No dessert on any 2011 plan

[tinks_1989]

That depends if you think it is free, I dont, I see it as being included in the room rate not free, again my opinion, others will disagree, some will pay it, Disney want you to believe its worth it. No way would I pay £110/night to stay at OKW, the only way to get me there is include food in the rate. Far better places offsite at half that price.
Good thing we are all different.

I guess this is what DF always says its not free its a hidden cost but if we were to go when the free dining wasnt on, the hotel would cost the same and we would have no free food

Im still struggling to book all our ADR's

 

[irongirlof12]

I am seriously considering staying off-site for our next trip. the 1st time we did free ddp it was an amazing deal and worth the cost of the hotel room. The last time we went is was slightly more expensive with gratuity and no starter- still a lot of food to deal with tho.

i will have to work it all out in excel and see if the cost of the room justifies staying on site for a reduced free dining scheme

 

[JACKIE153]

As I have already booked for Oct 2011 with Complete Orlando staying onsite at POR with upgraded dining from QSDP to DDP I received this e-mail from them yesterday.

There appears to be some confusion at present with regards to what exactly is included in next year's Disney Dining Plans. It appears Disney have modified their Dining Plans for 2011 and didn't make this clear to us.

That said the Disney Dining Plans are the same wherever you book, but we wanted you to be aware. The Disney Dining Plans are always subject to change, however where possible of course we always try and offer the correct information.

A link is then provided to their updated Dining Plan page with the New Dining Plan inclusions for 2011.

Just to clarify in their DDP only 1 snack is listed and not 2 as in Virgin Brochure and I know someone on the Dibb called complete orlando about the two snack credits and they were told it is only 1, and another Dibber has got a hold of the Thomas Cook and Thomson brochures for 2011 and they also quote 1 snack in the DDP.

 

[disney_princess_85]

As non meat-eaters we never order the most expensive things on the menu so it would be impossible to even keep the loss to enough of a minimum to justify it by "convenience"

As a vegetarian, I understand where you're coming from. I know it's not always about getting 'bang for your buck' but I was certainly glad that at least one of us (DBF) was ordering the expensive steaks and whatnot when we were on the plan (which was paid for, not free).

Just to clarify in their DDP only 1 snack is listed and not 2 as in Virgin Brochure and I know someone on the Dibb called complete orlando about the two snack credits and they were told it is only 1, and another Dibber has got a hold of the Thomas Cook and Thomson brochures for 2011 and they also quote 1 snack in the DDP.

Hmm, very confusing. If there is no additional snack credit, I definitely won't pay for the plan again.

 

[dixonsontour]

Yes I agree I don't view free dining as free as the room rates are so much higher.

After 10 plus trips to florida all offsite, we were finally tempted onsite by the US free dining offer last December.

Staying at All star Movies with DDP was $142 or just over £90 a night for the 3 of us (2 adults 1 child)

My ideal Florida budget is usually $100 food, $50 hotel a night so onsite was cheaper.

Added into that was the fact that we could eat at lots of character meals etc which the $100 a day offsite food budget wouldn't have allowed.

So this year we are booked for old key west with the 40% discount and free DDP. Coming in about £107 a night for the 3 of us.

Obviously we will do the same maths again next year. If the disney rooms are significantly higher or the DDP less food so we are having to pay for food oop then we'll happily go offsite again.

Nice villas can be got for £300 a week. We had 4 nights at QIP I drive before going to disney for $29 a night plus tax and the room was nicer with free internet.

Car hire is a must for us. We tried to do without at disney and ended up hiring, so i don't factor that in.

 

[jockey]

I cant book dining plan until August for our Feb 2011 trip so maybe we wont know the details until then. I must be mad paying for the dining plan but at the moment it works out approx $96 ish dollars thats for 2 adults a 4 year old and 2 year old. We normally spend $100 - $150 a day on food.

 

[Tink2312]

I just can't believe any would complain about some thing that is free

I have to agree with other comments that IMHO it's not free - it just makes an overpriced room more reasonable value. No way would I spend over £100 per night for 2 weeks at SSR - it's not justifiable with the lower prices offsite.

In terms of the possible changes - we discussed this last night as we've already booked for 2011 with co and none of us are really that bothered and would prefer an extra snack credit- if that is what's offered. However I do feel cheated that it is yet another thing that is being stripped away from the value of the plan and even fd! I've calculated that even with the extra snack we'd spend at least an extra $100 and probably even more if there was no extra snack.

I can't see how Disney can sustain the ddp with the no dessert policy as it's even difficult to cover the daily cost with only entrees!

It'll be a long time though until we know anything more for sure on the changes, so we'll have to wait and see.

 

[wilma-bride]

I cant book dining plan until August for our Feb 2011 trip so maybe we wont know the details until then. I must be mad paying for the dining plan but at the moment it works out approx $96 ish dollars thats for 2 adults a 4 year old and 2 year old. We normally spend $100 - $150 a day on food.

What you have to consider now, though, is with the cuts in the plan and what is included, how much will you still need to spend on food on top of what you've already paid for the dining plan

 

[2Tiggies]

I have to agree with other comments that IMHO it's not free - it just makes an overpriced room more reasonable value. No way would I spend over £100 per night for 2 weeks at SSR - it's not justifiable with the lower prices offsite.

In terms of the possible changes - we discussed this last night as we've already booked for 2011 with co and none of us are really that bothered and would prefer an extra snack credit- if that is what's offered. However I do feel cheated that it is yet another thing that is being stripped away from the value of the plan and even fd! I've calculated that even with the extra snack we'd spend at least an extra $100 and probably even more if there was no extra snack.

I can't see how Disney can sustain the ddp with the no dessert policy as it's even difficult to cover the daily cost with only entrees!

It'll be a long time though until we know anything more for sure on the changes, so we'll have to wait and see.

What you have to consider now, though, is with the cuts in the plan and what is included, how much will you still need to spend on food on top of what you've already paid for the dining plan

See for me, staying offsite is just not an option. I see it this way: You will ALWAYS pay more for prime property -whether purchasing, renting or whatever you are doing, it costs more to be in the hub of things. To me this is worth it. However paid dining plans as they are rumoured to be next year, will be a thing of the past. I could easily get around the QSDP with no dessert without having to buy anything OOP, but I don't see why I should pay more for it. Also, I have extra credits because I pay OOP for several TS meals too. I will simply go without the plan if it doesn't suit - unless it is free. I think a lot of people would be happier if they had added a dessert credit to each plan that you could redeem as and when you wanted to.

 

[dixonsontour]

I wonder if they are doing it to turn tables even more quickly.

I have seen comments from US visitors that TS take too long and it's too long for young children to sit.

Personally we found the TS we did took about an hour (meal and dessert) and that was just right for us and DD 3. If anything we fellt rushed at a couple of meals.

Without dessert, I could see you being in and out in 30 mins or less.

Would make it less attractive to us as if i'm paying that much for a meal I'd like a nice sit down meal. But maybe it would make TS more appealing to the US market who are trying to do it all in 4 or 5 days and increase revenue by allowing more people in each restaurant to eat (especially the hard to get adr's)

 

[wayneg]

See for me, staying offsite is just not an option. I see it this way: You will ALWAYS pay more for prime property -whether purchasing, renting or whatever you are doing, it costs more to be in the hub of things. To me this is worth it.

Disney will always have its fans who will pay a premium for onsite.
I thought the idea of free Dining was to attract people like myself who don't mind onsite or offsite, if anything slightly prefer offsite to get away from Disney and be closer to where we like to eat and the other parks, we spend more time away from Disney than in Disney usually.
The free DDP package did exactly what they intended for us last year, stayed onsite, ate onsite and spent our money onsite, probably 90%+ of our holiday was Disney as opposed to a typical offsite holiday only 20% would be Disney, this Easter was less than 10% Disney.
So to me Disney does't have Prime property, they need to give the incentiives to get me there.
Do they have enough guests who believe Disney is worth paying twice the going rate for a room without giving big incentives? I doubt it but time will tell.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Do they have enough guests who believe Disney is worth paying twice the going rate for a room without giving big incentives?

I think before the existence of websites such as this one, I would have answered yes. However, people are much savvier about other options now, thanks to the plethora of information online.

It's most certainly in Disney's interests to offer big incentives as there is so much competition out there.

 

[higgy66]

I have to agree with other comments that IMHO it's not free - it just makes an overpriced room more reasonable value. No way would I spend over £100 per night for 2 weeks at SSR - it's not justifiable with the lower prices offsite.

In terms of the possible changes - we discussed this last night as we've already booked for 2011 with co and none of us are really that bothered and would prefer an extra snack credit- if that is what's offered. However I do feel cheated that it is yet another thing that is being stripped away from the value of the plan and even fd! I've calculated that even with the extra snack we'd spend at least an extra $100 and probably even more if there was no extra snack.

I can't see how Disney can sustain the ddp with the no dessert policy as it's even difficult to cover the daily cost with only entrees!

It'll be a long time though until we know anything more for sure on the changes, so we'll have to wait and see.

I could be wrong but reading the website today I think you only get 2 snack credits on the quick service plan not on DDP - that's still showing as 1?

 

[2Tiggies]

I think before the existence of websites such as this one, I would have answered yes. However, people are much savvier about other options now, thanks to the plethora of information online.

It's most certainly in Disney's interests to offer big incentives as there is so much competition out there.

And that is the truth!!!

I could be wrong but reading the website today I think you only get 2 snack credits on the quick service plan not on DDP - that's still showing as 1?

Which website was it? Currently it is only VH and CO that have noted the proposed changes. Disney itself I noice (the UK site) has information for next year posted as it is. I wonder how many people who buy their package advertising the Dining plans as they currently stand, are going to dispute the fact that there has been a change if there is one next year. I know I certainly would, unless they have covered themselves about the components being subject to change without notice. However when you are selling a product, you cannot simply remove components without compensating in one way or another for the loss. I am referring specifically now to those who are paying for the dining plan, although free dining packages could probably use this as grounds for dispute as well.

 

[DISWolves]

Looking at a recent post on the Dibb, a reply has been received from Disney after an enquiry about 2011 DDP

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

Each year, our Product Development Department reviews all components
offered under each package name. This determines the packages and
components included for the following year. At this time packages for 2011
have not been announced. Please check back in
mid-August 2010 for updated information.

Confused!

 

[jockey]

What you have to consider now, though, is with the cuts in the plan and what is included, how much will you still need to spend on food on top of what you've already paid for the dining plan

Decisions Decisions! All this talk of food keeps making me hungry!

 

[AndyBlizz]

And that is the truth!!!




Which website was it? Currently it is only VH and CO that have noted the proposed changes. Disney itself I noice (the UK site) has information for next year posted as it is. I wonder how many people who buy their package advertising the Dining plans as they currently stand, are going to dispute the fact that there has been a change if there is one next year. I know I certainly would, unless they have covered themselves about the components being subject to change without notice. However when you are selling a product, you cannot simply remove components without compensating in one way or another for the loss. I am referring specifically now to those who are paying for the dining plan, although free dining packages could probably use this as grounds for dispute as well.

Yesterday i got the Thomas Cook Brochure and it had the removal of the desert on all Dining plans including the Deluxe.

Also the QSDP had 2 snacks but the DDP only had 1

 

[disneyholic family]

Maybe they're hoping to phase it out completely, who knows? They have certainly been making it a less attractive option, year on year.

i've heard they're trying to phase out free dining....

Always stayed onsite but this year doing a mixture and to be honest am looking forward to the offsite just as much. After reading about the good meal deals you can get for half the price you pay onsite(questions coming about resturants to eat at offsite near LBV resort village and spa.Wayne can you recommend any), we may be staying off site more. The best thing I suggest is to book as many buffets as possible ie chef mickeys ,ohana,then all is included hey

i prefer staying onsite, but there is definitely something to be said for staying offsite...we have many times and there's tremendous value for money out there....much larger accomodations for much lower prices.....
when offsite, we've always stayed in the Lake Buena Vista area, so getting to disney was never a problem (anyway, we always rent a car)...

it's funny - they added the dining plan and free dining to entice people to stay onsite....are they shooting themselves in the foot?

 

[higgy66]

Looking at a recent post on the Dibb, a reply has been received from Disney after an enquiry about 2011 DDP

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

Each year, our Product Development Department reviews all components
offered under each package name. This determines the packages and
components included for the following year. At this time packages for 2011
have not been announced. Please check back in
mid-August 2010 for updated information.

Confused!

I wouldn't be surpised if this was some sort of back peddling due to the complaints about the dessert not being offered? Or is that just wishful thinking....

 

[Linda67]

I emailed Virgin about this as we have the free regular dining plan for our 2011 trip

Here is the response

'Thank you for your enquiry,

I have checked the brochure and the dining plan is as follows,

Disney Quick Service Dining Plan includes 2 quick service meals and 2
selected snacks.

Disney Dining Plan includes 1 Quick service meal, 1 waiter service meal
and 2 selected snacks.

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan includes 3 Quick Service or waiter service
meals, 2 selected snacks and 1 refillable resort Mug per person per
stay.

The dining plans have changed from last year.'

No mention of the dessert but I have asked for them to clairfy as dessert isn't mentioned at all in any of the brochures now