Will disney dining plan return

[revdon64]

Can't say as it would have been much use for our March trip. Nothing that we've wanted has been available to reserve. Now I know some of that is limited capacity, etc... until supply chains and staffing issues and capacity are resolved, bringing back the DP would probably cause Disney more issues and complaints than the money it would make them.

 

[snikki]

I believe it’ll return but they need more restaurants to be open, specifically the $50+ character buffets. They can’t justify the dining plan if they don’t have those crazy expensive meals. I also think they’ll revamp the plan and raise the prices.

 

[HopperFan]

And it isn't just a matter of turning it on and offering it up. Every year the DDP has to negotiate with each dining location how much it will reimburse for each menu item. It is why you sometimes see items disappear that you liked, the plan isn't going to reimburse enough for them to make any money. I know we all look at it all as one big Disney World but it is actually LOTS of different profit centers and it gets complicated. And when there is "Free Dining" the resorts get involved in the process because they are now paying in ... which is why they each determine how many rooms they will offer. For them it's only to fill rooms.

Once all the restaurants are fully open, with their service mode settled, their menus settled, then they can begin to negotiate the dining plan and determine costs. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the structure change up once again.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It made money because people left the money on the table by not efficiently using the dining credits.

Guests like the feeling of an all-inclusive vacation, many of them see more value in that than in trying to maximize return for cost. It will be back when they can increase restaurant capacity, although possibly not in the same form.

 

[snikki]

It made money because people left the money on the table by not efficiently using the dining credits.

I’ve had friends /family of friends that have gone to WDW, purchased the DDP but made no ADRS. Then barely used credits because they couldn’t walk in anywhere.

 

[mrsmalfoy11]

I really hope they never bring it back. It just incentivized Disney to raise a la carte prices in order to make the dining plan look like a better deal. Those of us who don’t use it got the short end of the stick.

Problem is, they have shown they will raise a la cart prices anyway