CM says 2010 approved DP lists is final??

[LisaPisa]

I called the Disney dining hotline b/c I made ADRs this weekend, including Les Chefs de France and Marrakesh. These restaurants are not currently on the list Disney has released as approved on the 2010 Dining Plan, but they have been in years past and I figured I'd take the gamble.

I asked the CM at what point the DP list is considered the final list, and she said what's listed right now IS final. No other restaurants will be added.

I've read at AllEars and it's always said in these DIS forums that restaurants are often added last minute. Does anybody know this to be true? They've seen restaurants be added?! I'm so upset Les Chefs is not on the list!

[TDC Nala]

The CM was incorrect. Every year we have to wait until December or January for a full list, including the third-party restaurants. It is highly unlikely that ALL third-party restaurants will be dropping DDP in 2010. There's no guarantees, but the CM can't make that call yet.

I don't trust any information I receive from WDW-DINE because they are wrong more often than they are correct. I'd use them only to make restaurant reservations and not as a reliable source of information about either the restaurants themselves or the Disney dining plan.

[LisaPisa]

That makes me feel better. Thank you!

[spodie]

Wow, I think pulling two restaurants like that (with prime location!) off the DP would be a horrible move for them and a huge loss in revenue... It just seems really unlikely that they would not be a part of the DP.

[TDC Nala]

Wow, I think pulling two restaurants like that (with prime location!) off the DP would be a horrible move for them and a huge loss in revenue... It just seems really unlikely that they would not be a part of the DP.

These restaurants are not owned and operated by Disney, so it isn't up to Disney. It's part of their contract negotiations with the owner/operator whether or not these restaurants will accept DDP, because the contracts for them to operate at Disney must be renewed every year. If the restaurant no longer wants to accept the dining plan it would have to negotiate that with Disney. I bet anything that Disney WANTS them on the dining plan.

Only one restaurant has ever dropped the dining plan - Fultons in 2006 - and this was a high-end restaurant located outside the theme parks. At a bare minimum I would bet that all restaurants inside a theme park will sign back up.

[Colleen27]

These restaurants are not owned and operated by Disney, so it isn't up to Disney. It's part of their contract negotiations with the owner/operator whether or not these restaurants will accept DDP, because the contracts for them to operate at Disney must be renewed every year. If the restaurant no longer wants to accept the dining plan it would have to negotiate that with Disney. I bet anything that Disney WANTS them on the dining plan.

Only one restaurant has ever dropped the dining plan - Fultons in 2006 - and this was a high-end restaurant located outside the theme parks. At a bare minimum I would bet that all restaurants inside a theme park will sign back up.

I would expect to see the CSR dining locations sign back on too. I'm sure the pressure on them is immense because Disney can't possibly want an entire resort that doesn't accept the plan. I suspect that if the company operating those restaurants were to opt out of the dining plan, they wouldn't have to worry about contract negotiations the next year.

I think the only restaurants that might be eliminated, practically speaking, are those at Downtown Disney because they aren't as dependent upon Disney resort guests for their business.

[plymouthmom]

DTD and Epcot restaurants are the last to sign on every year. And they do sign on, every year. Don't worry.

[MickQuinn]

I've noticed in years past that Teppan Edo and Tutto Italia aren't on the list when I check in the Fall, but are part of the plan when I book in the spring.