Getting flame suit on........

[MinnieGirl33]

I would be much more in favor of a prix fixe (sp?) plan similar to what some are offering under Orlando's Magical Dining Month.

Offer diners an appy, entree & dessert but limit to 2 or 3 choices from each category then leave the rest of the menu alone (return it to pre-DDP days).

Then, offer those who decide to pre-pay a "discount". Say a 3 course pre-paid dinner would be $30 but once your butt is in the seat that same dinner, should you choose to order from it instead of the "regular" menu, is $33.

OK, I can dream can't I?

 

[madcat]

I agree S.Poppins. I paid for the dining plan last year and yes I have to say that I am going during the free dining period this year. Does that make me any less of a Disney Fan? Am I not or is my family not as worthy to grace the walkway of main street as other people who will be there that might not be on the plan? I dont think so. as a matter of fact, if you going to go to the resturants anyway... why wouldnt you be on the plan? that really makes no sense IMHO. I dont think that CM are going to treat you any better or worse if you are on the dining plan or not. As a matter of fact we didnt tell the waitstaff at the resturants that we went to last year until it was close time to get the check, and no one ever gave us a hard time about it. Has the quailty of food and service gone down at the TS resturants, maybe.. and yeah the dining plan may have something to do with that, the waitstaff and kitchen staff prob have very little time to waste and the resturants prob have very little down time from open to close.but when it comes down to it. that is a Disney Problem, something Disney should have considered before they dreamed up the dining plan. If they thought that they could offier it and only a handfull of families would use it, that was bad planning on thier part. I like the plan, I would not go to TS meals every night I was at the resort if I didnt have the plan becuase for one those resturants CAN get quite expensive, no matter what your budget is. and it also allows for a lot of variety and new places to try.. sorry this was so long and I dont want to start anything mean or nasty.. all this is just MHO

 

[zookeeper]

We went during Free Dining last year. Loved it, loved it, loved it! For my large family (5 kids) it was great not to have to constantly be checking prices and worrying about whether or not we'd budgeted enough for meals. It was nice not to have to say no to the $3.00 ice cream bar that we would normally never let them all get. We also didn't have to begrudge spending $20 per child at a character buffet to watch my kids have nothing but a glass of chocolate milk. It was hot,hot,hot but we all agreed the heat/humidity were an excellent trade-off for the low,low,low crowds. We are returning this year only because they offered Free Dining again, as is true of many people I believe. Already though, I'm expecting much bigger crowds than last year and so I'm starting to wonder if the heat/humidity are now going to be coupled with long lines or at least some lines (we walked onto everything last year). Now, if I were a person who had always travelled at this time of year, putting up with the heat/humidity in favour of low crowds and suddenly you are joined by crowds of people enticed only by Free Dining I guess I can understand the resentment of the DDP. Is Free Dining entirely to blame for extra crowds and changes to menus??? Nobody knows for certain. Tourism is picking back up again and I'm sure WDW is always looking for ways to economize, but probably the DDP and Free DDP incentives play some role. I'm sure that those who raise objections to the DDP don't truly wish to take away from your magical vacation, but at the same time their own version of a magical vacation has been subjected to changes and I can see how that might bother them.

 

[Quinn222]

It has been mentioned quite a few times that it appears that some restaurants have "scaled down" menu items to compensate for the free dining. Does anyone know if it remains this way when there is no free dining. I have no problem at all with offering the free dining....but when I am paying full price for every item ordered, I certainly don't want a scaled down version.

They haven't scaled down for free dining, they have scaled down for the dining plan period.

 

[dznymom1]

Am I an elitist snob? Nope, don't think so. I am, however, a spoiled brat that doesn't like to waste time in lines, which is the main reason for going in the off season. I also like to be spontaneous and usually decide on a plan the night before. The large number of people (perfectly nice people who I have no problems with at all ) doing TS meals that normally wouldn't definitely puts a cramp in my style! I am much happier when there are less people in the parks and in the restaurants. That said, even though I am DVC and have to pay for the plan, I decided to GO FOR IT and try a different kind of trip - a full out Foodathon. See you all in line!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

911 what is your emergency?

It really angers me that the restaurants have kind of dumbed down for this plan. I blame it on the guests that are on the DDP. When reading this board most DDPs are looking for the most expensive food as in lobster.

We're sending the WAAAAAAAAHMBULANCE right over after the drivers finish their lobster.

 

[danalee]

Daisy D I think you might be who the OP was thinking of when she started the thread (well not you directly, but you know what I mean)

You make it seem like if you are on the DDP thats its some type of Disney welfare program!
Maybe you should take it up with the powers that be at disney, instead of the people that accept the plan that disney has offered to them
Would you feel better if the price for the plan was raised from the pittance of $38 a day?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

No wait. I have a better idea. Let's just have Disney charge full price for everything, everywhere. No discounting. That way, everyone is happy right?
That way, service will be 100% rosy, food will be 100% rosy, and hotel service will skyrocket in quality. And all will be Disneybliss.

You people with all your discounts are ruining Disney. So don't accept them. And if you feel you absolutely can't resist the dining plan, at least have the decency to mind your place, save the Lobster for the TRUE paying customers, and order the cheap chicken.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Now, if I were a person who had always travelled at this time of year, putting up with the heat/humidity in favour of low crowds and suddenly you are joined by crowds of people enticed only by Free Dining I guess I can understand the resentment of the DDP.

That's us.

I'm sure that those who raise objections to the DDP don't truly wish to take away from your magical vacation, but at the same time their own version of a magical vacation has been subjected to changes and I can see how that might bother them.

Exactly my point. Thanks!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

No wait. I have a better idea. Let's just have Disney charge full price for everything, everywhere. No discounting. That way, everyone is happy right?
That way, service will be 100% rosy, food will be 100% rosy, and hotel service will skyrocket in quality. And all will be Disneybliss.

Actually, this is how things used to be. WDW, very rarely if ever, discounted anything (rooms, packages, etc). The Disney Store had 2 sales a year that people would line up for in the wee hours of the morning. The price was the price & that was it.

And, IMO, things were better off.

 

[DaisyD]

Daisy D I think you might be who the OP was thinking of when she started the thread (well not you directly, but you know what I mean)

You make it seem like if you are on the DDP thats its some type of Disney welfare program!
Maybe you should take it up with the powers that be at disney, instead of the people that accept the plan that disney has offered to them
Would you feel better if the price for the plan was raised from the pittance of $38 a day?

Paying $38 is a bargain for the food you get. I don't mean to make it sound like welfare but you really can eek out way more then you paid for. I do think the price should be raised to at least $50 or have a $$ amount set on the meal. That way there would be less taken away from full paying guests. I have written to Disney about my complaint. While I doubt it will do anything, it certainly made me feel better! LOL!

 

[DaisyD]

Actually, this is how things used to be. WDW, very rarely if ever, discounted anything (rooms, packages, etc). The Disney Store had 2 sales a year that people would line up for in the wee hours of the morning. The price was the price & that was it.

And, IMO, things were better off.

Honestly I'd rather do without all discounts.

 

[DaisyD]

No wait. I have a better idea. Let's just have Disney charge full price for everything, everywhere. No discounting. That way, everyone is happy right?
That way, service will be 100% rosy, food will be 100% rosy, and hotel service will skyrocket in quality. And all will be Disneybliss.

You people with all your discounts are ruining Disney. So don't accept them. And if you feel you absolutely can't resist the dining plan, at least have the decency to mind your place, save the Lobster for the TRUE paying customers, and order the cheap chicken.

Bring it on. I would love Disney to get rid of the discounts. I never even knew discounts existed at WDW till a few years ago. I'd rather pay full price then deal with the people getting the bargains.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Bring it on. I would love Disney to get rid of the discounts. I never even knew discounts existed at WDW till a few years ago. I'd rather pay full price then deal with the people getting the bargains.

Well you can start by always insisting on paying full price. Oh and forget that value season discount. You want Holiday rates for the perfect Disney Bliss.

 

[danalee]

Who in there right mind doesent want a deal or a discount from time to time.

So if they offered you a deal when booking a room you would say no?

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I think we are getting a little cranky here about the Dining Plan. I am going to remind you that the Restaurant Mods do not want to deal with arguments about the Dining Plan...discussion is always good, but I think we have gone past that....with that this thread is locked. Please refer to the Dis guidelines on posting found here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm