my thoughts about the DDP...

[wendy darling]

Today I called to make my reservations for a few resturants when I go next month. I realize that I am booking these reservations very LAST MINUTE...however i was shocked to find that none of the resturants I want to eat at were not available during the 4 days of my stay ( I am working 1 of the days)
I have been going to WDW for a very long time (when Crystal Place was cafeteria style as well as Le Cellier). In the past I would just walk into the resturant, and in recent years (4 years ago) I could make a last minute reservation to most resturants.
I realize the DDP has pros and cons, but in my opinion the cons far outweigh the pros (for me).
I am forunate because I have a few connections and was able to get the reservations I wanted with a few phone calls.
Just my thoughts, I understand that others will disagree with me
wendy

 

[JimMIA]

I got lost partway through -- are you surprised that you could NOT get the ADR's you wanted, or surprised that you GOT what you wanted? You've got a double negative in there, and it's not clear (to me, at least) what you meant.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think they were shocked they could not get the ADRs they wanted last minute. While very few of us are shocked. (Last minute by ADR standards and during upcoming holiday season.)
Seems like it worked out though.
There are some hidden gems that are easier to get res' at. At least usually. I don't know if that is currently the case. (With PI closed we eat at WDW a lot less now.)

 

[wendy darling]

I got lost partway through -- are you surprised that you could NOT get the ADR's you wanted, or surprised that you GOT what you wanted? You've got a double negative in there, and it's not clear (to me, at least) what you meant.

Yes, I was shocked because there was nothing available. I have never had to make reservations on my own before ( I usually just ask the few contacts I have to do the reservations for the dates I go, and I get them). This time I thought I would do it myself, and was stunned.
I guess what my main point of the orginal post was that I have been eating at the same resturants for years and years, and they just started to fill up (with the excepetion of Cinderella's royal table- when it was called King Stephan's) within in the past 8 or 9 years. When the dining plan started even some of the less popular resturants are rarely available (after some research). I was just giving my opinions, I think the Dining plan is a great tool for the guests that use it and like the system ( I say this last staement because my intention was not to bash the DDP).
I never intended for there to be confusion, there was not a double negative in my post. I stated that I was shocked about not getting reservations at first, and then said I was forunate to get the reservations I wanted.
I only made 3 reservations.
Thanks for reading

 

[caroline1851]

I think it's unfortunate that you have to make your plans so far in advance. I'm sure there a ton of people who would much prefer to be able to make adrs 1 month prior-me included.But it is what it is.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The Disney Dining Plan in its more or less current incarnation went into effect in January 2005 - so someone who had last visited about four or more years ago would not have experienced how successfully the DDP is filling formerly empty restaurant tables.

Kudos to the OP for having connections that enable her to get around the "no seating available" issue; Guests need to always remember that things change, that because something occurred or appeared one way on one's last visit in NO way indicates that thing will be the same on one's next visit.

This point of view would indicate the Guest who last visited about four years ago would expect to be able to see the Tarzan show at Animal Kingdom; Who Wants to be a Millionaire and the Golden Girls house at Disney's Hollywood Studios (heck, that'd be MGM!); Food Rocks and Wonders of Life in Epcot,,,

 

[bangzoom6877]

The Disney Dining Plan in its more or less current incarnation went into effect in January 2005 - so someone who had last visited about four or more years ago would not have experienced how successfully the DDP is filling formerly empty restaurant tables.

Kudos to the OP for having connections that enable her to get around the "no seating available" issue; Guests need to always remember that things change, that because something occurred or appeared one way on one's last visit in NO way indicates that thing will be the same on one's next visit.

This point of view would indicate the Guest who last visited about four years ago would expect to be able to see the Tarzan show at Animal Kingdom; Who Wants to be a Millionaire and the Golden Girls house at Disney's Hollywood Studios (heck, that'd be MGM!); Food Rocks and Wonders of Life in Epcot,,,

That's so funny! When I talk to people about our last trip, or the fact that we now own DVC at BWV and will be able to walk to DHS they have no idea what I am talking about when I refer to it as Disney's Hollywood Studios. "Is that a new theme park?" is a common response! So I refer to it as MGM when I talk to people who were not there recently since the name changed this past winter!

 

[wendy darling]

The Disney Dining Plan in its more or less current incarnation went into effect in January 2005 - so someone who had last visited about four or more years ago would not have experienced how successfully the DDP is filling formerly empty restaurant tables.

Kudos to the OP for having connections that enable her to get around the "no seating available" issue; Guests need to always remember that things change, that because something occurred or appeared one way on one's last visit in NO way indicates that thing will be the same on one's next visit.

This point of view would indicate the Guest who last visited about four years ago would expect to be able to see the Tarzan show at Animal Kingdom; Who Wants to be a Millionaire and the Golden Girls house at Disney's Hollywood Studios (heck, that'd be MGM!); Food Rocks and Wonders of Life in Epcot,,,

I am currently a castmember and have been since 1993, so I have never had to make reservations. The contacts that I have are old friends who happen to be castmembers. The last time I was physically at wdw was June of last year, so I know what attractions are here and the ones that are not.

I guess my initial post was to give my point of view of the evolution of the dining at WDW since the DDP was introduced.

 

[BCV23]

I am currently a castmember and have been since 1993, so I have never had to make reservations. The contacts that I have are old friends who happen to be castmembers. The last time I was physically at wdw was June of last year, so I know what attractions are here and the ones that are not.

I guess my initial post was to give my point of view of the evolution of the dining at WDW since the DDP was introduced.

But I don't understand how you can judge the difference as you never made reservations for yourself in the past...at least if I understood you correctly. Your contacts were able to make them for you before and were still able to do so now.

I'm sure the restaurants are busier now as more families have learned the pleasure of sitting down together for a nice meal due to the DDP. But in general, the restaurants have been getting busier for years it seems to me....just like the parks.

Enjoy your meals.

BTW, isn't Crystal Palace still a buffet/cafeteria style???

Oh, also we used to love to have lunch at King Stephan's before it became a character meal....or actually I should say during the years it had no characters because before the Princess breakfast started, there used to be characters at lunch. But those quiet lunch reservations became harder and harder to get long before the DDP.

 

[wendy darling]

But I don't understand how you can judge the difference as you never made reservations for yourself in the past...at least if I understood you correctly. Your contacts were able to make them for you before and were still able to do so now.

I'm sure the restaurants are busier now as more families have learned the pleasure of sitting down together for a nice meal due to the DDP. But in general, the restaurants have been getting busier for years it seems to me....just like the parks.

Enjoy your meals.

BTW, isn't Crystal Palace still a buffet/cafeteria style???

Oh, also we used to love to have lunch at King Stephan's before it became a character meal....or actually I should say during the years it had no characters because before the Princess breakfast started, there used to be characters at lunch. But those quiet lunch reservations became harder and harder to get long before the DDP.

What I was saying is that in the past, reservations never had to be made, in the first place. In the past few years, the reason I had my contacts make the reservations is because they were going to be dining with me, and we made reservations based on what we both wanted. Until I myself made the reservations, I never knew it was that hard to make reservations. (and they worked in the dining area of wdw- so they have access to the reservation system).

And yes, CP is a buffet now, before the characters came into the picture it was a cafeteria, wher you would grab a tray and selected what you wanted and then paid for the items at the end of the line. It was not a buffet. My point in stating both Le Cellier and CP were both cafeteria was that everything has evolved into what it is now. That's all.

 

[thunderbird1]

I agree with you that reservations are much harder to get at the last minute than they used to be. Many of us look back fondly on the days when we would walk into Epcot in the morning and go up to the video kiosk to make our dining reservations for the day. And if you didn't do that--no biggie, just stroll into a restaurant when you felt hungry and 9 times out of 10 you would be able to get a table, even if you had to wait a little bit.

Now, if you don't have an ADR, fuhgetaboutit! Is that less convenient for me? Of course--who wouldn't want to be able to eat whenever and where ever they choose on vacation? But that would mean the restaurants aren't very busy, and that's a huge con for Disney. So they came up with a prepaid, discounted dining plan that has dramatically increased business at their restaurants. And while it's less convenient for me to have to make reservations well in advance, I really enjoy the savings and convenience of using the DDP. So, for me, the pros outweigh the cons. But I can understand how you (and many others) would feel the opposite.

 

[wendy darling]

I understand everyone's poit of view, I think i am at an advantage about booking a trip to FL, because I work for an airline (parttime), so any week that I feel that hopping on a plane for a few days to visit wdw I can very easily.
So booking a trip 6 months out does not appeal to me, I do not have the patience (sp?) to wait that long (haha), I would not mind making reservations 180 days out if I needed to, in my case it wouldn't be logical to do so.
Hope everyone has a magical trip (whenever they go) and get all of the dining reservations they wish for!!
Right now, I actually have 3 reservations (that any could make), I decided to try it myself (booking) to see what I could get (today)... instead of going through my friends. They have cancelled the other ones.
I got - nothing too special but I'm happy.
Kona Cafe (I have never been and want to try it).
Tony's Town Square (one of my Favs.)
Biergarten in Germany
the rest I am doing CS meals, and getting food for the room, when I arrive (for snacks, and other light meals)

 

[Pumbaa_]

this thread has veered off course and is not about DDP any longer. Thread is closed.