Anybody else want DDP to end!!

[lustergirl]

Boy am I going to yerk some chains here- ha!!!!! We are enjoying the free dining plan in september- once again this year, and yes I will be ordering the most expensive items on the menus. I have never seen a decline in service of the quality of the food being offered by Disney. I am definitely in favor of the dining plan and had originally booked this into my trip, but the free dining promo came and voila!! I called Disney and changed my ressie to include it- hey wouldn't?? I am saving 1045 dollars- thanks Disney!!!!! People get to bent out of shape on the stupid things in life. Take a breath all of you rebels and let it out for your own sake!!!!!
I think every DDP opposer that has posted to this thread has jealousy in their heart because they aren't getting the free dining plan and that secretly irritates them- I hit it on the nail's head- didn't I??

 

[CPer'sMom]

I think every DDP opposer that has posted to this thread has jealousy in their heart because they aren't getting the free dining plan and that secretly irritates them- I hit it on the nail's head- didn't I??

No, actually you didn't ~ at least not in my case. I am saving far more money by getting a discount on our rooms and paying for our meals than I would by paying rack-rate for rooms and getting the "free" dining.

 

[bicker]

Sorry, but some of this was really off-the-mark:

They say WDW is the place for wishes and dreams to come true, right? Just think how many people would never get to have their dreams come true because they couldn't afford to pay for it.

Nothing has really changed in that respect. Under no circumstances is the Disney Dining Plan the least expensive approach towards a WDW vacation. You can almost always do better paying OOP for CS exclusively, or doing TS only once every other day.

As for the reference to DDP participants should be treated differently, because they received the plan free or at reduced rates, than those who pay OPP for their meals, that is a crock of garbage. I probably spend more money at 3 doctors every month and on perscriptions than the majority of people, should I get the ROYAL treatment and be treated with priority over my doctors not so sick patients because they make money off of me. I DON'T THINK SO!!!

I agree with you that Dining Plan participants shouldn't be treated differently, but only because the plan itself promises that they won't be, and that such a promise is integral, AFIAK, to the optimization of WDW's profitability in this regard. With regard to your specific example, it's really off-target: People who have more money not only get the royal treatment from their doctors, but actually get better doctors. And even in circumstances where they're drawing medical services from the same source, very often they will be able to pay for priority. In some hospitals, for example, they can (for all practical purposes) pay for a higher nurse-to-patient ratio, for example, but being assigned a private room on a premium floor. The most notable scenarios where they are prevented from exerting financial power to get priority service is in emergency room operations, and transplant situations.

I am feeling guilty and ashamed that I can not afford to pay OPP for my meals.

My mother always told me, "No one can make you feel anything; you do that to yourself." Beyond that, you cannot convince me that you cannot afford to pay OOP for your meals, by just switching two or three of your TSs to CSs.

Regardless, I hope you don't let these discussions get under your skin. Have a great trip.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I have a 15 day holiday during the free disney dining plan time, so not only will I be having the free ddp but 9/23 I will be going to V & A's for dinner so if you see a single woman at a table at 9:15 at night with long (waist length) hair its me!!!!!!!!

 

[PatriciaH]

Off Topic-XFINALLYX your tattoo is amazing! Who did it?

I go to WDW restaurants every week and I have not noticed a decline in quality. I was upset to hear that Olivia's at OKW had changed/dropped things from their menu. I think when things like that happen (Ohana, Garden Grill) we should contact management at that restaurant and tell them! Especially DVC members in Olivia's case.

 

[XFINALLYX]

thanks for the compliment. a girl named danielle distefano did it. i used to live in New York and so did she, I moved to Florida and she moved to Atlanta. her website is www.yesithurts.net but its never updated with her latest stuff

 

[kaytieeldr]

But what a lot of people here are complaining about is the common masses taking up chairs in their favorite places like Le Cellier. Why should someone on a free (which isn't really free at all) dining plan be treated on an equal plane as someone willing to fork over $$$ for a nice dinner?

Why shouldn't all diners be treated on an equal plane? And as I pointed out above, how do you differentiate between Guests dining with the Free Dining Package Promotion, and DDP diners who are staying at DVC resorts or whose lack of knowledge of the promotion - both parties having PAID for the Disney Dining Plan, yes, even at the exact same meals/times/venues where other diners did not pay for the plan?

From my experience in the business, I would guess that servers took a paycut in the tip average they were receiving per person as a trade off against more business.

I respectfully disagree. The "standard" (as if there were one) tip is 15%; many people use this scale; many tip 20% (or more); many tip 10%, or not at all. In addition, some DDP diners leave additional tips.

As for the reference to DDP participants should be treated differently, because they received the plan free or at reduced rates, than those who pay OPP for their meals, that is a crock of garbage.

No, actually you didn't ~ at least not in my case. I am saving far more money by getting a discount on our rooms and paying for our meals than I would by paying rack-rate for rooms and getting the "free" dining.

That's you. I'm saving far more money by paying rack rate for my room and getting the free dining plan. Even with the current room promotion, I'd only save $16.88 a night - that's about the cost of a snack and a counter service meal. Therefore, my table service meal each day really IS free.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

lustergirl, I think you overestimate your ability to get under fellow posters skin.

I don't stay at WDW resorts any more, we have a house in Celebration, so no DDP for me no matter what (so jealosy for those who get DDP when living in Celebration is my alternative? I think not). I use the DDE to get 20% off and I eat at a WDW signature restaurant at least twice a month which puts me in a pretty good position to make comparative reviews and I can honestly say that IMO the quality has been affected since the wholesale DDP campaign started. The only restaurant that I frequent that is just as good as before is Flying Fish. The CG is more spotty, Artist Point, while very good last time has had something that someone in our family wasn't pleased with in each of our last three visits. Jiko used to be very steady but with the advent of th DDP they dumped the (expensive) monkfish and the replacement just isn't up to par and their service is all over the map. Sure it's my opinion versus yours and I TOTALLY agree that you'd be a fool not to take advantage of and enjoy the DDP while it lasts or at least until the restaurants have morphed into each other (and by then even you'll be saying what's the point?). But trying to be snarky for no reason just seems silly to me (tounge firmly in cheek). Besides bicker and I already do that, don't we bicker?

Oh, but I did enjoy the effort of your post. If more folks around here had a better sense of humor...Well, we'd laugh a lot more!

 

[bicker]

From my experience in the business, I would guess that servers took a paycut in the tip average they were receiving per person as a trade off against more business.

I respectfully disagree. The "standard" (as if there were one) tip is 15%; many people use this scale; many tip 20% (or more); many tip 10%, or not at all. In addition, some DDP diners leave additional tips.

I believe frozone was correct. If I'm not mistaken, the disparity mentioned was the reason (one reason?) why Disney bumped its contribution to CM's gratuity for Dining Plan meals from 15% to 18% for 2006.

 

[Stuck In Wonderland]

...after 40 years I am finally going to WDW. I am feeling guilty and ashamed that I can not afford to pay OPP for my meals.

But do you want to know what......No one is going to destroy my magical trip....this may be my first and only chance to go to WDW and enjoy it!!!!!!

I just wanted to say I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip and enjoy every minute. Oh yeah ...EAT WELL...Hear is some pixie dust for you.

 

[lgruender]

Service is suffering because the employees are having their tips taxed.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I legally all tips are to be turned into the IRS as income. I know about 15 years ago, my boss kept track of all tips I earned as a waitress.

Also, the dining plan is great. I think it's a way for people to be able to afford to eat at WDW. Your able to make payments on it and it's that much less money/credit card expense you have on or after your vacation.

 

[bicker]

All tips are required to be reported to the IRS as income.

 

[CPer'sMom]

lustergirl, I think you overestimate your ability to get under fellow posters skin.

I can honestly say that IMO the quality has been affected since the wholesale DDP campaign started.

ITA

But trying to be snarky for no reason just seems silly to me (tounge firmly in cheek). Besides bicker and I already do that, don't we bicker?

 

[gratenana]

I just wanted to say I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip and enjoy every minute. Oh yeah ...EAT WELL...Hear is some pixie dust for you.

Thanks so much to you and others for wishes for an enjoyable trip for our family. And thank you for the pixiedust.

 

[schlepsnort]

We will be there in Sept on the free dining plan and I will be enjoying EVERY LAST BITE of it!
Poo poo on those of you who are so snobbish as to look down on the rest of us who scrape and scrounge to DARE have a nicer meal besides chicken McNuggets for a change.
You don't like the ddp, don't get it! As others have said, there are other restaurants that don't participate in the dining plan, go eat there! Since we lowly people are just 'ruining' the dining experience do us all a favor and don't dine with us, go elsewhere! Go to Universal!
Threads like this are just so ridiculous and just goes to show how so many people are just flat out SNOBS.
Why are some of you people so he** bent on taking away a program that is appealing to so many others? Is it selfishness or do ya just enjoy being mean? Or is it like this total 'class division' thing? Like Disney dining is only for the 'elite' and the rest of us who use ddp are second, third class people?
Whatever, either way, I will be enjoying my ddp to its fullest, I will order the MOST expensive thing I can on the plan and I will savor every bite. And when we get back we will write Disney and tell them what a wonderful marketing idea DDP is!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

schlep...wazzup? Get up on the wrong side 'o' th bed, did we? Or did a bird poop in your cornflakes this morning? I don't see anybody looking down at anyone on this thread in fact I'd say those against DDP have gone far out of their way to keep this carp from being thrown back at us, but there it is. Thank you, thank you. My oh so discriminating taste (dressed in my t and trunks) would be glad to share some duck mcnuggets with you and yours anytime at McJiko...Just let me know the time and date.

Long live the DDP! Long live the DDP! See I can play that game if I want to.

 

[bicker]

schlepsnort: Sent you a PM.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

A PM? Aw bicker, that doesn't seem fair.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

We will be there in Sept on the free dining plan and I will be enjoying EVERY LAST BITE of it!
Poo poo on those of you who are so snobbish as to look down on the rest of us who scrape and scrounge to DARE have a nicer meal besides chicken McNuggets for a change.
You don't like the ddp, don't get it! As others have said, there are other restaurants that don't participate in the dining plan, go eat there! Since we lowly people are just 'ruining' the dining experience do us all a favor and don't dine with us, go elsewhere! Go to Universal!
Threads like this are just so ridiculous and just goes to show how so many people are just flat out SNOBS.
Why are some of you people so he** bent on taking away a program that is appealing to so many others? Is it selfishness or do ya just enjoy being mean? Or is it like this total 'class division' thing? Like Disney dining is only for the 'elite' and the rest of us who use ddp are second, third class people?
Whatever, either way, I will be enjoying my ddp to its fullest, I will order the MOST expensive thing I can on the plan and I will savor every bite. And when we get back we will write Disney and tell them what a wonderful marketing idea DDP is!

Hi Carol: Way to go girl
You spoke well for all of us CFO's and CEO's out there

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

CPer's mom: I sent you a pm.

Ha.