Was told by a Disney representative that Disney is phasing out the Dining Plan...

[The6ofUs]

Hi, I don't like being the bearer of bad news, but I was told by someone at Disney that they are planning to phase out the Dining Plan. They don't have an exact date yet, but I was told it "will probably be gone by summer."

I was told that many people want the dining plan because they've talked to others who have happily used it, but when they're told that they have to stay on Disney property, they get angry. They want the Dining Plan even if they stay off-property and can get very belligerent about it.

Disney is currently trying to find a way to make everyone happy and are planning to go to the "gift card" concept. People can put money on a gift card and use it to pay regular price for their meals so they won't have to carry cash. It didn't make much sense to me, but that's what I was told.

Has anyone else heard this from a Disney representative?

 

[Allison]

I haven't heard it but be aware Disney CM's can say all sorts of things that are incorrect.

I would be highly suspect of this considering they are now making it available to DVC guests in April. Why would they just start something only to stop it soon after?

Edited to add:

I bet Disney would gladly deal with the 10 angry people who don't want to stay onsite in exchange for the 50 people they get to stay onsite who wouldn't have before. (this is just me speculating and making up numbers as an example.)

 

[Belle5]

The dining plan has been around forever using different names. I agree that CM's are notorious for passing false information.

 

[Allison]

This should be moved to the rumors board.

 

[jennypenny]

Dvc members are now allowed to book the dining plan for trips *beginning* in April. I doubt they would go to that trouble and then dump the plan this summer.

CM's mean well, but their info is not that reliable.

Jenny

 

[BCV23]

May I ask what kind of Disney representative told you this?

I'm with everyone else. It is just starting for DVC members so I don't think it is going away.

It could certainly be modified though.

As far as trying to please folks, I think the focus is to entice them to choose a Disney hotel not create perks for offsite guests.

 

[jarestel]

I suspect one of the main ideas behind the dining plan was to encourage people to stay on site. It seems to have worked, so it would seem a bit strange to abandon it now. But you never know, I guess.

 

[nbodyhome]

I really doubt that Disney would get rid of the dining plan - it is possible that some are upset with not being able to get it offsite, but there are other things that guests can't get either (like early entry).

If Disney did away with it, it'd be due to money - if the plan ended up costing too much. Then again, I'd expect they'd raise the price first.

The food card concept was only just mentioned in the past day or so - but it had to do with the Swan and Dolphin (in the club level thread).

Denise

 

[VernRDH]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but not only do you have to stay on site but also purchase at least 1 days park ticket? When we went in Sept. we stayed 2 nights at POFQ but had passes from the previous year purchased through AAA that we intended to use up. We were told we could not do the Dining plan because we had to buy a park ticket. So for those who book room only are they not eligible to get the dining package? We are booked for this December (soooo far away) and did the whole package-room, tickets, dining. I would be very disappointed if the dining plan was discontinued. Thanks for your help.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If they were to do away with the current plan the only ones who would know in advance would be a few high level managers and some programmers in IT. A message would show up on each person's compter at Reservations and the computers would no longer have the plan available, either right ten or for reservations for arrival aftere a specific date. This is just like the price/procedure changes for Cindy's breakfast which effectrively said for anything more than 90 days out here is the change (when ADRs were maximum 90 days)..

 

[mjkaferle5]

We are already booked for the end of June with the dining plan. I don't think it is going anywhere soon.

 

[slcmkh]

Thanks to all for the reassuring comments on this subject this morning. I saw this post right before shutting down my computer last night and it was rather unsettling on the very day that I finally decided (after weeks of mulling it over) that the dining plan would be worth the considerable $$$ we would have to part with.

We are DVC with 2 adults, 3 adult age children and one child. We have a 2 week BWV vacation coming up this summer and the dining plan, while expensive, will allow my us to spend less time in our room's kitchen and will please two very hungry teenagers. I had just made some significant dining itinerary changes so as to take best advantage of the plan. I'd hate for it to go away only months after it was opened to us DVCers.

Even if it did go away though, we'd still eat at most of the places where we have ADRs. We're pretty excited about our vacation entitled "Disney World 2006 -- It's All About the Food."

 

[bleeps]

Not that it makes it written in stone, but we've booked directly with WDW for our December 2006 trip and it includes the dining plan.... Given that, along with what others have said, it seems to have resulted in keeping all the TS restaurants booked solid, I have to believe that it's generating enough cash/benefit to WDW for them to keep it rolling.

 

[pepperw23]

I would hope, if they do that, they are planning on honoring the dining plans that are already paid for. That would really really make me mad since my trip is already paid in full.

 

[byoung]

To get DP you also pay rack rate for rooms. Unless you are DVC members.

 

[disneytraveler]

This seems highly suspect since people are booking packages which include the dinning plan in for the summer. It is already part of the Mym packages .

 

[cobbler]

I too highly doubt this is going away. Again like others have said why would they allow DVC members to book it starting for April stays to get rid of it shortly after.

If anything they may tweak it but I doubt they are going to do away with it altogether.

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

To get DP you also pay rack rate for rooms. Unless you are DVC members.

We got our pkg. for late June with the AAA discount and it includes the DP. I can't wait to try so many of these great places to eat. I hope this (phasing the DP out) is only rumor and not fact.

 

[La2kw]

Hi, I don't like being the bearer of bad news, but I was told by someone at Disney that they are planning to phase out the Dining Plan. They don't have an exact date yet, but I was told it "will probably be gone by summer."

I was told that many people want the dining plan because they've talked to others who have happily used it, but when they're told that they have to stay on Disney property, they get angry. They want the Dining Plan even if they stay off-property and can get very belligerent about it.

Disney is currently trying to find a way to make everyone happy and are planning to go to the "gift card" concept. People can put money on a gift card and use it to pay regular price for their meals so they won't have to carry cash. It didn't make much sense to me, but that's what I was told.

Has anyone else heard this from a Disney representative?

Disney already has gift cards available in the parks. You can also use your "key to the world" to charge meals and other purchases to your room if you set up a credit account, which would eliminate the need to carry cash. Sounds like the cm is incorrect.

 

[TDC Nala]

no idea why Disney as a business would care that offsite persons are angry that you get perks for staying onsite. They want people to stay onsite.

Unless, of course, the anger from the offsiters is due to the dining plan participants booking up the restaurants.