2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[TexasCourt]

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.

Thanks, girl! Glad to see you over here! Yeah, we are gonna go all out too! My DF can grub like no other, of course he is soooo skinny--not fair! But yeah, we figure we wanna live it up and go to all the nice restaurants before we have kids and we can't drag them into the nice sit-downs.

What is the wine thing? DF and I are total winos, lol.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

An extra $39/night per room (so per couple I assume) you get a bottle of wine. They'll even deliver it to your room and you can pick it up at the resort. There's more info on it somewhere... Will try to find it. I'm with you on the food, and I like the TS and we only get married once!!! Here's the link to the wine: http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/packages/2008package.htm#wine

Thanks, girl! Glad to see you over here! Yeah, we are gonna go all out too! My DF can grub like no other, of course he is soooo skinny--not fair! But yeah, we figure we wanna live it up and go to all the nice restaurants before we have kids and we can't drag them into the nice sit-downs.

What is the wine thing? DF and I are total winos, lol.

 

[Colleen27]

The deluxe is interesting, but I wonder if we could just save more going OOP. I'd like to see someone do a "study" on it.

I actually did a fairly detailed analysis of the DxDDP vs OOP for our dining plans and came up with a savings of about 12% compared to paying OOP. I came up with likely orders for each of us (2A, 2C) and calculated everything down to the tax, using the current menu prices from Allears and the 2007 premium plan list of participating restaurants, based only on the meals that we have planned right now. There are still 17 meal credits, 7 adult and 10 child, unplanned that we'll use for quick service breakfasts and late night munchies here and there, and I didn't account for the value of the snack credits at all because I just don't plan those.

I think there is a modest savings to the plan, enough to justify prepaying your meals 45 days or more in advance at least, but only if the plan is a good fit for how you want to approach your trip. It is for us, and I'm looking forward to trying it in January.

 

[Colleen27]

Question regarding the snacks. In 2007 it was anything under $4.00, has that changed now?? I read it only included frito bag of chips, pop, etc. I know things will change in the next couple of months and when it does start in 2008 things will change likely every week like they did last year.

The brochure wording is virtually unchanged, so only time will tell about the snack options. "Anything under $4" was never official, so I don't expect Disney to officially announce a change. I do expect to see the snacks scaled back somewhat, to exclude the 8 pack of donuts and the family size bag of chips, but I would be extremely shocked to see it limited to the things specifically mentioned on the brochure, especially in light of the 2 snacks per day included with the deluxe plan. I think we'll see a (hopefully happy) middle ground in 2008.

 

[Colleen27]

If I was on that plan I would feel like I had to eat all those meal to get the $70 per person per day worth plus you still have to pay gratuity on top of that.

I think that's something a lot of people overlook in their dining plan decision - personality matters as much as the actual numbers, if not more. If the urge to maximize the value you get out of a plan is going to interfere with having a great vacation, the plan isn't worth it no matter how much you save!

We're happy about the deluxe plan. It is priced in such a way as to be close to what we'd spend out of pocket, so we'll get a small savings and the added convenience of having most of the trip pre-paid. But I feel no complusion to get the most out of it, because it is a decent deal without trying and that's good enough for me. It doesn't have to be a spectacular deal, and I don't care if credits go unused when I've already gotten my money's worth out of the plan. I read these posts looking for the best values for every credit and I am amazed at how much people will do to feel like they're getting the best possible deal. We simply eat where we want, and if the plan isn't a good deal for the way we want to eat (even when that means "wasting" a TS credit on The Plaza or Beaches & Cream), we just won't buy it.

 

[LovinHavinNoClampets]

I sent a letter to WDW about the changes

Dear Sir or Madame,

I am writing to express my pleasure in the offering of the 2008 Deluxe Dining Plan. My husband and I are Disneyland annual pass holders living in [another state besides CA], and usually visit WDW at least once a year in addition to our monthly DL trips.

Our last trip to WDW was August of 2006 in which we happened to get free dining. After that trip, we decided that WDW was no longer a destination of choice for us and canceled a Premium package we had booked for June 2007, mainly because of the dining plan and the feeling that many people were abusing the system to the point that it reflected in the quality and service in restaurants. We longed for options similar to the old silver/gold plans that were discontinued with the introduction of the 2005-2007 dining plan; and in true Disney fashion, you answered our requests.

I feel that the new dining plan options appeal to our lifestyle and will hopefully weed out the people that have taken advantage of the system for the last few years; the same people that have kept us away from WDW with their rudeness and sense of entitlement and wanting something for nothing. I am happy to pay more for the quality and service that we were accustomed to prior to the introduction of the 2005-2007 dining plan.

Thank you for your time. We look forward to enjoying WDW again in 2008.

No more people people milking the system and now we can get back to having to be able to afford a vacation to take it

 

[Colleen27]

Where's the improvement for the guests ?

There are improvements for the guests. The changes are a huge improvement for all the guests who have complained of shoddy service with the automatic gratuity, because they now have control over their tip. The deluxe plan is a major improvement for guests like me, who wanted a 3 meals per day plan that didn't include all manner of recreation we can enjoy at home and unlimited tours that my kids aren't old enough to take. The changes are a big improvement for all the people who hated getting up at 7 AM on 180 out and still not being able to get that perfect reservation, because the elimination of a course and the reduced value of the DDP are likely to ease some of the demand for ADRs.

These changes certainly are not an improvement for the most budget minded guest, but they are an improvement for many.

 

[LovinHavinNoClampets]

There are improvements for the guests. The changes are a huge improvement for all the guests who have complained of shoddy service with the automatic gratuity, because they now have control over their tip. The deluxe plan is a major improvement for guests like me, who wanted a 3 meals per day plan that didn't include all manner of recreation we can enjoy at home and unlimited tours that my kids aren't old enough to take. The changes are a big improvement for all the people who hated getting up at 7 AM on 180 out and still not being able to get that perfect reservation, because the elimination of a course and the reduced value of the DDP are likely to ease some of the demand for ADRs.

These changes certainly are not an improvement for the most budget minded guest, but they are an improvement for many.

well said

 

[jerry557]

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.

Depends...
If most people are going with the Deluxe DDP plan... the sit-down places are going to be even more packed at all times of the day. People will have 3 TS credits a day to burn.

 

[LovinHavinNoClampets]

Depends...
If most people are going with the Deluxe DDP plan... the sit-down places are going to be even more packed at all times of the day. People will have 3 TS credits a day to burn.

People will utilize more signature dining options and leave more breakfast/lunch options open. They will not feel as though they HAVE to do sit down meals daily to get their money's worth as they do now, but will be more open to signature meals and dinner shows with a mix of CS.

I see the new plan opening up more reservations to people. The way it was, people were making sure they got every dime. In the new plan, those willing to pay for it aren't worried about making or losing $5 on each meal.

I love love love the new plans.

back to WDW for us!! We have avoided it since two bad experiences with the dining plans.

Maybe Disney listened to the people that complained that spent money there and didn't go with the intent of milking every dime they could. Go figure.?

 

[jerry557]

People will utilize more signature dining options and leave more breakfast/lunch options open. They will not feel as though they HAVE to do sit down meals daily to get their money's worth as they do now, but will be more open to signature meals and dinner shows with a mix of CS.

I see the new plan opening up more reservations to people. The way it was, people were making sure they got every dime. In the new plan, those willing to pay for it aren't worried about making or losing $5 on each meal.

Well I only see possibly signiture resturants opening up some... But will still be booked. I remember long before DDP places like California Grill was still not very easy to book.

Although you might want people to go offsite...Disney does not. The whole idea of the dining plan was to stop people from going off-site. So I seriously doubt freeing up ADRs is the reason for this change. The last thing Disney wants is for someone to go off property and spend money somewhere else. That's a bad business philosophy. Maybe some will end up doing that, but it is not Disney's intention. Remember what Walt said, all his guests are VIPs.

 

[rogerram]

People will utilize more signature dining options and leave more breakfast/lunch options open. They will not feel as though they HAVE to do sit down meals daily to get their money's worth as they do now, but will be more open to signature meals and dinner shows with a mix of CS.

I see the new plan opening up more reservations to people. The way it was, people were making sure they got every dime. In the new plan, those willing to pay for it aren't worried about making or losing $5 on each meal.

I love love love the new plans.

back to WDW for us!! We have avoided it since two bad experiences with the dining plans.

Maybe Disney listened to the people that complained that spent money there and didn't go with the intent of milking every dime they could. Go figure.?

You sound like you work for Disney. The old plan was flawed in automatically adding in the tip and can cause bad service. The new plan does not adjust the price enough for the amount you now need to cover the tip. People who use the current plan have every right to go where they want and use it any way they want. If people want a sit down meal everyday, then can have it. Because you feel there are too many people using it, it makes it more difficult for you to book you adr's? I don't see the deluxe plan being something the majority of guests will use. So Disney is squeezing every last dime from it's guests with the new plans, not the other way around. You are losing in the range of $20 per day compared to the current plan. Adding the deluxe plan is fine, if you want it. I think it is a good idea to have this option. Many won't use the deluxe because of cost and you may get any reservation you want when Disney loses large amounts of guests from the ddp, who will not pay what is no longer a good deal. It will come back to hurt them when they are not filling their restaurants. They will lose money. If the plan was dropped about $5.00 per person and no tip included ,then it might be a better option. It makes the servers try to be better for a tip directly from guests and it makes the cost a little better.

 

[Colleen27]

Depends...
If most people are going with the Deluxe DDP plan... the sit-down places are going to be even more packed at all times of the day. People will have 3 TS credits a day to burn.

Most people won't choose the deluxe plan, though, either because of the cost or because it is simply too much food or too much time spent eating. Look at the poll that's been running since the rumors hit Allears - hundreds of replies, and only about 15% are interested in the deluxe plan.

 

[marivaid]

There are improvements for the guests. The changes are a huge improvement for all the guests who have complained of shoddy service with the automatic gratuity, because they now have control over their tip. The deluxe plan is a major improvement for guests like me, who wanted a 3 meals per day plan that didn't include all manner of recreation we can enjoy at home and unlimited tours that my kids aren't old enough to take. The changes are a big improvement for all the people who hated getting up at 7 AM on 180 out and still not being able to get that perfect reservation, because the elimination of a course and the reduced value of the DDP are likely to ease some of the demand for ADRs.

These changes certainly are not an improvement for the most budget minded guest, but they are an improvement for many.

That explains why I can't see any improvement with the new basic DDP :

- We got great service wherever we went, whether we used the DDP or the DDE.

- I never had to wake up at 7am 180 days out to get ADRs. Got everything I wanted about a month before arrival, and got a few on the same day.

Guess we're just lucky.

But, I do agree with you that the Deluxe plan is a great idea. Costly, for sure, but it is definitely better than the old Premium plan with all the extras that most didn't want.

I'm not sure the changes in the DDP will fix any ADR problem though. It's been pointed out several times here that there's the exact same problem at Disneyland where there is no plan at all.

What I'd really like to know though, is whether raising the prices of the DDP will improve the quality of the food served. And if it doesn't, who's going to get blamed for it ??

 

[Uncleromulus]

Those poll results suggest to me that the majority of DDP plan folks are mainly interested in saving $$$ and the deluxe plan is priced too high for them right out of the box.
Remember that the tips WILL ADD UP!!!
And if you have a drink or two with your meals (as we always do at the 2TS credit signature restaurants) the $$ goes higher still.

 

[Ms. WDW]

If you read the PDF of the new 2008 plan- it says specifically that no you cannot use dining credits for people not on your reservation and on the plan.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that's what the brochure says!

Laren

I totally agree that only registered guests are to use the plan. But I don't know how they can enforce that when only 1 card is asked for regardless of the size of the party.

 

[bicker]

You sound like you work for Disney.

This is uncalled-for.

 

[mickey2000]

All I can say is

Bottom line:

 

[poeticdiabetic]

Imagine this:

Magic Your Way plus Dining $37.99
Magic Your Way Plus Dining *all-inclusive $49.99
Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining $69.99
Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining *all-inclusive $82.99

*All-inclusive includes 18% gratuity.*

 

[kritter]

That would be a great plan.

The Deluxe Plan does not include gratituity either????