to begin with if they weren't using the dining plan.

But here is the problem.. when comparing what something would have cost and what it actually costs, you have to compare apples to apples. Sure you probably wouldn't have ordered that dessert or appetizer if you didn't have the dining plan.. and you probably wouldn't have eaten at all the same restaurants without it as well... but if you compare what the plan costs directly with the costs of what you actually ate.. then the 30-40% claim is true.

Same type of marketing happens everywhere.. take for example sales at department stores.. they are always advertising things like buy one get one 50% off. If that promotion wasn't there you probably wouldn't buy 2 items.. but since it is you will buy that second item and be saving 50% of what it would have normally cost you.

We did the DDP last trip and compared with what that food would have cost us had we not been on the dining plan, we saved almost $800. Plus there is also something very nice about just paying for everything up front and not worrying about how much something will cost you later.

But that is all off topic and... anyways... but yes they are just advertising that you would save a substantial amount of money by using the dining plan, not that the price of the plan has changed.

 

[Allison]

But here is the problem.. when comparing what something would have cost and what it actually costs, you have to compare apples to apples. Sure you probably wouldn't have ordered that dessert or appetizer if you didn't have the dining plan.. and you probably wouldn't have eaten at all the same restaurants without it as well... but if you compare what the plan costs directly with the costs of what you actually ate.. then the 30-40% claim is true.

Oh, I agree, the claim is true. It's just not the financial comparison I make when deciding whethere to purchase the dining plan.

 

[JimMIA]

... but if you compare what the plan costs directly with the costs of what you actually ate.. then the 30-40% claim is true.

Yes, that's true. When I do my comparisons, I'm using the most conservative method I can think of to see if the DDP saves me money compared to what I would normally spend.

But saving money alone is not the only reason for getting DDP. Actually, the criteria I use is just ONE of several valid ways to evaluate DDP.

Another important aspect for many people is DDP enhances the quality of their dining. These are the folks who would normally not eat a nice dinner each night, or do a character meal each day. DDP gives them a cost-effective way to experience a part of WDW they've never tried. I would never argue with the validity of that argument -- we enjoy the appys and the desserts...and the CS lunches...and yes, even the snacks!

A third benefit I've heard often is the fact that with DDP, your food cost is known going in. That's a very important consideration for people on a tight budget...and especially folks staying for a long time. If you're visiting WDW for two weeks like many of our European friends, knowing your food cost up front is a BIGGIE!

 

[thunderbird1]

Yes, that's true. When I do my comparisons, I'm using the most conservative method I can think of to see if the DDP saves me money compared to what I would normally spend.

But saving money alone is not the only reason for getting DDP. Actually, the criteria I use is just ONE of several valid ways to evaluate DDP.

Another important aspect for many people is DDP enhances the quality of their dining. These are the folks who would normally not eat a nice dinner each night, or do a character meal each day. DDP gives them a cost-effective way to experience a part of WDW they've never tried. I would never argue with the validity of that argument -- we enjoy the appys and the desserts...and the CS lunches...and yes, even the snacks!

A third benefit I've heard often is the fact that with DDP, your food cost is known going in. That's a very important consideration for people on a tight budget...and especially folks staying for a long time. If you're visiting WDW for two weeks like many of our European friends, knowing your food cost up front is a BIGGIE!

I've also seen a lot of people who did the math comparing what they would actually order (adding ~25% for tax and tip at TS meals). If you figure 1 TS per day, you typically come pretty close to the cost of the DDP, but for a lot less food. So why not spring for the DDP, spend roughly the same amount of money, have most or all of your meals prepaid, and have the option to splurge a little and order the more expensive menu items/appetizers/desserts knowing there's no extra cost to do so?

 

[Katiebell]

At DL, we like to do a nice TS meal every day. But, we share either an appetizer or a dessert -- sometimes neither and almost never both; we have to arm wrestle if I want creme brulee and he doesn't And we are definitely scanning the menu for specials and for the best deals, because it's all coming OOP and we don't want to blow our whole food budget in one night and end up eating CS burgers for the rest of the trip. I am really excited to try the DDP and know that we can order pretty much anything off the menu and know that it's prepaid. AND I won't have to share my dessert with a barbarian who doesn't appreciate a fine creme brulee or chocolate mousse and would rather order something horrid with rhubarb in it.