Over 20 years, we probably did extended stays at Disney 9 times. At this point we are done with Disney.
While it was never inexpensive, we always considered it to be a premium experience at a premium price. Things like the dining plans and Fastpass all contributed to the magic.
These days it has become a sub-par experience at an ultra premium price. Poor service, long lines, bad food, added expenses at every turn. Add to that the in your face wokeness. The magic has been replaced with “shareholder value”.
If Walt were alive, I have no doubt he would fire Gordon Gecko, aka Bob Chapek.
I am 100 percent in agreement with your sentiment. This trip in November will be our last for Disney. We will be going to universal for future trips. Better value, better environment, just better overall.
Good! DDP destroyed the quality of the food at the restaurants.
But Of course that has nothing to do with why it’s not coming back. Remember they’ve publicly stated they’re going to charge you more for smaller portions because your waistline could be smaller.
Disney is still including the Dining Plan symbol on new menus. The symbol is on the 2022 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival menu boards. It seems counterproductive to include the symbol on new menus with no plans of bring the program back.
I really hope they bring it back. We went last year for the first time without it and it changed our entire trip. The lack of a DDP meant more budgeting and scrapping some favorite meals because of it.
If it’s not brought back, combined with the other crap that’s happening, we might re-think some of our vacations.
We have been DVC members for 10 ys. We have not been to Disney in 3 yrs. The combo of th pandemic and stupidity of Chapeck raising prices. We use to go every summer. Now ou next trip. Will involve a lot of going without meals starvinf and not going to parks. I have 3 girls, not big girls. They can eat. We always got the dining plan. I was simple easy and affordable. Nothing is affordable at Disney. If my daughter wanted a snack on a resort day. We use to say use your dining plan points. Now we have to say. We can not afford it, Wait lets see if mom will go without it so you can have a snack. We use to go to the parks for 4 to 5 days. Now maybe 1. We use t eat a sit down meal and buffet. Not anymore. Disney is losing soooooo much money.
That’s the point; Disney had plans that put it within our budget. I am debt free besides my mortgage. But I still can’t plan a Disney trip easily or nearly as fun for as many days without the dining plan. When you have a family with multiple children, it’s not one Dole Whip or Minnie Ice Cream bar that we are talking about, and they add up. Those aren’t filling, so after that snack, you still have a meal to think about and the cost of it. The Disney Dining plan relieved all that stress, making it easy and more affordable. Now, the stress doesn’t even make it fun to plan.
For the sake of value, you MUST bring it back Disney. I understood prices increasing… it is the nature of things but where is the convenience and the value????
I am wondering had the pandemic not happened would we have seen all the changes at the parks. The quality of service has gone down, the quality of food is suffering, the costs have quadrupled, lines have grown to outrageous lengths, people have gone off the edge in terms of their behaviour in the parks. We have lost all sight of Walt’s vision for the parks to be opened to all to partake of. Will we see things ever come back?
Disney is not the Disney world it use to be! They always made the guests feel special! Now they act like they are the special one! Take it or leave attitude!
We have always used the Disney Dining Plan.I am 76, I am very credit card savey, The DDP was so easy to use, made it very easy for those of us who are not world travelers. Come on, Disney, give us something
Had I have known this was going to happen we would have went back to Universal Studios. Disney is so commercial now, not what it should be or what it used to be. Universal has it on point. They top Disney 1000000000%
Very SAD no Dining Plans. Made it so easy to plan our trip and Budget. We were able to enjoy so many Fine Dining opportunities that will now be limited on our next trip in November. PLEASE bring back.
How do we get them to change their minds!! That was one of the major reasons we liked going to WDW because of the dining plan…you didn’t have to worry about what to eat and how much it was going to cost because it was already taken care of!! The NEED TO BRING IT BACK IMMEDIATLEY !! PLEASE!!
Really disappointing. I am a huge fan of the dining plan and without it, it is another strike against going back. (among all the other items that have continued to degrade the value of a Disney vacation for the money)
In the early 2000s the dining plan would leave you full all day and you probably gained a pound or two throughout the week even with all the walking. Mickey waffles in the morning, a big burger and fries for lunch, a dole whip and then a dinner reservation in the evening. I can’t see the plans ever coming back.
Don’t forget to add that most resorts switched from a “mini fridge” to “beverage coolers” if recently remodeled.
The coolers don’t go lower than 41 degrees, which is NOT SAFE to store food. We had plans to save by getting yogurt, milk, breakfast sausage delivered…. couldn’t store any of it.
Conveniently could get breakfast in the resort cafe… Extra $50-60/day. Used to be covered by the dining plan, now extra costs.
I noticed that. They will only provide a mini fridge if you have a medication that requires storage in a refrigerator. Other than that, you are SOL. I was planning to do the same thing when I realized this. We may look into PopTarts, etc instead… we just don’t usually eat things like that. But, I need cheap, easy, and filling. Honestly, there isn’t much of a reason to stay at a Disney resort anymore vs. a different local hotel. After pricing it, it comes out to be a little cheaper to stay elsewhere that has a continental breakfast and free bussing to the parks.
My family and I always used the dinning plain with one quick service and one sit down and it was nice because we would buy more in the stores to go home with. We went in August and spent more in food then on retail items. Please Disney bring the dinning plain back for the familys that use the value hotels!
They had previously said they were bringing it back. It would be nice if they would address it and give us an idea of what they plan to do. It is difficult to plan a Disney family vacation on a budget as a single mom when leaving the food as a variable that is just up in the air. I am very disappointed.
Every time I sit and do the math it was cheaper to do gift cards over a dining plan.
But I didn’t.
It was about paying for a trip in full with zero worries. It made me happy knowing that my trip is paid for 100%. Of course this my reasoning and my emotions on it, and like everything Disney offers, it is not for everyone. But for me, back in a time where we worked a ton of hours, it was worth it knowing I could pop on the plane and just enjoy my family with zero regard to fiscal responsibility, because it was paid for.
Don’t let anyone fool you that Disney did not profit from this because they most certainly did. So the reasoning behind not introducing this back after park open is a head scratcher. If there is one common theme, a lot of “Disney CEO” ideas are a head scratcher.
I would like to end on this…. Pendulums always swing. There are a lot of things Disney has done recently that have angered people in mass, understandable. But in time, I believe all the wrinkles will iron out and it can be a magical place again. Anywho, my two cents into a conversation that shouldn’t be divisive but open.
Comments for Sad Update: No Plans to Bring Back Disney Dining Plans
Crystal
ARE YOU KIDDING?????????
Teddy R.
Over 20 years, we probably did extended stays at Disney 9 times. At this point we are done with Disney.
While it was never inexpensive, we always considered it to be a premium experience at a premium price. Things like the dining plans and Fastpass all contributed to the magic.
These days it has become a sub-par experience at an ultra premium price. Poor service, long lines, bad food, added expenses at every turn. Add to that the in your face wokeness. The magic has been replaced with “shareholder value”.
If Walt were alive, I have no doubt he would fire Gordon Gecko, aka Bob Chapek.
WytchiePoo
I am 100 percent in agreement with your sentiment. This trip in November will be our last for Disney. We will be going to universal for future trips. Better value, better environment, just better overall.
The Left is Evil
Myself and Millions more agree!!!
Tired of lies
So my comment is blocked for calling yall out.
Jack Sparrow
Here, have a tissue.
WDWSLR85
Good! DDP destroyed the quality of the food at the restaurants.
But Of course that has nothing to do with why it’s not coming back. Remember they’ve publicly stated they’re going to charge you more for smaller portions because your waistline could be smaller.
There is no more value – anything – at WDW
Nicole
Disney is still including the Dining Plan symbol on new menus. The symbol is on the 2022 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival menu boards. It seems counterproductive to include the symbol on new menus with no plans of bring the program back.
Kevin
I could have sworn there were posts about the dining plan a few days ago
Melanye
I really hope they bring it back. We went last year for the first time without it and it changed our entire trip. The lack of a DDP meant more budgeting and scrapping some favorite meals because of it.
If it’s not brought back, combined with the other crap that’s happening, we might re-think some of our vacations.
kim gray
We have been DVC members for 10 ys. We have not been to Disney in 3 yrs. The combo of th pandemic and stupidity of Chapeck raising prices. We use to go every summer. Now ou next trip. Will involve a lot of going without meals starvinf and not going to parks. I have 3 girls, not big girls. They can eat. We always got the dining plan. I was simple easy and affordable. Nothing is affordable at Disney. If my daughter wanted a snack on a resort day. We use to say use your dining plan points. Now we have to say. We can not afford it, Wait lets see if mom will go without it so you can have a snack. We use to go to the parks for 4 to 5 days. Now maybe 1. We use t eat a sit down meal and buffet. Not anymore. Disney is losing soooooo much money.
Ava
Not for nothing but if you can’t afford a Dole Whip or Minnie Ice Cream bar maybe Disney was never really in your budget?
Heather
That’s the point; Disney had plans that put it within our budget. I am debt free besides my mortgage. But I still can’t plan a Disney trip easily or nearly as fun for as many days without the dining plan. When you have a family with multiple children, it’s not one Dole Whip or Minnie Ice Cream bar that we are talking about, and they add up. Those aren’t filling, so after that snack, you still have a meal to think about and the cost of it. The Disney Dining plan relieved all that stress, making it easy and more affordable. Now, the stress doesn’t even make it fun to plan.
Debra Knox
For the sake of value, you MUST bring it back Disney. I understood prices increasing… it is the nature of things but where is the convenience and the value????
James
I am wondering had the pandemic not happened would we have seen all the changes at the parks. The quality of service has gone down, the quality of food is suffering, the costs have quadrupled, lines have grown to outrageous lengths, people have gone off the edge in terms of their behaviour in the parks. We have lost all sight of Walt’s vision for the parks to be opened to all to partake of. Will we see things ever come back?
Jaye
Then I continue to have no plans to return to WDW.
Diane
Disney is not the Disney world it use to be! They always made the guests feel special! Now they act like they are the special one! Take it or leave attitude!
Patricia Adams
We have always used the Disney Dining Plan.I am 76, I am very credit card savey, The DDP was so easy to use, made it very easy for those of us who are not world travelers. Come on, Disney, give us something
Corinna
Had I have known this was going to happen we would have went back to Universal Studios. Disney is so commercial now, not what it should be or what it used to be. Universal has it on point. They top Disney 1000000000%
Becky N
Very SAD no Dining Plans. Made it so easy to plan our trip and Budget. We were able to enjoy so many Fine Dining opportunities that will now be limited on our next trip in November. PLEASE bring back.
Debbie Essler
How do we get them to change their minds!! That was one of the major reasons we liked going to WDW because of the dining plan…you didn’t have to worry about what to eat and how much it was going to cost because it was already taken care of!! The NEED TO BRING IT BACK IMMEDIATLEY !! PLEASE!!
A
Really disappointing. I am a huge fan of the dining plan and without it, it is another strike against going back. (among all the other items that have continued to degrade the value of a Disney vacation for the money)
Ava
In the early 2000s the dining plan would leave you full all day and you probably gained a pound or two throughout the week even with all the walking. Mickey waffles in the morning, a big burger and fries for lunch, a dole whip and then a dinner reservation in the evening. I can’t see the plans ever coming back.
Max
Don’t forget to add that most resorts switched from a “mini fridge” to “beverage coolers” if recently remodeled.
The coolers don’t go lower than 41 degrees, which is NOT SAFE to store food. We had plans to save by getting yogurt, milk, breakfast sausage delivered…. couldn’t store any of it.
Conveniently could get breakfast in the resort cafe… Extra $50-60/day. Used to be covered by the dining plan, now extra costs.
Heather
I noticed that. They will only provide a mini fridge if you have a medication that requires storage in a refrigerator. Other than that, you are SOL. I was planning to do the same thing when I realized this. We may look into PopTarts, etc instead… we just don’t usually eat things like that. But, I need cheap, easy, and filling. Honestly, there isn’t much of a reason to stay at a Disney resort anymore vs. a different local hotel. After pricing it, it comes out to be a little cheaper to stay elsewhere that has a continental breakfast and free bussing to the parks.
Aubrey
My family and I always used the dinning plain with one quick service and one sit down and it was nice because we would buy more in the stores to go home with. We went in August and spent more in food then on retail items. Please Disney bring the dinning plain back for the familys that use the value hotels!
Heather
They had previously said they were bringing it back. It would be nice if they would address it and give us an idea of what they plan to do. It is difficult to plan a Disney family vacation on a budget as a single mom when leaving the food as a variable that is just up in the air. I am very disappointed.
Yo
I see your comment. It says:
“So my comment is blocked for calling yall out.”
What’s the problem?
Next?
Dear Bob Paycheck,
You’re selfish
You’re crazy
You’re fired.
K. Time for a new experience! Any suggestions people? Where should I go now? North? Mexico? Cruise? Universal?
J
Every time I sit and do the math it was cheaper to do gift cards over a dining plan.
But I didn’t.
It was about paying for a trip in full with zero worries. It made me happy knowing that my trip is paid for 100%. Of course this my reasoning and my emotions on it, and like everything Disney offers, it is not for everyone. But for me, back in a time where we worked a ton of hours, it was worth it knowing I could pop on the plane and just enjoy my family with zero regard to fiscal responsibility, because it was paid for.
Don’t let anyone fool you that Disney did not profit from this because they most certainly did. So the reasoning behind not introducing this back after park open is a head scratcher. If there is one common theme, a lot of “Disney CEO” ideas are a head scratcher.
I would like to end on this…. Pendulums always swing. There are a lot of things Disney has done recently that have angered people in mass, understandable. But in time, I believe all the wrinkles will iron out and it can be a magical place again. Anywho, my two cents into a conversation that shouldn’t be divisive but open.
Comments are closed.