Anyone else annoyed..

[La2kw]

I don't know yet if we'll get our money's worth, but to me it's the convenience of it being prepaid that makes it worthwhile.

I read this comment often, but don't understand it. How is having an entree, dessert, and drink prepaid more convenient than just ordering what I want, when I want it, and charging it to my room? If I don't want a dessert at every meal, I don't order it. If I want two desserts and no entree for my meal, I just order them. Everything is charged to my room and I pay it when I check out. It doesn't get much more convenient to me than that. We have never gone over our budget ordering what we want when we want it. I don't see the convenience of trying to stay within the parameters of what Disney has decided my meals should consist of, as opposed to ordering whatever I feel like ordering.

 

[Random65]

I'll let you know in 72 days. This is my first time on the DDP. I have gotten reservations for 7 of my 10 table service meals. And I am not sure how I feel about having to know where and when I have to eat, three months out. I am also going with a 2yr old and a 3yr old. First time with them.

I don't feel structured at home don't see why I would be at Disney.

 

[dreamsensei]

I hate the DDP. The restaurants are now more crowded than ever. The menus have been dumbed down. The service is lousy. I don't like planning 90 days ahead of time. The prices are constantly increasing and those of us not on the
DDP have to pay more. Thankfully, I have a kitchen in my DVC villa and I can just eat what I want whenever I want at "home". The DDP may be good for Disney, but my experience is diminished.

I'm pretty sure that the food was overpriced BEFORE the DDP. Most people flocked to the DDP because they could get a good amount of food ON GROUNDS without having to auction a kidney.

What you SHOULD hate is the "Free Dining" promotion, as it is the primary source of what you find distasteful. The DDP, in general, offers a discount to Disney Dining...that's it. But the FREE version of said plan gets far more people into the restaurants than we used to see.

Otherwise, the restaurants are just crowded in general because Disney is more popular. Heck, when I went 25 years ago as a kid, even I remember Disney being significantly less crowded. Now it seems like a feeding frenzy in a bucket of chum in comparison.

 

[ancestry]

I read this comment often, but don't understand it. How is having an entree, dessert, and drink prepaid more convenient than just ordering what I want, when I want it, and charging it to my room?

Well, for us I like having everything paid for in advance. It helps out with out budgeting process.

Also, it is a mental thing for us. When we are on the dining plan (we do the DxDP) we order what ever we want because it is paid for in advance. When we are paying out of pocket we frequently order the cheaper items on the menu even though we might really want the most expensive thing on the menu. Without the dining plan we probably would probably skip appetizers and/or dessert even if we really wanted them out of concern for money. But because it is paid for in advance we feel as though we have more freedom to get what we want.

Again, it may be just a mental perspective but there is some freedom and comfort knowing we have our three table meals paid for and can order what ever we want without having to nickel and dime every meal and don't have to deal with the "sticker" shock of the final bill several times per day.

Plus I have priced out the DxDP and it will save us close to $500. The big savings comes in with the kids (two of them) and DH who prefers to eat the most expensive beef entree.

 

[catne]

I'm not annoyed. We love the dining plan (and the advance planning & reservations, too.) We enjoy having a sit-down meal all arranged in advance; makes it much more relaxing for us.

 

[rcortese711]

The dining plan isn't going anywhere (Disney loves those packed restaurants!) so I've adapted to it like the Borg adapt to phaser fire. (A Star Trek reference actually IS the best I can come up with here.)

This quote makes me all warm and fuzzy inside... I love finding a fellow Trekkie.

I've got mixed feelings on the DDP. It's nice to have everything planned (I'm a planner... a HUGE planner). However, if we want to change something, I would like to have the option. Yes, making ressies 180 days in advance is a little nuts. I remember waiting for our table at the Coral Reef (a story of it's own...) and hearing people trying to get in without an ADR. The host told them they were booked solid until the end of November (it was mid August).

I feel bad for the people who aren't "DDP savvy" and don't make ADR. We had ADR for Cindy's Castle for dinner one night for two people. There was a couple in front of us (older) who were celebrating their 50th anniversary and wanted to get in for dinner but didn't have a reservation. Of course the host turned them away. We told them to give them our reservation. We ended up going to T-Rex Restaurant.

So, if you're a planner, it's great. If you're spontaneous, stick to the restaurants not offered on the DDP.

 

[Colleen27]

Well, for us I like having everything paid for in advance. It helps out with out budgeting process.

Also, it is a mental thing for us. When we are on the dining plan (we do the DxDP) we order what ever we want because it is paid for in advance. When we are paying out of pocket we frequently order the cheaper items on the menu even though we might really want the most expensive thing on the menu. Without the dining plan we probably would probably skip appetizers and/or dessert even if we really wanted them out of concern for money. But because it is paid for in advance we feel as though we have more freedom to get what we want.

Again, it may be just a mental perspective but there is some freedom and comfort knowing we have our three table meals paid for and can order what ever we want without having to nickel and dime every meal and don't have to deal with the "sticker" shock of the final bill several times per day.

Yeah, what she said.

Seriously, I could have $5K budgeted for food and I'd still balk at a $20 appetizer or a $45 entree in one of the Disney restaurants. Its just so ingrained to think about prices that I have a hard time suspending that mindset while on vacation (and DH has an even harder time with it). A $6000 total vacation package for the 6 of us doesn't bother me at all, but a $4000 package and $100+ breakfast/$200+ dinner tabs every day just FEELS different to me.

 

[kissinuk]

I've been considering the DDP for our trip in May, the £ - $ exchange rate is not in our favour at the minute which makes the price even more attractive (Disney UK charge £19.99 a day - roughly $27). However, I really don't like having to arrange my life around pre-booked meals. I go on holiday to relax and take things at my own pace (or this time round at our 2.5 yr old daughters pace!).

I'm still not sure about the plan, but even if we do it I won't be booking any more than 1 meal in advance. Last time we were there we got reservations with 48 hours notice no problems, hopefully we'll be able to do the same again this time.

 

[disneymath]

I hate to say it, but "Free Dining 2006" changed my family's entire approach to Disney Vacations ... for the better! It actually helped us to realize how much more there was to Disney beyond the parks!

Because of FD, we tried our first deluxe resort stay - the money we "saved" on food, we "spent" on accommodations. We also stayed in 3 rooms instead of 2 (there were 8 of us - all "Disney adults" - that had travelled to WDW before and crammed into 2 rooms at a Value.) It was the most relaxed vacation we've had. (As you can see from my siggie, we've never looked back! Yes, Disney that one FD trip has increased your revenue by thousands of dollars in the past three years from my family alone!)

Also, because of Free Dining we experienced sit-down restaurants at Disney for the first time. We were strictly counter-service types before that. We were missing out on some interesting experiences and tasty food.

We've found that the dining plan is a good value for us (we only had FD that one time but have gotten the basic dining plan every trip since). We've also found that our trips are actually much more relaxing because we have to stop hitting the parks commando style in order to sit down to eat.

We also like that the majority of our trip is totally paid off before we set foot on Disney property. There's something about "using credits" that's well, liberating. Since we've paid for our meals, and can't get a refund, it's easier to take the plunge and try something new. The DP has given us the opportunity to experience the dinner shows (SoA, HDD, Illuminations GG) that we never would have "spent the money on" otherwise.

Now, I agree that the booking at 180 days (90 now) is kinda crazy ... but in truth it has become part of the fun of planning and waiting for a Disney vacation. It's nice when you can get what you want, but it's also kinda fun when you can't - because they you are more likely to try something new.

I can't comment on what the DP has done to food quality at the World, but I can say that we have enjoyed almost all of the TS meals we've experienced. We have developed favourites, but we also try to fit a few new places in each time - at the very least it's a chance to explore the resorts or other areas of Disney we wouldn't necessarily stop by otherwise.

 

[ToddyLu]

DH and I have done Disney OOP and with DDP. We know where we want to eat--that is why we go to Disney--to eat mostly. My stressor has been with the short ADR time frame of 90 days--gosh I was nervous about getting CA Grill, Fulton's (not on DDP) and others that we love when we had 180 days--does that make me a control freak?!?. DH would prefer if we did not have ADRs at all but yet when he is hot and tired ,the ADR makes the planning worthwhile. We plan our TS (even if not on DDP)based on park times, EMH, etc--like all of you do. We found that DDP probably saved us $400 last trip and we got it 40% off. It was so much easier convincing my 71 yr old father to do the DDP so my mother would not have to worry about him gripping over the cost of a hamburger. It was great seeing them enjoy the DDP, especially at breakfast--each had the breakfast platter, fruit or whatever snack and juice. You should have seen their faces when I finally convinced them it was a good deal to get the refillable mug--"yes, you can have anything here, as much and as many times as you want." When ever Daddy talks about the trip he compliments me and says "that was the way to go".

Paying for 4 adults at Fulton's OOP--$300.00
Paying for DDP at 40 % off--I don't know, $600.00
Seeing the look on your 65 year old Mom's face when she gets her 10th cup of coffee in a Mickey Mouse Mug--PRICELESS!!

DDP or no DDP--that is the question--I at least think it is cool to have the option.

 

[thepwa]

resistance is futie, you will be assimilated.....



The way the ts meals are heading, pretty soon we will be heading off site to eat. I never ever thought i would even think that, never mind be considering it.

I totally agree with you, and that's what is in my future. The past two years I have done the free DDP in August, but the 4 + 3 deal is just too good for me to pass up. Therefore, I see going off site quite a bit this time around. Plenty of good places to eat in the greater Disney area. Plus, the quality, in most cases, is better.

So now, in addition to there being no Pleasure Island to keep me on property, I suspect more dining options will also cause me to go off property.

At least they have my hotel and park money.

 

[aestapa]

This quote makes me all warm and fuzzy inside... I love finding a fellow Trekkie.



I feel bad for the people who aren't "DDP savvy" and don't make ADR. We had ADR for Cindy's Castle for dinner one night for two people. There was a couple in front of us (older) who were celebrating their 50th anniversary and wanted to get in for dinner but didn't have a reservation. Of course the host turned them away. We told them to give them our reservation. We ended up going to T-Rex Restaurant.

So, if you're a planner, it's great. If you're spontaneous, stick to the restaurants not offered on the DDP.

That is so sweet! Kudos to you for doing something special for a couple...they probably still talk about that wonderful couple who gave up their reservation!!

 

[luckytobeme88]

I must say that without the DDP, most restaurants onsite will not be able to stay afloat for long. We have to steer away from the "I want it when I want it" mentality. JMHO

 

[La2kw]

I must say that without the DDP, most restaurants onsite will not be able to stay afloat for long.

I doubt that. The DDP has only been around for about 5 or 6 years. Since WDW opened in 1971, the restaurants managed to stay "afloat" for about 30 years before the inception of the DDP. Why would they suddently go out of business without the DDP?

We have to steer away from the "I want it when I want it" mentality. JMHO

What do you mean?

 

[Colleen27]

I doubt that. The DDP has only been around for about 5 or 6 years. Since WDW opened in 1971, the restaurants managed to stay "afloat" for about 30 years before the inception of the DDP. Why would they suddently go out of business without the DDP?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Disney Dining wasn't always what it is now... The development of dining as an attraction in itself is fairly recent in terms of Disney history, isn't it? And over time, yes, the empty restaurants that people enjoyed because of the ease of walk-ups would inevitably lead to one of two changes - something to make them more popular (DDP) or closures and consolidations to more closely align supply with demand. Half-empty restaurants are good for visitors who don't want to plan meals in advance, but they're bad for the bottom line.

 

[rcortese711]

Half-empty restaurants are good for visitors who don't want to plan meals in advance, but they're bad for the bottom line.

That makes sense. I would hate to see restaurants outsourced because Disney was loosing money. For example, while Yak and Yeti is still fantastic, it still "gets" to me that it isn't necessarily owned by Disney. In a similar yet extreme example, the Four Seasons hotel being built on property. It just isn't Disney...

 

[La2kw]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Disney Dining wasn't always what it is now... The development of dining as an attraction in itself is fairly recent in terms of Disney history, isn't it? And over time, yes, the empty restaurants that people enjoyed because of the ease of walk-ups would inevitably lead to one of two changes - something to make them more popular (DDP) or closures and consolidations to more closely align supply with demand. Half-empty restaurants are good for visitors who don't want to plan meals in advance, but they're bad for the bottom line.

In the 20+ years I have been visiting WDW, I have rarely seen a half empty restaurant. That includes the many, many years we visited before the DDP began. I'm not sure what you mean by dining as an "attraction". WDW opened in 1971. When it opened, it opened with restaurants, many of them are still in operation today. The DDP has only been around about 5 or 6 of those years. The DDP is nothing more than a gimmick to get visitors to spend most of their time on Disney property. The restaurants did fine before the DDP.

 

[Colleen27]

In the 20+ years I have been visiting WDW, I have rarely seen a half empty restaurant. That includes the many, many years we visited before the DDP began. I'm not sure what you mean by dining as an "attraction". WDW opened in 1971. When it opened, it opened with restaurants, many of them are still in operation today. The DDP has only been around about 5 or 6 of those years. The DDP is nothing more than a gimmick to get visitors to spend most of their time on Disney property. The restaurants did fine before the DDP.

When I say dining as an attraction, I mean the fact that Disney dining is varied enough and of high enough quality that going to their table service restaurants is a draw in and of itself, as opposed to something you do just because you are in the park at meal time.

I remember going to Disney World for the first time in 1997, over summer vacation, and walking into a mostly empty Coral Reef and Sci-Fi without reservations at dinner time. That might be good for folks like us (back then) who don't think to plan meals ahead of time, but it isn't good for Disney's bottom line and I don't get the assumption that if not for the DDP, Disney would have happily continued to staff and operate restaurants that were operating so far below their capacity.

Personally, I would like to see Disney find some middle ground, maybe take a small percentage of tables out of the ADR system in order to allow for walk-ups, but I understand that from their perspective, packed restaurants are a good thing that they're not going to be motivated to change.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

by the Disney Dining Plan? In years past, you could walk around the parks and choose a place to eat and usually get a reservation with no problem. Now, if you're not booking 90 days in advance, you're probably not getting into your favorite restaurants. It's a pain planning a trip AROUND meals.. what happened to a leisurely vacation

The Disney Dining Plan doesn't annoy me at all. In fact, I think it's one of the best things Disney has come up with in a while. I wish they would go back to 180 day reservations. I have four children and I very much like knowing that I have our meals planned in advance and know where we will be eating. What's more terrible than dragging around four hungry children from restaurant to restaurant trying to get a table for dinner and not being able to get in? I love those advance ADRs they make disney more magical fur us.

And as for the menus being "dumbed down" and the the service and quality not as good, I don't find that the case at all. We ate at Disney TS many times before the DDP and many times after and it's all just as good as it was before.

 

[ReneeA]

I like the DDP. I just do. I am budget conscious, and everytime I run the numbers for what our family would eat OOP, we break even or come out a tiny bit ahead with the plan.

As for not understanding what's meant about "prepaid", let me tell you why that's a consideration for us. Like I mentioned before, I am very budget conscious. Not a big deal with the kids - their meals are fairly reasonable, the same price everywhere. But my DH? He LOVES steak, he LOVES good seafood, and he's going to order the most expensive thing on the menu. Every time, without fail, even if we are paying OOP. Then in my head, I'm running the numbers, feeling bad about going over the budget, and then order myself a side salad and ice water to offset the cost of his $60 meal.

I don't wanna do that, and since it's exactly the same price for us, I get the DDP.