Is it likely there will always be free Disney dining?

[Andybear]

Originally Posted by dixonsontour

It was introduced as a way to get Brits out of villas and to stay (and spend) in the bubble. When we first started going to Florida in 1997 it was either villas or packages with hotels in Kissimmee or I drive. I never heard of anyone staying onsite. Then people began doing it because of the offers. Once you’ve done it with the dining plan it would be hard to go back. I think the offer will continue but more limited dates and resorts. The uk special offers like free breakfast may be expanded.

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I went in 1995 and 1997 and did package holidays staying on site - still have the mugs There was no free dining or any sort of dining plan though. We just paid for our food as we would anywhere.

[myaquarium]

We have booked CBR for next October. No ddp but got a 10% discount. The price with Disney tickets was still £3500 for 3 of us. The two other groups with us are paying roughly £3000 each. That’s £10000 for 3 rooms tickets and no ddp. On top of that we need to pay for parking $25 a night two cars another £500.
When we booked I was concerned about the free ddp not being offered but thought we love staying onsite so much we will book. Now I’m here on the free ddp I am beginning to think it’s going to be very expensive following the way we holiday at Disney without the ddp next year. Most sit down bills for 3 diners are coming in at $200 with the tip and quick service about $60.
When we get home we need to carefully consider our plans for next year. A villa would save us £6000 at least after taking in parking and theme tickets.

[Shooby doo]

As i mentioned above, without DDP we would not eat onsite for a TS meal, on park days we generally would eat QS meals & all TS type meals would be offsite. The Dining plan if paying for it, isn't really good value either unless you max everything but Disney prices are expensive- we reckoned easily $30-$40/meal for 2 more expensive than an equivalent offsite meal. The high prices also "make" you think that you have a bargain on Free dining but really that only works if you were going to stay onsite & eat in Disney anyway.
Without DVC we wouldn't stay onsite, 10 out of 14 trips were never a problem!
SD

[jocesk]

For uk customers I think they will stop it eventually.

[jocesk]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

We also first went in 1997 and I'm sure there were package holidays that included staying onsite.

I agree that it was used to convince more Brits to stay onsite. It was noticeably more expensive to stay onsite and therefore people tended not to do it. It still is more expensive to stay onsite but the free dining helps convince people to spend more money to stay there, which in turn means Disney makes more money. Unless Disney replaces it with some other, similarly-appealing offer I don't see it going away soon.

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We stayed Cbr in 1998- i was 14!

[kadypants]

I really hope not. It's pretty much the only way i've convinced DH to stay on Disney property in 2021!

[Bertiebear]

Originally Posted by kadypants

I really hope not. It's pretty much the only way i've convinced DH to stay on Disney property in 2021!

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Me too! We stayed onsite in the 90’s but our two trips with kids with had a villa. Really want to stay onsite 2021 for a possible split stay but if no dining is offered would be a no no. That’s the only reason DH has agreed to it

[gjdjud]

I don’t think Disney release figures on who comes from where but I believe we are second only to Canada in number of foreign guests to Orlando reclaiming 2nd spot from Brazil. We may make up a small percentage of the overall attendance figures but if there was an average $ amount chart on how much each guest spent I bet us Brits would be up at the top. We spend longer there than the average guest. We are a small market but an important one. I believe there will still incentives for us to go for the foreseeable future.

[Andybear]

Originally Posted by gjdjud

I don’t think Disney release figures on who comes from where but I believe we are second only to Canada in number of foreign guests to Orlando reclaiming 2nd spot from Brazil. We may make up a small percentage of the overall attendance figures but if there was an average $ amount chart on how much each guest spent I bet us Brits would be up at the top. We spend longer there than the average guest. We are a small market but an important one. I believe there will still incentives for us to go for the foreseeable future.

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Where did you read about us being second only to Canada? I'd be interested to see where other countries come in.

[loves2plan]

Originally Posted by Andybear

Where did you read about us being second only to Canada? I'd be interested to see where other countries come in.

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I was interested in this too so looked it up on Google: floridareview/useful-r...ourism-numbers