dining plan choices changed!

[Mrs.viv07]

is it me or has alot changed from what they opffered before?

we went this past january and i don't recall so many "restricitons" for snack choices or TS credits being taken for certain "experiences" other than cinderella royal table

this is what i just got when i booked:

2008 Package Inclusions


Your Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining includes your room accommodations and Magic Your Way Base Ticket. In addition, you receive the following:

One table-service meal per person, per night (ages 3+) – One adult table-service meal includes one entrée and one dessert (lunch or dinner only), one juice (breakfast only) and one single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or one full buffet. One child table-service meal includes one appetizer, one entrée, one dessert (lunch or dinner only) and one single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or one full buffet. Children ages 3-9 are limited to the Children's Menu (if one is available) at table-service restaurants.

Applicable taxes are included. Gratuities are not included. Two table-service meals will be redeemed per person dining for Private Dining, Cinderella's Royal Table, Dinner Show or Signature Dining Experience. Two table-service meals will be redeemed per person dining for all Grand Gathering Experiences except for the Good Morning Character Breakfast, which requires only one table-service meal. Pizza delivery requires two table-service meals per serving. Meals are non-transferable between party members and expire at midnight on the day of check out.
One quick-service meal per person, per night (ages 3+) – One quick-service meal includes one entrée or one complete Combo Meal, one dessert (lunch or dinner only) or one juice (breakfast only) and one single serving non-alcoholic beverage. Children ages 3-9 are limited to the Children's Menu (if one is available) at quick-service restaurants. Applicable taxes are included. Gratuities are not included. Meals are non-transferable between party members and expire at midnight on the day of check out.
One snack per person, per night (ages 3+) – One snack includes one of the following: frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single serving box), single serving grab bag of chips, single piece of whole fruit, 20-oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani water, medium fountain soft drink or juice, 12-oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea.
Admission to select Grand Gathering Experiences – If you have eight or more in your party, a variety of exclusive magical experiences are waiting for you! (Advance reservations required. Subject to availability.)

 

[TDC Nala]

It's always been 2 credits for signature dining, dinner shows and CRT (any meal).

The big differences in 2008 are: no appetizer included for the adult meals (according to what you posted they're still included for children at table service, go figure) and gratuities are not included. They've also returned to pretty much the same restrictions on snacks they started out with. This year, practically anything that cost under $4 counted as a snack on the dining plan.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

The snacks will be "anything under $4," through the end of the year though, right? I'm counting on using them for the Food and Wine Festival booths.

 

[TDC Nala]

The snacks will be "anything under $4," through the end of the year though, right? I'm counting on using them for the Food and Wine Festival booths.

I think the changes take effect in 2008.

Even back when the dining plan started, they allowed use of the snack credits at the food & wine booths.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think the changes take effect in 2008.

Even back when the dining plan started, they allowed use of the snack credits at the food & wine booths.

As long as they're available, I'll be happy. My only other "must-have" snacks are a Dole Whip float and Figaro fries, which if not available with the DDP I'll pay OOP for. But I would hate to have to pay for all the Food and Wine Festival samples. They would add up fast. I already told my mom we want to pay cash for any sample that's less then $2.

 

[Mrs.viv07]

It's always been 2 credits for signature dining, dinner shows and CRT (any meal).

i thought so but wanted to confirm, i doubt my son wants anything to do with cinderella, although i would love to!

The big differences in 2008 are: no appetizer included for the adult meals (according to what you posted they're still included for children at table service, go figure)

i got this from a pop up when booking my package before there a part where it say in blue 2008 Package Inclusions when you are checkin out to pay for the package, i think this is the link. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/genPage?id=08PackageInclusionsPopupMYWDine

so kids can get apps but not adults.



i just spoke to disney and the guys said they decided to not offere apps anymore because people were just not ordering them and sticking to desserts. i also asked about the gratuity and he said he wasn't sure why
oh well
i l just did the math and for 3 adults and 1 child the plan for us would be $1240.00 for dining which i then broke down further 1240.00 divide by 4 = 310 divide that by 10 nights(plan is based on nights not days you are in the hotel) = 31 which means that we each get $31 per day for meals figure 3 meals each day, we would have to spend only $10 per person per day....at disney i don't see that happening unless we had mcdonalds every day for every meal.

 

[CarolA]

i just spoke to disney and the guys said they decided to not offere apps anymore because people were just not ordering them and sticking to desserts. i also asked about the gratuity and he said he wasn't sure why
oh well
i l just did the math and for 3 adults and 1 child the plan for us would be $1240.00 for dining which i then broke down further 1240.00 divide by 4 = 310 divide that by 10 nights(plan is based on nights not days you are in the hotel) = 31 which means that we each get $31 per day for meals figure 3 meals each day, we would have to spend only $10 per person per day....at disney i don't see that happening unless we had mcdonalds every day for every meal.

1. Disney CMs are just talking. They don't know any more then we do on why management really makes a decision. They just get some "offical spin"

2. You math leaves out the tip. So if your "TS meals" avg $80 for the four of you assume an additional $14 or so in tips. I also don't get the three meals a day. The plan you are using is the Basic plan. That's 1 CS, one TS and one snack, not three meals a day. However your real cost is probably more like the $1240 plus around $150 in tips. *Tip number subject to change based on what you order.

 

[Luv2Roam]

The snacks will be "anything under $4,"

Was that ever in writing other than on unoffical sites? I think it was a general rule of thumb that was implied by guests.
I am just curious if was actually ever in writing. My thoughts are people were expecting to much. I have seen instances where guests insist (if not demand) they receive such and such because of this $4 rule.
I am guessing too many were assuming it to be 100% factual. And I don't know it ever was.

 

[Colleen27]

They've also returned to pretty much the same restrictions on snacks they started out with. This year, practically anything that cost under $4 counted as a snack on the dining plan.

They haven't actually changed the official information about the snacks, so we really don't know if there will be a change or how much of a change there might be. If you look at the '07 and '08 brochures, they list the same example options and the same wording about looking for the little DDP symbol to identify eligible snacks.

 

[Mrs.viv07]

You math leaves out the tip. So if your "TS meals" avg $80 for the four of you assume an additional $14 or so in tips. I also don't get the three meals a day. The plan you are using is the Basic plan. That's 1 CS, one TS and one snack, not three meals a day. However your real cost is probably more like the $1240 plus around $150 in tips. *Tip number subject to change based on what you order.

i know how the plan works, i was just saying that if you do breakfast lunch and dinner regardless of using TS at breakfast and a snack at dinner the total for the plan comes to $1240 not including tips breaking it down more is how i came up with 10 per meal per day
all i am saying is that even w/o adding the tip in to this it seems for us it would be better to do the plan evenw/o the app and having to add tips since meals aren really cheap. we paid out of pocket for a sci-fi lunch with just burgers and shakes for the 3 of us and it was close to $50

sorry i worded wrong

 

[Pumbaa_]

There is now a sticky thread stuck to the top of the board for all DDP discussions, here is the link to the 2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents.
Thanks,