2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[gina2000]

Do the 2007 and 2008 DDP pricings reflect good/great/fair value? That valuation depends on what you think of the 2007/2008 OOP prices. Personally, I think the OOP prices are too high for the quality received. That perception diminishes the DDP pricing/value for either year. I think the 2007 DDP pricing reflected decent value because it gave quantity, not quality. And I believe the 2008 DDP pricing reflects very little value at all because the quantity has been diminished and the quality has not improved.

 

[packy]

We can probably come to a consensus that the 2008 Dining Plan provides approximately 13% less value than the 2007 Dining Plan.

Don't understand your 13% figure. The new plan is actually more like a 31% plus increase.

Current price $39 with drink, appetizer, entree, dessert, tax and tip
New price $38 with drink, entree, dessert and tax.

Add to the 2008 price of $38 dollars, a tip of $5 (20% on a $25 meal with entree, drink and dessert) and an appetizer of $8 ($6 appetizer w/6.5% tax and 20% tip, and you could go way higher). The comparitive total for 2008 is $51/day or a net $12 increase over 2007.

$12/$39 = a 30.7% increase from 2007 to 2008 for DDP.

the 2007 DDP might have been generous but the increase in 2008 appears to be a little over the top.

 

[bicker]

Don't understand your 13% figure. The new plan is actually more like a 31% plus increase.

Nope. You calculated the TOP of the range. Your math didn't factor in buffets, which would represent the bottom of the range. The actual is somewhere in between. However, I think the actual figure was 23%, not 13%. I'll fix my earlier message. Of course, that makes the 2007 Dining Plan now 23% more generous than the 2008 Dining Plan... yet-even-more justification for calling the 2007 Dining Plan "overly-generous", given how many guests still believe that the Dining Plan is worth it for them in 2008, even know that the appetizer is going to be gone, and gratuities aren't going to be included.

Check earlier in this thread for the discussion about this, where we came to a consensus about the extent to which that affect the numbers.

 

[pilferk]

OK, I know I am coming in on this one late but, here goes. I don't see that Disney will lose money by letting my family chose between an appy or a dessert. If they do the same on appys and desserts as they do on snacks, and limit the price, then what does it matter if I get any appy and my husband gets a dessert and we share. My example goes like this, I get a salad appy for say 6.99 and my husband gets a dessert for 6.99 and we share. Is that not the same as us both getting 2 different 6.99 desserts and sharing? I know I am preaching to the choir but that is just my analogy.

My family ate at Applebees last weekend and did just that, there were 4 of us and we ordered one appy, our entrees and 2 desserts and it was more than we could eat. And Applebees had no problem with us sharing, in fact the waitress brought 4 spoons for the dessert and 4 plates for the appy. And, I must say, Applebees is not as expensive as Disney and they were not concerned about losing any money.

OK that is just my observation. Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Labor Day

I can offer up an observation on that:

By limiting to dessert, they turn over tables more quickly (for precisely the reason you list....you can't share the appy and the dessert). That ups their profitability (because they can do more volume) AND their availability for guests.

In addition, dessert typically takes less "resources" to prepare and serve, and thus are higher profit items.

So, if you're going to eliminate one, in order to increase table turnover/"efficiency", you eliminate the app.

Just an observation....I'm not sure that's their reasoning, but it's a possible explanation and answer to your question.

 

[rufusrex]

I am a server, and I would rather take my chance on tips. Sure an %18 percent guarauntee is nice, but I get lots of folks that tip way more.
If your %18 percent tip is say $18.50, and its added in your bill, thats what you pay, the exact total.

If you have to add gratuity, you may just round up to $20.
If you have 30 + tables per shift, thats a lot of money.

Yes, but with the new plan, the total checks will be smaller since the appetizer is no longer included, so the total tip will be smaller. And all it takes is one table to stiff you, and you've got a lot to make up. If I was a server, I think I would prefer the old system of larger checks and a guarantee of 18%.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

My fiance and i will be honeymooning in January 2008 and we booked at POR and included the deluxe dining program. I am very excited, but i have one question and i was wondering if someone could help?!?!? Is everything on the menu available to guests using the DDP??? Like steaks, lobster, crab, ect.... "Expensive" items?? This is our only concern with the DDP. Thanks to anyone who can help!!

 

[marvel]

I am guessing by all the suggestions on this thread, that the deluxe plan is a better value package than the regular DDP.

 

[Poohbear67]

Sorry haven't read through all the posts but can anyone answer which resturants are going to be on the DDP next year. I heard some from Epcot and others not sure

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

There's a direct listing and a downloadable PDF file on the Disney Website as well as on allears.net and wdwinfo.com that gives a list of all 2008 participating restaurants thus far.

 

[Poohbear67]

Thanks so much. I will go and take a look at that now thank you again.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

For allears.net go to this

allears.net
click on dining
click on MYW dining plan - and the info should be there. Last time i looked it was. If not, let me know and i'll tell you other places to look!

I hope this helps!! These directions are a little more clear than my last post

 

[racefanof88]

I can offer up an observation on that:

By limiting to dessert, they turn over tables more quickly (for precisely the reason you list....you can't share the appy and the dessert). That ups their profitability (because they can do more volume) AND their availability for guests.

In addition, dessert typically takes less "resources" to prepare and serve, and thus are higher profit items.

So, if you're going to eliminate one, in order to increase table turnover/"efficiency", you eliminate the app.

Just an observation....I'm not sure that's their reasoning, but it's a possible explanation and answer to your question.

You are right. But, I for one am the kind of diner Disney hates.............lol. I like to take my time with dessert. And, we will never truly know what Disney's motives were other than to speculate that it is(and most likely is) for profit.

Now that being said I got the famous call from Disney today. It was a call concerning my email about the new dining plan. It was a nice enough sounding young man named Jeffery. He started the conversation by asking WHAT not HOW I was doing..............lol. I told him I was doing fine, kind surprised with the WHAT, and that I was watching TV. He then went on, like he was reading a script, to say "they had received my email and Disney was taking my suggestions into consideration". I told Jeffery thank you that was very nice..............lol. He then said(or read) that "Disney is looking forward to your next visit" I then told Jeffery I would be seeing them in March and he said "have a great trip"..............thus the conversation ended. So much for the email I spent endless......................minutes composing. Disney has such a nice way of giving you the kiss off. I just hope Jeffery enjoyed my YO HO ringback tone................

 

[bicker]

Thanks so much. I will go and take a look at that now thank you again.

Please do keep in mind, though, that that is just a preliminary list -- it highlights the range of offerings there will be, but does not list every restaurant that will be participating. I've asked Pumbaa__ to check the 2007 thread to see when the final list of participating restaurants was posted. Hopefully it will be easy to find. I don't remember if it was in October, November or December.

 

[RaineinMD]

Does this sound reasonable to you?


Dining Plan vs Non Dining Plan (average)
CS:
1 meal 8.00
1 drink 2.20
1 dessert 4.00

snack 3.50

TS
meal 21.00
drink 2.50
dessert 6.00

totals:

38.00 48.00 (estimate)

so if I am close, each person is saving about 10.00 (100.00 for a 5 night stay for 2 adults) if you use all of the coupons. By using AAA room rates and broker ticket agency I will save over $125.00 for a 5 night stay over what disney would charge in January for rack rate and tickets - so I am actually making out much better not on the plan...plus I can pick and choose what i want including having water with dinner and not having dessert for lunch so that instead of counter services i could actually do sit downs like 50s prime time for lunch for the same daily cost....

am I missing something here?

 

[MassMom94]

I apologize if this was discussed in one of the earlier 40 pages on this thread, but I tried searching and didn't get any matches. Does anyone know what Disney means by saying that the 2008 DDP includes a "single-serving" non-alcoholic beverage for TS meals? That "single-serving" language was not in the 2007 brochure. On its face this suggests no more free refills on sodas, coffee, etc. Has anyone asked Disney about this?

 

[honeymo78]

single-serving was on some of the 07 brochures - the one I have at my desk says single serving. It definitely includes refills on soda if the restaurant offers them to cash guests. I'm thinking this language precludes someone from getting a 2liter bottle of soda as their beverage from the food court somewhere like Pop, or if a restaurant offers a pitcher of a specialty non alcoholic drink. In all honesty, I doubt you'll ever encounter a situation where you won't get refills on a normal beverage.

 

[hansel1]

I apologize if this was discussed in one of the earlier 40 pages on this thread, but I tried searching and didn't get any matches. Does anyone know what Disney means by saying that the 2008 DDP includes a "single-serving" non-alcoholic beverage for TS meals? That "single-serving" language was not in the 2007 brochure. On its face this suggests no more free refills on sodas, coffee, etc. Has anyone asked Disney about this?

I'm not certain, but it leads me to believe that the single serving would refer to milk, juice, etc. Things that don't normally get a free refill.

 

[MassMom94]

single-serving was on some of the 07 brochures - the one I have at my desk says single serving. It definitely includes refills on soda if the restaurant offers them to cash guests. I'm thinking this language precludes someone from getting a 2liter bottle of soda as their beverage from the food court somewhere like Pop, or if a restaurant offers a pitcher of a specialty non alcoholic drink. In all honesty, I doubt you'll ever encounter a situation where you won't get refills on a normal beverage.

I think your example would be a quick service as opposed to table service meal. And I completely understand why they would say a single-serving beverage for a QS credit - you don't get free refills of any beverage at any QS restaurant. But why would they say that about TS? I believe your brochure is different, but the 2007 DDP brochure I was given at check-in last week doesn't qualify the beverage as being single-serving for either QS or TS. If you look on the Disney website and compare the brief descriptions of the 2007 and 2008 programs, single-serving isn't in the 2007 blurb for either QS or TS and it is in 2008 blurb.

I hope I'm just being overly paranoid here. Maybe they are referring to certain specialty drinks like milkshakes which I have heard people have ordered using the DDP.

What I should do is just write Disney and ask, huh?

 

[Nancyg56]

I hope I'm just being overly paranoid here. Maybe they are referring to certain specialty drinks like milkshakes which I have heard people have ordered using the DDP.

What I should do is just write Disney and ask, huh?

I would imagine that the milk shake/smoothie type drinks are what is being referred to. It males no sense for an establishment that offers refills on coffee and soft drinks to now begin charging for an additional cup of coffee. There would be chaos especially when there are folks at the table who are not on the DDP. Now what does the poor server do?

 

[rogerram]

I'll agree offering the DDP to DVC members, at the same cost as it's offered to hotel guests is overly generous. DVC guests don't have to purchase park passes, don't have to pre-pay and aren't contributing one dollar of additional hotel revenue. DVC guests are getting a discount but aren't giving Disney anything extra in return.

You are wrong on many of these points. I already have paid for my rooms and continue to do so by paying annual dues which comes out of my pocket every year(and many future years to come). I'm not sure what you mean by pre-pay. Do you mean you pay for ddp now as opposed to when you arrive, which is what I do as a DVC member? If I want passes or ddp, I still have to pay for them. Being a DVC member might mean I am less likely to cancel my reservation, because we have to use our points or lose them, so we will most likely be at wdw. The other point is, if we go and want to go to the parks, we do need to buy some type of passes. I know we don't have to buy passes to use ddp and can see your point as it being a benefit for the cost of us shelling out many thousands of dollars to become a DVC member. Would you go to wdw without going to the parks? Maybe on most days, but this way Disney is getting you to commit to going to their parks to get ddp, by making you pay for passes. I don't hear a lot of complaints when you are able to get free ddp and DVC members do not get that. I'm really not sure why you are getting on DVC members.