I guess I am late hearing!

[Merilyn]

I just made my 2008 reservations at OKW and have begun to investigate the meal plan. I am so surprised! Not only is it costing more but they have taken off some of my favorite places to eat. The 18% added on to a TS meal will add a great deal if you eat expensive like we have in the past. I rather like the old plan. I never got bad service. If Disney didn't give the waiters there fair share, then that is Disney's problem. I doubt we will use the plan this next time. It won't be worth the money to me. We can eat off site and do much better. I am sure Disney won't come out ahead now since I am sure there are many who feel the same way as I do. They have taken away and added more expense. Not a good idea, Disney! I really liked not having to worry about money, just sign and go. With the new plan you will have to get a bill so you can figure the tip. Then charge or leave cash. TOO much trouble. I will just pay for all and forget the plan when we eat onsite. I always leave 20% so that is an expense I am used too. Just won't eat onsite much.

 

[TDC Nala]

I just made my 2008 reservations at OKW and have begun to investigate the meal plan. I am so surprised! Not only is it costing more but they have taken off some of my favorite places to eat. The 18% added on to a TS meal will add a great deal if you eat expensive like we have in the past. I rather like the old plan. I never got bad service. If Disney didn't give the waiters there fair share, then that is Disney's problem. I doubt we will use the plan this next time. It won't be worth the money to me. We can eat off site and do much better. I am sure Disney won't come out ahead now since I am sure there are many who feel the same way as I do. They have taken away and added more expense. Not a good idea, Disney! I really liked not having to worry about money, just sign and go. With the new plan you will have to get a bill so you can figure the tip. Then charge or leave cash. TOO much trouble. I will just pay for all and forget the plan when we eat onsite. I always leave 20% so that is an expense I am used too. Just won't eat onsite much.

I wouldn't flip out yet over the restaurants not being on the list. The same thing happened last year when they released the packages before the contracts were finalized for the non-Disney-owned restaurants. If you wait a bit, they'll probably reappear.

But if the tip thing is a dealbreaker, so be it.

 

[canwegosoon]

You obviously missed the whole "Call disney and tell them you are unhappy thread" too...you know with any corporation the most effective way of letting you feelings being heard is by speaking with your wallet. SO if you are unhappy with the 2008 plan I am glad you are making other arrangements...it is your choice as much as it is WDW choice to make changes. Do what is best for you and your family.

 

[iluvdizknee]

Talk about disappointment. Last time we went to Disney, my whole family regretting not getting the DP and swore the next time we go we would sign up for it. Now, we are really upset at the new plan. Even eating on site, CS and snacks....you really need to eat ALOT of expensive TS to pay for the plan. We are going for 14 nights, the DP for the 4 of us would be $2100....I dont think so when you add on the tip we have to pay OOP...and....hubby didnt like the fact that when you use the DP for the hoop de doo you can not get seats on the floor in front of the stage where we like to sit.
Oh well....

 

[septbaby]

The analysis for whether the 2008 DP or Deluxe DP work for you are the same as with the current plan.

1. Determine cost for DP/DXDP for your group

2. Look at menus and decide what you are likely or order, total those costs and add 6.5% for tax

3. If #1 is less than #2, buy the plan and make ADRS as soon as possible

4. I don't add in the 18% tip as its roughly the same on or off the plan so it doesn't matter in determining which is more expensive (like adding $5 to each pile, relative size is the same)

5. If going off site would be likely off plan you could factor in those meals in #2, not apples to apples, but it would reflect on and off plan cost

Many people have reported on the boards that the 2008 plan is still a good deal for their families. Might not be the case for you and emotionally you may really not want to spend those dollars with Disney, but others are finding it a good deal.

My family has a much shorter trip, staying on site without a rental car. So eating Disney is the only way for us to go. The plan will make the vacation a treat for us in 2007. Unless we had a full kitchen, I'm not sure we'd stay on site w/o the DDP.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I think the 18% is only added on parties of 6 or more.

 

[septbaby]

I think the 18% is only added on parties of 6 or more.

In the 2008 Dining Plans tips are NOT included, thus you will need to pay for those OOP, no matter what plan you are on. 18% is a standard tip rate at Disney (and other places), so even off the dining plan most will budget 18%. It is standard practice in the restaurant industry to add an automatic 18% gratuity to checks for parties of 6 or more.

 

[bicker]

Not only is it costing more but they have taken off some of my favorite places to eat.

The list of restaurants for the Dining Plan isn't finalized until December. Nothing has been removed from the list; the list always starts with Disney's own restaurants and then the others get added later.

If Disney didn't give the waiters there fair share, then that is Disney's problem.

Disney did give the waiters their fair share.

It won't be worth the money to me. We can eat off site and do much better.

Each person needs to make this decision for themselves. Personally, I would never consider eating off-site as a comparable alternative to eating on-site.

I am sure Disney won't come out ahead now since I am sure there are many who feel the same way as I do.

I don't believe you're correct about that. Disney has demonstrated time and time again that they know what they're doing. We're a good counter-example. We were on the Dining Plan in February and saved a bunch of money. Next time, we'll pay cash for everything, spend just about the same amount of money, incur less cost to Disney (since we'll probably get fewer appetizers and desserts), and occupy Disney's restaurants' tables for shorter periods of time (for the same reason, and therefore allowing Disney to serve more guests in the same period of time). I am sure there are many who feel the same way as I do, and will do as I will do.

They have taken away and added more expense. Not a good idea, Disney!

Well, given that the plan was so generous -- really underpriced -- for so long, I have to say that it is a very good idea. I do understand if you don't like the change. That would make sense.

I really liked not having to worry about money, just sign and go.

You can still pretty-much do so. It really isn't a significant change, having to putting a gratuity onto the room charge. No trouble whatsoever.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I just made my 2008 reservations at OKW and have begun to investigate the meal plan. I am so surprised! Not only is it costing more but they have taken off some of my favorite places to eat. The 18% added on to a TS meal will add a great deal if you eat expensive like we have in the past.

There’s a good chance this is one of the reasons Disney made this particular change – Diners who tended to order the most expensive items under the current plan, might tend to be more frugal when what they order directly affects what they have to pay out of pocket. And while Disney chooses to tip its servers 18%, that’s an approximate average of the TYPICAL 15% to 20% most diners tend to tip in real life. The only Guests who will HAVE to tip 18% are DDE users, and Guests whose parties consist of six or more persons.

 

[skater]

If Disney does not offer free dining next year and IF we decide to go back (we're strongly considering an alternative), I will evaluate what restaurants are important to us and most likely not plan a sit down meal every day. With this scenario, we probably would not benefit from the dining plan. Also, we are often happy to use our sit down meal for a late lunch since it gives us a nice break in the middle of the day. These meals are less expensive anyway, so I'm sure we would come out ahead to not purchase the DDP. In this case, I would budget for meals and make that much available on our ATM card. Its almost like designing our own dining plan!

 

[NMW]

Did you look into the new deluxe dining plan? Yes it's more money, but completely worth it! For only 69.99 a day (19.99 for kids) you get 3 TS meals, 2 snacks and a refillable mug. Okay, the mug is not a huge deal, but the rest of the plan is great! Plus, you can use 2 of your meals a day for a signature. So, you could do breakfast at Cystal Palace and dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse, plus you have 2 snacks for lunch that day. No way that costs less than 69.99 a person! Trust me, we have paid OOP to eat this way at Disney and 69.99 is a DEAL.

 

[iluvdizknee]

This is what we did, very time consuming but it worked.
Staying 14 nights.....
Took each day and planned our meals.....
Included ADR, Hoop de Doo, all that....
The DP was not saving us, in fact we would lose about $300-$400 (which almost is the same as the tips we would give.... so thats what makes it not worth it for us...and the fact of the seating preferrences at the hoop de)
oK, So it is not for us .... You should try this and see if it is worth it for you.
I would have loved not to worry about meals, but whatever.!

 

[JimMIA]

The analysis for whether the 2008 DP or Deluxe DP work for you are the same as with the current plan.

1. Determine cost for DP/DXDP for your group

2. Look at menus and decide what you are likely or order, total those costs and add 6.5% for tax

3. If #1 is less than #2, buy the plan and make ADRS as soon as possible

This is the comparison the Disney marketing kids would LOVE for you to make!

This comparison assumes that every family staying onsite would eat a full TS meal with dessert every day of their stay , plus a full CS meal with dessert every day of their stay, plus one snack every day of their stay. And DDP is structured to look like a savings given those assumptions.

However, I don't think many families actually eat that way. In fact, how many DDP-users have we seen post that there was "too much food" and they had credits left over? I don't think the Disney marketing equation gives an accurate picture at all.

I think a much more accurate comparison for "captive audience" folks (those trapped onsite) is to compare totals-to-totals.

I would look at the total cost of lodging with available discounts you are eligible for + a good estimate of what you would actually eat if you were paying cash + tickets

vs.

the cost of DDP + the room costs you will have to pay to get DDP (a hidden, but very important cost of DDP) and the cost of tickets.

The tickets may be a wash, or they may not, depending on your particular situation. You can leave the tip out if you want, but it will make a small difference.

I agree that many families will still find DDP advantageous...especially if they have several <10 kids. It's not as good a deal as it has been in the past, and it doesn't work for our family, but it will still be beneficial for many families.

 

[MickeyMark9]

Don't get me wrong, I'm disappointed in the reduction in savings. The bright side, however, is that now my wife and I can very easily pass by the dining plan, and thus be more flexible with when, where and how we want to eat, and hit up some other restaurants we have wanted to that weren't part of the dining plan, or on Disney grounds for that matter! Can't wait to now go to Universal City Walk for some of the great restaurants there, knowing that we're not getting as much of a discount anymore. We love Emeril!! Can't wait to try Shula's Steakhouse! Can't wait to not feel guilty about being "tied down" to dining plan, (again, not to diminish how great the deal used to be)! There's always a bright side...and the bright side for us and our likes, will probably cost Disney some $$.

 

[septbaby]

This is the comparison the Disney marketing kids would LOVE for you to make!

My original comment
2. Look at menus and decide what you are likely or order, total those costs and add 6.5% for tax

Actually, in #2 you should add up only what you think you'd eat off the plan. If you aren't ordering dessert or an appetizer, don't include it.

For sure the dining plans are not for every WDW visitor, but its nice to have the option. I actually prefer condo type accomodations when I travel, but hope the on site conveniences and DDP make for a magical stay at Disney. I will say this, our trip is two weeks away and I am SO giddy that everything is prepaid! I may have to remember that emotion next time we consider a DP trip to WDW.

 

[aclov]

So the new cost is $69.99 a day as someone posted earlier? And tip is not included. Although I realize you get more table service. As it is, there's so much food so under the new plan it seems like more. We probably will be doing more off-site dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

So the new cost is $69.99 a day as someone posted earlier? And tip is not included. Although I realize you get more table service. As it is, there's so much food so under the new plan it seems like more. We probably will be doing more off-site dining.

That is the cost for the DELUXE plan. The basic plan will cost $37.99 per night of stay for adults and $9.99 for children 3-9. It will not include gratuities. Table service meals will include an entree, dessert and nonalcoholic beverage, no appetizer.

 

[just another guy]

If you are upset, PLEASE call or write disney an email!!!!!

The server are just as upset about this. Trust me, I know several. If enough people complain, maybe they will put the grat back on for 09.

 

[bicker]

And be prepared that if they do so, they'll probably increase the price 18%.

 

[mickey2000]

18% of the cost $38 would be fair !!
Never going to happen ........