Poll about banning free dining (Inspired by Geezer)

[gkrykewy]

I have a question, and this seems like as good a thread as any to ask it in. Can someone please explain the "dumbing down" of Disney restaurants to me?

My wife and I have gone to WDW with some regularity for a long time, and paid for our own meals for the last 10 years or so. We never do the DDP. Every trip, we still love making our ADRs and look forward to eating at our favorite TS locations. Boma, California Grill, San Angel Inn, Le Cellier, Ohana -- all of these places have entrees and appetizers that are unique to their menu, and taste (to us) both excellent and fresh.

Yet I always see it mentioned on the boards that the menus are all the same now and the food is all pre-prepared. I don't get it

 

[mikron]

We would like it expanded to DVC members. We like the food and would like a better price when we stay. We think it would be great to offer to any guest we would let use our points also.

 

[smjj]

Are you serious? I consider myself to be very Disney knowledgeable, and I had no idea. We just ate there last month, and I saw our food come out of the kitchen, piping hot, and in a timely manner. Are you saying they are cooking it in the Turf Club kitchen, and then run it over on trucks? I am very interested in this...

Tiger

Sorry to say but it is true as stated my me and others here. Olivia's at one time had signature dishes you could get only at Olivia's and prepared onsite by a chef. They are now gone. On one of our many trips to OKW about 5 or 6 years ago the menu was drastically changed. We ask our favorite server(no names to protect him as he is still there) gave us the scoop and another server joined in and we talked about this change and how the food is prepared offsite, assembled and heated at Olivia's and other former signature restaurants. This all to fall in line with the DDP format. The food may be considered good only if you have no comparrison to what it once was....smjj

 

[hakepb]

I have a question, and this seems like as good a thread as any to ask it in. Can someone please explain the "dumbing down" of Disney restaurants to me?

My wife and I have gone to WDW with some regularity for a long time, and paid for our own meals for the last 10 years or so. We never do the DDP. Every trip, we still love making our ADRs and look forward to eating at our favorite TS locations. Boma, California Grill, San Angel Inn, Le Cellier, Ohana -- all of these places have entrees and appetizers that are unique to their menu, and taste (to us) both excellent and fresh.

Yet I always see it mentioned on the boards that the menus are all the same now and the food is all pre-prepared. I don't get it

I've heard Boma no longer has prime rib.
There used to be more breakfasts that had their own large, unique (ie apple wood smoked) sausage, and now they just have the little links... I do agree that there are still some decent choices, but many little touches have disappeared. Usually it is the little things that make a restaurant great.

 

[crisi]

I think a lot of the destruction can be laid at the Dining Plan - and because it forced a functionally three tier cost structure on restaurants - you were either Quick Service, Table Service or Signature.

Before that, you could have restaurants that sort of floated between Tiers. They lasted for a while, but they are the first to go under a stricter cost system. Places like the old Tusker House - counter service food, but priced a little higher than most places and darn good. Le Cellier, Coral Reef and Kona were all better than the average TS place at Disney, but didn't deserve to spend two credits to get them on signature.

And you could have dishes on a menu that were standout. They'd cost a little more, maybe they'd get ordered a little less, but they had an opportunity to exist.

Now you can't give those dishes an opportunity to exist - particularly at the one credit TS places - they won't fit into the cost structure. Too many people use the dining plan to "maximize value."

The other thing cost standardization forced was the inability of any ONE restaurant to react to changes in their costs by upping prices a little - maybe just on the dishes where cost had increased. Few people would notice a slight change in the cost on a few menu items at a few restaurants. Now, any cost increase has to be reflected in the cost of the dining plan, causing hundreds of thousands of vacationers to see an immediate and unhidden increase in the cost of their vacation. The effect is that the perception of price increases is magnified, making Disney react by forcing cost down.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think a lot of the destruction can be laid at the Dining Plan - and because it forced a functionally three tier cost structure on restaurants - you were either Quick Service, Table Service or Signature.

Before that, you could have restaurants that sort of floated between Tiers. They lasted for a while, but they are the first to go under a stricter cost system. Places like the old Tusker House - counter service food, but priced a little higher than most places and darn good. Le Cellier, Coral Reef and Kona were all better than the average TS place at Disney, but didn't deserve to spend two credits to get them on signature.

And you could have dishes on a menu that were standout. They'd cost a little more, maybe they'd get ordered a little less, but they had an opportunity to exist.

Now you can't give those dishes an opportunity to exist - particularly at the one credit TS places - they won't fit into the cost structure. Too many people use the dining plan to "maximize value."

The other thing cost standardization forced was the inability of any ONE restaurant to react to changes in their costs by upping prices a little - maybe just on the dishes where cost had increased. Few people would notice a slight change in the cost on a few menu items at a few restaurants. Now, any cost increase has to be reflected in the cost of the dining plan, causing hundreds of thousands of vacationers to see an immediate and unhidden increase in the cost of their vacation. The effect is that the perception of price increases is magnified, making Disney react by forcing cost down.

This is one of the best explanations I've seen on this thread! Thank you!

 

[keishashadow]

I've heard Boma no longer has prime rib.
There used to be more breakfasts that had their own large, unique (ie apple wood smoked) sausage, and now they just have the little links... I do agree that there are still some decent choices, but many little touches have disappeared. Usually it is the little things that make a restaurant great.

would think they'd replace it with some cut of beef to draw in the meat & tater fans

 

[MichaelColey]

I completely agree with the use of the kitchen. We make extensive use of it and eat about 4-5 times in restaurants (TS and CS combined). I thought this was a poll several months ago (maybe even by Diane?).

I think this might be the poll:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2061649

It looks like most just do coffee, snacks and breakfast. Less than half of us do lunch or dinner.

We always cook a quick breakfast and try to hit rope drop. Often, we'll pack a lunch. Most of the time, we'll come back to the timeshare for dinner. Sometimes, we'll break around lunchtime, come back for a late lunch, nap and early dinner, then head back to the park.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Just read the latest Free Dining offer forces participants to purchase a $100 Memory Book.

I never felt slighted by not receiving Free Dining and the DDP is just a shadow of its former self. It costs more and more every year for people to get free food.

First Tip, then appetizer, then increases in the amount of ticket days, then Values downgraded to QS, and now you have to purchase costly add-ons with almost 1000% markup!

Thanks but no thanks.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just read the latest Free Dining offer forces participants to purchase a $100 Memory Book.

I never felt slighted by not receiving Free Dining and the DDP is just a shadow of its former self. It costs more and more every year for people to get free food.

First Tip, then appetizer, then increases in the amount of ticket days, then Values downgraded to QS, and now you have to purchase costly add-ons with almost 1000% markup!

Thanks but no thanks.

Yes, and sadly some will STILL think the word "FREE" means they are getting some sort of good deal.

 

[BeccaG]

Just a few comments.


Just remember - "Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc"

I was thinking the same thing. I realize the advent of free dinning and maybe the DDP may corelate to the decrease in great dinning at WDW, but my fear is that the causation is weak and the downturn may have happened anyhow.

 

[n2mm]

Just read the latest Free Dining offer forces participants to purchase a $100 Memory Book.

I never felt slighted by not receiving Free Dining and the DDP is just a shadow of its former self. It costs more and more every year for people to get free food.

First Tip, then appetizer, then increases in the amount of ticket days, then Values downgraded to QS, and now you have to purchase costly add-ons with almost 1000% markup!

Thanks but no thanks.

I got this offer through Visa and was so thrilled!! We are planning to go to WDW Aug. 13-20 and I saw the dates for the FD Visa offer start the end of August! I was so excited, but trying to contain myself so not to jinx me. THe fact that the offer was for free ddp to start AFTER my trip was such a good thing. We were in WDW 2 summers ago and Free DDP started mid August (after I had booked my trip) and while the first few days were so nice and relaxing, the crowds and restraurants swelled on that Sunday when the Free ddp started. Seems the first week of that Free DDP that year was very popular because of school schedules. It was awful and we didn't go back last August because we just didn't want to deal with it. I just hope the dates don't change later. So while the folks on the resort discount boards are all discussing their plans and complaining about the dates, I was jumping for joy that there's a glimmer of hope that it may not be there during my summer trip.

 

[Tiger926]

I was thinking the same thing. I realize the advent of free dinning and maybe the DDP may corelate to the decrease in great dinning at WDW, but my fear is that the causation is weak and the downturn may have happened anyhow.

Yup, this is exactly what I have been saying.

Tiger

 

[Sammie]

The sad thing is during any economic downturn, large corporations such as Disney and others take advantage of the situation to make even more money. They lay off, they reduce offerings, such as the Christmas decorations, they cut back on dining and they cover it all under the guise of the economy.

Thing is when the economy improves they won't return to the prior status, because everyone will be used to it by then.

Parks are more crowded now than they have been in years.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The sad thing is during any economic downturn, large corporations such as Disney and others take advantage of the situation to make even more money. They lay off, they reduce offerings, such as the Christmas decorations, they cut back on dining and they cover it all under the guise of the economy.

Thing is when the economy improves they won't return to the prior status, because everyone will be used to it by then.

Parks are more crowded now than they have been in years.

We've seen that happen with many things at WDW so far. We have also seen things like dining plans and entertainment packages change many times and then dropped as well.

If I made a list of things that are no longer offered at WDW, it would fill more pages than this thread! Some of those changed and dropped things were just a modernizing or upgrade (like dropping Mr. Toad for Winnie the Pooh), and others were for technical reasons (like the lights of winter). Some we hardly miss anymore, but many we are still pining for and wish they would revive them.

I never cry too long when I can see a change making a positive difference over a bit of time, but when something has a huge negative effect like the DDP and FD have, then I get POed!

The only way we will see the restaurants changing back to the good and unique food options we used to have at WDW is if the masses stop eating at the restaurants. If you look at this thread, it seems to indicate that those of us who return year after year (read that as DVC members), are already disenchanted enough with the downturn in quality to spend far more off site than we used to. I'm not talking just about food quality either. There is t he whole atmosphere of some of the signatures that has changed enough to keep me away from them.

 

[smjj]

The only way we will see the restaurants changing back to the good and unique food options we used to have at WDW is if the masses stop eating at the restaurants. If you look at this thread, it seems to indicate that those of us who return year after year (read that as DVC members), are already disenchanted enough with the downturn in quality to spend far more off site than we used to. I'm not talking just about food quality either. There is t he whole atmosphere of some of the signatures that has changed enough to keep me away from them.

I aggree with all said in your post. I particulary want to comment on the above quote. I also aggree with it but it will never happen, why? The masses do not know what we know and Disney knows it. The percentage like us that know the way it was once compared to those who have no clue is small, very small. They have nothing to compare to and once again Disney knows this. They have bean counters whose job it is to take into account and look at the bottom line only and that is another change these last few years. They have lost sight what what made them Disney in the first place....smjj

 

[jodifla]

Absolutely, they do NOT prepare the meals at Olivia's anymore. The items are pre-prepared off site and assembled and heated (if need be) at Olivia's. This was announced to us when it happened too. I can't remember where it was announced, but I do remember it, and I think it was maybe 7-8 years ago?

How do they do this with eggs, hamburgers, steaks? I agree that my food seemed freshly prepared the last time we stayed at OWK. I can see it with salads and lots of foods, but not much of the breakfast fare or meats.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm not exactly a food snob, but I do travel for business frequently, and I eat fairly well when I do. And, over the past several years, Olivia's has been perfectly serviceable whenever I've eaten there. Is it the Best Meal Ever? No. But I don't expect a casual family-style place to fill that role.

Goods to Go, on the other hand...well...the less said the better.

 

[JimC]

How do they do this with eggs, hamburgers, steaks? I agree that my food seemed freshly prepared the last time we stayed at OWK. I can see it with salads and lots of foods, but not much of the breakfast fare or meats.

I agree and note that I often modify an item on the menu at Olivia's and they have always accommodated my requests.

 

[Greysword]

...The masses do not know what we know and Disney knows it. ....smjj

This is awesome! I love English Where is the Tag Faeries when you need them?

Oh, and just to be clear. The bean counters aren't the protagonists; rather, this was a management strategy.