2008 DDP: Choice of App. or Dessert

[TruBlu]

Remember, the healthier food initiative doesn't necessarily apply to the Dining Plan specifically, but is a more general objective. And, overall, healthier food choices are available, far more so than were available years ago.

Whether the patron chooses healthier choices is up to the patron.

That's all were asking for - the ability to choose. (Appetizer/dessert, white/wheat, fries/grapes...) It would just be nice to have the option.

 

[hematite153]

That's all were asking for - the ability to choose. (Appetizer/dessert, white/wheat, fries/grapes...) It would just be nice to have the option.

Yep!

They do let me choose grapes now--although most of the vegetarian CS options don't come with a side anyway.

I prefer wheat to white, so that one doesn't bother me directly, but I find it an odd thing to "forbid".

I'm not a big fan of sugar. Artificial sugars don't solve this because they are still designed to make things SWEET. (Plus, unless the artificial sweetner is Splenda/sucralose, it will make me ill.) Whenever they have cheese plates on the dessert list, I get excited. But, I've yet to be allowed to order it with the DDP.

 

[hipchickie]

I'm not a big fan of sugar. Artificial sugars don't solve this because they are still designed to make things SWEET. (Plus, unless the artificial sweetner is Splenda/sucralose, it will make me ill.) Whenever they have cheese plates on the dessert list, I get excited. But, I've yet to be allowed to order it with the DDP.

We were allowed to order a cheese plate for dessert in 2006 (Le Cellier I believe). Wouldn't that be a nice option on *all* the menus instead of fake sweeteners/chemicals!

 

[TDC Nala]

I do understand your point. Although, I'm not convinced that I've explained myself clearly enough.

I was saying that they could require the choice to be consistent for every table. In other words, we cannot have one person order the appetizer and another order the dessert. Leave it to each family to make a decision about who gets what they want.

I like the idea of giving my dessert away to a neighbouring table that isn't on the plan--I may try that if/when I am unable to get a dessert I can enjoy. (I.e. counteract the "more money for the mouse" idea by preventing someone else from paying for dessert.)

Fine, except that not all members of a party can be assumed to be a family. While one could be convinced to give up the dessert for an appetizer to bring about the preference of another family member's desire for the appetizer, it's more difficult to convince someone to do that for a friend of a friend.

It's also assuming that all people in a dining party are on the plan; that all are staying in the same room; and that the server won't have to go to the members of each separate room reservation, determine who is included in it, and whether the diners ON THAT RESERVATION want the appetizer or want the dessert. Besides the time it would take to do that, some could pick the appetizer, and some the dessert, and in terms of time they're right back where they started from, without the extra money coming in from OOP appetizers.

Whenever they have cheese plates on the dessert list, I get excited. But, I've yet to be allowed to order it with the DDP.

I have ordered cheese plates for dessert on DDP at Flying Fish, California Grill and Artist Point.

 

[hematite153]

We were allowed to order a cheese plate for dessert in 2006 (Le Cellier I believe). Wouldn't that be a nice option on *all* the menus instead of fake sweeteners/chemicals!

I have ordered cheese plates for dessert on DDP at Flying Fish, California Grill and Artist Point.

Oooh...Le Cellier and California Grill are two of the places that told me I couldn't have the cheese plate as my dessert with the DDP. But, now that I know others have I may have to become one of those annoying guests who says, "but a poster on the disboards told me that they were allowed to do so."

Seriously, if there was a cheese plate, fruit option (no sweetners, cake, or ice cream attached to the fruit), or a simple salad available on the dessert list I wouldn't mind the appetizer change. I'm happy to eat my salad at the end of the meal if that makes the restaurants happier.

 

[bicker]

That's all were asking for - the ability to choose. (Appetizer/dessert, white/wheat, fries/grapes...) It would just be nice to have the option.

However, you're asking for choices that increase the effective, average cost without increasing the price. Remember, earlier it was discussed in detail why Disney likely saves money by offering dessert instead of appetizers (i.e., people are more likely to skip dessert).

So your choice should be between chocolate cake and melon, and I heartily support your interest in having that choice. In my experience, most full-service restaurants at WDW will have a healthier choice available for dessert.

 

[DCDisney]

e, fruit option (no sweetners, cake, or ice cream attached to the fruit),

Every TS place with a kids menu offers fruit salad as a dessert option. It's just fruit no sugar, sauce, ice cream, etc. Adults can order the kids dessert with no problem.

 

[hematite153]

Every TS place with a kids menu offers fruit salad as a dessert option. It's just fruit no sugar, sauce, ice cream, etc. Adults can order the kids dessert with no problem.

The one time I tried to order this it was in a very sugary sauce/syrup. There are also many reports of people being refused kids items for their 10 year olds (even when they were clear that they were going to use the adult credit to pay for the, much cheaper, child's item) so I'm not sure that it is universally true that you can get the kids dessert at a TS meal.

However, I did once successfully get plain berries when there was a dessert on the menu described as "topped with berries"

 

[Brian Noble]

I think we should all write letters.

Unless those letters are accompanied by a firm resolve to stop eating in Disney restaurants, they are likely to be placed directly in the, ahem, circular file.

 

[TruBlu]

However, you're asking for choices that increase the effective, average cost without increasing the price. Remember, earlier it was discussed in detail why Disney likely saves money by offering dessert instead of appetizers (i.e., people are more likely to skip dessert).

So your choice should be between chocolate cake and melon, and I heartily support your interest in having that choice. In my experience, most full-service restaurants at WDW will have a healthier choice available for dessert.

Good point, but you can't blame a girl for wishing.

 

[mariaJ.]

Oh, I love the idea of ordering the dessert and giving it to another table!

I still might cancel the plan for our Feb 2 trip, especially if I can cancel without the $50 fee, whadya think are the chances of THAT?!

 

[Pumbaa_]

I would be surprised if you are allowed to 'share' your dessert with other tables. The DDP specifically does not allow sharing with others not on the plan.

I know if we had a choice of appy or dessert, we would order one of each. Which is exactly why they didn't make that an option, IMHO.

 

[hipchickie]

I would be surprised if you are allowed to 'share' your dessert with other tables. The DDP specifically does not allow sharing with others not on the plan.

Maybe I will get it packaged to go and just forget it.....on thier table

 

[CharmedLife]

I would be surprised if you are allowed to 'share' your dessert with other tables. The DDP specifically does not allow sharing with others not on the plan.

This may be slightly OT, but does this mean that if my mom and dad are eating with us, and we're on the plan but they're not (we're staying DVC, they're not), that we can't share food with each other? I knew that credits were non-transferrable, but you can't share the FOOD either?

As I haven't booked the DDP yet, I'm just going back and forth on whether or not to do it. This could make my decision for me, I don't want to get yelled at for sharing food with my mom!

ETA: Just to clarify, it's not that my parents wouldn't be ordering their own food. We just like to order different things and then sample each others' food.

 

[bicker]

Generally, once a dessert is delivered to the table, it can be eaten by whomever is sitting at the table, unless it is an AYCE item (like a bottomless milkshake).

 

[TruBlu]

Generally, once a dessert is delivered to the table, it can be eaten by whomever is sitting at the table, unless it is an AYCE item (like a bottomless milkshake).

Is sharing an AYCE item OK if you don't get a refill? (My boys and I usually share the milkshake, but we would never ask for a refill.)

 

[bicker]

Ask your server.

 

[Belle1962]

FYI: at Teppan Edo I orded my dessert "to go" so it came out boxed up. I then just handed it to the other party.

 

[tripplanner2]

Anyone think the changes were part of the master plan? When they first introduced the program, they let it go really cheap so customers would take it as a no brainer. Now, we are used to it and have a hard time vacationing without it. I was able to get a great room rate with the 40% off code. In the past I would have bought food OOP but last year we had free dining for half of our trip and paid OOP for the first half. We hated not being on the dining plan and even DH said he would rather pay for DDP than be without it. This year I priced it out with our room rate and feel it is really expensive but at the same time at least I know what our expenses will be. There will be no surprises at the end of our trip. I also agree that they got rid of the apps to cut down on table time.

 

[bicker]

It always makes sense to introduce new services at a lower price than what you'll charge once the service is well-established.