Heard about the changes to the DDP?

[sajilunni]

Were any of you planning to use the Disney Dining Plan during your stay? I just booked rooms for my guests today and wanted to sign up for the DDP as well. It was such a great deal to get both a lunch and dinner with appetizer, entree, dessert and soft drink, as well as a morning snack for $39 a day, and that covered tipping as well. I had already researched out exactly what restaurants I wanted to go to and even what foods I wanted to try. But then the CM told me they changed their policy and now there would be no appetizers included, and no tipping included either! They're charging a buck less, but that doesn't really ease the pain.

I will probably still do it because we're hosting all 15 of our guests and it would just be more convenient and hospitable for us to take care of dining while we're there. Moreso than losing the appetizers, I'm upset about losing the tipping. That means that we can't be as carefree as we had originally imagined, bringing nothing with us but our key card. Now we'll have to bring cash, and do the tip-math rather than ignore the prices on the menu.

This is the third major change since I've started planning our first trip to Disney. First there was the private chat room that Disney was offering for everyone planning a Grand Gathering to get together with their party and plan together, that program was abruptly stopped. Then there was the $1000 price increase for Escape weddings. Not to mention the many WC changes I was informed of. Sigh... Does Disney routinely make so many big changes to their policies?

Jil

 

[Janet2k]

Does Disney routinely make so many big changes to their policies?

Sajilunni, I feel your pain. Anyone who has been vacationing in WDW for years certainly feels your pain (we've all had things changed on us, too, over the years). I just wanted to mention that sometimes the changes are good, so don't lose the faith.

Your upcoming VR will be wonderful, have no fear. Congratulations!

 

[suprgrlx]

I'm sure this isn't the official reason that it was changed, but I had read a lot of reviews from people saying their servers were rushing/disinterested/rude, particularly when they heard you were on the dining plan. I assume this is because they were guaranteed their gratuity. Maybe this will change?