Is it just me or has the 2008 DDP chased guests out of the TS places?

[jenjersnap]

WCC was taking walk ups the night we were there two weeks ago. In fact, I was a bit irritated because the people waiting to check in line immediately before us were walk ups and seated within 25 minutes and we waited an HOUR despite having ADRs. We were a party of 2 and they were a party of 3 but we were seated at a table for 4 in the end anyway. I have had my last mediocre meal at WCC - I am vowing never to return! Dh can take the boys by himself if he wants to eat there.

I think it is totally about faster turnover in regular non-buffet restaurants that is allowing more wiggle room.

 

[Sysyphus]

I've been quite pleasantly surprised by how many of my desired ADRs I've been able to hit... I didn't even book next weeks trip until January, but I got just about everything I was looking for except Le Cellier.

 

[byoung]

We walked up to Kona's last friday And got seated at 5pm (4 adults). Thursday night at 5:30 we eat at Tutto Italia there where lot's of emty tables.

 

[RMulieri]

Good to hear,and probably all related.I still can't take the chance though...I am going at the end of Sept.So come 3/25 I am on that phone at 0700.....especially with bounceback and free dining probably coming.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

Good to hear,and probably all related.I still can't take the chance though...I am going at the end of Sept.So come 3/25 I am on that phone at 0700.....especially with bounceback and free dining probably coming.

Exactly! I don't think the ADRs are going to be that easy to come by in September if the free dining is going on. I will be on the phone on the 21st!

 

[n2mm]

Exactly! I don't think the ADRs are going to be that easy to come by in September if the free dining is going on. I will be on the phone on the 21st!

I agree, we are going in August on the 40% code and I made almost all of my ADRs last week. We are not on the DDP, but I didn't want to take a chance with free ddp offererd for August for our UK friends, there will be some trouble getting into places and with the DDPX that makes it a little more challenging. Of course, I would love to see free DDP offered for August, but not holding my breath as they didn't have it for the GP last year in August. (at least not mid-August).

 

[global_mom]

Our plans have changed a bit for our trip that is in 3 weeks during spring break season. We are going to need to cancel 2 nights at the beginning of our trip and add 2 nights at the end of our trip. I have ADRs for those first 2 nights in place: Rose and Crown, Mickey's Backyard Barbq, Tusker House breakfast. I am going to try to change these to the new dates.

I will report back to this thread with the results of the changes. Will it be easy to get the ressies???? Hmmmm.....

 

[Tam1067]

I might be in the minority here, but I have not seen a difference. I called last week at about 165 days out (early August trip, before free DDP would start), and we got all the places we wanted, but some of the times were not desirable. Fantasmic package at HBD, we had to go at 4:30 because later times for parties of 5 were booked. We did get what we wanted, but the times are not exactly what I would have chosen as the first choice. Now I'm not complaining at all, but it's about what I experienced last year too, in terms of availability.

 

[TisBit]

Here is my take....yes if people find the DDP less than desirable they will be less willing to pay for TS meals. Even if it would cost the same thing, it is harder for people who used to use DDP to walk into LeCellier and pay the OOP costs...when they could go eat somewhere else.

I wonder if vacationing habits and economy have anything to do with it. Maybe people (locals) are not going out as much and just not canceling their ressies. Vacationers are being more frugal and not going to TS to save on the cost of the trip....etc.

 

[global_mom]

Our plans have changed a bit for our trip that is in 3 weeks during spring break season. We are going to need to cancel 2 nights at the beginning of our trip and add 2 nights at the end of our trip. I have ADRs for those first 2 nights in place: Rose and Crown, Mickey's Backyard Barbq, Tusker House breakfast. I am going to try to change these to the new dates.

I will report back to this thread with the results of the changes. Will it be easy to get the ressies???? Hmmmm.....

I am quoting myself b/c I have not yet made the phone call to try to change our ressies.

Its hard to get DH to make up his mind about the new dates that we are trying to book. Being a Realtor, his schedule changes daily and since our local real estate market has exploded (in a very good way) it is hard to even get him on the phone!

 

[LSchrow]

It could also be that since the DDP eliminated the appetizer that this is now shortening the overall meal and is opening up more TS slots - quicker table turnover.

Just a thought.

very good point

we'll literally be thrilled if restaurants are less crowded

 

[JimMIA]

I don't know whether it's DDP or not, but I called Friday to make my one and only ADR for our upcoming trip (We're eating offsite for all other meals). We were looking for a princess breakfast at Akershus on a Wednesday morning in May. We had a choice of half a dozen times for a party of six. Not bad for 3 months out!

 

[TDC Nala]

Maybe people (locals) are not going out as much and just not canceling their ressies.

Most of the locals I know had difficulty getting reservations at WDW restaurants, because they tried to get them within a night or so of when they wanted to eat and nothing was available. My friends generally said during certain times of year if they wanted to eat at WDW, they had to pick places that didn't accept the dining plan.

 

[global_mom]

I really think that alot of this is people turning away from the 2008 DDP. Now mind you that the "new guests" did not experience the 2007 plan so they dont know that the 2008 plan is less value. Plenty of folks are thrilled with the 2008 plan, and plenty love the DxDDP.

But, Disney may have underestimated the power of its repeat guests who can find a much better dining value w/o the DDP. Once all these guests start limiting their TS spending, then the restaurants may see an even greater decrease in attendance.

The only place where Disney has a 100% hold on our family is that we are unwilling to go off-site to dine. We may not be doing as many TS meals w/o the plan but we are still spending 100% of our dining budget on Disney property and we love it that way.

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

That is a really dramatic change in less than 2 months! Lecellier has been the 'crown jewel' of ADRs for quite some time. In 2007 it would have been impossible to walk in. That is really cool that she was able to get in!

Hi there! First Post.

We were on the DDP in May of '07. I called and called trying to make ADR's for les Cellier, and was told repeatedly that there was NOTHING for our entire trip after 1 PM or something crazy.

Anyway, in Epcot one day while we were were walking over to our ressie for Chefs de France, we decided to stop into les Cellier on a whim. I walked up to the podium and asked them if they had any availability. The lady said, "Sure. We can get the three of you in right now."

I couldn't believe our luck!!! (It was about 5:45-6:00 ish at the time, BTW.) So maybe they had some cancellations, or maybe they purposefully save some slots for walk-ins. Either way, it was our best meal of the trip by far, and I am so glad that we decided to stop in.

We are going back in September this year, so we are hoping for free dining. If not, I doubt we will get the DDP because of the changes. (We are apetizer people over desserts any day.)

 

[global_mom]

Hi there! First Post.

We were on the DDP in May of '07. I called and called trying to make ADR's for les Cellier, and was told repeatedly that there was NOTHING for our entire trip after 1 PM or something crazy.

Anyway, in Epcot one day while we were were walking over to our ressie for Chefs de France, we decided to stop into les Cellier on a whim. I walked up to the podium and asked them if they had any availability. The lady said, "Sure. We can get the three of you in right now."

I couldn't believe our luck!!! (It was about 5:45-6:00 ish at the time, BTW.) So maybe they had some cancellations, or maybe they purposefully save some slots for walk-ins. Either way, it was our best meal of the trip by far, and I am so glad that we decided to stop in.

We are going back in September this year, so we are hoping for free dining. If not, I doubt we will get the DDP because of the changes. (We are apetizer people over desserts any day.)

Welcome to the Dis! Scoring leCellier on a walk up was great luck!!

 

[Matt71]

I made a couple changes to my ADRs yesterday. I remembered this thread and asked the CM if she'd noticed a decline in the number of ADRs being made. She seemed pretty shocked at the thought and said absolutely not.

 

[Pumbaa_]

We were thre in January and went without any ADR's. We ate at Kona for dinner, Captain's grill for breakfast, Garden Grill, Boma (got that ADR for 4 15 minutes before we arrived ) and Tokyo Dining.

We either walked up or called within hours of our dining time. It was very nice having a relaxing trip without planning every day so far in advance.

I hope this trend continues!

 

[Pumbaa_]

I made a couple changes to my ADRs yesterday. I remembered this thread and asked the CM if she'd noticed a decline in the number of ADRs being made. She seemed pretty shocked at the thought and said absolutely not.

A single CM may not notice a difference in how busy they are. The folks that do the scheduling would notice a difference. Another difference may be people booking 1 or 2 ADRs vs 6

 

[jodifla]

We got same day ressies for Yachtsman Steakhouse on a Friday night. I'd say the gutting of the DDP is doing GOOD THINGS for Disney dining.

The other thing is our food was fantastic! It had declined greatly during the whole DDP debacle.

Good riddance to that program!