Did the Dining plan change at Cindy's cause this?

[rsmithx]

So for years Cindy's has been a single TS credit on the Disney dining plan, but my wife and I have always decided to go to Disney "last moment" (like, 120 days out, not 180 ) and of course when we called to make our Rezzy's Cindy's was TOTALLY booked, and we have never been.

Once again we decided to take advantage of the free dining in September, and booked another trip. It is only ~150 days or so away so I assumed that Cindy's was totally booked.

I called to make reservations for all our other restaurants and although there were a few that we needed to be flexible on (Le Celier and Yak & Yeti) we got everything we wanted. At the end of the conversation I made an off hand comment on "I am sure I already know the answer, but do you have any openings for Cindy's for any of the mornings we are there" and the Disney Agent looked it up. She started listing time after time after time for literally EVERY day we were scheduled to be there. There was at least 4-5 openings every day the entire 8 day stay! I was dumbfounded.

My only guess is that now with Cindy's costing 2 TS credits per person a lot of the free dining plan guests don't book it? I know my wife and I decided that if we do go, we will just pay out of pocket for it.

Are we just incredibly lucky with the time we are going (9/6-9/14) or has Cindy's seen a drop in ADR's since the 2 dining credit change?

 

[bigbabyblues]

I don't think it's solely the fact that it's 2 credits, but that's probably part of it. Along with the really increased price, the now set (limited) menu. We won't be going back because of the above, with the dining plan or without.

I hope you enjoy it. Prior to the changes, we ate there on all 3 of our trips and we really enjoyed it. There's just something about eating in the castle!!

 

[rsmithx]

I don't think it's solely the fact that it's 2 credits, but that's probably part of it. Along with the really increased price, the now set (limited) menu. We won't be going back because of the above, with the dining plan or without.

I hope you enjoy it. Prior to the changes, we ate there on all 3 of our trips and we really enjoyed it. There's just something about eating in the castle!!

We ate a dinner there 2 trips ago (before it was a fixed menu, and there were no characters) but it we booked it so it was during the fireworks and we had a window seat. Probably the most magical experience I have ever had at Disney. Same trip we did California Grill during the fireworks, and I thought Cindy's was 1000x better.

But now that we have DD who is going to be 3, we figured seeing the princesses would be a top priority (plus she doesn't do so well at 9 or 10 at night )

 

[bigbabyblues]

We ate a dinner there 2 trips ago (before it was a fixed menu, and there were no characters) but it we booked it so it was during the fireworks and we had a window seat. Probably the most magical experience I have ever had at Disney. Same trip we did California Grill during the fireworks, and I thought Cindy's was 1000x better.

But now that we have DD who is going to be 3, we figured seeing the princesses would be a top priority (plus she doesn't do so well at 9 or 10 at night )

I have 2 boys, and princesses are WAY at the bottom of the list right now If I had dd's, it would probably be different!

 

[Pumbaa_]

As 2 adults, we will no longer do CRT. Btw the price increase, the forced picture package and the limited menu, we are no longer interested.

It used to be a nice place we liked to go for lunch, it is no longer on our choice list.

It is a great place to go at least once, just to see it, but more than that? Not for us

 

[MousekaMaddi]

breakfast foods are still the same right? We love it with our lil and this trip is with Nana who hasnt eaten in the castle yet

 

[DisneyCatMom]

My family and I ate at CRT on April 10th at 8:15. We got a family picture with Cindy.
Upstairs was nice. Had a very fixed menu. The kids enjoyed theirs for the most part. My Dad didn't really care much for his food.
We all had the "traditional breakfast". Scrambled eggs, a puffed pastry, sausage, bacon, potato casserole, fruit.
It really wasn't anything more than a CS breakfast bounty plate that you can get for 8.99. It sure cost a lot more.
We enjoyed it, but certainly will not pay for this again. Paid OOP, even though on DDP.
I enjoyed Norway better 2 years ago even though Cindy wasn't there.
Can now say, 'been there, done that', won't do it again."

 

[aubriee]

I always had good luck getting an ADR for CRT and went each trip. I usually go four-five times a year and never had a problem calling right at 0700 ET and getting it. I ate there the last time in January '06? ( I think). Anyway, it was just a few weeks before the BIG price increase. I have not been back. The new price is just not worth it to us. If it was our first trip to WDW and we'd never been, of course we would pay it, but for us that's not the case and we won't be back! I'm sure others feel the same way. I know when the price increase was first announced there were quite a few people who voiced the same sentiment. Besides we really liked it much better when the Fairy Godmother was downstairs and Cinderela was upstairs.

Anyway, I don't think the DDP had anything to do with CRT not being as popular as it once was. I feel it was the big price increase that happened a couple of years ago that did it.

 

[huey578]

So for years Cindy's has been a single TS credit on the Disney dining plan, but my wife and I have always decided to go to Disney "last moment" (like, 120 days out, not 180 ) and of course when we called to make our Rezzy's Cindy's was TOTALLY booked, and we have never been.

Once again we decided to take advantage of the free dining in September, and booked another trip. It is only ~150 days or so away so I assumed that Cindy's was totally booked.

I called to make reservations for all our other restaurants and although there were a few that we needed to be flexible on (Le Celier and Yak & Yeti) we got everything we wanted. At the end of the conversation I made an off hand comment on "I am sure I already know the answer, but do you have any openings for Cindy's for any of the mornings we are there" and the Disney Agent looked it up. She started listing time after time after time for literally EVERY day we were scheduled to be there. There was at least 4-5 openings every day the entire 8 day stay! I was dumbfounded.

My only guess is that now with Cindy's costing 2 TS credits per person a lot of the free dining plan guests don't book it? I know my wife and I decided that if we do go, we will just pay out of pocket for it.

Are we just incredibly lucky with the time we are going (9/6-9/14) or has Cindy's seen a drop in ADR's since the 2 dining credit change?

If we are on dining plan do we need to pay up front to make reservation or just provide credit card to gtd. the ressie?

 

[luv2nascar]

Yes menu changes and 2 credits really cut down on the mad rush to eat there.

 

[Mandilyn]

If we are on dining plan do we need to pay up front to make reservation or just provide credit card to gtd. the ressie?

When we made our reservations on the DDP, they required a credit card to guarantee it, but didn't actually charge the card. HTH!

 

[Vohdre]

When I first called to set all my ADRs (about 170 days out) I said "ok lets get the hard one out of the way, CRT - Lunch - 9/17" and she said "Ok I have 12, 12:15, 12:45..." I was dumbfounded. Then of course I tried to book Le Cellier and couldn't get a dinner to save my life and had to swap it with a Coral Reef for lunch.

 

[rsmithx]

When I first called to set all my ADRs (about 170 days out) I said "ok lets get the hard one out of the way, CRT - Lunch - 9/17" and she said "Ok I have 12, 12:15, 12:45..." I was dumbfounded. Then of course I tried to book Le Cellier and couldn't get a dinner to save my life and had to swap it with a Coral Reef for lunch.

Yay, similar issue. The 2 hardest for us were Yak and Yeti (?!?!?!) and of course Le Celier. Although after reading the reviews for Yak & Yeti we may dump it, the only time we could get was a 4:00... which doesn't bother us TOO much, but after reading the reviews, I think we will fall back on our old favorite: Flame Tree BBQ, and then use the TS elsewhere.

Le Celier we were able to snag a 5:20 for, a little early for some people, but when traveling with a 2.5 year old, works perfect for us.

 

[ExtinctDino]

Yay, similar issue. The 2 hardest for us were Yak and Yeti (?!?!?!) and of course Le Celier. Although after reading the reviews for Yak & Yeti we may dump it, the only time we could get was a 4:00... which doesn't bother us TOO much, but after reading the reviews, I think we will fall back on our old favorite: Flame Tree BBQ, and then use the TS elsewhere.

Le Celier we were able to snag a 5:20 for, a little early for some people, but when traveling with a 2.5 year old, works perfect for us.

The main problem with Yak and Yeti is that it's just not open for dinner hours except on EEMH night, and then of course only for people staying at Disney resorts.

 

[Mom2PixiePrincess]

The 2TS might have something to do with a decrease in ressies. BUT just recently I called to make an OPP ressie for October 2008 and they wanted FULL payment upfront! It was going to be over $200! I don't think many people are prepared to shell out 180 days prior to their vacation! I didn't make the reservation, we chose Liberty Tree instead! We used to eat at CRT 3 to 5 times a year, but it's now off "the list"!

 

[LisaInNc]

I know I used to be one of the people that would eat at the castle or try to eat there every trip. Since they changed it to the photo package and the preplated menu I have no interest in eating there.

 

[NMW]

I really think it's a combination of things. We did breakfast there every trip, our Oct 06 trip being the last. We were on the DDP but paid out of pocket for all our breakfasts, inlcuding that one. It was terrible. Really the worst food we ate all trip. The Norway princess food, Donald's breakfast, Crystal Palace, Cape May Cafe, 'Ohana were all 100 times better. Yes, my daughter got to see Cinderella (only downstairs for a photo), but my sons were complaining about the food, DH hated the food...it really wasn't worth it in my opinion.

We are only the Deluxe dining plan in May and are skipping it even though we have plenty of credits if we wanted to do it, or could just pay OOP again. We wouldn't eat dinner there because you can't get alcohol in the MK. I like cocktails and wine with dinner. Plus, I don't like that pre-plated thing. For our family, it really no longer holds any appeal. The breakfast we do have planned are: 'Ohana, Crystal Palace, Cape May Cafe (twice), Norway princess, Donalds breakfast, Captains Galley (in YC).

 

[Mom2PixiePrincess]

NMW-glad to hear that Cape May was a good experiance. We'll be trying the breakfast for the first time in June. We've had dinner there a few times and really enjoyed it!

 

[Luv2Roam]

As 2 adults, we will no longer do CRT. Btw the price increase, the forced picture package and the limited menu, we are no longer interested.

Same here. We stopped dining there as soon as it was mandatory character. (Nothing against characters. Love them. But for 2 adults it just is not a must do.)
Between the menu change, mandatory character interaction and price/package increase, that ended that for us. As did Akershus once the characters moved in.

I am not up on the princess meals price. However if Akershus is 1 and CRT is 2, I can readily guess where most people go.
And for the most part I don't read rave reviews on "the show" at CRT.

The start of the changes came when a credit card hold was required. That alone made it easier to book.

 

[salmoneous]

CRT was nearly mpossible to get before the dining plan existed. I think it's the huge increase in price, not anything the dining plan has done.