Free dining lowers your standards

[Bparso87]

I know there has been many discussions on free dining lowering quality around the world. But if you have free dining does your standards lower because you are not paying for it. Like I talked on hatters tony thread. My first visit was ok but the same visit when I payed for now I don't like it. So do u by pass bad food r service bc it is free?

 

[couchpotatooo]

I personally like the dining package because I will take a risk and try something that I wouldn't normally eat because I would be paying for it and not using the dining plan. I love Boma's and probably would never have tried or order things from that restaurants if I was paying for it. I believe the food quality is the same for paying customers or for free dining customers.

 

[LizC]

I have never done "free dining". To me it feels like it is not "free" because I would not be able to get a room discount, which I would always look to get when booking a WDW vacation. That being said, I believe I would still expect the same quality of food no matter what. Just like when you go on a cruise, even though you are not handing your credit card over for every meal, you are still paying for it somehow.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I also expect the same quality- free or not. I look forward to the TS meals of our trip, so I'm going to be disappointed no matter what if that meal is a dud.

 

[real mad hatter]

Well to answer your question @Bparso87..Having done five trips,all staying at mod resorts..All in July...Only last year we got lucky as WDW opened the free dining plan to cover most of the year excluding Easter & Xmas...It saved us a fortune..But it didn't stop us booking a few ADRS nor changing where we ate at CS restaurants..hope I'am on the right track of your question.

 

[stevehousse]

I am doing the dining plan for the first time this November. I haven't stayed on property actually for the first time in many years. Even though we r getting it free, I do like the idea of prepaying for it because I always get nervous about spending too much money and not having enough left for food!kind of silly and it has never happened yet, but it is always a fear.

 

[copcarguyp71]

I don't think it greatly affects the food. We have had good and bad nights at our local favorite spot at home and good and bad nights at the R&C. In the end unless it is a signature dining experience where I have higher expectations I usually leave satisfied and really to me it is just one meal out of roughly 14 during our trip that is more (to us) about the overall immersive experience than it is about a single meal. While an occasional meal or service might be just "meh" we move on and don't let it dampen our spirits.

Now...if I was paying out of pocket though I do have to admit that I would not make the choices I do at every meal and the stress level would be higher as I am the one tallying things up in my head throughout the trip so my head does not explode on the last day when we get our room bill (I refuse to carry cash on vaca) so for me the lack of having to think increases my relaxation and enjoyment beyond the slight possibility of homogenization of the dining experience due to DDP.

Edit: as an added thought...look at an Entenmans or any pre-epackaged doughnut from 10 years ago and one today...My hands have not grown so they must have gotten smaller....signs of the times I am afraid!

 

[taz0162]

Our standards didn't lower at all with free dining this past trip. It was also the first time that we used the dining plan as well. In fact we found ourselves ordering items that we prob would not if it was cash out of packet just because the cost was already covered and it was exciting trying new things.

 

[lunchbox1175]

I think it has had the effect of lower standards, but not from a guest point of view. I feel like WDW doesn't offer the greatest quality of food, especially quick service because of the free dining. They realize that half of the people are getting it "free" so why offer a better quality product, when they can still get the other half to pay for it as well. I remember Pecos Bills being one of my favorite places to go, and loving the burger there, but over the years, the quality has gone down drastically and I can't help but feel that it is because of the free dining. We don't do any of the QS anymore with the exception of the food court in the land pavilion. Don't get me wrong, there TS places that have poor quality as well, Tony's is a perfect example but I don't feel like people lower there standards of what they expect, I feel like WDW has.

 

[sgtmgd]

I don't think it greatly affects the food. We have had good and bad nights at our local favorite spot at home and good and bad nights at the R&C. In the end unless it is a signature dining experience where I have higher expectations I usually leave satisfied and really to me it is just one meal out of roughly 14 during our trip that is more (to us) about the overall immersive experience than it is about a single meal. While an occasional meal or service might be just "meh" we move on and don't let it dampen our spirits.

Now...if I was paying out of pocket though I do have to admit that I would not make the choices I do at every meal and the stress level would be higher as I am the one tallying things up in my head throughout the trip so my head does not explode on the last day when we get our room bill (I refuse to carry cash on vaca) so for me the lack of having to think increases my relaxation and enjoyment beyond the slight possibility of homogenization of the dining experience due to DDP.

I dont think "free dining" lowers the standard, I pay for the dining plan every trip..might have been free once but we upgraded to the deluxe at any rate. Folks expecting gourmet from Quick Service meals are having unrealistic expectations IMO..Fast Food is fast food regardless if you're at Disney, Universal, Seaworld, Mcdonalds, Burger King and list goes on. I have as many "bad" fast food experiences at my local Mcdonalds as I do at Disney..that is to say some days are great and some are forgetable. I certainly hold table service establishments to a higher standard than Quick Service, but again if I go to my local Carrabas Im just as likely to find something to complain about as not. Signature places like my beloved Yachtsman are held to a much higher standard as they should be, I have yet to have a meal to complain about htere or would'nt pay out of pocket for but the day is coming Im sure where something wont be quite right, been to many places like a Shulas or Ruth and Chris's that didnt live up to my expectations but werent bad either. Food is what you make of it at Disney some places have a "bad rap" for a reason...HOLLYWOOD AND VINE (vomit bags included in every meal) is one that gets hammered her alot...TOny's is another..although they seem to be trying to get it sorted out..Kona Kafe...GREAT BREAKFAST DINNER IS PATHETIC..I mean it's no different from eating out anywhere..there are good days and bad at all resturants...I've been going to Dusney since just after it's opening..I was a kid then..and have been more times than I can count...60,70 I hav eno idea..but I cant remember a Pecos Bill Hamburger being any better today than it was when I was 5 years old, 10 years old, 20, years old, 30 years old or 40 plus..the condiment bar is great..provided you get there before it's destroyed..just my opinion..

 

[danpam1024]

I know there has been many discussions on free dining lowering quality around the world. But if you have free dining does your standards lower because you are not paying for it. Like I talked on hatters tony thread. My first visit was ok but the same visit when I payed for now I don't like it. So do u by pass bad food r service bc it is free?

DDP- free or not -has totally ruined the culinary experience. period. Once purchased, it guarantees you will be eating there- NO competition. They make it sound like it is a deal or for your convenience, but it is just to provide at best mediocre food at top dollar.

 

[bethymouse]

@danpam1024 I am tending to agree w/ you. Sadly.

 

[jw24]

Well, I can't speak from experience but I can sort of relate to free dining on a smaller scale. I recall a conversation I overheard from my older sister talking to my parents about a local steakhouse that offers a free salad bar everytime you order a steak or non-sandwich entree for dinner. She said that even though the salad bar was free, it was not really worth much value because you're still paying a lot for the steak, chicken or whatever entree that isn't, well, not necessarily the best quality so to speak along with something most people probably wouldn't go back for seconds for. It's either you're paying 17-20 bucks for steaks or chicken and all you can eat salad or 9 bucks for just the salad bar alone. (Seems overpriced and not worth the money, wouldn't you agree?) So I guess what danpam1024's comment about providing subpar food at top dollar probably applies to what I just posted above, most casual dining chain restaurants and WDW as a whole. I do also agree that when all is said and done, you're still eating theme park food, something that's miles behind fine dining or the best pizza, hamburger, hot dog or whatever food you've ever ate. Still, I would think their strategy of free dining is to get you to spend more money at other aspects like lodging, shopping, park tickets, etc. Would I give a free pass for subpar food with free dining? That would solely depend on the establishment in my opinion. If I knew it had a bad or mixed reputation, I'd lean towards yes. Otherwise, probably not. That's just me though.

 

[littleroo]

We use the Dining Plan bc it is paid for ahead of time whether it is free or not. We really love TS. We pay for, usually, three signatures out of pocket.

The Dining Plan "is what it is" now in Disney. For better or worse, it is not going anywhere and it is much harder to get free dining than it was five years ago.

We are not doing less signatures this trip bc of the DP but bc we have an 18 month old who is a maniac

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I don't thik it lowers our standards. We actually eat more on the plan because when we pay for the food directly out of pocket we tend to get cheaper items or only at special restaurants. We've tried a lot of other restaurants being on the dining plan from time to time.

 

[sxeensweet]

Our standards are high b/c we never do the free dining plan. Room discounts are always better for us in the past due to staying at Deluxe/deluxe villa resorts. We always paid for the dining plan and still do now that we joined DVC this year. TIW is not good for us b/c we only go once a year (done the math on this) and we just like having everything besides any extras we order, and tips already paid for. Even if we got the plan for free my standards would not change b/c it's not really free when you are paying the full rack rate for the room instead. Lol. Free or not we appretiate good food and if its not we don't go back!

 

[sxeensweet]

I think it has had the effect of lower standards, but not from a guest point of view. I feel like WDW doesn't offer the greatest quality of food, especially quick service because of the free dining. They realize that half of the people are getting it "free" so why offer a better quality product, when they can still get the other half to pay for it as well. I remember Pecos Bills being one of my favorite places to go, and loving the burger there, but over the years, the quality has gone down drastically and I can't help but feel that it is because of the free dining. We don't do any of the QS anymore with the exception of the food court in the land pavilion. Don't get me wrong, there TS places that have poor quality as well, Tony's is a perfect example but I don't feel like people lower there standards of what they expect, I feel like WDW has.

We disagree about QS as there Is still a lot of great QS meals we enjoy and look forward to just as much as TS every trip! We enjoy good food whether it be QS or TS (and we are picky) and there is plenty of each still in WDW.

 

[G8rchamps]

We paid for DDP on our last trip and our opinion is...yes, but not every time. Overall we found the food to be B+ on average and service varied greatly depending on location. DW also got reservations 6 of our 7 nights and the pressure of timing your day around meals added a little stress to our trip (notably, I am a maximize your attraction per hour kind of dad). In review- I would not pay full price for what we ate all week so I suppose it did actually lower my standards on food quality- but if you get the right locations and order the higher priced items it can get you some bang for your buck.

PS- it is OK to have 2 bites of the free dessert and let it go since its "free"

 

[ninjaprincesst]

I don't think Disney food has lower standards at all. If you have ever tried to choke down any food at all at a Six Flags park you know Disney food is 100 times better.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

I don't think Disney food has lower standards at all. If you have ever tried to choke down any food at all at a Six Flags park you know Disney food is 100 times better.

Ooohhhh yes. Lol