Comments on: In defence of Disney’s free dining offer http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/ Feeding the Disney fixation daily Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:48:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Biblioadonis http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1313 Biblioadonis Tue, 22 May 2007 18:51:46 +0000 http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1313 My brother and I (disneygeeks.blogspot.com) are of two minds on the DDP and it is based solely on our individual experiences. My trip in December 2006 was frought with terrible wait times and horrific service. Pair that with two finicky eaters (my kids) and absolutely awful kid's menu choices--and you have a DDP recipe for disaster. They have changed the menu for kids since then. We spent more money on the DDP than we would have spent ourselves. We also felt like we wasted an hour and a half every sit-down meal. My brother went in April and they had a wonderful time with the DDP--except for Caribbean Beach Food Court. They will do it again. We won't. It is individual choices. No one is being stupid or kidding. It is whatever makes your vacation the best it can be. My brother and I (disneygeeks.blogspot.com) are of two minds on the DDP and it is based solely on our individual experiences.

My trip in December 2006 was frought with terrible wait times and horrific service. Pair that with two finicky eaters (my kids) and absolutely awful kid’s menu choices–and you have a DDP recipe for disaster. They have changed the menu for kids since then. We spent more money on the DDP than we would have spent ourselves. We also felt like we wasted an hour and a half every sit-down meal.

My brother went in April and they had a wonderful time with the DDP–except for Caribbean Beach Food Court. They will do it again.

We won’t.

It is individual choices. No one is being stupid or kidding. It is whatever makes your vacation the best it can be.

]]> By: Larry C. http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1299 Larry C. Sun, 20 May 2007 20:32:08 +0000 http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1299 You must be kidding or stupid! last year I saved 1,800 $ on our 10 day trip. How nice it is to walk into a disney restaraunt and not care about price. And as for not being able to make ressies, I have never ever been able not to eat at the place we wanted, if you can't handle making reservations then maybe don't travel! You must be kidding or stupid! last year I saved 1,800 $ on our 10 day trip. How nice it is to walk into a disney restaraunt and not care about price. And as for not being able to make ressies, I have never ever been able not to eat at the place we wanted, if you can’t handle making reservations then maybe don’t travel!

]]> By: Checkwriter http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1251 Checkwriter Sat, 05 May 2007 01:16:11 +0000 http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1251 As a parent of five kids, I like to know what my vacation costs are going to be up front. The DDP allows me to do this. In addition, we find that the dining becomes part of the vacation fun. The kids get into trying new things, experiencing different foods, and the family dinners together become as memorable a part of the experience as the attractions or shows or whatever. For us, the DDP extends the vacation experience. As a parent of five kids, I like to know what my vacation costs are going to be up front. The DDP allows me to do this. In addition, we find that the dining becomes part of the vacation fun. The kids get into trying new things, experiencing different foods, and the family dinners together become as memorable a part of the experience as the attractions or shows or whatever. For us, the DDP extends the vacation experience.

]]> By: Jeff Pepper http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1250 Jeff Pepper Fri, 04 May 2007 23:34:35 +0000 http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1250 Another point to address is the potential aggravation you buy into as a result of Free Dining. Getting reservations during the Free DDP period is proving extremely frustrating to many. Walkups are pretty much eliminated. Many find that their vacation becomes more centered on planning meals than really enjoying the parks. We have paid for the dining plan on our last two family vacations. Our choice was based on the fact it was a good value for the places we wanted to eat and the convenience of having it all paid for in advance. I doubt we will ever take advantage of free dining any time soon as it seems, value aside, much more trouble than it's worth. Another point to address is the potential aggravation you buy into as a result of Free Dining. Getting reservations during the Free DDP period is proving extremely frustrating to many. Walkups are pretty much eliminated. Many find that their vacation becomes more centered on planning meals than really enjoying the parks.

We have paid for the dining plan on our last two family vacations. Our choice was based on the fact it was a good value for the places we wanted to eat and the convenience of having it all paid for in advance. I doubt we will ever take advantage of free dining any time soon as it seems, value aside, much more trouble than it’s worth.

]]> By: Matt http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1248 Matt Fri, 04 May 2007 18:34:25 +0000 http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/05/04/in-defence-of-disneys-free-dining-offer/#comment-1248 First, thanks for the mention of the article. Onto how too much food can be bad, here's how I see it. If you go on the DDP and go to a table service meal, you get an appetizer, entree & dessert. Would you order all that if you were paying cash? And does everyone need an appetizer? Most appetizers are best to be shared among the people at your table. Regardless, the question is would you buy an appetizer? Dessert? Even a drink can be iffy because when I go to WDW, I get water because I'm dehydrated and don't need a coke. So you're getting all this food on the DDP that you might not otherwise order if you were paying for it and saying you've saved $xx but if it's a waste because you don't eat it and may not have even ordered it in the first place had it not been free, then what's the point? Never mind the DDP becomes a worse value if you stay at a Moderate or Deluxe resort (because the AP savings on rooms there start to get more significant than the values). Like you said Dave, you need to figure out exactly what you're saving and see if you are coming out ahead given one's plan of attack for eating. The blanket statement "free dining saves money" is false, and I think that's our (or at least mine) general guideline when telling folks to slow down before believing free dining is the greatest promotion ever. First, thanks for the mention of the article.

Onto how too much food can be bad, here’s how I see it. If you go on the DDP and go to a table service meal, you get an appetizer, entree & dessert. Would you order all that if you were paying cash? And does everyone need an appetizer? Most appetizers are best to be shared among the people at your table. Regardless, the question is would you buy an appetizer? Dessert? Even a drink can be iffy because when I go to WDW, I get water because I’m dehydrated and don’t need a coke. So you’re getting all this food on the DDP that you might not otherwise order if you were paying for it and saying you’ve saved $xx but if it’s a waste because you don’t eat it and may not have even ordered it in the first place had it not been free, then what’s the point?

Never mind the DDP becomes a worse value if you stay at a Moderate or Deluxe resort (because the AP savings on rooms there start to get more significant than the values). Like you said Dave, you need to figure out exactly what you’re saving and see if you are coming out ahead given one’s plan of attack for eating. The blanket statement “free dining saves money” is false, and I think that’s our (or at least mine) general guideline when telling folks to slow down before believing free dining is the greatest promotion ever.

]]>