2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[lynninpa]

Yes you still get 1 TS, 1 CS and 1 snack per person per day on the plan. The cost went down by a dollar but it does not include a tip nor an appy.

In 2008 the plans will be based on the number of days you stay? 2005-2007 plans were based on the number of nights you stayed.

 

[jamstew]

In 2008 the plans will be based on the number of days you stay? 2005-2007 plans were based on the number of nights you stayed.

So if I'm staying 7 nights, I have to pay for 8 days? If I'm checking in around dinner time on day 1, do I get the full 3 credits for that day AND another 3 credits for day 8 regardless of what time I'm checking out? If that's the way it works, this could definitely be to my advantage...BUT:

I'm doing a split stay on rented DVC points from two different owners who will have to add dining to each of the ressies. Am I going to end up paying for a total of NINE days DDP (4 nights BCV with 5 days DDP, 3 nights BWV with 4 days DDP) for my week? HELP

I guess I need to rework the spreadsheets yet again

 

[Colleen27]

In 2008 the plans will be based on the number of days you stay? 2005-2007 plans were based on the number of nights you stayed.

No, it is still per night. The appetizer, tip, and deluxe plan are the only changes. The rest is the same as it has been for the past several years.

 

[jamstew]

No, it is still per night. The appetizer, tip, and deluxe plan are the only changes. The rest is the same as it has been for the past several years.

Rats! I should have figured that if it could possibly be to the guest's advantage, it wasn't gonna happen

Just out of curiosity for future reference, can you buy an additional day?

 

[lynninpa]

Soooo...Since the DDP in 2008 will still be per night, we can still "spread out" the credits over our entire stay, correct? For both the "regular" plan and the Deluxe Plans?
For example...on previous trips we stayed 7 days/6 nights. Even though we only had 6 TS, etc per person, we were able to spread out the meals over the 7 days. This will still be the way in 2008, with both plans, correct?

 

[Colleen27]

Rats! I should have figured that if it could possibly be to the guest's advantage, it wasn't gonna happen

Just out of curiosity for future reference, can you buy an additional day?

Not as far as I know. Your package length is the length of your room reservation, and there's no way to extend it without also extending your stay.

 

[Colleen27]

Soooo...Since the DDP in 2008 will still be per night, we can still "spread out" the credits over our entire stay, correct? For both the "regular" plan and the Deluxe Plans?
For example...on previous trips we stayed 7 days/6 nights. Even though we only had 6 TS, etc per person, we were able to spread out the meals over the 7 days. This will still be the way in 2008, with both plans, correct?

Yes. The explanation of the credits on the first page of the brochure (number of people times number of nights equals total credits) is virtually unchanged, with the same note stating "Use your meals and snacks in any order throughout your package stay until your total is depleted".

 

[lynninpa]

Yes. The explanation of the credits on the first page of the brochure (number of people times number of nights equals total credits) is virtually unchanged, with the same note stating "Use your meals and snacks in any order throughout your package stay until your total is depleted".

Thanks, Colleen! I have not been able to download the brochure for some reason.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

okay I read all of the posts. I have a few questions.

1) A party of 6 has the 18% gratitudes automatically added to the bill.
--- Is the tax included in the DDP already or pay OOP?
--- What is the tax rate?

2) Child rate is for 9 and under. Sound like a silly question- my ds who will be 9 still pays a child rate?

3) Is DDP still avail to DVC mbrs staying on points?

We are a family of 6-- myself, dh, ds 8, ds7, dd4 and ds 2 months. We have done DDP for the last 4 yrs and find it to be the best for our family. We just returned from 8 day at WDW. I know that counter service runs approx $45 for us. We get desserts w/ CS that we normally would not purchase. I now have to figure out if DDP is still worth it, given tip would be an automatic 18%. I also would have preferred a choice of appitizer vs just dessert. In the time of healthier eating I would think appitizer would be the healther route than dessert.

 

[jamstew]

Not as far as I know. Your package length is the length of your room reservation, and there's no way to extend it without also extending your stay.

I don't have a package. I'm just renting points from DVC members at two different properties. I don't know if that makes a difference or not, but I thought I'd ask. I haven't seen anything anywhere to indicate I could do it, but I thought some of the experts here might know.

 

[Sammie]

I don't have a package. I'm just renting points from DVC members at two different properties. I don't know if that makes a difference or not, but I thought I'd ask. I haven't seen anything anywhere to indicate I could do it, but I thought some of the experts here might know.

The DVC plan is the same, you can't add an extra day. It will have to match your reservation.

 

[Sammie]

I don't imagine we will do the plan anymore, due to many reasons. One we got tired of going out to eat and it was time consuming. We have DVC and we will eat a few meals in the room and some off property.

But the DDP for 2008 can still save you money.

For example if you go to Captain Jack's and have lobster, dessert and beverage you are going to easily spend $40 bucks before tax.

Then you go to Mara's and have your CS and you have the shrimp platter and Zebra Domes and drink another 15.00 before tax.

Then you add your snack which is usually about $3.00 and we are up to $58.00 before tax.

So no it will not be the savings it was prior to the changes but yes it can save you money.

I think enough people will buy it for it to be successful for Disney and enough will not buy it, to thin out some of the restuarants which will make the non plan users happy.

 

[jamstew]

For example if you go to Captain Jack's and have lobster, dessert and beverage you are going to easily spend $40 bucks before tax.

And that's exactly what I'm doing three weeks from tonight

 

[chickenskin]

The appetizer is not a big deal to me, the tip bugs me only because now it's something I have to be bothered with which is why we liked the plan, no hassles. However, they've removed a great deal of restaurants from EPCOT for both ts and cs, that I don't like at all.

 

[chickenskin]

You should be able to continue to not worry about carrying around cash or credit cards. I think it very unlikely that they will refuse to provide a means of putting the gratuity on a room charge.

I was going to ask that. I would hope you can put it on your room charge that would be a great convenience.

 

[Mcbruns]

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.

I am glad you posted this. I 110% agree ! We definitely use all of our snacks -- why wouldn't we?

 

[lynninpa]

However, they've removed a great deal of restaurants from EPCOT for both ts and cs, that I don't like at all.

The list of 2008 participating places is far from being finalized. Last year, there were places that we wanted yet when I checked the "official" list on disney.com, several of those places were NOT listed. However, when the time came to book, they had been added to the list. This is not to say there won't be changes to the list for 2008-just speaking of our experience.

 

[imatoad]

The list of 2008 participating places is far from being finalized. Last year, there were places that we wanted yet when I checked the "official" list on disney.com, several of those places were NOT listed. However, when the time came to book, they had been added to the list. This is not to say there won't be changes to the list for 2008-just speaking of our experience.

Well that's encouraging to hear, we really love the dining plan but a bunch of restaurants we like were not listed, hopefully they'll be put back on the list.

 

[racefanof88]

In 2008 the plans will be based on the number of days you stay? 2005-2007 plans were based on the number of nights you stayed.

No you are right, I just miss spoke. I usually plan my schedule per day and not per night so that is my bad...............sorry.

 

[TDC Nala]

They probably have yet to finalize the contracts with the non-Disney owned restaurants (which includes most of the Epcot restaurants, Pepper Market, Raglan Road, etc). Most likely they will be added to the list later. Happened last year, and I think the year before that.