Questions about 20% off other Food w/ DDP

[gonzalj1]

Actually, they are hiding something quite big -- the price, which they refuse to list anywhere for 2012.
QUOTE]

DVC Member know the price - This is from the DVC Dining Plan brochure 2012. THis is Regular DDP

The price of the Disney Dining Plan is $51.54 per night, per Guest ages
10+ and $15.02 per night, per Guest ages 3-9.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I was going to say, if you want to see the prices get a DVC member to look them up on the DVC member site. They don't buy packages, so they get all the plans priced out individually. Won't help with the peak pricing for the regular plan though as DVC doesn't charge it.

 

[havoc315]

I was going to say, if you want to see the prices get a DVC member to look them up on the DVC member site. They don't buy packages, so they get all the plans priced out individually. Won't help with the peak pricing for the regular plan though as DVC doesn't charge it.

So if they can list the prices for DVC members, we know its possible for them to list for everyone

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Actually, they are hiding something quite big -- the price, which they refuse to list anywhere for 2012.

As to savings, it varies for different people. It's not about knowing how to use it. I know that if I don't order dessert, I won't save much. But what if I don't want any dessert?
I know TS credits are a bad value for breakfast, but what if that's the only TS I want?
As to savings further, they are greatly diminished each year. 30% savings on the basic ddp will be virtually impossible under 2012 pricing, unless you engage in very unrealistic meal planning. (eating all your CS meals at WPE, always getting the most expensive item on the menu, etc).

I'll say this quite simply -- They are selling 2012 packages. They do not have the right to alter a package after you have paid for it. They refuse to break down the price of the dining. The only way to get the price, would be to sample book multiple packages (first with no dining, then with adults dining, then with adults and children dining... and then do the same thing for each plan) and then pull out a calculator. Disney refuses to simply tell you the price. Last I checked, that's the very definition of "hidden."

Secondly, we had a whole thread about the possible savings under the 2012 DDP, projecting likely 2-3% increases in menu prices, as we historically see. And it was difficult to realistically get 20% savings, and impossible to get 30% savings with any realistic plan. You would have to get the absolute most expensive items from the most expensive restaurants for every meal, to reach 30%. 30% savings has been possible in the past, and it is still possible on the DxDP. But not realistic on the DDP. (Heck, even Disney only claims a maximum potential savings of 20%).

Example: 2012 Disney during the holidays, price per night of the DDP: $53.50
So let's do a day at Magic Kingdom:
Snack at Main Street Bakery to start the day -- Without getting specific, realistic maximum price of a snack, $5
Columbia Harbor House for lunch -- The most expensive item on the menu,
Fried Shrimp Basket - Served with Coleslaw and French Fries $9.89
Chocolate Cake $3.59
Beverage: $2.49

Most expensive possible 1-credit dinner, at Magic Kingdom:
Tony's Town Square:
NY Strip Steak - Port Wine Sauce, Baked Romano Cheese Potatoes and Broccolini $28.99
Tiramisu - espresso soaked lady fingers, whipped mascarpone and dark chocolate shavings $6.49
Beverage $2.69

Total, $59.14
Adjusted for inflation by 3%-- 60.91
Add sales tax, 6.5% -- 64.87

Total savings --- 17.5%

And that is practically the most expensive possible items in the entire Magic Kingdom.

For the sake of keeping it realistic, I didn't get the absolute most expensive CS item in the Magic Kingdom -- The chicken & rib combo at Cosmic Rays.

Had I thrown in this item, then the savings would be about 22%.

So there you go, totally unrealistic -- getting the most expensive possible snack, the most expensive possible CS lunch, and the most expensive possible TS dinner, the savings is no where near 30%.

but the dining plan went up by more than 3% so why would you assume that disney will use a 3% inflation rate for it's menu prices? We may see another big jump in the cost of buffets and other menu items.

 

[TDC Nala]

So if they can list the prices for DVC members, we know its possible for them to list for everyone

They won't list the prices for everyone. Disney does not want to itemize their packages, that is how they do business for whatever reason. They HAVE to list them for DVC because DVC doesn't buy packages.

 

[Brian Noble]

Disney does not want to itemize their packages, that is how they do business for whatever reason.

Not publicly. I suspect that it is listed somewhere for the benefit of travel agents, though, because as soon as packages/room rates are announced, MouseSavers has the full rate calendar and various prices/seasons for the dining plans. Either that, or someone spends a LOT of time doing test bookings over the course of a few days to reverse-engineer all the prices.

But, I would agree that WDW has changed the marketing message of the dining plans from "primarily a value" to "primarily a convenience."

 

[FoodLover]

MouseSavers has the full rate calendar and various prices/seasons for the dining plans.... someone spends a LOT of time doing test bookings over the course of a few days to reverse-engineer all the prices.

Ding, ding, ding. I'm not given any "inside" information, believe me!

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[havoc315]

but the dining plan went up by more than 3% so why would you assume that disney will use a 3% inflation rate for it's menu prices? We may see another big jump in the cost of buffets and other menu items.

History. In 2009, they raised the ddp price by about 10% but menu prices went up around 2%. In 2010, they raised the ddp price by about 10% and menu prices went up only 2-3%. In 2011, they raised the ddp price by about 10%, and menu prices went up 2-3%. In 2012, they raised the ddp price about 10%. So the evidence suggests a trend. Over 4 years, the ddp has increased in price by nearly 50%. Over that time menu prices have gone up about 10%. (some items gave gone up now, some items have the same price as 4 years ago).