Rant: The DDP is ruining everything!

[saschab]

If they go with two menus, what's next?

Should those paying full rate to stay in a resort get more perks than those using a code or AP rate?

Nope that would be silly, but folks do have the choice of paying for a value, a moderate, or deluxe resort, and sevices do differ accordingly.

What about the Fantasmic Dinner Package? Shouldn't the people who book the package get the best seats in the house?

Absolutely. You get what you pay for. You have a choice as to whether you want to purchase this perk. It's not as important to me, so I've never considered purchasing. I don't have an issue if the folks who do have reserved or better seating than I do. If it was important to me, I'd do it too.(This one kind of had me confused, because it doesn't support your argument. )

Let's not forget park passes. Some of us purchases passes from WDW. Others take advantage of discount prices from Ticketmanina. Should those who pay full price get more perks than those with discounted tickets?

Nope, that too would be silly. Nothing wrong with getting a discount on the same offering. But we already have a two-tiered ticket system. Folks get one set of rules (I'd prefer to call it an "offering") for the regular ticket, other folks get other rules for the hopper. The option you get is dependent on the price you pay. If I choose not to pay for the upgraded options of hopping, do I resent the folks that do? NO.

People on Platinum, or people paying for certain special dining experiences get preferred seating for Illuminations. I don't resent them, they paid for something I chose not to.

As far as civil unrest, of a two-tiered system, I'll say again: The responsibility to inform and advertise is Disney's. Would I be unhappy if I took DDP and wasn't informed that the menu was restricted? Yes. Just as I'd be unhappy if they didn't inform about the differences with ticket types.

 

[saschab]

Agreed. I run restaurants and you are right on target.

I dont think Disney is looking backwards. This is the first step toward all inclusive packages. They will build critical mass. When they hit a target threshold of percentage of guests utilizing the plan, they will "pull the trigger" and include it in all of their resort stays.

Paying for meals in the parks and resorts will go the way of the "E" ticket.

I hear ya, I just don't like it.
They'll lose me, then.
I've tolerated 2 one week, and one weekend cruise.
I'll never do another, even if it was free.
Not the type of vacation I'm looking for. Disney wasn't that type of vacation. If that's what they're becoming, I'm very sad and will be looking elsewhere in the future.

 

[honeymo78]

Disney isn't likely to go all inclusive for all guests. They already have 2 all inclusive packages which most think are too expensive for the average guest. The dining climate would have to change drastically (you'd be begging for the current menus) to make an all inclusive dining package an affordable option for guests.

 

[jodifla]

Disney isn't likely to go all inclusive for all guests. They already have 2 all inclusive packages which most think are too expensive for the average guest. The dining climate would have to change drastically (you'd be begging for the current menus) to make an all inclusive dining package an affordable option for guests.

There are other reasons Disney can't go all-inclusive: Florida residents and DVC members, who already have other places to stay.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Kaytieeldr, I must admit I am curious of your point-by-point examination of these posts. Anyhow I agree wtih your assessment that CG changes were just due to a seasonal change in the menu, not a cost-cutting attempt. You did not say anything about my comments on the difficulty of getting into restaurants and the absurdity of 180 day reservations. C'mon, you don't agree with me do ya?

Um, thanks for the compliment I think? That's what happens when you work with numbers. Did you know Excel is my favorite program ever? Anyway, back to the serious stuff - since I only visit a couple of times a year, with the exception of Le Cellier (where I made sure to make reservations 180 days in advance because last year I simply could NOT get in), I had little difficulty making, then changing, reservations over the four or so months before my trip - although you're right, I absolutely made sure all my reservations were set at least a week before I arrived. It seemed to me, based on my repeated calls, that they only release a certain number of reservations at a time, but naturally I didn't do enough of a study to prove or disprove my impression.

Anyway, yes, I agree it's silly to have to know where you want to eat six months in advance. In my case, it's part of the fun of planning my trip, but overall, yeah, it's just dumb.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I haven't found any. Maybe others can prove me wrong (I hope...)

Yep. All menu dates from here (wdwinfo.com) except where indicated - I used whichever site's menu is more up-to-date:
Bistro de Paris 10/06
Blue Zoo 8/06
Cap'n Jack's 6/06
Coral Reef (appetizer) 10/06 (sandwich)
Fulton's 6/06-Allearsnet.com
Maya Grill (appetizer) 8/06
Mitsoyuki Teppanyaki (side) 10/06
Narcoosees 6/06; 8/06-Allearsnet.com
Rainforest 6/06
Shula's 8/06

 

[kaytieeldr]

In addition, they no longer let you do takeout from Olivia's, which is a direct result of the DDP being added there.

"They" in this case being Olivia's management - NOT Disney, NOT the Disney Dining Plan. Oh, you mean you can't go to a specific table service restaurant, approach the Host/ess station and place an order to go? EVERY Disney restaurant, to the best of my knowledge, discourages that. They're TABLE SERVICE restaurants; they serve you food at the table.

So if you see a woman approach one of these gnats,it might be me.

Just getting this straight - if anybody having Thanksgiving dinner at Walt Disney World sees an adult female Guest approach a Cast Member doing the job they are assigned to do - even if that job is to time the turnover at each table - , whether the encounter is to berate or to compliment, people seing this interaction should know it's you?

 

[StevePSU1]

My steak didn't taste as good as it normally does. Is that clear enough for you?

Clear enough to illustrate my point.

 

[Lewisc]

Disney TS restaurants don't generally offer food to go. The kitchens are large enough to accomodate the number of tables but not large enough to handle signficant take out business. It's certainly possible the increased business, due to the dining plan, may have caused Olivia's to follow the same rules that other Disney restaurants have.

Where is the crime in a restaurant no longer being able to accomodate to go orders?

I didn't believe it at first but I now realize there are some "foodies" who's real objection is the formerly empty restaurants are now crowded.

In addition, they no longer let you do takeout from Olivia's, which is a direct result of the DDP being added there. That is CRIMINAL in my book. We often would get takeout from there when DS was a toddler and infant. I feel sorry for families with really small children at OKW now, because they are really screwed. There's no food court there, only the measly offerings at Goods to GO. On arrival days, we'd always go to get Olivia's takeout since we hadn't had time to grocery shop yet.

 

[rie'smom]

deleted

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

How much longer until this thread gets locked?

 

[maxiford812]

I didn't believe it at first but I now realize there are some "foodies" who's real objection is the formerly empty restaurants are now crowded.

Ok, people keep saying that. We've gone to Disney several times, starting in 1991. (Not nearly as often as many of you, but still...) We always eat supper at TS restaurants. I can't really remember anyplace ever being "empty" at normal dining times, except maybe the restaurant at the Moroccan pavilion. There have always been plenty of people eating at all the places we have gone. I can remember waiting for a table lots of times, even with the old "priority seating".

So it's a little misleading to imply that the only people at TS restaurants in the past were Emeril and Wolfgang Puck clones, clinking their wine glasses as the sound echoed off the scores of empty chairs.

 

[jodifla]

"They" in this case being Olivia's management - NOT Disney, NOT the Disney Dining Plan. Oh, you mean you can't go to a specific table service restaurant, approach the Host/ess station and place an order to go? EVERY Disney restaurant, to the best of my knowledge, discourages that. They're TABLE SERVICE restaurants; they serve you food at the table.

To-Go food USED to be STANDARD at Olivia's. To-GO was advertised from Olivia's even when you checked-in, and it was listed in your paperwork.

Because DDP was forced down their throats, I guess they had no choice but to kill the to go orders. Previous posters were told in earlier threads that Olivia's was told they had to drop the to-go because of the DDP. But it's terrible for families there, mine included. And I get to be madder than a wet hen about it, as well as do the other people who bought DVC there.

Do you go to OKW? If you do, you'll know there's not much there in the way of food. No food court, just Goods to Go, with an EXTREMELY limited menu.

It's not like the parks, or even the other resorts, many of which offer ROOM SERVICE, which again, OKW does not. Food choices there are highly limited.

 

[jodifla]

Yep. All menu dates from here (wdwinfo.com) except where indicated - I used whichever site's menu is more up-to-date:
Bistro de Paris 10/06
Blue Zoo 8/06
Cap'n Jack's 6/06
Coral Reef (appetizer) 10/06 (sandwich)
Fulton's 6/06-Allearsnet.com
Maya Grill (appetizer) 8/06
Mitsoyuki Teppanyaki (side) 10/06
Narcoosees 6/06; 8/06-Allearsnet.com
Rainforest 6/06
Shula's 8/06

Many of these aren't Disney restaurants...Blue Zoo, Shula's Rainforset, Fulton....and the others are old menus.

 

[chrissyk]

After years mired in mediocrity, WDW finally became a dining destination. We looked forward to our trips there because of it the innovative menus, unique atmosphere and soliticous service of the signature restaurants. The food was even becoming edible at the MK!

But now, the DDP is dragging everything down the tubes in the name of the almighty buck!

First, you can't do takeout at Olivia's anymore. Now, they are balking even at you taking your leftovers home!

There used to be real variety at the restaurants. Now, they are all taking on similar menus...and many items are THE SAME!

They used to actually like kids at Disney... hence, all the kid-friendly food. Now, in a move couched in "healthy" PR, they've rolled out a kids menu that won't appeal to many kids!


This is making SICK! DDP, please go away, and give us back our QUALITY and CHOICES!

I agree with EVERYTHING you said. We are just back from 8 nights in Disney on the DDP, and the dining was horrendous. We used to LOVE going out to eat in Disney. Not anymore. We're DVC members, so we'll be bringing our own groceries and cooking in our unit from now on. Disney has lost our dining dollars completely. We're not booking any weekend trips in non-DVC resorts anymore, either. We'll go to Universal instead. They have good food there still.

 

[jodifla]

No,take a breath and read it again,I said it might be me.

Or, it might be me!

Another shameful act on the part of DIsney.

 

[Megangel31]

We don't like the dining plan at all. First of all, it's too much food. Who needs all that? We rarely order an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Also, we find the counter service eateries to be unbearably crowded and unpleasant. Regarding the table service restaurants, it's a drag to have to plan each meal for each day of our trip because we're fearful of not getting in anywhere and the menus are getting boring. During our last visit in September, my mother (who is typically oblivious) complained about the menus being all the same. At dinner at Alfredo's, our server commented that we were his only table not on DDP.

This year we ate one or two TS meals each day to take advantage of our DDE cards. They will expire in February, and as we are planning only one trip to WDW in 2007, we've decided to spend a chunk of our mealtimes offsite at old favorites like Emeril's, the Smokehouse Grille at Westgate Lakes, and Texas de Brazil steakhouse. We may try Tchoup Tchoup as well.

What I find sad is that several times while making ADR's I expressed my dislike of the dining plan and what I've perceived as its impact on WDW dining, the operators fed me the same line about how it's so good because it makes dining affordable for families. So much for acknowledging a guest's alternate viewpoint. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing the dining plan go away, but knowing that won't happen, it would be nice to see some kind of modifications adapted to satisfy multiple needs.

 

[LoraJ]

We're at the world now.

We ate at Restaurant Marrakesh today. We had the chicken kabobs w/rice and couldn't believe how little chicken they had. Two small skewers. This was a lunch special though. Has the portions always been so small there?

The food was good, although cold.

DFi was complaining about the small portions, I told him about the DDP and how it maybe affecting the menus. He said it's not fair that we're paying actual price for the meal but getting portion size meant for DDPers.


We went to Fulton's last night and menu and portions were the same as I remember them from previous visits.

We're going to Le Cellier tonight. Hopefully we'll have a satisfying meal.

 

[Kay1]

What I find sad is that several times while making ADR's I expressed my dislike of the dining plan and what I've perceived as its impact on WDW dining, the operators fed me the same line about how it's so good because it makes dining affordable for families. . .

I don't care for this sort of comment at all, especially if quality and portion size are diminished for all. Guests who can afford good food are expected to shrug this off?

 

[maxiesmom]

We're at the world now.

We ate at Restaurant Marrakesh today. We had the chicken kabobs w/rice and couldn't believe how little chicken they had. Two small skewers. This was a lunch special though. Has the portions always been so small there?

The food was good, although cold.

DFi was complaining about the small portions, I told him about the DDP and how it maybe affecting the menus. He said it's not fair that we're paying actual price for the meal but getting portion size meant for DDPers.

We ate there Thursday night. I had the steak kabobs, which was 2 skewers, and could not finish it. My nephew ate all of his, but did not want to finish mine, he was full. Are the sizes different at dinner?

I agree too about not liking the comment about making the portions smaller so that the food is affordable for everyone. They don't mark down the deluxe resorts so that everyone can afford to stay at them. Making food portions tiny so that everyone can afford them is ridiculous.