2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[Pumbaa_]

Moved this to the DDP board, better topic for that board

 

[Pumbaa_]

Thanks bicker!

 

[bicker]

How would one ( or many) go about suggesting a change to the current plan to change the DDP.

Disney's first interest will be in determining if a change is necessary. That will be a matter of how well the 2008 Dining Plan (as specified in the brochure) satisfies their own objectives, including those that were the foundation for the changes that Disney deliberately made. Many folks expressing disappointment about the changes to Disney are being told, explicitly, that perhaps their concerns will be addressed in 2009. So it seems clear that Disney's intention is to see how well the changes work for them and the make more changes for 2009, as one would expect. To be sure, they're going to be focusing more on sales than comments.

Who should I address my complaint/suggestion to?

[SIZE=-1]Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040[/SIZE]

 

[bicker]

I can't answer your question, but I will suggest that it may be incorrect to assume that Disney didn't consider the option. One of the things they may be trying to prevent is sharing of meals. I don't know how widespread the practice might be, but I have heard stories of two adults sharing a single appetizer and entree and calling it a meal. ... I also think that people would be more inclined to pay for an appetizer out of pocket if they really wanted it, than they would a dessert.

Good points. Also, the order of service has a bearing on this: More folks will pass on the dessert course after a huge entree than will pass on the entree course after an appetizer.

I agree that more people would pay cash for an appetizer, if they really want one, than would pay cash for the high price for desserts in a restaurant, especially given that just outside the restaurant there are kiosks that sell yummy desserts for a fraction of the price, and you can eat them while walking around the park enjoying more of what (many people) really came to the park for.

Since you posted this in the DVC forums, I'd start by sharing your comments with Member Satisfaction:

That's probably not going to have as much traction as providing your comments directly to the right group, which is facilitated by sending them here:

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

However, talk is cheap; money is more important. The best way to communicate that you want the Disney Dining Plan to change is to not patronize it as is. If enough people still purchase the Dining Plan the way it is specified for 2008, then that is a far more powerful message to Disney that they make the right decision with the changes they've set forth.

Thanks much. I just requested that all restaurants go back to first-come-first-served and cash payments only.

This is another good point. I think there are a lot of folks who are keeping their mouths shut about how happy they are about these changes. A lot of people were very unhappy with the Disney Dining Plan and its impact on everyone else.

 

[petchie]

I also wonder if this was done so they can turn a table over faster by not serving 3 courses????

 

[drag n' fly]

My adr bookings start next week. I went and looked at the participating restaurants for DDP/Epcot and choked. A shortened list! If they are to possibly be added later, how can I make an adr at a restaurant on the ddp if I do not know if it will be added or not?

 

[Colleen27]

My adr bookings start next week. I went and looked at the participating restaurants for DDP/Epcot and choked. A shortened list! If they are to possibly be added later, how can I make an adr at a restaurant on the ddp if I do not know if it will be added or not?

I used this year's list to make ADRs, on the assumption that the final list won't change much. If I have to, I'll rearrange as needed later. Only 3 ADRs out of 23 are at restaurants that haven't signed on to the plan yet - Tutto Italia, Teppan Edo, and Raglan Road. I don't think it'll be too tough to change those few if I must.

 

[barndweller]

Like Rinkwide, I too have sent a communication to Disney expressing my opinion that the dining plan has had a negative impact on the menus & the service at the table service restaurants. I also expressed my desire to see a true reservation system requiring a cc hold with a stiff charge for no shows.

We have never used the plan & probably never will. It doesn't fit with the way we eat. And if the quality of service, deteriorating menu choices & rediculous ADR system don't improve, we probably will no longer stay on site and may not be returning to WDW anytime in the near future.

 

[smylie1]

Do you think the "gratuity not included" change in the 2008 DDP will make dining experiences better or worse?

 

[bicker]

If it has a significant impact, I'd guess it will have a positive impact.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I guess it depends on your point of view--the customer now having to pay it at each and every TS meal, or the servers, now having to depend on tips no longer guaranteed.

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

It will be a significant amount of extra $ for the dining plan. The tip included was really handy and if we had great service, I would throw some extra on the table. Some of the time when there is an automatic gratuity included, our experience has been some bad service (this is SOMETIMES not always). It happens more to us outside of WDW (where if there are 8 or more an automatic gratuity is added.) It is like they could care less if they get our drinks, food orders, etc because their tip is on the bill and most people won't question it with management - they just pay it.

All in all I am happier paying the tip out of pocket because I believe that it will result in better over-all service.

 

[jlx2]

Add me to the list of people that wrote to Disney regarding the changes in the 2008 dining plan. We just loved the simplicity and "all inclusive" feel. Hopefully they will listen and make some changes...

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Add me to the list of people that wrote to Disney regarding the changes in the 2008 dining plan. We just loved the simplicity and "all inclusive" feel. Hopefully they will listen and make some changes...

What kind of changes?

 

[LegoMom3]

Ok, I think I've caught up with this thread!...*phew!*

We did Free Dining last year. It was the first time we'd ever used the plan at all. We loved it, and had said all along we'd do it again even if we had to pay, just because of the convenience. We're also people that if we did NOT have it, probably wouldn't go to TS restaurants due to the cost for our family of 5. I don't need a TS every day otherwise, but our entire family enjoyed the character meals and that's something we'd want to do a couple of times in our week's stay.

Now I'm looking ahead to an '08 trip. Initially I was quite disappointed in the removal of the gratuity. Loss of appetizer not so much, as we did feel there was too much food for us. But I just went to Allearsnet and added up some typical meals that we'd eat if we did not have the plan. Once we toss in two character meals, it just doesn't make sense to not have the Dining Plan, free or not! The only way I'd really save money is to eat breakfast (such as it is!) in our room every day, do CS for lunch and dinner, and really limit snacks. And all the while I'm counting pennies and making sure we stay within the food budget. I've got three boys who like to eat!! I guess for us the Dining Plan is a "must do." I'll just budget the tip money and enjoy the fact that at least the rest of our food is already paid for. I'm sure Disney banks on it working that way for a lot of people!

 

[musical2]

I did a cost of DDP 2008 vs. expected cost of dining OOP for our trip near the end of January. With six persons (me, DW, AuPair, DD age 10, DDs twins age 8) it seems we will still save over $200 going with the DDP over paying OOP since we are doing several fixed price TS dinners including Hoop-De-Doo. We'd have to do tips either way. I usually tip about 20% anyway, so the 18% tip on six people actually saves me some money. I have this thing about refusing to include extra tip when I am forced to pay a tip, so the CM wait staff will actually get less tip from me than when I pay OOP for meals.

Cost of six on DDP for 7 days = $1203.58

Estimated Cost OOP = $1450 (based on menu prices).

I think that is still a pretty good deal and I don't have to worry about budgeting throughout the week (which is worth something in itself).

 

[htegler]

We have been planning our trip to WDW in December 2008 for some time. We recently found out, due to the changes in the 2008 DDP that the restaurants at the resort we had been planning on staying at, CSR, are not part of the new DDP. While disappointing, we think we will now stay at the Port Orleans Resort - Riverside, which may be a better choice.

Anyway, anyone considering the DDP should throughly research what restaurants are and are not part of the plan.

We are also not too crazy about the fact that the appetizer is no longer part of the DDP.

 

[pepperw23]

Disney's first interest will be in determining if a change is necessary. That will be a matter of how well the 2008 Dining Plan (as specified in the brochure) satisfies their own objectives, including those that were the foundation for the changes that Disney deliberately made. Many folks expressing disappointment about the changes to Disney are being told, explicitly, that perhaps their concerns will be addressed in 2009. So it seems clear that Disney's intention is to see how well the changes work for them and the make more changes for 2009, as one would expect. To be sure, they're going to be focusing more on sales than comments.

[SIZE=-1]Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040[/SIZE]

I agree Bicker. The best way to "complain" is to not purchase it. Of course it could backfire and Disney could say "well I guess they don't want the DDP anymore." I do agree though that sales are going to be the deciding factor. I think it would have been cool to maybe offer one appetizer per party. Last year that is all we ever got anyway. One per person did seem like a lot. The tipping thing does not really bother me b/c DH always wanted to leave tip on the table anyway. He was convinced they server would not get it otherwise.

 

[lexmelinda]

I'm being lazy and not reading the entire thread so hopefully someone will take pity on me.

Why are there no DTD restaurants on the DDP except Cap'n Jacks? There are no DTD CS restaurants on the current listing at all!

Are contracts not complete? Is there a chance they could be added?

 

[bicker]

The complete list of participating restaurants for 2007 was released by Disney on November 15, 2006. You shouldn't expect to see the complete list of participating restaurants for 2008 released by Disney until mid-November 2007. The initial list is presented as a demonstration that patrons will have lots of choices.