2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[mickey2000]

Don't forget about the cuts ! Less choices .Cheaper Menus are here to increase profits.
Steak is vanishing and the Disney can do NO wrong crowd is saying its due to healithier menus

 

[J.J.]

I will probably never use the plan again unless it was given to me for free. They have taken the plus of having it away. If enough people continue to use the option you will never see any kind of reversal on their decision to change. But, I won't let the change deter me from having a great time @ WDW in the future.

JJ

 

[JLKennedy]

I will still benefit from it. We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children). We opted for the deluxe because we want to do HDDR (and not pay out of pocket for cat. 1 seating or burn another day's TS), CRT (same reason as above), and all the character meals...my son hated them last year, but I'm hoping next year will be different. With that, it is still beneficial and financially fiscal for us to use it, until the kids bore of "character meals".

 

[Prinny27]

I will still benefit from it. We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children). We opted for the deluxe because we want to do HDDR (and not pay out of pocket for cat. 1 seating or burn another day's TS), CRT (same reason as above), and all the character meals...my son hated them last year, but I'm hoping next year will be different. With that, it is still beneficial and financially fiscal for us to use it, until the kids bore of "character meals".

Well, here is a question, because maybe I misunderstood the Deluxe Plan. Can you eat at a dinner show or signature restaurant and use only one 'credit', as opposed to on the regular plan a signature would cost two 'credits'? Because that is definitely a big advantage if that's the case.

 

[grimley1968]

We're going to use it this year, even though we'll have to pay for it, because it's still somewhat of a value as is with tip and appetizers thrown in. But next year, if we go, we won't be using it.

 

[JLKennedy]

No, signature dining is signature dining....but you are able to get the "better seating" and if you choose to do CRT (2 ts per person) you'll each still have 1 table service or counter service to use for that day...so you can use it for b,l or d. So what we have planned is say CM for breakfast, snack for lunch and CRT for dinner.....

 

[disneyjunkie]

Well, here is a question, because maybe I misunderstood the Deluxe Plan. Can you eat at a dinner show or signature restaurant and use only one 'credit', as opposed to on the regular plan a signature would cost two 'credits'? Because that is definitely a big advantage if that's the case.

Dinner shows and signature restaurants are two credits. Some of them include the tip. (can't recall which right now)

I'm not annoyed by the changes. Both plans will still work for my son and I.
We'll use the deluxe plan during our Easter trip and basic plan(hoping it's free) during our September trip.

It may not be as big of a deal as it was before, but I'm fine with that. We don't try to max the plan out. I refused to drive myself crazy wondering if we're getting the best value out of each credit.

I just happy to have as much of the trip prepaid as possible.

 

[Prinny27]

Okay, I thought Signature was still two credits! We're also not the type to try to get the 'best value' out of the dining plan. But when we just did a day-by-day analysis of where we'd eat and got a rough idea of what the bill would be (to figure out an approximate tip) we found we would actually be paying MORE most days using the plan and paying tips, than if we went to those same restaurants and got exactly the same thing and paid for tips. It just doesn't seem reasonable to have the plan anymore. Even if we were saving $5 a day, at least it's *something* but it's like that isn't even going to be happening. So frustrating! Not to mention, for me personally, appetizers are my favorite part of the meal, so I don't like them being taken away.

 

[n2mm]

We love the ddp and will not be getting it after 2007 ends. It would be breaking even for us, so we would rather just use our DDE card. It was a nice program, too bad it had to change. While I could accept the no appetizer, it's the tip that pushed us over the edge.

 

[perfectparanoia]

We are using it on our upcoming trip to make it easier to eat one TS a day.

It is still going to save us money but it is really meaning that I can order whatever entree I want and not worry about the cost as much as I normally would.

Still very crappy compared to what they had this year. No appetizer. <sigh>

 

[JLKennedy]

Tips are included on the dinner shows!

 

[JLKennedy]

Appetizers are available still on the deluxe plan.

 

[bulah1]

Forgive me if this has been posted elsewhere, but I have a question about how the plan works.

If I purchase the dining plan for the duration of our stay (we have to do that right? even if we aren't planning to be at the park on one of the days?) and won't be at the park one of the days, do those "credits" still apply for the days that I will be in the park?

For example - I will be in the park the 28th, 29th, and 30th of October, and though I will be staying overnight on the 31st - I will be visiting Universal.

So if I am paying for that extra day of dining, I would be able to use those additional days' food on one of the other days I'm actually IN the parks, correct? Like I could do table services (hypothetically) on the same day then?

Trying to decide if this will be beneficial for us or not... seems like it MIGHT be, but not quite sure...

 

[Mcbruns]

Forgive me if this has been posted elsewhere, but I have a question about how the plan works.

If I purchase the dining plan for the duration of our stay (we have to do that right? even if we aren't planning to be at the park on one of the days?) and won't be at the park one of the days, do those "credits" still apply for the days that I will be in the park?

For example - I will be in the park the 28th, 29th, and 30th of October, and though I will be staying overnight on the 31st - I will be visiting Universal.

So if I am paying for that extra day of dining, I would be able to use those additional days' food on one of the other days I'm actually IN the parks, correct? Like I could do table services (hypothetically) on the same day then?

Trying to decide if this will be beneficial for us or not... seems like it MIGHT be, but not quite sure...

The DDP is based on how many nights you are staying. It doesn't matter what parks or other "U" places you visit. You can use all credits in one day if you wanted to. You do not have to use any set amount of credits on any day. They expire midnight of your last day. Hope that helps.

 

[tmanaster]

We used it for our past trips, but won't for our trip in March. Not including tips made it not worth it for us.

 

[marvel]

Boy. Why couldn't Disney leave it the way it was. Now I just cannot decide if it is worth the price or not. I am not one to sit down and calculate how much meals cost etc etc and whether we save a few dollars here and there. Somehow I am getting the message that with the tip being extra and no appetizer its not worth the hassle. I just liked the idea of having the whole trip paid for including the meals. Still not sure what to do !!

 

[Mcbruns]

Boy. Why couldn't Disney leave it the way it was. Now I just cannot decide if it is worth the price or not. I am not one to sit down and calculate how much meals cost etc etc and whether we save a few dollars here and there. Somehow I am getting the message that with the tip being extra and no appetizer its not worth the hassle. I just liked the idea of having the whole trip paid for including the meals. Still not sure what to do !!

I agree ! Last year, my husband took the time to figure out exactly how much we would be spening out of pocket for meals (and included 20% tip). We saved quite a bit by using the DDP. I don't think we'll get it next year.

 

[marvel]

THe fact that the tip and appetizer aren't include it make it over 20% dearer. Or am I looking at it wrong. I cannot see how it can be worth it, other than doing a lot of character meals.

 

[bicker]

It would have been irresponsible to continue selling the Dining Plan given that it was so badly underpriced. Since you're having trouble deciding whether it is worth it or not, then they've done a remarkably excellent job at pricing this time.

Here's an analysis showing how the 2008 Dining Plan can still be worth it.

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCostsNoAppyNoDessert.htm

The numbers come from my analysis of the Dining Plan last year, and as you can see, without any appetizers and without any desserts either, the Dining Plan still represented a $142.70 savings. Now $92.58 of the value was gratuities, so if we would have had to pay that in cash, our savings would have been $50.12. So even without appetizer, desserts or gratuities included, the Dining Plan is still a good value.

 

[antkim]

It would have been irresponsible to continue selling the Dining Plan given that it was so badly underpriced. Since you're having trouble deciding whether it is worth it or not, then they've done a remarkably excellent job at pricing this time.

Here's an analysis showing how the 2008 Dining Plan can still be worth it.

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCostsNoAppyNoDessert.htm

The numbers come from my analysis of the Dining Plan last year, and as you can see, without any appetizers and without any desserts either, the Dining Plan still represented a $142.70 savings. Now $92.58 of the value was gratuities, so if we would have had to pay that in cash, our savings would have been $50.12. So even without appetizer, desserts or gratuities included, the Dining Plan is still a good value.

Underpricing is not the only reason for the changes. As mentioned many times already the CM's wanted the gratuties removed...bad move on their part but it is what it is. The removal of the appetizer is more of a "time issue"...restaurants were having a harder time "turning tables" which caused 2 problems. #1...not as many meals were being served which made Disney LOSE even more money than mentioned above and #2 those that were not educated on how the dining plan "works" did not know to make ADR's prior to travel...making is almost impossible for them to get their table service meal. Many were upset that they could not just walk in and get a seat or even call the dining line from the resort phone and get into a restaurant that they would like to dine at.

Many think that Disney is like other vacation destination...."we will just go with the flow" attitude. The do not realize how important it is to plan. We "disers" are obsessed with all things Disney hence our knowledge! Not all are as smart as we!!!

Kim