Never been flamed before so might as well start now

[shadonjenon]

I have been wondering if I should bring this up or not but I can't get it off my mind. I am relatively new to the Dis boards and we are still anticipating our first disney family vaca. in october, and all this negativity about the dining plan is driving me nuts.

Maybe its just human nature, maybe not. But the anger that some people seem to have towards the DDP is purplexing to me. My opinion is that the DDP is an option created by Disney for what ever reason. The people on the plan didn't go begging to Disney for discounted meals. This is the direction that Disney has chosen to take. And bravo to the people who have been able to enjoy and benefit from it. There are many other disney discounts out there that don't get any where near the negative feedback of DDP. The statements that the resturants/food/service was better before the influx of DDP folks may very well be true, but oh well. There are many other possible reasons for the changes (high gas prices definately have an impact on food prices which could change the quality/quantity of the food at Disney) Lets not be so quick to blame the DDP or the people on it.

Life is full of changes and very rearly do things stay the same. If a resturant is not to your liking any longer the solution is simple don't go there anymore. Its almost as if some of the people on the boards feel a sense of entitlement to have the resturants stay exactly the way they want them. If you are blessed enough that you don't need the dining plan than great. But don't make others feel as if their presence has ruined your dining experience. I know the debates will continue and thats fine. I just need to get that off my chest. Let the flames begin

 

[DumboDash2006]

 

[GoofyTraci]

nicely put.

 

[cattrix]

Couldn't have stated it any better myself

 

[bluejasmine]

I agree hon! But you know how it is you cant please everyone..No matter what someone is always going to be unhappy.. My family loved the DDP last yr and will be using it this Fri for 5 nights. One thing I think everyone needs to remember with the inflation of everything (gas, food prices, pay scale) almost everything is being down sized and while Im sure some of it may be due to the DDP I dont believe its fully to blame. I for one am happy WDW has made it more affordable for some families. Honestly I coudnt afford all these TS places before we ate CS and a TS our arrival night and final night..

 

[kaw1218]

I didn't want to dissappoint you...here's your first flame!!!!

by the way........

 

[DisneyDork712]

Another from me!

 

[patsal]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[Microcell]

Yeah sister!

I am going to pop some popcorn and wait for the first mad at you post. I am going to say it will be post 21. Let me know if I win the pool!

 

[Lewisc]

I agree with most of your post but I see very few complaints regarding dining. A few posters make a valid point regarding the downscaling of the menus at some of the restaurants.

Most of the negativity was directed at a handful of greedy guests who didn't think the plan was enough. Those guests wanted to do things like "bank child credits" so as not to waste those credits on children's meals.

 

[MagicForMe]

Nice post. I agree. Changes happen all the time.

Just one thing though...

If you are blessed enough that you don't need the dining plan than great.

I'm not getting the DP but it's not that I'm blessed. lol! I feel it's too much money for our group [although I do see the value in it for others]. Our next vacation consists of 2 eleven year olds and 4 adults and I don't see us spending 228 a day on food. It's too much money for us! So I'm not criticizing you at all, but I did want to point out that some people who opt out of the dining plan do so not because they are blessed but because they can't afford it and will eat lots of CS or offsite or in-room/villa meals.

Nice post.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Amen!!! Could not have said it any better.

Slightly Goofy (who cannot understand why someone would choose to go to DW who did not like people, different people, all people)

 

[mytwotinks]

I agree! I don't like those posts either. I especially don't like the ones that refer to the ddp users as "the masses" and say that the menuse have been "dumbed down" for us. As if all of us that use the ddp are such hillbillies in our non-disney lives that all we eat in the outside world are hot dogs or maybe corn dogs for a formal event!

 

[JoAnnPan]

Well said, well said. My sister and I used the dining plan in April and thought it was great ~ it worked for us.

 

[Lewisc]

I agree! I don't like those posts either. I especially don't like the ones that refer to the ddp users as "the masses" and say that the menuse have been "dumbed down" for us. As if all of us that use the ddp are such hillbillies in our non-disney lives that all we eat in the outside world are hot dogs or maybe corn dogs for a formal event!

I've used the dining plan twice and think it's a great deal. I didn't invent the "dumbed-down" description but you're misunderstanding the meaning. It doesn't mean DDP plan guests are hillbillies and want less elaborate food but rather due to the fixed reimbursement rate expensive menu items are being deleted from the menu. Cash guests don't have the option of paying and DDP plan guests don't have the option of paying an upcharge for menu items that have been deleted.

 

[MyGoofy26]

Great post, but I have to comment on one thing. . .

If you are blessed enough that you don't need the dining plan than great.

I've heard a few people say something along these same lines and I wonder if this almost feeds the negativity by a handful of people (let me stress not everyone who questions the plan - just the occasional person who goes overboard) who seem to look down on people as if they just paid for a 3 course upscale meal with foodstamps.

I think it comes down to being "thrifty" and smart about your money more than being blessed. People take advantage of discounts all the time on these boards - if you call up CRO and they say, "hey! We have a discount I can give you!" are you going to say no just because your vacation budget already allows for rack rate or that you can "afford" rack rate? Of course not! It's no different with the dining plan - it's Disney saying, "Hey - you're already spending this much money, how about we upgrade your meals?" or "Hey, you're already spending a lot on your meals. . .how about if we package it and give you a discount."

Some people take advantage of the DDE, and many have stated their savings are comparable to what folks report saving on the dining plan. It's the same thing - taking advantage of what works for you. And if the savings are comparable - how do we know that this isn't equally to "blame" for the change in menus?

 

[Lewisc]

DDE has been out for years. DDE is a percentage discount, you eat more you pay more. You eat more expensive menu items you pay more. People say DDE give comparable savings because DDE discounts adult beverages and guests don't order unwanted appetizers and desserts.

The easiest way to look at the effects of DDP and menus is to look at the changes at Coral Reef when the dropped signature status. Entrées like lobster, scallops and shrimp were all dropped.

CMs said the slipper dessert was dropped at CRT because too many DDP plan guests were ordering it. CMs at Prime Time said the smores were reduced in size for the same reason.

Disney pays the restaurant a fixed price per meal. There isn't any question restaurants have been changing their menus so they can operate profitably.

Some people take advantage of the DDE, and many have stated their savings are comparable to what folks report saving on the dining plan. It's the same thing - taking advantage of what works for you. And if the savings are comparable - how do we know that this isn't equally to "blame" for the change in menus?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I, too, get tired of the posts where people imply the majority of dining plan users act like uncivilized welfare recipients. Or the posts that claim they 'knew' disruptive diners were on the dining plan. Whether people are or aren't on the plan... who cares? Take a deep breath. I've found the more you enjoy the company of those with whom you are vacationing, the less time you have to notice or be critical of others. It truly makes no difference how the party at the next table settles their dining bill. The dining plan works for us. Enjoy!

 

[KimDis]

Okay, new to the whole Disney Dining thing and have to admit I've found it too complicated to mess with so I just pay as I go when I'm there. Couldn't some (not all) of the higher end restaurants just use more credit so that they could maintain better menus for those who'd want it?

 

[mytwotinks]

I've used the dining plan twice and think it's a great deal. I didn't invent the "dumbed-down" description but you're misunderstanding the meaning. It doesn't mean DDP plan guests are hillbillies and want less elaborate food but rather due to the fixed reimbursement rate expensive menu items are being deleted from the menu. Cash guests don't have the option of paying and DDP plan guests don't have the option of paying an upcharge for menu items that have been deleted.

Thanks, but I understand the difference between a poster saying that the menus have been "dumbed down" to make running the restaraunt profitable and those who use it in the context of being "dumbed down" because the dining plan customers have a less distinguished palette and would probably not understand the menus if they didn't change them to include hamburgers and chicken fingers. There have def. been posts that are insulting. I'm not saying that every post has been.