Dining Plan Changes in 2009 Prices Released

[NOLADisneyFan]

I saw on another board that the price for the "two counter service" dining plan available next year will be $29.99 per adult per day and $8.99 per child.

It doesn't seem like you are saving that much from the regular plan.

The only savings, it seems would be that you don't have to tip at a counter service rest.

It does not seem worth it to me (of course DW and DD have to have character meals, so the regular dining plan is best for the needs of our family).

What does everyone think?

P.S. If this has already been put out on the board, I am sorry.

 

[MousDad]

Kevin Yee made the same observation in his article this week. Namely, that purchasing the new counter service option does not really save you any money over ordering the same items from the CS without the dining plan. Maybe a few pennies.

This lends strong support to the rumor that this will be the new free dining offering.

 

[InsideOtherPark]

The package is less then $30.00. The dining plan is based upon nights are you are staying...but can be used until midnight of the day you check out if you have any meals/snacks left.

"The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan includes two (2) Quick Service Meals and two (2) snacks per person, per night of your package stay for everyone in the party ages 3 and over. The plan also includes one (1) Resort refillable drink mug per person, per package. (elegible for refills at Quick Service locations only in your Disney Resort hotel)."

IMO..

If you are looking for just counter service meals and do not want to do any sit down meals during the stay I think this is the way to go.

If your looking for 1 or 2 sit down meals. I think the Plus Dining is the best.

If your looking to do alot of Fine Dining and/or Character Meals. I think Deluxe Dining is the best way to go.

 

[shoppingnut]

At $29.99, I wouldn't buy it, as I don't think it's worth it. If they do end up going with this as their free dining promotion, I have to say I wouldn't go then during free dining as I like having sit down meals. I'm sure that some folks will still go for the free dining, but for me it would be most cost effective to get my AP rate and use the DDE card.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Many travelers love having everything pre-paid on their vacations, so they don't care if this is a break even.

As far as free dining, I can see the Quick Service plan being offered, with the upsell of "upgrade to the DDP for only $10/night."

Both will still do well.

When we travel with my teenager, we easily eat more than this plan at counter service, so it would be worth it for us.

 

[RiversideBunny]

At $29.99, I wouldn't buy it, as I don't think it's worth it. ...

I think I will just pay as I go for CS meals.
We don't normally get a lot of snacks anyway and the mug would be break-even at best for us.

 

[RiversideBunny]

I dont' quite understand how they did the math in arriving at the price for the new CS meal plan.

It includes a mug.
If they figure that the average guest stays 6 nights and the mug costs $12, then that's $2 per night for the mug.

$29.99 minus $2 is still $27.99. That's a lot for two CS meals, even with two snacks. The CS meals on the plan probably include a desert. Maybe we're different but we never get desert with a CS meal like a hamburger; it's too much.

There's just doesn't seem to be any monetary advantage in getting the new CS meal plan over just paying as you go. Some like the prepaid idea but then you have to keep up with how many credits are left. Also the CS meal plan doesn't cover all the meals either- only two CS meals per day.

Maybe the new CS meal plan will work well for guests who:
1. Want a mug and would get one anyway.
2. Always get desert with CS meals.
3. Eat at least two snacks per day.
4. Like the idea of things being prepaid.

Also for those who might get it free as part of some promotion.

IMHO

:king:

 

[Ausdaddy]

I dont' quite understand how they did the math in arriving at the price for the new CS meal plan.

It includes a mug.
If they figure that the average guest stays 6 nights and the mug costs $12, then that's $2 per night for the mug.

$29.99 minus $2 is still $27.99. That's a lot for two CS meals, even with two snacks. The CS meals on the plan probably include a desert. Maybe we're different but we never get desert with a CS meal like a hamburger; it's too much.

There's just doesn't seem to be any monetary advantage in getting the new CS meal plan over just paying as you go. Some like the prepaid idea but then you have to keep up with how many credits are left. Also the CS meal plan doesn't cover all the meals either- only two CS meals per day.

Maybe the new CS meal plan will work well for guests who:
1. Want a mug and would get one anyway.
2. Always get desert with CS meals.
3. Eat at least two snacks per day.
4. Like the idea of things being prepaid.

Also for those who might get it free as part of some promotion.

IMHO

:king:

Yeah, when I heard the price last week, I was puzzled. I thought they would go $25 for sure. I can't believe they went that high. The mug provides no value for those that are staying more than 2 days. What's the point? Even eating the top priced meal at Cosmic Ray's provides minimum value on this plan. I don't get it.

 

[DisneyJoe]

It includes a mug. If they figure that the average guest stays 6 nights and the mug costs $12, then that's $2 per night for the mug.

$29.99 minus $2 is still $27.99. That's a lot for two CS meals, even with two snacks. The CS meals on the plan probably include a desert. Maybe we're different but we never get desert with a CS meal like a hamburger; it's too much.

Snacks can cost as much as $4 each, so $27.99 - $8 = $19.99.
Even if snacks are only $2.50, $27.99 - $5 = $22.99

That puts a counter service meal at between $9.99 and $11.50.

The average counter service meal is just over $7.00.
The average counter service drink is $2.00

That brings us to $9.00.

Add fries or side salad or fruit or dessert, and you are adding between $2 and $3.60, so we are up to $11-$12.60.

Its not for everyone, as it depends on what you eat, but I can see it being a hit, because people don't like to do math, and they don't like to worry about carrying money on vacation. They just like to go and enjoy it and not worry.

I predict that this will be very popular, and many people on these boards will be complaining about how crowded counter service places are in 2009, while, hopefully, table service will be a little easier to get.

 

[MrBug]

Yeah, when I heard the price last week, I was puzzled. I thought they would go $25 for sure. I can't believe they went that high. The mug provides no value for those that are staying more than 2 days. What's the point? Even eating the top priced meal at Cosmic Ray's provides minimum value on this plan. I don't get it.

Could another general increase in meal prices be in the works?

 

[imamouse]

I don't understand how keeping up with meal credits is less worry-free than paying for meals as you go. :shrug: I charge everything to my Disney Visa or my room (charging privileges added to room key) and use my DDE card. It's very easy to manage – much easier than wrangling a week's worth of dining credits.

 

[potatoheadman]

Could another general increase in meal prices be in the works?

That's exactly what I was thinking. This plan will turn out to be a good deal if Disney announces something like a $5 increase in CS meals next year.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Just for fun in analyzing the new CS meal plan, here's a current partial menu with prices from Columbia Harbor House.
(uuummm Columbia Harbor House :slurp

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chicken Breast Nuggets and Fish - Served with French Fries or Apple Slices $8.19[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6 Chicken Breast Nuggets - Served with French Fries or Apple Slices $6.89
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fried Fish Basket - Served with choice of either French Fries or Apple Slices $7.09[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BLT Salad - Mixed greens with crispy chicken, bacon, egg, and tomato $7.19[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chocolate Cake - $3.59
Apple Crisp $3.59[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bowl of Vegetarian Chili $4.49
Bowl of New England Clam Chowder $4.49
[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Orange Soda, Light Lemonade and Nestea $2.09 and $2.39
Bottled Water - $1.25 and $2.00[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

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[/FONT]

 

[DisneyJoe]

I don't understand how keeping up with meal credits is less worry-free than paying for meals as you go. :shrug: I charge everything to my Disney Visa or my room (charging privileges added to room key) and use my DDE card. It's very easy to manage – much easier than wrangling a week's worth of dining credits.

Don't forget that people that frequent these types of forums are not typical Disney travelers.

As a travel agent, many of my clients don't care to sit down and do the math (that's why they have me!), and even for those that would, I bet many wouldn't care if they paid a few dollars more if their meals could be prepaid - even if they have to count credits. They'd rather count credits than carry cash or even charge back to their room.

I already have clients asking me for 3 prepaid quick service meals per day!

Many pay to go to "all-inclusive" resorts - and pay much more than a Disney trip would ever cost - and there is no way to do the math in that case.

 

[MacRtst]

I think they should do the Dining Plan based on points. this would allow people to:
A. Get breakfast, lunch and dinner
B. Get and appetizer OR a dessert at a sit down
C. Allow for people to switch between CS and Sit down.
D. Allow people to use the Character dining when they needed to.

Just give points to each item, and give a price to each point.
If you don't want a sit down every night your there, you don't have to.
I think it would just give guests A LOT more freedom.

We end up paying for stuff towards the end b/c we ate a breakfast here or there, and it's kind of stupid to have to do that.

THEN when Free dining comes around, just give guests a certain amount of points for free.

No packages or plans necessary...

 

[DisneyJoe]

I think they should do the Dining Plan based on points. this would allow people to:
A. Get breakfast, lunch and dinner
B. Get and appetizer OR a dessert at a sit down
C. Allow for people to switch between CS and Sit down.
D. Allow people to use the Character dining when they needed to.

This existed back in the mid to late 90's, we did it in 1997 and 1999, it was called the food and fun plan. You got food and the ability to do some recreation.

Cost was $50 per adult per night, but they credited you with a value of $55 per adult per night.

For a child, it was $20 per child per night, and they credited you with a value of $25 per child per night.

You could get anything on any menu at any restaurant or choose from certain recreational activities, we rented mouseboats at CBR.

However, what you didn't use, you lost. No refunds.

So for our 7 night stay, for 2 adults and 1 child, we paid $840 but had a value of $945.

We ate a lot, and still had trouble using all of our money.
Luckily, the first trip, my parents came along and we treated them to some meals. We left that trip with about $75 remaining.

Our second trip we left with about $150 remaining.

It was a great plan, but I believe the price point was set too high.

 

[sbkline]

I saw on another board that the price for the "two counter service" dining plan available next year will be $29.99 per adult per day and $8.99 per child.

It doesn't seem like you are saving that much from the regular plan.

The only savings, it seems would be that you don't have to tip at a counter service rest.

Like you, my first thought was that it wasn't that much less per day than the regular dining plan. Ten bucks, I guess to be exact. But like you say, the tip would save you alot of money. Depending on what table service meals you pick, your savings on per day gratuities could be anywhere from 5 bucks (if you eat at a buffet) to 15 or 20 bucks if you eat at the more expensive restaraunts. So if you assume an average tip of 10 dollars, that's still a decent savings when you factor in the regular 10 dollar price difference on top of the 10 dollar average savings on tip per day.

Having said that, I don't think this dining plan would interest me. I'm not even sure if we'll do the dining plan on the next trip, just to save some money. Rather than prepay a counter service and table service meal per day of our trip (and then have to pay a tip for a TS meal every day as well), I'm toying with the idea of just paying out of pocket for meals next time and eating mosly CS, with a couple table service meals during the course of the stay.

 

[Disneyfan1981]

This is in addition to the existing plan right? We did the dining plan on our last visit and loved it, we ended up burning snacks on the last two nights because we were so full from the CS and Sit Downs that we never used them.

 

[no1swfanindy]

I must admit that when I heard about this new dining plan I was interested. I am not interested in any of the dining plans offered because I don't like the idea of ADR's. We are more of a "spur of the moment" kind of eaters, and would rather decide what we want when we're there, and typically it turns out that the CS meals work out just fine for us. The main problem I have with ADR's is the fact I HAVE to be someplace at a certain time on my vacation. I get enough of that stuff durring the rest of my life, I don't need it while I'm enjoying myself. I know alot of peolpe on here live for their ADR's and hey that's cool, whatever floats your boat man, it's just not for me.

I'm not sure if I would actually pay for this plan but if it is offered free durring a time I plan to visit, I will take it.

 

[betteratmk]

I think alot of people will use this plan for a mix of meals, maybe a light breakfast from the snack credits ,lunch and pay oop for the occasional sit down meal or character meal. I know my boys were always starving at the end of the day and could easily eat a burger or pizza at the end of the night at the hotel:lol: this might help people budget their money for the trip.