NO MORE Dining Plan for us..my reasons

[Prinny27]

That sounds like a real hassle but it was the server's error. There is no need to carry any additional cards with the DDP. Everything can be charged to your room card.

True, but this couple doesn't like to put the charging ability on their room key for whatever reason, so for them, there is a need to carry extra cards: first there is the room key with the DDP info on it, then there is a credit card (or cash if they chose to leave the tip with cash), and then the DDE card, plus the ID needed to prove they are the DDE holder. Obviously a lot of that can be eliminated by putting charging abilities on your room key, or not using the DDE, but for many of us, it's unfortunately necessary what with taking away the appetizer - why wouldn't you want to get the 20% off?

Also, I completely agree it was the server's mistake, but she even called the manager over, and he was baffled by why the computer rang it up this way, and apparently no one could figure out how to ring it properly. It just seems like there is much confusion with the new DDP and how to ring things up accordingly, especially if another discount is being used.

We also all agreed that we would each happily pay another $10 per day for the DDP if only it would return to the way it was - appetizers included as well as the tip. Or at the least, include the tip and let us have a choice between appetizer and dessert! I know it's wishful thinking, what with table turnover and all that, but as it was, we all ordered appetizers and dessert anyway, so it didn't make the table turnover faster there!

 

[BCV23]

But if they weren't on the DDP, they would need to carry the same number of cards (or cash) since they don't put charging on their room key. They would still need the room key to get into the villa. Carrying the extra DDE card is optional of course but well worth 20% IMO.


Although the turnover time didn't change, WDW did realize extra income on those appetizers in exchange for the extra time at the table.

 

[Prinny27]

But if they weren't on the DDP, they would need to carry the same number of cards (or cash) since they don't put charging on their room key. They would still need the room key to get into the villa. Carrying the extra DDE card is optional of course but well worth 20% IMO.


Although the turnover time didn't change, WDW did realize extra income on those appetizers in exchange for the extra time at the table.

Oh, I totally agree! But this was just to point out that it's no longer that convenient to be on the DDP anymore, which was a huge draw for many, on top of the huge savings it used to be. On the old plan, for example, all the food was included as well as the tip, so there was no need to carry any other cards (unless, of course, you ordered alcoholic drinks). But with this new plan, it's no more convenient than paying OOP now.

 

[Luvmyfam3]

This thread has been really interesting to read! So many perspectives!

My situation is similar to StayFLA's. I'm a single mom of 3 teenage daughters and for them it's a treat to not have to share entrees (they're usually sweet and order from the kids meal if allowed just to help me out when we go out to eat), order water, order dessert, etc. The last two years, after we left WDW we went to Universal. My kids were asking, "but don't we get to order dessert with that???" So, if just to let us all breathe easier on the trip, I plan to use the DDP this July. If it saves me money then it's a huge perk.... if we only break even then I'll consider it a pre-pay. We usually do have one TS/day and one CS/day planned anyway (we grab breakfast from our room)....

All that being said, I am disappointed in the changes to the DDP.

 

[StayFLA]

I'm confused. Why wouldn't the DDP afford the teens the same convenience? Of course, it sounds as if you could no longer get a box of donuts for a snack credit which makes complete sense to me.

But your situation with illness brings me to one of the reasons I'll won't book the current DDP. Although I still think it's easy to save a bit on the plan if everyone stays healthy, if illness strikes it would be so easy to lose value.

The loss of appetizer is also a deal breaker. Loss of dessert, no problem but don't take those appetizers.

And we don't like CS unless it's breakfast to take back to the villa or sandwiches for the plane.

The teens didn't need to carry much cash . They don't have credit cards and my Charge card was not put on their room key. We stayed at FW and there is no CS. Trail's end is TS. If they ate lunch at a park TS, the tip was included. All they had to have was their KTTW card. That is not the case now. It's just a matter of simplicity. Chuck S, yes, the room charge on their KTTW card is the answer. I remember when I was a kid in 1974 at FW. My folks gave me and sis a CC and sent us to Pioneer Hall for breakfast. Needless to say, the bill was very high. It was ala carte. oops. I'm hesitant to give a kid a charge card access in Disney.

Ralph

 

[castleri]

But I had to report on our experience with the plan this past Sunday night, 2/10. We met up with friends for dinner at Chefs de France. They had the plan, and they also ordered two glasses of wine and an appetizer - neither which are included on the DDP. When our receipts came out, there's was VERY messed up. The waitress applied their DDE discount to the wine and appetizer, but then wound up adding the automatic gratuity to the ENTIRE bill (including DDP items). What she was supposed to bring were two separate checks - one for the DDP and one for any additional items, but instead everything was grouped onto one check. The 20% discount was applied to the WHOLE bill, and then the 18% tip was added to the WHOLE bill. It took 25 minutes for the waitress to sort this out, and in the end, she still didn't remove the total gratuity - she only suceeded in splitting up the bills. So all the theory of the 'convenience' of the plan did not apply in this case. Not only did our friends have to carry around extra money and other cards to pay for their dinner in addition to the KTTW card, but we all had to sit and wait for the restaurant to figure out how it should be billed.

I want to point out that this had no effect whatsoever on our dining experience - the food was great and the service was excellent - it's just another little annoyance of the new DDP.

Wouldn't doing the discount for the whole bill and then adding the tip for the whole bill have resulted in a smaller payment for your friends or do they not tip on the DDP? The tip should be based on what the meal cost not what was paid for the DDP so in the long run they might have made out better. You are correct in saying there should have been two bills and that is what we got every time we used the DDP and DDE together. I did make a point of telling the server before we ordered that we would be using both and there was never a problem. If you wait until they bring the bill to say - oh by the way we are using both the DDE and DDP they then have to redo the bills since they probably put it all on one bill to begin with. When we used them last year the 18% was added to the DDE bill and of course the tip was already included in the DDP. It actually works against the servers from our standpoint as we usually tip 20% but if they add in the 18% that is what they get unless service has been better than expected.

 

[DMKEDM]

Just back from five days at WDW w/a first-time visitor/friend. Obviously, she'd never used DDP before; I've been a "regular" on it.

First: Yup, there's massive confusion. Five days, five TS meals, five messed up checks (and five very nice CMs who struggled mightily to sort it all out, w/varying degrees of success). At one restaurant, they "couldn't" take my KTTW card for the tip (something to do w/already having charged it thru...not at all clear on the details...I had no money & no credit card w/me (first night there, I learned and took both $$ and CC w/me after that!)...finally wound up buying a piece of cheesecake to take w/me so the CM could put her tip on my KTTW card...didn't want to "stiff her" and among us (including a manager, and 45 minutes worth of trying) we couldn't figure it out any other way!

That was the worst of the experiences. But as noted, not a single solitary time did we/they get it right the first time!

Next: My friend who was visiting for the first time w/her 11-year-old and her 9-year-old (2 adults, one child on her DDP) LOVED the DDP...she had no previous DDP experience to compare it to, and was so thrilled to be at WDW she found the "learning curve" issues no big deal. Now, she's well on her way to being as addicted as I am to WDW and a huge fan of the DDP! (She says it's great not to have to confront the cost of meals each time she sits down at a restaurant. She really loved the prepaid element...)

Finally: We encountered two restaurants we wanted to eat at that do not take DDP--Rainforest Cafe (they do take Deluxe, but not basic), and Big River Grill on the BW. I found that "distressing" as one of the things I loved about the old DDP was the fact that it was usable basically everywhere...my friend didn't mind in the least...she just moved on to other restaurant choices...

So...bottom line: there IS a significant learning curve, among the CMs as well as among us, for using the new DDP. For those of us who used the old DDP, this one is noticeably "worse." But, for those who haven't experienced the old one, this one has much to love...

 

[disneynutz]

Finally: We encountered two restaurants we wanted to eat at that do not take DDP--Rainforest Cafe (they do take Deluxe, but not basic), and Big River Grill on the BW.

I don't see why Rainforest Café would take one plan and not the other. I don't show them listed on either plan. Maybe they gave you incorrect information?

 

[global_mom]

Finally: We encountered two restaurants we wanted to eat at that do not take DDP--Rainforest Cafe (they do take Deluxe, but not basic), and Big River Grill on the BW. I found that "distressing" as one of the things I loved about the old DDP was the fact that it was usable basically everywhere...my friend didn't mind in the least...she just moved on to other restaurant choices...

I dont recall that the DDP could ever be used at Rainforest Cafe. In fact, there were not too many places at DTD that did take it. Did I miss something? We dont eat over there (DTD) very often so I might have gotten this confused. Strange that they would take the Dxplan and not the regular.

 

[Prinny27]

Wouldn't doing the discount for the whole bill and then adding the tip for the whole bill have resulted in a smaller payment for your friends or do they not tip on the DDP? The tip should be based on what the meal cost not what was paid for the DDP so in the long run they might have made out better. You are correct in saying there should have been two bills and that is what we got every time we used the DDP and DDE together. I did make a point of telling the server before we ordered that we would be using both and there was never a problem. If you wait until they bring the bill to say - oh by the way we are using both the DDE and DDP they then have to redo the bills since they probably put it all on one bill to begin with. When we used them last year the 18% was added to the DDE bill and of course the tip was already included in the DDP. It actually works against the servers from our standpoint as we usually tip 20% but if they add in the 18% that is what they get unless service has been better than expected.

We actually all told our server at the beginning of the meal about the DDP and DDE, as well as separate checks for both parties. And yes, I feel that the server lost out because we all usually tip 20% as opposed to the 18% that's added. The point is, that the restaurant didn't understand what was going on, what should be charged where, and therefor the idea of 'convenience' of the DDP was completely lost in this instance. We had to wait for 20 minutes or so for the restaurant to straighten it out, and it never was completely - so unfortunately our waitress was the one who got the short end of the stick.

 

[Kurby]

"Originally Posted by DMKEDM



Finally: We encountered two restaurants we wanted to eat at that do not take DDP--Rainforest Cafe (they do take Deluxe, but not basic), and Big River Grill on the BW. I found that "distressing" as one of the things I loved about the old DDP was the fact that it was usable basically everywhere...my friend didn't mind in the least...she just moved on to other restaurant choices..."

i just looked on the Disney website http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/08Dining.pdf and Big River Grill is listed as taking the ddp

wonder why they told you they didn't accept it.

 

[Peepster]

I think some of you have just given me another reason to resist the DDP! It's toooooo confusing! Perhaps Disney should only allow CPA's and those, just as the former posters here, with advanced IQ's to purchase it.

 

[dtheboys]

I posted a POLL, and it is currently at 70% of DVC members is NOT going to use the DDp in 2008..........
Another nice perk we had...GONE!!!!

 

[BCV23]

I posted a POLL, and it is currently at 70% of DVC members is NOT going to use the DDp in 2008..........
Another nice perk we had...GONE!!!!

How is it gone?

Of course, the basic plan doesn't offer the savings it did but you can still choose it if you like.

 

[aclov]

How is it gone?

Of course, the basic plan doesn't offer the savings it did but you can still choose it if you like.

I wondered the same thing, if maybe a decision was going to be made if DVC members didn't use the plan. I'm on the fence right now for a Sept. trip.

 

[BCV23]

BTW, where is your poll, dtheboys?

aclove, I would guess that DVCers will be able to purchase the DDP and deluxe DDP as long as it's offered. We couldn't buy it for the first 16 months or so but once it was added, I can't imagine why they would take it away. It doesn't cost DVC anything, does it? And even if only 30% of us use it as a perk, why not continue offering it.

Not that I'm accepting the 30% as valid or reliable. Who really knows.

 

[disneynutz]

We only use it for a few days during our trip and only if we are in the mood to indulge our selfs. We always eat at the more expensive restaurants so we get a better value. Last year we saved a few hundred dollars on the plan. In April it's more like a hundred. We use up every point and eat like pigs. When the plan(s) stops being a good value, we will stop using them.

 

[kimberh]

I am on the fence too, for large family trips. It was just way to nice, too not worry about a bill at the end of a meal. We pick up the tab, I was the one to worry about the menu prices. Now, If I pick buffet or family style restaurants, then we will not buy the DDP. For the two of us, We will use the DDE card. We are appetizer not desert eaters. Then, if I am paying cash, I can really do without the appetizer.

 

[NJOGRE]

We never have done the DDP but we always do DDE even with the 18% tip added on it still saves you money in the lon run. I would of tipped 20% normally.

Thanks to disney I save 2%. Plus being drinkers the DDE is the only way to go

 

[aclov]

Now I'm leaning on buying a AP for myself and just getting a DDE card. Since i'm going in Sept. (5 adults, 1ch) I'm sure I will be able to get in another trip next year. I like that you can use it on alcohol and it might be less stressful to utilize, whereas with the credits you feel like you have to eat. I did DDP twice before and did love it! I think DDP is hard to understand (not for us here on DIS boards!) and just thinking of having to explain it over and over at least to my family won't be fun.headache:

Last year I went with two friends and we had the DDP and they loved it. But it was frustrating having to educate them over and over on the plan especially since they felt they had paid SOOOO much money.