1st time DPP-disappointed

[divawife]

Hi,
Using the DPP in April-first time ever using it. We're going with 4 kids and 2 adults. I don't mind the gratuities bit at all I think its fair to the servers.

I mind the appetizer and dessert change-

The reasons I gave to the CM when making ADR's are below and I plan on writing them about it also.

Iwas told by the ADR CM that the kids foods had changed for healthier options "because of the obesity epidemic" I asked about the forced policing of "healthy" food options for kids while adults pig out right in front of them. Making healthy choices is the parents responsibility when feeding their kids.
However, the adults have rich, huge desserts included in every TS meal. No appetizers like soup or salad just desserts.
Exactly how does this make sense?

Yes, I know that there are some desserts listed on the kids menus but that is not the point. If Disney is so concerned with the health of the masses they should have kept the appetizer for the adults or at minimum made you choose between.

I have a sneaky suspicion that the DPP will be changed again in 2009 based on the 2008 guinea pigs like ourselves testing it out for future guests.

Just my two cents

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

I agree about the desert and appetizer issue. I would much rather have an appetizer such as a soup or salad than a big fat piece of cake after finishing my big steak.

 

[LadyLuc361]

I would like the option at least. Like if you could get an appetizer or desert. I am hoping they are going to change DDP to this policy. That way DH could get an appetizer and I could have dessert and we could share. Or if we both wanted appetizers or desserts we could do it that way too. Here's hoping

 

[TDC Nala]

I would like the option at least. Like if you could get an appetizer or desert. I am hoping they are going to change DDP to this policy. That way DH could get an appetizer and I could have dessert and we could share. Or if we both wanted appetizers or desserts we could do it that way too. Here's hoping

The "let's each get a different item, and share" strategy is the reason you won't see a dessert/appetizer choice on the basic dining plan without a major price hike.

The consensus appears to be that one course was removed from the basic dining plan to facilitate faster table turnover. Because desserts are cheaper to produce than appetizers, the appetizers were removed.

If they offer a choice between the two, there goes the faster table turnover, because most dining plan parties will be sharing. So, I would think a more realistic option would be to eliminate the dessert and include only the appetizer; or- eliminate both the dessert and appetizer and make the basic plan applicable to the entree only. Or, offer the choice, and raise the price accordingly. You get an appetizer with the deluxe plan, but if you're on that plan, you paid quite a bit more for it. I'm assuming posters are interested in a choice because they want appetizers but they don't want to pay for the deluxe plan.

 

[midge3426]

The desserts are not as good as they use to be. Disney has cut the sugar in their desserts. Most of the desserts we had were bland. I had a brownie at the resort where I stayed and it was absolutely the blandest dessert I have ever eaten. I got a chocolate tart at Artist Point and it was awful because they had reduced the sugar so much that the chocolate was bitter.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Hi,


Iwas told by the ADR CM that the kids foods had changed for healthier options "because of the obesity epidemic" I asked about the forced policing of "healthy" food options for kids while adults pig out right in front of them. Making healthy choices is the parents responsibility when feeding their kids.
However, the adults have rich, huge desserts included in every TS meal. No appetizers like soup or salad just desserts.
Exactly how does this make sense?

Yes, I know that there are some desserts listed on the kids menus but that is not the point. If Disney is so concerned with the health of the masses they should have kept the appetizer for the adults or at minimum made you choose between.

I have been very disappointed in the limited choice they offer on the kids menu. I also do not feel it is Disney's place to tell a parent what they should feed their child.

 

[ssawka]

On the desert issue, one thing that I found frustrating was that if you went to an Alacarte counter service (something like Earl of Sandwhich), you get your desert but cannot get a side item like chips. Personally I do not need a desert at lunch, but I do like it for dinner.

On the desert/appetizer choice idea, it has been speculated that Disney will not give this choice because it adds another course. How about giving the choice, but specifying that the entire table has to get one or the other. (i.e. everyone gets an appetizer, or everyone gets a desert).

 

[TDC Nala]

On the desert/appetizer choice idea, it has been speculated that Disney will not give this choice because it adds another course. How about giving the choice, but specifying that the entire table has to get one or the other. (i.e. everyone gets an appetizer, or everyone gets a desert).

This works if, and only if, you assume that each table with people on the dining plan is one party, using the same room reservation with the dining plan, and they are a family who can actually agree on which course they want. If you have two families eating together, on different room reservations, both on the dining plan, how do you regulate having them all stick to either appetizer or dessert? Can one group get appetizers and the other get desserts because they are on separate dining plan reservations? If my friend and I are sharing a room reservation, we are both on the dining plan, she wants an appetizer and I want dessert and we don't agree on which to get, what happens then? If I am not on the dining plan and I am eating with friends who are on the dining plan, am I relegated to either appetizer or dessert because that's what they want? How much time is the party at the table going to spend making the choice? Maybe that alone would negate the time savings for the turnover of tables (if indeed that was the reason for eliminating the appetizer in the first place).

 

[Passions71203]

I have been very disappointed in the limited choice they offer on the kids menu. I also do not feel it is Disney's place to tell a parent what they should feed their child.

totally agree!

 

[caroline1851]

I think there should be more choices for children to choose from also. But,i don't disagree with them trying to make healthier options for the kids. There wouldn't be such an obesity epidemic if parents were in fact feeding their kids healthy.

As for the appetizer/dessert issue, i do also wish there was a choice. I bet they'll never go back to that though since it seemed so many people were ordering appetizers and spliting entrees.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I think there should be more choices for children to choose from also. But,i don't disagree with them trying to make healthier options for the kids. There wouldn't be such an obesity epidemic if parents were in fact feeding their kids healthy.

As for the appetizer/dessert issue, i do also wish there was a choice. I bet they'll never go back to that though since it seemed so many people were ordering appetizers and spliting entrees.

My children aren't obese....quite the opposite. They eat everything...healthy and junk...it's mostly about moderation. Disney or no one else has the right to dictate to a parent as to how they should feed their child. I know there may be an extreme situation....but I am talking about the average.

 

[IggyLans]

On the desert/appetizer choice idea, it has been speculated that Disney will not give this choice because it adds another course. How about giving the choice, but specifying that the entire table has to get one or the other. (i.e. everyone gets an appetizer, or everyone gets a desert).

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!

 

[sandym718]

I personally have a sweet tooth that I like to indulge on vacation, so I was happy that if one had to be eliminated it was the appy, not the dessert (preferred having both!). But, I agree with the OOP that it seems like a real conflict to be promoting the healthy choices for kids and then giving the dessert instead of appy (where one could choose a salad).

 

[divawife]

I also mentioned to the CM taking my ADR that when they speak to their supervisors they remember to mention my feedback.

My other issue is that the restaurants (TS or CS) children's choices should not get rid of the usual chicken strips or pb&j but also include some food that reflects the restaurant. I noticed a few do just that (spaghetti, egg rolls, fish, minor domo)
But whats up with not having a pizza choice in a pizza restaurant? Or not offering burgers?
They seem to have completely ignored the obvious. Not in all cases but when they do it is glaring.

 

[TDC Nala]

I also mentioned to the CM taking my ADR that when they speak to their supervisors they remember to mention my feedback.

My other issue is that the restaurants (TS or CS) children's choices should not get rid of the usual chicken strips or pb&j but also include some food that reflects the restaurant. I noticed a few do just that (spaghetti, egg rolls, fish, minor domo)
But whats up with not having a pizza choice in a pizza restaurant? Or not offering burgers?
They seem to have completely ignored the obvious. Not in all cases but when they do it is glaring.

We've been through the Pizzafari thing on the board (no pizza on the kids menu because adults were ordering the kids meal for themselves). If you are talking specifically about Pecos Bill, they do now offer a child's hamburger (or they did a couple of weeks ago). If you are discussing the preference that each restaurant provide an item that is popular with kids, like fried chicken strips or a hamburger, that went by the wayside when Disney decided they were going to try and get off the list of companies said to be contributing to child obesity.

They learned since they started with the healthy stuff that they had to offer SOME of the traditional popular items or deal with the wrath of the customers.

 

[mickey2000]

I also mentioned to the CM taking my ADR that when they speak to their supervisors they remember to mention my feedback.

My other issue is that the restaurants (TS or CS) children's choices should not get rid of the usual chicken strips or pb&j but also include some food that reflects the restaurant. I noticed a few do just that (spaghetti, egg rolls, fish, minor domo)
But whats up with not having a pizza choice in a pizza restaurant? Or not offering burgers?
They seem to have completely ignored the obvious. Not in all cases but when they do it is glaring.

 

[Tink415]

Prior to 2007 we never got any Dining Plan. We just ordered what we wanted, didn't try to save on meals during vacation, it was expensive but worth it. The only economizing I did was limit my kids to 2 smoothies a day

In 2007 we got the Dining Plan for 3 trips. It was kind of a no-brainer because, even tho we still ordered lots of extras (we eat 3 meals a day, sometimes have more than 1 snack a day like to get smoothies and an occasional cocktail, etc) it still saved money. My kids really liked the idea of the dining plan, especially liked that they could get a huge bag of chips for a snack or something from Goofy's Candy Co, etc.

With the changes to the Dining Plan for 2008 I couldn't decide between regular or deluxe plan so for our trip this past weekend I didn't get a Dining plan. My kids were upset, but I told them they could get whatever they wanted so it really didn't make a difference.

I kept all my receipts. We had 2 adults, 17 & 8 yr old girls. We bought 3 mugs (my husband doesn't like the mugs). We spent $469.17, about $10 more than Deluxe Dining Plan would have been. We had 1 room service breakfast, 2 food court breakfasts (CSR & POR) , 3 food court lunches (CSR & POR), 2 dinners (Kona and Boma). We ordered exactly what we wanted, not more and not less... cocktails, smoothies, appetizers, entrees, desserts, snacks... we shared some things because we wanted too.. we didn't waste much..

Bottom line, I don't think I'll be getting a Dining Plan again, it was easier and cheaper to get what we wanted.

 

[patsal]

Prior to 2007 we never got any Dining Plan. We just ordered what we wanted, didn't try to save on meals during vacation, it was expensive but worth it. The only economizing I did was limit my kids to 2 smoothies a day

In 2007 we got the Dining Plan for 3 trips. It was kind of a no-brainer because, even tho we still ordered lots of extras (we eat 3 meals a day, sometimes have more than 1 snack a day like to get smoothies and an occasional cocktail, etc) it still saved money. My kids really liked the idea of the dining plan, especially liked that they could get a huge bag of chips for a snack or something from Goofy's Candy Co, etc.

With the changes to the Dining Plan for 2008 I couldn't decide between regular or deluxe plan so for our trip this past weekend I didn't get a Dining plan. My kids were upset, but I told them they could get whatever they wanted so it really didn't make a difference.

I kept all my receipts. We had 2 adults, 17 & 8 yr old girls. We bought 3 mugs (my husband doesn't like the mugs). We spent $469.17, about $10 more than Deluxe Dining Plan would have been. We had 1 room service breakfast, 2 food court breakfasts (CSR & POR) , 3 food court lunches (CSR & POR), 2 dinners (Kona and Boma). We ordered exactly what we wanted, not more and not less... cocktails, smoothies, appetizers, entrees, desserts, snacks... we shared some things because we wanted too.. we didn't waste much..

Bottom line, I don't think I'll be getting a Dining Plan again, it was easier and cheaper to get what we wanted.

I have not been yet, but it is my plan for April and July. If I get back form April and I have made an error there is time for a change in plans for July, but overall I think the convienience of what, when and where now outweigh any minimal savings.