Rant: The DDP is ruining everything!

[disneygirl29]

I just did some calculating to see if it really was a good deal for us ... we are staying at the FQ, and have the fall discount (magic your way+ dining package). I compared it to our origingal plan which was to stay at the Swan (with teacher discount rate, so the room was about $26 more than the FQ rack rate)... total between what we would have spent on the room, park tickets, and an estimated amount for food we saved $200 going with the package at FQ (and in reality it woul dbe more like $400 when you add that we would have needed to pay for mears for airport shuttle) , now mind you we downgraded to a moderate resort (I don't think it will seem downgraded, but that is the category it falls under ), but we will be eating MUCH better than we would have if we were paying OOP (we would have done a few TS, and more CS, now we will do a TS each day). So for us in our situation is a great deal ...

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

Actually if you read through this thread (and others) you'll see that there was a time when Yes, some of the WDW restaurants were good enough that people considered them a dining "destination".




"others" ???

Yes, WDW was (and I think still is) a dining destination with wonderful restaurants such as Artist Point, Jiko, Blue Zoo, Wolfgang Puck (Upstairs), etc. I hope those restaurants will still remain as good as they were this past year. Those of you who don't think WDW was trying to become a dining destination have apparantly been dining in the wrong places.

 

[deltachi8]

This thread is almost as amusing as the one on kids menus ruining the world too.

 

[jodifla]

This thread is almost as amusing as the one on kids menus ruining the world too.

you might notice I'm not ranting here all by myself. I have plenty of company.

Look, I own DVC, APs, Florida resident passes, and I've been countless times. To me, I'm as much Disney as anybody who runs it. Perhaps it's not a realistic to hold this viewpoint, but I do. As do many of others who have grown up there, not to mention spent LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars there.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

WDW was and is not trying to become a dining destination...It's a family/theme park destination.

I'm an oldie (43) and remember drooling over a cover article in Time (or Newsweek) in 1981-82 with amazing pullout pictures and a substantial article on what the vision of EPCOT was. It was very much emphasized that the countries were to be immersed in their cultures,---cuisine and otherwise.

Now I can get waffles in Norway.....something you would not get in Norway. How about gravlax, Wasa brot and Emmenthaler cheese? I'm not suggesting that Disney become cultural purists (Ducks feet in China would probably not be a big seller), but at the moment the original concept is far off course.

So I have to politely disagree with jenfur.

 

[kathyg]

This thread is almost as amusing as the one on kids menus ruining the world too.

Frankly, I don't see any humor in this thread at all. As I said in an earlier post, I find the changes in Disney dining to be very disheartening. Disney is not a only a "theme park" it is a resort that caters to many different types of people.

When I went on my Disney honeymoon, I couldn't afford to eat anywhere but counter service restaurants, and that was fine. As our family grew, so did our vacation needs. We were eventually able to stay onsite, each time at a better resort. And each new time, we were able to dine at the better disney restaurants.

Now that my family has grown, all six of us consider food as much as any other criteria in choosing a vacation destination. If I were vacationing at Frenchmen's Reef in St. Thomas, I would expect my dining offerings to match the quality of the resort. If I am to vacation at one of Disney's deluxe resorts, I would also expect my dining offerings to match the caliber of the hotel. That means not only food, but atmosphere, ambiance and service. These seem to areas that are delcining at Disney. Yes, I can dine at California Grill either on the DDP or by paying cash. Either way, I will get the same food choices and the same service. There seems to be no more tiered restaurants...everything to everybody seems to be Disney's new motto. In its effort make every restaurant accessible to every person, Disney has instilled mediocrity into a dining system that was on its way to becoming superb.

I realize that this posting may sound terribly elitist. However, if I can now afford to plop down $$$$ for a Disney vacation, I certainly want my $$$$ worth. I want to be able to dine at fine restaurants with great food and great service and not surrounded by hoards of diners waiting to jump on my table and servers rushing me through a meal.

 

[adrock1976]

The dining plan is deisgned to fill restaurants and keep people on site...end of story (yeah, right).

 

[susan1]

Frankly, I don't see any humor in this thread at all. As I said in an earlier post, I find the changes in Disney dining to be very disheartening. Disney is not a only a "theme park" it is a resort that caters to many different types of people.

When I went on my Disney honeymoon, I couldn't afford to eat anywhere but counter service restaurants, and that was fine. As our family grew, so did our vacation needs. We were eventually able to stay onsite, each time at a better resort. And each new time, we were able to dine at the better disney restaurants.

Now that my family has grown, all six of us consider food as much as any other criteria in choosing a vacation destination. If I were vacationing at Frenchmen's Reef in St. Thomas, I would expect my dining offerings to match the quality of the resort. If I am to vacation at one of Disney's deluxe resorts, I would also expect my dining offerings to match the caliber of the hotel. That means not only food, but atmosphere, ambiance and service. These seem to areas that are delcining at Disney. Yes, I can dine at California Grill either on the DDP or by paying cash. Either way, I will get the same food choices and the same service. There seems to be no more tiered restaurants...everything to everybody seems to be Disney's new motto. In its effort make every restaurant accessible to every person, Disney has instilled mediocrity into a dining system that was on its way to becoming superb.

I realize that this posting may sound terribly elitist. However, if I can now afford to plop down $$$$ for a Disney vacation, I certainly want my $$$$ worth. I want to be able to dine at fine restaurants with great food and great service and not surrounded by hoards of diners waiting to jump on my table and servers rushing me through a meal.

whilst i agree money doesn't buy class, everbody has the right to do what they like with their money! i loved the crack when this sort of thread was aired before "if you charge walmart prices, you get walmart people."
i must be in the minority to think you go to wdw for culture and finie dining, if you get it it's a bonus. if i wanted culture i certainly wouldn't go to orlando!
p.s i love orlando and the whole of florida

 

[deltachi8]

The dining plan is deisgned to fill restaurants and keep people on site...end of story (yeah, right).

and it is working quite well at reaching those goals.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

and it is working quite well at reaching those goals.

That's because if your on the DDP, you will not go off site to eat somewhere. So these people would make ADR's for everyday they are at WDW & if they did not, then what would be the point of using the DDP? Since my family & I have never used the DDP & will never plan to in the future, we are free to eat off site because there are some restaurants we like to eat at.

 

[deltachi8]

That's because if your on the DDP, you will not go off site to eat somewhere. So these people would make ADR's for everyday they are at WDW & if they did not, then what would be the point of using the DDP? Since my family & I have never used the DDP & will never plan to in the future, we are free to eat off site because there are some restaurants we like to eat at.

Yes. Thats is what Disney is trying to accomplish, keep 'em onsite, all the time. You have chosen not to do that, which is, of course, perfectly fine. Choice is a good thing. People can choose to utilize the DDP or not, eat at Disney or take their $$ elsewhere. Ultimately, the $$ votes count much more than voices on a message board. (Not to mean people shouldn't be posting, they should, but what will truly make change is $$, and thats not exclusive to Disney).

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

I realize that this posting may sound terribly elitist. However, if I can now afford to plop down $$$$ for a Disney vacation, I certainly want my $$$$ worth. I want to be able to dine at fine restaurants with great food and great service and not surrounded by hoards of diners waiting to jump on my table and servers rushing me through a meal.[/QUOTE]


It is not elitist to expect a deluxe resort to give you a good fine dining experience when you are paying top dollar. I agree with everything you've said.

If we are paying to stay at an expensive resort, we should expect their rooms, service and restaurants to be top notch. I can't see how anyone can argue with that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Which deluxe resorts' restaurants are not top-notch?

 

[saschab]

Which deluxe resorts' restaurants are not top-notch?

To answer that would be a matter of personal opinion. I don't think you really are interested in hearing those opinions, I think you just want to argue them.

 

[HollyJoy]

This will be our first time using the Dining Plan, and I'm actually very excited about it! I like the idea of having my meals already paid for me ahead of time. Just one less thing I have to worry about during our trip. We are also trying many more restuarants than we would if we weren't on the plan. Guess I'll give my reviews when I get back!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

The DDP and especially the free dining will go away when
Disney has finally lowered the quality and standards to a level where the majority of people will actually be able to see the substantial differences and quit using it. Of course by then the fine dining, the great chef's, the sommoliars will all be a thing of the past but Disney will survive and find yet another novel way to part you from your money. But remember that it's OK because Disney's a business.

 

[CPer'sMom]

Frankly, I don't see any humor in this thread at all. As I said in an earlier post, I find the changes in Disney dining to be very disheartening. Disney is not a only a "theme park" it is a resort that caters to many different types of people. If I am to vacation at one of Disney's deluxe resorts, I would also expect my dining offerings to match the caliber of the hotel. That means not only food, but atmosphere, ambiance and service. These seem to areas that are delcining at Disney.

I realize that this posting may sound terribly elitist. However, if I can now afford to plop down $$$$ for a Disney vacation, I certainly want my $$$$ worth. I want to be able to dine at fine restaurants with great food and great service and not surrounded by hoards of diners waiting to jump on my table and servers rushing me through a meal.

EXACTLY!!

 

[Lewisc]

The Disney deluxe resorts, including the Grand Floridian, are only rated as 3 star resorts by the reputable rating services. Disney could eliminate the signature restaurants and the remaining restaurants would provide a dining experience that matched the caliber of the resorts.

The better resort restaurants are signature. There have been very little menu change, due to the DDP, at signature restaurants. Restaurants like Tony's,the LTT and WCC didn't offer "fine dining" even before the dining plan.

"Foodies" looking for a more exclusive cash dining experience still can dine at V&A, 2-3 restaurants at Swan/Dolphin, Bistro and a few restaurants in DTD. Disney could drop a restaurant from the dining plan if they thought there were enough customers willing to pay.

Frankly, I don't see any humor in this thread at all. As I said in an earlier post, I find the changes in Disney dining to be very disheartening. Disney is not a only a "theme park" it is a resort that caters to many different types of people.

When I went on my Disney honeymoon, I couldn't afford to eat anywhere but counter service restaurants, and that was fine. As our family grew, so did our vacation needs. We were eventually able to stay onsite, each time at a better resort. And each new time, we were able to dine at the better disney restaurants.

Now that my family has grown, all six of us consider food as much as any other criteria in choosing a vacation destination. If I were vacationing at Frenchmen's Reef in St. Thomas, I would expect my dining offerings to match the quality of the resort. If I am to vacation at one of Disney's deluxe resorts, I would also expect my dining offerings to match the caliber of the hotel. That means not only food, but atmosphere, ambiance and service. These seem to areas that are delcining at Disney. Yes, I can dine at California Grill either on the DDP or by paying cash. Either way, I will get the same food choices and the same service. There seems to be no more tiered restaurants...everything to everybody seems to be Disney's new motto. In its effort make every restaurant accessible to every person, Disney has instilled mediocrity into a dining system that was on its way to becoming superb.

I realize that this posting may sound terribly elitist. However, if I can now afford to plop down $$$$ for a Disney vacation, I certainly want my $$$$ worth. I want to be able to dine at fine restaurants with great food and great service and not surrounded by hoards of diners waiting to jump on my table and servers rushing me through a meal.

 

[DisMN]

I like the idea of having my meals already paid for me ahead of time. Just one less thing I have to worry about during our trip. We are also trying many more restuarants than we would if we weren't on the plan. Guess I'll give my reviews when I get back!

I look forward to your reviews.
The comment about the DDP giving you one less thing to worry about doesn't make sense though. With the planning of your point usage and having to make ADR's so far in advance wouldn't it be easier by far to just use the resort perk of charging your meals to your room?
I've also seen way too many people believing they're getting the full restaurant experience by using the DDP when it's been said over and over that the DDP has lowered everything from the quality of the food to the service recieved.
I don't understand the joy in having a more complicated dining experience along with an overall poorer quality meal.

Charging your meals to your room is as simple as it gets folks. No preplanning necessary, no ADR's months in advance and no having to carry wads of money around with you.

 

[CPer'sMom]

I don't understand the joy in having a more complicated dining experience along with an overall poorer quality meal.

That kind of sums up the whole debate of those who like & use the DDP and those who don't like the plan.

Those who are using the plan and eating at many of the TS restaurants for the first time don't know that there IS a difference in the quality of the food & service. They have no comparison.

Those who have dined at Disney restaurants over the years do know that things have changed -- and not for the better. To those of you who say 'Just go off property to eat your meals then or dine at the Swan or Dolphin' ..... that's not really the point. We'd still like to dine at our favorite restaurants and have them be "as they were" or better, not a poorer overall experience.