No dessert on any 2011 plan

[maznorm]

Well, I was only considering staying onsite next year for the sake of the dining plan (paid or free). I liked the idea of having everything paid for up front and all of your spend can be for souvenirs and things.

Now I am not a big fan of desserts anyway. I much prefer an appetiser. It seems to me though that Disney is removing everything bit by bit until we are left with nothing. I think whoever said that they will eventually remove it for Room Discount offers is right.

However, it may not be a good move. I was considering staying onsite for 14 nights next year, now I'm going to stay offsite.I may ot even visit te Disney parks.

Oh well, their loss!!

Truthfully, this year will be the first year I am trying out mre than just the odd one Disney restaurant. We are staying onsite for 3 days so we thought we'd give this ADR lark a try. To be honest, I feel like I will enjoy the unique experiences but I feel very tried in by it all.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

The change doesn't bother me that much. I always feel there are so many snacks I miss out on in all the parks and food courts. With the extra snack credit a day I would just find something extra during the day I liked the look of, and leave it in the room for when I get back after dinner. Will also mean I am peckish again for it by the time I get back to the room! I actually quite like the thought of that! More from Main St bakery for little ole me!!

I should say we are looking at going when free dining is on next year - I would feel different about paying for it with these changes!

Are buffets still on the dining plan then - this does make them seem by far the best value now!

 

[heatherbelle]

Well decision made here, no dessert, then we will go off site, and have a few of our favourites onsite, and try out all those new ones off-site. There are loads of fab places to stay off-site for a fraction of the on-site hotels.

 

[stephensmum]

CS dessert doesn't bother me but the TS one would, we only ever stay onsite but will certainly consider off site now.

 

[wayneg]

Well decision made here, no dessert, then we will go off site, and have a few of our favourites onsite, and try out all those new ones off-site. There are loads of fab places to stay off-site for a fraction of the on-site hotels.

Just been discussing it here, we will see what the final price is and exactly what is included but almost certain it will be offsite for us also, This year was about our limit, would probably pay slightly more for next year but not paying more and having benefits reduced.
Its not as if its something that we might/might not eat, we ate every single dessert and used every credit.
Saying that the 42% OKW/SSR deal isn't there either, that would have to return as well as the DDP with dessert to tempt me back.

 

[2Tiggies]

The trouble is, for those who like the QSDP, it is pretty hard to break even cost wise without the desserts. Lose the dessert and the refillable mug (note the QSDP is not set to get an extra snack per day as there are already two) and it will be virtually impossible to break even unless you leave the parks and go somewhere like WPE for every meal. I have never done free dining - this is my first year - so for those of us who pay for our meals in the form of a plan, forget it! I don't care for dessert every day. Even once a day is too much. BUT I do like to take an extra drink instead for later.

 

[Morgstar]

The trouble is, for those who like the QSDP, it is pretty hard to break even cost wise without the desserts. Lose the dessert and the refillable mug (note the QSDP is not set to get an extra snack per day as there are already two) and it will be virtually impossible to break even unless you leave the parks and go somewhere like WPE for every meal. I have never done free dining - this is my first year - so for those of us who pay for our meals in the form of a plan, forget it! I don't care for dessert every day. Even once a day is too much. BUT I do like to take an extra drink instead for later.

I was just about to comment about the QSDP.

I think taking the mug away (even though the cost of buying one is relatively small) is a big mistake. But my biggest concern is that I have a feeling Disney will stop allowing us to use snack credits for food and wine. Currently you can use a snack credit for almost all the samplers at the festival. But with the apparent cost cutting I'm worried this will stop.

The removing of the dessert doesn't bother us too much but coupled with a stop of snack credits at food and wine, we'd probably go back to values and pay for everything.

Disney aren't stupid, they've abviously crunched the numbers and are happy this new 'plan' will still bring in the $. But I have to say for me personally a change to the F&W snacks along with no free mug and to a lesser degree the dessert would have me looking at other options.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Lets just wait and see what disney say its all unofficial and why put up the price of the deluxe to remove the dessert it already has 2 snacks on it.

 

[CarolynU]

I wonder if that means onsite dining ADR's won't be so ridiculously hard to get without having a strict plan 180 days out? If so at least that's a good thing. I don't like trying to plan a schedule that far out in the knowledge that if I don't I can't sit down for dinner!

 

[tinks_1989]

i cant even eat desert when it comes so this will be no loss to me

 

[2Tiggies]

i cant even eat desert when it comes so this will be no loss to me

No loss to most of us Tinks. Our gripe is that there is no reduction in the plan, but this takes $8 (QS) to $12+ (DDP) per person per day of the value off the plan. Okay, DDP may be getting one extra snack, so add $4 back on if you like, but for a higher, or even an equal cost per day I see QSDP putting guests at a loss being minus 2 desserts per day plus loss of the resort mug. If they replaced the dessert with a bottle of water/soda cup/coffee or even a whole piece of fruit under the guise of promoting healthy eating, it would still be manageable. I just don't see how people are going to break even. 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"

 

[tinks_1989]

No loss to most of us Tinks. Our gripe is that there is no reduction in the plan, but this takes $8 (QS) to $12+ (DDP) per person per day of the value off the plan. Okay, DDP may be getting one extra snack, so add $4 back on if you like, but for a higher, or even an equal cost per day I see QSDP putting guests at a loss being minus 2 desserts per day plus loss of the resort mug. If they replaced the dessert with a bottle of water/soda cup/coffee or even a whole piece of fruit under the guise of promoting healthy eating, it would still be manageable. I just don't see how people are going to break even. 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"

I agree if PAYING for the DDP it's not a great choice by Disney but can't believe any one would moan when they are given it for free Disney don't have to offer for free food

I wouldn't go as far as saying I would never stay on site because of this again

Im not judging any one just voicing MY opinion

 

[2Tiggies]

I agree if PAYING for the DDP it's not a great choice by Disney but can't believe any one would moan when they are given it for free Disney don't have to offer for free food

I wouldn't go as far as saying I would never stay on site because of this again

Im not judging any one just voicing MY opinion

Oooh, I hope it didn't sound like I was knocking you. I was just coming in on the discussion from a different perspective. I am an onsite person so it would take a lot more than lack of DDP to move me offsite. I was referring specifically to paying for the plan - although I don't think I actually said so. Free dining is free dining so if they offer it and the deals and dates are good, I'll take it.

 

[tinks_1989]

Oooh, I hope it didn't sound like I was knocking you. I was just coming in on the discussion from a different perspective. I am an onsite person so it would take a lot more than lack of DDP to move me offsite. I was referring specifically to paying for the plan - although I don't think I actually said so. Free dining is free dining so if they offer it and the deals and dates are good, I'll take it.

No not at all I didnt think you were knocking me

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

I personally would never stay off site again Have stayed off site 9 times on site once that 1 time was 10 times better then any other trip

personally the price of parking the cost of renting a car (also the extra cost of being under 25) petrol etc its much better for us to stay onsite it may be a bit slower but hey we are on holiday

 

[wayneg]

can't believe any one would moan when they are given it for free Disney don't have to offer for free food

I wouldn't go as far as saying I would never stay on site because of this again

Im not judging any one just voicing MY opinion

Its the free DDP and 42% off OKW thats got me to stay onsite again. After staying at ASMovies about 10 years ago we said we would never stay onsite again, much prefer offsite. Relented about 3 years ago with 3 nights at AKL, Savanaah view for £70, nice but didn't think it was worth £70/night + $10net/night.
Then the free DDP/42% off offer came along at OKW, £91/night including food+ $10/night internet, approx same as we spend on a offsite hotel (£25-30/nt) offsite food (£60) free internet.
Although we prefer offsite it was an onsite offer too good to resist, doing it again this year at £100/night, indications are next year it could be around £110/night which I would probably stretch to but no way the 10% increase in room cost and reduced dining benefits when it was already at the minimum level of food we want.

My opinion, obviously people that don't mind paying more for a room, prefer to be onsite or eat less food then their opinion will differ.

 

[fuse04]

We paid for DDP in 2007 when it consisted of 1 snack, 1 Couner Service meal and 1 Table Service (appertizer, entree, dessert and tip) and thought this offered good value and saved about $250.

Next trip 2009, with the increase in price and the removal of appertizer and tip, using my trusted spreadsheet..............COMPUTER SAY NO .....couldn't see how it would pay for itself so we didn't do DDP.

If Disney also remove the dessert there is no point in buying the DDP and committing all your time to eat on site

I think Disney are starting to lose their business acumen. The idea of the DDP was to some very small degree as a loss leader; Getting people to buy into the DDP means guests will spend much more time on site and spend much more money on drinks and merchandise, and the double benefit is that it takes business from their competitors.

Wakey, Wakey Disney (mini rant over )

this year got free DDP

 

[wayneg]

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

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.

 

[kevin harrison]

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.

My take - I was seriously considering staying onsite with the free DDP next year. This makes me think again now. The price of the room is high - like you say Wayne, you can find far better hotels at a lower rate.

The big issue I have always had is, who wants to be tied into a dinner reservation 6 months out?

 

[tinks_1989]

Its the free DDP and 42% off OKW thats got me to stay onsite again. After staying at ASMovies about 10 years ago we said we would never stay onsite again, much prefer offsite. Relented about 3 years ago with 3 nights at AKL, Savanaah view for £70, nice but didn't think it was worth £70/night + $10net/night.
Then the free DDP/42% off offer came along at OKW, £91/night including food+ $10/night internet, approx same as we spend on a offsite hotel (£25-30/nt) offsite food (£60) free internet.
Although we prefer offsite it was an onsite offer too good to resist, doing it again this year at £100/night, indications are next year it could be around £110/night which I would probably stretch to but no way the 10% increase in room cost and reduced dining benefits when it was already at the minimum level of food we want.

My opinion, obviously people that don't mind paying more for a room, prefer to be onsite or eat less food then their opinion will differ.

i couldnt agree more about the cost of the room we really would love to stay at AKL but its an extra £1400 on our nearly £2000 holiday any way i cant justify parting with that much money

and the $10 a night internet i think is disgusting off site hotels are much cheaper per night but unfortunatly as we are both under 25 the cost of car insurance petrol parking etc it works out better for us to stay on site (plus it stops me heading to the malls spending money which saves $$$'s )

I would never pay for a dining plan any way its just a benfit that the only 2 months of the year we can go to WDW when they offer free dining

 

[maznorm]

No not at all I didnt think you were knocking me

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

I personally would never stay off site again Have stayed off site 9 times on site once that 1 time was 10 times better then any other trip

personally the price of parking the cost of renting a car (also the extra cost of being under 25) petrol etc its much better for us to stay onsite it may be a bit slower but hey we are on holiday

See, you could say it's free or you could say it's something that makes paying for overpriced onsite rooms more cost effective.

I could've convinced DH to stay onsite with the promise that our food is covered (free dining) but not if I then say, well, we would stillhave to pay if we want this or that or the other. Now when you get free dining you still have to pay for your meals. You want an appetiser, pay up. You want a dessert, pay up. 18% gratuity, pay up. It's like travelling with a budget airline. It's not cheap or free if you still have to pay for it.

Add onto that the decline in quality of food onsite and having to decide where you're going to eat 6 months out, I'd rather stay offsite and eat offsite.

My thought is though, that Disney is returning the reward to AP holders and DVC members. It seemed that they were the ones losing out during free dining. I am getting an AP this year anyway and also a TIW card. This seems like the most cost effective option for 2011 as well.