2008 Ddp

[jennib5426]

I will enjoy the DDP for the last time in September because I will not get it under the new plan.
I new it was to good to last.
We have been using the DDP for the last 6 years and it was always a great value. When we first used it under the bronze/silver/gold or when they called them wishes it was an incredable value since you could get all the 2 credit places for 1 credit. I new sooner or later Disney would catch on that people were actully saving money when using the DDP. If they used it wisely you could save hundreds of $$$. You would gain 10lbs but you saved $$$$.

For my trip in 2008 it will be back to TS for lunch and CS for dinner to save $$$.

 

[gottalovethem]

Where do I get the scoop on the new dining plan? WDW website?

 

[jenjersnap]

I will enjoy the DDP for the last time in September because I will not get it under the new plan.
I new it was to good to last.
We have been using the DDP for the last 6 years and it was always a great value. When we first used it under the bronze/silver/gold or when they called them wishes it was an incredable value since you could get all the 2 credit places for 1 credit. I new sooner or later Disney would catch on that people were actully saving money when using the DDP. If they used it wisely you could save hundreds of $$$. You would gain 10lbs but you saved $$$$.

For my trip in 2008 it will be back to TS for lunch and CS for dinner to save $$$.

*sigh* How I loved the old silver plan! It's what started my Disney addiction. The DDP has always seemed a poor substitute for my family - even as it became wildly popular. We're just trying it for the first and only time next month.

The deluxe plan is a good idea but, from crunching the numbers, it's still a bit over-priced for us cos we eat lots of buffets with our under 3-year-old.

The loss of gratuity still ticks me off and I feel much sympathy for the servers.

Right now, I think DH's wish of taking '08 off is going to come true. I think we'll try a cruise instead.

 

[Small Town Princess]

no flames, I feel the same way. Although I don't quite think this change has anything to do with abuse of the systems. I think they are taking advantage of the popularity of the DP, and seeing how much more money they can get out of the consumer. Combine this with the change in resort price structure, rising ticket prices, changes to the menus and portion sizes, I'm afraid it stinks of corporate greed. Especially after they just announced their profits were up last quarter.

I could not agree more!

 

[Vickie46]

I think the new plan stinks!!!!!!!! We will just budget our food and do without the new plan... We loved the tip being included... its way too much for the average family now.. bummer!

 

[TDC Nala]

Some of my favorites are no longer on the plan. Raglan Road, San Angel, Marrakesh, Nine Dragons etc. Will they be added???

I think these are not owned by Disney and they have to work the contracts out first. When they do, they'll add them to the list.

Same thing happened last year when the packages were released.

 

[Tam1067]

I don't think there is any question about that. There are winners and losers in this. Disney and cheap guests are winners; the servers are losers -- BIG time.Maybe. I'd personally prefer that. Having a tip added at a resort restaurant is pretty much standard throughout the industry, and we usually tip 20%, so it wouldn't bother me a bit.I have no doubt that the decision to eliminate the gratuity from DDP was purely a money question, and the purpose was solely to increase Disney's bottom line. That said, in fairness to Disney management, included tips are a "term and condition of employment" and are therefore must be, and were, negotiated with the servers' union. The elimination of included gratuities in DDP was specifically included in the contract which was ratified by the union.

I think the servers (who comprise a very small minority of the bargaining unit) have a valid beef with their union. I think they should go to the National Labor Relations Board and argue that the bargaining unit does NOT represent their interests and unfairly favors Disney. But the fact is -- that is their problem.

The structure of the bargaining unit may not be fair to this particular segment of the 65,000 employees at WDW, but Disney followed the rules and negotiated the contract with the union, and the union ratified it. That's not Disney's bad.

Here's the thing--I agree the union did not represent the servers fairly, and perhaps the servers should file a complaint. At the same time, if Disney were treating its employees fairly, the union would not have to give such concessions in order to get other things in its contract that the entire membership could agree to. As far as I know, the most recent negotiations did not include the union demanding more pay or better conditions, as much as it seemed the union was fighting to keep what they had going in and Disney doing its best to decrease their costs. We've seen that with the outsourcing of certain positions at WDW for instance. I still say it's ultimately Disney doing this to their employees; the union can only do so much.

 

[Pumbaa_]

There is now a sticky thread stuck to the top of the board for all DDP discussions, here is the link to the 2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents.
Thanks,