What are the chances of another free ddp?

[krystalleigh1]

I'm planning a family vacation to disney in December. Do you think they'll offer the free ddp at that time too? If you think they may, when will they start advertising? If I book now, and they later offer the free ddp, am I just out of luck or can I add it? Thanks.

 

[Delaware Mike]

I'm planning a family vacation to disney in December. Do you think they'll offer the free ddp at that time too? If you think they may, when will they start advertising? If I book now, and they later offer the free ddp, am I just out of luck or can I add it? Thanks.

no flames....my response is given with complete respect and sincerity:

Unfortunately, given what's happened in the world this past week, vacation travel might be affected once again. If attendance drops, free DDP might be used to increase park attendance.

I really hope my response is proven wrong....

 

[JimMIA]

I doubt very seriously that they will offer free dining before August '07...if they offer it then. The existing holiday events, weather, decorations, and crowds at the DVC resorts make it unnecessary.

Also, if they do free dining too often, it loses it's marketing appeal. If they offered it this December, nobody would sign up for it next August when they'll need the marketing push.

I don't think the recent terrorist arrests will greatly impact travel. It's a lot safer to travel today than it was a couple of weeks ago. The new procedures will certainly make travel inconvenient until people get used to the tighter precautions, but I don't think the overall effect will be severe or last long.

 

[F1Julie]

I don't think we'll see free dining again until next August/September. December is becoming a more popular time to go and WDW can fill rooms up just fine without a great promotion like free dining. If anything at all, there may be a room only code or maybe the free hopper/plus features on base tickets. My guess is that there will be no discounts at all though.

 

[aubriee]

I agree with the last two posters. We were there last Sept during the free dining period and even though the TS restaraunts were packed, the parks were empty. We walked on (or had maybe 5-10 minute waits) on almost every ride. The day we went to MGM it was like a ghost town. We never even came close to standing on a bus. On the other hand, I went back in Dec and had much longer waits and alot of the buses were standing room only. Free dining has been used to draw people to Florida during the hurricane season (extreme heat, summer rainstorms, kids just back to school, chance of hurricanes, etc). WDW doesn't need it for Dec.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I wonder if it will even be offered next Aug/Sept. Like Jim said, it might lose it's marketing appeal. Maybe they will skip a year and offer it in 2008.

 

[Pedler]

I wonder if it will even be offered next Aug/Sept. Like Jim said, it might lose it's marketing appeal. Maybe they will skip a year and offer it in 2008.

I would have bet money that they wouldn't have offered it again this year for the same reasons that Jim said but yet they did again.

I looked at Mousesavers.com for some of the historical savings and it appears that for the last few years during that time they have offered something that would have about the same monetary value, plus or minus $100, for your typical family of 4 with 2 kids staying for a week.

Given that they do seem to offer something substantial at during that time period historically and that they are pushing to keep people on site I would imagine that whatever they offer will include dinning as a componet. Personally I thought this year they would have offered some sort of buy 4 get 2 - 3 days free type of program but make the DDP and park tickets required. The problem with that is you are just targeting the people staying for 6 days or more. By offering the dinning plan free for 3 night stays and longer you cover more people while still accomplishing the goal of trying to get them to spend more time / money on site.

Either way for us seeing as we would go for a week and get park hoppers for the week with the DDP anything they offer that is in the same ball park works for us.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I would have bet money that they wouldn't have offered it again this year for the same reasons that Jim said but yet they did again.

True, but three years in a row?? I don't know. Let's just say, I HOPE they do. Not that we will be able to use it (not going to be a WDW year next year ), but it would be great for others.

I looked at Mousesavers.com for some of the historical savings and it appears that for the last few years during that time they have offered something that would have about the same monetary value, plus or minus $100, for your typical family of 4 with 2 kids staying for a week.

Given that they do seem to offer something substantial at during that time period historically and that they are pushing to keep people on site I would imagine that whatever they offer will include dinning as a componet.

Either way for us seeing as we would go for a week and get park hoppers for the week with the DDP anything they offer that is in the same ball park works for us.

We have gotten discounts in the past and they were great, but nothing compares to this one for us. It's most assuredly because we are five people, only one being a child, so this translates to $163 a day discount for us. Unbelievable!!

 

[bicker]

I'd put the probability at 68.3%

 

[MyGoofy26]

I wonder if it will even be offered next Aug/Sept. Like Jim said, it might lose it's marketing appeal. Maybe they will skip a year and offer it in 2008.

I almost wonder what the actual purpose of this plan is. . . whether to boost attendance, or to hook people on the dining plan? I guess a combination of both could could be possible. Pretty much any "deal" Disney offers only gives a couple percent boost to attendance, which sure, it helps. But I remember reading last year all sorts of reports of people being sold on the plan. It seems like this would be the better marketing angle for Disney. Just look at the word of mouth - they had to create a whole subforum for the plan here! So Disney offers this to people during a slow period so that it doesn't cost them *as* much, those people then in turn get hooked and tell all their friends, families, and acquaintences and urge them to book their trips with the dining plan. So now instead of a bunch of people booking room only, you have people booking packages so they too can "maximize" the value of the dining plan.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I almost wonder what the actual purpose of this plan is. . . whether to boost attendance, or to hook people on the dining plan? I guess a combination of both could could be possible. Pretty much any "deal" Disney offers only gives a couple percent boost to attendance, which sure, it helps. But I remember reading last year all sorts of reports of people being sold on the plan. It seems like this would be the better marketing angle for Disney. Just look at the word of mouth - they had to create a whole subforum for the plan here! So Disney offers this to people during a slow period so that it doesn't cost them *as* much, those people then in turn get hooked and tell all their friends, families, and acquaintences and urge them to book their trips with the dining plan. So now instead of a bunch of people booking room only, you have people booking packages so they too can "maximize" the value of the dining plan.

Yeah, I'll buy that. It sure does seem popular to a lot of people on the boards. I still don't think it would be right for our family, though. But who knows, maybe we'll be one of the families that find out they can't live without it.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

They got me! I never considered DDP, until DH and I got it FREE last August ... what a GREAT deal!! There are six of us (we're bringing the girls this year) and we're getting the FREE DDP ... an even BETTER deal!! NOW I would consider purchasing it if we go when it's not offered for free (of course!!)

 

[elastigirl]

IMO, the promotions offered at this time of year are to get people to travel during hurricane season. And it's working. And, it's getting people to pay rack rate to travel during hurricane season. It also creates a captive audience for Disney dining. With the dining plan, you have guests eating 2 meals a day on Disney property, not going off-property to eat less expensive meals.

OP - If they do offer it again, I think it'll be for the same time of year (or there will be another hurricane season discount of some sort). I think there's very little chance of having a major promotion come out for this December however.