MY DIS/DDP Rant

[Sammie]

Did people really share this much prior to the Dining Plan.

Now I understand completely parents sharing some food with the kids who have gotten kids meal. And I truly do not think Disney has a problem with that.

But did 5 adults go into nice restaurants and order 3 meals and cut it up and scoop it out and share it. Do you pass the plates around, or did you ask for another plate? I just did not realize this was a common practice among adults.

Appetizers maybe, even desserts, but entire meals.

 

[Dannielle_1]

Did people really share this much prior to the Dining Plan.

Now I understand completely parents sharing some food with the kids who have gotten kids meal. And I truly do not think Disney has a problem with that.

But did 5 adults go into nice restaurants and order 3 meals and cut it up and scoop it out and share it. Do you pass the plates around, or did you ask for another plate? I just did not realize this was a common practice among adults.

Appetizers maybe, even desserts, but entire meals.

My family shared all the time and in all combinations. (OOP)
We were: Me, DHusband, DMom, DDad, DSister, DSister, DNiece (18months)

I have a record of our trip in 2004 of who ordered what and shared what (we had to keep track of the $$$). Anyway here is a sample:


BROWN DERBY - LUNCH

ME---½ Cobb Salad--------$6.50
------Coconut Shrimp------$7.99
------Coke----------------$2.19
-------------------------------------FAM 1 TOTAL: Food: $41.27 Tax: $2.68 Tip: $8.73
DH---Mushroom Raviolo----- $6.29 ---TOTAL PAID: $52.68
-----Salmon Bruschetta----$14.99
-----Red Hook ESB---------$5.50


DS1--½ Cobb Salad---------$6.49
------Mushroom Raviolo-----$6.29
------½ Grapefruit Cake-----$3.00
--------------------------------------FAM 2 TOTAL: Food: $15.78 Tax: $1.03 Tip: $3.34
--------------------------------------TOTAL PAID: $20.14
DN--Under 2--Ate off of our plates/had her own food with her


DS2--½ Cobb Salad---------$6.50
------Potato & Leek Soup---$5.99
------½ Grapefruit Cake-----$2.99
-----------------------------------
DM---½ Cobb Salad---------$6.49
------Potato & Leek Soup---$5.99
------Coke-----------------$2.19
--------------------------------------FAM 3 TOTAL: Food: $46.94 Tax: $3.05 Tip: $9.93
DD---Potato & Leek Soup---$5.99-----TOTAL PAID $59.92
------Cobb Salad-----------$12.99

This was actually one of the less complicated ones. You should have seen our Cinderellas Royal Table Meal (pre-fixed price) and our Mama Melrose.

We often tend to order appetizers as our meals. My favorite "meal" at Le Cellier is the cheese soup and the tomato stack. When going with the same above crew of the 6 of us dining, 4 of us had soup and the tomato stack, only the "men" actually ordered an entree. We like to eat two TS meal a day more or less, but "lighter" meals.

Of the 15 restuarants we went to on this particular vacation we shared at 11 of them. The other four where Crystal Palace, Cape May Cafe (both buffet), Teppanyaki and Bistro de Paris - our "fancy" meal this trip and no apps were ordered. We shared actual entrees at 9 of those, some were split onto two plates, some were just brought out with an extra plate. There were alot of entree salads split and alot of sandwiches split. But there were regular meals split as well (aka...Lamb Couscous at Marrakesh)

The same crew will be dining together again this fall on the free DDP (w/ DN as a child + 2 under 3). The plan obviously doesn't meet our typical dining style, but we aren't going to be sharing (too complicated to figure out - plus we are planning on using the CS and non of us are big breakfast eaters - poptarts anyone?), there will just be A LOT of extra food. I personally would never purchase the plan - it just doesn't really work quite right for us. But its free so we'll make do!

(sorry this was so long)

 

[aristocat]

Thanks OP for your rant! I feel the same way!

I keep reading that people have too many TS booked unless they can share. Well does no one else see a problem with that and possibly that is the problem. If guests were not on the plan booked X number of TS, why would they book more on the plan. To get more out of Disney. I think when Disney sells the plan to a guest they have some set idea, or money amount associated with the plan and TS meals. I know some will say it is still the same amount of meals but for one thing you are taking up more TS spaces that could be used by someone else. I think that is one reason restaurants are so packed. Not that the DDP is making it so, but guests are eating more TS meals on the plan than Disney planned on them eating.

I agree.

If there are a lot of guests who are stretching out the TS aspect of the DDP (thru sharing), Disney is not maximizing its earnings potential.

The “supply” of tables at each TS restaurant is limited. From what I can tell, a great number of the TS restaurants are booked up months in advance. The demand for certain TS restaurants is much greater than the supply of tables available each day.

When a party of 4 adults shares and only orders 2 meals (as to stretch their number of TS meals), it creates a loss of potential earnings to Disney. They’re occupying a table which could have been filled with 4 other guests each ordering their own meal (since the demand is greater than the supply)… The loss of potential earnings then compounds, since the sharing party will now repeat this at another restaurant in order to use the 2 saved credits.

But did 5 adults go into nice restaurants and order 3 meals and cut it up and scoop it out and share it. Do you pass the plates around, or did you ask for another plate? I just did not realize this was a common practice among adults.

Appetizers maybe, even desserts, but entire meals.

I can't be the only one who finds adults sharing entire meals a little tacky.

A bite here and there to sample another entree is fine... Sharing appetizers and desserts is common and customary. But splitting an entire meal?

 

[PaulaSB12]

I found myself looking at all the can you share topics. Why I can't think as I am going solo so who on earth would I share a ts meal with anyway???????????

 

[Natalya]

Did people really share this much prior to the Dining Plan.

Now I understand completely parents sharing some food with the kids who have gotten kids meal. And I truly do not think Disney has a problem with that.

But did 5 adults go into nice restaurants and order 3 meals and cut it up and scoop it out and share it. Do you pass the plates around, or did you ask for another plate? I just did not realize this was a common practice among adults.

Appetizers maybe, even desserts, but entire meals.

I have been quietly wondering the same thing. I understand the sharing appetizers and desserts...so I can understand the question of "Can I pay OOP for one entree for one person and use a TS credit for the other so we could share the appetizer and dessert. However, I just have never thought anyone would use one credit for two adults by splitting the entire meal.

I think if I tried to cut my DH's steak in half so I could share with him he would stab me in the hand with his fork. Well, okay, he isn't that violent...but he definately would look at me like I had 10 heads and ask me if I've lost my mind. And then he would ask for a table for one.


Either way...the more people post on this topic, the more strict Disney is going to become. This is a major disney forum...you don't think the execs hop on here once in a while to see whats up? Those that choose to "cheat" the system are teaching the execs how to fix the loop hole by posting on the issue and by harrassing the CMs with all of the crazy questions about sharing. Not to mention... if they figure it is too much of a hassle to fix the loopholes, they may just stop offering free dining alltogether.

Shoot, see if the plan is for your family and go to Disney to have a good time. You can ask to share while you're there if you want to... but by asking Disney CMs through email or text what the rules are, you are going to get the answer that you don't want to hear. I don't think any CM is going to put down in writing that it is okay to manipulate the system....whether it goes on or not is up to the individual servers not the CMs online. "Officially" they are going to tell you the rules.... you'll find out if you can bend them when you get there.


to the OP....I probably wouldn't have been brave enough to post this myself but you have made some really valid points and touched on issues that many people have quietly been annoyed about for some time.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Thank you OP for posting what I've been thinking for a while now!

The DDP board has gone crazy. I can't believe how stressed people are getting over FOOD!!??


People need to realize that it's OK to visit WDW WITHOUT booking the dining plan. Just because free dining was offered during your trip, doesn't mean you HAD to book it.

I’m ready to start a DDP game.

If you have to __________, then the dining plan is not for you.

Unless all of the foolishness stops, I have a feeling an affordable dining plan may become a thing of the pass.

 

[mickeyfan2]

ITA

 

[beattyfamily]

I totally agree OP. People make it so much more complicated and stressful then it needs to be.

The plan isn't meant for everyone; specifically light eaters or those with a 10 - 11 year old who 'eats like a bird'.

I cannot believe how MANY "can we share?" "can we pay OOP?" posts going right now!!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Did people really share this much prior to the Dining Plan.

Now I understand completely parents sharing some food with the kids who have gotten kids meal. And I truly do not think Disney has a problem with that.

But did 5 adults go into nice restaurants and order 3 meals and cut it up and scoop it out and share it. Do you pass the plates around, or did you ask for another plate? I just did not realize this was a common practice among adults.

Appetizers maybe, even desserts, but entire meals.

Not us. Appetizers and desserts are for sharing but the main meal is MINE. MINE I TELL YOU.

 

[Natalya]

I cannot believe how MANY "can we share?" "can we pay OOP?" posts going right now!!

I was thinking the EXACT same thing. How many posts do we have to have on the same topic...it is being beaten to death.

YES...if you contact a CM by phone, mail, email, or IM they are going to give you a standard Disney answer. Posting on here about it isn't going to change that standard answer. People need to just relax...get the plan, or not get the plan....and ask their server for any special circumstances that involve their particular family.

 

[melomouse]

[/QUOTE=aristocat]

I can't be the only one who finds adults sharing entire meals a little tacky.

[/QUOTE] Another brave fellow Dis'er!!!!!!

OP here - and "WOW!" again - to you and all of these silent voices I have somehow touched out there with my little rant. Guess in the scheme of things as I popped on DIS to catch up in the midst of my family medical crisis, I was just getting so sad and frustrated. Not brave at all for me - just found myself and and wondered if there was anyone at all who shared these sentiments. I am much more interested in my touring plans than in the EXACT content/amount/cost of my meals on....FDP!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Great post melamouse!! For this trip, we've got more TS booked than what our DP allows us and we are just paying oop for those particular TS. I just want to enjoy our vacation and not have to think too much. I will admit, my last trip (last year during free dining), my daughter and I did share our counter services occasionally, but frankly its just not worth all the confusion of worrying over do we have enough credits for this or that...We will use the plan as the brochure is stated
I hope everyone has a magical time on their vacation and
"Good Eats!"

 

[LSchrow]

love the sanity brought to the DP debates.

personally, i thought most parents would actually AVOID teaching their children (who learn from their parents' actions) deception

 

[sigillaria]

melomouse
I agree with all you said. I've posted about the cheating, or as the cheaters say, taking advantage of loopholes--all this has done is make the cheaters come up with "excuses" for their actions.
Anyone paying rack-rate at Disney resorts, or member dues at DVC can't be so poor that they can't use the plan as it was made to be used.

 

[PureTcrazy]

melomouse
I agree with all you said. I've posted about the cheating, or as the cheaters say, taking advantage of loopholes--all this has done is make the cheaters come up with "excuses" for their actions.
Anyone paying rack-rate at Disney resorts, or member dues at DVC can't be so poor that they can't use the plan as it was made to be used.

I've thought that same thing. I notice many of them have stayed at resorts that I can only dream of staying at. I guess maybe if I worried more about every penny I could save by cheating Disney, I too could stay in the style I am unaccustomed too!

 

[FOV]

I can't be the only one who finds adults sharing entire meals a little tacky.

A bite here and there to sample another entree is fine... Sharing appetizers and desserts is common and customary. But splitting an entire meal?

YES!!!! DH and I went out to dinner Saturday night with 3 other couples. It was a nice restaurant. I would have been SO embarrassed if we told the waitress the 8 of us were going to order 4 entrees and share. This would have a negative impact on the profitability of the restaurant.

We go out to eat quite often and I have NEVER heard of adults sharing entrees until the DISboards. Do these people do this outside of Disney as well? I just don't get it.

I love this thread. It's so good to know that not everyone has gone completely mad!

 

[Sammie]

You know one of the really interesting things is, they truly are not cheating Disney, they are cheating themselves and us.

Disney might be slow, they are huge and getting thousands of employees and hundreds of departments, and legal talk, on the same page is slow business.

But they are not stupid. They are only going to take so much creative use of something, before they either change it or do away with it. They are not going to lose money.

So everytime someone thinks they have gotten one over Disney, they are truly just doing themselves and us in.

It truly does not matter to me or Melosmouse or anyone else if someone likes to share. If Disney does not want sharing on the DDP, then it truly is up to them to decide. As to the comments, "well it should be in the brochure". Well I am sure Disney is saying, Well everyone should have a brain. This is not advanced physics. It is a prepaid, or in some cases, FREE, food plan.

If the plan does not fit, then just do not purchase it.

It's kinda like having a size 9 foot, if that shoe on sale you really want is a 6, no matter how you try to stretch it, it ain't going to fit.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Thanks OP.... I really wished I read this before posting to someone's sharing post. I totally agree with you.

 

[FOV]

You know one of the really interesting things is, they truly are not cheating Disney, they are cheating themselves and us.

I do see how 2 adults sharing one entree can hurt the profitability of the restaurant. To simplify:

Fancy restaurant has tables of 4. The average table orders $200 worth of food per seating.
* the restaurant makes a 50% profit = $100 per table
* the waiter makes 20% tip = $40 per table

Everyone is fat, happy and well paid.

A new fad comes in and now everyone shares meals.
* the restaurant makes a 50% profit = $50 per table
* the waiter makes 20% tip = $20 per table

The customers lose weight, the waiter picks up a 2nd job and the dishwasher gets laid off. The owner doubles the prices of the entrees. (As Sammie states, this is where we all get hurt.)

The restaurant saves $$$ on food but all other costs remain the same. Same # of soiled plates, same rent, same a/c bill, same hostess salary, same # of tables taken, same # of hours in the day that the restaurant can sell food....

A restaurant makes a lot more money when everyone orders their own meal. EVEN on the DDP. Disney wants to "give" my family 6 TS meals, not 12. We can take up space at the Coral Reef for one meal (1-hour) or for 2 meals (2 hours.) That second "freebie" meal we got by sharing food prevents the Coral Reef from using our table and selling $200 worth of food to another family.

My prediction: Disney will prevent adults from sharing TS entrees or they will raise the price of the DDP.

How I Win? While all the "double-dippers" are sitting through double the TS restaurants I will be waiting in a shorter line at Everest.

 

[DCDisney]

A restaurant makes a lot more money when everyone orders their own meal. EVEN on the DDP.

I totally agree. I think they must lose more on this than the whole kids/adult thing. I was shocked there wasn't a sharing charge. Even when we paid for our food as opposed to the DDP we still didn't share, especially the kids. I want them to eat the whole portion of fruit/protein and not get filled up on fries and bread. The kids meals are very unshareable even for tiny kids. Even though DH and I often have similar tastes and didn't finish our meals we'd never share in a TS restaurant. I'd much rather pay OOP for an extra meal than share. I personally don't think it's fair to the restaurant or the staff unless there is a charge for sharing and tips are adjusted upwards to what a second meal would have cost.

There must be substantive changes coming to DDP in January since they are waiting so long to sell packages to release it. We've already made ADR's for our trip but can't book our package which is insane. The longer they wait for the packages makes it more likely that I may find a discounted ticket/car rental/comptetitors deal that would keep them from getting 100% of our vacation dollars and we might finally end up going to universal and/or sea world for part of our next trip which we have never ended up doing because of good package deals.

Yvonne