Signature dining wow.

[fishacura]

Let me start with the positive. I'm a foodie and get to NYC and Philly pretty often for some world class dining. Was not expecting much from Disney but ate at Narcossees last night and found it to be exceptional.

The dining plan is another story. 2 TS credits each and they make you pay out of pocket for app and/or salad? just ridiculous IMO on principle. Throw in a side salad for crying out loud. It cheapens the experience to skimp and nickel and dime in this situation. Just my opinion.




Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[LilyWDW]

Let me start with the positive. I'm a foodie and get to NYC and Philly pretty often for some world class dining. Was not expecting much from Disney but ate at Narcossees last night and found it to be exceptional.

The dining plan is another story. 2 TS credits each and they make you pay out of pocket for app and/or salad? just ridiculous IMO on principle. Throw in a side salad for crying out loud. It cheapens the experience to skimp and nickel and dime in this situation. Just my opinion.




Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

Then don't use the dining plan and pay OOP. That is what we do. Or, if you want an app, get the Deluxe Dining Plan which covers the app.

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Dining Plan board...

 

[MrsLS]

I also think most of the signatures are great.

Since you had the regular dining plan, you should have known going into it that it was 2 credits with no app. If you wanted the apps, you should have bought or upgraded (if you had the free plan) to the deluxe plan. Or not used any plan, but most (not all) of the meals at signatures are double the price of 1 TS credit ones which is why they have you using 2 credits. When we go to a signature we usually spend $120-140 not including alcohol, the "1" credit TS are usually $50-75 (and we usually get 2 apps, 2 entrees & sometimes dessert).

 

[TDC Nala]

Yep. Appetizers with the deluxe plan only, even at the 2 credit signatures. Separate sides are not included on any of the dining plans. As this has been Disney's policy on the regular dining plan since 2008, I can see it being seen as nickel and diming back then. But four years later, it's probably more like getting what you paid for.

 

[peeputt]

I couldn't agree more!
I think all the Signatures should include a bit more...

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I agree. While I have not been to Narcossee's, we do eat at signature restaurants. I pay out of pocket for these because I could not believe that I had to give up 2 credits (on the normal dining plan) and still only get an entree and dessert.

I don't find the normal dining plan fabulous, nor do I think it is the devil's tool so I have no emotional attachment to the issue. But I agree that if you give up 2 credits, you should at least get an appetizer. That's why I am not as concerned about using 2 credits for shows which give you more food - and entertainment.

I happened to get an AP ticket this year and I bought the TIW card. It is going to do a lot more for me than the dining plan. And it already has on my first trip Looking forward to using it on the next trip!

 

[fishacura]

I have to day with all the character meals we did (5) with only hoop de doo being two credits the meal plan paid for itself for us. Each of those meals for 5 of us was $170 or so, do I would suggest meal plan if people are doing character meals but not if people are not. Then again, an individual serving bag of chips is $3 so who knows...


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[lockedoutlogic]

this is usually the part where i say that if they hadn't shoved the dining plan and its "credit system"...this wouldn't be a problem

 

[fishacura]

MrsLS it's not really a matter of knowing and not knowing what's included. It's a suggestion to enhance things so they don't make a "upscale" experience feel like an exploitation. A side salad would add a lot to balance the meal and they wouldn't lose too much on the bottom line. For double credits at a nice place it's simply a nice inexpensive addition...



Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[fishacura]

LilyWDW just a suggestion. I suppose I should know better than to ever imply Disney could tweak something once in awhile.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[TDC Nala]

It sounds like the dining plan is not for you...or look into the deluxe. The deluxe will give you what you want (at a higher price point of course, but you also get more meal credits for that higher price.) The other option is to make a decision to pay OOP at signature restaurants, a lot of persons here make that decision as they believe dining credits are the best value when spent on 1 credit restaurants.

 

[fishacura]

Nala not at all. We rather enjoyed the plan. I was merely making a specific suggestion for signature restaurants. Nothing more. Feel free to disagree with the suggestion but Disney constantly tweaks things so I offered an opinion with which others agree. How that turned into "pay oop" or "the dining plan is not for you" I will never understand. For those that thought it would be a worthwhile tweak to the plan, I thank you.



Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't disagree with the suggestion. A lot of posters think signature restaurants should offer "something more" with the regular DDP. That's not how it works, though. If you choose the dining plan, you accept tradeoffs, and one of those tradeoffs is no appetizer included (in most cases) if you pick the regular plan.

They're not going to "tweak the plan" because some guests think they should have an appetizer at a signature. They want you to buy the deluxe if you want an appetizer. You are just being given what alternatives there are. Talking about tweaking the plan here won't help either, write Disney and let them know what you would like them to do so you can consider the dining plan a better value.

 

[fishacura]

@Nala actually a lot of things they do are based on voice of the customer. I plan to suggest it and wanted to voice it here first to see what others thought. Glad I am not alone. Again to those that think it's a good idea I'll suggest it. You never know.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[mom2of2]

Glad you enjoyed your meal OP. Did you not know that you would have to pay extra at signatures for the app?

 

[dobirdsmommy]

ok now I feel confused.. We have Dinner at Yachtsman which is 2 credits and Fultons.. Can we just use the credits for the entree and the dessert and then just OOP the APP and Alcohol if we want?

 

[plutolovr]

ok now I feel confused.. We have Dinner at Yachtsman which is 2 credits and Fultons.. Can we just use the credits for the entree and the dessert and then just OOP the APP and Alcohol if we want?

Absolutely!! Just tell your server you're using the Regular Dining Plan but would also like to add alcoholic beverages and appetizers. You will get a separate bill for those.

 

[fishacura]

Yes dorbird that's exactly what I did. My small suggestion that some feel is so off the wall is to simply include a side salad with the meal. That would be a nicer touch imho.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[MrsLS]

MrsLS it's not really a matter of knowing and not knowing what's included. It's a suggestion to enhance things so they don't make a "upscale" experience feel like an exploitation. A side salad would add a lot to balance the meal and they wouldn't lose too much on the bottom line. For double credits at a nice place it's simply a nice inexpensive addition...



Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

That is why there are 2 plans. One with apps and one without. Not everyone is on the plan. We've bought the deluxe plan a few times because we wanted the apps & went to all signature dinners and it saved us money. Now the TIW is a better option for us.
You can make suggestions but no one will ever be happy and again they do have a plan if you want apps- the deluxe plan.