Does anyone think the Disney Dining Plan program degrades the meal experience?

[askquestions]

Hello!

I was sitting in a $$$ unnamed restaurant while I was at Disney and noticed a very well dressed couple who were very upset. They were surrounded by a family of unruly children and their parents who were unable to control them.

My question:
1. Has anyone out there felt that they spent $$$ on their vacations staying at very expensive resorts only to be surrounded by families who were eating there only because they had signed up for the meal plan.

2. Does anyone else think more restaurants should be removed from the plan to control crowds?

 

[centurythree]

**Bonus points for you if you got Seinfeld reference**

I was standing at a bus stop when a Rascal scooter rode up and waited for the bus. I was watching the group who was also waiting for the bus start to sigh and roll their eyes while the bus was lowered the ramp came out and the Rascal rolled inside.

Question:
Why is there many people who ride them in the parks?
When I am at the mall or a football game(= large crowds) I rarely see them?
Why Disney?

Wow, you sure did have a rough trip. It's amazing how everyone around you kept getting annoyed.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

We'll I think the OP has a very valid point. There is no way that poor folks like us could eat at the places we did last month without the free dining plan!

 

[bleeps]

Said with kindness:

We've struggled a little with this question ourselves (me, DH, and DS now 10 who we've been taking to WDW every year since he was 5); we enjoy the Signature Dining restaurants and go to several every trip (we've gone with and without the DDP but have never gone during free dining, so one way or another we're spending $$$). DS is very well behaved and learned as a young child how to behave in a restaurant (or anyplace else in public).

What we've concluded is that we're at WDW. And WDW is a place for families. And families have different standards, but we're all on vacation. So, no, I wouldn't want to see WDW restrict restaurant access -- everyone should be able to have the great dining experiences. And great dining experiences at WDW go along with accepting that there will be kids everywhere and that some of those kids may not be as well behaved nor as closely supervised as we might wish. We just remind ourselves that we're at WDW which IS the happiest place on Earth and we ignore anything that might prevent us in any way from having a wonderful time.

 

[LadyOmega]

Said with kindness:

We've struggled a little with this question ourselves (me, DH, and DS now 10 who we've been taking to WDW every year since he was 5); we enjoy the Signature Dining restaurants and go to several every trip (we've gone with and without the DDP but have never gone during free dining, so one way or another we're spending $$$). DS is very well behaved and learned as a young child how to behave in a restaurant (or anyplace else in public).

What we've concluded is that we're at WDW. And WDW is a place for families. And families have different standards, but we're all on vacation. So, no, I wouldn't want to see WDW restrict restaurant access -- everyone should be able to have the great dining experiences. And great dining experiences at WDW go along with accepting that there will be kids everywhere and that some of those kids may not be as well behaved nor as closely supervised as we might wish. We just remind ourselves that we're at WDW which IS the happiest place on Earth and we ignore anything that might prevent us in any way from having a wonderful time.

Totally agree with this. Also want to add that just because you sit next to a rude and unruly family, it does not necessarily mean they are on the DDP. Rude folks are everywhere, that's just the way things are.
We have purchased the DDP several times, not because it saves us much money, but just because we like the convenience factor of having everything prepaid. We would (and do) go to the same places whether or not we are on the DDP. I think I would be perfectly all right whether the signature restaurants were available on the DDP or not. Makes no difference to me.

 

[Colleen27]

Amazing how every family with unruly kids is assumed to be on the dining plan... Guess you've never encountered families with ill-behaved children in nice restaurants in the real world? Lucky you! It has happened to us more times than I'd care to count, and it really rubs on my because families like that are why some restaurant patrons and servers cringe to see me coming with my 2 (can't count the baby yet) well behaved foodies-in-training.

Personally, I don't want to see the signature restaurants excluded form the dining plan. We like the "all-inclusive" feel of the deluxe plan, but wouldn't do it if we couldn't use it at the restaurants we enjoy most. We'd just go the AP/DDE route, and you'd still find my crew in the nicer restaurants.

 

[My2Angels]

All I have to say is, if you don't want to be around children, don't go to Disney World!

 

[princessmom29]

I think you have to take it all with a grain of salt do to speak. Just becaues they are rude does not mean they didn't pay for the meal. Some of the rudest people I have ever met were very wealthy. I worked my way though a chemistry degree at a dry cleaners. I was on a full scholarship, but worked for extra money. I was very often treated like a servant or worse by the wealthy people whose clothes i cleaned. They treated me like because I was working in a place like that I was automatically stupid and uncultured. Rudeness is not the exclusive property of the poor.

 

[milesjacki]

I Second the notion that if you do not want to be around kids, don't go to
Disney !!!
But folks including myself with small children should be considerate of other
folks dining at ANY restaurant, even table service.
Would love to see all Disney restaurants included in the Dining Plan...

 

[burberryplaid]

There are just as many unruly children from wealthy families as there are from poor families. Even wealthy people could be on the DDP.

Dh and I do not have children yet, and I would say 99% of the time we did not encounter any unruly children, even at nice restaraunts like Jiko and Le Cellier. If a child is acting out, most of the time it's because they are tired, hungry, or have some other need. If that isn't the reason, it has to be a parenting issue..if the parents let them act out, they will.

When we go to Disney we know we are going to encounter children. We just don't sweat it. It's a vacation after all and if we didn't want to be around kids we'd go to a couples only resort in the middle of a tropical island or something like that.

Why should they limit the amount of restaraunts on the DDP and penalize the many adults and well behaved children who enjoy a nice meal? To make such a suggestion is really absurd!

We've encountered more unruly adults than children. Why don't we just tell adults to stay home? Oh wait..that would be ABSURD!!

 

[Juliet25]

There are just as many unruly children from wealthy families as there are from poor families. Even wealthy people could be on the DDP.

...

When we go to Disney we know we are going to encounter children. We just don't sweat it. It's a vacation after all and if we didn't want to be around kids we'd go to a couples only resort in the middle of a tropical island or something like that.

Why should they limit the amount of restaraunts on the DDP and penalize the many adults and well behaved children who enjoy a nice meal? To make such a suggestion is really absurd!

We've encountered more unruly adults than children. Why don't we just tell adults to stay home? Oh wait..that would be ABSURD!!

ITA with everything you said.

A few years ago my friend and I took our kids to the character breaskfast at Cape May Cafe. Our kids were fine, but the two adults at the table behind ours -- apparently co-workers staying at the BC during a convention -- could not stop peppering every.single.sentence they uttered with colorful ajectives like "f-ing," "f-ed" ... you get the idea.

If the OP can demand that rude children be removed from the premises, then I can demand the same of rude adults.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Yes, I think there should be more restaurants excluded from the DDP for a few reasons.

 

[SydneyFalco]

Get used to the rudeness. It isn't getting any better.

Frankly, it should really just be me and my wife in the parks. Oh, and maybe the princesses. But we'll need someone to serve us, so the waiters and cooking staff can stay. Oh, and the staff needs to get paid, so we'll let just a few people inside the park. But that's it: just me, the wife, the princesses, some people to serve and feed us and some customers to pay for their salaries.

Oh, okay, you can all come. But try and be quiet, okay?

 

[centurythree]

PS: I actually think the OP started this thread just for kicks. LOL Let's see how long it takes before things turn nasty.

 

[TDC Nala]

Here we go with the Disney is for families thing again. Shouldn't those couples know they don't belong in a restaurant in Walt Disney World.

As far as restricting more restaurants, Disney likes the crowds, it's what they wanted when they came up with the dining plan. If they own the restaurant it's going to participate. I don't see them telling restaurants to cut down on participation because some diners like it sedate. Noise means more people means more money.

The non-Disney restaurants have the option whether to participate in DDP or not. Some take it, some don't. Those that don't apparently prefer to operate without basing much of their income on the DDP reimbursement. The more expensive food gets, the more difficult it's going to be for them to run those restaurants on the reimbursement. I'd say few if any new third-party restaurants situated outside theme parks would agree to accept the dining plan (T-Rex opened today at Downtown Disney and it does not take the regular or deluxe DDP. Because of the theme it's going to generate enormous crowds whether it participates or not, so why should they participate?)

Interesting that all of the 2 credit "signature" restaurants on the dining plan are owned by Disney.

This thread seems to be teetering on the edge of getting closed. If the discussion gets out of hand it will be.

 

[Narnia]

I think the op was kind of rude. Parents can't always control children like they wish we can. My kids are almost always good eating out but once and a while there is an exception. If the resteraunt looks like fast food all bids are off. They can behave or they won't. i think standing iup on the benches misbehavoir but that's me. If you take a trip to a place were atleast 50% of the population is kids you'll see a wide range of kids some quite some not give it up.

 

[World Bouncer]

I do not think the dining plan degrades the experience.

I do think that there is a possibility that during free dining there may be a more diverse crowd in the more expensive locations, and if I am concerned about this, then I could go during a different time.

I do wish that some parents would be more considerate and teach their children manners, but if I wanted a controlled atmosphere I could stay home.

I would like to see a couple of adult only locations that are dining plan friendly, but again if I don't want to see kids, then maybe I should take my vacation to someplace that is not targeted for families.

In closing my oppinions... I also know that no matter how perfect things are... there will always be something to complain about, if I am looking for it!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

This always ends up a very touchy subject.......I am asking here that we keep in mind that all disabilities are not visible and that we be more tolerant of each other.

As of now, this thread remains open, but we will not tolerate any bashing of certain groups.

 

[Katiebell]

It seems the OP (who I noticed hasn't posted again) made some assumptions...maybe bought into some myths?

Families that choose the DDP -- whether they pay $40-$75/day per person for it or get it "free" by giving up potentially substantial room discounts are not necessarily lower income. And having lower income OR choosing the DDP as part of one's vacation package does not equate rudeness, or having ill-behaved children, or any children at all. Having children does not automatically mean they are well-behaved, or ill-behaved, or that they might not be unpredictable from time to time. And well-dressed, childless couples are not necessarily higher income, not on the DDP, or particularly polite OR impolite. Every single person is an individual, so it's hard to make judgements about other folks by checking out their clothes, counting the number of little people at their table, or leaning over to see how exactly they plan to pay for their meal.

If a person wishes a completely child-free, DDP-free experience at WDW, they can find it at V&A. If they can deal with children but not DDP-paying guests (if that truly bothers them), they can eat in a restaurant that doesn't take it -- Bistro de Paris, Shula's, BlueZoo, Fulton's, T-Rex, Bongo's -- there are quite a few. Or make a late reservation at a restaurant that takes the DDP but has a more adult atmosphere. We ate at 9pm at Raglan Road, and although children and the DDP are both welcome, there were no kids in there at that hour. There were some rude adults, however, but we didn't let that bother us. Unfortunately, there is no way to get a rude-people-free experience, because they are everywhere, so best to ignore them if possible.

The non-Disney-owned restaurants will keep taking the DDP as long as it is profitable for them -- if it keeps their restaurants full and they aren't losing money on what Disney is compensating them, then the DDP will be welcome. If they aren't benefiting from the DDP, then next year they don't have to contract to take it, or Disney will have to sweeten the deal.