2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[Disneyof3]

Here's the language in the '08 brochure:

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...agespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/08Dining.pdf



And the language in the '07 brochure:
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...agespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/07Dining.pdf



The wording is slightly different, but say pretty much the same thing. I'd assume there were no changes made, but we'll have to wait and see, at this point.

Thank you for printing that, I have never seen the one for 07!!!

 

[mickey2000]

Have fun with pics!

 

[pixiedustholidays]

I'm disappointed with the 2008 changes to the basic plan....but I do see there is a market for the deluxe DDP, and I actually think this is good value for anyone wanting that kind of experience (we go to WDW so often we just love sitting in restaurants and relaxing, and don't care about attractions) but not for everyone.

We are going in March with our entire family (total 12 people) and we had toyed with staying offsite in a 6 bedroom executive rental home, and now with the changes to DDP, that is now a certainty. We are only going to do 2 days at Disney, then do a day at the beach, and spend time as a family around the private pool, etc.

We'll still go back in Sept if they do free dining. Even with paying the tips and foregoing appetizers, if we get it free it's still a good deal. We'll have to wait and see on that one......

I wonder what my clients will have to say, and how they will go. I've been booking almost 100% onsite with DDP since it started, but I wonder if there will be a return to going offsite. With Universal offering $86 a week for all parks and the DDP losing value, offsite may start to regain some clients.

Jen
Pixie Dust Holidays

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

When I described the changes to DW tonight, she said that she thinks we should go back to how we did things pre-DDP: stay offsite, eat breakfast at the condo, CS lunch and a snack at the parks and TS offsite.

Not giving us a choice of app/dessert is a very big deal to her, as I thought it would be. She definitely wants a salad with her meal, and we'll have to go OOP on that if we do the 2008 version of the DDP. But we can eat someplace like Carraba's, where the salad's included with the entree, and have a decent meal and not pay nearly as much. When you add that in with the $ we can save staying offsite vs. paying for a resort room onsite (and the extra room we'll have, to boot) and the choice is pretty clear to us. More money will go to the local economy.

Boy did you say it! In the last 3 years we have been "lured" onsite because we could "check our brains' so to say and not have to think about where we were eating, how much it would cost, how we were getting to and from. We did all that planning before hand... but i gotta say i just don't see how we could possibly afford to do that now. We were already "maxed" out on our vacation money with our once a year trips... perhaps now we'll go check out Seaworld again? the ocean? other places

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

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.

So what did the servers do before the DDP? The DDP has not been around forever, so maybe they are just a little bit scared/spoiled that they will actually have to work for their tips?

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

I sent one that makes it very clear how I feel. I will see if they respond to it. I was told by a cm to send your complaints to
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com .
they got the message, because I got an automated response in my email back.

I worked at a national retailer that had set up an email system to receive customers' complaints. The only individual seeing the emails were call center workers in another country. The approach was to let the customer vent and have an automatic reply stating their concerns were being addressed. Rarely is the email more than skimmed and really nothing changed.

I recently read in a business magazine how to effectively complain. The best way to get you message across is to directly snail mail your complaint to a senior executive. Skip the email. It is even better if you FedEx the letter so you can track its progress. For added effect, mark the letter confidential. This approach will get the Exec's attention. In the end, the only proven way that WDW will change policy if they lose money/customers due to the modifed DDP.

 

[pinkerbell]

Seriously, I don't understand all this talk about how people using all of the credits to which they are entitled is "taking advantage" or that this is what caused changes. How in the world did it become "taking advantage" to actually use the credits for which you've bought? If Disney raises its prices on the "waterpark and more" tickets, will that be the fault of the people who actually used all of the options on their ticket to visit both waterparks, downtown disney, and disneyquest? If the price at Ohana goes up, can I blame people who ask for a second helping of dessert when really they were full after the first helping? I understand about creative child/adult credit uses and even about sharing meals, but to blaming people who are actually using all of the credits for which they have paid?

Personally I'm not happy with the changes. I've crunched the numbers and there is no way we could save money with the new basic DDP; it would cost us money to buy it and so we won't be getting it.

Ahhh, thank you, ditto to everything

 

[i3utterfli82]

So what did the servers do before the DDP? The DDP has not been around forever, so maybe they are just a little bit scared/spoiled that they will actually have to work for their tips?

The thing about Disney that sucks for servers is that a majority of the people visiting are NOT Americans who tip the standard 18-20%. This is where they will lose out, not necessarily because of service.

 

[Becky2005]

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

I doubt the servers but I know a lot of complaints seemed to be that the tip was included in the plan by customers (or at least what I read on the boards, etc...) and now that it's not included everyone is upset about that.

So, I'm baffled as to the complaints about it not being included when there had been a lot of complaints about it being included (therefore service declined because the servers knew they would get an automatic tip or so the theory went).

Sounds to ME like Disney addressed the earlier complaints about the tips being included (although I'm sure there was more to it than that simple view as I'm sure nothing is ever that simple for changes).

 

[pinkerbell]

..think it would be worth changing resrvation to 12/31 even tho we arrive 1/1... I think it would be worth paying for the extra night to get the 2007 DDP ....we arrive at 8 am anyway and I am nervous about waiting for the room for hours...what do you all think? Think they would honor the fact that we reserved 12/31 but checked in late (1/1) or would the computer maybe over-ride any thing they tried to put in anyway>???

I would definately add an extra night...mostly because of the arrival time, then the 2007 ddp would be a bonus.. will it cost much to change any flights or will the resort room be very $$$$ if not Make that change..

 

[Colleen27]

WOW... really glad we got the DDE.

The value of the DDP has gone down about $20 - that should cover quite a few of those "shared burger" losses.

Tourism is back and Disney doesn't have to bend over backwards to fill rooms anymore. Appy's gone, tips are gone, ticket prices have gone up, and we still don't know if they're going to charge premium prices for weekend nights as well. Chef Mickey's is now $23 for breakfast.

I think our trips will be shorter this upcoming year and we'll be visiting SeaWorld again (not yet disgusted enough to give US another try though! ).

How long until they start charging for DME ??

I really don't get the whole "sky is falling" reaction to some of this. Yes, the dining plan, which was underpriced and so popular that it was overtaxing all of Disney dining to the point of discouraging repeat business because of service and menu issues, is less valuable. But the tip is now in the hands of the customer, which means service should improve since servers can no longer rest easy knowing they'll get their 18% no matter how the guest feels about their performance.

Yes, the "premium pricing" did turn out to be true - to a point. We'll be there for MLK weekend in Jan, so we're paying a whopping $10 more per night for 2 nights of our trip. That's a far cry from the huge premium that people were predicting, and it only applies for holiday weekends. If we went a week later, there'd be no higher weekend rate at all.

And as far as charging for ME, I can't imagine that they could do it without turning most people off of ME. The competition is too affordable. A towncar service runs about $100 for a family of 4, and includes a grocery stop. ME would have to be priced lower, most likely, to make up for being mass transport, with stops are multiple resorts, rather than personal, direct service and for not including any perks like a grocery stop. Even a charge of $15 or $20 per person would be enough to have many people (especially those who are planning a grocery delivery which will cost $25 or more in delivery charge) choosing the town car service instead.

 

[Creekermom]

great discussion.. This is our first time going and I had hoped to go again next year too.
We are going with the FREE dining plan and if they think about it is a risk to us as it is hurricane season!

They are still making $$$$ anyway you look at it.

I could see NOT including gratuity but adjusting everything else... hum.. DIS'ers like to get a break every now and again!
It makes it a bit more affordable to go, I never thought we could go before... how wrong I was. the FREE DDP is the thing that was like we can't beat this price lets go!

 

[AnninIowa]

I am personally hoping the changes in the Dining Plan WILL turn some people back on to counter service or eating off property so that TS restaurants aren't booked solid 180 days out. We did the Dining Plan once - way too much food and I hated having every meal planned out months in advance. I'd rather eat what I want, when I want, where I want; I could pay for the plan or just pay to get the food I want. We came in UNDER the price of the plan on our last trip paying OOP and had a much more relaxing (and less stuffed) time because of it.

 

[odaddy!]

I am bummed by the fact that the rumors were true, kudos to those who find out all the secrets ahead of time, and get chastised for talking about them We never went to disney world until the first free dining, now because of it we are going for a 3rd time in a row. Wow, we always figured that we would pay for the dining plan if we ever went when the free was not offered, Now we are not sure, it will be extremely interesting to watch the comments from those going the first few months of 2008.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I'm kind of glad with the changes. All the people complaining about their appetizers... the deluxe plan offers them, so spend the extra money and get it if thats what you really want. And I won't be disappointed if people choose not to anymore, cuz I had trouble booking ADR at 180+ days because of so many people on it. It's Disney, people should know they want your money. The DP is still a great deal if your doing table service a lot... much worse things we could be worrying about.

 

[Shannone1]

I am disappointed in the new changes. We loved the DDP last April because everything was paid for ahead of time and we didn't have to worry about checking the prices in every menu. With the changes, it no longer makes sense for my family of 5 (four of whom will be considered adults).

The Deluxe plan would cost us $300 a day PLUS tips. The basic would be close to $200 and we would still have to pay for breakfast and tips OOP. It was a pain last time to make sure that we weren't charged for our meals when they swiped the card. Now we would either have to pay for all tips in cash, or use yet another card just for tips and hope we didn't mix them up.

Either way we will have to make ADR's so it may be easier for us just to pay OOP for our meals and not have to worry about what comes with what.

 

[marivaid]

I really don't get the whole "sky is falling" reaction to some of this. Yes, the dining plan, which was underpriced and so popular that it was overtaxing all of Disney dining to the point of discouraging repeat business because of service and menu issues, is less valuable.

The sky's not falling.

For one thing I doubt there's anything "underpriced" in Disney. While they may have been taking a loss (or making a smaller profit) in the restaurants because of the DDP, the fact that in order to get the DDP guests had to stay onsite (in most cases, at rack rate) more than made up for that loss.

I think taking the appetizer off OR the tip would have been fine. But they took off both, roughly $15-$20 value and only lower the price by $1. Guests still have to stay on site and still have to pay rack rate (except with AAA or special offers). Park tickets have gone up and now we have premium nights as well.
So Disney is not just having their cake & eating it too, they're eating about 3 different cakes at the same time!

What are the advantages of staying on site now besides EMH and transportation ? I'm not sure if that's worth paying twice the rate of any hotel in the area for a room half the size.

But the tip is now in the hands of the customer, which means service should improve since servers can no longer rest easy knowing they'll get their 18% no matter how the guest feels about their performance.

Either that, or they'll be so sick of getting ripped off by guests on the DDP that the service for them will get even worse. It's hard to predict when you're dealing with human beings. Some will see it as a challenge, some will decide it's not worth a try.

And if they do what the rumor said which is adding the 18% automatically for guests with the DDE card then the same issues will remain. It'll just be different people complaining.

Where's the improvement for the guests ?

 

[TexasCourt]

DF and I are honeymooning at WDW in January. Since we own DVC, we will not be renting a hotel room and we also have APs. Can we still get the deluxe dining plan? TIA!

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

DVC can still get the Deluxe Dining Plan still from everything I've read. Me and my fiance are planning on doing the deluxe too Wanna spoil ourselves. May try to add in the wine thing too.. Haha.

DF and I are honeymooning at WDW in January. Since we own DVC, we will not be renting a hotel room and we also have APs. Can we still get the deluxe dining plan? TIA!

 

[TexasCourt]

Also, for the Deluxe, can the 3 meals all be TS? Thanks!