2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[MommySiobhan]

I keep reading Appetizers are not included. I'm confused.

Are they just not included with the regular DDP?

I thought I read on the WDW site that they are included with the DLX DDP.

Is that how it's working?

Although it's a price hike, i did some number crunching based on the original speculation post. It worked out to be a slightly better deal with the dining plan than without.
I really like having the added choice about whether to do a sit down. We like to sit down for breakfast as a family and were not able to do that last year at a TS restaurant.
We ended up having to pay OOP for breakfasts and extra snacks/drinks and two meals last year with the dining plan and all of that add's up.
Even though the DLX DDP is more expensive it does seem like a better value for our family.
The only thing I'd like better would be the tip being included.

I'll still crunch more before I make any decisions but I think for now, it looks like the DLX DDP would work better for us.

 

[mrs.elliott]

I have a question regarding when the 2008 rates go into effect. I read on some other boards, not DIS, that if you didn't have the reservation booked by Aug 5, 2007 then you would have to be on the 2008 plan. Is this accurate? We are planning on going December 14-21, 2007. We haven't booked our trip yet - we are waiting until the middle of the month when the deals come out for the December time period.

Thank you in advance!

 

[GreatLakes5]

I'm personally still seeing this as a value for our family. Spending all day in the park - I don't want to come and go for meals including both lunch and dinner. My 11 year old, adult by Disney standards? Well thanks to the P Word (that would be 'puberty') he DOES eat as an adult and DOES eat more than a kid portion so I'm fine with paying the cost for he and his bottomless stomach.

I also like not having tips included. Now, I see the economic change in that I'm not seeing an 18% reduction in the cost but still paying it out of my pocket, but if it means I actually see who my server is at a buffet-style restaurant and perhaps get better service then I'm fine with it. And, no flames, I'm not complaining as much as observing and hoping.

Losing money for no appetizer? Sure....although we had a lot of food served to us while there which we ended up tossing out - we never cleaned our plates. Sure, we got the food, but we didn't eat it all.

Finally, one thing we will consider, is that when we camp we may not do the DDP....we did it when we were at Fort Wilderness in February....this would be the trip for which we may not use the plan. The DDP may be reserved for the hotel visits and the grill may end up being utilized more at the Fort.

My biggest thing to watch? I want to see that snack list expanded or find out that those using the '08 plan are still seeing the same snack offerings - as written? Pretty lame to this family....

 

[englishrose47]

Subscribing!

 

[CNDKangaroo]

Well I just booked my package for Jan. and I booked the basic dining package and the tickets plus water parks etc. We've done disneyland and there isn't a dining package option and I always feel like I'm trying to cut corners as to where we eat. I'm pleased that on this trip our dinners will be at a sit down restaurant and we'll just have to worry about the tip. We never go to restaurants and order an appatizer and dessert so being able to order dessert is a real treat. Plus...most of the restaurants I booked are buffet or family style so I'm sure we will have plenty to eat. Sure it is different then the plans in previous years but I'm just happy that they have a plan at all and that I can pay for the majority of my holiday ahead of time!

 

[i3utterfli82]

The only thing I am seriously disappointed about is the gratuity is now extra. I would even be excited about the deluxe plan if it was included. If we do the deluxe it is a base price of $70p/p THEN a minimum of $40 extra dollars a day for tips if you are doing atleast 2 TS, if you do 3 then most likely $55-60 extra. That is a lot of money for food, and we LOVE food So your looking at possibly $220 a day for a family of 3 (2 adults, 1 child).

 

[MommySiobhan]

When I estimated a trip staying at FW cabins, I could only select the DDP, there was no option for DLX DDP.

Why would this be?

 

[hansel1]

I keep reading Appetizers are not included. I'm confused.

Are they just not included with the regular DDP?

I thought I read on the WDW site that they are included with the DLX DDP.

Is that how it's working?

Although it's a price hike, i did some number crunching based on the original speculation post. It worked out to be a slightly better deal with the dining plan than without.
I really like having the added choice about whether to do a sit down. We like to sit down for breakfast as a family and were not able to do that last year at a TS restaurant.
We ended up having to pay OOP for breakfasts and extra snacks/drinks and two meals last year with the dining plan and all of that add's up.
Even though the DLX DDP is more expensive it does seem like a better value for our family.
The only thing I'd like better would be the tip being included.

I'll still crunch more before I make any decisions but I think for now, it looks like the DLX DDP would work better for us.

When I priced breakfasts at the different restuarants available, they were only about $20 bucks or so for an adult. Since the deluxe would run another $30 over the regular plan, I didn't think it would be worth it unless i was going to eat at a TS restaurant for lunch as well. We have always had left over snack credits that we would have to use on our checkout day.

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

Has anyone seen the "wine add on" option for the DDP? I assume it is a limited selection and does not include tip?

My vote on the change in the DDP is that WDW has hidden / shifted part of the plan's expenses back to the guest. I vote thumbs down on the new DDP. Less food for more total money.

Why not just raise the price of the package and leave the menu options as is? I have read one of the arguments that the new DDP will increase customer service satisfaction by having the CM know that the guest is the one paying the tip therefore their tip will reflect that grade of service rendered. If you are getting 15% from WDW or 15% from the guest what is the difference? I usually added another 5% to the bill to make up for the difference. I do have to say that after my trip in 2006 that when paying with cash or using DDP I saw very little difference in the wait staff's performance. I was really underwhelmed.

 

[englishrose47]

I wish they had given the choice of appie or dessert not both and I feel sorry for the servers I am sure they will be big losers! They were guaranteed 18% now they are guaranteed nothing!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Think we should start a thread with the email address of where to send complaints too????

Um, no? Because I think any other thread on this subject will be closed?

 

[disneyquilter]

Subscribing

 

[trivial]

I wish they had given the choice of appie or dessert not both and I feel sorry for the servers I am sure they will be big losers! They were guaranteed 18% now they are guaranteed nothing!

This is the one change I have no problem with. If a server does a reasonably good job, they shouldn't be worried; most people will tip reasonably well. If, on the other hand, they do a lousy job, I now have the option to tip as I see fit, if at all. My problem is that meals will now cost me more, and I'll have to pay extra if I want an appetizer.

 

[Sparklin]

I wish they had given the choice of appie or dessert not both and I feel sorry for the servers I am sure they will be big losers! They were guaranteed 18% now they are guaranteed nothing!

This is a VERY valid point. My sister is a waitress for a fairly expensive casual restaurant in Chicago. She gets 100% stiffed on a tip at least 3 times a week, sometimes more. Many times people tip her a few bucks for a bill that was at least $100, some nothing at all! I couldn't believe how often she tells me that she busts her butt running all around for tables who leave her nothing or next to nothing(less than 5%). And she really works very hard with running to get them refills before they ask and always being nice. (we were brought up that way in the work place) She makes hardly anything even though it is a very well known place that isn't cheap. So I KNOW they will hurt from this. Especially people who are cheap and don't want to spend their money on tips. IMHO no one should ever go out to eat if they can't afford to tip the normal amount for good service. Especially since servers aren't paid much to start with.


Well DH just nixed the deluxe plan and possibly the regular one too. Too much money. I still have to go thru menus to see what our meals would come to so we can see if the regular package will save us any money.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am really surprised about the loss of all of the DTD restaurants! I like to spend at least 1 or 2 evenings in DTD shopping, Disney Quest, Cirque etc and now I will only have one restaurant to dine at? Is this because they get many local regulars?

You may have to wait until they work out the contracts with the other restaurants to see them added to the dining plan. My guess is the only restaurant listed is Cap'n Jack's...that's no doubt because it is owned by Disney.

 

[marivaid]

I feel sorry for the servers I am sure they will be big losers! They were guaranteed 18% now they are guaranteed nothing!

I agree, servers will be more likely to get stiffed. People complain about service now ? Just imagine how it will be when servers get a $5 tip on a $60 bill several times a day.

BTW what happened to Disney adding the 18% tip automatically if you're using the DDE ?

 

[kritter]

I would love to have some anyalaysis of the DDE card to the DDP of 08. and see what costs, etc....How they compare what is a better deal???

 

[Imgoingwdw]

We had the DDP last year and thought it was wonderful. We were able to order without worrying about the cost. (Though we did think the helpings were a little large.) But, since we now have to pay the tips, if we have the DDP we will have to be careful what we order (not be able to eat new things or in nicer places) because we will not be able to afford the tip that goes with some of those meals. If they want to take the tip away they need to take more than a $1.00 off of the price. I do like the appetizer or dessert idea. And I would not even mind the portions being a little smaller. Some of those meals 3 people could eat on and be full when they were finished. But I think it will now cost too much, if you add the tip in, to be used.

 

[mickey2000]

I agree, servers will be more likely to get stiffed. People complain about service now ? Just imagine how it will be when servers get a $5 tip on a $60 bill several times a day.

BTW what happened to Disney adding the 18% tip automatically if you're using the DDE ?

I believe thats what Disney told us the servers wanted ??????? in thier contract.

 

[UConnJack]

Bottom line is that the DDP no longer has (monetary) value, so there is no longer any reason to get it unless the convenience of a prepaid, inclusive package is of value to you. Most vacation "packages" out there don't save you money if you break them down anyway, they just give you one-stop shopping. I don't blame Disney for making changes, but I hope they are prepared to lose A LOT of participants on the plan. I expect Disney is banking on the lemmings who will continue to get the DDP without really crunching the numbers on the new plan. Personally, I rarely go for packages, as I can customize my own trips better and usually for a much better price. The DDP was an exception as is was a great value. Now its not, so I will go back to paying OOP, maybe with the DDE.