New DDP option and FREE Dining!

[beroh2253]

Well if they change it any more I don't know, I've been there 3 years in a row last week in Sept. including this year and we even went this past June and paid for the DDPbut got a small room discount thru AAA, maybe I'm in a rut thats what people at work think, once to Disney in a life time is enough they say and some were never there. I'm a repeater been there 12 times now and maybe it is time for a change and Disney will help with that. So bring on the change, I know I'll be back just not as often there are other places to explore. Life will go on

 

[Disney_Angel]

If this is the new free dining, I wonder if they'll offer the basic and deluxe plans for a discount.

This year I got the free DDP on a bounceback and we were allowed to upgrade to the DxDDP. If I remember correctly it was for just a little less then the (what I call) basic DDP.

We felt like we got a good deal so we decided to stay at a value resort for two weeks this visit. Next year I was hoping for either a code or free DDP so we could stay at a moderate or a deluxe. In 2005 we stayed at CBR I was surprised at how the rooms were almost the SAME size. But it was scenic and tranquil.

 

[photobob]

Just a thought that I stole from another poster from the DVC board. Some other food for thought (like the play on words?), could free dining in the future be: free CS plan with a stay in a moderate or value and the TS plan for those staying in deluxe accommodations? Just throwing some thoughts out there...

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I bet it will be. I just hope if it is you can upgrade to the basic like they could this year to the deluxe. We are going next Sept. and hoping for free dining but I want the basic plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

There is already a very active thread about speculation that the new CS plan will be the plan offered for free dining, so I am merging the two threads.

 

[vellamint]

I dont consider free dining free because I had to give up my room discount to get it......we stay at the values so for us the difference is "only" about $60 a night but truthfully if I had to eat counterservice our whole trip in order to receive this dining plan for free we would not do it. For slightly more money we could hop off site (we ALWAYS have a car) and do fast food for 2 meals a day......

Honestly I love Disney and if we were a family of 5 or less I might feel differently but since we ARE a family of 6 and need to get two rooms we would not even stay onsite if it werent for the current promotion. We are giving up space in order to have the "free" dining.

 

[buckeyebill1995]

I think this is great news! This should stop or slow the 'watering down' of the menus at the TS restaurants and increase reservation flexibility. It also gives people another option outside of free dining periods.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think this is great news! This should stop or slow the 'watering down' of the menus at the TS restaurants and increase reservation flexibility. It also gives people another option outside of free dining periods.

It might increase the odds of getting a reservation at TS, but I wouldn't count on it changing the menus much.

 

[bangzoom6877]

The bottom line is that Disney is still a business, and the biggest one in America (they employ more people than any other company or corporation in the country). They are smart and know how to make money and they know they will keep doing so. After all, who is going to give up their Disney vacation because prices go up or free dining is cut back? The majority still go. Many complain about it but they still go and Disney gets their money, which is the whole point of the business!

And they are geniuses about it...fly to Orlando, get free transportation to your Disney resort, free transportation anywhere else in Disney, Hess gas stations all over the place, convenience items in their resort shops (including half gallons of milk and family-size snacks!), tell me why it is necessary to rent a car? People then, in turn, feel they saved by not renting a car, and so they give even more money to Disney!

I will always go to Disney...the cost will not go up so much to make it unaffordable for us (hopefully!). At times it may take some more careful planning on our part, but I will always go. And I had the dining pan this trip (first time), and thought it was a great deal, whereas many others who had it last year as well thought it was a rip-off in comparison. Having no basis of comparison, I thought it was a great deal and probably would have even if we had gone before with the old DDP!
And I totally agree that Disney is not giving you gourmet food no matter what they might lead you to think. Neither are cruise ships anymore for that matter.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Here's my two cents: even if the new plan is the 'free' promo, they will probably allow you to add on the more expensive plans if you pay the difference. They did this this year with the new deluxe plan.

 

[bigbabyblues]

It would be fine for free dining. However, we don't like to eat much CS, so it won't work for us. It doesn't matter, we don't go during free dining, and even if we did, I wouldn't complain about it, just pay the difference to upgrade.

 

[kelma]

We are a family who would not do Free Dining if the Counter Service only plan is the one that is offered. The ONLY reason we go during Sept. is because of free dining. We will still go, but during a milder month and use a room discount instead and pay for DDP. Just not worth the heat of Sept. for 2 counter service meals a day

 

[tina_la]

We are a family who would not do Free Dining if the Counter Service only plan is the one that is offered. The ONLY reason we go during Sept. is because of free dining. We will still go, but during a milder month and use a room discount instead and pay for DDP. Just not worth the heat of Sept. for 2 counter service meals a day

You took the words out of my mouth.

They will keep cutting back until their numbers drop. If they change it to CS during FD we will be one of the ones staying home next September. Maybe they will change it back if enough people do this. For my family of 5 even paying the difference from CS to DDP cuts into any discount I feel we would need to go. Maybe we will look into cost of going another time during the year maybe not

 

[Disney_Angel]

We are a family who would not do Free Dining if the Counter Service only plan is the one that is offered. The ONLY reason we go during Sept. is because of free dining. We will still go, but during a milder month and use a room discount instead and pay for DDP. Just not worth the heat of Sept. for 2 counter service meals a day

This is a VERY good point. I enjoy my TS to get out of the heat and cool down and have a nice meal with my family.... that is one reason we decided on DxDDP this year.

 

[Brooknwdw]

We are a family who would not do Free Dining if the Counter Service only plan is the one that is offered. The ONLY reason we go during Sept. is because of free dining. We will still go, but during a milder month and use a room discount instead and pay for DDP. Just not worth the heat of Sept. for 2 counter service meals a day

Exactly.

I homeschool my kids, so we can go anytime of year. I would not go during the heat of September just for free CS.

I love the dining plan, whether free or if I am paying for it, and I like the idea of having choices (different levels)..but to go to Disney during hurricane season and heat, I would want TS as we have had this year and in the past.

 

[SurfinTX]

Not really an issue for me because with kids in school I can't travel these dates. I do have to say I'm very tempted not to use any plan next year with all the news that has been coming out about menu shrinking and less options with snacks.

The more I think about it the more I think we should pull our $2400 in dining and just spend it the way I want to...eating more apps, getting snacks I really like, sharing plates...I think I just talked myself into it. Heck, then I can go without hoppers if I'm not trying to max the plan out!

Well, I won't change today...I still have to wait for a good code anyway...and watch them offer free dining in early Aug next year. Blow my well laid plans out of the water, that would.

 

[skater]

Not really an issue for me because with kids in school I can't travel these dates. I do have to say I'm very tempted not to use any plan next year with all the news that has been coming out about menu shrinking and less options with snacks.

The more I think about it the more I think we should pull our $2400 in dining and just spend it the way I want to...eating more apps, getting snacks I really like, sharing plates...I think I just talked myself into it. Heck, then I can go without hoppers if I'm not trying to max the plan out!

Well, I won't change today...I still have to wait for a good code anyway...and watch them offer free dining in early Aug next year. Blow my well laid plans out of the water, that would.

You have good points about not using the DDP. I think with all the changes, that it is very easy to do better without the DDP. Appetizers are often tastier and more unique than the current entrees anyway and very often a better option than desert. I would personally not purchase it and will have to think real carefully about even going next Sept. if Disney is only offering the CS for "free" dining.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Is there anywhere I can see information about this new dining plan? It's right up the alley of a mom of 3 little kids that don't want to waste time eating at sit downs when we are in WDW!

 

[Brygida]

And they are geniuses about it...fly to Orlando, get free transportation to your Disney resort, free transportation anywhere else in Disney, Hess gas stations all over the place, convenience items in their resort shops (including half gallons of milk and family-size snacks!), tell me why it is necessary to rent a car? People then, in turn, feel they saved by not renting a car, and so they give even more money to Disney!

It is necessary to rent a car to save time for those people who insist on having at least 1 TS a day at WDW (like me! ). Time to travel to resorts by car is a fraction of the time by bus.

I also think it is necessary if you have small children, still in strollers. Park at the theme park (using your up-close AAA diamond parking pass!), put kid in stroller, stroll to the park. Skip those trams! Makes afternoon naps back at the hotel a completely viable option due to the short commute.

I just rented a car for upcoming free dining week for $168 using mousesavers.com discount codes. Worth every penny.

Back to CS only DDP. I would not do a CS-only DDP. I would do a TS-only DDP.

 

[Rlbren]

We won't be traveling in Sept anymore, so no more free dining. Our son is starting highschool and can no longer miss days like he has so far. Our next trip is scheduled for June '09 and we'll purchase the CS dining plan as our 2 kids don't like to visit resturants everyday. DH and I will Pay OOP for a few ts meals. I was kind of glad to see something like the counter service plan.