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

[Brygida]

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?

Yes I do. Folks walking into Teppanyaki at Japan would then have to choose among higher-priced combo entrees with included extras (like salad, etc). Japan I'm sure made more money from the higher-priced combos before the DDP, then allowing the higher-priced combos to be ordered for the fixed-DDP-price.

 

[Brygida]

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.

Yup. It has been turned into an all-you-can eat Asian food buffet. I don't know if it was still good though as I never got in. When it was CS, it was the only good CS/TS at Magic Kingdom and we always ate there.

 

[DaisyD]

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?

.

Nope. DDP ruined that and it will never come back. Really is a shame.

 

[JJClemson]

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!

I had the same problem at Epcot on 8/15. None of the carts we tried accepted DDP, cash only.

 

[janets]

We are going in just a couple of weeks and my younger ds loves the Izakadoosie ice pops, which they sell from the carts (the one I use most frequently is in that area where you split off for Ellen, Mission Space and Test Track, right where the water misters are, near the bathrooms). Will I have trouble using snack credits at these locations or are we talking the individual carts in World Showcase?

While I would love to use a snack credit for the occasional pastry or something like that, if it's not available, I'll make sure to have cash (as it seems they don't even take room charge or any kind of debit or other card). Can someone clarify?

 

[Gymbomom]

Question: We were planning on using Teppanyaki as one of our Ts meals as my hubby wanted the steak and lobster combo on the menu, can you not order that? I didn't see the Dining plan say no lobster entrees.

(I did though see that at the Candlelight Package the no lobster on there)

 

[allflgirl]

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



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.

I've read that the pastry shop in France doesn't accept snack credits in numerous posts on this website, so I wasn't surprised that they didn't take your snack credit. I was planning on skipping France and heading to Norway instead. Did you go to the bakery in Norway? If so, did you have the same problem there? I've seen many post that you can get some tasty snacks in Norway, of course not crepes.

I'm heading to Disney the last week of Sept. I had to pay for DDP since I'm a DVC member, so no free dining for me, just dining at a reduced price. I was really looking forward to using the DDP for the first time. Now, I'm wondering if I'm going to be paying a lot of cash for snacks. Oh well, I'll bring some extra money along.

Thanks for your report!

Julia

 

[Lewisc]

The steak and lobster is no longer listed as an entrée. You pay extra if you want to order it.

Question: We were planning on using Teppanyaki as one of our Ts meals as my hubby wanted the steak and lobster combo on the menu, can you not order that? I didn't see the Dining plan say no lobster entrees.

(I did though see that at the Candlelight Package the no lobster on there)

 

[naz022292]

On 8/15 the system was down in epcot - but it was sporadic - It was down from time to time during the day - we used snack credit for pretzel at cart in Germany - we got a frozen coffee drink at a cart going into the world showcase. We asked at one cart that had a cash only sign and they told us system was down but should be back up soon - we walked far enough to get to the next cart and they were just taking down sign - I know that they look permanent - but I think that the system just goes down from time to time so they have the cash only signs ready.

The snack choices at POP were incredible. They had all sorts of stuff as snacks, fruit cups, veggie and dip, cake, chips, donuts, all sorts of pastry, etc.. The cases were full of stuff marked snacks.

 

[Brygida]

I've read that the pastry shop in France doesn't accept snack credits in numerous posts on this website, so I wasn't surprised that they didn't take your snack credit. I was planning on skipping France and heading to Norway instead. Did you go to the bakery in Norway? If so, did you have the same problem there? I've seen many post that you can get some tasty snacks in Norway, of course not crepes.

I'm heading to Disney the last week of Sept. I had to pay for DDP since I'm a DVC member, so no free dining for me, just dining at a reduced price. I was really looking forward to using the DDP for the first time. Now, I'm wondering if I'm going to be paying a lot of cash for snacks. Oh well, I'll bring some extra money along.

Thanks for your report!

Julia[/QUOTE]

Wherever we asked in EPCOT World Showcase, it was the same story. If you were ordering a CS meal at France, Norway for instance, you were allowed their sandwich-equivalent and a pastry. However, your were not allowed to use a snack credit to get just a pastry, even when they were under $4. You were only allowed to use a snack credit for bottled water, iced tea.

In the outside carts along World Showcase, like the one selling crepes and ice cream in France, they did not accept DDP credits, or your room card to charge to, or any form of credit card... they ONLY took cash. And no, they were NOT temporarily down, we asked. This is their permanent only acceptable form of payment.

 

[Brygida]

Question: We were planning on using Teppanyaki as one of our Ts meals as my hubby wanted the steak and lobster combo on the menu, can you not order that? I didn't see the Dining plan say no lobster entrees.

(I did though see that at the Candlelight Package the no lobster on there)

You were allowed to order a steak entree on the DDP, but you must order the lobster as a "side order". There are several items in the "side order" column on the menu which you must pay OOP for (I seem to recall squid and sushi being on there too). Tempura is off the menu entirely... even though I would have ordered it OOP if they had it.

 

[Brygida]

We are going in just a couple of weeks and my younger ds loves the Izakadoosie ice pops, which they sell from the carts. Will I have trouble using snack credits at these locations or are we talking the individual carts in World Showcase?

While I would love to use a snack credit for the occasional pastry or something like that, if it's not available, I'll make sure to have cash (as it seems they don't even take room charge or any kind of debit or other card). Can someone clarify?

The Disney ice cream carts may accept the DDP snack credit in EPCOT, I honestly did not try so I don't know. You will not be able to use your snack credits for desserts around the World Showcase CS restaurants or snack carts. We checked the majority of them and we did pay OOP in cash for them.

On the bright side, EPCOT is the ONLY park we had this issue. All other parks were very lenient about accepting DDP snack credits for anything you would normally think of as a snack and allowing you to charge on the room card. For instance, the same soft serve ice cream cone I paid cash for at the France cart, I got using a snack credit at Animal Kingdom (at Africa/Asia crossroads).

 

[mickeyfan2]

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.

The "cash only" cart are the temporary ones brought out to handle the larger crowds. The permanent ones have the equipment to take credit and room cards.

 

[scouthawkk]

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.


Give up a TS in exchange for 1 CS and 2 snacks? No way...but, if i could give up 1CS and 2 snacks in exchange for getting 1TS, that would be a different story .

 

[mrsltg]

The "cash only" cart are the temporary ones brought out to handle the larger crowds. The permanent ones have the equipment to take credit and room cards.

Thank you. I know I definitely purchased water, in the world showcase, using a snack credit, at a cart. On the 18th the system was down and we were unable to use our credits or room charge at any of the outside places.

Who knows....

 

[stacy347]

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.

What the brochure they gave us states is this:

"As a special offer during your stay, if you choose to dine in any Quick Service locations using your Table Service entitlements, you will receive a certificate redeemable for your choice of one of the following: two (2) snacks, a collectible Disney Trading Pin and lanyard (pin design may vary), or a "Where the Magic Lives" poster featuring Mickey and his friends. Before you order, advise the cashier you would like to use a Table Service entitlement for you Quick Service meal. "

I typed that from the brochure in my welcome packet (I saved everything, LOL). Obviously, it is still not the same as using your TS credits but in my case because the parks were too much for my MIL, we actually did end up using 4 of her TS credits on CS meals so each of my girls got a lanyard and pin before we left. Apparently we were not the only ones needing to do this because our resort's gift shop ran out of the posters on the 2nd day.

Just wanted to put all of the info out there. Also, we didn't have any trouble using our CS credits anywhere in the parks and the snack choices in ASMo's food court were very good as well...they went with the anything under $4 and never gave us any problems.

 

[bicker]

However, your were not allowed to use a snack credit to get just a pastry, even when they were under $4.

Yes, that's my understanding as well. There are a small set of items which are always available for a snack credit, at designated snack credit eateries: soft drinks, water, small bags of potato chips, etc., stuff like that. Some places do offer more choices, but the broadest selection of snacks (where the $4 limit tends to be the guiding principle with only minor exception) are typically available at resort eateries.

 

[tkd lisa]

I wanted to throw in that the Kaki Gori cart in EPCOT definitely takes the card option. I used my Disney rewards card there this weekend.

 

[Lewisc]

The dining plan brochure says availble snacks include and then gives the standard list:soda, water, chips etc.

The $4 rule is an observation of customers of what seems to be generally allowed in Disney run places, particularly the resorts. I haven't seen the $4 rule listed in any offical place. I can understand the WS places not being willing to give an expensive pastry for whatever Disney is paying them.

 

[wdwobsessed]

OK ... so from what I read ... all these profound "changes" are based on oneexperience at Teppanyaki (they have always been on the stingy side ... even back when they did vouchers for groups) and at some carts in Epcot not having charge capabilities?




WDWO