Disney Dining Plan Going Downhill? Your Thoughts???

[Tribe0701]

We just recently visited and had a dinner at 'Ohana and the food was well below average to say it best. We would attribute the decline in food quality and service to the Disney Dining Plan. It seems as though you are no longer getting what you pay for. Instead, it seems as though they just mass produce the lowest quality food and try to turn the tables over as soon as possible. The meal was over $35 per person and the turney was fatty ( I have never had fatty turkey), the chicken wings were undercooked and fatty, the filet was tough and the service was spoty at best. I have no idea what I paid for, but it was not quality food or service. Of course because we had a party of 8, the assumable 18% gratuity was non-negotiable and automatically included on our bill....how convenient for our sub-standard server. The entertainment (if you wish to call it that), was a guy walking aroung with a guitar, so I would hate to think I had paid for that. It just seems as though all of this was much better years ago and has since gone downhill. We chose to eat offsite for the remainder of our stay. Your thoughts?????

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, I think Disney food is not what it once was. Because of the Dining Plan? Probably not. Would have still been the same without the dining plan. The dining plan's just part of the cost cutting and consolidating they're doing.

 

[mkleinbe]

Yes, I think Disney food is not what it once was. Because of the Dining Plan? Probably not. Would have still been the same without the dining plan. The dining plan's just part of the cost cutting and consolidating they're doing.

I 100% agree with this. I'm also an Ohana hater, so it doesn't surprise me that you didn't have a good experience there.

 

[Chloesmom]

I am curious if you asked to speak to a manager when you decided it was not a good experience.. especially if your server was bad and you had to pay a set tip. I never expect anything for free but I would never pay $35 x 8 plus a gratuity for an all around bad meal... at Disney or at home.

 

[B-Ride]

Personally, we have had pretty good experiences both at 'Ohana and other Disney restaurants. I still feel they do an above average job for mass produced food. As for the Dining Plan, I am personally a fan as I like having my food budget all planned out before we go.

 

[safetymom]

We had a great dining experience at Ohana several weeks ago. We all commented on how good the food was.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's pretty much established on the boards that 'Ohana can be way on or way off...sometimes in the same week. How that happens...

But it's pretty well shown that one can't say "Ohana is a great restaurant" or "Ohana is a lousy restaurant" and get even close to unanimous agreement with either.

 

[HunnyJar]

Personally, we have had pretty good experiences both at 'Ohana and other Disney restaurants. I still feel they do an above average job for mass produced food. As for the Dining Plan, I am personally a fan as I like having my food budget all planned out before we go.

I second this! We ate at 'Ohana twice during out trip in Feb/March and had a great experience for both breakfast and dinner. The food was hot, fresh and very tasty. The breakfast we had at 'Ohana was the best all trip and possibly the best we've had at WDW to date.

And as for the dining plan.. We are big fans! We love being able to be pretty much stress free while on vacation and having all our meals paid for in full prior to our arrival is wonderful.

If you want to put any blame on the quality going down, I wouldn't put it on the dining plan. They have been making budget cuts everywhere. Take a look at the buns for crying out loud. You can hardly blame the dining plan on that. Plus the dining plan has been around a lot longer than most people realize.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Instead, it seems as though they just mass produce the lowest quality food and try to turn the tables over as soon as possible.

This is what we "anti-DDPers" have been complaining about since its inception. Not that is was solely responsible but it was the beginning of the end.

The unique offerings are a thing of the past.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

We love the DDP, but that should not equate to poor food or poor service. I think you'll find that anywhere if you look hard enough. That being said, we had some less than desireable experiences in several restaurants during our past 2 trips; Ohana being one of them, WCC was another, as was Tony's TS. But on the flip side of the coin, we've also had some spectaculor service and food in other restaurants; Cape May Clam Bake, Kona, and 50's PT, we also loved Tutto Italia on our most recent visit. So, I think it is hit or miss, it can happen anywhere, but to blame it on DDP is just not fair.

 

[Tiger926]

I 100% agree with this. I'm also an Ohana hater, so it doesn't surprise me that you didn't have a good experience there.

ITA! We can't stand 'Ohana either. Always horrible food, service and basic chaos all around.

We have eaten pretty much everywhere, and have seen a steady decline in foodservices at WDW. Not sure if it all can be totally blamed on the DP though, as Disney loves to undercut and cheapen products, as they make more money that way: food, merchandise, park services, Photopass, etc., are all perfect examples of areas in which Disney has cut.

Tiger

 

[Pakey]

Except for V&A, I don't think any of the restaurants compare to what they were a decade or more ago.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

This is because it is a victim of the Basic Disney Dining Plan!

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 there 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.

 

[KYMickey]

I definitely think the DP's have driven the quality of food at Disney downward. That combined with the move to more buffets and all you can eat restaurants have taken what used to be a fine dining experience and made it mediocre at best.

You can't really blame Disney for this but with everyone paying the same for meals everyone is going to pick the highest priced option to get the best value for their money. So now instead of having menues that run the gambit from lobster to chicken fingers we have menues that have a pot roast and meatloaf! Many people don't remember how good dining at Disney used to be but I can assure you it used to be considerably better than it is now.

 

[christinec68]

I definitely think the DP's have driven the quality of food at Disney downward. That combined with the move to more buffets and all you can eat restaurants have taken what used to be a fine dining experience and made it mediocre at best.

You can't really blame Disney for this but with everyone paying the same for meals everyone is going to pick the highest priced option to get the best value for their money. So now instead of having menues that run the gambit from lobster to chicken fingers we have menues that have a pot roast and meatloaf! Many people don't remember how good dining at Disney used to be but I can assure you it used to be considerably better than it is now.

Excellent point! I could never articulate how the plan effected the menu options and food quality as well. I remember when the food was better. It's sad that a what was once an enjoyable portion of a vacation is something I no longer look forward to or really enjoy.

 

[Tiger926]

This is because it is a victim of the Basic Disney Dining Plan!

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 there 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.

Excellent post! As I said, I don't believe that 100% of the dining problems can be blamed on the DP, but most can as there is huge wastage, people over ordering, ordering the most expensive, etc. Disney has to make up their margins somewhere - I come from an Italian restaurant family and have lived and breathed this my entire life. When I talked to my dad about the DP, he said the same thing - margins must be made up. Since Disney continues to offer the DP, they are making money, but, they still have margins to adhere to, and so they handle that by increasing the plan price, and also by elimintating/substituting food/beverage products. My father and I think it will continue to get worse...

We got the DP a bunch of times as hubby liked it, but we were the folks who only ordered what we could eat, usually didn't order dessert, and mostly drank water with our meals. I remember CMs always encouraging wastage by wanting us to order more as "...we paid for it." That is the mindset that is prevalent, so the product suffers for it.

We now are back to TIW, and love it, and I can't see us going back to the DP ever again! Almost all of our servers this past trip a few weeks ago, seemed relieved that we weren't on the DP. Many of them said as such! But, we did notice a continual decline in service, as many of them disappeared from our table, yet they were getting an automatic gratuity (as the TIW includes). Service is another area that we notice is problematic as well, so I'm always wondering how much the DP affects service as well?

Tiger

 

[Hopefully]

I too remember when Disney Dining was way better than it is today. I personally feel as Cheshire does, that the dining plan has contributed to that. I agree that the economy would have resulted in cost cutting measures, but the decline in the quality and variety of offerings pre dates the current economic slowdown.

 

[msvlwb]

We are local to Disney. For us we used to run up to Chef Mickey's as a walk in if they had openings and spend our 100+ dollars. Now we can't get in without reservations, which is hard because we have very erratic work schedules, and if we do make reservations the food isn't worth the 100+ we are paying for it.
Boma is still wonderful and really the only place we go to eat at DW anymore.

I understand the free dining is the only way a lot of folks can afford their trip to DW. For many that aren't coming on a package it's taken away what we enjoyed doing at the parks. We have been the pass holders that would come at least once a month and eat a big meal and go to a park, buy t-shirts, toys, etc. But since we couldn't make a meal without so much advance planning we didn't even renew our passes last year, we got the Epcot after 4 so we could enjoy the concerts and grab food at the Food and Wine Festival.

Hope there is some happy medium to make the quality of the food better, access to the dining better, and still give the perks for people on a package.

 

[mastersd]

We just recently visited and had a dinner at 'Ohana and the food was well below average to say it best. We would attribute the decline in food quality and service to the Disney Dining Plan. It seems as though you are no longer getting what you pay for. Instead, it seems as though they just mass produce the lowest quality food and try to turn the tables over as soon as possible. The meal was over $35 per person and the turney was fatty ( I have never had fatty turkey), the chicken wings were undercooked and fatty, the filet was tough and the service was spoty at best. I have no idea what I paid for, but it was not quality food or service. Of course because we had a party of 8, the assumable 18% gratuity was non-negotiable and automatically included on our bill....how convenient for our sub-standard server. The entertainment (if you wish to call it that), was a guy walking aroung with a guitar, so I would hate to think I had paid for that. It just seems as though all of this was much better years ago and has since gone downhill. We chose to eat offsite for the remainder of our stay. Your thoughts?????

We ate at O'hana's in March. We usually love Ohana's....in March it was awful!! I think it had to do with where we were sitting. We were freezing! The food was cold. The a/c vent was above us and blasting us the whole time. I considered leaving, but my son is a insulin dependent diabetic and he had already taken his insulin. Plus his meal was late because our table wasn't ready. I spoke to the server--nothing happened. I spoke to the manager --nothing happened. We were very disappointed. We kind of felt like hostages--all three of us drank hot tea b/c we were freezing! Yes, we all had sweaters--it was crazy.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

We love the dining plan and use it about every trip mainly because it is an expense that we know the cost of before we go and budget it and have ran the numbers and it is pretty close to what we actually pay. Recently I was reading the 2010 fodors food reviews for orlando and it had charts of signature food rests. in orlando and charts from 2000 and 2005 there are zero disney dining establishments on the 2010 list of top 100 in the orlando area (there were 3 listed in 2005 and 5 in 2000) and a qoute in the book says that using the word signature and charging signature prices is a crime. It also states that the slide in the level in buffet foods and cleanliness and has dropped dramatically. So I went and looked around the 2010 zagat review site and it was almost identical, stating that outside of 1 signature rest. the quality value and taste of disney signature stops has declined yearly and they had 1 listed in the top 50 of orlando and the qoute they used was "if your in Disney and looking for a world class meal you might have to leave but if you are looking for world class high prices you have landed in the right place."