Poll: If you are a previous user of DDP, what will you do in 2008?

[rluey29]

We haven't officially decided yet but if the changes are true then we will be offsite and possibly going to Universal and Sea World instead. Sad really because we really love staying at Disney.

 

[stitchlover]

I think we could come close to breaking even with my DD and DH...but we would lose a lot of money on ME! Unless we have a character breakfast scheduled I never eat breakfast at WDW. I take my own Weight Watcher muffins and get a piece of fruit and fill my mug with coffee. I am a faithful WW lifetime member and try to watch what I eat at all times to maintain that hard earned weight loss! So 3 full meals a day and 2 snacks are just too much for me! We can't justify the increase in cost and don't think we will eat that much food! So we will go with the regular DDP and tip based on what the server earns, between 15% and 20%.

 

[Kami]

As a waitress (part time for many, many years), I feel bad for the waitstaff. They were getting (hopefully they got the whole tip) 18% plus often an extra tip. I know that we left extra each time. As a waitress, I know that alot of people do not tip 18%, although some do tip that or even more, there are others that leave 10%. I don't want to get into a tip debate, but I do feel bad for them because I think the new plan will definitely hurt them.
I will not get the plan next year. My 2 kids will be over 10 yrs. and it just doesn't seem worth the stress or $. If my kids were under 10, I would still consider it. I wish they would do a youth meal for ages 10-17 for less, but that won't happen. I did enjoy the dining last year, but it was actually a struggle to go to a sit down meal every day. We just don't like to take that much time for a meal. We will probably pick a few favs. like Boma, but not a TS everyday. There was a lot of food on the plan, but it would have been better to maybe offer 1 app. per table and take away the dessert, but leave the tip. Well now people will probably have a much easier time getting ressies at their fav. places. Before this last dining plan, it was pretty easy to get in except at the Castle. With all of the price increases, we will probably stay at Universal for several nights and break up the trip.

 

[I'mAlittleBitGoofy]

Here's my take and some may disagree with me. I will definitely do the DDP again. Yes we lost an appetizer, but all in all the value is still worth it for my family.
Also, with regards to the gratuity, I am happy they are no longer included. As I began to feel some of the restaurant servers were providing sub-par service to us DDP users. Now, maybe the excellent service we were used to, will return.

 

[mom2rb]

I had planned on taking a few years off the DDP. My boys will be ten in 2008. The way they eat it won't be cost effective even with today's plan. By the time they get their teenage boy appetite's, I should know more about the changes to the plan.

 

[stitchlover]

That's an interesting point...I don't think we have ever suffered from poor service because we are DDP but I know others have commented on that. I guess now the wait staff will have to "earn" their tip.

 

[wasabi girl]

I'm with the wait and see. I need further details about this plan before I commit. I will look long and hard to see if the hassle of this plan works for my family. The deluxe plan looks like a no win proposition. It includes two counter service meals and one table service....if it were two table service for an effective doubling of the price maybe but another $30 something dollars for another counter service and an appetizer? Seems very not worth it to me.

 

[Colleen27]

The deluxe plan looks like a no win proposition. It includes two counter service meals and one table service....if it were two table service for an effective doubling of the price maybe but another $30 something dollars for another counter service and an appetizer? Seems very not worth it to me.

The deluxe plan, as reported on Allears, will be 3 meals per day with no distinction between table and counter service. It could be used for 3 table service, or for 3 counter service, or any combination in between. On the other threads about the rumors, several people, myself included, have posted numbers to show that yes, the deluxe plan can be cost effective. Not a super-dee-dooper good deal like the dining plan has been, but enough of a savings to make prepaying the package more attractive than paying OOP.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I posted earlier saying I probably wouldn't get the new plan, but would have to crunch some numbers.

Well I crunched some numbers and this is what I came up with (for 2 adults on the basic DDP for 8 nights going to Ohana, Le Cellier, Chefs de France, Wolfgang Puck, Coral Reef, Narcossees, and California Grill):

Cost of DDP plan: $607.84
Cost of tips for TS DDP meals: $92.36 (at exactly 18%--we usually tip higher)
Cost of OOP food (one TS breakfast OOP, refillable mug, a few CS breakfasts, and extra appetizers at TS dinners): $112.49

Total: 812.69

For comparison I also calculated the price of going to exactly the same TS and CS restaurants, and ordering as we normally would (which means, sharing a drink and no dessert at CS, getting one appetizer and one dessert and two entrees at TS, and not getting the most expensive entrees at TS, and sharing a bunch of appetizers/desserts at signature restaurants).

Total: $744.24 (DDE would get us down to $670.47)

So for us, it seems like the only real benefit to the plan is more food (but some of it we don't actually want/need in the first place), and ability for GF to order more expensive entrees (I'm a vegetarian so my entrees are always the least expensive on the menu). Add on the fact that you have to pay rack rate and buy a 1 day ticket even if you have an AP and this sounds like a bad deal all around for us.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I didn't vote, because I haven't decided yet. We will probably use at least the regular ddp because it works well for us, but I'm also considering the deluxe plan. We usually end up paying oop for at least a few ts meals, because some days we usually do more than 1 ts.

 

[dddisrunner]

I am not sold on the deluxe plan yet I think for an adult that is a big eater you can definitely get value from it. We have 2 children under 9 and the kids meal choices they offer were awful! I don't see how they can charge more for the kids and not give them more options? I am 99% we will probably go without the plan, we may not even stay onsite this time.

 

[tasha99]

-snip-

So for us, it seems like the only real benefit to the plan is more food (but some of it we don't actually want/need in the first place), and ability for GF to order more expensive entrees (I'm a vegetarian so my entrees are always the least expensive on the menu). Add on the fact that you have to pay rack rate and buy a 1 day ticket even if you have an AP and this sounds like a bad deal all around for us.

I agree it's not a good deal anymore, but you don't have to pay rack rate to get the dining plan. I was able to use a code last year with the dining plan (paid about $100/night for a mod, saving about $40/night)

 

[Sammie]

We will not be purchasing it again.

 

[SuzieN]

Even though I'm not thrilled with the changes in the DDP we will still get it for out trip next Feb. It just makes it so much easier if everything is already paid for!

 

[bigbabyblues]

That's an interesting point...I don't think we have ever suffered from poor service because we are DDP but I know others have commented on that. I guess now the wait staff will have to "earn" their tip.

We didn't have any bad service that I related to the ddp, but we did have a few servers who did nothing but bring our drinks once, bring our food and bring our bill. They would not get 18%, when I had to find another server to refill our drinks.

 

[HelenePA]

We didn't have any bad service while using the DDP either... one of the waitresses was very very nice...she asked if we were on the DDP I said OF COURSE! She said if it was her on vacation she'd be using the same thing LOL...

the appitizers dont bother us... we mostly ate at buffetts... those alone per kid are like 20$. That pay for itself right there for kids.

 

[kong0113]

Voted no to 2008. Used it in '07 & loved it. The DP was a huge part of our booking a Disney Resort again for '08. Family = 2A, 1K; Staying Jan. 1 thru Jan. 8 2008. Made all my ADRs 180+ just to be safe, but looks like i'll be canceling most of them. All this planning for nothing. Calling in at 6:59 and 54 seconds in the am just to book a CRT breakfast - what a waste.

Done a lot of calculations based on the proposed 2008 plan. Seems the only way to get you money's worth is to plan only the most expensive, 1 TS sit down meals and in some cases only by ordering the most expensive entrees. Unless you're ordering NY strip, filet or expensive seafood entrees, it's just not worth it. Buffets - forget about it. 2 TS credits such as CRT - forget about it.

With the exception of the Epcot restaurants, there's hardly a theme park restaurant where you can get your moneys worth. Places like the Brown Derby and Jiko cost 2 TS credits significantly reducing the value. Just sacrafice too much time to dine at the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, etc. Who wants to commit 5 hrs a day to the time it would take to eat 3 TS meals a day under the Deluxe plan?

In 2007, character meal places such as Garden Grill and Liberty Tavern were worth it b/c of the tip. Not so in 2008 (especially given the quality of food).

Just too good to be true, huh? Disney losing a few dollars on a meal plan (at least on those of us who planned it well - for those who planned primarily character meals buffets, seems WDW wasn't losing much at all). I guess they just aren't making enough off the prices of rooms, souvenirs and a coke to offset the losses of the meal plan. After spending $300+ a night for a Holiday Inn quality room, i was looking forward to making some of that up.

One dissatisfied customer here. Only way to show my displeasure is to make sure that WDW gets as little of my non-sunken costs as possible. Maybe a character breakfast or two just to keep the nine year old happy. And if it doesn't change in '09, my next stay (if there is one) will be offsite. Considering cancelation of my villas stay as well - or just keep it and take advantage of the kitchen to cook a few meals. The kid only eats mac & cheese and cheeseburgers anyway. I guess i'll be joining her.

 

[faindrops27]

Even though I'm not thrilled with the changes in the DDP we will still get it for out trip next Feb. It just makes it so much easier if everything is already paid for!

I agree it makes it easier if everything is paid for. But, remember tip is not included. So, another expense. Anyhow, we are a family of 5. We lovvve to eat, and the basic plan is alot of food. But, in 2008. I was going to go for 14 nights, with my hubby, and 3 kids. When I crunch the numbers. The deluxe plan is going to run us close to 4k. I cannot justify spending almost 4k, on food. Add that with a mod, air, tix, and spending money, viola! 9-10k. No matter how it is sliced, and served on my plate. It doesnt seem to make sense. But then again this is JMHO.

I really do not understand how anyone is seeing the value of this plan. Unless you are a family of 2 or 3 perhaps?? Can anyone who has a family of 5, basically 3 adults, and 2 children. Can you explain how you are coming out ahead on the deluxe??TIA. I must be confused, because I just dont see it.

 

[CarolA]

Disney is full.... and I bet a lot of those folks aren't on the Dining Plan. (I know that only one of my friends and coworkers who went this summer used the Dining Plan and they were DVC members so Disney wasn't making as much off of them.) There have been at least two weeks that I have read of where EVERY room in the resorts were full. Thanksgiving week has at least a few sold out resorts....

Here's the deal, if they don't NEED to give away food to sell rooms they won't. It's that simple. And there is a trade off. yes, they might lose a few guests, but if they make MORE per guest off the others....then it averages out while putting less strain on the resort.

(And having been a member of these boards for years... I am 99.9% sure that at least half of the "I am staying offsite" or "I will quit going to Disney" will be crawling back in the next few years LOL!)

 

[faindrops27]

Disney is full.... and I bet a lot of those folks aren't on the Dining Plan. (I know that only one of my friends and coworkers who went this summer used the Dining Plan and they were DVC members so Disney wasn't making as much off of them.) There have been at least two weeks that I have read of where EVERY room in the resorts were full. Thanksgiving week has at least a few sold out resorts....

Here's the deal, if they don't NEED to give away food to sell rooms they won't. It's that simple. And there is a trade off. yes, they might lose a few guests, but if they make MORE per guest off the others....then it averages out while putting less strain on the resort.

(And having been a member of these boards for years... I am 99.9% sure that at least half of the "I am staying offsite" or "I will quit going to Disney" will be crawling back in the next few years LOL!)

Yes, you are right. But, I would not call it crawling. If enough people stay elsewhere, or complain enough. We will see a change to the DDP. Maybe in 2009 when Universal launches thier HP sections!