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

[bicker]

Yes, that's my understanding as well. So nothing new, AFAIC, since we've always know about these limitations here on the DIS.

 

[JimMIA]

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)

This is not NEW news. As far as I know, lobster has never been included on the DDP -- not only at Teppenyaki, but at most restaurants. In fact, I think the only restaurant that offers lobster on DDP is Captain Jack's.

Check the 2006 DDP FAQ at the top of this page, and be sure you know what you're buying.

 

[DiszyDean]

Last year at Le Cellier, the Surf and Turf special was on the dining plan and that came with lobster. Not great lobster, mind you...but lobster, nonetheless. I am not sure if it is still being offered or not, either way I am ok with it.

 

[Connor' Dad]

You can order lobster at Narcoosee's.

 

[bicker]

Yes, I believe lobster isn't restricted on signature restaurant menus.

 

[Lewisc]

Lobster was originally allowed at Teppanayki. The restaurant didn't do very well being one of the only 1 TS restaurants that offered lobster.

Guests miss the point, restaurants aren't going to lose money serving MYW dining guests. They're either going to exclude menu items, Teppanayki removed lobster from the entrée section of the menu or delete them from the menu altogether. Coral Reef dropped all of the menu items that feature more expensive ingredients.

This is not NEW news. As far as I know, lobster has never been included on the DDP -- not only at Teppenyaki, but at most restaurants. In fact, I think the only restaurant that offers lobster on DDP is Captain Jack's.

Check the 2006 DDP FAQ at the top of this page, and be sure you know what you're buying.

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

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

I was told by 2 CMs during my trip (8/20-8/22) that anything under $4 was now considered a snack. I realize that doesn't make it official, but if several CMs have been saying it and we've observed the trend, then it might be more fact than assumption.

We were able to get a funnel cake in EPCOT on 8/21, and the person in front of us used the DDP to purchase one. She actually got the one with Strawberries and Whipped Cream even though it was over $4, but they charged her for extra toppings which was like $.37.

HTH!

 

[bicker]

Each CM can speak for themselves only, so the two CMs you spoke to were authorized to tell you whether they themselves would permit you to do as they suggested. For the rest, all we can go on is Disney's written offer, which doesn't state anything about "anything under $4". Many folks have relayed reports that there are items, under $4, which they could not obtain for a snack credit. Therefore, prospective guests shouldn't rely on being able to get anything under $4 as a snack.

 

[Lewisc]

What the CM was really telling you is that anything under $4 is considered a snack at the location you asked at and for that day. Many of the resorts seem to use that figure. The $4 isn't published anywhere and it looks like some of the non-Disney restaurants aren't as flexible. Last year many of the resorts were already expanding the list of allowable snacks but CSR used the official list.

I just don't think it's fair that some DIS are complaining about places not honoring the $4 rule when no such rule exists.

Actually a few posters even found some Disney locations were either excluding a few $4 items and/or were increasing the price to be just over $4. Many of the kids meals cost under $4 and aren't allowed as a snack.

I was told by 2 CMs during my trip (8/20-8/22) that anything under $4 was now considered a snack. I realize that doesn't make it official, but if several CMs have been saying it and we've observed the trend, then it might be more fact than assumption.

We were able to get a funnel cake in EPCOT on 8/21, and the person in front of us used the DDP to purchase one. She actually got the one with Strawberries and Whipped Cream even though it was over $4, but they charged her for extra toppings which was like $.37.

HTH!

 

[CathrynRose]

Yes, that's my understanding as well. So nothing new, AFAIC, since we've always know about these limitations here on the DIS.

Exactly.

As far as Im concerned, anything beyond the standard "chips, soda, ice cream bar, etc" is a bonus I am grateful for.

I just don't think it's fair that some DIS are complaining about places not honoring the $4 rule when no such rule exists.
.

Yep - and IMO all this whining and moaning could change the possibly, maybe, if youre lucky that day the under $4 bonus and that ticks me off.

 

[Brygida]

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?

You guys are merciless! I never stated they were profound changes in the first place.

In the second place, I believe this was the first post on DIS of WDW offering 1 CS + 2 snack credits in exchange for 1 TS,.... and that Tomorrowland Noodle Station had been transformed into a TS meal! Those seem like significant changes to me. And they were not previously known on the DIS. We got separate posts that ALLEARS.NET was reporting the same things after my post.

No one gets credit for anything here I guess. You guys on the DDP forum are not very nice.

 

[sorul82?]

We just returned from the World, and I wish we had traded one of our TS meals for counter and pins. I don't know if the problems we had were due to the restaurant, or because we had a group of 11, but we wasted a lot of time and food. I, too, thought who in the heck would waste a precious TS credit? Trade for a counter, pin, and lanyard? On our first day, that sounded like the most absurd thing I had ever heard of! But, after spending 3.5 hours at Maya Grill and 2.5 hours at WCC, I would have traded in a heartbeat.

Also, I used a snack credit for school bread in Norway.

 

[HaleyB]

You guys are merciless! I never stated they were profound changes in the first place.

In the second place, I believe this was the first post on DIS of WDW offering 1 CS + 2 snack credits in exchange for 1 TS,.... and that Tomorrowland Noodle Station had been transformed into a TS meal! Those seem like significant changes to me. And they were not previously known on the DIS. We got separate posts that ALLEARS.NET was reporting the same things after my post.

No one gets credit for anything here I guess. You guys on the DDP forum are not very nice.

I don't think people are trying to be mean to you. However there are a number of people who spend time here trying hard to get correct information out to people. Misinformation is what accounts for most of the negative posts about the DDP. A good example of that is the "$4" thing. People will read that anything under $4 is allowed on some thread (which is not true) and then they will brow beat some poor CM when the item they want is not allowed.

The changes to the DDP were reported several times to the DIS as soon as they came out, about a week before free dining started. There are MANY threads about the dining changes. In addition to the 1 CS+ two snacks for a TS credit you can trade 1 TS for 1 CS+ a lanyard and pin or 1TS for 1 CS+ a poster.

Chef Mickeys added lunchtime seatings and many other places have extended hours.

 

[Lewisc]

I thought you were trying to be helpful, I didn't bother correcting the inaccuracies in your first post of the thread but you really don't have any grounds to be so defensive

1) The TS trade in for a CS meal deal has been posted here for some time. Not only weren't you the first but you skipped the Pin option. I agree it's not a good deal and didn't think it was worth correcting the incomplete information you posted but don't try to get credit for posting half a new policy after others posted the entire option.

2) Every other poster says the Tomorrowland is a buffet restaurant that won't be accepting ADRs not reservation only as you posted.

3) There is no $4 snack rule. Your post actually refuted the $4 rule that people were assuming.

Your restaurant reviews were very helpful. I don't know why you're complaining. Do a search, you may have been the first poster to have observed the changes in person but many people posted all of the temporary changes. That included the expanded restaurants hours, room service option and the accurate version of the changes you observed in your first post.

There are many threads. This is one I found quickly.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1193186

You guys are merciless! I never stated they were profound changes in the first place.

In the second place, I believe this was the first post on DIS of WDW offering 1 CS + 2 snack credits in exchange for 1 TS,.... and that Tomorrowland Noodle Station had been transformed into a TS meal! Those seem like significant changes to me. And they were not previously known on the DIS. We got separate posts that ALLEARS.NET was reporting the same things after my post.

No one gets credit for anything here I guess. You guys on the DDP forum are not very nice.

 

[sorul82?]

We stopped by the Noodle Station Wednesday evening (8/23), and yes it is now a TS, and you need an ADR, and they were all booked up for the evening.

 

[Noelle]

No one gets credit for anything here I guess.

Brygida,
I just wanted to say THANK YOU! For the past two weeks, I've been busy calculating and recalculating what each of my meals would cost using my DDE and then comparing them to DDP. We always came up to about $100 more with DDE when I figured in the value of snacks. But after hearing that some places like the bakery in France don't take snacks, that makes me think we're better off just sticking to DDE. I'm sure that it's all posted somewhere in the tons of posts in the DDP fourm. But I just had not stumbled onto it. So your posting was news to me. THANK YOU for helping me solve my dilemma!
My family thought I was crazy asking them to order off menus a month before they're going to be at WDW!

 

[wdwobsessed]

Sorry ... your OP just came across a little negative to me like "oh my gosh, there were so many restrictions and changes" type of thing ... which is why I asked if those two things were what you were basing your statement on.

I could just see people getting all worried about thier plans being "ruined" because of "changes".

Sorry if you felt my post was harsh. I was just baffled.

WDWO

 

[CdnMom2]

I also really appreciate your comments on the need for some cash in Epcot. I was also counting on convenience of everything being on the DDP or worst case -- charging to my room. I wouldn't have been prepared without your post.

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

I was told by 2 CMs during my trip (8/20-8/22) that anything under $4 was now considered a snack. I realize that doesn't make it official, but if several CMs have been saying it and we've observed the trend, then it might be more fact than assumption.

We were able to get a funnel cake in EPCOT on 8/21, and the person in front of us used the DDP to purchase one. She actually got the one with Strawberries and Whipped Cream even though it was over $4, but they charged her for extra toppings which was like $.37.

HTH!

Let me clarify... IN MY EXPERIENCE at Cosmic Rays, I was talking with the manager (I was trading pins with her) and a lady who spoke Spanish had questions about her dining plan. I interpretted for the manager and the patron. The manager, Alice, stated that anything under $4 was a snack. So, if you go to Cosmic Rays, want a $4 and under snack, and Alice is working, you can tell her Wendy, her translator, told you that she said $4 and under was a snack. Alice!

Also you can go to MK in the place that makes funnel cakes by the bridge, and they told us that anything under $4 was a snack or you could pay $.37 for the funnel cake over $4, but only if you catch the same people that I had on duty at that time, and they are still following that rule.

And lastly, if you go to All-Star Music you will most likely find a DDP snack sign on the rack with the full size bags of chips.

-Wendy

 

[mandy200587]

There are carts in the WS you can use your DDP. I was able to get a pretzel at Germany without any problems on the DDP. However in Norway I was unable to get my cinnamon roll on the dp.