odds of them changing the Dining Plan in 2009?

[flea1267]

Just wondering what (if anything) everyone thinks they'll change about the Dining Plan in 2009? I would just love to hear people's opinions. Thanks!

 

[pixie08]

I am no help but wondering the same thing. I have a trip planned for Jan and trying to figure out if this will still be around.

 

[mickey2000]

It all depends on the recesion and the weak dollar....
IMO Disney will seek out people from Europe with a more stable economy....

 

[sjaakie]

It all depends on the recesion and the weak dollar....
IMO Disney will seek out people from Europe with a more stable economy....

I wrote the same answer in another topic.
The cost of a vacation is just half as a few years ago.

The money coming from other continents will increase and Disney will surely keep a close eye on this.

Looking at the cost of the DDP it’s a laugh in Europe.
You just get a meal at McDonalds and for the same price you can eat twice and very luxury in WDW.

 

[bicker]

Most likely: No change whatsoever.*

Very close Second most likely: A $1-$2 increase in price.

* There may be a few minor new exclusions, similar to how DDP patrons are now limited to Tier 2 or 3 at HDD, where before they could reserve Tier 1.

 

[chipndalefan]

Looking at the cost of the DDP it’s a laugh in Europe.
You just get a meal at McDonalds and for the same price you can eat twice and very luxury in WDW

Disney dining plan costs £19.99 per adult per day in the UK. At todays tourist exchange rate, £1=$1.95 we are paying $38.98. As I understand the plan is $37.99 in the US, so we aren't getting it any cheaper.

An average meal in McDonalds in the UK is £3.99 for a sandwich, fries and a drink = $7.78

 

[kid-at-heart]

I do not think they can "take away" much more from the plan or increase the price (unless they add on to the plan, i.e., add back in the gratuity). It has already become an item of convenience rather than savings. They say you save 30% on your meals but that is only if you buy the most expensive items each time you use the plan.

 

[sjaakie]

Looking at the cost of the DDP it’s a laugh in Europe.
You just get a meal at McDonalds and for the same price you can eat twice and very luxury in WDW

Disney dining plan costs £19.99 per adult per day in the UK. At todays tourist exchange rate, £1=$1.95 we are paying $38.98. As I understand the plan is $37.99 in the US, so we aren't getting it any cheaper.

An average meal in McDonalds in the UK is £3.99 for a sandwich, fries and a drink = $7.78

We eat around 20 dollar per person at mcDonalds so the whole diningplan it very cheap for us.
Hamburger, salade, muffin,icecream and a hot apple pie.

For an normal evening meal we pay around 60 euro pp.(App,soup,something with meat and a dessert) that's around 90 dollar.You don't hear me complain about the DDP.
That's not in a fancy restaurant just a normal family restaurant.

 

[penlanspice]

We eat around 20 dollar per person at mcDonalds so the whole diningplan it very cheap for us.
Hamburger, salade, muffin,icecream and a hot apple pie.

You have 3 deserts per person?

We're in the UK and I think the food price is on par with here to be honest.

 

[sjaakie]

You have 3 deserts per person?

We're in the UK and I think the food price is on par with here to be honest.

Muffin and icecream for on the go and there no dessert just a filling for my tooth

But to be honest with McDonald we are again hungry after an hour.
I don't know how they do it but its seems you got a lot of fries but its just an little hand full.

Just put them on a plate and you need your glasses to see them

 

[TiggerDad3]

I don't know if they will, but with the many suggestions to allow a choice between app. or dessert, that would be a good change. However the cost of an app. is in general higher than that of dessert so it probably won't happen.
Other than the change above, I think the DDP is good the way it is, and practical for most anyone to use and save money with.

The DxDP in my oppinion is great just the way it is, although not all can afford it, if you are planning on lots of sig and table service you will definately save money! If I were to change it though I would make it 2ts 1cs 1s and include the gratuity.

With the gratuity not being included this year in any plans, I wonder if the sales of the premium plan will fall, and they may consider adding it back into at least that one?

 

[bluslag]

I don't think they will change except to increase the price.

 

[morgy827]

I wouldn't be surprised if the price indresed and a few more things wre taken away then in a year or two the DDP will be a thing of the past...and 5 years from then some new plan will arise and the cycle will begin again

 

[bavaria]

Disney dining plan costs £19.99 per adult per day in the UK. At todays tourist exchange rate, £1=$1.95 we are paying $38.98. As I understand the plan is $37.99 in the US, so we aren't getting it any cheaper.

An average meal in McDonalds in the UK is £3.99 for a sandwich, fries and a drink = $7.78

I would tend to agree with you and your pricing.

I don't eat at McDonalds, but I don't consider the 2008 DDP a good value. I can eat for better and less in Germany or France.

and I have said many times that other than the UK, Disney does not have a large draw from Europe. There are of course some Disney fans, but WDW does not have the same appeal to the rest of Europe as it does to UK visitors. And even then, different nationalities have different preferences.

I have seen many more German, British, Italian and French tourists in New York lately, but not the same increases at WDW in the past few months. If there is a drop off in US visitors, it may be replaced by Canadian and UK visitors, but not necessarily Europeans overall.

 

[sjaakie]

I don't eat at McDonalds, but I don't consider the 2008 DDP a good value. I can eat for better and less in Germany or France.

Where in Germany can I have a counter service meal and a table service meal for 25 Euro?
Tel me.
Compared to the prices for a meal in Europe the DDP is ridiculously cheap

 

[bavaria]

Where in Germany can I have a counter service meal and a table service meal for 25 Euro?
Tel me.
Compared to the prices for a meal in Europe the DDP is ridiculously cheap

I am sorry if I have angered you and I am not going to argue with you. I know that I can easily get a 'counter service' type meal for 5 Euros or less. Again, I can't recall eating at a McDonalds in Europe ever in my life, but using Nordsee or my favourite Greek 'fast food' as an example, 5 Euros will easily buy a meal.

That leaves 20 Euros for a 2 course meal.

$20 for a McDonalds meal is not the 'norm' I would suspect for most people.

We simply don't agree on 'average' pricing and there is nothing wrong with that. Again, I am not going to continue this discussion as obviously we are not in agreement and I have no personal attachment to this topic.

OP, my apologies that some of us have gone off topic.

 

[bicker]

I do not think they can "take away" much more from the plan or increase the price (unless they add on to the plan, i.e., add back in the gratuity). It has already become an item of convenience rather than savings.

Do keep in mind, though, that prior to 2005, it was very common for Disney packages to cost more then the individual components cost separately. Strange but true. I'm not sure that it isn't still the case, with regard to some of the packages they offer, but regardless, it can surely be that way again, as long as people pay extra for the convenience of having the vacation all packaged up for them.

 

[sjaakie]

I am sorry if I have angered you and I am not going to argue with you. I know that I can easily get a 'counter service' type meal for 5 Euros or less. Again, I can't recall eating at a McDonalds in Europe ever in my life, but using Nordsee or my favourite Greek 'fast food' as an example, 5 Euros will easily buy a meal.

That leaves 20 Euros for a 2 course meal.

$20 for a McDonalds meal is not the 'norm' I would suspect for most people.

We simply don't agree on 'average' pricing and there is nothing wrong with that. Again, I am not going to continue this discussion as obviously we are not in agreement and I have no personal attachment to this topic.

OP, my apologies that some of us have gone off topic.

You did not anger me in the least.
I send you best wishes for very happe Easterdays from Duisburg,Germany.