DDP changes for 2009?

[kid-at-heart]

I hope this is an appropriate topic for this site...

I know, we are barely into 2008 but do you think there will be changes in the DDP for 2009? If you could "request" one change, what would it be?

 

[creativeamanda]

I hope this is an appropriate topic for this site...

I know, we are barely into 2008 but do you think there will be changes in the DDP for 2009? If you could "request" one change, what would it be?

Allow a special kid's rate to allow the kiddos to get food off of the adult menu.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Include the tip again or drop the price by 18-20% (instead of a dollar )

and if I could put a 2nd request, allow a choice of appy or dessert

and one more, 10 year olds are not adults, allow a choice of adult plan or childs plan for 10-12 year olds. If you purchase the adult plan for your 10-12, they order off the adult menu, if you purchase the kids, then only kid menu choices. Some 10 year olds can/will eat the adult food, some (like mine) only want the items on the kids menu. I put this choice last because I know it will never happen.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

ONLY one thing. Put it back to the way it was and charge more money to cover the costs. It was way better the other way despite what it would cost to preserve the old plan.

 

[Eoywin]

The only thing would be having the tip back... I'm curious to see if there will be any changes for 2009...

 

[bicker]

For any big changes, we should know by August, perhaps earlier.

 

[ransom]

ONLY one thing. Put it back to the way it was and charge more money to cover the costs. It was way better the other way despite what it would cost to preserve the old plan.

I liked not having to worry about paying for anything beyond the occasional adult beverage or an extra tip for exceptional service. That, plus being able to get a soup or salad before the entree under the plan, make a huge difference for us.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I agree with above. I would like to see it go back to the way it was.

 

[Disneylvr]

Allow a special kid's rate to allow the kiddos to get food off of the adult menu.

AMEN! I would also like to see the choice offered of a dessert OR an appetizer.

 

[all4fun]

Bring back the all-inclusive benefit of the plan.

Increase the price to cover the tip and offset the increased cost of allowing the choice of dessert or appetizer.

I don't mind paying the appropriate amount for a workable plan. Whatever next year's design is, I hope it doesn't continue the current awkward situation Disney has created between guests and servers.

When paying OOP, the tip is not part of the discussion. You leave your cash, or add it to the final credit slip, and you're on your merry way. Putting the server in the position on inquiring about how they are getting paid is very bad show on Disney's part.

I don't know what rocket scientist dreamed up today's scheme, but this current iteration is just too weird for words...

 

[bicker]

Bring back the all-inclusive benefit of the plan. Increase the price to cover the tip and offset the increased cost of allowing the choice of dessert or appetizer. I don't mind paying the appropriate amount for a workable plan. Whatever next year's design is, I hope it doesn't continue the current awkward situation Disney has created between guests and servers.

I suspect with the recession looming, that is increasingly unlikely. Guests are just too likely to punish Disney for raising the price that high. Rather, expect Disney to do as many cruise lines now do, impose a mandatory gratuity, to address the problem. Even though guests still end up paying the same amount, a smaller base price (plus gratuity in the fine print) doesn't have the same kind of negative impact as a higher base price has.

 

[carmiedog]

as most, I'd like to see included gratuity in exchange for a higher priced plan (I'm all about convenience!). however, i agree with pp and think we're more likely to see a mandatory oop gratuity instead.

I'd also like a return of appetizers, but not like the previous plan. Looking over the menus, I realized the only real appetizers I was interested in were mainly breads - the rest I could do without. Perhaps to provide an appetizer but still cut down on service time as compared to each individual ordering, a standard table appetizer could be provided - bread with butter or dip, salad bowl, chips/salsa...brought to the table with a stack of plates/bowls. Keep it simple.

 

[ssawka]

Treat the desert entitlement like a snack. (i.e. Allow a side item at CS meals instead of only allowing desert.)

 

[ransom]

Treat the desert entitlement like a snack. (i.e. Allow a side item at CS meals instead of only allowing desert.)

Good idea!

 

[jm-mom]

I think they should overhaul the whole dining plan thing and make it more of a prepaid meal plan. The buyer could buy any number of counter service or table service credits they choose at a set price comparable to what the overall cost is now. If you are more of a counter service family or prefer your resort's food court for many meals you would buy more counter service credits and less table service credits. If you like to take the time to sit down and relax then opt for more table service credits. I guess it should just be more of an a la carte type of arrangement but at a comparable cost to what it is now.

My other thought, overhaul the kids menu. My kids are 5 and 7 and the food was plenty for them but often not enough alternatives. In many cases, the restaurant should just offer a kid size portion of what an adult can order. They could keep the same sides as the plan currently has. Personally I don't like that my kids have so few choices and that Disney is deciding what is best for my child to eat.

Finally, I think when you are checking in and the cast member knows you are on the dining plan, they should give you a list of restaurants in your folder as well as a list of approved foods, snacks and otherwise, from the food court. We found several things at the Pop Century food court that qualified as snacks but were not labeled as such. FYI, a plate of cheese nachos is a snack credit even though it's served from a hot counter rather than a cooler. Just one example.

Just my thoughts. Disney will run the dining plan in a way that maximizes their profit the most ultimately. If it's convenient to the guests then great, if it's profitable to the servers then fine, but if it makes the company money, that's the main goal.

Garland

 

[YesMickey]

My $0.02 says change the dessert to an appetizer, add $5 to cover the gratuity and work out something for 10-13 yr olds. There is no way a 10 yr old is worth paying $40 for on this or any of the meal plans. Maybe lower the price for this age group to $25/day. I mean there is a big jump from $9 to $39 from kids to adults.

 

[Lewisc]

In a perfect world I'd be happy if Disney went back to the 2006 DDP.

Realistically Disney isn't likely to reduce their profit from the plan and I agree with previous posters who think $50 is a magic price point. That said I don't see the gratuity being included.

I could accept the deletion of the dessert from the CS meal. I'd like some type of appetizer. I'd accept something like a choice of soup/salad or even a house appetizer for the table. Those kinds of choices won't cost Disney much money and shouldn't increase the time most guests spend dining.

Ducking for cover,

It make sense to charge adult prices for children 10 + since guests that age pay adult prices for buffets, price fixed meals and technically don't qualify to order off the kids menu. Disney made the change so they would have the age rules for tickets and for meals. I don't see Disney reducing profitability by discounting that age group.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I'm just now adjusting to the '08 plan....'09? I'm also afraid the 18% service charge will be included across the board.....for everybody If Disney keeps hiking prices, while the quality of dining continues to decrease....my meals in the parks will be few and far between. Overpriced food leads to overly large tips for mediocre dining at best.

 

[kid-at-heart]

My $0.02 says change the dessert to an appetizer, add $5 to cover the gratuity and work out something for 10-13 yr olds. There is no way a 10 yr old is worth paying $40 for on this or any of the meal plans. Maybe lower the price for this age group to $25/day. I mean there is a big jump from $9 to $39 from kids to adults.

I do agree!

 

[bicker]

Too bad the only vote we get is with our dollars.

I'm curious to hear from BuffaloGal with regard to how well the optional gratuity for parties of five or less is working out. Her perspective, as a server, is probably going to be very enlightening with regard to whether or not WDW is going to make any changes there. I haven't read anything indicating that the exclusion of the appetizer is having much negative impact. People "wish" that the appetizer was included, or "wish" that it was an option instead of the dessert (like I "wish" the cable company didn't charge $18 extra per month for premium movie channels ), but I just don't believe a substantial number of people want to pay $50 per person per day to have both appetizer and dessert included in the standard Dining Plan. So it seems to me that the most likely change we'll see will be focused on the gratuity, if at all.