OK, it's time to start a thread for people who have used the new 2008 DDP!

[NJBILL]

The service at HWV was slllloooowwww and food just as plain as Ryan's. NO more HWV.

Agree 100%. HV is the worst place at WDW and it does seem to get better despite its reviews...

 

[libinatorsmom]

I see so many posts about the DDP --- and I feel often time the Dulx plan is left off the discussion and forgotten about... we are going to WDW in May and using the Dulx plan.... I just posted our break down and its saving us about $400 (AT LEAST)

 

[wezee]

We had no complaints with our experience a couple weeks ago. I am not sure why anyone wouldn't prefer the old plan; as a consumer, it was simply a better deal but we still saved some money according to my spreadsheet.

I would not pay rack rate for a hotel room to get this version of the dining plan, but would happily do it if the room was discounted (which it was for this trip and will be for the bounceback we booked for the fall)

We're doing the deluxe plan next trip.

I see you mentioned your "spreadsheet".....any tips on how to find a good spreadsheet, or how to create one myself, for our trip in Sept (on the deluxe plan)?

 

[ruthma]

Can you tell me how much the dining plan cost per day for an adult.

Thanks

 

[Tricia1972]

I see you mentioned your "spreadsheet".....any tips on how to find a good spreadsheet, or how to create one myself, for our trip in Sept (on the deluxe plan)?

I created a spreadsheet with the restaurants listed in the A column Row 3 on the left side, and then starting with B-2 listed Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, Beverage across the top (starting in column B). I repeated this (Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, Beverage) for each person in our group. Starting in B-1 I listed the first person's name (over Appetizer).

I then went through the menus and didn't look at what we could order, I viewed the menu with fresh eyes, and said if I could order whatever I wanted without limitation - what would we get.

We found that we would only order an appetizer or two for our whole group, we wouldn't always get the steak, we'd almost never get dessert.

At the end I ran an auto sum for each restaurant. I then took that subtotal, added tax and then auto summed the subtotal and the tax.

We ended up saving without any plan, but of course each family eats differently and will come up with their own result.

I can forward what I have to you if you'd like.

 

[wezee]

Tricia...I would love a copy, but I don't know how to send you a private message with my email

 

[TDC Nala]

Can you tell me how much the dining plan cost per day for an adult.

Thanks

Basic dining plan - 36.99 per adult (age 10 and over). Includes per night of stay 1 CS credit, 1 TS credit, 1 snack credit per person. Appetizers not included for adult TS meals. Gratuities not included unless the price of the event normally incudes gratuities (CRT, dinner shows)

Deluxe dining plan - 69.99 per adult (age 10 and over). Includes per night of stay 3 meal credits that can be used for either TS or CS, 2 snack credits, 1 refillable resort mug per person. Appetizers are included for adult TS meals. Gratuities not included unless the price of the event normally incudes gratuities (CRT, dinner shows)

 

[KristineN]

My husband & I used the DDP Feb 10-16 (this is our last night)

We much preferred the old plan...just for simplicity purposes...maybe we were just unlucky, but we ran into lots of waitstaff that seemed to have difficulty with the new plan...on several occasions we used the DDP & the DDE and frankly it brought Chefs de France to a near halt....30 minutes after getting the check, we were finally able to leave! Tutto Italia also had trouble with both cards...

We will be back in June, and I think we will use only the DDE to see how it goes.

 

[acourtwdw]

My husband & I used the DDP Feb 10-16 (this is our last night)

We much preferred the old plan...just for simplicity purposes...maybe we were just unlucky, but we ran into lots of waitstaff that seemed to have difficulty with the new plan...on several occasions we used the DDP & the DDE and frankly it brought Chefs de France to a near halt....30 minutes after getting the check, we were finally able to leave! Tutto Italia also had trouble with both cards...

We will be back in June, and I think we will use only the DDE to see how it goes.

Happy Belated Birthday

 

[Tricia1972]

Tricia...I would love a copy, but I don't know how to send you a private message with my email

I just sent you a PM with my email address. Also, let me know how many people are going on your trip, I'll try to customize it a little for you.

 

[Luvmyfam3]

 

[MBELSANTI]

Of course I prefer the old plan, but I just did the new plan last week and plan to do it again later this year. I did not find the servers pushy for the tip. Most just said are you familiar with the plan? Gratituities are not included this year.. It also helped that I was prepared from reading the DIS boards.

 

[bevypoo63]

We just returned from our trip 2/1 - 2/10. We had the deluxe dining planfor the first 3 nights. It worked really well. We paid all tips with cash ,no problem. We ate at Cali Grill, Le Cellier, Tutto Italia, garden grill, Liberty Tree tavern, Yak & Yeti, Kona Cafe , Wolfgang Puck Cafe, service was excellent at all except surprisingly Cali Grill was not very attentive.
I will not do the deluxe plan again because even though we were able to spread the meals over 4 whole days it was still too much food. We didn't eat evrything and still found that it is just way more than we require. When we return in Dec we do plan on using the basic plan for the convenience.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

Has anyone had any experience with the tip and groups of six or more? I am worried that since we are going in a bigger group, and the wait staff will know 18% is automatic, that we will receive lesser service. Please let me know your thoughts.

 

[LauraVV]

I see so many posts about the DDP --- and I feel often time the Dulx plan is left off the discussion and forgotten about...

We were there 1/29 thru 2/5. We used the deluxe plan. Loved it! I'm so glad we got the deluxe plan. We made only a few reservations. We went to Cinderella's for lunch, the steak house in Canada, Ohana's, Chef Mickey's. While there, we made reservations for the Garden Grill.

I don't like to make a bunch of advance reservations because don't want a vacation to revolve around eating. But, we had fun. We ate tons and tons. The next time we go, I think we'll try to go the steak house and Ohana's more. We did have left over meals (mostly because my son has trouble eating at times). We spent all the snacks by splurging the last night. I guess, to me, it makes more sense to have extra than to run out. It cost about the same for us to purchase the deluxe plan vs the regular one (because of the way our package worked).

We really, really enjoyed the deluxe plan and would certainly do it again. I do wish that the tip was still covered.

 

[bless7ings]

Has anyone had any experience with the tip and groups of six or more? I am worried that since we are going in a bigger group, and the wait staff will know 18% is automatic, that we will receive lesser service. Please let me know your thoughts.

I would be interested in someone responding on this too!

 

[bedell32]

We were a party of eight. Three different checks since we were in three different rooms. They just took the automatic tip and divided among all of us. No problem. Service was always good. We had TS at Chef Mickey, LeCellier, Ohanas, Mama Melrose, Biergarten and Tusker House. We all loved the regular DDP. It was plenty of food.

 

[HannaBelle]

We were on the DxDP from 1/1/08 to 1/6/08. (We arrived at WDW on 12/30 and did a split stay. 12/30 to 1/1 on the premium plan and 1/1 to 1/6 on DxDP.)

Overall, I was not happy with the DxDP plan. The servers were not prepared/trained for the changes. Some of them complained to us about the prospect of losing tips and several of them did not know how to ring up the plan.

After the first couple of meals, I made a point of just letting them know from the get go that we would be paying our tip with cash to avoid the whole awkward confusion at the end.

We were traveling with a group of 14 people total, my parents (62/65), my older brother and wife & kids (38/34/5/3), my family (36/36/14/10) and my younger brother and his wife & kids (30/28/1/1).

We all paid for our tips separately. DH and I paid cash. Older brother paid via CC. Younger brother charged it to his hotel bill. I honestly cannot remember what my parents did, I would bet they charged it though.

Before we left, I made sure we had a couple of hundred dollars in $10’s and $5’s for tips. We just rounded up to the nearest dollar from the 18% “suggestion” on the bill.

We ate together for some meals and sometimes not. I will “review” both. We had ADR’s everywhere we went and I always had my confirmation number just in case!

O’hana for breakfast – party of 14 – LOVED IT! Great breakfast, great staff and we all paid for our tip separately. Service was awesome and we all got to sit together which was a bonus.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review – party of 14 – LOVED IT! Mediocre BBQ and a great show! Tip was included. We had to sit at 2 separate tables.

Cinderella’s Royal Table – party of 10 – Very disappointed! We had to wait over 45 minutes for a table in a crowded reception area. The main “hostess” reminded me of a prison matron and was very bossy! She was in a horrible mood. It happened to be freezing this day and she blamed the wait on the cold weather. Our table was really meant for 8 and their plan was for 2 people to share the end of the table meant for one…it was ludicrous! We asked for another table and the manager argued with me about it and said they did this all of the time. It was shocked. Ultimately we sat at 2 different tables and had a nice meal with bad attitudes.

Whispering Canyon Café – party of 4 – Again, disappointed…again a huge wait…we were on the “porch” area and our server was just not a fun guy. Of course, the gal next to us was hysterical! Food was not so good.

Tusker House/Donald’s Breakfast Safari – party of 14 – It was good, but not GREAT! We had another long wait, 30mins+…our reservations were for 10:30. By the time we got seated, got the kids settled, got pics with a few characters…the manager came by and told us to hurry to the buffet…they were shutting it down. DOH! The food was good, AWESOME buffet, we just felt rushed. Everybody paid tip separately and it took awhile to figure out.

Yak & Yeti – Party of 4 - While walking around AK, we walked by Yak & Yeti and it smelled wonderful!!! So, I called Disney Dining and asked if they had a late lunch/early dinner reservation available for 4 and we got it. (I did cancel our O’hana ressies!) It was AWESOME! We loved everything we ordered. Since my kids are “Disney adults” we had 4 app’s, 4 entrée’s and 4 desserts. We always order something different and then share everything. There was not anything here that was bad! The appetizers were large enough to be a meal. Paid tip via cash…our server was AWESOME! We had 4 ressies and told him we wanted to make the 6:00 Nemo show and had plenty of time! He was fast!!!

Teppan Edo – party of 8 – AWESOME! Service was great, food was great and our chef was mediocre. He did not do a lot of “showmanship”, but the food was good and we were seated in less than 5 minutes.

Illuminations Dinner & Dessert Reception – party of 14 – This is a “Grand Gathering” event. It is lame, I have finally convinced my family of that fact and we will not be doing it again. The program is lame, the food is mediocre and the fireworks viewing area is average. The dessert reception is lame. Tip is included.

Prime Time Café – Party of 6 – Disappointed…Another huge wait! Our waiter was actually rude (I think he was having a bad day) and did not make our visit fun at all. He did not even try to add any of the “themeing” fun, but the food was good. Parents paid tip via CC and we paid via cash.

Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show – party of 14 – Good overall. They have a good show and a good meal. It was cold and rainy, but we enjoyed it! I cannot remember about the tip…I think it was included. We all ate at the same table.

Chef Mickey’s – party of 14 – Okay. We did this last trip and loved it…it was a little less magical this time. We had another huge wait. We were seated directly in the sun….it was horrible…and our server was MIA most of the time. The food was good, but the service was slow.

Just as a side note…I know waiting is part of the game. I know we went during a busy time, but we played by the “rules” (made ADR’s, arrive a few mins early for ADR’s and made them at “off” times) and still had HUGE waits. I think a 15 minute wait is reasonable…45 minutes is not.

Whenever we ate with another family(ies), we made sure the server knew who was with who and gave them our cards and asked them to start processing our check ASAP. This really saved us a lot of time at the end of the meal. We did not do it in a rude way and always let the server know we knew that tips were not included. We also asked them to make sure they chose “DxDP” when processing our checks b/c on more than one occasion the server came back and said that we did not have and meal credits to use.

Also, we were denied service at the candy shop on Main Street in the MK b/c they could not work the new DxDP. We were charged wrong at our resorts quick service counter and had to get that straightened out and got free snacks on more than one occasion b/c they could not work the new plan.

I do think we were at a disadvantage b/c we were there on Day 1 of the new plan.

In the future, we will try the DDE b/c we have never tried that before. I do feel that we order differently when on the dining plan. Normally, if we order and appetizer we just share one and MAYBE share one dessert. At WDW we just eat and eat and eat b/c we can.

In the past, we liked the dining plan b/c it is SO convenient. I loved not having to worry about “paying” for meals, but this time the tip complicate things.

Sorry this is SO long, but I came to the boards today to see what others who had actually “been there and done that” actually liked the plan.

I would love to read more from others who have already taken their trips!!!

 

[HannaBelle]

Has anyone had any experience with the tip and groups of six or more? I am worried that since we are going in a bigger group, and the wait staff will know 18% is automatic, that we will receive lesser service. Please let me know your thoughts.

I am not sure if I could tell a difference. We had good and bad experiences everywhere we went.

I think it has more to do with the server and their attitude. We (my family of 4) are the kind of people who are easy going and try to be understanding when the server is over worked. (And you can tell when they are running all over verses just being MIA). Of course, there are times when smiles and thank-you's don't help and the servers are just bad.

I don't think our service was affected by the number of people we had. I think it was affected by how many tables our servers had, the disposition of the server that day and if the kitchen was moving fast or slow.

 

[melomouse]

I did the poll awhile ago but never posted...

January 17-February 3rd was our third trip with the DDP, obviously first time under the "new" one.

The server at Le Cellier got himself a 23 cent tip because he was confused with the new system. I tried to correct it to no avail.

The service overall was great.

Tutto Italia has the best service and the classiest setting.(JMHO!!) Spoodles had the worst service and we did not enjoy.

We still saved $, but not as much! STILL a lot of food.Could'nt do w/o Kona crabcakes, so I ordered them OOP. Had a steak dinner AND a prime rib dinner in the fridge during the week!

My kids, 16 and 11 - love the DDP!

Buffets have gone down over the past few years as to actually gross me out! Yes, moi, the foodie!

Don't knock it til you've tried it! Of course it's not the great deal it was - everything goes up in price! Still works for our family and touring style at the moment!

Our TS: Ohana breakfast, Kona, Le Cellier, H&V, Crystal Palace, Raglan Road, Tutto Italia, WCC, Spoodles.