More Dining Info from AllEars

[4 DZNY NUTZ]

Sorry if someone has already asked this question, but does anyone know if the snack will still be included in the dining plan?? I know the tip and appetizer will no longer be on the dining plan but havent really heard mention of the snack.

Thanks in advance

 

[Ava]

Wow, that Deluxe DDP is a LOT of food. I could never eat 2 TS meals in one day; you'd have to roll me back to the hotel at night! The regular plan is actually more on-par now with the amount of food we'd normally eat, since they cut out the appetizer. It would be better if they let you choose app OR dessert though.

Regardless, we didn't use DDP on our trip last year and probably will never use it. Perhaps these changes will allow the restaurants to bring the quality back up towards what it was pre-DDP.

 

[Shasta]

I was thinking that add on would more likely be per room rather than per person. At least I'd hope so - a bottle of wine per person per day seems rather excessive, even to me (and I like my wine! ). As far of the value of it, I just don't see it either, but I suppose we'll know more once Disney makes the official announcement.

I LOVE wine too and think it would be great to have 2 bottles paid for in my DDP but would NOT enjoy paying a 300% mark up for it.

I'm not taking any of this to heart until they announce the 2008 DDP. Then, if I'm not happy, I'll make my voice known (if needed) by canceling my ADRs. It's the only voice we have with dinsey.

Excuse me while I look up that Pizza Uno number off Apopka rd.

 

[Cruiser1969]

Excuse me while I look up that Pizza Uno number off Apopka rd.

Giordano's delivers, too!

 

[triplefigs]

I think that the DXDDP might be a good deal for us (2A/3C). We usually hit almost every Character meal and end up paying for many OOP. We also enjoy some of the TS that I would never use a credit for currently (Plaza, Beaches & Cream). And we could use 2 credits for CRT or HDDR and not have to worry about skipping other TS. I'll have to wait and see how it plays out, but for us I think it would be worth it.

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

The deluxe plan looks like way to much food for my family. We had the free dining in Sept 2006 and loved it. It was just the right amount of food. We had 2 CS left at the end. With that said, if we had paid for it we would have paid too much and have wasted the money.

We will probably not buy the plan for our 2008 trip and buy on our own.
One thing that will be a deciding factor is that our 11yr will not eat her cost in food. That is a waste to me and I hate seeing food being wasted. It would be better to not even order it.

I just have one question. Allearsnet did not say if you could still buy the refillable mugs at the resorts on your own or will you have to buy the DDPDX to get the mug.

 

[Snow_White]

For us, the Deluxe plan is just plain disgusting. We are not gluttons and we don't want to gain 10 pounds in a week. In 2008 and on we will have little kids with us when we dine...multiple table service meals a day would not be their idea of a fun time. Therefore, we are left with the basic dining plan. IMO, it is a rip off when you add in tips and appies. Combine that with the fact that you are forced to pay RACK RATE when you do the DDP.....yikes, NOT a good deal. We will go back to getting good prices on our room, using the DDE card, and not eating at 100% Disney restaurants (there ARE other good restaurants in the area! lol).

 

[triplefigs]

For us, the Deluxe plan is just plain disgusting. We are not gluttons and we don't want to gain 10 pounds in a week. In 2008 and on we will have little kids with us when we dine...multiple table service meals a day would not be their idea of a fun time. Therefore, we are left with the basic dining plan. IMO, it is a rip off when you add in tips and appies. Combine that with the fact that you are forced to pay RACK RATE when you do the DDP.....yikes, NOT a good deal. We will go back to getting good prices on our room, using the DDE card, and not eating at 100% Disney restaurants (there ARE other good restaurants in the area! lol).

It's not necessarily about being gluttons and gaining 10 pounds... If you eat at almost ALL the character meals and one Signature restaurant with small kids (as the price is more reasonable), the DXDDP would pay for itself and SAVE you money. Do we eat all the food? No! Do we usually have CS credits left? Yes! Will I care that I'm wasting food? No, because it financially a good deal for families like mine who enjoy the TS for a break and as a great opportunity to see characters without standing in long lines at the parks.

And you can get the DDP with the AAA discount and NOT pay rack rate. You must book directly with AAA, however, to get both.

 

[Diznut84]

After four long trips with DDP, it appears we will not ever do it again. The proposed changes are a total ripoff. It amounts to more than a 25% increase in the cost of the plan. This will affect all of our future travel plans. My wife is not crazy about WDW, but the kids and I convince her to go largely because DDP allowed us to sell it to her as if it were a "cruise on land". But no more!

The Mouse has gotten too greedy. The people WILL respond...

 

[mickey2000]

For us, the Deluxe plan is just plain disgusting. We are not gluttons and we don't want to gain 10 pounds in a week. In 2008 and on we will have little kids with us when we dine...multiple table service meals a day would not be their idea of a fun time. Therefore, we are left with the basic dining plan. IMO, it is a rip off when you add in tips and appies. Combine that with the fact that you are forced to pay RACK RATE when you do the DDP.....yikes, NOT a good deal. We will go back to getting good prices on our room, using the DDE card, and not eating at 100% Disney restaurants (there ARE other good restaurants in the area! lol).

Great post!
I always rent a car to make the most of my time at WDW !
I will just go back to eating off property as in the past.
There are a lot of great places in Orlando.
JMO
Disneys bootom line is that they want you on property with only thier transportation to get every penny from you. Why do you think they offer
Disney's Magical Express service ! Keep you on property....
I will continue to go , however,
"There is life other than Disney"

 

[Diznut84]

If we're going to eat off grounds, suddently staying off grounds seems more acceptable, too. Marriott Vacation Club is easy to book and CHEAP compare to Disney. This is SO disappointing.

 

[rluey29]

We have already started looking at offsite resorts and may even skip Disney all together because of this. I hate to do it but 2008 may be a universal and sea world year.

 

[seamour]

While the numbers for doing 2 TS a day might make sense, I cannot see spending the time to do 2 TS a day. My family gets restless if we try to do 1 TS every day. Now if one was going to do dinner shows and signature restuarants, then I could see it. Just can't see taking 4 hours out of my day for 2 meals.

But just my two cents.

The deluxe plan, as outlined, even looks like a good deal.

I'm just STARTING to crunch the numbers, but....doing 2 TS and 1 CS per day, with the snacks, it looks like you'd be about breaking even or coming out JUST ahead (depending on your choices), I think. Less TS (average) per day and I think you'd be "losing".

Mara Breakfast: 7.00-ish with tax (do they offer "dessert" with a CS breakfast? Muffin or something? I'm not counting that in if they do.)

Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch: $24-ish with tax.

Boma's dinner: $28-ish with tax.

Snacks: $9-ish with tax.

That's $68.

Now, go a bit more expensive for lunch (Le Cellier, for example, at 33-ish after tax, for lunch) and dinner (Kona Cafe for $35-ish after tax), and you're saving about $15 per person, per day. Not GREAT, but not bad either.

I'm sure there are more scenarios to really make it a better savings, too. The above is just a REAL quick break down and preliminary analysis. My wife and I are going to sit down and crunch numbers, just to see if this "rumored" option makes any sense for us at all....or if DDE wins out, etc.

 

[WDWfor5]

If we're going to eat off grounds, suddently staying off grounds seems more acceptable, too. Marriott Vacation Club is easy to book and CHEAP compare to Disney. This is SO disappointing.

I completely agree - we are returning in October for our 2nd visit in less than 2 years which is a lot for us. We love Disney but the DDP is what makes it a great value for a family vacation and we have never gotten free dining. With the changes in DDP, my DH and I just agreed that we won't be returning to Disney for a few years and when we do it will be off-site. As the kids get older, the only major benefits of staying on property was the DDP - with that gone the rental homes and suites avaialble off property look very appealing all of a sudden.

Obviously our choice not to visit again for a long while won't hurt Disney any, but it will be interesting to see how this affects their ability to fill resorts and restaurants.

 

[AngieInOH]

Well at least this gives me more ammunition to get my husband to Disney before this year is over!

The DDP was a great lure to get people to Disney, stay at Disney and spending lots of money at Disney!!!! Honestly, I think this change would make me take a closer look at staying off site. I will no longer have that extra incentive to stay on-site. The DDP was a great deal and worth the extra money of staying on-site. Now I'm not so sure. There are some great deals out there for off-site hotels/homes.

I realize the DDP is still available, but it's just not as tempting as before. I am completely bummed (to put it mildly)!!!! The all inclusive aspect really drew me towards Disney.

I just did a quick and dirty look at my 2005 trip. With the propsed DDP we would just about break even as compared to OOP. However, we would get desserts thrown in with the DDP. So, maybe somewhat of a benefit but very little.

So disappointed!!!

 

[Disneytwinz]

I suppose for the adult price one could still make it work. As so many of us with kids have said before, I have 11 yr old twins that barely - I mean barely eat anything. I cannot imagine paying $68 per day for them.


I wish they would come up with something for the "junior", or just let the parents buy the plan and let us pay for the child.

I hear you there! My oldest twins will be on the 'adult' plan on our next trip because they will be age 10. That is *if* we decide to buy it.
I've been crunching numbers on the supposed rumored DDP changes and I have come up with a cost of a little over 2 grand just for the dining plan for the 10 days (3 'actual' adults and 4 'children' that will be ages 6,6,10,10). It cost us $965.58 for 6 days just two months ago.
Let me get this right.. For 4 extra days added to our next trip and my picky eating 'children' being considered adults..(adults according to Disney), we will need to pay over 2 grand for the dining plan alone, plus 15%-18% tip x's 10 days, minus the appetizer that we have enjoyed in the past--(I can't deal with no fried cheese at 50's Primetime )
Well, no thanks Disney...we may have to consider other less expensive options for our next trip! Such as Universal Studios and SeaWorld.
For two grand, my family of seven could eat for 10 WEEKS at home!! I think they should do away with free dining and leave the dining plan alone.

 

[angelmav]

I have to say that I find these changes perplexing. I wish they had at least made the DDDP all inclusive, If we bring anyone with us then its an automatic 18% gratuity everywhere we would go (parties of 8 or more), thats a huge amount on top of an expensive plan. I suspect anyone planning a family get together and purchases either of these plans will be in shock when they realize how much an 18% gratuity amounts to at these places.

 

[Colleen27]

It's not necessarily about being gluttons and gaining 10 pounds... If you eat at almost ALL the character meals and one Signature restaurant with small kids (as the price is more reasonable), the DXDDP would pay for itself and SAVE you money. Do we eat all the food? No! Do we usually have CS credits left? Yes! Will I care that I'm wasting food? No, because it financially a good deal for families like mine who enjoy the TS for a break and as a great opportunity to see characters without standing in long lines at the parks.

Exactly. I have been playing with the numbers to see what kind of the deal the deluxe plan would be, and we would come out ahead and eat better than we do with the current DDP. I put together a hypothetical itinerary, and I have to say I like the way it looks - 4 character meals, 6 signature meals, and only a handful of CS meals, mostly as EMH late night or early morning mini-meals. There isn't the stunning financial value to the DXDDP that there has been to the DDP (about 15%, by my calculations, compared to the 35% we usually got out of the DDP), but there is a different sort of value in being able to do the luau and to try a bunch of signature restaurants and to have character breakfasts just for the characters (something we usually don't do, since we aren't breakfast eaters).

To me, it isn't all about gluttony. None of us eat till we're stuffed on vacation because it interferes with all the other cool stuff that we've got going on. But we do like to sample good foods and we enjoy trying new things while we're travelling, and even the kids enjoy nice meals out. And since we're planning a long, leisurely trip to the World, the DXDDP is perfect for our vacation style - for this trip at least. Too bad we're booked for Dec.

 

[disneyjunkie]

For us, the Deluxe plan is just plain disgusting. We are not gluttons and we don't want to gain 10 pounds in a week. In 2008 and on we will have little kids with us when we dine...multiple table service meals a day would not be their idea of a fun time. Therefore, we are left with the basic dining plan. IMO, it is a rip off when you add in tips and appies. Combine that with the fact that you are forced to pay RACK RATE when you do the DDP.....yikes, NOT a good deal. We will go back to getting good prices on our room, using the DDE card, and not eating at 100% Disney restaurants (there ARE other good restaurants in the area! lol).

Who said you had to order/eat everything that's included with the plan?

We used the dining plan during our 2005 trip. We ordered based on what we knew we would eat, not based on what we were entitled to. We skipped plenty of desserts and appetizers during that trip. We'll do the same thing with the new plan.

The deluxe plan is great for our Easter trip. (16 year old son and I) I've spent most of the evening going over the menus on Deb's site. I've come up with 3 ways in which we may use the deluxe plan.

6:30am food court breakfast
11:00 TS lunch
6:00 TS dinner

or

10:30 TS brunch (character meals)
6:00 Dinner(signature TS)

or

8:00 TS breakfast (water park or DisneyQuest day)
6:00 TS dinner

During our trip, with EMHs, the parks should be open from @ 8:00am-3:00am.
The long hours will allow us plenty of time to enjoy the parks and not worry about "wasting" park time while we're eating.

Again we don't gorge ourselves and we don't worry about maxing out the plan.

 

[Nancyg56]

how so? This doesn't mean people are going to stop ordering appetizers... in fact now that there will be more people NOT on the dining plan.... it is possibly going to take longer to charge the meals, get change, etc.

this may reduce the number of people in the table service places and greatly increase the number at counter services

I think that this is exactly what will happen. If people have a food budget and the bulk is already paid in the DDP, orders will go down. If you check out previous threads you will see that many families can manage with without buying any food OOp and still felt that there was plenty of food. Remove the appetizer and the amount of food will decrease, but I believe that if there is supplementing it will be at the meal not included in teh plan, not increasing the amount ordered at a TS meal.