Has Free Dining ruined WDW restaurants?

[Mimi1965]

Not exactly "ruined', but I am a tad disappointed in menus.

Havent been to WDW in a couple years , since WDW has been really pushing Free Dining to get people to stay at their resorts in these tough economic times.

I just found several menus to be "ho-hum" for my trip next Spring-am I imagining this

 

[DaParkers]

This question is asked consistently and in every way imaginable. There are endless threads addressing this subject.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I wouldn't say ruined, but I feel it has impacted my dining experience. I do feel the food quality has somewhat fallen and the availability of TS meals is also more challenging.

 

[tony67]

Yes some of us have been saying this for years. (As TDC Nala pointed out below it is not "Free" Dinning, but the DDP in General)

The creativity and the daily specials of the past just do not exist.

I don’t think we will ever see an item like the fire roasted whole piranha on the menu at Coral Reef ever again.
It was something that was really unique and memorable.

There are bright spots, and the signature restaurants can do a little more but the main issue is the restaurant have to operate within the limits of the ddp.

I was told at one location that they only get about $15 from the DDP for the 1TS meal. (2009 DDP)
They also get money for the drink and dessert.

They have to produce meals and still make a profit on that amount.
What really gets me about this is then they charge 20-30 for this meal that they have priced to make a profit on at $15.

Also by having a high price on the meal, you have to tip more and the DDP looks like a better value.

 

[CajunMomof3]

I wouldn't say ruined, but I feel it has impacted my dining experience. I do feel the food quality has somewhat fallen and the availability of TS meals is also more challenging.

I like your positive attitude! Yes, reservations are harder to get, but for us that is actually part of the planning fun- making the puzzle pieces fit together. Maybe we are weird...

Our next trip will be our 5th and it will be the first time at Chef Mickey's b/c we haven't be able to get in in the past. We are really excited about finally getting that coveted ressie!

 

[n2mm]

It has changed the way we visit WDW now and probably lots of other folks too. I try to avoid the free dining when I can. Though I will be there this year, but signed up last year under the BB Free DDP. It will be my last time, since the new rules imposed just don't work for us anymore (both DVC members and AP holders). I do like that the dates were announced for August 2011 (starting the 19th or 20th). I booked my August trip for the dates of Aug. 13-19, 2011 in the hopes of avoid the summer free ddp kick-off. I was there last year for the first week of free ddp in August and it was horrible as the crowds swelled that week.

 

[jlk806]

We didnt think so. We just got back last week from a 10 day stay. We enjoyed all of our meals didnt think they were bad quality or anything. I know some restaurants do not have a lot of choices, but we were always able to find something and I dont remember many of these restaurants ever having a ton of choices.
We ate at:
Coral Reef(lunch)
Crystal Palace (lunch)
Chef Mickey's (Dinner)
Tusker House (Breakfast)
Ohana (Dinner)
Tonys Town Square (Dinner)
Rainforest Cafe(Lunch - oop, but one of best on trip!)
Planet Hollywood (lunch)
Whispering Canyon Cafe (Dinner)
Akershus (Breakfast)

We enjoyed all our meals and will be back again next year to enjoy them again.

 

[TDC Nala]

If they have been ruined (and I don't think they ALL have) then it is not because of FREE dining in particular but because of Disney's new business model, which includes general cost-cutting and standardizing of Disney restaurants (which is also happening at Disneyland, and Disneyland does not have free dining or even a comparable dining plan.) The quality and selection at many restaurants is not what it was about 6 years ago, but I think the dining plan and "free" dining is a symptom, not a cause.

 

[Kay1]

I don't like what the DDP has done to Disney menus, especially variety and prices. However, Disney decison makers are charge with making profits for shareholders, and, if the DDP is doing that, then it's here to stay.

I just have to do what I can to create good dining experiences for my family. A lot of times that means going offsite.

 

[Cafeen]

I'd be more inclined to agree with Nala, it's not Free Dining nor the Dining Plans in general, but rather the root cause that brought both of those into being.

This is only conjecture on my part, I simply haven't been around long enough to know if this is the case, but it makes the most sense to me. Here's how I see the business logic:
0) Restaurants sitting (relatively) empty and dining profits are down.
1) Implement Dining Plans to get more diners into seats. Include everything with it
2) Tweak the new Dining Plans to improve table turn over (remove Apps), at the same time, remove tips to save some extra company money (and as the solution to a common guest complaint regarding servers who "just weren't trying").
3) Restaurants are filling up, but money still has to be saved, so this is where they'd start cutting the quality and quantity of selections. See what sells well and what doesn't. Cut the menus down to 5-6 solid choices rather than a dozen. This saves on ingredients, staff training, and overall time.
4) Start staffing cutbacks. (They've done this some, but I have a feeling that this is more the "next" step than the current one)

Now, again, I'm definitely not saying this is what happened, but it's what makes sense to me. Since we can see the DDP (as well as Free Dining) is incorporated before the Quality and Staffing cutbacks (and anecdotal evidence supports this), it's easy to blame them on the Dining Plans in general. My logic tells me that they are simply both symptoms of the original issue. This is supported by several non-DDP restaurants as well as restaurants in other areas of the country also trimming menus and/or quality. These places do not have the (or a) dining plan, and they're cutting costs the same way.

Of course, the dining plan does have its own set of issues (and one of them being the amount of reimbursement that the restaurants get). But, we also don't know both sides of the deal. Does Disney sell them ingredients on the cheap? Disney marketing is certainly part of the deal on Disney's side as well, which is proven by the raw number of people showing up for dining since the plans were introduced. I'm sure there are many facets to the whole contract.

However, with that said, I do agree that something needs to be done to stem the slide (perceived or real) sooner rather than later.

 

[ElizabethB]

Yes. Plus, it has become impossible to avoid free dining! We generally now dine at restaurants that do not accept DDP.

 

[Mimi1965]

Yes. Plus, it has become impossible to avoid free dining! We generally now dine at restaurants that do not accept DDP.

Is that Disney Dinig Plan ? DDP?
How do you know which restaurants those are?

 

[Missytara]

Is that Disney Dinig Plan ? DDP?
How do you know which restaurants those are?

They are non-owned Disney restaurants and do not accept the dining plan.

They would be several places at DTD, as well as the Swan/Dolphin.

My personal favorite non-DDP place is Fulton's at DTD. I never miss a chance to eat there. I usually only use the dining plan when I am traveling with friends on a budget.

 

[aenelson]

I wouldn't say ruined, but I feel it has impacted my dining experience. I do feel the food quality has somewhat fallen and the availability of TS meals is also more challenging.

I honestly do not understand this hard to get ressie thing. I got all my reservations I wanted for 2 weeks including Chef Mickeys (2), Cinderella, Le Cellier(2), Donalds Safari, Ohana(2), Coral Reef, and sooo many more. Plus I only made my reservations in August for my October trip. Do I think DDP has ruined Disney Dining, no way! I have been going for 25 years now, and I really love the DDP. It helps me plan my days.

 

[Missytara]

I also have to agree with Nala; I say it is been "dumbed down" to provide food people are used to getting in chain restaurants.

There was a great article years ago, about the chain restaurants and why they are so popular - it is because people know no matter where they go, the food will always taste the same and they will always get it the way they are used to it tasting.

I think with the DDP, Disney is trying to cater to the "average" chain restaurant eater and has "dumbed down" the menus to get that effect, in order to entice them into buying the plan and getting them into the restaurants. Then along came free dining, which got people into the restaurants that would never dream of being able to afford them, but want to have meals similar to the fast food places they are used to at home.

I go to a fabulous place called Uno's near my home. The staff is just wonderful to me and I love their ever-changing menu. I love the deep dish pizza and since it is more of a franchise than a chain, they will make me stuff "to order" sometimes since I eat there so much.

They often have local fundraisers for a lot of the schools, and people will come from miles around, who have no idea what a deep dish pizza is, and that it takes twenty minutes to make on the average, and that yes folks, the cheese is on the bottom and the sauce is on the top! I cannot tell you how often people complain after about five or six minutes waiting for a deep dish pizza. And the most two overheard comments -

"I waited all that time and you completely forgot to put cheese on it. Take it back and put the cheese on it next time."

"You know, we don't wait nearly this long to get a pizza anywhere else we go. You guys really need to learn how to make a good, quick pizza like (fill in the blank - Pizza Hut, Domino's etc.)."

Ugh.......

 

[tony67]

I honestly do not understand this hard to get ressie thing. I got all my reservations I wanted for 2 weeks including Chef Mickeys (2), Cinderella, Le Cellier(2), Donalds Safari, Ohana(2), Coral Reef, and sooo many more. Plus I only made my reservations in August for my October trip. Do I think DDP has ruined Disney Dining, no way! I have been going for 25 years now, and I really love the DDP. It helps me plan my days.

Part of it is your going in October and not July. Not quite the same thing.

May also be your party size.
It may be much harder to get a table for 5 than 2 or 4 for example.

 

[aes74]

Yes. But as stated above, not just free dining but their whole approach. We just went to Crystal Palace for breakfast and it was such a disappointment, where three years ago it was a must-do. They have basically had to cut out anything inventive, and any frills. We don't even do the ddp anymore.

 

[tony67]

Yes. But as stated above, not just free dining but their whole approach. We just went to Crystal Palace for breakfast and it was such a disappointment, where three years ago it was a must-do. They have basically had to cut out anything inventive, and any frills. We don't even do the ddp anymore.

The one thing that drives me mad about the breakfasts buffets is the powdered eggs they use.

It's bad enough they use them at the buffets, but when they even put them on the skillets at a character breakfast it is just ridiculous.

I cannot see any reason for a buffet that charges $26 (O'Hana) to serve powdered eggs.

 

[ptdealer]

I did not know that all of these sophisticated palettes would want to dine at Disney.
Perhaps they should bring in 5 star restaurants for the sophisticate diner.
I like the restaurants, and use the dinning plan every trip. Me and family have a great time at the different places we get to eat. They are better than your average hotel lobby restaurant

 

[imLissy]

I agree with others, I don't think free dining or the DDP is to blame. I think it's Disney trying to save money and people not being adventurous eaters.

Really, if someone goes to Uno and complains they're not like Pizza Hut, we have a culture problem