my perfect DDP for 09

[WDisnut]

Cost $44.99 per night

1 table service
entree
choice of app or dessert
any drink (non-alcoholic)
tax included
gratuity included : with the option on the receipt of marking 0% to 20 % for tip amount

1 Counter service
entree
drink
dessert

1 snack: (anything 4.00 and under) or at a table service your snack can be subed for a dessert (one snack per table service per person)

1 water or soda (bottled or fountain) : no subsitutions

I understand dessert are more than 4.00 but the DDP used to give both and there should be a way to get both without getting the Deluxe plan.

Having the tip option would slove most problems with the tipping issue.

I understand people would still be mad about ADRs and full dining locations.

Within reason what would you have or change to be your opinion or a perfect DDP plan...?

 

[bicker]

$44.99 is wishful thinking: Figure if they offered that, it would be closer to $50 pp per day. Would you still find that attractive at that price?

I do like the idea of having the patron enter in the tip amount, even though it doesn't affect how much they pay.

 

[sandym718]

Not the OP here, but I'd pay $50 pp per day - what I'd prefer is just the 2007 plan for that price though. 1 TS with drink, appy, entree, dessert and tip included (I like the idea of mark your own tip!), 1 CS with drink, meal, dessert included, and 1 snack.

I could definitely take the OP's suggestion, though, also and I'd be willing to pay $50.

 

[DiszyDean]

$44.99 is wishful thinking: Figure if they offered that, it would be closer to $50 pp per day. Would you still find that attractive at that price?

I do like the idea of having the patron enter in the tip amount, even though it doesn't affect how much they pay.

I agree, at $50 pp, the plan as outlined would not be worth it from a purely financial aspect but maybe a convienence aspect. The only real advantage I can see that you are gaining would be the tip being included (which probably would not work out to $10 per person per day in most cases) and the choice of desert or appetizer.

 

[sandym718]

I think the OP "plan" (purely hypothetical of course) could be worth the $50. In addition to having the tip added in, you could also choose to get an appy as part of the TS credit - and most appys are more expensive than desserts, so that would increase the value as well. The (hypothetical) ability to get dessert with the snack credit - most desserts are over $4 so that would raise the value somewhat. Then the additional drink thrown in, too- at Disney prices that's about $2 there, right? $12 add'l pp over the current cost (well, $12.01!) and get the tip, and the option to get both appy AND dessert, plus still have a random beverage during the day - that COULD end up being worth it financially.

As is usually the case, though, it depends on each family/traveler - and especially on their restaurant choices, I think. If a family wants to do all buffets - possibly not worth it. For many families (mine included!) the cost of the children's plan is also a big factor - that is often a GREAT value.

I know for many the current 2008 plan isn't worth it financially, and for many it's a "convenience-only" thing. But I sat down and calculated for us (hypothetically for 2009) and we would still save over $100 on the plan. Not nearly as much as in 2007, but still a savings, and yes, we'd probably order the same even if not on the plan, so it's a true savings. I think it just varies widely family to family!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Within reason what would you have or change to be your opinion or a perfect DDP plan...?

Cost: $39.99 per night

1 TS meal:
1 non alcoholic, non specialty beverage + 1 entree
or a buffet (includes non alcoholic, non specialty beverage)
Gratuity included

1 CS meal:
1 non alcoholic, non specialty beverage
1 entree + 1 side
or 1 combo meal

3 Snacks (current snack listing acceptable - most single serve items of less than $4)

 

[DiszyDean]

The thing is, unless there was a significant price increase to the basic plan, I never see the gratuiuty being added back to the basic dining plan. Maybe at some point to the Deluxe plan but usually when things like this are taken out of the plan, they are never put back in.

And I don't think eliminating other things such as the appetizer and/or desert would make up enough money to entice Disney to bring back the gratuity.

The dining plan seems as popular as ever even with the changes this year and for the people new to the plan, they never knew that anything had changed, so there are no expectations set with them.

The only way Disney makes any changes is if they feel the demand for the plan is lessening and people are vocal about the reasoning for that lack of demand. But, the plan right now is as popular as ever and Disney is making a profit, so why bother changing it?

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I would like to choose between an appetizer and dessert at TS.

They can keep the dessert with the counter service in exchange for another snack during the day.

Realistically (no wishful thinking here) I would pay $40/day and we pay the tips.

 

[fall08CP]

I would like to choose between an appetizer and dessert at TS.

They can keep the dessert with the counter service in exchange for another snack during the day.

Realistically (no wishful thinking here) I would pay $40/day and we pay the tips.

I agree with you 100%! We don't need the CS dessert, and making it a snack would be wonderful!

 

[TDC Nala]

Since we're just dreaming...mine is that they get rid of it altogether.

 

[bicker]

Since we're just dreaming...mine is that they get rid of it altogether.

That surely would resolve an awful lot of confusion and upset.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

That surely would resolve an awful lot of confusion and upset.

and leave a number of Disney restaurants half full - and then who knows what action Disney execs would take to make things profitable?

"Better the devil you know" is my thought.

 

[TDC Nala]

I liked the restaurants better half full and with better food. Of course we are just dreaming here.

I looked at my ADR list for all my trips up to September - all signatures, V&A and Bluezoo (except for the Wave and I'm just trying that because it's new). I am pretty much turned off to the one-credit restaurants.

 

[englishrose47]

Okay my 2 cents!! I would like to see choice of appie or dessert, tip of 15% included ( you can add to it if service warrants) for TS, entree and drink for CS and 2 snax cost $45 ! This would give the servers a guarateed tip plus the chance to get cash in hand for good service making ddp customers more appealing to them.

 

[bicker]

and leave a number of Disney restaurants half full

No, not necessarily. The restaurants were a bit more than half full before the Dining Plan, and a lot has happened in the last three years, with regard to America's overall appetite for dining out. Even in recession, dining out is retaining its allure, perhaps as a small bit of reasonably affordable luxury -- I'm not sure. However, as has been pointed out, the Dining Plan isn't a savings plan any longer, yet the restaurants are still packed, so getting rid of the Dining Plan may not have much effect on the restaurants overall: People are still dining in the restaurants despite the plan no longer offering the 35% savings that some of us experienced in the past.

 

[bicker]

I had another thought about the 2009 Dining Plan. Perhaps the Dining Plan will include a choice between appetizer and dessert again (but still no gratuity), but TS will be restricted to diners arriving at the restaurant before 3:00 PM (i.e., TS restricted to breakfast and lunch). Unless I'm mistaken, the restaurants are still packed for dinner, but lunch is not-so-bad, eh? This would remedy that imbalance to some extent.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

However, as has been pointed out, the Dining Plan isn't a savings plan any longer.

Whether it is a savings plan or not really isn't the issue (and I would argue that it can still be a savings plan still - look at the recent price increase at Le Cellier - $34.99 for the mushroom filet once you add in your drink and dessert, your snack and counter service meal for the day are "free" as you have already recouped the price of the day's plan)

but back to the point I wanted to make - it is the perception of the ddp being a "savings plan" that is more important. People "forget" that they paid for the ddp with their package and see their restaurant bills and say, "Wow, I'm glad I'm not paying for this! Look how much the bill is."

 

[bicker]

Whether it is a savings plan or not really isn't the issue

For a great number of people, it is. Just look at how many messages basically said, "Without the appetizer and the gratuity included, it just isn't worth it for us." I believe that most people loved the Dining Plan in previous years because it provided them a far more substantial savings than they are able to get this year.

(and I would argue that it can still be a savings plan still - look at the recent price increase at Le Cellier - $34.99 for the mushroom filet once you add in your drink and dessert, your snack and counter service meal for the day are "free" as you have already recouped the price of the day's plan)

True; it would take a lot more words to state what I meant there: Previously, you'd have to work pretty hard, or be pretty negligent with your use of the plan, to NOT save a significant amount of money. Now, you have to be somewhat diligent and meticulous in the manner you use the plan, in order to save a significant amount of money. I hope that makes my statement clearer.

 

[NMW]

The perfect dining plan for our family is the Deluxe Dining Plan, but with the gratuity included. That would be completely all-inclusive and perfect for many people. I'd pay more than the Deluxe plan price to have gratuity included just to make it easier.

I have to disagree with the OP. Any dining plan that includes CS is not perfect for us!

 

[mousebit]

For me, the "perfect" dining plan has to be a combination of convenience and savings. Otherwise, why bother?

To be convenient, it has to more inclusive, less confusing and offer more choices. I don't want to spend a lot of time negotiating with a CM about what my options are and I certainly don't want to discuss how I'm going to pay the tip. Geez! Just include the tip again, let me choose between appetizer and dessert, and make menu and snack choices clear. If I can save a $ or $$, I'm a happy camper.

I would love to see the old plan return in 09, perhaps with a little fine tuning. Otherwise, I'll just pay as I go, make my own unrestricted menu choices and figure my own tip.