The purpose of this thread has been completely and totally distorted -
I started the thread over in the DVC area, to solicit the opinions of DVC Members who ALWAYS stay on property. I was looking for their thoughts and opinions on how the offer effects their use of DVC resorts, or renting DVC points, etc etc
It wasn't intended for folks who either make the decision TO or NOT TO stay on property when planning a WDW vacation.
There was
absolutely no "sly, class-related, unspoken comment"
The lowest attendance seasons are the most economical use of DVC points - with the free dining offer there really isn't a 'low, low' season any longer - with dining reservations booked at 180 days - DVC members have the ability to book 11 months in advance at their home resorts - and with free dining the restaurants are ALWAYS packed to the gills which really is off putting when trying to enjoy a leisurely meal - it's rather hard to do when someone is calling out bingo number at the table next to you trying to entertain their children through dinner at a Signature restaurant - as a PP stated had happen to them before.
In regard to Disney offering free dining at the values - all of the reasons why you think there SHOULD be free dining offered - are all of the reasons why I think it SHOULD NOT be offered. Value guests are paying a bare minimum price for on property services and conveniences, so why offer an additional incentive.
IMHO, I feel that Disney is a QUALITY company, not a VALUE company in terms of marketing, branding, and corporate identity. YES, people complain about the park admission prices, however - I challenge anyone to find a great return on their entertainment investment. I feel that by offering free dining, Disney deviates from that QUALITY brand. It is common agreement that the quality of food at Disney has dropped quite significantly - and it also so happens that is has happened at the same pace as free dining. If Disney is 'giving something away' they don't have to be as concerned about the quality of it - so they buy cheaper cuts of meats, more processed foods, lower quality of vegetables, and cheaper all around products to serve. The 'streamlined' dining processes have taken all of the uniqueness out of the dining experience. IMHO - the QSDP would be absolute torture, how many meals of chicken strips, hamburgers, french fries, and pizza can one human being possibly eat? YES, I realize there are more options than that - BUT take a look around property and think of the number of places that serve only exactly what I listed above. Yeah, it's a very high number. AND the burgers are of HORRIBLE quality at that!
There are so few restaurants on Disney property that serve unique and exciting cuisine. How many more places are going to serve ribs and chicken. We accidentally booked ALL of those places on a trip in 2008 - I felt like if I ever saw a rib again, I was going to gag! Here it is - 2011- and I'll just now eat ribs again.
So - the initial intent of this thread was NOT to discuss the VALUE of the offering of fee dining plan - it was to discuss... among DVC members... their thoughts about the free dining plan, and Disney dining in general --- not to start WWIII and extol the virtues of free dining.
DVC members are not eligible for free dining when they stay on their DVC points - SO members could rent their points (in seasons other than free dining) and use the cash from that rental for a cash stay during free dining.
PLEASE don't make this a class warfare - it had absolutely nothing to do with how much money is in one's pocket, or where they are from, or the food they prefer to eat.
It was supposed to be a civil discussion about how free dining impacts DVC members - the perceived value of the dining plan - the quality of dining - and the impacts that free dining has on the masses of people that flood WDW during free dining. NOTHING more!
Though targeted at DVC members, the thread was moved to an area of the site where the original intent became totally irrelevant.
And, once again, as I said in a previous post - all the people that stomped their feet, huffed and puffed, and SWORE to NEVER travel to Disney AGAIN if they taken away 'our' free dining - when this summer it seemed like free dining was going to be a thing of past - to all who made a scene of entitlement and childish outrage - please restrain yourselves. You are NEVER... ENTITLED .... to a discount of any kind, Disney doesn't 'hafta' offer free dining, and if you are willing to turn away from your favorite vacation spot if they take away 'YOUR' free dining - then shame on you. You never would have enjoyed it to start with if Disney hadn't offered it. So to 'swear off' Disney for trimming back 'your discounts' - it shows no loyalty to a company that seems to attract your attention and your vacation dollars.
YES, Disney is expensive - however, as I stated previously, I challenge anyone to find a better return on your entertainment dollars!
When you check into a dirty room, thank someone who 'refuses' to pay rack rate. When your food is bad or of poor quality - thank the folks that won't travel without free dining. When an attraction for repairs, blame the people that think WDW is too expensive. When the Cast Member at Pop Century gets short with you and acts 'un-Disney like' - remember that they are working for minimum wage because of 'your' discount.
Disney is a FOR PROFIT company - not a NON PROFIT purveyor of magic.
If you want the high quality and high standards on which Disney built its reputation to be maintained - don't be so cheap! Disney is lowering their quality standards because people aren't willing to pay for it.
Go to Disneyland where MAJOR discount area much more rare - and what you will find a park with higher quality merchandise, better quality food, friendlier cast members, and a place where the core values of the Walt Disney are still alive - and haven't been slashed for the sake of discounts.
People want something for nothing these days - and it can't happen.
Don't force Disney to become Wal-Mart - Disney is QUALITY - Wal-Mart is value. If you want quality, don't shop at Wal-Mart. If you want Value, go to your local amusement park and spend less to get less.
If you want MORE - you have to be willing to spend MORE.
It's a fact of life.
Sorry for the rant!