2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[rotlex]

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.

Uh, what I said was in jest - no need to take it so seriously! (And yes, I'm well aware it was a financial decision).

 

[antkim]

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.

Exactly! Disney made a business decision based on what is best for them...what company/corporation would choose otherwise? As I have stated many pages back....this is still a discounted price IF you use the plan to it's fullest. Disney is still giving a price break and they DO NOT HAVE TO! Consider going to Le Cellier and ordering the filet($28) and chocolate cake (8)now add a beverage and tax and you are already OVER what you have paid for the nightly cost of dining plan. Basically your counter service and snack is FREE! Sure this is an extreme example BUT it is still an example. This may not be the best savings but it is still a savings that Disney does not have to offer...as I already pointed out.

 

[Colleen27]

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!

Yeah, and my general view is partly due to having two kids on the plan - 2 appetizers for the 4 of us is perfect! If we were all DDP adults or if the kids' appetizers were more substantial than carrot sticks, it would undoubtedly be too much. Two adult desserts for 4 is a pretty good size too - the kids either decline their dessert or use it to make their share of the adult dessert ala mode.

 

[traviesojmt]

My opinion on the dining plan is that it is similar to choosing a resort. One size does not fit all and that is ok. The dining plan is just another option that Disney has offered. For our family (Me, DH, DS10 and DD4), the dining plan is not the best way to go. We have used the dining plan 3 times now (free dining and OOP) and loved it each time. Now, my DS10 is considered an adult. Disney may think he is an adult, but he still does not eat like one. Using the menus and prices on allearsnet, I priced what it would cost us to pay OOP for our meals based on what we probably would order. Apparently, we are not those who "maximize" the plan. We save quite a bit of money paying OOP. Since we decided not to use the dining plan, we also decided to stay at SOG. That is even more savings for us. Each family is going to be different. We are not big breakfast eaters while at Disney. We only want to do one TS meal per day. Since we have younger children, we also do not eat at the 2 TS credit restaurants. While the plan no longer really works for us, the changes do not bother me. Disney offers the plan and then I make the best decision for my family.

 

[YesMickey]

I agree, once the kids turn 10, the dining plan is no deal. I mean $38 a day. My kids could share a plate at a TS. That's why we are going as many times as we can before my oldest (DD7) turns 10. Besides if Disney had no dining plan at all how often would people go to the TS's. Or would Disney have to lower menu prices to make up the difference. I mean at home we go out to eat once or week or so, but never spend over $100. On a 5 day trip we would probably eat a TS twice. Most likely we would go into town to a place we don't have at home.

 

[bicker]

Well, remember that the Dining Plan (as it is now) only goes back to 2005. Before that, the restaurants were not insanely packed, as they have been for the last year or two. So if the Dining Plan was eliminated comnpletely (which is NOT happening!!!!), then they'd just go back to being as they were in 2004, which was still pretty busy at times, but not insanely so all the time.

Lewis has made the point several times in this thread already: These changes are perhaps intended to reduce the insane crowding at the restaurants. No need to lower prices, or do anything else. The reduction in value appears to be very deliberate, and will probably result in a net-gain for Disney, all considerations taken into account.

 

[YesMickey]

Right, I understand completely. It is similar to gas prices. Gas is at $2.39/gallon which it was two years ago. Then goes up to $3.39Gallon and then lowers to $2.89 and everyone goes thinks the prices are low, when actually they are $0.50 higher than they were two years ago. Although the price of the DDP lowered $1. We have to see what the menu prices change to. I agree, that is one of the top reasons we go to Disney is for the week of eating out at nice places, but right now it is a good deal if you use it to it's fullest, but again if there was no DDP how much would a family spend OOP.

 

[Tricia1972]

Right, I understand completely. It is similar to gas prices. Gas is at $2.39/gallon which it was two years ago. Then goes up to $3.39Gallon and then lowers to $2.89 and everyone goes thinks the prices are low, when actually they are $0.50 higher than they were two years ago. Although the price of the DDP lowered $1. We have to see what the menu prices change to. I agree, that is one of the top reasons we go to Disney is for the week of eating out at nice places, but right now it is a good deal if you use it to it's fullest, but again if there was no DDP how much would a family spend OOP.

I think that this phrase is crucial. Every family (when trying to budget a vacation) needs to look at the menus of where they want to eat.

By looking at the menus and seeing what you would order independent of DDP, you can figure out the value of the DDP for your family.

I don't think that the DDP is necessarily a good deal for every family anymore, but I do think that it is still be a good value for some families.

 

[YesMickey]

Definitely if you have a 10 yr. old. I mean how many $20 plates of food not eaten before you realize that it's not working. Especially when the child still wants the kids meal. Thay may be something Disney may want to look into. Making a different DDP price for 10-14yr olds. Because for that reason only, when my child turns 10 there will be no more DDP for us.

 

[Tiger926]

I have kept up with this thread and read every response, but this is the first time that I am posting.

We have eaten mostly TS meals at WDW for the past 5 years or so. We love having the DDE as we eat at least 2 TS meals per day, but last summer we tried the DP. It worked out ok as we don't prefer CS meals at all - we have lots of allergies/sensitivities to look out for, so we don't eat fast food at all, so we have a hard time with the CS meals as many are premade and very limiting. We are grateful that Disney offers us any kind of Dining options, whether they be DDE or DP.

My hubby likes the DP because of the convenience of it and it worked out to actually save us a bit of money as we eat at least one character meal per day for our daughter (we now have a new son to bring to WDW as well). Compared to our DDE, it was very close, but we wanted to try it out in order to get an accurate assessment of the plan by experiencing it. We have to admit though, that we didn't book the DP to save money as our top priority. We always make ADRs and plan ahead being DVC (we don't cook in our rooms), so for us, our top priority was continuing to eat at our favourite restaurants, while using one card in which to do it. We already eat TS, so for us, the DP is not giving us anything that we didn't normally already experience at WDW, but it added a new level of convenience for us.

For our next trip in the spring (our newborn's first one), we have booked the Deluxe DP. We used to eat breakfast in our room (light breakfast eaters), but during our last trip in January, our daughter loved sitting down for breakfast, so now it's 2-3 TS meals per day for us. Before anyone thinks we are huge people, we absolutely are not. I am petite, and my hubby and daughter are normal - we need to eat 3 meals per day because of low blood sugar issues, and with allergies/sensitivities TS meals suit us well as we can talk to chefs about our food. We only order what we can eat, don't waste food, drink water with meals, don't snack on junk all day & no pop. We sometimes get appetizers & dessert, but lots of times we don't, as we can't eat what they are offering - one plate of fresh fruit is good for all of us, usually.

Bottom line for us is that we don't expect to make money off of Disney on the DP. We would have liked to have had tips included, but we have no choice as it is what it is. We know that we actually will save money on the Deluxe Plan, and that is welcome as that money will pay for tips. In regards to regular plan, sure there may be less value for some families, but we still see it as a value despite tips and appetizers removed, and we don't even eat all food that is available to us. We see it as a value because we've eaten at practically all restaurants on property and know how pricey some of them are.

I get that people are mad about appetizers and tips removed and that Disney only reduced it by $1.00, but that is a telling feature. They are most assuredly trying to get a better handle on the restaurants (less crowded, more available ADRs) by changing the plan as they did. Adding the Deluxe Plan is a bonus for those of us who normally eat this way anyway and based on my hubby's financial analysis for our eating habits, it's a great deal for us as our daughter is still little and loves to eat well (grilled chicken, fruit, etc.)

The biggest thing of confusion for me is that people assumed that Disney was offering the Dining Plan as a way to save guests lots of money - it just so happened to work out this way with the old plans (and this is no coincidence, I'm sure), and may still work out this way for some people on the new plans, but, bottom line is that Disney is a massive corporation who has to please its stockholders, period. Sure, they offered a more valueable plan last year as a marketing ploy - I'm sure it was to introduce TS meals to those families who normally don't eat this way, whether it be for financial reasons, timing, etc. Based on many replies on here, this seems to be the group that is most angry, for good reason, as they may now have to change back to eating all CS, limiting TS meals, etc., but this is only Disney's problem if they see a sharp decline in restaurant profits, and I'm sure that isn't going to happen as many of us are snapping up the Deluxe Plan. For all of the people on here who say they aren't buying the plan, there still will be tons who do, and, for those who won't be buying the plan, they may actually spend the same amount or even more money paying full price for meals in WDW. Disney knows they are going to make money off of you either way as you are still going to buy junk food and eat CS meals which have huge profit margins built in. I see many of these same people say that they are going to go off-site for all meals as well, but for those with kids, this is going to be a difficult proposition. I would think that the extra gas used would work out to be the cost of the tips, so for many families they will do better to stay on-site and eat (whether using DP or not), as they have to factor in travel time, parking and cost of gas to get to these off-site places.

This has been a most interesting discussion, and it will be very interesting to see what happens over the course of the next year. My family and I are grateful that Disney offers any kind of plan as we love the convenience of it - saving a bit of money is an added bonus!

Happy eating to all, Tiger

 

[tomandrobin]

I agree, once the kids turn 10, the dining plan is no deal.

If you have teenage boys like us its well, well worth it!

 

[Grumpy Old Dwarf]

All I can say is I sure wish I had found this Board before visiting. We're at the Contemporary now and no one here can explain how the Plan works. I've even asked the Concierges to put me in touch with somebody in charge and they just give you the standard Disney line "We can't help you".

Our biggest complaint is that no one told us the Sit Downs needed to be booked six months in advance.

 

[YesMickey]

Yea, the same thing happened to us when we went in April '06. No reservations made. We were told by a friend we could make reservations each morning for that evening. Riiiggghhhtttt. What you need to do is go to one of the places that takes reservations and make some quickly. We did ours at Cinderella's castle the first day we were there for the entire week. You will most likely get late reservations, but you never know if someone cancels. You will also probably get settings at resorts, which is fine also. Maya Grill is very good at Coronado Springs. Good Luck

 

[DizzDoll]

All I can say is I sure wish I had found this Board before visiting. We're at the Contemporary now and no one here can explain how the Plan works. I've even asked the Concierges to put me in touch with somebody in charge and they just give you the standard Disney line "We can't help you".

Our biggest complaint is that no one told us the Sit Downs needed to be booked six months in advance.

Go back to the consierge desk and ask them to look up the various restaurants again. We had an issue in August when we were in WDW (also staying at the CR) regarding dinner - long story very short - went to the consierge desk and the lady was looking on screen as we were talking and all kinds of cancelled ressies were showing up in all kinds of TS restaurants - including CRT - so they CAN do something - be insistent. And good luck.

 

[bicker]

All I can say is I sure wish I had found this Board before visiting. We're at the Contemporary now...

You're not subject to the 2008 DDP terms and conditions. Those begin January 1, 2008.

Our biggest complaint is that no one told us the Sit Downs needed to be booked six months in advance.

They don't. Call Disney Dining and I bet you dollars to donuts you can book a sit-down dinner at either Boatwrights, Shutters or Olivia's, for example, tonight.

 

[tomandrobin]

Call Disney Dining and I bet you dollars to donuts you can book a sit-down dinner at either Boatwrights, Shutters or Olivia's, for example, tonight.

And probably Turf Club, Plaza Resturant, Morraco, Ohana and the Maya Grill.

 

[antkim]

And probably Turf Club, Plaza Resturant, Morraco, Ohana and the Maya Grill.

And don't forget the new Italian restaurant in Epcot (Tutto Itlaia) is now open and ressies are wide open! I even booked a table for 12 on Thanksgiving night!

 

[honeymo78]

I'm also not sure what questions you had about how the plan works that couldn't be answered by the desk or the brochure you get on check in. You get 1 counter service, 1 table service, 1 snack (look for the purple ddp sign to designate snacks) per night of your stay. Sometimes these boards make it much more complicated than it really is, but the plan itself is very simple. And as others said, there are plenty of restaurants that you can get into with short notice, however they may not be your first choice.

 

[kowalchicky]

Definitely if you have a 10 yr. old. I mean how many $20 plates of food not eaten before you realize that it's not working. Especially when the child still wants the kids meal. Thay may be something Disney may want to look into. Making a different DDP price for 10-14yr olds. Because for that reason only, when my child turns 10 there will be no more DDP for us.

I agree and disagree.....My DS 10 had a hard time eatting chicken nuggets,mac and cheese....etc every meal last year....on the other hand my DD8 is very happy to eat the "normal items" on a kids menu.....It would be nice to see a adult selection ( but in a kids portion ) for kids 10-14 years of age.

 

[rotlex]

It would be nice to see a adult selection ( but in a kids portion ) for kids 10-14 years of age.

We would love to see that, and the plan would be of an even greater value to us if it did. (One of the reasons we chose buffets for most of the sit downs).

Our daughter, only 5 right now, enjoys a HUGE variety of foods, and frankly, doesn't care for most of the kids selections at all. (That and the fact that most of them are just junk food anyway is kind of frustrating).