This forum is called "Rumors and News"...

[ChoppityChops]

not "Post a detailed description here about why you deserve/NEED free dining"

There are other sections of this board for people to post their personal travel plans/wishes/wants/"needs". Go there.

 

[rteetz]

While I some what agree, free dining has become the biggest promotion Disney does. People think if they don't release dining it will be the end of the world. I've never done free dining because I can't go during that season. If I were able to I would probably take advantage of it but if it didn't come out I would still go to Disney.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The obsession with free dining is beyond tired...


First, it will eventually go away...and no similar replacement I'll be coming after... So I really think people need to back off it a little or at least frame it properly...

Can you imagine how many thread there would be if the got rid of it next year (or after)? I mean dear god...like the asteroid suddenly appeared over brazil...

It would be nice if it is seen for what what it is.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

First, it will eventually go away...and no similar replacement I'll be coming after...
It would be nice if it is seen for what what it is.

"No replacement"? How will they get people to come and stay at the Resorts during the slow seasons?

What should people be seeing about what it really *is*?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

"No replacement"? How will they get people to come and stay at the Resorts during the slow seasons?

What should people be seeing about what it really *is*?

They will of course have promos...no question...

But not to the severity of yield $159-200 a day per room in Coronado or Caribbean...

It was spawned by the housing crash...when everyone realized that their broker lied and they weren't...in fact... Gonna live the dream. I still can't believe a $55,000 income in Kansas can't cover a $425,000 mortgage...who'd a thunk?

Just a thought...it seems this years version is pretty severely pared down as compared to last... Which means bookings are stronger OR they are tightening the screws on it a little.

What free dining needs is a good recession

 

[Laketravis]

I still can't believe a $55,000 income in Kansas can't cover a $425,000 mortgage...who'd a thunk?

And I still can't believe rack rate for Club Level Theme Park View at the Floridian is over $1300 a night during the last week of December. Who'd a thunk?

What free dining needs is a good recession

I certainly agree with that! I'm looking forward to the next economic downturn; our recreational dollars will certainly go much farther than they do right now when everyone (not just Disney) is pushing the "how much more can we charge?" envelope....

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I certainly agree with that! I'm looking forward to the next economic downturn; our recreational dollars will certainly go much farther than they do right now when everyone (not just Disney) is pushing the "how much more can we charge?" envelope....

Ok... Tongue and cheek and all...this is one of the worst things that they have done over the last few years and most everyone Is oblivious to it

Disney price increases over the 2003-2013 (great micechat write up on this) in hotel rates were between 60 and 80% over noemal

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I certainly agree with that! I'm looking forward to the next economic downturn; our recreational dollars will certainly go much farther than they do right now when everyone (not just Disney) is pushing the "how much more can we charge?" envelope....

Ok... Tongue in cheek aside... This is something I've been screaming about for five years and the light has not switched on really at all...

Micechat did a good write up on how Disney hotel prices have increased over normal inflation by 60-90% from 2003-2013...while comparable (Marriott and portofino bay) increase 20-30% in the same period.

The example was a $299 (2003 price...I'll remind everyone that it was a motor lodge that opened for $29 a night in 71 and remains almost identical) at the poly would cost $371 at normal Inflation in 2013...but actually cost $562. Laughable.

In the actual bubble crash...2008-2012 roughly...the base ticket went from $71-$89...and they went ahead and eliminated childrens pricing for no valid reason. That is a flat, no joke 25% increase...6.25% annually...in the worst travel economy in really decades...

2000 price was $46...now a cool $100 for "new fantasyland"

I've tried to convince people of this since 09...nobody believes me.
You can celebrate your free dining discount all you want...they've made us all bleed... Permanently...
really in bad taste too...if you want to be honest.

Not even gonna scratch the dining changes/costs...I'll blow an o-ring.

Kidding aside...the consumer in LBV has really failed themselves here...feeding a monster that needed to be stung. (Myself...regrettably...included)

 

[Laketravis]

I've tried to convince people of this since 09...nobody believes me.

I believe you.

I only rationalize the "Free Dining" because without it, well... we would have paid an additional $2500 this upcoming holiday season had we purchased it.

But yes - the increases have been both substantial and arguably greedy. And lately, it's not just Disney - rooms I was paying $125 a night for last year are now over $200 a night in "name that town"......

Apparently the economy IS doing better if they can keep jacking up the prices and people keep paying them.

Which is why I agreed with your comment above - what we need is a good old-fashioned recession!

 

[set1208]

Can I add my two cents about this stupid free dining?

I booked the memory maker package a while back because our travel dates are firm. Regardless of price or promotion, we are going Sept 24-29. I had Sports for five nights, 3 day tix no hopper, QS and the memory maker as my original package for about $1300 for myself and my DS8. Well I got on the Free Dining crazy train and I waited on hold for an hour...after trying to simply connect for 15 minutes, only to find out that if I switched things around, kept everything and got the "free dining" I only saved TEN DOLLARS.

Free dining is just another way to lure you in by recouping that cost by charging the full room rate.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Apparently the economy IS doing better if they can keep jacking up the prices and people keep paying them.!

The movers and shakers are squirreling away for the next disaster...

I'm neither a doomsday person nor a conspiracy theorist...

It's just a matter of math and we are pleasantly smiling in line at walmart while it gets closer...

And then I picked up a copy of Capital in the 21st Century...

That's gonna stir me up

 

[Laketravis]

It's just a matter of math and we are pleasantly smiling in line at walmart while it gets closer...

LOL!

True. Very true.

 

[beer dave]

not "Post a detailed description here about why you deserve/NEED free dining"

There are other sections of this board for people to post their personal travel plans/wishes/wants/"needs". Go there.

Agreed-- but unfortunately when and if they are offering free dining can be considered news. Just not news the majority here care about. Unless it is news that they are cancelling it.

 

[manning]

Ok... Tongue and cheek and all...this is one of the worst things that they have done over the last few years and most everyone Is oblivious to it

Disney price increases over the 2003-2013 (great micechat write up on this) in hotel rates were between 60 and 80% over noemal

You don't get. It's free! Free I tell ya.

Free, the magic word. Like the relative who owned a grocery store. An item wasn't selling. He put it on sale at 33 1/3 percent off. Still wouldn't sell. Changed it to buy three and get one free. It flew off the shelf. Now that was a 25 percent discount.

 

[beer dave]

You don't get. It's free! Free I tell ya.

Free, the magic word. Like the relative who owned a grocery store. An item wasn't selling. He put it on sale at 33 1/3 percent off. Still wouldn't sell. Changed it to buy three and get one free. It flew off the shelf. Now that was a 25 percent discount.

And the real beauty is that by the time the items were sold, someone had eaten half of the contents...... maybe a mouse...

 

[manning]

Another myth buster.

The government keeps telling you that inflation is low. It is relatively....if you don't include food and fuel.


The real rate is around 10% if not more. Don't believe it? Explain the rise in the cost of meat.

For those on social security, how do you think they limit your cost of living increase? 1-2 percent. Yet your out of pocket increase is well above that.

Another slight of hand.

There is no such thing as free. One way or another you pay for what you get.

 

[michelleiada]

People that get free dining are paying rack rates for their rooms correct? So it really isn't free. It is worked into the price of your package! It's just clever marketing...people love to get something for nothing, or "free". Disney is always offering package discounts...this is just another one of those. Another way to fill their resorts during historically quieter seasons. Some discounts are better than others but they also offer 30% off nightly room rates...if staying deluxe this is a better savings than free dining.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

People that get free dining are paying rack rates for their rooms correct? So it really isn't free. It is worked into the price of your package! It's just clever marketing...people love to get something for nothing, or "free". Disney is always offering package discounts...this is just another one of those. Another way to fill their resorts during historically quieter seasons. Some discounts are better than others but they also offer 30% off nightly room rates...if staying deluxe this is a better savings than free dining.[/ QUOTE]

I am one of those people that was hoping for the free dining. I know it's not actually free but for my family it works out better. I have a 15 year old and a 21 year old. I stay at a moderate hotel the best room only discount I can get would be 25% off. This would save me about $400 for the 9 nights I am staying there. I did my math we would not be able to eat for the week for $400. So yes I wanted the fee dining discount. I don't understand why others care. If getting a RO discount works better for you than go that way.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I don't understand why others care. If getting a RO discount works better for you than go that way.

Love it!

GigiDisney...I agree...it's a "to each their own" kind of thing.

 

[ponyboy]

not "Post a detailed description here about why you deserve/NEED free dining"

There are other sections of this board for people to post their personal travel plans/wishes/wants/"needs". Go there.

I heard a rumor that they're going to turn this forum into the "Free Dining Rumors, News, Requests and Complaints Forum".