DDP Rant

[brekin67]

We have been going during the free DDP for the past 3 years. Ca'nt really complain about free food. I do agree that the restaurants menu's are very similar. We did not think that prior to the free DDP's. We wondered if they changed the menus during this time period. I have only had one really bad meal at Disney, and that was at the Mexican place in Epcot. Maybe called San Angelos? It was not good at all.

 

[minijeanie]

I have never thought the Disney restaurant were over the top food wise by any means...They are mid range at best with the exception of the signature restaurants.

But I guess when you are in a resort, vacation enviornment you don't expect the best.

I can get 3fold better here at home but then again I am not at the World...As long as the food is edible I am happy

 

[friendofgusgus]

It's not just dining. In the last 20 years, Disney has moved more and more of its experience to offerings that are all about maximizing their profits and less about providing a wide variety of experiences at any price.

For instance, there was a time when the Christmas shops at WDW sold many exquisite ornaments from all over the world, made by a wide variety of vendors. Now the only items available are made for Disney or directly by Disney and they are repeated over and over again in many locations. They are often also widely available through other outlets like the catalog and online.

Dining is the same - they have brought all of the basic dining into a mass-production model with little variation and a plan that does not allow for specialties outside what they have chosen.

This is, to me, one of the most unfortunate things about the present WDW structure. If I didn't want the burger or the poorly made t-shirt the first 19 times, I'm still not going to buy it the 20th time I see it. Fortunately for Disney, many other people are weaker than me...

 

[thepwa]

Interesting perspectives.

I went during Free DDP last year, and doing so again this year. Certainly, you cannot argue against free dining.

However, before this thread, it was doubtful that I would ever pay for DDP.

After this thread, I am totally convinced to never pay for it.

 

[inkkognito]

There has been a most definite dumbing down of the WDW restaurants, at least since the 80s when I first started visited. DH and I are foodies, and being from Chicago we know our fine dining (downtown Chicago has some of the best restaurants). Probably the worst slide I've seen has been at the Brown Derby, which was once a favorite but which I'm like "meh" about now. Thankfully, the signatures like Jiko, Citricos and Artist Point have kept their quality for the most part so we tend to stick with those.

 

[Condorman]

I think it's safe to say everyone who has posted on this thread truly appreciates a great meal at a good value. But the Disers are a small percentage of the guest who frequents WDW. Most who go, and even some of those who post on these boards, sometimes make it sound like the steak they had at Yachtsman was the single greatest piece of meat they will ever know. And you know what? It may very well be. Some people can't afford to eat at 4-star venues outside of Boston, NY, LA or Chicago. For some people, driving to WDW and spending a week in a Value Resort and being on the DDP will grant them the only chance they will ever have to eat Moroccan food, no matter how overpriced or mediocre.

The food at WDW used to be much better than it is now. Having said that, it is an amusement park and must appeal to as many people as possible, not just those who have a stomach for curry or wild game. The homogenization of menus is unfortunate but it has filled up the restaurants, which was something the more diverse menus of past were not doing consistently.

Perhaps the only way to return to the menus in the days of yore is to lease out the venues to outside proprietors with a unique vision, and a sense of competition against other F&B outlets on property - and that seems to be the way things are going anyway. My 2 cents.

 

[DiszyDean]

If there were enough "foodies" to support the cost of very diverse and more extravagant dining and at a profit margin that would be considered healthy, I am sure Disney would offer or would have continued to offer this type of experience to their guests.

I think the DDP is a little bit of a scapegoat for explaining the direction that Disney was headed anyway.

Disney does have some signature restaurants that would appeal to foodies but those places are getting fewer and fewer because there just is not the patronage to support it and as long as Disney is continuing to fill their restaurants to capacity, why should they make an investment to support, lets admit, the overwhelming minority?

So, if you really want to pinpoint the problem, maybe it is us. No matter what is posted in threads like this, "I will never go back", etc. etc. Most Disney establishments are totally booked sometimes 90 to 180 days out. As long as that keeps happening, Disney has no incentive to do anything different than what they are doing today.

If people just quit going to their restaurants due to the lack of quality and choices, Disney would be forced to change directions. But we keep paying whatever they want us to pay for diminished quality and they have us begging for more.

We live in a Costco / Walmart / McDonalds world where quantity is much more important than quality in the eyes of the public and those companies are constantly rewarded in earnings for giving people what they seem to want. Can you really blame Disney for following suit? They have stockholders to be accountable to as well as those other companies. Sucks for the foodies but I do not see it changing anytime soon.

 

[Jubilee]

Great post, Diszy, and as a family who makes less than the average household income - we save at places like Walmart and Target year round so we can come to Disney..... and splurge on the dining experience.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I think one of the big problems is that if you don't have a car at WDW it's hard to eat anywhere but somewhere on property. There is the taxi option but spending $25 or $30 (one way) for a cab ride into Celebration to eat is pretty much out of the question for most people. I sure as heck wouldn't spend that kind of money to go eat off-property. So people suck it up and have a mediocre meal.

I wonder if the influx of letters complaining about the dining would have any affect but my guess would be no. I think people would have to leave the WDW restaurants practically empty in order for a change to be made.

The only bad meal that I've ever had while on vacation there was at Chef Mickey's. I was so unimpressed I felt like I wasted my money. I think the only time I'll do buffets if for breakfast. Most TS restaurants we've eaten at are fairly good. However what's currently gotten me in an uproar is the removal of steaks (filets to be exact) from menus. I don't do steaks every meal but I really like having them available. I think writing WDW about this is in my near future. Currently we have the DDP booked for next year because it is a really good value for us. However, if I notice that almost all the TS restaurants where we want to eat have taken beef off the menu I'll be canceling DDP faster than I can blink.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I did the dining plan in May. While I got good "value" for the money spent, there was very little quality or excitement with the food.
Dinner at Tutto Italia was the perfect example. The DDP costs $37.99. I had a $30 entree and a $9 dessert. It looks like I got a great deal. Unfortunately the entree was average at best and the dessert , while good, wasn't worth $9. I live just outside of Boston, not an area with an inexpensive cost of living. I could get the same entree and dessert for $25 and it would be immeasurably better.
I have no problem paying $$$$ for good food. Over the last few years at WDW the food selection and quality has been going down and the prices way up. I feel it is mostly due to the DDP.
As a result, I have decided that next year, I will not be returning to Disneyworld.
I have been considering posting this rant since I returned in May, but waited to see if any changes would occur with the 2009 DDP. It seems the downward spiral will continue. I can no longer pay exorbitant prices for passable food.

I agree with a lot of this post. I recall your reviews in May - we were there at the same time and ate at a few of the same restaurants (Tutto and Kona come to mind) and felt the same way - unimpressed and underwhelmed.

I think some of it is due to DDP, but some of it is cost/profit perspective as well. We won't be getting DDP again in the future unless it is massively overhauled, and even then I'll be reviewing the menus carefully before I make my decision.

But we definitely will return to WDW for vacation. We really enjoy the parks and attractions, we stay at AKL which is a great resort, and we enjoy a lot of what WDW has a lot to offer. When we first started going there for vacation a few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and variety of food. Now, not so much. I really never considered WDW to be a "Dining Destination", so although the changes are disappointing, we really don't go there just to eat so I guess they'll still be getting my vacation $$ for a little while longer. Though none of it will be on DDP and we'll be doing a lot more CS and off-site restaurants.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have never thought the Disney restaurant were over the top food wise by any means...They are mid range at best with the exception of the signature restaurants.

But I guess when you are in a resort, vacation enviornment you don't expect the best.

I can get 3fold better here at home but then again I am not at the World...As long as the food is edible I am happy

This is what Disney is counting on and apparently the opinion it's getting from most of its recent visitors - we don't really care all that much about the food on vacation. Especially if you give it to us free or give us a deal on it.

More evidence to me that I am no longer the sort of customer WDW is particularly interested in keeping.

Many vacation resort areas are careful about the sort of food they offer so it isn't just that. Disney is a corporate behemoth and it is starting to go back to acting like a corporate behemoth. "We can get you here with our name - we'll give you a free ride from the airport and then a deal on your food- which means we can offer pretty much any food, you'll buy it because you've already paid for it."

This is, to me, one of the most unfortunate things about the present WDW structure. If I didn't want the burger or the poorly made t-shirt the first 19 times, I'm still not going to buy it the 20th time I see it. Fortunately for Disney, many other people are weaker than me...

They're not interested in whether you've seen it 20 times. They want to get the person who is seeing it for the first time. That's where the marketing is now - preferably extended families on their first and once in a lifetime trip.

 

[My2Angels]

The "free dining" allows people like us, of average income, to enjoy Disney more often. When we went in Sept 2006, it was because free dining allowed us to travel to Disney for a week for about the same or less than a week long beach vacation for our family of 5.

We are excited about the Disney dining plan, even when we are paying for it, because we do not eat out every night, maybe once a week in a sit down restaurant. When we do eat out, we usually settle for an average priced dish, the kids split the kids meals, we order water, and we never order dessert unless we are sharing or splurging for someone's birthday! Also, our kids being so young, they still have the sparkles in their eyes when they eat with the characters.........THAT in and of itself is worth the trip for us. We want to eat decent food, but we are not that picky!!

We are just happy to be at Disney!

 

[Disneyhappy]

This is what Disney is counting on and apparently the opinion it's getting from most of its recent visitors - we don't really care all that much about the food on vacation. Especially if you give it to us free or give us a deal on it.

More evidence to me that I am no longer the sort of customer WDW is particularly interested in keeping.

Many vacation resort areas are careful about the sort of food they offer so it isn't just that. Disney is a corporate behemoth and it is starting to go back to acting like a corporate behemoth. "We can get you here with our name - we'll give you a free ride from the airport and then a deal on your food- which means we can offer pretty much any food, you'll buy it because you've already paid for it."



They're not interested in whether you've seen it 20 times. They want to get the person who is seeing it for the first time. That's where the marketing is now - preferably extended families on their first and once in a lifetime trip.

Good post -WDW was a whole experience for us which included enjoying the parks, restaurants, and resorts. It was the Mercedes of theme parks that we enjoyed for many, many years. We are no longer attracted to most of their dining options and the parks are not as enjoyable because it seems that no matter what time of year we visit, the parks are always so crowded. Definitely a good thing for Disney and their stockholders but not the experience we came to love. We'll still go to WDW but only once per year for a lengthy stay instead of 2-3 anymore. It is now just another theme park to us. We have been visiting Universal Studios more frequently as it has become a better value for our money and a more relaxing trip. We took my niece and SIL this July who have both visited WDW with us in the past. They were laughing at me because I did not have my commnando style itinerary for Universal that I always have for our WDW trips. I told them with front of the line access at Universal and no need to make ADRs until arrival, no itinerary was needed and we could go where ever the spirit moved us. It was more relaxing and less tiring all around. We missed the Disney magic only a little bit this go around. (Although, we did stay at AKV our first night to give us the Disney fix we needed. )

 

[Disneyhappy]

Duplicate- Sorry!

 

[janiebegood]

We lived in Orlando from 1996 - 2002 and we called it "The City of the Lowest Common Denominator." When you have a local population of (at the time) 1.3 million and a tourist population of 44 million, the trend is to offer what suits most of those 44 million. When we moved there, there were 88 movie screens in the metro area, but only ONE that showed anything that wasn't in the mainstream top ten. A single-screen art cinema showed independent, foreign and art films, while the rest of Orlando showed "The Flintstones, Part Whatever."

I think the same tactic is probably true at Disney, where they're offering what appeals to the broadest spectrum, and those on the two extremes of that spectrum -- people who really love great food and people who'd just as soon have cheap fast food -- are both out of luck.

A PP noted that when her family goes out at home, they always order water, and only order dessert if it's someone's birthday. That's us, too -- we probably order dessert in a restaurant once or twice a YEAR, and even then it's only if it's a special occasion. If I go to a sit-down restaurant, I peruse all the choices, but almost always try to choose something that's reasonable in price, rather than splurging on something more expensive. So for me, the ability to go to Coral Reef and order whatever entree I want off the menu, and get dessert, and get a drink, is just wonderful. I love the idea of going for my vacation and not having to stand at a counter-service and add up how much my lunch will cost if I get this instead of that. And I love the idea of walking up to a snack cart and saying, "Oooh, can I have one of THOSE?" and the person just handing it over!

I am not, as you can probably tell, a foodie. I'm more excited about seeing my daughter's face when she meets Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare than I am about what they're offering on the buffet that night, and I'm more interested in figuring out whether we can eat fast enough at Coral Reef with a 7:40 reservation to get out to the WS in time for IllumiNations at 9 PM!

For us, food is mostly just fuel and atmosphere is everything.

(Wow, that got long; my apologies!)

 

[lizondro7]

Everyones opinions and perspectives are different based on ones experiences and life situation. I have read many threads where people truly love the dining plan and the Disney dining experience. It is a good way to budget, eat out and fully experience your vacation without having to eat fast food every night. It may not offer world class dining as some of you may expect but it does offer many options and selections for many families at a reasonable price. For less than $40/day per adult and $10/day per child it offers families the opportunity to enjoy and experience disney dining without having to worry about their bank accounts.

I personally support the disney dining plan as it enables me to add to the experiences I create with my children while at Disney which will last a lifetime.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I think the same tactic is probably true at Disney, where they're offering what appeals to the broadest spectrum, and those on the two extremes of that spectrum -- people who really love great food and people who'd just as soon have cheap fast food -- are both out of luck.

A PP noted that when her family goes out at home, they always order water, and only order dessert if it's someone's birthday. That's us, too -- we probably order dessert in a restaurant once or twice a YEAR, and even then it's only if it's a special occasion. If I go to a sit-down restaurant, I peruse all the choices, but almost always try to choose something that's reasonable in price, rather than splurging on something more expensive. So for me, the ability to go to Coral Reef and order whatever entree I want off the menu, and get dessert, and get a drink, is just wonderful. I love the idea of going for my vacation and not having to stand at a counter-service and add up how much my lunch will cost if I get this instead of that. And I love the idea of walking up to a snack cart and saying, "Oooh, can I have one of THOSE?" and the person just handing it over!

I am not, as you can probably tell, a foodie. I'm more excited about seeing my daughter's face when she meets Cinderella at 1900 Park Fare than I am about what they're offering on the buffet that night, and I'm more interested in figuring out whether we can eat fast enough at Coral Reef with a 7:40 reservation to get out to the WS in time for IllumiNations at 9 PM!

For us, food is mostly just fuel and atmosphere is everything.

(Wow, that got long; my apologies!)

You actually made some very valid points that I didn't even think of. The ability to not have to worry about what it's going to cost while using the DDP makes a lot of sense. I never thought of it that way.

We too rarely order dessert or appetizers with our meals. If we want dessert we usually swing through McDonald's on our way home and get the $1.00 sundaes. DH usually gets water but due to health issues for me drinking water can cause me to retain fluid - not good. So I do order club soda instead.

And you made an even bigger point in saying that what was offered on the buffet at 1900 PF isn't as important as watching your daughter interact with Cinderella. Being a mom myself, nothing is more important than those moments with your kids. Although I do hear that the 1900 PF dinner is actually pretty darn good. Waiting to try it myself.

 

[racefanof88]

I have to agree with the OP. We were there in May and on the DDP for the first time and we didn't find the food to be that great either. It wasn't the worst food I have ever eaten but, it wasn't what I expected, for Disney, either. I think next year, if we stay on property, we might try the CS plan and throw in a Character breakfast oop.

I have been to Disney multiple times and have never really been overwhelmed with any of the food. We always drive down so we have the option of eating anywhere. We stay off property more than on so we aren't tied to everything Disney. We love Disney and really don't want to go anywhere else. I go to Disney for what it is, a theme park.

 

[tortoni]

We have been making multiple trips to Disney each year for the past seventeen years and have seen the steadily rising prices, the shortening of the menus (some now only have a few choices) and the advent of the 9 year-old adult, which makes a buffet difficult for a family with tweens who only eat a chicken finger or two. However, after returning last night from a 4-day getaway at a local gold "resort," I am still convinced that Disney offers the best quality, convenience and value. It is hard to find resort destinations with so much variety, theming and food options and Disney offers this. Our golf resort offered 2 restaurants, tavern and french fare, both much more expensive than Disney without the fun and the excellent Disney service. Off-site at this place was a drive with restaurants that were not widely reviewed so somewhat a hit or miss. I'm sure there are resorts with great eating options, but these are hard to find and you pay for the luxury.

 

[ElizabethB]

Food is not fuel for us. It is one of our great pleasures in life.

When dining out, we always order a very nice wine as well as appetizers and desserts. Needless to say, WDW is no longer meeting our vacation needs. We're looking elsewhere -- the luxury cruise market or a villa in Italy.

Our idea of a great vacation is most assuredly not a week spent at a Six Flags amusement park. The more WDW comes to resemble an amusement park (or 4) and fails to resemble a great resort, the more we are inclined to cross it off our list of possible vacation options.

For us the "lowest common denominator" is to be avoided at all costs.