Offical free dining watch 2008

[Markstudy]

I would think so. I was fussed at for saying this before, but you've gotta think, if people are paying now expecting free dining to be added on, Disney as a business has to think "If they're paying for it why should we give it to them for free?"

Okay...if you work for Disney (lets say VP of Resorts) what do you do?

You have all your rooms booked for Sept. which is normally slow season.

No reason to offer free dining. You've already sold out your inventory.

But, if you don't offer free dining...25% will cancel

Its like when I give my dog some food from the table (nice to do once) but now he wants it all the time

 

[The Brain]

Okay...if you work for Disney what do you do?

I have all my rooms booked for Sept which is normally slow season.

No reason to offer free dining.

But If I don't offer free dining...25% will cancel

But they don't know that people just "expect" free dining. All they see is a balance sheet. I'm betting a number of people cancel their ressies if no free dining is announced around the 10th of April. I expect some people will wait a little while to see if its still coming, but wouldn't be shocked to see ppl pull out.

I'm REALLY hoping free dining happens, but I'm not brave enough to make ressies until I know for sure.

 

[mirmartinez]

For those of you that say you received the AAA discount and the free dining in the past can you post the following. I actually kept a list of sample rates for each year and wanted to compare if you don't mind sharing that is

Dates and how many nights
number of people and ages the kids at that time
Resorts
Type of park ticket (example 7 day park hopper or 5 day base)
Whether you had travel insurance included or not

Thanks, looking to go in September and I have a TA I work with that isn't AAA but if the savings are much more I want to check it out

Thanks for anyone that is willing to play along

my sister lives a hour out so i'll ask her to join this discusion and scan and post those two invoice looking papers

 

[Goofy'sPrincess]

Don't know for sure but it wouldn't hurt to keep your eyes peeled! Bounceback was offers made to people who were staying at resorts last Sept. but they had to book the following year before they checked out. We never got an offer, but didn't know to watch for one anyway! I have heard it is on a flyer in the room but also can be found on the information channel on the tv in your room.

Thank You for your help!

 

[Donnask8pro]

I was not offered bounceback either. That annoys me cause here I am waiting for the offer again to open up

 

[stepdisney]

I remember that on the boards last year, some posters were making the same comments about them not offering the deal because all of the rooms were booked and that it would be crowded. Well all the rooms weren't booked, they offered it and it wasn't crowded. I changed a lot of my ADR's while I was there (though I did book them 180 days out). I was even able to walk up and get the time I wanted at Boma's on EMH night. Probably wouldn't suggest it but it happened. Just a ray of hope for some who are hanging on every post. Don't give up, I believe free dining is coming.

 

[CarolA]

But they don't know that people just "expect" free dining. All they see is a balance sheet. I'm betting a number of people cancel their ressies if no free dining is announced around the 10th of April. I expect some people will wait a little while to see if its still coming, but wouldn't be shocked to see ppl pull out.

I'm REALLY hoping free dining happens, but I'm not brave enough to make ressies until I know for sure.

They don't know....

Let's see folks on here only call CRO once a day to ask questions?

Disney monitors the internet.

How can they not "know"????

Disney probably has modeled this and has a pretty good idea of what will happen either way

 

[Joan1]

I remember that on the boards last year, some posters were making the same comments about them not offering the deal because all of the rooms were booked and that it would be crowded. Well all the rooms weren't booked, they offered it and it wasn't crowded. I changed a lot of my ADR's while I was there (though I did book them 180 days out). I was even able to walk up and get the time I wanted at Boma's on EMH night. Probably wouldn't suggest it but it happened. Just a ray of hope for some who are hanging on every post. Don't give up, I believe free dining is coming.

That really had a lot do to with the dates you were there
There were some weeks that were so busy that no walk ups were being taken anywhere in Epcot

 

[The Brain]

They don't know....

Let's see folks on here only call CRO once a day to ask questions?

Disney monitors the internet.

How can they not "know"????

Disney probably has modeled this and has a pretty good idea of what will happen either way

no they don't know. They know some people want it. They know people all over the internet talk about it, but when it comes down to cash they see what's on the table.

 

[CarolA]

no they don't know. They know some people want it. They know people all over the internet talk about it, but when it comes down to cash they see what's on the table.

You don't give them much credit.

They know a lot more then you realize. They have historical data. When they released "free dining" last year I bet then can tell you EXACTLY how many of thier existing bookings were "swapped" to Free Dining. It would not be hard for them to make some assumptions based on very limited surveys, past history etc as to what would happen if they don't offer it. They will assume X% will cancel, X% will come anyway, X% will make a change etc. Then they model all the various assumptions... Say 20% cancel. Would that cost them MORE then giving the free dining to the "40%" who "swapped" last year? They model all these various things out and then make the decsions. Disney employes a lot of Accountants, marketing folks and programmers whose job it is to figure these things out.


They know!

 

[The Brain]

You don't give them much credit.

They know a lot more then you realize. They have historical data. When they released "free dining" last year I bet then can tell you EXACTLY how many of thier existing bookings were "swapped" to Free Dining. It would not be hard for them to make some assumptions based on very limited surveys, past history etc as to what would happen if they don't offer it. They will assume X% will cancel, X% will come anyway, X% will make a change etc. Then they model all the various assumptions... Say 20% cancel. Would that cost them MORE then giving the free dining to the "40%" who "swapped" last year? They model all these various things out and then make the decsions. Disney employes a lot of Accountants, marketing folks and programmers whose job it is to figure these things out.


They know!

see now THAT was a much better argument then trying to laugh it off. I actually appreciate the explanation. Still have my doubts till I see its for real.

 

[Aliceacc]

Actually, it sounds like the Linear Programming problems we teach in our Senior Precalculus classes. If you have the data, it's not terribly hard to figure out.

 

[CarolA]

see now THAT was a much better argument then trying to laugh it off. I actually appreciate the explanation. Still have my doubts till I see its for real.

I don't.... I interviewed for one of those accounting jobs. Trust me they track EVERYTHING! They know the avg you spend on "free dining" packages vs. normal packages for example. (For all we know it may be that people actually spend MORE if they get "free dining" I can certainly see it as possible..... "Sure honey we can afford the Big Fig after all we are eating free" LOL! )

They model how many rooms they want to "discount" in each resort. That's why when you or I cancel a code or discounted room at a resort the next caller may still be told "no discounts" availalbe. And the "number" of rooms does seem to vary. I kind of look at it like the airline models. There is not a real pattern that you or I can see as to "how many" discount tickets there are on any flight.....And when I change my ticket to another flight that doesn't mean the "el cheapo" fare just opened back up......

 

[Goofy'sPrincess]

Ok, I may sound REALLY dumb here, but wouldn't it be possible with the American Economy the way it is, it would actually BENEFIT them to do the deal?

Just a thought.....but I've also figured If ya can't afford a vacation, you wouldn't be going to disney in the first place, but just a thought, since I see SO many Disney Pro's who are awesome at the deal hunting, the thought of giving breaks to those who could use it would help boost their sales AND their reputation.

Again, I may sound really rediculous....this newbie walking in on such a conversation.

 

[jdes88]

Originally Posted by Joan1
For those of you that say you received the AAA discount and the free dining in the past can you post the following. I actually kept a list of sample rates for each year and wanted to compare if you don't mind sharing that is

Dates and how many nights
number of people and ages the kids at that time
Resorts
Type of park ticket (example 7 day park hopper or 5 day base)
Whether you had travel insurance included or not

Thanks, looking to go in September and I have a TA I work with that isn't AAA but if the savings are much more I want to check it out

Thanks for anyone that is willing to play along

my sister lives a hour out so i'll ask her to join this discusion and scan and post those two invoice looking papers

You can NOT combine the AAA discount with the free dining. Disney does not allow this. You DO get all of the other AAA benefits though. The AAA diamond discount card, the preferred parking (if you have a car), luggage tags, a must see must do how to guide, car rental upgrades...and the ablility to talk it over with a person who's been there and done that!

 

[The Brain]

I don't.... I interviewed for one of those accounting jobs. Trust me they track EVERYTHING! They know the avg you spend on "free dining" packages vs. normal packages for example. (For all we know it may be that people actually spend MORE if they get "free dining" I can certainly see it as possible..... "Sure honey we can afford the Big Fig after all we are eating free" LOL! )

They model how many rooms they want to "discount" in each resort. That's why when you or I cancel a code or discounted room at a resort the next caller may still be told "no discounts" availalbe. And the "number" of rooms does seem to vary. I kind of look at it like the airline models. There is not a real pattern that you or I can see as to "how many" discount tickets there are on any flight.....And when I change my ticket to another flight that doesn't mean the "el cheapo" fare just opened back up......

No I'm not saying I doubt they check it. I'm saying I still have doubts that free dining happens for SURE.

 

[mkycrzy1971]

Trust me, Disney knows EVERYTHING...sometimes I feel they might know too much about me and my family!

 

[Joan1]

Originally Posted by Joan1
For those of you that say you received the AAA discount and the free dining in the past can you post the following. I actually kept a list of sample rates for each year and wanted to compare if you don't mind sharing that is

Dates and how many nights
number of people and ages the kids at that time
Resorts
Type of park ticket (example 7 day park hopper or 5 day base)
Whether you had travel insurance included or not

Thanks, looking to go in September and I have a TA I work with that isn't AAA but if the savings are much more I want to check it out

Thanks for anyone that is willing to play along



You can NOT combine the AAA discount with the free dining. Disney does not allow this. You DO get all of the other AAA benefits though. The AAA diamond discount card, the preferred parking (if you have a car), luggage tags, a must see must do how to guide, car rental upgrades...and the ablility to talk it over with a person who's been there and done that!

Some people are swearing that they did. I am just trying to get information to compare it to prices I have been tracking since free dining began so that I can decide whether to go through my regular TA or through AAA once the free dining becomes available. Personally the AAA office near us doesn't have any agents that are as familiar with Disney as I am but for the right savings I would go with them and just make sure I check everything over


Thanks

 

[stepdisney]

That really had a lot do to with the dates you were there
There were some weeks that were so busy that no walk ups were being taken anywhere in Epcot

True. Very true. When we went in 2005, we went in the beginning October and stayed at Pop. It was the first year the free dining was offered and it was a little crowded because many schools were out because of the way the holidays fell that year. In 2007, we went from August 30 - September 8 and the crowds were very, very light.

My point really was to say that we sometimes cling to every post and they read like a roller coaster. Some of the doubting posts sound like they did last year and there was a lot of worrying but free dining came out anyway. I'm inclined to believe from past history and the small rumors we've heard so far and the state of the economy, that Disney, for their sake and the sake of their customers, will offer free dining. It works and it keeps a lot of people coming back year after year. JMHO.

 

[mirmartinez]

I don't.... I interviewed for one of those accounting jobs. Trust me they track EVERYTHING! They know the avg you spend on "free dining" packages vs. normal packages for example. (For all we know it may be that people actually spend MORE if they get "free dining" I can certainly see it as possible..... "Sure honey we can afford the Big Fig after all we are eating free" LOL! )

They model how many rooms they want to "discount" in each resort. That's why when you or I cancel a code or discounted room at a resort the next caller may still be told "no discounts" availalbe. And the "number" of rooms does seem to vary. I kind of look at it like the airline models. There is not a real pattern that you or I can see as to "how many" discount tickets there are on any flight.....And when I change my ticket to another flight that doesn't mean the "el cheapo" fare just opened back up......

Which Job? After our trip in feb, I investigated (while tried) cost accounting jobs for disney. I found very little info on what they pay. Do you know?