2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[kowalchicky]

This is purely speculation, but I would think that it will be on your bill at the end of the meal. Just like any additional items would appear on your bill (appetizer, alcoholic beverages, etc) so will the gratuity.

Example:

Meal - $100.00 (6 Credits used and $0 Due because of Dining Plan)
Alcoholic Beverages - $15 (No credits used as they're not applicable)
Gratuity - $20.70 (Which is 18% of $115)

Total Due $35.70

Does that help?

I wonder if they would be allowed to do it that way ( including the gratuity ) is there an official 2008 updated version of the dining plan available on line? I heard they took off alot of resturants at Epcot.
I really wish they would of just changed the apps to a family style app based on the number of people in your party and kept the 18% gratuity.....those of us who would like to leave more ....could.

 

[Bam99]

We end up tipping OOP anyway usually just because DH is convinced the wait staff "will never see it", so that is no biggie. What I am wondering though is do they automatically add 18% to your check still?

I read on MouseSavers I think that 18% will be added to parties of six or more.[/SIZE]

 

[WDWBetsy]

I wonder if they would be allowed to do it that way ( including the gratuity ) is there an official 2008 updated version of the dining plan available on line? I heard they took off alot of resturants at Epcot.

Many of the non-Disney owned restaurants (at Epcot and CSR) are not on the 2008 official dining plan list yet - this has happened each year since the dining plan started. Those restaurants are usually still in contract negotiations when they release the info. I expect (and am hoping) the same ones from 2007 to be added to the 2008 list.

Here's a link to the current 2008 brochure.

 

[CMedley78]

Well, as much as I loved the DDP in the past, I will not be purchasing it again until gratuity is included. A CM told me that the reason they changed the plan was that people complained about having too much food (felt like they were wasting it) so that is why they removed the app. from the plan, too. Why not remove the dessert????

 

[Poohbear67]

Well, as much as I loved the DDP in the past, I will not be purchasing it again until gratuity is included. A CM told me that the reason they changed the plan was that people complained about having too much food (felt like they were wasting it) so that is why they removed the app. from the plan, too. Why not remove the dessert????

I agree it is to much food for some but they could have at least offered either the app or the dessert. I will be back again next sept. and will be using the ddp but not sure as to which tier to do yet. I know I get free dining but the girl on the phone when I booked said something about bumping up to the 30ish a day pp deal so i guess I will look into that more.

 

[abaldacci]

First let me start by saying this is my last year of the dining plan. I have done it for three years. 2 free and paying this yr for convience of prepaid meals. I don't think it would be a bad thing if its free, but paying for app. and tip make it not worth it for me. I would also like to go back to eating outside the park some. heck I my even stay outside the park if I go back next year.(building a new house talking about not even going next year)gasp! Disney is coming out great with this new plan because tip is where there losing money. Food is realitively cheap with the quantity they purchase. but tip is pure loss of money.They have found a great way to stop the bleeding of funds,but I think the servers will pay the price. Yes I had some servers while dining that did not justify a 18% tip, but most did. This is just my thoughts and why I think the dining plan has morphed. will I miss the dining plan yes but not enough to pay that much for it. Do what is best for your family and enjoy what you do ,I know I will.

 

[rotlex]

Posted in this thread early on, just checking up.

Just wanted to state, without offending anyone, but man, if removing the appetizer from the plan is THAT big of a deal to you, perhaps you are used to WAY overeating! Seriously, why is this such a big deal to some? Maybe it's because a lot of the sit down plans I choose are buffet style, but even the one's that aren't include MORE than enough food in the main meal to justify NOT having an appetizer. (Or maybe it's because I never eat them anyway)

Maybe Disney is starting the see the waist line of it's park goers grow a bit too much eh?

 

[Pumbaa_]

Steve, it sounds like you don't regularly include an appy in your dining. Many others do and do not care for a dessert.

It is all a matter of personal taste. We prefer to have an appy to dessert also. It is not about overeating, but each diner prefers in their experience.

 

[TheRatPack]

No one said they eat ALL of the appetizer....but it's nice to have one to start your meal. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe this past trip and it's not on the DDP, but we purchased an appetizer because we wanted some cheesesticks, eggrolls...etc. We eat/share appetizers when we're at home too, maybe they could have changed it to 1 appetizer for each 4 diners on the DDP? Or 1 appetizer for every 2 diners on the plan??? They are large appetizers at most restaurants, and 2 diners could have shared one and still had plenty of room for the rest of the food

 

[Colleen27]

Just wanted to state, without offending anyone, but man, if removing the appetizer from the plan is THAT big of a deal to you, perhaps you are used to WAY overeating! Seriously, why is this such a big deal to some? Maybe it's because a lot of the sit down plans I choose are buffet style, but even the one's that aren't include MORE than enough food in the main meal to justify NOT having an appetizer. (Or maybe it's because I never eat them anyway)

You never eat them, so of course you don't miss them. I rarely eat dessert, so I wouldn't miss it if it were eliminated, but I'd miss the appetizers. I'm just not a sweets person, but I like a salad or soup or shrimp as a starter. I don't think anyone is saying the plan isn't enough food without the appetizer, but the elimination of the appetizer simply doesn't suit those of us who prefer savory to sweet.. And if you're watching the waistline, you're better off skipping dessert than skipping the pre-dinner salad!

 

[MzDiz]

I would much rather have an appetizer. My body just craves salad after a day of walking.
I love the idea of a choice between an app or dessert. Why is it that Dis-ers can come up with that as a solution, but Disney can't?

 

[antkim]

I would much rather have an appetizer. My body just craves salad after a day of walking.
I love the idea of a choice between an app or dessert. Why is it that Dis-ers can come up with that as a solution, but Disney can't?

I agree and would much rather a salad than a dessert however, Disney made a very smart decision for them. They took of the app for a couple reasons I believe....1.they will be turning tables quicker which means more $$$ for them and 2.there are a lot of people that will skip dessert even if they have paid for it which again means more $$$$ for Disney.

I am not a dessert person at all...would much rather get a salad or soup before my meal. I am hoping they at some point they will make it a "choice"...either app or dess.

 

[Pumbaa_]

If Disney offered a choice between appy and dessert, half the table would choose appy and the other half dessert and sharing. (At least we would!)

 

[Nancyg56]

If Disney offered a choice between appy and dessert, half the table would choose appy and the other half dessert and sharing. (At least we would!)

That is exactly what my family would do

 

[apostolic4life]

If Disney offered a choice between appy and dessert, half the table would choose appy and the other half dessert and sharing. (At least we would!)

But.....if you give the option of dessert or appy, you eliminate one of the primary advantages (IMOP) for removing the appetizer from the meal: quicker table turnover to facilitate greater TS crowds. With the elimination of the appetizer course (unless paying for it OOP) approx. 20 minutes will be shaved off the time a person/group occupies a table. Also, as I stated earlier in the thread, the appetizer course tends to cost WDW more to prepare (food & labor) than the average dessert. Most restaurants (WDW or not) push dessert because of the high profit margins associated with their low food & production costs. The financial factors clearly define why WDW will probably never give us the choice of appy or dessert......although they have given us one choice to alleviate this problem.....if we spend $68 each/day our problems go completely away.

 

[rotlex]

You never eat them, so of course you don't miss them. I rarely eat dessert, so I wouldn't miss it if it were eliminated, but I'd miss the appetizers. I'm just not a sweets person, but I like a salad or soup or shrimp as a starter. I don't think anyone is saying the plan isn't enough food without the appetizer, but the elimination of the appetizer simply doesn't suit those of us who prefer savory to sweet.. And if you're watching the waistline, you're better off skipping dessert than skipping the pre-dinner salad!

Oh I know, I guess, again, it just depends on the person. I never eat dessert either, but, when on vacation, I absolutely do. I guess my general view on appetizers is due to the fact that if I DO eat one, by the time my meal arrives, I'm generally not hungry anymore, LOL.

So yeah, when on vacation, I'll take the dessert, which I never normally eat either, over an appetizer any day!

 

[YesMickey]

I think the theory of not having appetizers included is to turn tables faster is ridiculous. The most sensible reason is a table of 4 with 4 appetizers at about $4-$10 apiece. I may be wrong, but I think the typical family of 4 gets 1-2 appetizers when eating out and maybe 1 dessert at the end of the meal and shares. With the new plan, at least one person in the party will still get an appetizer or a salad, so table turn over will be the same whether you have one appetizer or 4. The waste will occur with the desserts. I mean 4 desserts after dinner. Who has left over appetizers? The most sensible solution is to either have appetizer or dessert. ie. 2 appetizers, 2 desserts for a party of 4.

 

[Lewisc]

Some of the appetizers were almost entree sized. Many people like to have soup or salad before their meal. Disney could have limited appetizers to items that were truly single serving sized.

Sorry but if Disney was concerned with guests size they would have excluded high calorie desserts.

THIS WAS A BUSINESS/FINANCIAL decision.

Posted in this thread early on, just checking up.

Just wanted to state, without offending anyone, but man, if removing the appetizer from the plan is THAT big of a deal to you, perhaps you are used to WAY overeating! Seriously, why is this such a big deal to some? Maybe it's because a lot of the sit down plans I choose are buffet style, but even the one's that aren't include MORE than enough food in the main meal to justify NOT having an appetizer. (Or maybe it's because I never eat them anyway)

Maybe Disney is starting the see the waist line of it's park goers grow a bit too much eh?

 

[apostolic4life]

I think the theory of not having appetizers included is to turn tables faster is ridiculous. The most sensible reason is a table of 4 with 4 appetizers at about $4-$10 apiece. I may be wrong, but I think the typical family of 4 gets 1-2 appetizers when eating out and maybe 1 dessert at the end of the meal and shares. With the new plan, at least one person in the party will still get an appetizer or a salad, so table turn over will be the same whether you have one appetizer or 4. The waste will occur with the desserts. I mean 4 desserts after dinner. Who has left over appetizers? The most sensible solution is to either have appetizer or dessert. ie. 2 appetizers, 2 desserts for a party of 4.

Yes, you are wrong and I am glad to see you will admit it.
Joking???? Maybe . Funny???? Definately .


Lets address the contention of table turnover being a ridiculous reason for the removal of the appetizer. As many have stated on this thread, they will now "miss" not getting to try the appetizers since they are no longer on the plan. A few have mentioned getting them anyway. This is what WDW is banking on: most will not add the appetizer which will free the table up approx. 20 minutes sooner than in the past; those who do purchase an appetizer will generate additional profit to the pool and justify the extra time at the table. What is so ridiculous about that premise???

In my industry, we hope to sell appetizers and desserts so we can generate a higher profit margin on each guest, but the reality of it is this, appetizers and desserts are not added as often as you speculate. Most often it is one or the other. The posters on this thread have said quite often they normally do not get both and if the appetizer is no longer included they will not get one. This is the very reason for the appy vs. dessert choice debate; many people want the appetizer rather than the dessert. Do you think WDW didn't know most people would rather forgo a dessert at the end of the meal?? the thing they are banking on is the fact people who use the DDP generally have used it because it was such an amazing savings it allowed them to eat in places they normally would not have before for a cheap price. Those people may still see the value in the new DDP (even though the savings are greatly reduced), but they probably won't add on an appetizer (which are going up in price) because it would not be worth it for them. I would suggest trolling (oops, did I say trolling ) through some of the recent menu updates on the DIS and AllEars so you know the appetizers now range in price from $7 - $15.

 

[apostolic4life]

THIS WAS A BUSINESS/FINANCIAL decision.

Absolutely!!!! I totally agree.