Does anyone else dislike the Dining Plan?

[Pedler]

HOnestly I don't think the restaurants being booked up has so much to do with the DDP. Is it a factor? Sure. Is it the #1 reason? I doubt it.

I don't mind the planning aspect at all. I just make sure I visit the parks where I will be eating or try to make later reservations to allow me time to go from one park to the next.

I think there is an argument to be made that the DDP is the #1 factor. The packages that Disney has created causes people to spend more days at WDW. Part of the packages is the DDP that in essence pre comitts people to eating 1 TS a day. There are many posts by people using the DDP that state they normally don't eat 1 TS a day but with the DDP they are. So if the packages cause more people to be on site and more people to be committed to eating 1 TS a day it makes sense that the DDP has increased the demand for TS places.

 

[PlutosFriend]

We tried the DDP last May for the first time. We are a family of 2 adults and 2 kids. We really liked it then. We are going to do the DDP again this October. I must say tho, that I am a bit sad about some of the menu changes Especially for the kids. The dessert choices are lame, or lack of choices I should say, at the TS restaurants now. I am hoping that will change again by October

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been going to WDW since '99..now up to about 14 trips. I've stayed using a package, room only, DVC, AP discount...all of them. I have paid for food OOP, used the DDP and use the DDE card. So...how much have things changed since the beginning of the DDP? Some. Yes, there are more people eating at the TS restaurants than before. And probably fewer dinners are being eaten at the counter service spots. But, for as long as I can remember, it has been important to book the meals you want before you go down.
WDW is no place for spontanaity!!! I always feel badly for those people that say they are just going to wing it. They have either A. been to WDW many times and don't need to see it all/do it all, B. never been and think it's like 6 Flags, C. or figure they'll amble on around and eat when the spirit moves them..it can't be that crowded!!!
You need to plan ahead. You need to sit with a book or online and scope out the places to eat. You need to be informed!!! If anyone thinks that you could just walk up to Liberty Tree Tavern at 5:30 and be seated in 5 minutes...well, I never had that experience!!! If you choose to eat between the hours of 4:30 and 7:30, anywhere in WDW, you are going to either need ADRs or you'll be walking away from that podium. Sure, there are some spots you can do that...Marrakesh is one, and we actually liked it a lot. Rose and Crown was another. But, both those times, it was really an off time, probably a really late lunch.
You most likely don't need to call Disney Dining right at the 180 day mark unless you're looking for one of the more popular spots...CRT, LeCellier, Chef Mickey's...that sort of thing. I've actually been able to call a month or two before travel and been able to get what I would be happy with...perhaps a bit later than I would have liked but I still got the restaurant I wanted.

Anyone can get the DDP...as was stated already...book a rack room, with just one day park passes. Then you can add the DDP. Sure, you won't get a great discounted room but you have to make choices. Have an AP? Then pay the $65 for the Disney Dining Experience card...saves you 20% on the majority of table service meals at WDW. THat has actually worked out very close to the DDP for my family.

 

[knw6883]

I love the dining plan for a lot of reasons.

-For my husband and I, it's a great value. When I figure what we would spend out of pocket, even eating only at counter service all day, it's very nearly the same amount.

-We have no kids. If we had children, it might be a different story - I know a lot are upset about kids choices and the age groups of children on the DDP, but for two adults - it's perfect. Plus, we don't have to worry about cranky infants sitting down at a table-service dinner or anything like that.

-We're getting to eat things we wouldn't spend the money on otherwise (I had my very first filet mignon at Le Cellier on our honeymoon last August!). I am frugal and often will make a decision based on whether or not I feel something is priced exorbitantly, especially compared to what I would pay for it here. I know I am technically paying for it - with rack rates and tickets and possibly even having to pay for the dining plan, if it's not offered for free. But it doesn't feel the same.

-Our tastes are not incredibly adventurous or fancy, and we never knew DW dining "pre-DDP". Well, my husband did, but he was a child. I have no DW prior service or menus to compare my experiences to - but on our honeymoon, we felt like we were treated well by our servers and that our food was (for the most part) excellent. The places that we didn't enjoy much (Ohana and Boma) were more due to our taste preferences and I don't think that the DDP has any bearing on that at all.

-I don't have to worry about carrying cash, which debit/credit card to use, charging to the room, how much tip to leave, etc. I have anxiety and the ease of a pre-paid (or free!) mealplan is so relaxing for me. It's all taken care of.

-When I would go to Disneyland with my family when I was younger, we never ate at sit-down restaurants. It was all counter service. That's fine in California in Nov/Mar when we would travel, but my husband and I have to travel in summer due to his master's program and eventually his teaching position. We're from Oregon, and Florida is unbelievably hot and humid for us. It's wonderful to get some respite from the weather by sitting down to a nice dinner inside.

-I'm looovvve planning the vacation. I love making an itinerary, perusing menus, reading reviews, and discussing options with my husband. We know what we like to eat and when we like to eat, and while we aren't picking out our specific meal for the day a year down the road, we do know where we'll be eating it. It makes things run so much smoother, IMO, to not have to think about what kind of food to eat that night, or worry about not having reservations that day. I like that everything is taken care of well in advance so all I have to do is show up, eat, and hand them my card. My husband was so pleased with how smoothly our vacation went, and it was all due to advanced reservations (with the help of Shirley at dreamsunlimited!). If I plan to eat table service, I'd never go without reservations. I can think of a lot better things to do at DW than wait forever for a table or sit out in the heat eating counter service or wander around wondering what's not full at the moment.

Basically, it's a perfect plan for us. I don't think we'll go again without it, even if we have to pay for it, though we may reconsider when we have kids - it depends how the plan continues to evolve and the tastes of our kids.

 

[Starwater]

we're passholders as well...we've never been on the DDP although in May we are renting DVC points (for less than what the AP rates are for mod's and deluxes!!) and have the ability to purchase the dining plan that way. You could always buy a one day ticket for each party and use that to renew your passes as long as you don't use the ticket (some CM's say you can I had one tell me you couldn't)

I, for one, do not like what has happened to the menus and overall dining experience at WDW - which I am sure is related to the DDP as well as a majority of other things. Will it stop me from dining there? Probably not.

What happened to the menus as a result of the Dining Plan? Were they scaled down to fit the DDP "budget"?

I'd be interested in hearing what's changed (for the worse, that is) as a result of the DDP plan.

 

[jodifla]

What happened to the menus as a result of the Dining Plan? Were they scaled down to fit the DDP "budget"?

I'd be interested in hearing what's changed (for the worse, that is) as a result of the DDP plan.

The menus have been slashed to pieces!!!!!

Case in point....you USED to be able to get really interesting wild game at the Yachtsman. NO MORE!

You USED to be able to get Key Lime Pies at Olivia's...NO MORE! You used to be able to get conch fritters at Olivia's....BUT NO MORE!


And the list goes on and on and on and on.....

 

[MyManGoofy!]

In order to make the DDP as cost effective as possible, Disney has centralized their kitchens. So that means much less difference between the TS restaurants and far less creative control for the chefs. Some feel that they have had to "dumb down" (not my words, the words of one of the chefs I have spoken to) the menus in order to appeal to the masses.

I know that the CM's used to get a discount when they dined at a TS. Then it changed to the CM's could not eat between 4 and 8. Now, my understanding is that they no longer have the discount at all.

As someone that lives close to the World and has an AP, I do not always plan out a day at the World. It can be frustrating that we can never get in at a reasonable time, if at all, anymore. I wish they would at least set aside a small percentage of space each day for last minute/walk up traffic for those of us that don't think 180 days out.

 

[mmcguire]

I despise the DDP, and here's why:

-decline of food quality/variety, service

-overcrowded restaurants, longer waits for ADR times

-necessity of ADRs kills spontenaity -- I have to plan my days at work, and I loathe and completely resent having to do it on my vacation too. I know I don't have to eat at TS, but we'd like to at least have the option to sit down for one meal a day.

-changes to WDW's hours/EMH's etc. can destroy the most carefully laid plans. Ex: you get 7 PM ADRs for Le Cellier on a non-EMH night at Epcot -- a night you chose specifically to avoid EMH crowds. Months later WDW changes the EMH night to your ADR night and now you're stuck with a tough decision -- visit on the super-crowded night you wanted to avoid, or forego your Le Cellier meal because there's almost zero chance of changing your reservation.

-the thing that drives me the craziest is that this is all over FOOD!!!!! Completely ridiculous.

 

[NMW]

I love the idea of dining plans, but I don't particularly love THIS dining plan. Our family would be much happier with a plan that allowed us 2 TS meals a day (breakfast and dinner) and a CS lunch. I wish you could pick and choose the dining plan you want the way you can with park tickets. You know, pay for what you want.

Our family loved the old dining plans (Gold/Silver Dreammaker plans). They suited our way of dining at Disney much better. In fact, when we considered buying DVC, one of the big things holding us back was that we could not purchase these plans through DVC. Common sense swayed us to buy DVC anyway-family of 5 staying in a Deluxe hotel every year-it made sense to buy DVC. That year, 2004, Disney did away with those plans anyway and then launched the new DDP. I was happy when DVC members were allowed to purchase it, and it is an okay plan, I just miss the old ones.

I will say I have noticed portion sizes at TS plan getting smaller, particularly the appetizers. They are really sized for one person now. They used to be much bigger. Also, add-ons like lobster seem to have vanished. I don't know if these things have anything to do with the DDP or not. I also don't understand the intense hatred some people have for the DDP. If you don't want it, don't buy it. I can't comment on TS restaurants being harder to get into, because I'm a big planner. I have ALWAYS booked TS the very first day we could make the ADR's. The only time we have ever changed plans was making say a 7:30 ADR at Flying Fish, an 8:30 ADR. Maybe most people don't like to eat this late and it is the off season, but we have been able to do things like that even the morning of the ADR. In Oct, we changed our Flying Fish and Wolfgang Puck ADR's to later times (after 8 PM) without a problem those days.

 

[tfc3rid]

My first trip to WDW was in 1984 and I've been back every year since... I've eaten at most of the TS and Buffets in WDW and even ones that don't exist anymore...

What I've seen since the DDP came into play is that menus are being scaled back... Seemingly to the point where the offereings are like a 'prix fixe' menu across the board... 4 options for appetizer, 4 entrees, 4 desserts, etc...

I enjoy going to WDW for the atmosphere and, some places, the food... It's important that TS restaurants maintain their atmosphere... Olivia's without Conch Fritters or Key Lime Pie is INEXCUSEABLE... the theme is Key West for God's sake...

As for my ADR preferences... When we go down, we want to try something new and have always tried to make ressies same day for where we want to go. What time we eat is not a factor... In fact, the later the better in our case... Last year I was even able to get California Grill reservations same day (much to my surprise!) In addition, I've spoken with members of the wait staff and they express their displeasure over the DDP. It makes them have to 'rush' people through meals, thus, more people to serve, but the problem is, folks on the DDP don't leave tips are large as cash diners... So for a WDW waiter or waitress who makes sub-minimum wage, it hurts their bottom line...

As for me, I go to WDW on DVC points and don't mind paying for my meals...

 

[december]

My first trip to WDW was in 1984 and I've been back every year since... I've eaten at most of the TS and Buffets in WDW and even ones that don't exist anymore...

What I've seen since the DDP came into play is that menus are being scaled back... Seemingly to the point where the offereings are like a 'prix fixe' menu across the board... 4 options for appetizer, 4 entrees, 4 desserts, etc...

I enjoy going to WDW for the atmosphere and, some places, the food... It's important that TS restaurants maintain their atmosphere... Olivia's without Conch Fritters or Key Lime Pie is INEXCUSEABLE... the theme is Key West for God's sake...

As for my ADR preferences... When we go down, we want to try something new and have always tried to make ressies same day for where we want to go. What time we eat is not a factor... In fact, the later the better in our case... Last year I was even able to get California Grill reservations same day (much to my surprise!) In addition, I've spoken with members of the wait staff and they express their displeasure over the DDP. It makes them have to 'rush' people through meals, thus, more people to serve, but the problem is, folks on the DDP don't leave tips are large as cash diners... So for a WDW waiter or waitress who makes sub-minimum wage, it hurts their bottom line...

As for me, I go to WDW on DVC points and don't mind paying for my meals...

So in Florida, people normally tip more than 18%? I live in Mississippi, and 15% is a very good tip here. They are getting a better tip from me with the DDP than they would normally. Also, people don't normally order an appetizer, entree, and dessert for each member of their party, but do on the plan, so the tip to the server is higher. Plus, an automatic 18% tip is added to any oop items. With more people coming through the restaurant, and the ddp tip being automatic, I really don't see how this hurts their bottom line?

As far as the limitations with menus go, I've heard that even the non ddp restaurants have scaled back, and that this has nothing to do with the plan. I don't know if it is true or not. But I am going to restate that I love the plan. My family gets to eat at some places we'd never have tried, and we don't have to stress about the bill. I understand that it won't work for some people, but I don't think it is the cause of all the things people are complaining about either. For me, getting out my notebook and making my plans is half (if not more) of the fun!

 

[chrismb22]

Ok, I'm confused again. Is the tip included with the dining plan? Is it included without the dining plan (I don't remember)?

 

[december]

Ok, I'm confused again. Is the tip included with the dining plan? Is it included without the dining plan (I don't remember)?

It is not included without the DDP. With the ddp, you pay $38 a day, and it provides you with 2 meals, a snack, tax, and 18% tip. Plus, if you buy something extra, like a glass of wine, 18% is automatically added. So if you wanted to share a meal, but get an extra drink, you'd pay for the drink, tax, plus the tip.

Again, I would think alot of people don't tip 18% automatically, so this would seem to be a bonus for the servers.

 

[chrismb22]

Gotcha!! I didn't realize tips were included in the dining plan. That's good to know cause I hate figuring it out LOL -- but uh-oh, now I have to figure on how much more I should give. We always give 20% or more if the service is good and at Disney, its 90% exceptional.

 

[traviesojmt]

I despise the DDP, and here's why:

-decline of food quality/variety, service

-overcrowded restaurants, longer waits for ADR times

-necessity of ADRs kills spontenaity -- I have to plan my days at work, and I loathe and completely resent having to do it on my vacation too. I know I don't have to eat at TS, but we'd like to at least have the option to sit down for one meal a day.

-changes to WDW's hours/EMH's etc. can destroy the most carefully laid plans. Ex: you get 7 PM ADRs for Le Cellier on a non-EMH night at Epcot -- a night you chose specifically to avoid EMH crowds. Months later WDW changes the EMH night to your ADR night and now you're stuck with a tough decision -- visit on the super-crowded night you wanted to avoid, or forego your Le Cellier meal because there's almost zero chance of changing your reservation.

-the thing that drives me the craziest is that this is all over FOOD!!!!! Completely ridiculous.

We just returned from WDW on Wed. We were there for 11 days and did purchase the DDP. The quality of food was wonderful as was our service. We have dined both pre- and post- dining plan and I can say that our service was just as wonderful on this trip as it has been in the past. We only had to wait longer than 10 minutes for one of our reservations and that was at CRT. At most restaurants, we were seated right on time. I do count myself among those who enjoy the planning and usually have my ADR picks ready more than 180 days out. We did decide that we were not in the mood for Marrakesh one day and was able to switch our ADR to Concourse Steakhouse. Our only complaint regarding our dining experience was the lack of choices on the children's menu. However, since my DH and I both had appetizers and desserts at every meal, there was plenty to share with our
DS9. I realize that everyone's experience may be different, but I wanted to share that we had a wonderful experience using the DP.

 

[marcyinPA]

Wow. We absolutely LOVE planning out our TS ADRs, and we think the DDP is the best thing since sliced bread. We have so much fun printing out the menus and finding the best-looking meals, the totally decadent desserts, the fun restaurants. And being on DDP, we find a sick pleasure in couting up our receipts and seeing how much it would have cost us OOP. Of course, we never would eat so much food if we were paying OOP, but it's fun to be extravagent once in a while.
I feel the same way as an above poster who said they wake up and think 'yay, we get to eat at (insert restaurant here) today! Woohoo!'. For us, it's all part of the fun of a Disney World vacation.

Same thing here! Call me a sucker, but I love the DDP!

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

We've gone with the DDP three times, twice free and I paid for it in Jan. For first time visitors or if you really love TS meals, the DDP is the way to go. However, we decided it is probably not for us again. My DH and I were really tired of eating by the end of our trip this past Jan. For my August trip with DS, we have picked a couple of our favorite TS and we're going CS the rest of the time, paying OOP. We've experienced the TS meals we want to and really don't care for a lot of them, not enough to have to plan our days around them.

This is just my opinion but I do understand why some people love the plan.

 

[Starwater]

Interesting answers. Thanks, guys!

Well, I was leaning towards the Dining Plan initially but the more I think about it the more I dislike the idea of a fixed food parameters that I have to stay within - e.g. the 1 snack, 1 counter, and 1 table. From past experiences at Disney, I know that some days I know I could eat just light snacks and maybe one counter service; other days I might want just counter service to save time! In the long run, I'm not sure there are enough appealing table service restaurants to warrant the DDP plan - especially from what has been said about the menu scale-backs. I honestly think we'd probably save money staying off the DDP and just eating the way we normally do. Plus we'll have more flexibility - I'd rarely order an appetizer, entree, and dessert normally, but I *would* order an alcoholic drink instead. With the DDP that would be extra on top of the $40 I'd already be spending per day for food.

And really, for $40 a day you could (if you didn't need a dessert, appetizer, and beverage (non-bottled water is still free y'know!) with everything) eat at 2 counter service and 1 table service restaurants. You could even swing a dessert if you shared it between 2 people. And yeah, you might have to add on a tip, but in the long run you'd have more freedom and more choices for basically the same amount of money per day.

Hmm. I guess I'll just keep pondering the matter...

 

[UConnJack]

Call me crazy, but I prefer having my ADRs made well before the trip, as soon as the trip is planned as a matter of fact, so the DDP is fine and hasn't really changed things for me. I like to have a schedule of what parks I'm going to on what days, what days I'm playing golf, what days we are going to just lounge around the pool, etc. And yes, where I am going to eat each day. My vacation time is very valuable to me and I hate nothing more than wasting the time trying to decide where to go and what to do, and get a consensus on it. Without a plan, you waste that time trying to plan while you are there.

 

[chrismb22]

Interesting answers. Thanks, guys!

Well, I was leaning towards the Dining Plan initially but the more I think about it the more I dislike the idea of a fixed food parameters that I have to stay within - e.g. the 1 snack, 1 counter, and 1 table. From past experiences at Disney, I know that some days I know I could eat just light snacks and maybe one counter service; other days I might want just counter service to save time! In the long run, I'm not sure there are enough appealing table service restaurants to warrant the DDP plan - especially from what has been said about the menu scale-backs. I honestly think we'd probably save money staying off the DDP and just eating the way we normally do. Plus we'll have more flexibility - I'd rarely order an appetizer, entree, and dessert normally, but I *would* order an alcoholic drink instead. With the DDP that would be extra on top of the $40 I'd already be spending per day for food.

And really, for $40 a day you could (if you didn't need a dessert, appetizer, and beverage (non-bottled water is still free y'know!) with everything) eat at 2 counter service and 1 table service restaurants. You could even swing a dessert if you shared it between 2 people. And yeah, you might have to add on a tip, but in the long run you'd have more freedom and more choices for basically the same amount of money per day.

Hmm. I guess I'll just keep pondering the matter...

See now after this board I thought the opposite. I think we WILL save money on the trip and now we can go to two really nice restaurants and I think it will pay for itself. (between 2 of us, we spend over $100 at Le Celluliar last time) and we ran out of money and had to cancel or California Grille reservations. This time, if we start to run out of money, we won't order any drinks over there and still get to experience it.

As for sticking to paramaters, I agree with the other poster, my reservations are made anyway so that won't matter. The only thing is the 1 snack/1 counter service, 1 dinner, well if we go over, we go over. The only thing we MIGHT go over on is snacks and that's not too bad if we do.

Dining plan ... HERE I COME

PS that was my 100th post (yeah!!)