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

[handicap18]

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

Not that having their restaurants booked is a bad thing. They want their restaurants full.

It makes sence to have "perks" for staying at a WDW resort. You pay a little more you should get a little more. Its fine if you want to stay outside the park, but don't expect to get what those that are staying in the park get.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We are booked for August with Dining Plan. I have been kicking around all sorts of scenarios with tickets etc. and I think we would save more with an AP than we would with the dining, especially after DS turns 10. So if they keep the plan through our August trip I'll be perfectly happy. If not, I'll be miffed but as long as it is more than 45 days out I will just reconfigure our package.

 

[Lewisc]

Disney is going to get rid of the dining plan because offsite guests are upset.

MAKES NO SENSE. Disney provides perks such as EMH, free theme park parking and EMH to encourage onsite resort reservations.

Disney sets up packages and rates on an annual basis. It's doubtful if any major changes to the plan will occur before 1/1/07.

 

[zippehsmom]

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

We had the dining package in December and we had a room discount. They had room only discounts along with package discounts. So, we did not pay rack rate for the room.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I do not know how many times I have known things that the CM did not (because of this forum).

I cannot see them doing away with the dining plan even though I do not care one way or another. Too much food for this dieter.

I did hear from a couple of CM's (who knows if it is true or not though) that they are thinking of some sort of a wristband with your credit card info encoded so you could walk around and buy things easier. That sounded like a good idea to me.

I would not be surprised if, in the far off future, people had thier info encoded into a device implanted under their skin. (only half kidding)

I was also told that a Finding Nemo attraction will be taking the place of Tarzan Rocks. The CM said she was not certain but that she had heard a 'water curtain" had been ordered. (zzzzzzzzz, cannot see me wanting to see that but I will give it a try, IF it happens)

As with everything I hear, I just wait and see what happens. Will deal with it then. Too much going on for me to spend a whole lot of time thinking about what MIGHT happen.

Slightly Goofy

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The water park near us (owned by Six Flags) has waterproof wristbands that you load with a certain amount of credit so you don't have to carry anything around with you. We did that last summer and it was really convenient. I can't see where having a "card" to carry around is any different than carrying a credit card or charging back to the room!

We booked a package through AAA that gives us 15% off the rack rate of our room, so the room isn't quite as much as it would be ordinarily. We figure we save about $250 - $300 with the Dining Plan and add that to our savings on the room.

But I have been sitting here fooling with numbers and we could potentially save WAY more with an AP & DDE depending on what the AP rates for our trip might be. And that only takes one trip into account! If we could go back for one (or two...) more trips within the year then we would really be in good shape! I'll have to watch and see!

 

[SelectTheGold]

We just booked the dining package for our June 23 trip.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Just because people are still booking the dining plan now, doesn't mean that they aren't going to change it. Of course Disney would still honor what peopl ehave paid for - just like they are honoring people who have book the Castle breakfast under the old rules. But that has absolutely no bearing on them potentially changing the program.

Having said that, a rumor is just that. I do wonder though if they might be considering a dining program that anyone could use. Think about it - if you had to buy park tickets to get it - it might encourage offsite people to buy more park days and stay at WDW longer (As opposed to going to other Orlando attractions or eating offsite) Anything to keep peopleon property more is in there interest. Also, you can't ge tthe dining plan with a passholder discount. I'm sure they have gotten lots of complaints about that!

 

[Princess Mommy]

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.

I am a TA, I was told this as well- but this ONLY applies to groups traveling to Disney on an alread deeply discounted room group rate.

I would assume the Disney Dining Plan for those traveling outside groups, etc will be around for years to come- it is too great a deal, for both Disney & their guests- and Disney has more rooms sold at rack rate with this plan then they ever had before & guests feel the trade off is far better becuase they can eat better then they had before. Trick is a lot of meal credits are wasted because it truly is a lot of food- and people are certainly over eating - simply because they can afford steak & lobster every night for dinner on the plan- with an appetizer and dessert!

 

[zulaya]

I find it interesting that the OP hasn't come back to this thread to answer any of the questions posed by other posters...

 

[The6ofUs]

I am a TA, I was told this as well- but this ONLY applies to groups traveling to Disney on an alread deeply discounted room group rate.

I would assume the Disney Dining Plan for those traveling outside groups, etc will be around for years to come- it is too great a deal, for both Disney & their guests- and Disney has more rooms sold at rack rate with this plan then they ever had before & guests feel the trade off is far better becuase they can eat better then they had before. Trick is a lot of meal credits are wasted because it truly is a lot of food- and people are certainly over eating - simply because they can afford steak & lobster every night for dinner on the plan- with an appetizer and dessert!

Princess Mommy, thanks so much for posting this! I was talking to a groups representative about an educational group trip when she told me that the dining plan would be discontinued, so your clarification makes sense. She assumed that what she had heard about the groups program was for everyone, when it only applied to groups.

I'm so sorry for the concern I caused. I was trying to give everyone a heads-up, but ended up causing needless worry. I apologize.

 

[The6ofUs]

I find it interesting that the OP hasn't come back to this thread to answer any of the questions posed by other posters...

Zulaya, do you think that because I was only able to sign back on around 12 or so hours after I posted my message that I have evil intentions?

 

[nbodyhome]

I cannot see them doing away with the dining plan even though I do not care one way or another. Too much food for this dieter.

Same here - but the dining plan has been successful. If there are loopholes that need to be fixed, I'm sure they will take care of it. And any packages that are booked already, will have the dining plan no matter what happens.

Just like last year with the silver package (and other Dream Maker packages).

Denise

 

[pepperw23]

I do not know how many times I have known things that the CM did not (because of this forum).

I cannot see them doing away with the dining plan even though I do not care one way or another. Too much food for this dieter.

I did hear from a couple of CM's (who knows if it is true or not though) that they are thinking of some sort of a wristband with your credit card info encoded so you could walk around and buy things easier. That sounded like a good idea to me.

I would not be surprised if, in the far off future, people had thier info encoded into a device implanted under their skin. (only half kidding)

I was also told that a Finding Nemo attraction will be taking the place of Tarzan Rocks. The CM said she was not certain but that she had heard a 'water curtain" had been ordered. (zzzzzzzzz, cannot see me wanting to see that but I will give it a try, IF it happens)

As with everything I hear, I just wait and see what happens. Will deal with it then. Too much going on for me to spend a whole lot of time thinking about what MIGHT happen.

Slightly Goofy

You may not be too far off with the "Under the skin" thing. Where I live we can pay for groceries now with our fingerprint. I personaly have not signed up for it, but it looks pretty cool.

 

[goofy4tink]

Zulaya, do you think that because I was only able to sign back on around 12 or so hours after I posted my message that I have evil intentions?

Don't worry about it. You were just trying to be helpful. Most of us, at some time or another, have posted info that was wrong or a bit off.

 

[pbharris4]

I doubt they will discontinue it anytime soon. DVCers will be so upset (myself included). It's another perk for staying on site whether you are a DVC member or not.

 

[Terk-1]

I booked a MYW package with the dining plan for my trip at the end of November. I hope this is just a rumor, as this is the first time I've booked a package. It just worked out well with the passes & dining.

If you already booked and starting paying for or have paid for this in full, how would this effect your package? Would they honor your package or just refund you the money for the dining portion?

 

[Allison]

I booked a MYW package with the dining plan for my trip at the end of November. I hope this is just a rumor, as this is the first time I've booked a package. It just worked out well with the passes & dining.

If you already booked and starting paying for or have paid for this in full, how would this effect your package? Would they honor your package or just refund you the money for the dining portion?

You are worrying for nothing.

 

[Allison]

I find it interesting that the OP hasn't come back to this thread to answer any of the questions posed by other posters...

I don't. Not everyone can be online every few hours.

 

[ceejay13]

They are just starting this perk for us DVC members in April so I would doubt that they would start only to quickly discontinue it. I can see it being problematic for groups but not individual bookings.