Quailty and Dinning plan ..... DOnt mean to start it

[tinksgilrs251520]

Ok so on another thread i was reading that many people think that because of the free dinning promotion that the quality of food has gone down what does everybody think?

 

[2Tiggies]

Well respectfully I suspect this thread will eventually be locked, but while it's hot ..... I don't believe that free dining is to blame for it. I think it is a combination of the economy and various other factors. Free dining is essentially a form of discount, just like the 7 for 4/kids stay free/room discounts. It's not the best deal for everyone and many people have become wise to the fact. You may find my take on this puts me in the minority on here though.

 

[Faldred]

I think the quality issues are caused more by general cost-cutting and homogenization than anything else. Some people point to the dining plan in general as a cause, but I tend to think it's more of a symptom.

 

[Nadjalu]

Frankly I think it has more to do with the economy than anything else. ALL businesses are making cut back and short cuts, "assembly lineing" everything. It makes it cheaper and easier.

But honestly we enjoy the food at WDW. Even the restaurant we couldn't find anything we liked at (Boma) the food was still quality, just not for us.

I think people go with unreal expectations or hyped ones and get let down. For a amusement park (yes I use that term lightly) they are the tops, but under no circumstances would I compare WDW restaurants with fine dining of major cities around the world.

But as I said we find very good food there and are very pleased with the dining experiences, food we have had and will enjoy on this upcoming trip.

 

[photobob]

I think the dining plan itself, free or not, has been one of the factors in many menus being coming homogenized. It's not the only factor but a major one.

 

[ElizabethB]

I think the decline is directly attributable to DDP.

We spent a few days recently at Universal and found the dining to be wonderful -- much higher quality these days than Disney restaurants. We had terrific meals at Bice, Mama Della's and Tchoup Chop.

We also had good meals at Disney restaurants that don't take DDP. Fulton's was delicious. Same for Il Mulino.

The economy is no worse for Disney restaurants than for Universal Restaurants and non-Disney owned restaurants like Il Mulino. Why are those restaurants still able to serve a decent meal and many Disney restaurants are not?

 

[Colleen27]

I think the quality issues are caused more by general cost-cutting and homogenization than anything else. Some people point to the dining plan in general as a cause, but I tend to think it's more of a symptom.

This.

It isn't just the food. Merchandise is much more standardized across the parks than in years past and resort-specific items are all but gone. The bar menus are standard property-wide at Disney-owned restaurants and lounges. Heck, even the annual logo on the year merchandise is getting stale - 2009, 2010, and 2011 all featured virtually identical logos on the merchandise, only the numbers are different and the characters rearranged a bit in their poses. The DDP and the more standardized menus are a symptom of the same corporate philosophy that is cutting away uniqueness from all aspects of their operations.

I don't believe for a moment that it is the economy. This was happening before the current recession and will continue well into the recovery I'm sure. It is a fundamental change in vision for Disney parks, from the specialization and emphasis on quality of the 90s years to the mass production approach we see today.

 

[Faldred]

I don't believe for a moment that it is the economy. This was happening before the current recession and will continue well into the recovery I'm sure. It is a fundamental change in vision for Disney parks, from the specialization and emphasis on quality of the 90s years to the mass production approach we see today.

It's why I kind of hope that Apple buys out Disney. They have a corporate vision of quality and end-user experience that is far closer to the original Disney ideals than the current bean-counters have. (Plus, I think it will work well for Apple, moving into the media market with ABC/ESPN/Touchstone, et. al.)

 

[tinksgilrs251520]

Well again its just my opinion but I have never had a bad meal at DInsey.....I think the food is wonderful ... yu can go to reaturants outside of Disney and at home and have a not to good meal.... I dont know I will always purchase the DDp free or not

 

[eah7]

On our first trip in 91, there was some form of a dining plan. Same thing with our trip in 98. It was called the fun and food card at that time. So when I hear people say it is due to the ddp, I am not sure how that can be. Is it more readily accessible for everyone? Possibly. We had some very good meals and some that were okay. I can find that at any restauran I go to locally as well.

 

[tinksgilrs251520]

On our first trip in 91, there was some form of a dining plan. Same thing with our trip in 98. It was called the fun and food card at that time. So when I hear people say it is due to the ddp, I am not sure how that can be. Is it more readily accessible for everyone? Possibly. We had some very good meals and some that were okay. I can find that at any restauran I go to locally as well.

love it..

 

[NMW]

I think the quality issues are caused more by general cost-cutting and homogenization than anything else. Some people point to the dining plan in general as a cause, but I tend to think it's more of a symptom.

I agree with this. We have noticed many changes over the years. Merchandise is now the same everywhere. There used to be so much resort-specific items for sale. Same with items themed to that resort. They just don't even carry them anymore. The drink menus are the same everywhere now. You are lucky if there is 1 or 2 unique drinks at a bar/lounge at WDW now. There used to be lots of them.

I do NOT think this is because of the dining plans, I think the dining plans are part of the homogenization that seems to be the path the WDW company is taking.

WDW has had dining plans for YEARS before the current plans were introduced. We used the Dreammaker "Gold" dining plan in 2002 and 2003. It was like todays premium plan, but they sold lesser ones too. I know there was a "Silver" one available. I think the current dining plans just happend to be introduced at the same time WDW was homogenizing everything because they are part of it. A symptom, not a cause, as a previous poster pointed out.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I agree with most of the other disers. Economy and cuts are mostly at blame here. Everyone is trying to get the best for their buck while retailers are trying to cut their own costs therefor quality and staffing.