Will they change the 2008 plan?

[My2Angels]

What are the odds that they will change the 2008 dining plan based on all the complaints, loss of tips, etc. DURING the 2008 year? Or will they wait until 2009 to change things?

 

[TDC Nala]

Odds of change before 2009 are not good. I think they'd have to negotiate a new union contract first.

 

[GPA1015]

Wondering the same thing. We are leaving in 12 days (but who is counting) and I am wonering if they will change it mid stream. I will be very upset with us being part of the experiment. just my 2 cents

Stacy

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree that they won't change it mid stream in 2008. On this board someone posted a copy of the union contract and it's pretty specific on the tip issue. IMO TDC Nala is 100% right that they'd have to renegotiate a union contract in order to change things and there is no way that they'd do that right now.

It's possible they may consider a renegotiation if there was a MAJOR decrease in sales, but if the DIS is any indication, the actual implementation of the program hasn't affected anyone's decision whether to use the plan or not.

 

[Allison]

I'd say slim to none. They already have people booked through the end of the year who purchased a specific product at a specific price. I don't think they would change it mid-stream.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Even if less people purchased the plan, would it really be a loss to Disney? Many people don't purchase the DDP but still have all their meals onsite (and use DME so are sure to stay onsite)

What would make Disney decide to change the plan? It is an optional purchase for the guest.

I am not seeing a reason for Disney to make changes quite frankly

 

[bicker]

I agree with Allison: slim to none. Changes will be made for 2009, based on 2008 and based on company strategy.

 

[mickey2000]

Its all about Di$ney profit....

 

[Bride In The Attic]

Its all about Di$ney profit....

True, true, true....

They try to spin it that the plan is $1 less this year - but add in the amount I am now paying oop for tips and no appetizer and that is actually a pretty big price increase....I am paying about $200 more for the same product/service I got last year.

I'm glad I got to go last year and use the plan - it was a really great dining experience...

 

[wide awake]

Doesn't the contract have a provision for including the tips if the DDP is changed this year ? That is how I read it. I can see them changing it if their profits are hurt.

 

[TDC Nala]

It seems to say that if Disney decides to go back to including the tips in the DDP this year, the contract addendum reverts to the previous version, which apparently means no more autograt for parties of 6 and DDE members. The company and the employees would have to decide which meant more to them, if it came to that.

 

[JimMIA]

Will they change the 2008 plan?

Nope. They increased their profit about 30%...why would they want to change it?

 

[bicker]

I don't think they've increased their profit 30%, since (most likely intentionally) the changes will likely prompt fewer patrons to elect the Dining Plan, thereby opening the restaurants up a bit. My guess would be that this change represented closer to a 10% increase in revenues for the restaurants, overall, and a marginal decrease in expense. Just guessing, though.

 

[JimMIA]

Last year, Disney charged $38.99 for the adult DDP. Numerous posters calculated the average adult TS meal at about $50, which would be a $9 tip. That tip was paid by Disney, split roughly 50/50 between Disney Dining and the restaurants, according to the most sensible calculations I've seen...which I think were yours, incidentally. So the elimination of the tip alone adds $9 per adult, per day, to Disney's bottom line -- $4.50 to Disney Dining, and the other $4.50 to the restaurant.

This year, Disney is charging $37.99 for the adult DDP, which no longer includes either the appetizer or gratuity.

If you figure the food cost savings of the appetizer at $2, you get an increase in revenue of 28% [($9+$2)/$38.99 = 28.2%], with zero increase in expense. If you figure the appetizer cost at $2.50, the revenue increase is 29.5%, with no increase in expense. I think those cost estimates are reasonable (a little low for some appetizers), and 29.5% is close enough to 30% for me.

Also, I think your assumption that volume in the restaurants will decline is flawed. I have always thought the biggest plus in eliminating the appy is eliminating an entire course of a meal, speeding up turnover probably by 15-20 minutes per party. That will probably equate to a larger number of parties cycling through the restaurants -- at a margin which has improved close to 30%.

DDP 2008 will be a LOT more profitable than DDP 2007 and previous years.

 

[GrammyJudy]

What are the chances they will have free dining in 2008 and 2009? What time of year do they do that?

 

[rotlex]

How about this? They DO change the plan in 2009 for the worse due to all the complaints. Let's see, they can re-include the tips, but I'm sure a price increase with the plan will come along with that, or maybe they will drop it completely!

I'm not trying to start an argument, but jeez, I cannot believe the number of complaints regarding the plan changes. We have been getting the plan since we new of it's availability, and frankly, still feel it's a great value, especially if you take advantage of character meals etc. Honestly, Disney is a company in business to make money above all else, and the fact that they even offer a dining plan at all is a plus to us.

Really, if someone doesn't think the plan is a value, guess what, you don't HAVE to buy it! In my opinion, the less people that do, the more apt Disney will be to keep it around for those of us that think it's great. We spent some serious time after the changes deciding whether or not it still saved us money, especially after reading the tons of complaints about the changes, and even with adding in a tip, we are still saving quite a bit, not to mention the convenience of it all.

Anyway, again, not trying to rustle any feathers, but if you don't like it, don't buy it, and see what it's actually going to cost you to pay our of pocket for each meal.

 

[guelde96]

What are the chances they will have free dining in 2008 and 2009? What time of year do they do that?

In the past free dining has been from mid August - early October. The time frame has been getting smaller. In bounce back promos from last years free dining they offered most of September. I can't remember the exact dates. We did not book. I was not happy with the time of year.

 

[guelde96]

How about this? They DO change the plan in 2009 for the worse due to all the complaints. Let's see, they can re-include the tips, but I'm sure a price increase with the plan will come along with that, or maybe they will drop it completely!

I'm not trying to start an argument, but jeez, I cannot believe the number of complaints regarding the plan changes. We have been getting the plan since we new of it's availability, and frankly, still feel it's a great value, especially if you take advantage of character meals etc. Honestly, Disney is a company in business to make money above all else, and the fact that they even offer a dining plan at all is a plus to us.

Really, if someone doesn't think the plan is a value, guess what, you don't HAVE to buy it! In my opinion, the less people that do, the more apt Disney will be to keep it around for those of us that think it's great. We spent some serious time after the changes deciding whether or not it still saved us money, especially after reading the tons of complaints about the changes, and even with adding in a tip, we are still saving quite a bit, not to mention the convenience of it all.

Anyway, again, not trying to rustle any feathers, but if you don't like it, don't buy it, and see what it's actually going to cost you to pay our of pocket for each meal.

I think every family situation is different. I know for my family it would be cheaper to not add the dining plan. My oldest will be 10 by the next time we go and frankly he does not eat enough or for that matter even like adult meals. Our average table service bill ran @ $150.00 add a $30.00 tip to every TS meal and our $110.00 DDP cost goes to $140.00. I know for many people still a deal maybe. For my family NO. On the last night of our 9 night DDP stay we had 17 CS credits and 22 snack credits remaining. On the last night of our 6 night DDP stay we had 21 snack credits remaining. All in all we get the dining plan because of the value. Not because as a family we could possibly eat all the food provided.

I also have to say I disagree with your thought that the less people who buy the DDP the more likely Disney is to keep it around. Disney is a wonderful place. Lets face it Disney is out to make money, that is their main goal. If they do not fill their restaurants they are not making as much money. They will change based on their profits.

 

[Tricia1972]

Anyway, again, not trying to rustle any feathers, but if you don't like it, don't buy it, and see what it's actually going to cost you to pay our of pocket for each meal.

I did this by doing a spreadsheet for our family. Looked at our restaurants and estimated what we'd order.

We save money not doing the plan, but this isn't the case for everyone. I completely agree with your statement. Every family needs to look at what it's actually going to cost them to pay out of pocket for each meal.

(Our savings was approximately $400 not doing the plan)

 

[rotlex]

I did this by doing a spreadsheet for our family. Looked at our restaurants and estimated what we'd order.

We save money not doing the plan, but this isn't the case for everyone. I completely agree with your statement. Every family needs to look at what it's actually going to cost them to pay out of pocket for each meal.

(Our savings was approximately $400 not doing the plan)

That's cool, and again, why we do the same thing. On average, as we do at least 1 character meal per day, we will still save in the range of $2-300 by doing the plan. This is going off of what we did and ate on our last two trips.

Yeah, I think it stinks that the tips and apps. are gone, but I was also trying to get across that they could have kept everything in, and raised the price considerably. Either way, for SOME, the plan is still a win-win for now.