Latest DDP changes! From 8/13-8/19 Trip

[Brygida]

In case no one has passed these along yet.....

1. In your check-in package you will have a brochure stating that you can exchange 1 TS credit for 1 CS + 2 Snack credits. Who would do this? Not us.

2. Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station is now a reservation only TS restaurant! We could not get in when we found it open. It was closed for several other days we attempted to go.


3. With the under $4 snack rule, we expected EPCOT snacks to be allowed. In fact we counted on it... but noooooo all snack carts and snack places (like the crepes at France, Boulangerie et Patisserrie, etc) do NOT accept the DDP snack credits. In fact, you were only allowed to get bottled water, ice tea, etc at indoor type CS places as a snack credit.

4. If you were on the DDP last year, prepare for some disappointments at TS restaurants at EPCOT. All the food selections have been "dumbed-down". Whereas last year you could get a $70 meal for 1 TS credit, the meals have been downsized so much that all you will find typically is about a $30 meal for 1 TS credit. (The choice of appetizers and entrees have all been miniaturized... what was last year part of an entree is now listed as a separate appetizer or side-order which is no longer included with your entree.)

 

[Bete]

I'm presuming that this is the regular menu and everyone is ordering from the same menu whether you are DDP or not. I wouldn't think the selections, etc. would be that much different from before, but I believe you. I'm suprised.

This must be a way to get more money for the restaurants from everyone. I don't think this is pointed at DDP people only; since, everyone does the same menu.

I'm glad I'm going while it's free. It will be a way to check everything out. I went last year for the promo and we were very happy about it. Also, if it's only Epcot seeming to be worse then I would skip eating there and go somewhere else.

 

[Lightcommastix]

1. In your check-in package you will have a brochure stating that you can exchange 1 TS credit for 1 CS + 2 Snack credits. Who would do this?

Hungry people who didn't make ADRs encountering TS restaurants not accepting walk-ups due to the free dining crowd!

 

[DaisyD]

I'm presuming that this is the regular menu and everyone is ordering from the same menu whether you are DDP or not. I wouldn't think the selections, etc. would be that much different from before, but I believe you. I'm suprised.

This must be a way to get more money for the restaurants from everyone. I don't think this is pointed at DDP people only; since, everyone does the same menu.

I'm glad I'm going while it's free. It will be a way to check everything out. I went last year for the promo and we were very happy about it. Also, if it's only Epcot seeming to be worse then I would skip eating there and go somewhere else.

Unfortunately this is happening at many restaurants and is because of the DDP. The OOP folks are paying the price for the DDP folks. If it gets worse we will not be going to WDW at all.

 

[mrsltg]

#3 on the OP is incorrect. I purchased water, ice cream, etc at outdoor carts several times at Epcot as recently as Sunday. Our dinner at Rose and Crown consisted of the regular menu, so no problems there, either.

 

[Brygida]

#3 on the OP is incorrect. I purchased water, ice cream, etc at outdoor carts several times at Epcot as recently as Sunday. Our dinner at Rose and Crown consisted of the regular menu, so no problems there, either.

Not only did they not accept the DDP snack credit, but most outdoor carts clearly stated that they take cash only! so no charging back to the room either! I bought an ice cream cone, crepes, and a pastry in France on Saturday 8/19, that I had to pay cash for, no snack credit allowed!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Not only did they not accept the DDP snack credit, but most outdoor carts clearly stated that they take cash only! so no charging back to the room either! I bought an ice cream cone, crepes, and a pastry in France on Saturday 8/19, that I had to pay cash for, no snack credit allowed!

Maybe their system was down. I've bought items at the carts and charged them to the room many times - we never carry cash. Maybe that was the problem? Many people have come back saying they used snack credits at the carts in the past, I can't imagine they would change that drastically (and eliminate credit, debit, and room charges along with it).

 

[Brygida]

I'm presuming that this is the regular menu and everyone is ordering from the same menu whether you are DDP or not. I wouldn't think the selections, etc. would be that much different from before, but I believe you. I'm suprised.

This must be a way to get more money for the restaurants from everyone. I don't think this is pointed at DDP people only; since, everyone does the same menu.

I'm glad I'm going while it's free. It will be a way to check everything out. I went last year for the promo and we were very happy about it. Also, if it's only Epcot seeming to be worse then I would skip eating there and go somewhere else.

Yes, everyone does get the same menu. For example, at Teppanyaki in Japan, last year I got tempura for an appetizer, and the entree included a salad. This year, the previously included salad had been made into an appetizer, the tempura was gone, and many of the lunch combos were not available. You could get the chicken, but if you wanted the scallops, you had to add a "side order" to your chicken entree and pay OOP.

 

[bicker]

There have actually been relatively few cases of menus being substantially changes to account for the Dining Plan. Lobster seems to be the most common target, now found (included) only at 2TS restaurants and one 1TS restaurant. From our recent experience as folks paying OOP while others had the Dining Plan, the overall dining experience hasn't be harmed that much -- it really isn't enough to be concerned about IMHO.

 

[Lewisc]

Officially there is no $4 rule for snacks. That's an observation made by guests but there has been a few exceptions.

Non-Disney restaurants are paid around $25 per meal. We shouldn't be surprised that restaurants no longer want to give us $70 worth of food.

Bicker--If you already have an ADR for Chefs there isn't any reason to call. They ask if you're on the dining plan for marketing purposes. It's reported they also ask to help plan food purchases, dining guest tend to order more appetizers and desserts than cash guests.

 

[Brygida]

Maybe their system was down. I've bought items at the carts and charged them to the room many times - we never carry cash. Maybe that was the problem? Many people have come back saying they used snack credits at the carts in the past, I can't imagine they would change that drastically (and eliminate credit, debit, and room charges along with it).

No, there system was not down. They have permanent signs on the carts/cash registers saying "Cash Only".

I was only making this point, so that others don't get disappointed into saving their snack credits for all those delicious EPCOT snacks/desserts, only to find out that they can't use snack credits for most EPCOT snacks/desserts.

Maybe you bought something at a Disney ice cream bars cart. I think those take it. I mean the individual country carts and Boulangerie et Patisserrie at France that most people snack at, don't accept the DDP snack credits.

 

[rlduvall]

Thanks for the great information.

 

[bicker]

There are a few kiosks that don't take any forms of credit, whether it be credit cards, room charges or Dining Plan. Not many though so folks shouldn't be too concerned about it. There are many, many places to use those snack credits.

 

[ReneeA]

We noticed a few "cash only" kiosks in Epcot last year - specifically one near Ellen's that sold iced coffee. I didn't think it was a big deal, as I just assumed they didn't have the equipment necessary to even bill the purchase to your room card. There are kiosks around every corner - literally - in Epcot. It's pretty easy to walk a few yards and get what you are looking for at another location.

As for the exchange of TS credits...families like ours with more than one young child can't always find a good time to sit and expect all of the children to enjoy it and behave for an hour and a half. We ended up with some leftover TS credits last year since we didn't make it to one 8pm ADR. The other guests dining there should have thanked us - really, with how tired and cranky they were at that time.

The good thing is that it's becoming more flexible and ALL guests should be happy about that.

 

[Tinks]

Yes, everyone does get the same menu. For example, at Teppanyaki in Japan, last year I got tempura for an appetizer, and the entree included a salad. This year, the previously included salad had been made into an appetizer, the tempura was gone, and many of the lunch combos were not available. You could get the chicken, but if you wanted the scallops, you had to add a "side order" to your chicken entree and pay OOP.

I just ate at Teppanyaki an Aug. 12th (saturday) and I used the dining plan. You are correct that the salad is now an appetizer option, but I ordered the chicken/scallop combo for my dinner and it was fine. No extra out of pocket for that. I only saw OOP for sushi, lobster, and alcoholic beverages. Maybe you were there for lunch???

 

[robinb]

I just ate at Teppanyaki an Aug. 12th (saturday) and I used the dining plan. You are correct that the salad is now an appetizer option, but I ordered the chicken/scallop combo for my dinner and it was fine. No extra out of pocket for that. I only saw OOP for sushi, lobster, and alcoholic beverages. Maybe you were there for lunch???

Teppanyaki used to allow you to order scallops or shrimp as an appitizer.

 

[DiszyDean]

There have actually been relatively few cases of menus being substantially changes to account for the Dining Plan. Lobster seems to be the most common target, now found (included) only at 2TS restaurants and one 1TS restaurant. From our recent experience as folks paying OOP while others had the Dining Plan, the overall dining experience hasn't be harmed that much -- it really isn't enough to be concerned about IMHO.

I agree with you Bicker. If you look at it on a large scale, I think the menu changes at certain resteraunts have really been overblown as it relates to the Dining Plan. I look at the menus now vs. when I was there the last time and other than the lobster you mentioned and possibly a couple of deserts disapearing, no major changes. Some portions may have changed, but restaurants do that all the time, dining plan or not.

It seems that there is a lot of mis-information floating out there regarding the dining plan. And most of it is not intentional as different people might have different experiences. If there is one thing I would like to see fixed, it would be the consistency with how the rules of the dining plan are applied throughout WDW.

 

[DaisyD]

No, there system was not down. They have permanent signs on the carts/cash registers saying "Cash Only".

I was only making this point, so that others don't get disappointed into saving their snack credits for all those delicious EPCOT snacks/desserts, only to find out that they can't use snack credits for most EPCOT snacks/desserts.

Maybe you bought something at a Disney ice cream bars cart. I think those take it. I mean the individual country carts and Boulangerie et Patisserrie at France that most people snack at, don't accept the DDP snack credits.

I saw this too in July. We were at the Italy cart getting a water when the folks in front of us were complaining about not being able to use their credits for something. The CM pointed to the sign that has that little DDP emblem next to what is allowed. The ice was not allowed. There were also cash only signs. Unless we both happened to catch the systems down, which I doubt, things have changed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Unfortunately this is happening at many restaurants and is because of the DDP. The OOP folks are paying the price for the DDP folks.

If that was true, then if/when Disney eliminates the "common-folk" Dining Plan, do you really expect that the menu choices and serving sizes will increase?

If there is one thing I would like to see fixed, it would be the consistency with how the rules of the dining plan are applied throughout WDW.

Ah, you mean, for example, ALL restaurants on the DDP allowing Guests to get any non-alcoholic beverage with their TS credits? That was the one inconsistency I found last year - some places allowed blender drinks, others only soft drinks.

 

[HaleyB]

2. Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station is now a reservation only TS restaurant! We could not get in when we found it open. It was closed for several other days we attempted to go.

Really? It has been reported a number of times that this was walk-up only, no ADR's for this location. The menu is not appealing to me so I haven't looked into it much, though.