Ah, facebook

[Sphyrna]

It can be annoying when you're at the food court and get behind a family on the DDP. It's like they're doing algebra or something! You forgot to carry the 1!! Quick, go grab a drink!!. Here I am with my little croissant waiting while they go get the rest of the food they're allowed. It's to the point where I think they need separate registers for those not on the DDP, like express lanes!!

As for the quality of food and service declining, I'm sure the DDP is a big reason. But I also wonder how much is just the economy?

 

[ConcKahuna]

It can be annoying when you're at the food court and get behind a family on the DDP. It's like they're doing algebra or something! You forgot to carry the 1!! Quick, go grab a drink!!. Here I am with my little croissant waiting while they go get the rest of the food they're allowed. It's to the point where I think they need separate registers for those not on the DDP, like express lanes!!

As for the quality of food and service declining, I'm sure the DDP is a big reason. But I also wonder how much is just the economy?

WDW profits have actually been doing well in over the past year or 2. Part of the reason is that instead of just letting stock prices drop a tiny bit, they cut everything they can and sacrifice quality.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

They started streamlining the menus before the economy tanked. We used to really like Kona, but the quality slipped and slipped and now it is to the point that I don't think we'll go back there. We eat the vast majority of our dinners at the signature restaurants because we still manage to find interesting food and good service.

 

[Peepster]

You're right...hate is a strong word. I dislike, dislike, really really dislike the DDP and it's already ruined some of the restaurants at Disney as evidenced by the exodus of some quality chefs. But as long as Disney can keep packin' 'em in, the FDGSP's win (sorry, will preface with apologies..."Free Dinings Gravy Sucking Piglets").

I seriously wonder what would happen if Disney tried a couple of true quality restaurants, charged accordingly, but allowed the chefs creative control. Sounds like many of us would support it.

And, although I sound (reference FDGSP) like a completely biased jerk I really do undertand a family's need to budget a trip to the World. It just bothers me that some families don't take the time to see that Disney more than makes up for the dining money in other areas.

You can only prepare mass quantities of chicken so many ways...and beef so many ways...and salmon so many ways...before it gets boring! But ordering by the truckloads sure keeps it cheap!

 

[OrlandoMike]

When I first arrived in Orlando....you know, back when Kennedy was in office....You had to go to Disney to get a great meal! There were very few other choices.

But now, Orlando has so much to offer! The other resorts, Restaurant Row, and even (GASP) Universal are giving Disney a run for their money in the F+B department...

Very sad....

And a lot of it has to do with the Dining Plan....

If you are a foodie, unfortunatly, you will probably be better off renting a car.....and trying other places.

 

[C&G'sMama]

WDW profits have actually been doing well in over the past year or 2. Part of the reason is that instead of just letting stock prices drop a tiny bit, they cut everything they can and sacrifice quality.

I blame the accountants

We do use the DDP, it just makes life easier, but I agree that quality and variety have suffered, The company will continue using free dining as a hook until it doesn't work anymore and go onto something else. Right now we're booked with "free" dining but we may change our trip if another promotion is booked in mid-May (DD's bday). Whether it's the dining or reduced hotel rooms, you end up paying about the same.

It seems to me the most important thing for Disney is to get people to stay on site. They will then keep people from wandering off property to spend their money and people will spend all their money at Disney.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

As the wise folks here have mentioned, "Free" dining is no better than a room discount. We had "free" dining in 2007. The package cost $500 less than our IDENTICAL package in 2006 where we PAID for DDP. Rack rate rooms, people! Rack rate rooms.
That was back when appetizer and tips were included. The DDP never saved us VAST amounts of money, especially after DS became a Disney adult. Excluding appetizers and tips means we would likely end up paying MORE with DDP.

Flying Fish, Citrico's, and Yachtsman are my top 3 on property restaurants. We have particular servers at FF and Yachtsman that we insist on. We need to try bluezoo. DH's favorite is Wolfgang Puck's Cafe in DTD.

It doesn't bother me to stay on property for the entire duration of our trip. 2 weeks goes by in a flash. But the more times we go to WDW, the more restaurants we cross off our "return" list. Eventually we will be forced off property for dinner.

 

[ConcKahuna]

It seems to me the most important thing for Disney is to get people to stay on site. They will then keep people from wandering off property to spend their money and people will spend all their money at Disney.

Unless it's club level, the rooms on property cost Disney about $16 to maintain. That includes all resort labor, utility costs, and supplies.

Club level goes up to about $40 a room, simply because of the lounge.

ALL the rest is pure profit. That's why Disney is willing to practically give rooms away sometimes to get people to stay on property.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I was thinking I would rather that they discount the rooms instead of the food. Simply because the mentality of some of the "free diners" is so appalling. People who have never ventured away from the family trough will flock to WDW when they hear the food is free. It's a BRILLIANT marketing hook, but it can make for a less-than-magical experience for other people trying to secure a reservation.

I don't double book my ADRs. If I book a dinner, than THAT'S where we are going for dinner. If we end up NOT going, I call and cancel it. There is a thread on Restaurants about people forcing a vomiting child to sit through dinner because the parents were worried about losing their dining credits. Who does that?!? Free food makes some people COMPLETELY irrational. Would those same people be irrational anyway? Probably. Would they be at WDW? Possibly, but perhaps NOT.

Of course it chaps my tushy to read that people are getting DVC rooms for half price. Our DVC contracts were expensive. The resale value on them sucks. And the Breeders of Screamers seem to be waiting to pounce on those discounted rooms.

So I guess what I wish is that all rooms would be rack rate, there would be NO dining plans, and park attendance would be at an all time low.

 

[C&G'sMama]

I don't double book my ADRs. If I book a dinner, than THAT'S where we are going for dinner. If we end up NOT going, I call and cancel it. There is a thread on Restaurants about people forcing a vomiting child to sit through dinner because the parents were worried about losing their dining credits. Who does that?!? Free food makes some people COMPLETELY irrational. Would those same people be irrational anyway? Probably. Would they be at WDW? Possibly, but perhaps NOT.

We don't double book either. and OMG about making the kid stay at the table. Free dining or no free dining we have always seen instances where folks get a little crazy because they feel they've paid for their vacation so they need to eek out every little thing and push and shove and run, it amazes me.

We once had a woman push her daughter in front of DP and I on the monorail platform so she could get a good seat. We are not tiny baubles and the child might have weighed 60 lbs. People just don't think.

So I'm with you if rack rate and no "free" dining would keep the crowds low, I'm all for it.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We don't double book either. and OMG about making the kid stay at the table. Free dining or no free dining we have always seen instances where folks get a little crazy because they feel they've paid for their vacation so they need to eek out every little thing and push and shove and run, it amazes me.

We once had a woman push her daughter in front of DP and I on the monorail platform so she could get a good seat. We are not tiny baubles and the child might have weighed 60 lbs. People just don't think.

So I'm with you if rack rate and no "free" dining would keep the crowds low, I'm all for it.

I suppose we should all be glad we are repeat visitors so we don't have to SHOVE our children in front of other guests to make sure we get our full vacation dollar value.

I shouldn't judge, but I do anyway.

I would LOVE low crowds and no discounts, but that would mean cutbacks for the employees. I don't want anybody to lose their job just so I can shave 10 minutes off my wait time for Soarin'. Pretty much any "improvement" I would wish for would have a negative impact for someone else, and WDW realizes that. They want to pack in as many people as possible - I get that. You can't shift the balance too much or you lose money. You can't please all the people all the time, so they do what they can to make most people marginally happy more often than not.

 

[C&G'sMama]

JEG - agreed. But if we could lower crowds and not affect the employees (in an ideal world)...

The insanity just drives me crazy. We've learned if they let you through the line you'll get a seat. We've taught our kids to hang back and enjoy the little things that a lot of people miss. That it is not polite to run in front of people. (even though as lesbians we aren't fit to be parents, have to throw that in)

We once looked at a mom that was struggling to keep up with her running husband and son who were cajoling her to keep up as we were making our way slowly towards the vehicles at Kilamajaro. DP laughed and said to her "They let you through, you'll get a seat" The lady looked at her said "you're right", she slowed down and caught up to her DH and DS who had rushed ahead.

 

[DVCajun]

Reservations are a nasty byproduct, what it's really affecting is the overall quality of the product, for those both on and off the plan.

Also, now that Le Cellier has become signature - entirely due to the DDP - costs will go even higher.

I agree. It's affecting the quality and the variety of dining options across WDW. There's no reason for the restaurants to offer a superior product -- they're guaranteed a full house regardless. With the exception of the signature restaurants, but even then the level of service and experience has been adversely affected.

And don't even get me started about how it encourages gluttony .... "yeah, we're not really hungry after the last gi-normous meal that included an appetizer, entree *and* dessert, but we're about to waddle into another restaurant for more of the same a few hours later....." Ugh.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The thing about the dining plan is that it doesn't SAVE you money if you weren't going to order ALL of that food in the first place!

This year we thought about doing the quick service plan. I had a feeling it would be too much for us, but still, that marketing makes me second guess myself. Star suggested I buy a gift card with the amount the plan would have cost, use it to pay for CS meals and snacks, and see where we ended up. We spent HALF of what the plan would have cost us. And I cheated, because I used that gift card to buy alcohol that wouldn't have been covered on the dining plan. Our actual cost on CS meals and snacks was LESS than half.

I mentioned it on the DVC board and a dude told me it wasn't an apples to apples comparison. WHO CARES?? The fact is that we spent HALF. The plan is NOT GOOD FOR US, and that was the whole point of the experiment. Yes, if we bought 2 CS meals with desserts and 2 snacks at the max allowable value EVERY DAY then it is possible that we would have spent more than the plan would have cost. But that would have been asinine. I would rather pay HALF and get exactly what we want when we want it. If all I really want is a cup of soup then I don't want to feel obligated to get a burger, fries, soda, and cake just so I don't lose money.

I think I have mentioned before that the week we did the DxDDP our DAILY cost on it was running about $265. DAILY. That's like what we spend on food in TWO WEEKS at home! $210 for the plan, plus tip for buffet breakfast and signature dinner. It would have been cheaper to have NO plan, and to come out ahead we should have used the TIW. Which is what we do now.