Anyone heard anything on the dining plan?

[Dave B]

I would love to see it as a promo again

 

[marni1971]

 

[note2001]

No doubt DDP will come back, reinvented.
It will be less food for a higher price than before. This is the way.

First we need to see the general sales of APs come back, then we can discuss the DDP.

 

[HauntedPirate]

"With the newly enhanced Disney Quick Service Dining Plan, for only $54.99/person/night, you get one Quick Service meal (beverage not included) and one snack credit (valid only after 7pm, subject to limitations and availability)! The Disney Table Service Dining Plan, available for only $109.99/person/night, includes one Table Service meal (beverage not included) and TWO snack credits (valid only after 7pm, subject to limitations and availability)!"

 

[wdwmagic]

There will be something coming this week that may help a little with dining.

 

[_caleb]

There will be something coming this week that may help a little with dining.

The question is, how little?

And if it's not called the Welcome Back, Bob Iger Plan, what are they even doing?

 

[esskay]

Disapointed that its still not back. The free dining credit offer for UK folks was nice but it doesn't come close to free dining.

I know a lot of people here hate it, but its a massive selling point for international guests. It was one of the key perks that ensured a lot of people stayed on-site for their entire stay:

• Free transport to/from the airport
• Free dining
• Free transport to the parks
• Free parking at your hotel and the parks
• Free magic band
• Extra magic hours
• Free Fastpass+ (and earlier booking than offsite guests)

Hoping we see more than just DDP making a come back but wont hold my breath.

 

[Imhere]

I would guess that it HAS to come back. They make a crap ton of money on it.

 

[James J]

Just giving this a bump as the 2024 offer for UK travellers will include dining credit again, rather than the dining plan. This is from the Virgin Holidays site, which they've since removed as it's not meant to go live until 20th April:

 

[DznyGrlSD]

I'd rather see credits than the actual DDP coming back. Restaurants have gotten better since its demise for a multitude of reasons

 

[Hockey89]

I'd rather see credits than the actual DDP coming back. Restaurants have gotten better since its demise for a multitude of reasons

Totally. We had the best food in 2022 since maybe 15 years ago. Kill the DDP forever.

 

[esskay]

I'd rather see credits than the actual DDP coming back. Restaurants have gotten better since its demise for a multitude of reasons

We've got credits for next month as they did an offer for UK bookings early last year. It works out very similar value wise to the free DDP they used to give. We kept receipts and made notes of what each meal would've cost on the DDP back in 2019 and it was within $100 of the amount of credit we were given.

That being said we did end up with even more this time. There was the room dining credit, then the standard $200 gift card per room, then because the booking also included free Cirque du Soleil tickets (that we realistically wouldn't have used) we had an email to say we'd be getting another $150 credit as there were no performances when we're there. More food money! Think we worked it out to be around $50 per person per day for a 2 week stay.

The only difference will be that fewer people will be cramming into Ghirardelli in their last day to spend credits.

I do like the DDP just from the point of view of you dont even need to think about costs, but get why credit is better for most people.

 

[DreamalittleDisney]

The credit just didnt work out as well if your group was larger as it was based on room not on person like the DDP was. So my parents (2 in room) got the same credit as us (2 adults & 1 child) .. this would be the same for families that are fully utilizing all the space in the rooms with some sleeping 5, least with the UK offers and the 'FREE' dining all 5 would have had an allowance.

 

[SamandplanningUK]

Just giving this a bump as the 2024 offer for UK travellers will include dining credit again, rather than the dining plan. This is from the Virgin Holidays site, which they've since removed as it's not meant to go live until 20th April:
View attachment 708863

Just to add - you can actually call your local store and book now, they won't confirm it until 20th April but I've already got my booking in for August next year.

 

[Tom P.]

Same thing with breakfast at some of the restaurants that still isn't back. "Disney is keeping Garden Grill Breakfast closed to save on labor." Uh, no... They'll gladly pay the labor costs, once they can get it, in order to sell you a $45 plate of scrambled eggs.


Yeah there are ways to make it work and "beat it" if you're well-informed and do a fair amount of planning. But there are so many no-win scenarios. Little kids who have to pay but barely eat. Big kids who have to pay adult prices but barely eat (and definitely don't drink alcohol), etc. Most people lose on the DDP.