Are any veterans disappointed?

[gregokdisney]

We went for our first on property stay in 2006. We plan to go again this summer, but I am greatly disappointed by the changes Disney has made. First, the fact that they don't release the park hours until 90 days before you leave makes planning a lot harder, especially given the nightmare of making ADRs I've read about on the dining board. How can you make your ADRS on the very first day if you don't know when the park hours and the EM hours are? It seems that if you wait to make your ADRs until you plan what parks you will be at, it is impossible to get the ADRs that you want.

Secondly, the changes to the dining plan are terrible - almost rendering it worthless. Not getting an appetizer and tips no longer included. That was so magical - to order whatever you wanted off the menu and not have to worry about tipping. I am seriously on the fence about whether to cancel the dining plan completely since I don't even know if we'd save money like we did in 2006. I may switch to the counter service dining plan and then pay OOP for any table service meals we want to do. However, the thought of calculating all that has made my head spin and since I have a few weeks until our 90 day window opens I'm still debating.

There's a lot of frustration, especially on the dining board, about the 90 day window and the changes in ADRs. I understand Disney is a company that has to adjust when the economy is bad, but alienating their visitors this badly probably isn't the best way to do it. Are there any others who've been there before who are really bummed about the changes or am I just remembering my first trip through the "magic" of memory?

 

[lovetoscrap]

Since your post mostly refers to the Disney Dining I am moving this to the Dining Forum.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can purchase the deluxe dining plan and get the appetizer. But tips are no longer included in any Disney Dining Plan. Nothing you can do about it, times are different now.

The restaurant boards do not permit discussion of tipping on the regular board. All tipping discussion is required to be on the Tipping Information Thread stuck to the top of this board. If the thread becomes a discussion about tipping, it will be closed and referred to the Tipping Information Thread. Because the OP touched on issues other than tipping, it's going to stay open for now unless it becomes a tip discussion.

As for alienating the visitors, the change in dining plan policy and the use of the deluxe dining plan have been in existence since January 1, 2008, and the dining plans - especially the basic plan, even with no appetizer - seem to be as popular as ever.

 

[rluey29]

I don't think many people liked the changes to the Dining plan but most still consider it a good deal so we have moved on. Yes it was Awesome to not worry about all the other things but Disney is Disney and they decided to change.....

 

[marivaid]

I don't care much about the changes in the Dining Plan, but releasing the park hours only 3 months in advance is making me bonkers. Half the fun of a Disney trip is PLANNING IT !!! I need something to keep me in a Disney mood yet it's March 29th, we're supposed to leave July 8th, and I can't plan a darn thing. WHY, MICKEY, WHY ????

 

[ValinWV]

We were initially disappointed with the changes in the Dinning plan concerning Appetizers and Tipping. Especially since our TA didn't let us know of the change when we booked our trip. However, I had taken the time to add up the total cost of our meals each day and we did still save using the DDP. If we really want an appetizer we just order and pay OOP. We have been filled up nicely with our meals and don't even miss the appetizer. Now I just calculate what I think our meal cost would be and budget in some funds specifically for tipping so I am prepared.

Overall, we are still quite happy with the DDP even with the changes.

 

[B-Ride]

When the changes were originally announced I swore that I would never use the Dining Plan again. But then I sat down and did the math and realized we would still save quite a bit on the Dining Plan. When we felt we needed an appetizer we paid OOP but to tell you the truth most times we didn't bother with an appetizer and didn't really miss it. There is more than enough food for us without it.

As for the 90 day ADR window and slow release of the park hours, as a planner I am not crazy about either. However, many people prefer the 90 day window because they hate to plan so far in advance. The reality is you can never please everyone.

 

[Colleen27]

I MUCH prefer the 90 day window because we seldom plan our trips 180 days in advance. Our big winter trip is about the only time I'm able to plan that far ahead, and we don't always go to Disney for that one. Our spring/summer/fall trips are planned just a few months out, and with the 180 window I had a hard time getting good ADRs for those vacations. I do wish they'd release park hours just a little ahead of the ADR window, like 100 days out for a 90 day ADR window. The change in the window isn't to blame for that issue, though - park hours were coming out 6 months in advance when the window was 180 days, so the same problem arose for people traveling at the start of the month.

The changes to the dining plan don't really effect us much, because we wouldn't use the basic plan again anyway. We LOVE the creation of the deluxe plan, though!

 

[dzneelvr]

As a Veteran family I'd say Not really. I was able to access June EMH dates prior to the ADR window, so I knew what park we'd be in on what day. All my ADRs were taken at our first time choice except Ohana and Mama Melrose (non-Fantasmic package), which were a bit earlier than normal but we can live with it. We got our DHS ADRs during Star Wars Weekend surprisingly with no problem, even at Sci Fi. My dining call was last Saturday and I was on hold for less than 2 minutes before a really knowledgable CM came on. I'd dialed TRex some time ago, because they aren't handled by WDW-Dining. We use the DDE (now Tables in Wonderland) plan, so no big deal there either.
I guess I'm here to say that it wasn't any more of a problem this year than any year, so I wouldn't worry needlessly. It's always good to have some alternatives listed as you place your dining call anyway. Here's hoping the Magic touches you as well

 

[eliza61]

We went for our first on property stay in 2006. We plan to go again this summer, but I am greatly disappointed by the changes Disney has made. First, the fact that they don't release the park hours until 90 days before you leave makes planning a lot harder, especially given the nightmare of making ADRs I've read about on the dining board. How can you make your ADRS on the very first day if you don't know when the park hours and the EM hours are? It seems that if you wait to make your ADRs until you plan what parks you will be at, it is impossible to get the ADRs that you want.

Secondly, the changes to the dining plan are terrible - almost rendering it worthless. Not getting an appetizer and tips no longer included. That was so magical - to order whatever you wanted off the menu and not have to worry about tipping. I am seriously on the fence about whether to cancel the dining plan completely since I don't even know if we'd save money like we did in 2006. I may switch to the counter service dining plan and then pay OOP for any table service meals we want to do. However, the thought of calculating all that has made my head spin and since I have a few weeks until our 90 day window opens I'm still debating.

There's a lot of frustration, especially on the dining board, about the 90 day window and the changes in ADRs. I understand Disney is a company that has to adjust when the economy is bad, but alienating their visitors this badly probably isn't the best way to do it. Are there any others who've been there before who are really bummed about the changes or am I just remembering my first trip through the "magic" of memory?

No, not really. I've been going to Disney over 25 years now so I've seen all types of plans come and go. some work great for my family, others like the DDP do not. What you have to do is take every thing with a grain of salt. There is absolutely no way Disney can come up with a plan to suit every one.

Personally, I'm on vacation to relax so unfortunately I'm one of the cynics here who can't understand why people get so worked up about what time a park opens or closes. I simply look at the times from the previous year and maybe add or subtract an hour. How is it fun if hours and planning stress you out before you even get there. but thats just my take on it.


If the DDP plan no longer works for you, hey simple don't use it. So no, I'm still having great vacations with my family at the world. I don't sweat the small stuff like not getting the perfect ADR or missing an EMH.

 

[ntsammy5]

not bothered in the least - now food quality and choices - I am disappointed

 

[Pakey]

Not bothered at all as I hate planning a vacation so far in advance anyway. As far as the dining plan, every other place I vacation doesn't offer one and WDW's doesn't really matter to me either.

However, I do agree with PP's who mention food quality and variety having gone downhill.

 

[PrincessV]

Vet of 20+ years here... I'm not at all disappointed in regard to the items you mentioned. Frankly, I miss the old 60-day ADR window, but I'm local and rarely make plans earlier than that. As for the DDP - never got it, never plan to.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If it were up to me I would immediately eliminate the basic dining plan and "free dining".

I would allow the QS dining and the deluxe (and higher) plans to remain.

Unfortunately, many people on the DDP, whether they pay for it directly or paying a higher rate for their room and getting "free" dining, look to the highest price items on the menu. This is based either on the attitude of "I paid for it and can get whatever I want" or "as long as it's free, let's get the best items".

For example, at Le Cellier where is a $22.50 difference in price between the lowest price adult lunch entree and the highest price dinner entree. Each restaturant receives a fixed dollar amount credit for each meal sold under DDP. Each restaurant has to make a profit.

As food costs go up it takes more money to operate a restaurant.

So as things progress more and more of the higher end cost items will vanish.

The signature restaurants do not have so much of a problem as they get paid double the regular restaurants.

If they ever do away with the Basic DDP within about six months you will find a lot more high end selections at all the restaurants, they still would have lots of people, but most would be able to handle some walk-ins.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I LOVE the fact that they shrunk the hours and ADRs back to 90 days......I can barely plan a trip that far in advance and was just out of luck whenever we decided to go to WDW when there were no ADRs left......

and since my fam has APs, we had never thought of adding the DDP, but this trip we are and are very excited!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I'm really mad that I can't get the Fantasmic package for either show the week I'm there. And I called at 7 am on the 90 day mark. That package was one of the reasons I got the dining plan.
I also don't like that the tips are no longer included.

 

[DisneyBunny15]

If it were up to me I would immediately eliminate the basic dining plan and "free dining".

I would allow the QS dining and the deluxe (and higher) plans to remain.

Unfortunately, many people on the DDP, whether they pay for it directly or paying a higher rate for their room and getting "free" dining, look to the highest price items on the menu. This is based either on the attitude of "I paid for it and can get whatever I want" or "as long as it's free, let's get the best items".

I'm bothered by this post. You're stereo-typing people who can't afford the Deluxe DDP. I would never order something that was more expensive over something that I really wanted because "I payed for it." I don't have that cynical attitude. So to say that they should basically do away with the Basic DDP, is unfair to a lot of people. For example, I can't afford the Deluxe "(and higher)," nor do I want to eat 2 TS everyday but at the same time, I want the option to eat at a TS without paying OOP.

Everyone has a different perspective on what plan works best for them. But stereo-typing a group of people, because that's what attitude you think they have, just isn't right or fair.

 

[rodeo65]

Everyone has a different perspective on what plan works best for them. But stereo-typing a group of people, because that's what attitude you think they have, just isn't right or fair.

I agree completely DisneyBunny. It is not considered "good value" to use the DDP for buffets, but since character meals are what my kids really want, we have booked a fair number of them. I would never say "Oh, no, we can't do that or we won't get our money's worth". The value to me is in not having to carry my credit card everywhere we go and worry about budgeting as we go. It's taken care of and I don't have to think about it again.

I am not a veteran of the DDP since we haven't been there since it began. I still remember the days when we'd wake up, head into Epcot and line up at the kiosks to make reservations for that evening. I was excited about using it though, having heard from neighbors what a great deal it was with everything included. They often split the appetizer and meal and then split two kids meals between three and it was enough to then "save up" credits for CRT for a family of five. CRT is not a meal we had planned to do, DD prefers other princesses so Akershus is great for us. The only thing I wish was different in the current plan is if we could choose between appetizer and dessert. I don't really think dessert every meal is a great thing, and not how we let our kids eat at home. I can see us eating it, though since it's there. An option would be nice.

 

[marivaid]

I'm bothered by this post. You're stereo-typing people who can't afford the Deluxe DDP. I would never order something that was more expensive over something that I really wanted because "I payed for it." I don't have that cynical attitude. So to say that they should basically do away with the Basic DDP, is unfair to a lot of people. For example, I can't afford the Deluxe "(and higher)," nor do I want to eat 2 TS everyday but at the same time, I want the option to eat at a TS without paying OOP.

Everyone has a different perspective on what plan works best for them. But stereo-typing a group of people, because that's what attitude you think they have, just isn't right or fair.

While I don't necessarily agree with all of what Cheshire Figment said, he (you ARE a "he", right??) didn't say ALL the guests on the DDP act that way. He said "many people on the DDP".
One look at the DDP board tells you he's right on that issue. The majority of the posts are about maximizing the value of the plan.

We stink at the DDP I like it for the convenience but we always use it for cheap meals and leave credits behind. It amused our server at the Pepper Market (she saw us every day for 5 days so she got friendly with us). I kept picking the cheapest snack items and on the 3rd day she told me something like "you can get the $3.89 cinnamon roll, why are you picking $2 yoghurt ?" ... well 'cause I felt yoghurty.
I guess she's used to guests on the DDP wanting more bang for their buck... Nothing wrong with that, after all Disney is pushing the DDP like crazy, but at some point it has to have consequences on the food quality especially in this economy.

 

[bonybroad]

The only thing that really bothers me is the food quality and kid's selections.
Hey, kids, we are on day four. Pizza or nuggets today? Maybe just go crazy and order mac-n-cheese?
Seriously, we were there inApril 08, and there were VERY few choices for them!
(And, unless they have changed them, the new buns are yucky!)