What straw may break your camels back?

[snuggly duckling]

Forgive me if this has been beaten to death on the boards (I'm new here!), but why all the hate for the dining plan? I understand wanting free dining to go away because it makes getting ADRs more challenging, but why do people want the paid version gone too? If you don't like it, don't buy it, right? What am I missing? TIA!

 

[bytheblood]

Forgive me if this has been beaten to death on the boards (I'm new here!), but why all the hate for the dining plan? I understand wanting free dining to go away because it makes getting ADRs more challenging, but why do people want the paid version gone too? If you don't like it, don't buy it, right? What am I missing? TIA!

You are right, you are new.

The dining plan has affected the menus & the ability to get ADRs. Since the inception of the free dining offer, the menus have become the same throughout every restaurant. Nothing is unique. Disney knows they can draw people with this, because they believe they are getting a rockin' value.....in turn we get cruddy menus and limited reservations because people still cheat the system and overbook dining.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Snuggly Duckling -

Forgive me if this has been beaten to death on the boards (I'm new here!), but why all the hate for the dining plan? I understand wanting free dining to go away because it makes getting ADRs more challenging, but why do people want the paid version gone too? If you don't like it, don't buy it, right? What am I missing? TIA!

It's been...

• Beaten to death
• Brought back to life
• Tarred
• Feathered
• Pushed off a cliff
• Butchered

Then...brought back to life again.

 

[si-am]

You are right, you are new.

The dining plan has affected the menus & the ability to get ADRs. Since the inception of the free dining offer, the menus have become the same throughout every restaurant. Nothing is unique. Disney knows they can draw people with this, because they believe they are getting a rockin' value.....in turn we get cruddy menus and limited reservations because people still cheat the system and overbook dining.

This.

People on the dining plan were ordering the most expensive entrees on every menu because it was already paid for and they could.

Disney wised up and cheapened the menus, homogenizing a lot of the offerings so that every restaurant is kind of the same.

Not to mention that lines at CS move so much slower as people try to figure out or even argue over credits.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Earlier today, on the napkin thread, I posted a concern about safety. The wind of change is blowing through Disney, and I am always on the lookout for safety issues. If I felt a significant threat to my family's safety, that would stop me from visiting.

Another straw for me would be a lack of cleanliness. If the resort became revealingly dirty or worn, I would stop visiting.

A third straw for me would be a meaningful decline in customer service. If I am not valued as a guest or treated with respect, it would take the enjoyment out of my visit.

Those are my straws, but I must add that I do like the "show" at Disney. It's what makes the whole experience magical for me. And if Walt Disney World continues to throw away its attention to small details, I do believe the suspension of disbelief will end for me. And that will be a sad, sad day, because I have loved that magic more than anything else Disney has ever provided.

 

[agame2323]

Earlier today, on the napkin thread, I posted a concern about safety. The wind of change is blowing through Disney, and I am always on the lookout for safety issues. If I felt a significant threat to my family's safety, that would stop me from visiting.

Another straw for me would be a lack of cleanliness. If the resort became revealingly dirty or worn, I would stop visiting.

A third straw for me would be a meaningful decline in customer service. If I am not valued as a guest or treated with respect, it would take the enjoyment out of my visit.

Those are my straws, but I must add that I do like the "show" at Disney. It's what makes the whole experience magical for me. And if Walt Disney World continues to throw away its attention to small details, I do believe the suspension of disbelief will end for me. And that will be a sad, sad day, because I have loved that magic more than anything else Disney has ever provided.

Explain "safety issues?" Are you referring to ride safety?

 

[snuggly duckling]

Gotcha. That makes sense. We went this past January and used/loved the non-free meal plan but this was our first trip as adults so we really had nothing to compare it to. We are doing it again for our trip next January but I don't think I could handle being there for free dining! That must be insane! Thanks for indulging a newbie!

 

[LONES]

I don't know that any one thing could lure me off-site. We do really like DME, and if we had to rent a car anyway.... it might make an off-site rental more appealling.

We don't tend to use the EMH much anyway, so that wouldn't bother me too much. However, now that our kids are getting a little older, I could see us utilizing this more.

Dining could be an issue. We've never used the dining plan until this year. We were able to get free dining. With our family of 4, and the fact that we would have done Akerhus, Cape May, Ohana and Tuskerhouse buffet regardless... the free dining worked out to be a pretty good deal for us. I don't like the fact that "free dining" has caused the OOP prices to become completely out of control.... but the fact is they are. I would be hard-pressed to pay those prices once my kids (who eat next to nothing), are considered Disney adults. Once my kids reach that age... I think we'll be eating a lot more counter service (which I still think is reasonably priced). However, I do like a good sit down meal... so that might make off-site more appealing also.

 

[snuggly duckling]

Snuggly Duckling -

It's been...


[*]Beaten to death
[*]Brought back to life
[*]Tarred
[*]Feathered
[*]Pushed off a cliff
[*]Butchered

Then...brought back to life again.

Now this made me laugh

 

[eva]

If they decide to focus specifically on children and families with children in all new offerings, and revamp previous rides and restaurants with that in mind (like taking out Victoria & Albert's to put in another princess meal, cancellation of the Food & Wine Festival to be replaced by a Disney Junior meet and greet or the entire WDW resort decides to go alcohol free), then I'm out of there.

I see the ones the OP posted, they look like straws for many, but I don't park a car there, I don't do morning EMH, and I would love it if the dining plan would go away entirely. I'd assume there are also a few parents for whom my camelback breaking straw would be fabulous.

I second all that you said.

 

[cmpeter]

If the new Fast Pass system isn't available to non-resort guests. We would always stay off property because we are Hilton Grand Vacation Club members and it's close to free for us to stay at an HGVC property. I don't mind if we have to pay to use the new Fast Pass system, but if it was only for resort guests, we wouldn't go back to WDW. The same would be true of DL implemented a similar system/policy.

I should add a disclaimer...our first trip to WDW is scheduled for later this month.

 

[ChipnDalebowl]

Nothing would break my camel's back given the fact I don't go to Disney all that often (nor can afford to), and I don't make a big deal over little things (like napkins! ) I don't use a lot of the things like the dining plan or EMH to really care if they went away. My trip isn't affected, though for a good many it would be, and they visit far more often, stay in deluxe resorts...things I'd never do anyway.

I go for the experience, not to nitpick every little thing Disney ought to do because I said so.

 

[Dan Murphy]

This.

People on the dining plan were ordering the most expensive entrees on every menu because it was already paid for and they could.

Disney wised up and cheapened the menus, homogenizing a lot of the offerings so that every restaurant is kind of the same.

Not to mention that lines at CS move so much slower as people try to figure out or even argue over credits.

Cheapened the offerings, raised the prices, hoping in turn to force even more people into the dining plans, or go for 'free' dining.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Explain "safety issues?" Are you referring to ride safety?

Yes, ride safety and all kinds of safety. I put safety issues at the top of my list: ride safety, crowd control safety, crime prevention, food safety, anti-terrorism measures, etc.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

If the new NextGen limits lengthens waits for locals who are there for the day. We spend plenty of money on our APs and on lots of meals at the parks throughout the year. If too many things become for resort guests only and local AP holders are not taken into account we will consider APs elsewhere.

 

[sunkissed4]

If the new NextGen limits lengthens waits for locals who are there for the day. We spend plenty of money on our APs and on lots of meals at the parks throughout the year. If too many things become for resort guests only and local AP holders are not taken into account we will consider APs elsewhere.

Completely agree with you! I'm nervous to see how it's all going to work out for us local AP holders!

 

[Phatoomch]

To the OP

None of the above. I think the only thing (which will never happen) is if they removed all on-site resorts. I like going inside the Disney bubble and forgetting there is a real world outside.

 

[palmtreelover08]

You know- I totally forgot about the fast-pass thing. Everyone is raising some valid points. Makes me sad that I would even consider skipping Disney or cutting back. Hopefully the straws don't come to pass for any of us

 

[famsen]

I can't believe the people who are saying there is nothing that Disney can do wrong that would stop them from spending their hard earned money there. It boggles my mind.
The free Fastpass system would be a deal breaker for me as well as charging for transportation and taking away what's left of EMH. There would be more but that's all I can fathom at one time.

 

[vicki_c]

I can't believe the people who are saying there is nothing that Disney can do wrong that would stop them from spending their hard earned money there. It boggles my mind.
The free Fastpass system would be a deal breaker for me as well as charging for transportation and taking away what's left of EMH. There would be more but that's all I can fathom at one time.

Well I think you're forgetting that not everyone is the same or values the same things (and I didn't see many people saying there is NOTHING that could happen, just that the things that were mentioned weren't the right items - numerous people did give their own broader lists of what could make them stop visiting).

My family never does EMHs unless forced to (like Easter week or Christmas). I couldn't care less if those go away.

Don't do the dining plan, so don't care what happens with that.

Usually have a car, so transportation options aren't high on my radar. As I said, I've paid to park at Universal even with FL passes, so if I had to pay to park @ Disney, it would be an extra expense, but it wouldn't make me not take a trip there.

We stay either DVC or deluxe, so even if they made the NexGen FP somehow tied to your resort level, it most likely wouldn't impact me. And I have paid for Express Pass at Universal before, so if I had to do that at Disney, I might.

So all the things that are deal breakers for you don't even pique my interest in terms of concerns. People are different.