The real reason POR is being excluded from Free Dining

[aaarcher86]

From what I can tell... POR has not be excluded (or maybe it was just excluded from the Visa promo). Lots of people are getting the FD for POR with and without a PIN. I think this stuff is decided at the marketing level, so if a resort is already at a capacity percentage that they have predetermined is profitable, they probably won't offer discounts (or as many discounts) for that particular resort. Things like people pre-booking or taking advantage of bounce-backs, probably fill a good portion of the more popular resorts.

It's excluded.

A lot of people have gotten pins but no emails and I'm sure there are a few people Disney will throw a bone to. Even with the pins it looks like people are having a hard time getting AB rooms.

 

[Craigdarroch]

It's excluded.

A lot of people have gotten pins but no emails and I'm sure there are a few people Disney will throw a bone to. Even with the pins it looks like people are having a hard time getting AB rooms.

I got the Fall FD PIN in my email last Wednesday and booked POFQ (I also had a choice of POR or several other resorts).

 

[aaarcher86]

I got the Fall FD PIN in my email last Wednesday and booked POFQ (I also had a choice of POR or several other resorts).

Right? It's only included in the pins, not the public offers.

 

[jenrose66]

Do you think the reason the POR is being excluded from Free Dining is because many of their rooms sleep 5, and not so much the fact that it might be booked up already? I do. Just a thought.

I think it is great that Disney is releasing Free Dining this early, room numbers must just not be where they need them to be! But I also am seeing more and more value in having my Disney Visa too! Not planning to go for free dining, but these are just my thoughts.

I bet that if they offer bounce backs this year, they may get a lot more bites at that too.

I thought the same thing with POR being excluded because of the family of 5 thing. I always felt that Disney was a great option for families of 5 because you could still get a relative "deal" with free dining at POR. Or even free dining at AoA the first year it was open since the rooms were averaging $250 a night.

However since AoA is considered a value their incredibly expensive family suites don't get much of a discount and now if they start cutting back on the POR discounts they truly are forcing families of 5 offsite.

When DH and I go back next year with our 3 kids we are planning on staying at Windsor Hills...and since we are offsite anyway we are thinking of taking some days off Disney and trying Universal...which we would have never considered before.

 

[MayorPike]

That is our family in a nutshell. We have made the most of it the past couple of years at POR_AB, staying for 11 and 12 nights w/ 10 day PH, and my Disney adult children have loved every minute of it. The freedom for them of ordering exactly what they want at a restaurant of our choice and not having to worry what it costs has been fabulous. It was a real value for our family.

This year we will be staying a shorter length of time, and we will be spending a lot less. Not sure how this works out for Disney's bottom line. But, they run a business, so they have to do what makes the most economical sense for their bottom line.

We are just happy to be going again for FD and looking forward to trying a new resort this time.

I assume that too many people booked early and planned to upgrade to FD once the offer was released. May have backfired a touch.

As for a 5 in a room: elimination of the 5 person rooms from the offer could actually be the difference in some families making the decision to go, or not go. If I were Disney, then I would offer rooms for 5. I can't believe the profit would be affected very much. But, they are good at what they do..

Enjoy your stay.

 

[Craigdarroch]

Right? It's only included in the pins, not the public offers.

Ahh... got ya. I completely misunderstood and thought people were saying there were no FD PINs or Codes being offered at the POR. Duly noted.

 

[aaarcher86]

Ahh... got ya. I completely misunderstood and thought people were saying there were no FD PINs or Codes being offered at the POR. Duly noted.

It's cool. We were on the same page the whole time it seems

 

[kaytieeldr]

While I understand Disney is a business and no discount should be expected, I do think they could modify somethings. For example, my family of 5, 3 girls ages 10, 7 and 4, will cost Disney less to give the dinning plan to than a family of four adults. I also don't see why a moderate room cannot fit a trundle for a 5th person? I understand occupancy rules, but seriously a child under 5 does not take up that much room.

Why not allow a family of five with a child aged 5 or under book a moderate room with a trundle?

It's not the amount of space an individual uses in a room. It's the hotel's overall capacity to provide services for all the guests. Increasing capacity by 20% would overtax pools, restaurants, maintenance, transportation...

 

[eastcoastmom]

Anyone hear anymore on POR being offered later? Same boat here with three kids, 10, 7 & 12. POR was perfect for our budget, have called three times in a week and no pin codes for us. I've never before received one and was last at disney 2011, we've both (hubby) subscribed and requested DVD etc. we've had the disney destination emails saying we have package offer to call for it, but I see it's just regular dining, please send pixie dust our way.

 

[WDW1979]

I don't understand the mentality that profit of any kind by Disney is bad or unwarranted. Yes, you may not eat $60 worth of food in a day or your kids may be under 9, but there are hundreds of employees being paid each day to provide the accomodations and food for you. From Housekeeping, to security, to front desk, to dishwasher,to hostess, to reservationist, to maintenance, to the person selling you a mickey bar, to the person who cleans and stocks the ice cream cooler, to the person cooking fries or stocks the buffet, to the lifeguard. It costs alot to make you vacation magical. If they have decided that a RO discount makes more sense than free dining there is clearly good reason, not a personal attempt to keep your family from having a vacation. So please keep that in mind, consider still experiencing Disney at a different resort, shorten your stay or consider not doing the dining plan. We are a family of 5 and save money every year by being lucky enough to get a room only discount(and I do consider it lucky because disney does not have to give a discount), we stay for ten days, but don't do the dining plan. We eat maybe 3 table service meals the entire trip, and split many counter service meals. You don't have to get dessert every meal. You don't have to stay onsite. The fact that you may have been lucky enough to get POR during the holidays in the past was luck and the result of a bad economy. Disney did not owe it to you. I am willing to go without a discount, and just made a reservation for Boma for my September trip and will be paying for it and for my room for family of five. For everyone getting free dining, great have a great time, pick a resort that is offering it. But don't be mad that you have picked a resort not offering it. Disney has the right to make a profit and we have the right to decide where we vacation.

I don't think what you have written is a revelation to anyone. I certainly don't think Disney owes me anything beyond what I pay for, and while I may be disappointed from time to time that a particular offer is not available to me, that doesn't mean I think Disney owes me anything or that I need a lecture.

Best wishes to those who are able to take advantage of the current free dining offer.

 

[eastcoastmom]

Some of us aren't as fortunate to go annually like others, some save for a few years to go, some need to pay $2,000-$3,000 to get there. Disney doesn't owe us anything and were aware of all the staff and cast members that are there to make the vacation the magical one it is when were there. Disney owes us nothing, thanks for your input, but that's not how we feel
Pixie dust for everyone who needs it!

 

[wdwmaw]

I am sorry but I do think Disney does owe me sometimes. I don't spend nearly as much as many others do but Disney has our hearts and our sole vacation dollars. When Walt created Disney and Disney World he did it for families to enjoy, not just the rich. Walt treated his employees with respect and the bottom line was the guest, not the bottom dollar. In recent years Disney's shift has been to show profit to shareholders period, and some will say at any expense putting the cost of profit on the backs of guests while executives fill their bank accounts. I don't understand the whole mentality that Disney deserves to bank roll billions and because they are Disney they can charge whatever they want and I should put a smile on my face because

The PIN I received says it is clearly for "return guest", that wording in itself says that they acknowledge my previous visits and want to extend a special offer for "my family" period. Our world evolves on the concept of those that frequent a business, cruise, travel destination do in fact receive special pricing and discounts. For example I carry a Kroger card, get the 7th drink free at local gas station, colleges give scholarships for hard work and determination, and on and on. I am sure everyone that reads this can give a couple of examples of how their frequent visits offer them better discounts or perks, why should Disney be thought of any differently? Heck the lady that cuts my hair charges $35 but she still charges me $20 since I have been with her so long, I now tip very well and I see her point.

We have enjoyed Disney 1-2 times a year spending 12-14 nights each visit for the last 20 years and will continue to spend all our vacation dollars at Disney for years to come. Disney has changed a lot in those years and the value for the dollar is not what it use to be. We hope that Disney will change it focus back to employees and guests satisfaction. Could sites like the DIS play a part in the way Disney has changed? The way they discount? We recently saw this here, Disney is banking on message boards getting the word out and those pre booking and they are reading everything g we say. Many of us called and called for people not to book till discounts were released and many listened. Low and behold bookings were down and Disney offered FD. When people are booking early, posting everywhere that Disney does not owe anyone anything, and posting they are going with or without a discount how do you think Disney Executives see that??? Yep, I expect them to offer me something.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[aaarcher86]

I am sorry but I do think Disney does owe me sometimes. I don't spend nearly as much as many others do but Disney has our hearts and our sole vacation dollars. When Walt created Disney and Disney World he did it for families to enjoy, not just the rich. Walt treated his employees with respect and the bottom line was the guest, not the bottom dollar. In recent years Disney's shift has been to show profit to shareholders period, and some will say at any expense putting the cost of profit on the backs of guests while executives fill their bank accounts. I don't understand the whole mentality that Disney deserves to bank roll billions and because they are Disney they can charge whatever they want and I should put a smile on my face because The PIN I received says it is clearly for "return guest", that wording in itself says that they acknowledge my previous visits and want to extend a special offer for "my family" period. Our world evolves on the concept of those that frequent a business, cruise, travel destination do in fact receive special pricing and discounts. For example I carry a Kroger card, get the 7th drink free at local gas station, colleges give scholarships for hard work and determination, and on and on. I am sure everyone that reads this can give a couple of examples of how their frequent visits offer them better discounts or perks, why should Disney be thought of any differently? Heck the lady that cuts my hair charges $35 but she still charges me $20 since I have been with her so long, I now tip very well and I see her point. We have enjoyed Disney 1-2 times a year spending 12-14 nights each visit for the last 20 years and will continue to spend all our vacation dollars at Disney for years to come. Disney has changed a lot in those years and the value for the dollar is not what it use to be. We hope that Disney will change it focus back to employees and guests satisfaction. Could sites like the DIS play a part in the way Disney has changed? The way they discount? We recently saw this here, Disney is banking on message boards getting the word out and those pre booking and they are reading everything g we say. Many of us called and called for people not to book till discounts were released and many listened. Low and behold bookings were down and Disney offered FD. When people are booking early, posting everywhere that Disney does not owe anyone anything, and posting they are going with or without a discount how do you think Disney Executives see that??? Yep, I expect them to offer me something. Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Starbucks has my heart and soul nearly every morning. Doesn't mean they owe me anything.

These message boards have no impact on discounts. Bookings do. Disney offers bounce backs for return visitors. They send pins. They offer discounts. Are those not equivalent to your examples? They aren't, however, going to offer something that isn't to their benefit. We will just have to agree to disagree on what's 'owed' to each other.