Talked with CS Manager/ May not have Free Dining this year!

[Rustysmom]

We'll soon know for sure but until then I'm just watching, waiting and hoping.

 

[mikesdisneymom]

I am waiting and hopeing that some sort of prom will come out for August, I couldn't make it to WDW in order to get the bounceback program, and also did not get postcard for email for the 40%. I would really like for free dinning or another discount to come out for the general public to use.

 

[Irishhockey]

Originally Posted by MinnieGirl33
If I was someone who booked free DDP during the bounceback promo & then free DDP was offered to the general public I'd be pretty ticked.

They dangle the carrot, I part with money for my next vacation while I am on vacation then... ha-ha-ha... turns out you didn't really need to do that & WDW just earned interest on your money for how many months???

Credibility would go out the window for me.

I traveled in January of this year and was more than willing to pay the $200 deposit for the package, but unfortunately that offer had expired just days earlier.

I've been a very loyal Disney tourist for many years, as most of us here are. I didn't recieve a 40% code nor was I presented with a returning incentive. So what about people like me? (and I'm sure there are others in similar cases)

I am planning on returning in September for my brithday week (9/8) . At the moment it feels as if I'm getting "penalized." I spent thousands on a vacation days after the dinning option expired and wasn't lucky enough to recieve a 40% code. I would feel almost "kicked in the face" if a very nice deal wasn't released to EVERYONE for a time frame this fall.

In my mind... thats when credibility would go out that window.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I traveled in January of this year and was more than willing to pay the $200 deposit for the package, but unfortunately that offer had expired just days earlier.

I've been a very loyal Disney tourist for many years, as most of us here are. I didn't recieve a 40% code nor was I presented with a returning incentive. So what about people like me? (and I'm sure there are others in similar cases)

I am planning on returning in September for my brithday week (9/8) . At the moment it feels as if I'm getting "penalized." I spent thousands on a vacation days after the dinning option expired and wasn't lucky enough to recieve a 40% code. I would feel almost "kicked in the face" if a very nice deal wasn't released to EVERYONE for a time frame this fall.

In my mind... thats when credibility would go out that window.

I can see why you feel this way. It's always great to get a nice discount, but as you have seen that isn't always going to happen. As you know, what Disney did last year doesn't mean that they will do the same this year.

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney isn't trying to screw anybody here out of a deal by not offering them discounts. They're offering targeted discounts based on what they feel THEY need to do the greatest amount of business at prices that will contribute to their bottom line. If you didn't fall into that group, it's not personal. They're going to adjust their discount offerings from year to year based on the bookings they get.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Disney isn't trying to screw anybody here out of a deal by not offering them discounts. They're offering targeted discounts based on what they feel THEY need to do the greatest amount of business at prices that will contribute to their bottom line. If you didn't fall into that group, it's not personal. They're going to adjust their discount offerings from year to year based on the bookings they get.

Exactly. It's nothing personal it's just them wanting to go another direction promotion wise. Look at the 40% off promotion. Some people got it and some didn't, but that doesn't mean that it's a slap in the face to those who didn't. I was lucky to be one of the people who got the e-mail, which is the first time I got anything, and I have gone 5 out of the last 6 years. During the other times, people got pincodes and e-mails and I got nothing. I figured my time would be coming and it finally did.

 

[Irishhockey]

Disney isn't trying to screw anybody here out of a deal by not offering them discounts. They're offering targeted discounts based on what they feel THEY need to do the greatest amount of business at prices that will contribute to their bottom line. If you didn't fall into that group, it's not personal.

I don't want anyone to think that my post was a "temper tandrum" becuase "lil joey" saved 40% and I didn't... but you have to understand how "rediculous" this all sounds to people like me in this situation.

I "could" potentially get stuck paying rack rate for rooms with a minor discount on tickets because of all the "special offers" that weren't presented to us... and thats when frustration hits. Maybe Disney is doing what they feel will benefit there company the most, but in the process they'll lose potential customers like me and I'm sure several others.

Disney is worth the price, don't get me wrong, but I won't throw away money when I don't have to. If disney were to offer a nice deal "to me"... than I'll take advantage of it big time. Like others have said, maybe they won't... which will leave a bitter taste in my mouth as I spend my money in another place.

 

[LakeAriel]

I traveled in January of this year and was more than willing to pay the $200 deposit for the package, but unfortunately that offer had expired just days earlier.

I've been a very loyal Disney tourist for many years, as most of us here are. I didn't recieve a 40% code nor was I presented with a returning incentive. So what about people like me? (and I'm sure there are others in similar cases)

I am planning on returning in September for my brithday week (9/8) . At the moment it feels as if I'm getting "penalized." I spent thousands on a vacation days after the dinning option expired and wasn't lucky enough to recieve a 40% code. I would feel almost "kicked in the face" if a very nice deal wasn't released to EVERYONE for a time frame this fall.

In my mind... thats when credibility would go out that window.

I can understand your frustration....Personally I believe Disney can still offer free dining but modify it slightly so there is some difference in the promotion from those who got it through the bounceback program. Something to justify having those folks book trips earlier then planned. Maybe eliminate the snack credit, just something slightly different. That's just my opinion.

 

[annie1995]

I think all the CM's managers included are completely in the dark at this point. I look at it this way. Free dining or not, I'm going. If there is no free dining, less crowed parks for me then

 

[TDC Nala]

Sorry, it still sounds like you're mad because someone else got a discount. It still isn't personal. If you decide to go elsewhere because of it, that is your choice. If you don't book that room, someone else will, probably more so if it's a time when it's busy enough that they don't feel they need to offer discounts.

I go down there at least once a month or so and I didn't get any 40% email and I don't really care.

I have two bounceback reservations and it doesn't matter to me if they offer free dining to anybody else. I have enough ADRs already.

 

[mking624]

I can understand your frustration....Personally I believe Disney can still offer free dining but modify it slightly so there is some difference in the promotion from those who got it through the bounceback program. Something to justify having those folks book trips earlier then planned. Maybe eliminate the snack credit, just something slightly different. That's just my opinion.

Not to start an argument, but why would the bouncebackers need some sort of justification? Would they not be paying the same rack rate prices? (depending on time of year of course) The only difference is that some would have booked it early and some would have booked it later. Bouncebackers have their first picks of when and where to stay. If free dining was offered again, anyone who booked it then would just have to hope what they want is still available. If free dining was offered to the general public, I'd be really upset if I'm paying rack rate just as bouncebackers did and then get jipped on the free dining by having it altered somehow. It was the bouncebackers choice to book early, and there was never a guarantee that Disney wouldn't offer the promotion to the general public. It's not unusual for companies to offer "get it before the public does" deals. In fact, Disney has done promos like this before...i.e. Disney Visa cardholders have been able to book various promos before they were offered to the general public.

 

[TSM1993]

I was told after I booked the bounce back program in Dec that they had done extremely well with the promo and that they were not going to offer free dining except to those who signed up for the the bounce back promotion.

 

[mking624]

I was told after I booked the bounce back program in Dec that they had done extremely well with the promo and that they were not going to offer free dining except to those who signed up for the the bounce back promotion.

Was it in print from Disney? If not, it cannot be guaranteed. The reason why I bring that up is because other people here (myself included) have been told by CMs that the bounceback program did not do well and that they would most likely offer free dining. Since there is no official word from Disney and people have been told contradicting things, right now it's all speculation.

 

[LakeAriel]

Not to start an argument, but why would the bouncebackers need some sort of justification? Would they not be paying the same rack rate prices? (depending on time of year of course) The only difference is that some would have booked it early and some would have booked it later. Bouncebackers have their first picks of when and where to stay. If free dining was offered again, anyone who booked it then would just have to hope what they want is still available. If free dining was offered to the general public, I'd be really upset if I'm paying rack rate just as bouncebackers did and then get jipped on the free dining by having it altered somehow. It was the bouncebackers choice to book early, and there was never a guarantee that Disney wouldn't offer the promotion to the general public. It's not unusual for companies to offer "get it before the public does" deals. In fact, Disney has done promos like this before...i.e. Disney Visa cardholders have been able to book various promos before they were offered he general public.

I used the free dining last year and the year before, I had no problem getting the room I wanted. I don't think that was the incentive to book while still on the premises, but who knows..Think about it, if you really wanted to make a stink, the fact that they gave it to people in the UK and then not to give it to American's is really polarizing. Disney is an American company..I don't want to fight with the Brits, I hold an Irish passport myself, but really why give it to some and not others? It's about marketing, plain and simple. It's not all magic and Mickey, its corporate and money! That said we have no idea what they will do, but I expect we will know soon!

 

[tinklvr64]

I'd bet $100(disney dollars of course heehee) that many Disney employees browse these sites for exactly these types of topics..Who is booked before a promotion, who is not going to book if there isnt a promotion, etc... and report findings to upper mgmt. Also like someone stated before if res sees alot of bookings in Sept what would be their incentive to offer something more to the public??

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I'd bet $100(disney dollars of course heehee) that many Disney employees browse these sites for exactly these types of topics..Who is booked before a promotion, who is not going to book if there isnt a promotion, etc... and report findings to upper mgmt. Also like someone stated before if res sees alot of bookings in Sept what would be their incentive to offer something more to the public??

Exactly. What would be there reasoning. To them they see a ton of rooms booked for x time frame, so why do a promotion since it's booking up on it's own.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

Think about it, if you really wanted to make a stink, the fact that they gave it to people in the UK and then not to give it to American's is really polarizing. Disney is an American company..I don't want to fight with the Brits, I hold an Irish passport myself, but really why give it to some and not others? It's about marketing, plain and simple. It's not all magic and Mickey, its corporate and money! That said we have no idea what they will do, but I expect we will know soon!

They are being smart. They know it costs a lot for people from the UK to travel over to the US so they are likely to take a longer trip. By giving them free dining they are likely to spend their spending money on other things Disney. Free Dining for the UK = Extra cash in Disney's pocket.

 

[thunderbird1]

Personally, I don't understand how a free dining offer to the general public isn't "fair" to those who booked through the bounceback promotion. They got a guarantee that they would have free dining, their first choice of resorts, and at least 2 months advance notice of dates around which to schedule their ADR's. The rest of us are in the dark, guessing which dates might be available at various resorts, and trying to plan ADR's when we're unsure of dates, resorts or whether there will even be free dining. Being able to book a trip a couple of months earlier than the general public is in itself a bonus, so I don't get how allowing others to participate based on availability detracts from that. Most cruise lines offer a similar service--some sort of discount if you book your next cruise while you're actually on a cruise, and I've never heard anyone argue that it isn't fair to those who aren't on a cruise.

Now if Disney is projecting high enough occupancy rates that they don't feel they need to offer free dining to the general public, I can understand that. But it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months if they don't. Will there be enough cancellations that we'll see another great offer akin to free dining or the 40% off sometime in May or June? I'd also be curious to find out how many of those bounceback bookings either have been or will be cancelled. You know, we're on vacation, having a great time, so sure we'd like to book our next trip! Then you get home, back to reality, and the vacation and holiday season bills start coming in and suddenly it doesn't seem like such a great idea. So while it initally looked like the promo did exceptionally well, once the cancellations started rolling in, the numbers don't look as good.

 

[LakeAriel]

Personally, I don't understand how a free dining offer to the general public isn't "fair" to those who booked through the bounceback promotion. They got a guarantee that they would have free dining, their first choice of resorts, and at least 2 months advance notice of dates around which to schedule their ADR's. The rest of us are in the dark, guessing which dates might be available at various resorts, and trying to plan ADR's when we're unsure of dates, resorts or whether there will even be free dining. Being able to book a trip a couple of months earlier than the general public is in itself a bonus, so I don't get how allowing others to participate based on availability detracts from that. Most cruise lines offer a similar service--some sort of discount if you book your next cruise while you're actually on a cruise, and I've never heard anyone argue that it isn't fair to those who aren't on a cruise.

Now if Disney is projecting high enough occupancy rates that they don't feel they need to offer free dining to the general public, I can understand that. But it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months if they don't. Will there be enough cancellations that we'll see another great offer akin to free dining or the 40% off sometime in May or June? I'd also be curious to find out how many of those bounceback bookings either have been or will be cancelled. You know, we're on vacation, having a great time, so sure we'd like to book our next trip! Then you get home, back to reality, and the vacation and holiday season bills start coming in and suddenly it doesn't seem like such a great idea. So while it initally looked like the promo did exceptionally well, once the cancellations started rolling in, the numbers don't look as good.

Yep...That's why everything is speculation on this board~~~~~

 

[Cookie Princess]

I do think that smart companies pay attention to their loyal customers while trying to attract new customers. The loyal customers are the visitors who continue to come year after year even when the travel economy is bad. WDW needs to continue to make these people feel valued. Yes, WDW doesn't have to offer any type of discount to their "regulars" during this timeframe; but I think they are fools not to.