Never been flamed before so might as well start now

[PrincessAlways]

You get another from me too!

 

[Santa]

Wow

And all I want for Christmas is snow.

 

[disneyfreak74]

I give you a BIG !!!! I think it was very nicely put. We are also one of the families that are going to take advantage of the FREE dining plan in about a week!!! I kinda like a good meal when I am just about the pass out from HEAT exhaustion!!! We ARE paying rack rate for our room and are ACCEPTING this discount just as others have posted that THEY accepted KILLER room rates and UPGRADES!!!
Fuss all they like--We WILL enjoy our vacation and eat some pretty tastey vittles while we are there!!!!
I may need a to put out the flames, but oh well!!! Another poster hit the nail on the HEAD!!! YOU CANNOT PLEASE EVERYONE!!!!

 

[ntsammy5]

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

by the way........

I like the flame!

 

[disneypharm]

I agree! I don't like those posts either.
I just read another thread that several posts are mentioning that "who ever invented the free Disney dining plan, needs to be shot"!
I am not sure what these people are complaining about. We loved DDP during our stay last year and can't wait to go there in 4 weeks. I hope Disney never stop offering the plan.

 

[the Fidge]

They can all think what they wnat about me and my family because we think we are a fun bunch of coconuts!

By the way I know who they are I have seen them in WDW they are the ones yacking away on their cell phones! Not for work or emergenciy purposes you know who they are! As the child say look look over here at what I am doing as they shoo the child since they are soo busy yacking on their cell phones I don't think they know they are in the greatest place on earth!

OK blast me for that I say I am already tan and won't get a burn! HA!

Wondering if they could get Cruella De Ville to take away all cell phones upon entering the parks .......may have to paint them black and white first though hmmmm Driving away before angry cell phone mobs attack!!!

 

[disneypharm]

They can all think what they wnat about me and my family because we think we are a fun bunch of coconuts!

By the way I know who they are I have seen them in WDW they are the ones yacking away on their cell phones! Not for work or emergenciy purposes you know who they are! As the child say look look over here at what I am doing as they shoo the child since they are soo busy yacking on their cell phones I don't think they know they are in the greatest place on earth!

OK blast me for that I say I am already tan and won't get a burn! HA!

Wondering if they could get Cruella De Ville to take away all cell phones upon entering the parks .......may have to paint them black and white first though hmmmm Driving away before angry cell phone mobs attack!!!

 

[mom2my3kids]

We have decided to not do the dining plan, only because I don't want to be tied down with table services at certain times and I believe we can save money because we are not big eaters and don't usually do apps and deserts. In saying this I totally agree with your post, if you want to participate great if not great..

 

[pepperw23]

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

I dont' think you should get flamed. It is very well said.

 

[jetstrip19]

The DDP was a godsend to DBF and myself, we def ate more than needed and I was very pleased with with everything it had to offer. We however do not have children and we ate at a nice sit down every night (which we would have done regardless of the plan) so it save me a TON of money

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I think what the OP posted was right on.
My friend always tries to get in on the DDP and she loves it. She gets her money's worth and has a big family. It works for her. As for my family, we choose not to do it. I find it just too complicated to think about points and stuff like that. I am not a big eater and DD's aren't either. It would be a waste for us. It's not like we have all the money in the world, but it's easier for me to pay for our meals. I think it's great that Disney has options. I don't feel any negativity towards the DDP or persons using it. If it works for someone, i think it's awesome.

 

[theblondebee]

I agree with the OP, it just bothers me how some people think the DDP is ruining everything.

 

[danalee]

We used it last year and loved it Made plans for this year to go on our anniversery and do the plan again, then found out it was free!

We LOVE it free or paid for it worked for us and would gladly use it again

So I say if it works for you great, if not...Well great whatever, who cares really!
I am in Disney and I could care less what you are eating, how much or how you paid for it!
Go eat and enjoy

 

[SassyLassy]

Very well stated

 

[2nd childhood]

I have to agree with the great value of the DDP. We had it on our last trip and also have it for our upcoming trip.
It can be a lot of food, it can take some of the spontaneity away, it can be a bit overwhelming when trying to plan so far in advance, it has increased the crowd size at many TS, it has forced some restaurants to downsize their menus in order to insure profit with the fixed priced meal payment, but even though I agree with the above points I believe the value of the plan outweighs the "negatives". You really can't please everyone. Just don't read the negative post and enjoy your trip, eat and have a great time.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

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

Whoa! I scrimp and save all year to be able to hit theme parks on vacation. I may be blessed in many areas, but certainly not financially. Staying on-site, paying full rack rates for a tiny hotel room, plus full rates for tickets to get two meals and a snack is not a savings for a lot of people.

Our last trip down to Orlando was six nights in a three-bedroom condo, six adults, for $399 for the week (with a jacuzzi in the master bedroom!). Per couple, this was $23 a night. We hit Publix when we arrived, and paid about $30 for full, healthy, hearty breakfasts every morning for the week that we were able to prepare in our full kitchen. We watched Wishes and Illuminations from our balcony with cocktails in hand (again, even more savings buying our liquor/wine from the liquor store). We often prepared a nice dinner in our condo, too, which was about an eighth of what we would have paid out at a park. For park passes, we start out with the Florida resident Play 3 deal, which is $40 per day for tix. After the trip, you have 90 days to make up the difference to upgrade to a seasonal pass, which the last time we renewed last year, was another $80.

The last time DH & I stayed on site at a moderate hotel with a tiny room, with a Florida resident/AP discount, off season, we paid $89 a night.

I disagree with folks who think the DDP is like a welfare, because it is a good deal for some, but to assume that those who don't use it are blessed is just as wrong. I save every dime I can to enjoy Orlando a couple times a year.

 

[laceemouse]

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

Just one thing though...

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.

Agree! We are not paying for the DP because we feel that the $$$ it would cost us for 6 people is MORE than we generally spend on food for our trips, and we do eat one TS meal per day!! I know other folks who skip the DP to save money, not because they are so rich they don't need it. It is not a great deal for everyone (unless it is free, that is!)

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disney pays the restaurant a fixed price per meal.

I thought that was only true of the NON-Disney-owned restaurants? If Disney's only paying EACH restaurant a fixed price per meal, then the servers are only getting 18% of THAT amount, not of the total check. Is that's what's happening?

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?

They do (higher end, or "Signature" restaurants require the use of two table service credits per diner) and they do (maintain 'better' menus at the Signature restaurants).

We have decided to not do the dining plan, only because I don't want to be tied down with table services at certain times and I believe we can save money because we are not big eaters and don't usually do apps and deserts.

Which is just one of the great features of the Disney Dining Plan - it's NOT for everyone, and EVERY Guest gets to decide for themselves whether it's worth the cost (and yes, that applies even to those of us getting it free with our Disney Package -- many people changed their vacations to take advantage of this deal, so 'worth it' does apply)

Staying on-site, paying full rack rates for a tiny hotel room, plus full rates for tickets to get two meals and a snack is not a savings for a lot of people.

Sure it is. For one person, even - but for two adults, a thirteen year old and an eight year old? If the average table service check for such a group at a buffet is, say $122 with tax and tip ($29 per adult/junior adult, $11 for the kid, plus tax and tip) the FREE dining plan deal saves them, hold on, carry the four... $122 per day. Now, if that same family were paying for the plan, its daily cost of $124.96 is more than the one meal, sure - but if they get just two bottles of water each day using snack credits, they're already ahead AND they've still got two more snack credits and four Counter Service credits to 'spend'. Yeah, it's a savings.

 

[rkujay]

My comment is in regards to "if you don't like a restaurant, don't go back". As a former business owner, I always felt that there are two kinds of customers...Good ones tell you when they have had a problem. Bad ones just go away.

Disney won't change what they don't perceive as broke. If you have a bad experience, please let them know. Please do likewise if you have a good experience.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

I agree! I don't like those posts either.
I just read another thread that several posts are mentioning that "who ever invented the free Disney dining plan, needs to be shot"!
I am not sure what these people are complaining about. We loved DDP during our stay last year and can't wait to go there in 4 weeks. I hope Disney never stop offering the plan.

We have just returned from WDW for a whole week of heavenly Free DDP. Love it so much that we are booked for next year already. If those who hated the DDP (whether it's free or Not), just don't get it. PERIOD.
We didn't know about the "Promo" until I was ready to book my vacation in early April. It was a nice Surprise.
I have to agree with you that once a complainer alway a complainer. Don't you worry about all the talk of Dumb-downed food at WDW restaurants. The places we ate at were ALL GOOD. The service was excellent too. We never felt secondary to those paid OOP. We simply are smarty or faster to get the Goody Package, That's all.
Do you think there's people stupid enough to turn down the Free DDP or not use the credits if their packages include with the plan? I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT.
Have a great time and loosen your belts.