Drop the DDP?

[MrToad]

OK, so I am still on the fence about whether or not we want to do the DDP. Last July (2006) we were convinced that we wanted to do it. However, I really dislike the changes I am hearing that Disney implemented on the DDP especially for kids menu.

So my question is this...we prepaid for our vacation a few days ago. We have the travel insurance, etc. Is it too late to drop just the DDP and have that refunded? We do not travel for 16 more days if that matters.

Thanks,

 

[jakenjess]

I don't know the answer to your refund question, but I believe the menu changes are for everyone, not just those on the dining plan. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[fws]

The kids' menu is for everyone. You'd be unlikely to spend less by paying OOP than you would on the dining plan.

 

[MrToad]

What I am saying is we might rather buy an adult CS or TS meal and split it between the two younger kids (DS8 and DD5) instead of being forced to get them both a CS or TS "kids meal" that they wouldn't like or enjoy.

I've heard stories about sugar-free jello, vegetables with dip, etc. being on the "standard" kids menu. It is one thing to offer those choices in addition to the other stuff, but I think Disney is really screwing it up and missing the boat big time. I don't know of many kids that would want (or enjoy) eating these menu selections on vacation, much less at school.

Someone at Disney needs to get a grip on the situation and come back to reality. The menu change is highly unpopular and it is not working.

 

[princesspwrhr]

So my question is this...we prepaid for our vacation a few days ago. We have the travel insurance, etc. Is it too late to drop just the DDP and have that refunded? We do not travel for 16 more days if that matters.

Thanks,

You can drop the dining play up to 72 hours in advance. You will refunded the ammount paid less a $50 change fee and possibly a $10 processing/paperwork fee (2 out of 3 CMs asked mentioned the $10 fee)

 

[Topper]

Someone at Disney needs to get a grip on the situation and come back to reality. The menu change is highly unpopular and it is not working.

I don't think it is Disney that needs to get a grip. Folks paying $10.99 per day for children (CS/TS/Snack) and expect to have them eat steak or have a wide variety of choices are deluding themselves.

 

[MrToad]

I don't think it is Disney that needs to get a grip. Folks paying $10.99 per day for children (CS/TS/Snack) and expect to have them eat steak or have a wide variety of choices are deluding themselves.

Did I say I expected steak? No...you did. The only thing delusional here is the attitude that a few chicken nuggets and celery sticks is worth $10.99.

With the prices we pay for park attendance, hotel, and food a child-size hamburger and fries should be an option on the standard kids menu. If they are going to have a standard kids menu then give it a bit of variety. Most kids won't eat the same thing 10 days in a row. Then Disney wonders why people are trying to buck the system.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not applicable. Guests have been 'trying to buck the system' since the Disney Dining Plan was introduced almost two years ago. The menu changes have been in existence for maybe six weeks? If anything, Disney changed the kids' menu options BECAUSE people try to work the DDP. No, I'm well aware that's NOT why changes were made to the approximately eleven restaurant menus involved - but it'd be an understandable response/result.

 

[KikiFan]

Is it possible to drop the DDp just for the kids and then feed them OOP?

I'm really thankful my daughter doesn't qualify for the kids plan.It makes life much simpler.

 

[princesspwrhr]

Is it possible to drop the DDp just for the kids and then feed them OOP?

No. The Dining plan is an all or nothing deal. Either everybody in your room/on your reservation has the dining plan or nobody does.


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[MrToad]

Not applicable. Guests have been 'trying to buck the system' since the Disney Dining Plan was introduced almost two years ago. The menu changes have been in existence for maybe six weeks? If anything, Disney changed the kids' menu options BECAUSE people try to work the DDP. No, I'm well aware that's NOT why changes were made to the approximately eleven restaurant menus involved - but it'd be an understandable response/result.

I agree. I guess what I meant was NOW Disney is going to wonder even more why people are trying to work the system.

No matter how you view the issue, it really stinks. Especially for the kids.

Why couldn't they have just left the menus alone and charged the kids $15.99/day? Shoot, I would have paid that easy as it would still be a great deal.

 

[robinb]

You're just over 2 weeks to go. I wouldn't worry about it anymore as you're just making yourself crazy. Go and have a GREAT time .

 

[Linda 441]

You're just over 2 weeks to go. I wouldn't worry about it anymore as you're just making yourself crazy. Go and have a GREAT time .

I agree. Keep the plan. For $20/day for the 2 kids, if you eat a buffet a few times you'll pay for it. Use your table service for character meal breakfasts if you need to (for them, pay opp for the adults at thsoe meals maybe) and then use the TS credits at dinner for the adults and pay OPP for one adult meal for them to share at dinner. I think you can't go wrong still and again, at the $20/day - you can still get that money's worth and spend a little more on buying meals and still come out ahead.
Don't worry. Just go enjoy. AND, there have been reports that many places are flexible about the kids menus.

 

[MrToad]

OK, thanks for the feedback. One last question then...we do not have ADRs because this was a trip we planned just a few days ago. We are a bit concerned about being able to use all our TS credits. We have eaten pretty much everywhere over the years so are not too picky. We have our favorites for sure, but we will be flexible. Is this time of year too crowded for walk-ups/standby party of 5? In July we ate later in the evening and actually got in a lot of places, but if you read some posts here so many people tell you that if you don't have ADRs you won't eat pretty much.

 

[robinb]

If I'm doing the math right, you're going to WDW the day after Thanksgiving. That is a busy time. Sorry . Friday and Saturday are going to be a zoo with the MK open until Midnight. The rest of the week should be a lot less busy. So ... I would make ADRs for your first two nights today. You may have to fall back on a second or third choice or a time that's too early or too late. As for the rest of the week ... you can wing it if you wish but you won't get into the more popular restaurants. Good luck!

 

[MrToad]

If I'm doing the math right, you're going to WDW the day after Thanksgiving. That is a busy time. Sorry . Friday and Saturday are going to be a zoo with the MK open until Midnight. The rest of the week should be a lot less busy. So ... I would make ADRs for your first two nights today. You may have to fall back on a second or third choice or a time that's too early or too late. As for the rest of the week ... you can wing it if you wish but you won't get into the more popular restaurants. Good luck!

Thanks RobinB.

My wife just sent me a chat message and said she got us into Biergarten on Friday late afternoon (which is great since I am sure we will all be hungry since we are arriving around 1pm EDT). And Saturday we got into Jiko's! So, all is not lost. We knew it was probably going to be crowded on Friday/Saturday, but were hoping (as you said) that it would be a lot less crowded Sunday through the rest of our stay. From what I have seen on crowd levels it really tails off the following week after Thanksgiving (Nov 27th - Dec. 4th). Has that been your observation/experience as well?

 

[Disney with Triplets]

OK, so I am still on the fence about whether or not we want to do the DDP. Last July (2006) we were convinced that we wanted to do it. However, I really dislike the changes I am hearing that Disney implemented on the DDP especially for kids menu.

So my question is this...we prepaid for our vacation a few days ago. We have the travel insurance, etc. Is it too late to drop just the DDP and have that refunded? We do not travel for 16 more days if that matters.

Thanks,

Keep the plan. We just got back and used the DDP after riding the fence for awhile. Snacks and a counter service or the cost of a buffet covers the cost of the dining plan for a child for a day. We ordered what we wanted when we wanted it and offered to pay out of pocket whenever we were outside of the bounaries of the adult/child limit on our card. NOT ONCE were we encouraged to pay out of pocket - even once when we insisted to pay out of pocket because we didn't want to burn up a table service credit, the server had to re-ring our ticket.

We also had no problem getting grapes, chocolate cake, or other deserts for children or adult CS meals.

I understand that some have had issues and I don't know whether it was our good luck or good attitude, but we had no issues whatsoever.

Keep the plan and enjoy your vacation!

 

[MrToad]

Keep the plan. We just got back and used the DDP after riding the fence for awhile. Snacks and a counter service or the cost of a buffet covers the cost of the dining plan for a child for a day. We ordered what we wanted when we wanted it and offered to pay out of pocket whenever we were outside of the bounaries of the adult/child limit on our card. NOT ONCE were we encouraged to pay out of pocket - even once when we insisted to pay out of pocket because we didn't want to burn up a table service credit, the server had to re-ring our ticket.

We also had no problem getting grapes, chocolate cake, or other deserts for children or adult CS meals.

I understand that some have had issues and I don't know whether it was our good luck or good attitude, but we had no issues whatsoever.

Keep the plan and enjoy your vacation!

Thanks! This is EXACTLY what I was hoping to hear. We have had some success with ADRs anyway, so we are looking a LOT better than we did before!

Thanks!!!

 

[Fionasmommy]

Why couldn't they have just left the menus alone and charged the kids $15.99/day? Shoot, I would have paid that easy as it would still be a great deal.

I totally agree! I'd happily pay more for DDP - adults and children. I'd even pay more for a premium plan that was 2 TS meals/day. For me the main value of the DDP is being able to prepay for most of our food, because that's such a huge chunk of the expense of a WDW trip. It's one less worry, which means more time to enjoy myself on vacation. We don't do it to save money, and have never planned meals to "maximize" savings.

I haven't looked too closely at the new menus yet, because our next trip isn't until July 2007. We do have DDP booked again but if it does seem like the menus are limited for kids I may end up cancelling DDP and eating more offsite. It's not the price that gets me - I just don't want to make DD eat the same things for 10 days in a row. 2 or 3 choices over 10 days would get old quick!

 

[robinb]

I'm glad you were able to get reservations for those two busy days! I LOVE Jiko's! Have a great time .