The free quick service dining plan going extinct?

[Madonna3]

As much as I hate the dining plans, I would be sad to see the Quick Service one go away. I'd rather see the regular and deluxe go before the quick service. The QS plan actually has some marginal value to the consumer. They definitely get their value regardless of where they eat, assuming they don't use all of the credits on breakfast.

 

[bladiator]

Step 6 Free mug only? Que the "My family can't drink for less than $17 pp per day" defense
.

"Hey Disney fans! It's that time of year again! Free mugging!"

 

[Aristo-cat]

I think they are nearing the end of the "phase out".

Step 1 Add Park Hoppers
Step 2 Force Preferred Room
Step 3 Reduce Value Offer to QS
Step 4 Reduce Mod Offer to QS
Step 5 Most likely next year reduce Value to 1 meal only
Step 6 Free mug only? Que the "My family can't drink for less than $17 pp per day" defense
Step 7 Values Excluded
Step 8 Gone

So perhaps 3-4 years left.

This^^^

Everything they are doing right now is leading up to the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Imo, by that time FD will just be a memory.

I scored FD twice this year!
September trip in a cabin at FW, and a week at Thanksgiving at CS.
We did however have to book a Jr. Suite to get the FD, then we upgraded both packages to the DDP.

 

[dlavender]

This^^^

Everything they are doing right now is leading up to the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Imo, by that time FD will just be a memory.

I scored FD twice this year!
September trip in a cabin at FW, and a week at Thanksgiving at CS.
We did however have to book a Jr. Suite to get the FD, then we upgraded both packages to the DDP.

You upgraded to a Jr. Suite for FD?

 

[Aristo-cat]

You upgraded to a Jr. Suite for FD?

Sorry- bad explaination-no we had to book the Jr suite in order to get the free dining. Then we upgraded our dining plan from QS to DDP.

 

[Madonna3]

Sorry- bad explaination-no we had to book the Jr suite in order to get the free dining. Then we upgraded our dining plan from QS to DDP.

Nope you explained it correctly. You booked a more expensive room than you intended (from the tone of your post) to get a free quick service and then paid even more to get the regular dining plan.

 

[Aristo-cat]

Nope you explained it correctly. You booked a more expensive room than you intended (from the tone of your post) to get a free quick service and then paid even more to get the regular dining plan.

Yes, like dlavendar said above in the list, force preferred rooms.
This worked out perfectly for us though, we are bringing our two teens with us and we were considering two rooms, so when this was an option with the FD we jumped on it.

 

[adam.adbe]

As much as I hate the dining plans, I would be sad to see the Quick Service one go away. I'd rather see the regular and deluxe go before the quick service. The QS plan actually has some marginal value to the consumer. They definitely get their value regardless of where they eat, assuming they don't use all of the credits on breakfast.

This. I forget who (but I'm going at guess at LOL) attributes the decline in quality and variety at Disney's table restaurants to the Dining Plan, which I'm inclined to agree with. The QS on the other hand does not unnecessarily warp the dining market on site, and if priced sensibly offers Disney a useful tool for competing with offsite accommodation while not affecting the prices for everyone else. A family of four using one hotel room and a dining plan are not as profitable to Disney as two arbitrary families of two, but they're still more profitable than offsite guests paying only parking as a hidden up-charge.

(Edit: that said, my last visit was on a UK plan that bundled a moderate room and mid-tier dining plan, and I was glad of it).

 

[dlavender]

Yes, like dlavendar said above in the list, force preferred rooms.
This worked out perfectly for us though, we are bringing our two teens with us and we were considering two rooms, so when this was an option with the FD we jumped on it.

I guess.

I'm sure you've gone through the numbers, and with 4 people in a room you might have faired better. But I just don't see the deal in giving up a room only discount on a regular room, and upgrading to full price, upgrading again to room type, then upgrading yet again from QS to the regular plan. But I'm sure there are scenarios where they could be some savings.

 

[Aristo-cat]

I guess.

I'm sure you've gone through the numbers, and with 4 people in a room you might have faired better. But I just don't see the deal in giving up a room only discount on a regular room, and upgrading to full price, upgrading again to room type, then upgrading yet again from QS to the regular plan. But I'm sure there are scenarios where they could be some savings.

In our case it was actually more expensive to fit us all in a room at PORS with the hopper and the dining plan than it was to do the Jr suite. Also, I did not find any room only discounts available for the week of Thanksgiving. It was really pricey to do two rooms here.
Maybe I am missing something, I am constantly searching to see if I can find a better deal.

The only way I have found to make it more affordable is to omit the dining package altogether. But, I know we will spend that money in the long run anyway.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[dlavender]

In our case it was actually more expensive to fit us all in a room at PORS with the hopper and the dining plan than it was to do the Jr suite. Also, I did not find any room only discounts available for the week of Thanksgiving. It was really pricey to do two rooms here.
Maybe I am missing something, I am constantly searching to see if I can find a better deal.

The only way I have found to make it more affordable is to omit the dining package altogether. But, I know we will spend that money in the long run anyway.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

In your scenario, where its the same price, but you get a better room, then you definitely made the right decision.

However, I would always suggest getting a quote from a TA.

I did it for our trip this upcoming Christmas and we are saving about 20%, a week when no discounts are offered by Disney.

 

[Madonna3]

I am constantly searching to see if I can find a better deal.

And that is the problem with Disney's pricing structure. As it's priced, none of us see this as a good "deal" so we're always on the hunt for a PIN code, or another discount that brings it in line with a price we consider a "deal". The problem with the "deals" is all it did was bring it in line to fair market value.

 

[dlavender]

And that is the problem with Disney's pricing structure. As it's priced, none of us see this as a good "deal" so we're always on the hunt for a PIN code, or another discount that brings it in line with a price we consider a "deal". The problem with the "deals" is all it did was bring it in line to fair market value.

I know the comparison to Kohls has been made in the past, I grow so tired of that strategy.

Who looks at rack rate and thinks that they'd ever pay that? I really dislike seeing a price and then a "slash" through it and a new price underneath. Just give me the price. I know I'm not "saving". Don't waste your time. I know I know, there are studies blah blah. I just personally think that they will run into the "wall" with hotel rates. $300 "rack rate" for POR?! I'm never paying that. Not even if its $400 $300

 

[Madonna3]

I know the comparison to Kohls has been made in the past, I grow so tired of that strategy.

Who looks at rack rate and thinks that they'd ever pay that? I really dislike seeing a price and then a "slash" through it and a new price underneath. Just give me the price. I know I'm not "saving". Don't waste your time. I know I know, there are studies blah blah. I just personally think that they will run into the "wall" with hotel rates. $300 "rack rate" for POR?! I'm never paying that. Not even if its $400 $300

I agree with you. I don't like this at all either. However, I think there are still a lot of first timers out there who see the rack rates and just think this is what it costs and when Disney says, "hey, we can save you 20%" they're ecstatic.

 

[dlavender]

I agree with you. I don't like this at all either. However, I think there are still a lot of first timers out there who see the rack rates and just think this is what it costs and when Disney says, "hey, we can save you 20%" they're ecstatic.

That's true. We have experienced $120 POR, so to us $300 is so insane we can't even comprehend it. But future guest/first timers have never experienced it. They've only seen the recent $200 or perhaps the future $300. They won't know any better.

 

[Roxyfire]

That's true. We have experienced $120 POR, so to us $300 is so insane we can't even comprehend it. But future guest/first timers have never experienced it. They've only seen the recent $200 or perhaps the future $300. They won't know any better.

Well also, barring a time machine, there's no way it can happen. When those prices were rack some people (like myself) had $0 to spend on such a vacation. You have to keep in mind that while the recession was keeping prices low for y'all, it was still not accessible if you had no money for it.

 

[dlavender]

Well also, barring a time machine, there's no way it can happen. When those prices were rack some people (like myself) had $0 to spend on such a vacation. You have to keep in mind that while the recession was keeping prices low for y'all, it was still not accessible if you had no money for it.

I don't think the $120 was solely during the recession. It was below $100.

Even 4 years ago I believe it was closer to $160-180, definitely not the recession..

$300 is getting ridiculous. I'm not sure how anyone can disagree.

 

[Roxyfire]

I don't think the $120 was solely during the recession. It was below $100.

Even 4 years ago I believe it was closer to $160-180, definitely not the recession..

$300 is getting ridiculous. I'm not sure how anyone can disagree.

Even 4 years ago a lot of people were still pulling themselves out of disaster.

 

[beer dave]

The recession might be over. But hurricane season is never going away.

Besides, my own theory is that they have increased room rates to a high enough level that they can continue to sustain reasonably large discounts. They might hope to keep those high rates and phase out the discounts regardless, but they still have 30K rooms to keep full every night.

Since hurricane season runs from june 1st until november 30th, I don't think it is deterring peoples trips-- If it was they would have to offer free dinning 6 months out of the year. I think september and early december ish are slow because one is back to school and the summer up north just ended, and the other is pre winter break.

 

[mom2rtk]

Since hurricane season runs from june 1st until november 30th, I don't think it is deterring peoples trips-- If it was they would have to offer free dinning 6 months out of the year. I think september and early december ish are slow because one is back to school and the summer up north just ended, and the other is pre winter break.

Sure, but if I'm not mistaken, it sharply peaks in August/September.

September has the double whammy of being when a huge chunk of WDW's customer base starts back to school. And while many will take kids out for vacation these days, most are hesitant to do so in the first few weeks of school when kids are settling in.