Answer for % of guests on the DDP

[just another guy]

I know in some thread in the last couple days, I saw a couple people wondering how many of disney's guests are on the dining plan. Well, I called a friend who serves at disney, and had her looking into it a bit. A couple hours ago, she emailed me with the following numbers. I won't say where, but lets just say she's at one of the nicer buffets on property, and has been with the company many years. Anyway, they were pretty busy tonight. On top of that, several other servers wanted to go home early, so she was picking up extra tables. She said things got pretty crazy for a bit. Anyway, she sold just under $1600 in food and drinks. Of that, just over $1000 were on the dining plan. Yeah, its no exact figure, but it tosses out an idea for those who wanted one. It also shows why many servers are upset with losing their 18% grat on DDP. Thats a decent chunk of change. Before anyone puts 2 and 2 together, she's in the minority in pay. 90% of disney servers DO NOT make this much. The restaurant happened to be busy, she had a very smooth night she said, and she picked up several extra tables from other servers. Those that make good money are extremely good at what they do, have been with the company MANY years(15-30) and are using this money to support families and kids with.

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that some restaurants are far more likely to be Dining Plan heavy than others.

 

[gina2000]

I appreciate the unscientific scientific survey your friend conducted. I've been extremely curious about the % of OOP guests verses DDP guests. And while this doesn't account for all restaurants, all evenings, all the time, it does indicate that the DDP is a significant contributor to restaurant capacity in 1TS restaurants.

 

[Disneyserver]

Keep in mind that some restaurants are far more likely to be Dining Plan heavy than others.

90% of My tables are always DDP users, so Its a huge Number

 

[bicker]

And while this doesn't account for all restaurants, all evenings, all the time, it does indicate that the DDP is a significant contributor to restaurant capacity in 1TS restaurants.

Or over-capacity, depending on how you want to look at it.

 

[LizinSTL]

90% of My tables are always DDP users, so Its a huge Number

I'm sorry but I find that incredibly difficult to believe. Most WDW visitors don't even stay onsite and therefore aren't eligible for the DDP. Many who stay onsite choose to NOT book it. 90%??? I think you are being a bit dramatic.

The DDP is a marketing success story, I bet. It's a win-win for Disney and the guest. But I suspect the number of guests using the DDP is closer to 30-40% of TS customers on a daily basis- some locations may be higher than others but that would probably be fairly good guess based on the number of guests who are even eligible for the plan!

 

[Lewisc]

I'd expect DDP guests are much more likely to make advance ADRs then other guests. I'd expect non-DDP guests are much more likely to book lunch reservations at TS restaurants, to save a few dollars.

I don't remember what restaurant, or shift, the poster works. I'd expect some restaurants will have much higher percentage of DDP guests then others. 90% sounds high, but I don't have reason not to believe the poster.

I'm sorry but I find that incredibly difficult to believe. Most WDW visitors don't even stay onsite and therefore aren't eligible for the DDP. Many who stay onsite choose to NOT book it. 90%??? I think you are being a bit dramatic.

The DDP is a marketing success story, I bet. It's a win-win for Disney and the guest. But I suspect the number of guests using the DDP is closer to 30-40% of TS customers on a daily basis- some locations may be higher than others but that would probably be fairly good guess based on the number of guests who are even eligible for the plan!

 

[allyphoe]

90%??? I think you are being a bit dramatic.

Think of a restaurant you can always walk up to, even during the free DDP promotions, because it's hard to get to or has indifferent reviews or both. Probably in a resort, so that people staying at that resort on the DDP who can't get ADRs anywhere else will eat there rather than let the credits go unused. A resort with a good food court, so guests paying out of pocket would choose the $8 salmon + 2 sides (CS) rather than the $17 salmon with garnish (TS).

Particularly if you're counting dollars, rather than bodies (and DDP bodies count for more dollars per than do cash-paying bodies), I can imagine some shifts with 90% DDP dollars.

 

[just another guy]

I'd expect DDP guests are much more likely to make advance ADRs then other guests. I'd expect non-DDP guests are much more likely to book lunch reservations at TS restaurants, to save a few dollars.

I don't remember what restaurant, or shift, the poster works. I'd expect some restaurants will have much higher percentage of DDP guests then others. 90% sounds high, but I don't have reason not to believe the poster.

Its 100% true that my example is false is a way. Being my friend works at one of the nicer buffets, it pretty much requires ressies. Who's going to make ressies....people on the DDP. So for nicer restaurants across property, yes they may see a 50% average of their guests using the DDP, but thats not saying 50% of all disney guests are using the DDP. My first trip to disney we stayed on property, had breakfast at the resort, TS in the parks for lunch, and then dinner back at the resort.

 

[wilde_oscar]

I'm sorry but I find that incredibly difficult to believe. Most WDW visitors don't even stay onsite and therefore aren't eligible for the DDP. Many who stay onsite choose to NOT book it. 90%??? I think you are being a bit dramatic.

The DDP is a marketing success story, I bet. It's a win-win for Disney and the guest. But I suspect the number of guests using the DDP is closer to 30-40% of TS customers on a daily basis- some locations may be higher than others but that would probably be fairly good guess based on the number of guests who are even eligible for the plan!

nah, you are reverse enginering the number wrong. people that stay off site are more likely to get coutner service for lunch, and get breakfast and dinner off site. DDP are making reservations up front and are onsite... if you are not DDP I would guess you are again more likely to get counter service for lunch and dinner at your resort instead of in the park.

I would guess that table service in the parks would run 60%-70% DDP, table service in the resorts 30%-40% ddp. counter service in the parks during the day DDP would be maybe 20%... again all we can do is guess on these numbers but WDW knows for sure the numbers and are working them to get the TS locations hopping full

 

[Dreamfinder2]

When we were at 'Ohana a few weeks ago, I just simply asked my server: "How many guests are on the DDP on a typical night?"

"About a third," she said.

I'm wondering if 'Ohana gets a lot of traffic from folks who aren't staying on property. That was actually lower than I would've guessed.

 

[JimMIA]

I have no data - scientific or otherwise - but my gut feeling from recent visits has been that virtually everyone seated around us was on DDP. The lone exception was California Grill, where we saw several groups of very obvious expense-account folks.

But in regular restaurants we've visited (and we mostly eat TS for dinner) the VAST majority of the diners were on DDP.

 

[LizinSTL]

I have no data - scientific or otherwise - but my gut feeling from recent visits has been that virtually everyone seated around us was on DDP. The lone exception was California Grill, where we saw several groups of very obvious expense-account folks.

But in regular restaurants we've visited (and we mostly eat TS for dinner) the VAST majority of the diners were on DDP.

Do you base that assumption on the fact that they all order a 3 course meal? Or do you overhear the vast majority of diners say they are on the DDP?


Exactly one year ago, I felt like I was in a secret club when I used the DDP. Very few people around me were using it. (of course you can only really know what the people immediately beside you are using for payment anyway) I even asked a couple servers about it and they said that they loved it. The server at Chef Mickey's said she wished more people used it.

I think that when you are looking on the Disboard and the DDP forum you are going to see a ton of people talking about the ddp. I know people going to Disney next month- staying off-site and eating about 10 TS meals in a week on Disney property. They are, obviously, not doing the DDP.

 

[LizinSTL]

When we were at 'Ohana a few weeks ago, I just simply asked my server: "How many guests are on the DDP on a typical night?"

"About a third," she said.

I'm wondering if 'Ohana gets a lot of traffic from folks who aren't staying on property. That was actually lower than I would've guessed.

I'm thinking that's probably about right- at least on average, for most restaurants on property. Some may be higher, some lower. I'd guess that le Cellier has a higher than average percentage of DDP guests (b/c of the value per credit.)

How many hotel rooms are on Disney property? How many approximate guests visit WDW each day? How many TS meals are served each day? Those numbers are all necessary to give truly accurate guesses, though.

 

[LizinSTL]

nah, you are reverse enginering the number wrong. people that stay off site are more likely to get coutner service for lunch, and get breakfast and dinner off site. DDP are making reservations up front and are onsite... if you are not DDP I would guess you are again more likely to get counter service for lunch and dinner at your resort instead of in the park.

I would guess that table service in the parks would run 60%-70% DDP, table service in the resorts 30%-40% ddp. counter service in the parks during the day DDP would be maybe 20%... again all we can do is guess on these numbers but WDW knows for sure the numbers and are working them to get the TS locations hopping full

Some people who stay off site may dine that way. We'd have eaten the same way on or off the DDP. We'd have made ADRs the same way on or off the DDP. We wouldn't be the only ones.

I'd actually guess that your guesses would be the opposite LOL.... more TS use for DDP guests at resorts than in the park (more OOP diners in the parks than at the resorts.) If you aren't staying at a resort, you aren't as likely to travel there to eat a meal. Just a guess, obviously.

 

[Tam1067]

I think most people who are not staying on property do not eat TS meals at the resorts for sure. They might, if they could, eat at a park's TS, but many do not even realize they can use Disney transportation to get to resorts for meals.

And if they are not aware of the Disney rules with ADRs and such (as they're likely not to be), they won't even know to make ADRs in advance. That's been my experience with friends who have gone and stayed offsite.

So I would bet that for many of the restaurants, most of the diners are on DDP.

 

[LizinSTL]

I think most people who are not staying on property do not eat TS meals at the resorts for sure. They might, if they could, eat at a park's TS, but many do not even realize they can use Disney transportation to get to resorts for meals.

And if they are not aware of the Disney rules with ADRs and such (as they're likely not to be), they won't even know to make ADRs in advance. That's been my experience with friends who have gone and stayed offsite.

So I would bet that for many of the restaurants, most of the diners are on DDP.

I think it's safe to say that most diners in many of the restaurants are on-site guests but not necessarily that they are DDP guests. Some families do one TS meal for a week- some do 3 a day. Some do the DDE . Some don't order entrees. Some order 3 course meals and pay OOP.

Off site guests can be familiar with disney restaurants and ADRs too. Some eat MORE on site because they are spending so much less for their accomodations. It really varies. But I'd be really surprised if Disney was booking more than 50% of their guests w/ the DDP consistently (EXCEPT during free dining.) And I'd guess that many of those guests are using the DDP effectively (not making ADRs, not using their credits, skipping TS meals, etc.)

 

[bicker]

I'm not sure I'm following the implication people are asserting, regarding the number -- i.e., what they think it means if the number is high versus is low. Or is this just idle curiosity being assuaged?

 

[allyphoe]

Idle curiosity.

 

[petesimac]

I don't understand, how are the servers "losing" their 18% gratuity by customers using DDP? It's a bit low for me, I usually start at 20% and plan on adding to the tip when I go next week. But please to be explaining how they lose their gratuity on DDP>