New Wolfgang puck Cafe menu

[Bronte]

I changed my ARD's for Dec. 26 from WGP's to Kona Cafe at the Poly ... my oldest DD loves steak and going to WGP's without it is silly for our family even if they do have great sushi.
My DH is not disappointed ... he always said WGP's was too noisy anyways.

 

[Lewisc]

WPC is a non-Disney owned restaurant. WPC was also one of the only restaurants that initially had an "upcharge" on some menu items. Many of those menu items were deleted from the menu, and now WPC doesn't charge a surcharge. I'd argue WPC is one of the better 1 credit restaurants. Free dining probably increases the % of less profitable DDP guests dining at restaurants like WPC.

I'll argue Disney decided to streamline the menus to make the restaurants more profitable and efficient. The DDP was the result, not the cause, of the changes.

Many restaurants adjust their menus so they can profitably keep their menu prices within a range that appeals to their customers. The adjustments may result in using less expensive ingrediants or menu items that require less time to prepare.

All this time people have been arguing that the DDP didn't change menus and didn't change portion sizes. You've just made the argument that it did and does. Free dining is only "free" to the patron. WDW and nonWDW restaurants get paid the same whether it is free or not. The only difference is in the mix of patrons. And with menus having already been streamlined and portions downsized, the other option left to do is to remove more expensive entrees when the mix of patrons tilts toward a higher percentage of DDP during free dining.

Excuse my snarkiness. The DDP did not cause changes in quantity and quality argument has always been a pet peeve of mine. No restaurant will continue to be profitable if they are spending more than they are being paid for a dinner. Restaurant servers are running ragged trying to keep up with the busy pace of the restaurants. WDW doesn't appear to be able to or perhaps doesn't want to hire more servers. Overhead is fairly fixed with the exception of profit percentage on food. Slash portion sizes and remove intricate preparations and you bring in greater profitability. Take expensive items off the menu when you are received a set amount of money per meal and you again create greater profitability.

Well, anyhow, it's moot. What will be, is.

 

[gina2000]

I don't disagree with your assessment of WPC. It was always on our "to do" list and always provided a good meal in an enjoyable atmosphere.

I do think, however, that the beancounters were trying to bring in new blood to the hotels and realized that they needed the offsite crowd in order to do so. They wanted to fill those hotel rooms. How to entice? A good dining plan that would compete with offsite dining prices was the answer. And I think it largely worked. However, in doing so, they realized that restauarants were bleeding out money as people not only used the plan to the maximum but also figured out creative ways to expand their credit usage. So to stop the flow, they curbed the credit usage so people couldn't use children's credits as adult credits and reduced portion sizes so people couldn't share meals. Restaurants removed intricate and expensive preparations to reduce overhead (prep time) and to turn tables as quickly as possible. The next phase is to eliminate appetizers to enhance profitability and so that people would need to use 1 TS credit per person to be satisfied.

I know you and most people don't believe this is the order of events but I do believe the DDP and restaurant changes go hand in hand. In order to entice people in, they created a DDP that was dramatically undervalued. WDW is now changing the rules to shift profitability back in their ballcourt. They already know that higher prices won't keep people in the TS restaurants but they do know that lower prices and virtually any sort of meal will keep restaurants filled. It's just another way to undercut competition (off site hotels and restaurants). After the honeymoon, they start to reduce the attractiveness of the plan hoping that people are hooked on the whole staying onsite thing. It's just marketing to a new segment while hoping to keep the old.

 

[Mr Man]

We have ADR's for 9/9 at WGP. As long as they have the butternut squash soup and the veal weinerschitzel we are good. mmmmmm (_8-(I)

Will have to look closely at 2008 DDP though. May be a good year to camp & cook at the trailer and do CS during the day.

Will think on this.

 

[Quinn222]

Excuse my snarkiness. The DDP did not cause changes in quantity and quality argument has always been a pet peeve of mine.

Totally agree with you and have always said it. The DDP has been the ruination of fine dining at WDW.

 

[mrzrich]

We have ADR's for 9/9 at WGP. As long as they have the butternut squash soup and the veal weinerschitzel we are good. mmmmmm (_8-(I)

Will have to look closely at 2008 DDP though. May be a good year to camp & cook at the trailer and do CS during the day.

Will think on this.

Went last night. The menu linked here is incorrect. The Weinerschnitzel was not on the menu...I know, I sought it out...it was gone. ADR for September, cancelled.

BTW I had the creme brulee and Mom had the flourless chocolate cake, also not listed on the menu linked above.

 

[Shasta]

I may keep my ADR but won't use it for the DDP in Jan. I think we will go but OOP and buy a sampler of sushi. It will be more of an app dinner than real food.

I can get much better use of those credits at other locations.

 

[mom2my3kids]

I am canceling my adr for next month..