Anybody else want DDP to end!!

[toocooltobeMom]

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

Poor you !!!??!!!

 

[bicker]

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

Board rules. Compliance isn't optional.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Poor me? This is better than 3's Company reruns.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I have eaten at WDW for years. Not decades like many here probably have. But long and often enough to think I would notice a vast change in portions or service from the DDP or the DDE.
Eventually all meals and what is allowed changes. But that comes about for probably a variety of reasons -- cost, new cooks/chefs, supply, etc. Restaurants, Disney or not, make changes to their their menu often.
The DDE has declined since it has been opened to all AP-ers. The DDE is still a good deal. It use to be better. But me lamenting about it won't change it back to what it was a few years ago.
I have yet to see any DDP guests being treated different from any other guest -- free DDP or not.
I truly think the DDP is a good deal and opportunity to try different restaurants and dishes, and enjoy oneself more too. It is meant to eliminate stress. Not cause it.

DDP-ers -- Raise a glass of cheer at your meals and enjoy!

 

[gwcollins71]

I can see both sides of the coin. The first time hubby took me to Disney, we were on the Platinum Plan and you got 2 credits a day to use as you liked. A meal, massages, golf, photo packages, LaNouba, etc.. We ate our way through the whole trip... Hubby had steak everynight and I usually ate pretty high end too. Never a problem getting a table that day. This was perfect as it was my first Disney trip and I had never heard about these boards then (2000). The last time we went,we didn't use the Dining Plan. I bought the vouchers and we paid for meals out of pocket. Still saved us money and we didn't arrange our vacation around food. However I did make some PS's several days before as opposed to that day and we didnt always get our first choice ressies. This trip, I didn't even book our trip 180 days in advance so I couldn't get everything we wanted. However, the PS phone people were great. We wanted to try some different places so I told them what our daily park schedule was and they managed to work it out. I did have to compromise, but part of that is also trying to work with my SIL and her family, who have different ideas of what time to get going on vacation. Also, the PS people said its easier to fit in couples (which we've always been) as opposed to a group of 6.

Honestly, as long as I have a few nice meals and none that downright stink... I'll be happy. I'm at Disney with my husband and my daughter for gosh sakes. What could be better?

Gretchen

P.S. If you dislike your service, they will drop and or reduce the tip from your bill. Speak to the manager. We did that at LaCantina the first time we were there. Our waitress was downright nasty and rude. With the plan, she received no tip.

 

[Disney8704]

I have never used the DDP and my upcoming trip will be the 1st time using it, and yes I am paying for it. Its true that the Free DDP is runing it because well, hello, you are eating for free. So therefor more people go down because its the cheapest time to go down. If Disney stopped doing the free dining, then it would go back to normal and people would be able to go anytime of the year that works for them so therefor it would be spread out more evenly. Unlike now, you have a lot of people go during the whole year, but guess when its the most busiest besides Christmas? During free dining, which means restaraunts book up faster. Now not only should Disney get rid of free dining, but they should make it to where all CS and TS except the dining plan. If they did this everyone would not only will your opitions be unlimited but everyone would be spread out more evenly. You wouldnt have like 100 people at 1 place that accepts it, and like 50 people at 1 place that doesnt except. It would be 50-50. Now in my honest opinion, they should completely get rid of ADRs. Who needs them? This way everyone can eat when they want and where they want. When I go to make my ADRs how do I know Im gonna be hungry for dinner at 6pm along with DH? I dunno. I can only assume. And not only that but say plans change and instead of going to one park I wanna go to another. I dont wanna have to leave MGM Studios to get to MK just for an ADR. The dining plan is a good thing but Disney needs to works out the flaws in it already. Stop the free dining and stop doing ADRs. If they did this, then everyone would win and be happy. Now I would be able to go to disney regardless if I did the dining plan or not. But doing the dining plan, its allowing me to eat at places I have only been able to dream eating at and its also allowing me to stay at the AKL because of the money I am saving for doing the dining plan. Doing the dining plan its gonne cost me $1,120 including an additional $400 for extra water, snacks and breakfast. Now if I were to NOT do the dining plan, I'm looking at $1550. Thats a big savings. And I would be eating maybe a couple TS and the rest all CS and more then likely be staying at a value or mod resort.

 

[bicker]

guess when its the most busiest besides Christmas? During free dining, which means restaraunts book up faster.

While the restaurants surely do book up fast, I've read no credible information indicating that August and September are the "most busiest" time of year besides Christmas. What is the source of your information?

Now in my honest opinion, they should completely get rid of ADRs. Who needs them? This way everyone can eat when they want and where they want.

This is incorrect. If there weren't ADRs, the same number of people would eat (or perhaps less people would eat, which would be even worse) and practically no one would know whether or not they'd be able to eat when they want and where they want. It would become a much more random and unpredictable process.

 

[XFINALLYX]

you claim a percent of your tips. if the CMs at like flying fish or CG claimed every cent they made, they'd probably max out at like 80,000 a year if they worked alot of hours and had a steady amount of tips! you dont want the IRS knowing that!!

and 15% isnt that good of a tip. i work in food service and the average is supposed to be around 18% i tip that for people that were just ok or wasnt that good.. i tip way above that for servers that did an excellent job. cause remember. we make 3.30 an hour. we depend on that :-D

 

[bicker]

you dont want the IRS knowing that

Yes, I do, and so should you.

 

[XFINALLYX]

taking away ADR is the stupidest thing ever. you'd complain about waiting for hours to get a table. and i mean HOURS! and as far as the "busiest time" of the year.. august and september dont get busy at all. even with this plan. try christmas, the summer and march/april..

 

[kimntrent]

I am staying at the Disney Vacation Club with an annual pass. As a result I can not recieve the free DDP. So I as well as probably some others are being penalized because 1. they bought a disney vacation club and 2. they bought an annual pass because we go over and over. I tried everything I could to add the plan onto my room which has been booked for almost a year and every person I got was a no. I am not jealous. I just think that it should be equal. You want to drive business in, but what about the people who pay big bucks to buy into your location. We get some perks but free dining isn't one of them.

 

[bicker]

I wouldn't call getting the massive discount you get from taking advantage of an Annual Passport, being "penalized." It is pretty common to need to choose between alternative discounts.

Keep in mind that DVC member staying on points can indeed get the Dining Plan now. Even that, though, I think is more generous than Disney necessarily needed to be. I was pretty surprised (pleasantly so) when they opened the Dining Plan up to us. However, again, DVC membership is a great deal. We've been members for just a handful of years and we've already broken even, so every year its like we're getting $1600 worth of hotel accommodations for about $900. Being able to get the Dining Plan on top of that, well that's just gravy.

 

[Lewisc]

Free dining is being offered by Disney, as an alternative to room discounts, during a time period in which promotional packages are generally offered. If instead of free dining Disney was offering a $75 discount on a deluxe room would expect a check for $75 for every night during the promotion that you used your DVC points to stay?

Free dining is being used to fill rooms, at rack rate.

If you're staying on points you can add dining without a pass requirement. If you booked your stay through CRO (PAYING CASH) you had the option of purchasing a one day base pass and getting free dining.

I am staying at the Disney Vacation Club with an annual pass. As a result I can not recieve the free DDP. So I as well as probably some others are being penalized because 1. they bought a disney vacation club and 2. they bought an annual pass because we go over and over. I tried everything I could to add the plan onto my room which has been booked for almost a year and every person I got was a no. I am not jealous. I just think that it should be equal. You want to drive business in, but what about the people who pay big bucks to buy into your location. We get some perks but free dining isn't one of them.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

End the free DDP? No way!!! It's not financially beneficial for my family, but I thank Disney for what they're doing.

Tourism is Florida's industry, folks. Anyone out of state watch the news the past couple years? Have you seen what hurricanes have done to our state? Parts of the Panhandle are still covered with "blue tarps" from Ivan years ago.

Disney has thought outside the box on this one to get folks who otherwise would NEVER risk vacationing here during the height of hurricane season for some free food -- arguably the smallest profit margin for Disney.

First 9/11 put a serious damper on vacations (I was personally at Disney on 9/15/01 and the following year at the same time...talk about a ghost town). Then some 30-year shift happened where 'canes are strong and hitting my beloved Sunshine State...my home. WDW is the king of our tourism industry now. Spring break has moved. The snowbirds are moving to the Carolinas instead of North Miami Beach or Boynton. Sure, we still have Bike Week, but that's not much compared to our booming tourist industry, say, 15 years ago.

So I love the free DDP. Anything to get some tourists -- any tourists! -- spending some $$$ in our state that's been hit so very hard with our No. 1 industry is wonderful.

 

[CPer'sMom]

Gosh, go away from the boards for a few hours and look what happens to some threads!! In reading all the opinions voiced here I had been thinking that everyone was actually being quite polite and not "throwing crap" (to quote PP2 ) at one another. Sometimes these *types* of threads tend to deteriorate into that, which does no one any good - people feel insulted and it goes on to get worse.
Then I see that on pg 9 it has started that downward turn ~~~ Is it really necessary to be sarcastic and rude to get your opinions noticed?

In posting my opinions about the DDP I've stated that, while I'm not in favor of the "free" plan, I can see why others like it. hey, If Disney is going to offer it & it works out as a good deal to you, then you'd be silly not to take advantage of it.
But, just because Disney offers it doesn't mean that everyone likes it nor does it mean that it works for everyone. It simply isn't cost effective for our family (for various reasons) and IMHO the quality and selection in some of the restaurants is not what it used to be.

Now, I haven't gone back to re-read every post in this thread, but I'm pretty sure that those of us who've voiced our opinions as to why we don't care for the free dining did not resort to insulting those of you who are on/like the plan. Those insulting posts are coming from the ones ON the plan ~~

Ok, guess I'll just sit back now and see what comes next ........

 

[Lizzy2]

Is a free dining plan that only lasts a few weeks really worth all this angst?
It amazes me once again how people get all in a flap and territorial over their WDW "turf". We saw these attitudes on the thread awhile back about kids being allowed in Signature Dining in the pm. The bottom line is NO ONE can make rules about a place that people pay to get into!!!!
Do you really think that WDW is losing $ on this free dining plan? You know how much that plate of Fettucine Alfredo really costs the kitchen? Maybe $1.89 if that and you're willing to pay $12.95 for it. Believe me, WDW paid for the cost of that plate a long time ago. They are trying to get people to pay for rooms, folks. They are trying to get people to buy park tickets and souvenirs. If they were to pack out the TS places during the weeks that they do this they would be ecstatic believe me which would only lead to them doing it AGAIN not taking it away. And as for getting rid of ADR's I say get a clue. I don't wait in line for a table for more than 10m. in the real world and I'm sure not going to do it on vacation if I can help it. I want to be able to walk into the rest. I have chosen and get my table and eat. You can't tell me that there wouldn't be hr. long waits at some of the more popular places if there weren't ADR's. How hard is it really to book some ressies when you book your package?
Its amazing how many people get their jollies by complaining when the world doesn't do what they tell it to do.
And by the way, I'm getting really sick of the elitest points of view expressed on this site when we're all supposed to be having fun at WDW. Why do you care what other people are doing? MYOB, have a drink and relax.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have also seen mentioned that Heelys are not unsafe. I would agree that Heelys themselves are not unsafe, however, it is when the kids are "driving" them that they become unsafe, whether or not your child is normally safe with them.

Good point. My car is 100% safe at this moment. It has gas, an engine and four tires, and all the other items necessary to operate. It's sitting parked right while I'm inside typing this.

Now not only should Disney get rid of free dining, but they should make it to where all CS and TS except the dining plan If they did this everyone would not only will your opitions be unlimited but everyone would be spread out more evenly. You wouldnt have like 100 people at 1 place that accepts it, and like 50 people at 1 place that doesnt except.

Okay, now, I feel Disney should eliminate (or not repeat) last fall's deal where the package promotion was a free upgrade of your base MYW tickets - since I don't go to the water parks or Disney Quest, those bonuses is wasted on me BUT they increase overall attendance. As for all the restaurants accepting the dining plan, well, not all the restaurants are OWNED by Disney - they can't force, say, Bistro de Paris to participate. However, MOST venues do participate, so not offering a given promotion would have little, if any, effect on the diner distribution.

you claim a percent of your tips. if the CMs at like flying fish or CG claimed every cent they made, they'd probably max out at like 80,000 a year if they worked alot of hours and had a steady amount of tips! you dont want the IRS knowing that!!

Per IRS requirements, yes, servers must report a percent of their tips - 100%.

But, just because Disney offers it doesn't mean that everyone likes it nor does it mean that it works for everyone.

Absolutely. On the other hand, Disney should not eliminate the Dining Plan, free or otherwise, just because not everyone likes it or because it doesn't work for everyone - the issue that is the exact topic of this thread.

I am waiting for Disney to eliminate free dining and instead start offering a $37.99 discount per adult and $10.99 per child in each room when a MYW package is booked with dining and park tickets....

Hey, wait a minute! That's less equitable to couples and singles vs families! $79 (value resort) minus $37.99 is $41.01; $79 minus $75.98 is $3.02; add even one child to the reservation and Disney's PAYING families to visit!

 

[GalDisney]

<<Per IRS requirements, yes, servers must report a percent of their tips - 100%>..
True, but I have never met a waiter or waitress yet that does

 

[XFINALLYX]

you're supposed to but no one actually claims that much. at one of my jobs we were told to claim about 10% of our sales. thats not much. considering we were walking out with like 18% of the sales on a good shift


p.s. all i was saying is that the ddp is good for the cm's cause they get jipped alot with tourists.

 

[JisforJenn]

a lot of people on the free dining plan leave an additional tip to what the wait staff are getting from the plan, unless the service was exceptionally bad. at least, our family always does!