New Dinner Entitlement Program for DDP

[*Marty_Mouse_House*]

Hi, we're here at WDW using the free DDP and staying at the All-Star. I was looking at some pins at Epcot on Sunday and the CM started to tell me about a brand new program they just started. She pulled a paper out of her pocket and it said something about if you use a table service credit for a quick service meal then you get an "entitlement". She did have dates listed on the paper, but I'm sorry, I didn't get a chance to see the dates but I think it said only good thru Sept. something.

Today, the All-Star t.v. had this message (but no dates are listed). It says,

Use a table service credit for a quick service meal and receive a certificate for one of the following:

* 2 snacks,
* a collectible trading pin and lanyard
* "Where Magic Lives" poster

(It says to tell the server before the meal to receive the certificate.)

Hope this helps!

-----------------------------
30 Plus Trips in 30 Plus Years!

 

[HayGan]

WOW! What an interesting development! Has anyone actually received one of these entitlements? I wonder if it is to avoid all the complaints of people who thought they would just be able to walk up to TS restaurants during free dining and get a table

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

WOW! What an interesting development! Has anyone actually received one of these entitlements? I wonder if it is to avoid all the complaints of people who thought they would just be able to walk up to TS restaurants during free dining and get a table

That sounds like exactly what it's supposed to do.

 

[Albertan mom]

Hmmm, interesting concept.
Will help those people that don't know to make ADRs
(the non-Disers! )

 

[jengelbrecht]

Yes, this plan was posted on touringplans.com under Recent WDW News several days ago, but I hadn't heard any more about it. Glad to hear it wasn't just a rumor.

 

[PandaBear & Boo]

Now I'm undecided what to do. My DD wants to start collecting pins. Should I give up a TS credit to get her the pin and lanyard. If I give up a TS credit could I share at one of our TS meals? What do you thinK?

 

[mickeysaver]

Pins run about $7 retail.
Lanyards run about $12 with a neat medal at the bottom or about $6 without.

I would keep your ADR for the TS and buy the other stuff. The pin is most likely, nothing special and the same can be applied to the lanyard. I have seen nothing on www.odpt.com that would indicate that they were planning anything super neat for the occasion.

The poster is an OLD poster that they must have millions of just gathering dust in a warehouse.

Basically, this is a way for Disney to attempt to pacify the non-planning guests that think that they can just "wing it" when they get there. Maggie

 

[Dorisk3]

Now I'm undecided what to do. My DD wants to start collecting pins. Should I give up a TS credit to get her the pin and lanyard. If I give up a TS credit could I share at one of our TS meals? What do you thinK?

I agree with mickeysaver- since I see from your ticker you have a month to go what you could do for your DD is buy some cheap pins on ebay (I got them for 1.99 each from a seller called pinscheap- but there are others) and use those to trade in the parks.

 

[PandaBear & Boo]

I wouldn't mind buying on ebay but how can I tell if they are the real thing? I've never bought any pins before. What am I looking for?

 

[Armandocme]

From Touringplans.com dated 8/12/06:

To help with the crush of folks with free dining during the period of August 15 - September 4, 2006, Table Service meals on the Disney Dining Plan can be redeemed at the Pop Century and All Star Movies Resorts for counter service dinners with special entrees including prime rib, salmon, and turkey. These guests will also recieve the "trade in" offer for Table Service meals offered during this period.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm not shooting the messenger and I appreciate your post. Disney is really playing games with guests. CS restaurants such as the Pepper Market and the restaurants in AK have similar menu items without guests having to use a TS credit. Disney knows how many free dining packages were sold. Guests who don't make ADRs don't have a right to get the restaurant or even time of their choice BUT Disney should make sure TS meals are available. Disney has convention centers that could have been used to set up real buffets. They have the old MV and Odyssey center in EPCOT that could be used. Staffing may be an issue but that's Disney's problem.

From Touringplans.com dated 8/12/06:

To help with the crush of folks with free dining during the period of August 15 - September 4, 2006, Table Service meals on the Disney Dining Plan can be redeemed at the Pop Century and All Star Movies Resorts for counter service dinners with special entrees including prime rib, salmon, and turkey. These guests will also recieve the "trade in" offer for Table Service meals offered during this period.

 

[gigi1313]

I'm not shooting the messenger and I appreciate your post. Disney is really playing games with guests. CS restaurants such as the Pepper Market and the restaurants in AK have similar menu items without guests having to use a TS credit. Disney knows how many free dining packages were sold. Guests who don't make ADRs don't have a right to get the restaurant or even time of their choice BUT Disney should make sure TS meals are available. Disney has convention centers that could have been used to set up real buffets. They have the old MV and Odyssey center in EPCOT that could be used. Staffing may be an issue but that's Disney's problem.

while i agree w/your observations, disney is also catering to/appeasing those that do not want to eat TS meals and offering them free souvies along w/free dining... a win/win for many families :thinking of posts on the dis that say "we don't eat sit-down" "my kids cannot sit long enough for a meal" etc:

 

[Lewisc]

while i agree w/your observations, disney is also catering to/appeasing those that do not want to eat TS meals and offering them free souvies along w/free dining... a win/win for many families :thinking of posts on the dis that say "we don't eat sit-down" "my kids cannot sit long enough for a meal" etc:

I AGREE but the program being quoted in this thread is only available 8/15-9/4. It's a reaction to Disney "overselling" the plan.

Offering options to guests who PREFER a CS meal to a TS meal is GOOD. Offering options to guests who are unable to get a TS meal is wrong. Table Service availability shouldn't be a matter of "musical chairs" with guests who wait to long to make ADRS being told nothing is available. If necessary Disney should be setting up temporary buffet restaurants.

 

[mytwotinks]

If we traded we would probably go for the snacks. Even if we just got some rice krispy treats to take home for friends at the end. We have TS adr's for each day, but honestly some days we just don't end up wanting to spend all of that time eating!

 

[HaleyB]

FYI

The pin and lanyard was discribed by someone as a royal blue lanyard with (two?) airplane pins on it.

That sounds an awful lot like the lanyard they were giving away as a freebie with packages about three years ago. May have been a AAA thing (I can't remember).

The poster is an old one (as someone above noted already).

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I

AGREE but the program being quoted in this thread is only available 8/15-9/4.

This could be just a trial for the program. If many families take this option, it could be extended. I would never trade in a TS for one of their "gifts", but many families with small children who don't like long meals might.

I do agree that if you want a TS you should be able to get it. I am going 8/25-8/30 and have changed ADRs several times in the past 2 weeks with no problem, so the restaurants can't be that full. You may not get Le Cellier, but there are ADRs available.

 

[cobbler]

Well it's a win/win for Disney too. Now their food costs are down because of not having to pay the tip for the servers and the food costing less for the CS meal than the TS meal. Plus they get to get rid of old stuff collecting dust where ever they store it. Makes a nice tax write off.

 

[gigi1313]

I AGREE but the program being quoted in this thread is only available 8/15-9/4. It's a reaction to Disney "overselling" the plan.

Offering options to guests who PREFER a CS meal to a TS meal is GOOD. Offering options to guests who are unable to get a TS meal is wrong. Table Service availability shouldn't be a matter of "musical chairs" with guests who wait to long to make ADRS being told nothing is available. If necessary Disney should be setting up temporary buffet restaurants.

again, i concur... but i'd be surprised if there were not some TS seats available, just not when/where guests want to dine... places like shutters and boatwrights most likely have availability, but the "Trade a TS" option is great for those that do not want to leave the parks...

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I don't think it's for overbooking at all. I think it's for those that walk up to CRT the day of, and expect to get a seat then get pissed because they don't want to take a monorail ride to go eat. Plenty of resort restaurants will have availability for those dates. But this provides another option for those that insist upon eating in the parks.

 

[Frantasmic]

Well, one thing this offer does is allows a semi-breakdown of the value Disney kind of assigns to each meal on the DDP for an adult and it may be used to roughly base your estimate on if the dining plan is good for your.

1 TS + 1 CS +1 S = $37.99

They now say you can substitute the TS for 1 CS + 2 S

So, 1 CS + 2S + 1CS + 1S = 37.99

That's 2 CS + 3S = 37.99

We know that snacks are basically any food item below $4, so $4 equal a snack credit.

2 CS + 3*4 = 37.99

2 CS = 37.99 - 12.00 = 25.99

2 CS = 25.99 or roughly 13.00 each.

So, paying for the dining plan results in:

1 TS + 1 CS (13.00) + 1 S (4.00) = 37.99

1 TS = 20.99

So, the dining plan is good NOT good for an adult who can eat LESS than the value of the meals plus tax and tip

If you can eat a TS for less than 20.99, a CS for less than 13.00 and a snack for less than 4.00, the dining plan isn't for you.

I realize this is simplified and probably not based 100 percent on values and thus may be open to interpretation; however, it does give a rough estimate on the value of each credit if paying for the dining plan. It may help someone deciding if the DDP is good for their family.