2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[Tricia1972]

Yes, that helps with the visual example thank you. But, still another question. We never had anything that was not on the plan so therefore I am not familar with an extra bill. So they present you with a bill and people then either pay by cash or credit card, right? So if a person wants to add more they do it that time? What if I don't agree with the 18% tip? How do people think the individual restaurants will handle this? And I say individual, because they are. I would imagine it will depend on the restaurant and the type of management. I am glad for one thing...the way will be paved by Sept of 2008 by others that are in the same boat!

Glad that the visual helped!

Regarding the bill - you get one bill. It will show a 0 balance if you use just credits, or a balance due if you order additional things on the plan. I imagine they will continue this.

When you are presented with the bill you then can pay cash, credit card, or use your Keys to the Kingdom Card (if you have charging allowed on the KTTK Card).

As far as disagreeing with the amount of tip, I believe you'd have to take that up with management since you fall into the 'auto gratuity' category because of party size.

 

[bless7ings]

Glad that the visual helped!

Regarding the bill - you get one bill. It will show a 0 balance if you use just credits, or a balance due if you order additional things on the plan. I imagine they will continue this.

When you are presented with the bill you then can pay cash, credit card, or use your Keys to the Kingdom Card (if you have charging allowed on the KTTK Card).

As far as disagreeing with the amount of tip, I believe you'd have to take that up with management since you fall into the 'auto gratuity' category because of party size.

From looking at your signature it looks like you will fall into the same catagory with 6 people in your party. Does it bother you?

 

[Tricia1972]

From looking at your signature it looks like you will fall into the same catagory with 6 people in your party. Does it bother you?

The idea doesn't bother me. We are generally 18-20% tippers, so using 18% as my general rule of thumb is ok with me. The only time it would bother me is if we have abysmal service, which thankfully has never happened to us at Disney. If service is so bad I think that they deserve less than 18%, I will talk to the manager and express my concerns. (Before anyone flames me, that is IF we are unable to resolve our service issues with our server first)

 

[bicker]

Yes, but it could just as easily be $75x15%x10<$100x15%x8.

I think your numbers are off. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[JediTim]

I have been reading the message for a while and am still not convinced the 2008 DDP is beneficial for me...to make matters worse Disney never responded to my message...this does not inspire any hope for me.
Tim

 

[JediTim]

If a number of parties over the course of a night decline to order appetizers (now that they're not included), then the restaurant can turn-over that table quicker, and the server can more quickly get their next set of diners. That will mean that servers could actually end up serving more tables in total over the course of a whole shift of work. That increased throughput could be worth more money than the extra money they'd have made from the higher tip they would have gotten from the party paying more because they ordered appetizers.

Contrast that with dessert, where already a good number of diners either were willing to skip it completely even when it was included ("Ugh! I'm so stuffed -- I cannot eat another bite!) or take it to-go (which still leads to better turn-over).

So that's why both the restaurant and the server could significantly benefit from including the dessert and excluding the appetizer.

This leads me to believe that what Disney is doing is not best for the guest but rather what is best for Disney.

I agree that the 2006/7 DDP probably was a better value than Disney envisioned and probably needed to change...I would probably have been happer to have them increase the price to $45 per adult without the tip rather than remove the appetizer. However, in the name of profit (which is what will happen as you descibe) the plan has changed for the better.

Tim

 

[bicker]

This leads me to believe that what Disney is doing is not best for the guest but rather what is best for Disney.

As they're required to by law.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

This leads me to believe that what Disney is doing is not best for the guest but rather what is best for Disney.

I agree that the 2006/7 DDP probably was a better value than Disney envisioned and probably needed to change...I would probably have been happer to have them increase the price to $45 per adult without the tip rather than remove the appetizer. However, in the name of profit (which is what will happen as you descibe) the plan has changed for the better.

Tim

Best for the business - that is the bottom line, as it should be. That is what they do - so we can go and enjoy the fruits of their labor. I am glad they do what is best for the company, so the company will be there in the future for us all to enjoy!!

 

[Hope73]

I do agree that an app and desert were a lot of food. I did feel pressured quite a few times to order apps by the staff. We have two kids, Most apps they won't eat and they are not slad people. Many times the servers would say just order an app and if you don't like it don't eat it. Having put my way through college serving I did get the feeling that they were trying to push us to order food to bump up the bill.

Ok!! No Screaming e-mails here this is just what happened to us maybe 5 times over three trips with ddp.

I really don't care if apps are dropped but the tip thing is another.

Yes, I do tip well and if I have recieved good service I leave more, but I don't think all will do this.

Plus I really don't carry cash in the parks or at least small bills or ones. So, If I have the plan, I now have to carry ones and fives to tip with. I think that will be a pain.

 

[JediTim]

As they're required to by law.

Best for the business - that is the bottom line, as it should be. That is what they do - so we can go and enjoy the fruits of their labor. I am glad they do what is best for the company, so the company will be there in the future for us all to enjoy!!

Yes, I understand...I also work for a company and own stock in it and expect it to make moeny.

Don't get me wrong...I believe they needed to change the plan...especially the cost as I calcualted the plan at $660 for 2 adults and 1 child last time and I added up the bills and it was closer to $1,000...Disney is losing money on me. However, I am sure there are a lot of others that either didn't make a reservation or choose to eat at less expensive TS which benefited Diseny.

I will say it again...I would rather have paid more to have less people take advantage of the plan. I am really concerned that someone is going to book their vacation without realizing that the DDP they had used previously has changed and they don't know until they arrive (not everyone reads a message board.) The only people that will suffer then will be the Disney wait staff as "some" guests will take out their frustrations by not leaving a tip.
Tim

 

[JLKennedy]

But, let's put the responsibilty where it belongs. It is not Disney's job to notify it's guests or potential guests of changes to the meal plan. Each vacationer should display due-diligence and research and/or ask their travel agent (if using one) if there are any new changes.

 

[JediTim]

I knew that would be a response and you are 100% correct. I would just hope that when someone is booking a vacation the question is asked about having used the DDP previously...then Disney could say that the plan has changed and someone should look.

I am in no way saying this should fall in Disney;s lap but knowing people I am sure they will blame Disney once they are there.
Tim

 

[DCDisney]

I'm not sure what took place, but wish people could accept the fact that the gratuity is no longer included w/o placing blame. Common sense tells me their better off with an included gratuity than taking their chances. I definitely don't think they'll benefit from the change.

Clearly the gratuity was one of the biggest expenses of the DDP possibly even more than the food. If we had $100 TS meal for 2 adults then $18 in cash money was going from WDW to the server. Just by taking that $8 or $9 a day out of the plan is a huge profit for WDW as it is about 25% of the plan cost. They can negotiate the costs of the food, change serving sizes, cheaper ingredients, pay for staff, etc but that was straight up cash out of their pockets.

Now that the cash aspect is gone I wonder if we'll start seeing new promos with discounted meal plans during slow times of year?

Yvonne

 

[kdzgon]

This leads me to believe that what Disney is doing is not best for the guest but rather what is best for Disney.
....

Tim

Guess that depends - not everyone uses the DDP, by far, plus there have been plenty of complaints re: availability of reservations. If indeed tables turn more quickly, there will be more availability. If you aren't a DDP patron, this will be an improvement (more availability) with no related downside (ie, increased DDP cost).

I for one do not believe Disney's main focus is "what's best for Disney" without a concern for its guests. After all, Disney's success is ultimately dependent on guest satisfaction - too many businesses forget this fact, but I suspect Disney "forgets" it less than most. I'm sure it is a delicate balance, but the "powers that be" did not make these changes on a whim - I'm pretty sure they have a good idea of how it will be received. (And if their predictions are wrong, I'm also sure we'll see more changes!)

 

[libinatorsmom]

I honestly feel that the Dulx Dinning Plan is a great idea - at least for us... and IT will be a savings... Family of 3 - 4 year old DD - this is our 1st WDW vacation and there are many places we want to eat at - character meals, Cinderellas Castle, etc.. that we were going to opt out on or have to pay for OOP - until the Dulx plan came out for 08... We are very excited... No matter how you look at it the DDP is a savings vs paying all out of pocket for the same meals... Some days we might eat 1ts and other days we might eat 3ts but in the end it will come out ahead for us... I think part of the problem is change a lot of people dont like change... Disney is in it for the $$$$ its our choice if we want to go there or somewhere else on vacation... if we want to get the DDP or the DDDP or what have you... We cant wait for our trip and the meals we will try - I am sure there will be some we dont like and some we love and some in between but its the moments we are sharing together as a family in the WDW parks and resorts.... and we just cant wait...

on a side note... I think people are comparing apples to oranges a bit in some of the heated posts before this...

 

[kdzgon]

We're on pg 47 with this, and there is one thing I still don't understand - where, exactly is/are the "heated discussion(s)" or "outrage" or "incredibly upset" people referred to in several posts? Perhaps I have missed the posts, but pretty much the only "shouting" I have seen has been from people commenting on OPs' thought processes with a bit of name-calling, but even that has been minimal. Seems to me a lot of people have opinions on the change, and many of the opinions are quite specific. However, having a strong opinion does not equate to "outrage" nor does it qualify as whining, etc. I think the discussion has been pretty straight forward and amazingly on subject, considering the length. JMHO, YMMV.

 

[katebeth]

I haven't read all of these post, so I apologize if this has already been asked.....The new dining plan does not affect buffet's does it? They will stay the same....as will all you can eat family style dining?

Just curious??/

Thanks

 

[rotlex]

I haven't read all of these post, so I apologize if this has already been asked.....The new dining plan does not affect buffet's does it? They will stay the same....as will all you can eat family style dining?

Just curious??/

Thanks

Hoping so, as that's like 99% of the places we eat!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well I've skimmed this post, but have to say we'll stick with the regular DDP next year even with no app. We will be 4 " adults" on our trip (although the DDs will be 12 and 16) and one child. Even on our 4 night trip last month when we eat all the courses once a day we end up a big bloated mess. Not having the app. won't be a big deal to us. And I can't imagine eating 3 meals a day down there! We've gotten used to 2.
I just hope Teppanyaki (with a new name?) is added to the list soon, and wonder about popcorn on the snack list--that's what DH likes to get. I'm happy the Mickey bars are still included!
Robin M.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I'm planning a trip for 12/2008 for myself, Dh and DD5. We've done the regular dining plan before in December 2006.

Regarding the regular DDP, our family really enjoyed it. I loved the convienience of not having to worry about food cost and that everything was paid for in advance. There is so much variety of restaurants to choose from.
At home, we normally do not eat all that food in a week. We normally don't eat out and don't order appetizers or desserts with our sit down meals, but while on vacation, we love to be spoiled so we enjoyed the appetizers, and desserts and the fact that the tax and tip was included!!!!
I am very upset that the appetizer was removed, the tip is now not included and the price was only decreased $1. It makes no sense considering how much appetizers cost and how much tip we have to put in for each of the TS meals.

Therefore, I plan to try the deluxe dining plan for 2008. With this plan, I won't have to worry about if I'm choosing the right restaurant for my family because now I can go to all of them and try many of the signature restaurants as well.
Fortunately, the appetizers are included and we even get a refillable mug. The only downsides to this plan is that it will take ample time away from the parks and we will have to travel quite a bit more to take advantage of the resort restaurants and I also would have preffered the tips to be included in this plan considering the cost.
When we had the regular DP, my Dh always wished that they offered 2 snacks per day instead of 1 because we always used our snack credits for breakfast and now the deluxe plan does offer it so we can use them for actual snacks instead of breakfast.

The food amount does seem like a lot of food and we are not huge eaters but I love to be spoiled on vacation and there are so many places I wanted to try last trip that I wasn't able to because we only had 8 TS credits.

The deluxe plan is pricey, but since we don't spend much time in Pop century and we usually get a standard room without park hoppers, we might be able to afford it. For a 7 night, 8 day stay, it will cost under $2500 for us. It's still way more that what I paid for last trip, but I'm hoping we'll be happy with the plan.