So it seems that you are saying that a lower cost alternative, in the form of Express Fresh in-room dining, will be MORE profitable than the current in-room dining? That really makes zero sense to me, if that is what you are thinking.
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Disney testing new Express Fresh in-room dining
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
I have breakfast every morning in my pj's in my resort room. There's a coffee pot, a frig to store juice and milk and I bring breakfast food with me. I just bought a Keurig K-15 to take with us, so we can make both coffee and tea. Basically, I travel with a mini kitchen and visit the Publix nearby to pick up grocery items we don't bring with us, like decent TT. The advantages of driving and staying in a DVC resort with a kitchen.
Even before I went DVC, we brought a large beach bag with us that held bowls, mugs, silverware, a small hot pot to boil water, tea bags, sugar and such. And packed a cooler with milk, juice, cold snacks. I realized after a visit eating at the madness that's a food court at a Value or Moderate, it was easier and cheaper to fix and eat breakfast in our room.
Laketravis
Well-Known Member
I'm saying that a lower cost alternative COULD be more profitable depending on the cost structure and volume, especially if the adoption rate is substantially higher than an existing/comparable service that is seldom utilized. Sorry that doesn't make sense to you.
Interesting take on it. I guess part of it will be exactly what is on the menu, and at what price point.
Oh, and I disagree completely with "seldom utilized". We see many rooms with dishes left over every day in the hallways from room service the night before.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
I would do the same if I drove now. Back when I did drive we didn't bother with bringing food..but those were very short trips and no kids. If I had that same opportunity now I would definitely pack. I bring milk singles to save money (except for this year when the airport security threw them out), and I get a case of water as soon as we arrive. Single bottles of water are one thing that I loathe spending money on.
Nubs70
Well-Known Member
Gross margin targets are a common benchmark. You can be profitable but not profitable enough. For example, your company has a stated Gross Margin target of 40%. Corporate Account Managers negotiate a deal with 10% Gross Margin. Accountants are not happy because the account is not profitable enough and the front line account manager is tasked with making up the difference.
I'm wondering though, if there is a similar mark up for the type of food you will order through the new service (2% - 3%), in addition to other fees, if people are going to see the same value having a boxed salad delivered to your room as a full dinner.
The only time I routinely use room service - and it's for breakfast - is on a Disney cruise. Already paid for the food, so I'm just paying for delivery and a small tip. Which I'm willing to do to sleep in and avoid the crowds in Cabanas...
Two words...Amazon Pantry. I used them when I flew to Disneyland last year. Just visited the resort mini mart to pick up milk and juice.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
But they don't bring me Mickey Butter
No, in all seriousness I did look into Amazon pantry, but with only a small fridge in the room it didn't seem cost efficient. I do bring Zone Bars and some cereal singles in our luggage.
Most probably won't see the value, but you never know. I won't make any judgements until more information on menus and pricing is available.
OliveMcFly
Well-Known Member
Drones with Mickey ears?
Of course! You have to be able to tell they are friendly drones.
God, this discussion is making me think I'm back in B school....
Nubs70
Well-Known Member
I wish Corporate Account Managers did go to Bed school, I live this task every day.
But they don't bring me Mickey Butter
View attachment 188576
No, in all seriousness I did look into Amazon pantry, but with only a small fridge in the room it didn't seem cost efficient. I do bring Zone Bars and some cereal singles in our luggage.
You, ehm, "lift" the Mickey butter from a quick service counter, silly.
The resorts at Disneyland don't have the bigger bottles of juice and milk, unlike WDW. So I picked up a couple of school sized cartons of milk and juice, which fit just fine in the frig. Their frigs are the small, dorm sized cube shaped ones, not the larger size like WDW. And they put microwaves in their rooms. Hear that WDW?
It was interesting, though, eating my cereal out of a red Solo cup.
I'm waiting for my Amazon deliveries to arrive on my doorstep by drone...
Someone in our party always has a problem with their MB opening the room door.
Lets Respect
Well-Known Member
I'm interested to see the menus for this. I should probably download a couple of the original room service menus before they change them so I can compare.
Room service comes from the regular table service restaurants (non-signature). My guess is this will be food out of the QS.
My gut feeling is that this a way to phase out true room service. All of those fussy tablecloths and glasses and waiters! And then having to go pick up the trays that are left in the hallways for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours
Room service comes from the regular table service restaurants (non-signature). My guess is this will be food out of the QS.
My gut feeling is that this a way to phase out true room service. All of those fussy tablecloths and glasses and waiters! And then having to go pick up the trays that are left in the hallways for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours
Joshua Hall
Member
Most Hotels are looking at this to replace in-room dining and it has is most convention area hotels, the cost is lower and they have less staff since part of the program has the option for the guest to come down and pick up their food.
the hotel i am currently working at has adopted this program and so far it is actually preferred.
Laketravis
Well-Known Member
You're right. Seems this isn't unique to Disney after all:
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/...e_phasing_it_out_but_delivery_will_never.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/blog/seat2B/2013/07/room-service-part-of-hotel-adaption.html
.