Review of DDP for 8-3 thru 8-14 a mixed bag

[Petraman]

This is our second time using the DDP. We used it a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it. It was good this time, but also very misleading and a little disappointing

1) The old program included an appetizerf with the full service meals but that has been dropped (the brochure says the kids menu included an appetizer but I did not find one single restaurant that offered any kind of appetizer on the kids menu so very misleading).
2) The brochure says Full Service includes entree, dessert, drink, but what it doesn't say is the "dessert menu" in each restaurant limits which desserts you can order on the DDP plan. Each restaurant we went to had only 2-3 desserts offered for DDP and sad thing was many of the desserts they won't let you have were only $1 more. Also misleading and very disappointing.
3) This little tidbit is something you may NEVER run into, but just an observation. We saved 2 of our FS meals so we could do the Ohana Luau that requires 2. We scheduled it for our last night there to make it our final special night. Well, a huge storm rolled and they held us in the Hotel Lobby while they decided if they would have to cancel the Luau (it's performed out in an open air arena). Finally, they gave us all rain ponchos, and sent us out to the Luau, sat us down, and served us food. AFTER we started eating, they informed us the show part was cancelled, but they were going to be "generous" and give us back half our money. Clearly, they knew the show wouldn't happen before they ever sent us out, trust me... it was bad. Then thye wait till you eat before they tell you (clearly they wanted to not waste the food they had prepared so they tricked us... kinda sad). The food was still good so we had an OK time, but the problem for us was because we were on the DDP plan. What they did was put 1 FS for each of us back on our card as a refund, but the problem was we were leaving early AM so had no way to use the FS and get any value out of it, so we still paid for a luau we didn't get. So I guess the lesson is don't save a 2FS special meal for the last night in case there is a problem..... <sigh>

Now the good news...
All in all, we got our money's worth (even though the lack of appetizers and limited desserts lowered the value), and had some GREAT dining experiences.

1) Tokyo Dining was phenomenal! It was so elegant, relaxing, and a great view of the Illuminatins Show. We will definitely go there again.
2) Cinderella's Royal Table was great. I have 2 little girls and the youngest was usually sad because she ordered off the extremely limited kids menus everywhere we went. She was tired of chicken fingers and pizza. At the castle they had only one dessert for the kids... ice cream sundae. Needless to say, she was sad, until it came. They serve it with a cool solid chocolate princess crown on top of the ice cream. Her eyes lit up! The show part was a little short but getting photos and personal visits from Princesses made us all starry eyed!!
3) Planet Hollywood... Wow! The best steak I have had in a long time. Great atmosphere, lots of fun
4) Wolfgang Puck's Express. Trust me, you will want to go to breakfast there! simply amazing!
5) Boma at Animal Kingdom. A little too eclectic for my taste, but still a good experience

All in all, it was a little disappointing but still worth the $$

 

[iluvpluto27]

Sorry it wasn't a great experience for you.

Can I ask which restaurants limited the dessert menu for ddp users? I've never heard of that, and it definitely wasn't the case when we used the plan last year.

 

[twoehr]

I was very disappointed to see the appetizer disappear from the table service last year too. I also noticed that many items are no longer eligible for the snack either. Previously Goofy Candy Co items were eligible, at DVC resort stores and some of the ice cream bars weren't eligible either (can't remember which ones).

But the worst part of all is that the tip is no longer included, that's a huge difference!

 

[NanaV]

I would also be interested to learn which restaurants limited your choice of desserts. We didn't experience that at all last year on the DDP.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

What restaurants limited the dessert choices? This is the first I've heard of that.

 

[aprilp]

not sure what thread I read it on, but there was mention of this at the epcot TS and CS restaurants. I do remember that the Tangerine Cafe (morroco) only let you get baklava and I am thinking the other one was Tutto Italia? There were some others too, but I cant remember them off the top of my head. Will have to read more reviews and let you know what I find out! lol!

 

[catne]

not sure what thread I read it on, but there was mention of this at the epcot TS and CS restaurants. I do remember that the Tangerine Cafe (morroco) only let you get baklava and I am thinking the other one was Tutto Italia? There were some others too, but I cant remember them off the top of my head. Will have to read more reviews and let you know what I find out! lol!

The app & tip have been gone since January 2008...more than a year & half. What they are calling "kid's appetizer" is not anything like adult appetizers...they are actually referring to things like a cup of grapes or carrot sticks & dip; some places it's a small cup of soup. Basically a fruit or veggie side dish, meant to make the child's meal meet the guidelines for healthy balanced meals. You would not see any appetizers like onion rings or calamari on the kids menus.

Tangierine Cafe limits the dessert to the baklava when you get counter service there...at least they always have for us in the last two years (5 trips...4 were on paid dining plan, one was on the free dining plan.)

In May, we ate in Epcot at Les Chefs, Le Cellier and Rose & Crown...there was no limit on dessert choices on the dining plan. Same was true at Les Chefs in January. Unless you wanted the 3-course meal on the fixed price menus at Les Chefs or Le Cellier (then you had a choice of three desserts) But that was only if you wanted to do that specific menu - you were not required or limited to the fixed price menu.

We'll be there starting Saturday...will report immediately if other restaurants actually are limiting choices on the dining plan...would be VERY surprised if they are because many people are not on free dining. The people who have paid cold hard cash for the dining plan will not be very pleased if their choices are limited. And the KTTW cards don't specify "free" dining so how would the restaurants know which people get the "limited" menus?