The slow decay of the DDP . . .

[edk35]

It is an increase of 2 bucks per person per day. How much have your favorite local restaurants gone up in price? How much more are you paying for weekly groceries? Unfortunately it is not just the DDP going up.....everything is. We have noticed our fave restaurants we go to at home have also increased prices and groceries continue to go up. It is a vacation and a choice.....every year ticket prices go up so why not food??? Even if we pay out of pocket....the prices are still going up.

 

[eliza61]

It is an increase of 2 bucks per person per day. How much have your favorite local restaurants gone up in price? How much more are you paying for weekly groceries? Unfortunately it is not just the DDP going up.....everything is. We have noticed our fave restaurants we go to at home have also increased prices and groceries continue to go up. It is a vacation and a choice.....every year ticket prices go up so why not food??? Even if we pay out of pocket....the prices are still going up.

Aah yes, but my local favorite restaurant is still serving outstanding food. Can the same be said of the world lately?. Sure groceries go up but if you don't like the quality of the groceries, what do you do? You leave them in the store. Unfortunately that same option may not be available while on vacation when one is often limited in transportation and time. If you're on the ddp and get a lousy meal sure you have the option of leaving but there are different logistics involved such as getting points back and in some cases trying to find an adr available.
Comparison is not the same.

 

[Disneymanic]

When my kids graduated from High School, we sent them to WDW. We got them the DDP because I did not have to worry about them running out of money for their meals. Even with the price increases, the DDP works for us because of the convenience. Maybe someday I will feel different but not yet.

 

[Crystal_27]

We have noticed our fave restaurants we go to at home have also increased prices and groceries continue to go up.

I don't know where you are, but I've actually seen the opposite trend. Restaurants (particularly, those mid-priced restaurants) are giving great deals and coupons to diners (for example, Chilis has a 3 course menu for 2 people for $20, which is an incredible savings from a year ago). And, even with the price reduction or deals, the food quality and portions are still the same. Also, I've noticed that the essential groceries have likewise gone down in price.

 

[ead79]

Well, I for one wish they would never have implemented the DDP! I feel like it has been the total downfall of what used to be one of the things we loved about Disney...the unique table service spots. Now everything is becoming standardized and boring, even at the signature restaurants, and I feel it is the fault of the DDP.

Yep! I totally agree with you. I never use the DDP, as it doesn't fit with our dining habits. We use TiW instead, which is a better deal for us. But overall I strongly dislike the latest trent of Disney's food going downhill while the prices go uphill. For years Disney worked to improve their food, then with the introduction of the DDP, all they've done is take several steps back in food quality and variety, in my opinion. Plus, I think they intentionally are increasing the prices at the table service restaurants to try to "force" people to get the DDP.

 

[FindTheMickeys]

I have never used the DDP and don't ever plan to use it. I have NEVER spent $39 or $42 a day on food when at the World! I eat a small breakfast in my room, a bigger meal at lunch when the prices are cheaper than dinner and then a small dinner, about half the time in my room again. I bought into DVC to have the benefit of the kitchen to save money on food so that I could spend it in other areas (or not - if that is my preference). It works!

 

[edk35]

Aah yes, but my local favorite restaurant is still serving outstanding food. Can the same be said of the world lately?. Sure groceries go up but if you don't like the quality of the groceries, what do you do? You leave them in the store. Unfortunately that same option may not be available while on vacation when one is often limited in transportation and time. If you're on the ddp and get a lousy meal sure you have the option of leaving but there are different logistics involved such as getting points back and in some cases trying to find an adr available.
Comparison is not the same.

Then my advice would be NOT to get the DDP anymore. If people feel the dining is that bad at WDW then I would suggest not getting the plan so you are not LOCKED into doing every day of your trip. Also, maybe people will start eating elsewhere......leaving the parks to eat outside the world. Who knows......


I started saying earlier this year how nice it would be to say I would like to add 4 days of the DDP to my 7 night stay. Wouldn't it be nice to NOT be locked into 7 days worth of the DDP. Or better yet.....mix it up and say...I would like 3 DDP and 2 CS days added to my 7 night trip. Then we could limit ourselves to bad Disney food.

 

[NonScents]

Well, I for one wish they would never have implemented the DDP! I feel like it has been the total downfall of what used to be one of the things we loved about Disney...the unique table service spots. Now everything is becoming standardized and boring, even at the signature restaurants, and I feel it is the fault of the DDP.

I tend to agree with you.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't know what everyone expected from the DDP, or why they expected its fate to be different than that of other Disney plans. This has been the norm for Disney for at least 15 years.

Remember the Food N Fun Card? Same thing, started out as a great deal, people got hooked, over a few years price increased and benefits were dropped until it was no longer such a great value...then they'll come up with a "new" plan with a new name to replace it, and it will follow the same pattern. The DDP will either price itself out of existence, or will revert to being part of a full cash resort package only, eventually.

 

[crisi]

Then my advice would be NOT to get the DDP anymore. If people feel the dining is that bad at WDW then I would suggest not getting the plan so you are not LOCKED into doing every day of your trip. Also, maybe people will start eating elsewhere......leaving the parks to eat outside the world. Who knows......

Pretty much. The only way Disney is going to change it is if they see a reduction in profit. If we complain, but they are more profitable this year than last, our complaints have no weight. If we don't complain, but they see a drop in profit - we won't have needed to complain, they'll change back to what was a more profitable model. (Although a little complaining helps them pinpoint where their problem is).

ETA: Complaining here can be entertaining, though. But I don't think complaining to Disney does much good, unless there is a corresponding decrease in their profit.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Pretty much. The only way Disney is going to change it is if they see a reduction in profit. If we complain, but they are more profitable this year than last, our complaints have no weight. If we don't complain, but they see a drop in profit - we won't have needed to complain, they'll change back to what was a more profitable model. (Although a little complaining helps them pinpoint where their problem is).

ETA: Complaining here can be entertaining, though. But I don't think complaining to Disney does much good, unless there is a corresponding decrease in their profit.

Actually - here is part of their 3rd quarter statement....parks profit fell 9%.

Disney 3Q profit falls 26 pct, tough world economy

LOS ANGELES — The Walt Disney Co. said Thursday its fiscal third-quarter profit fell 26 percent as slower DVD sales pushed its movie studio into the red while the weakening market for TV ads stabilized

 

[whitfamily]

You know, I don't really understand when people complain about price increases or reduction of services. WDW is a business unit of a publicly traded corporation, and has profit margins it needs to achieve. That means they will regularly review their service offering and prices to maximize profits against demand. If they tip the scales too far and charge too high of a price for the service offered - people won't buy it. Then as long as Disney feels the service is worthy and can be acceptably profitable - they'll adjust the service/price mix (assuming they're not instituting go away pricing - where you charge an outlandish price to discourage buying instead of just pulling the plug). Disney doesn't gouge anyone - things like DDP aren't required (and neither is vacationing at a Disney resort/theme park for that matter).

My $.02

As a stockholder I whole heartedly agree with you!

I still get my magical menus with tons of options at the kitchen in my villa!

 

[maddmike]

When Disney removed the gratutity that was huge for us. We are a family of at least six and when they added 18% percent to each meal plus the cost of the plan that was when the DDP became too much. I know someone will say you are still paying 18% for the tip but we do not order all that food when not on the dining plan and the meals are much cheaper. If gratuity was still included we would consider using the DDP but if not we will do something different and a lot of the time that includes eating off site.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Pretty much. The only way Disney is going to change it is if they see a reduction in profit. If we complain, but they are more profitable this year than last, our complaints have no weight. If we don't complain, but they see a drop in profit - we won't have needed to complain, they'll change back to what was a more profitable model. (Although a little complaining helps them pinpoint where their problem is).

ETA: Complaining here can be entertaining, though. But I don't think complaining to Disney does much good, unless there is a corresponding decrease in their profit.

Geeze Louise did I strike a nerve here or what!?!

I expect my customers to comment about the services I render and the quality of the product they are getting. "Feedback" from the consumer is welcome and needed! And I believe Disney is listening to us, but I don't expect every feedback thread will have instant results, but there can be results none the less. Even a small drip eventually leaves a stain in the bottom of the sink.

As to the DDP and whether or not it changes, the free DDP offers I believe definitely have had a negative effect on the food quality, not to mention the ability to get ADRs. We call at the 90 day mark and usually get the ADRs we want, but not always at the times we need. I can't imagine what it is like calling at 80 days out.

 

[crisi]

Actually - here is part of their 3rd quarter statement....parks profit fell 9%.

Disney 3Q profit falls 26 pct, tough world economy

LOS ANGELES — The Walt Disney Co. said Thursday its fiscal third-quarter profit fell 26 percent as slower DVD sales pushed its movie studio into the red while the weakening market for TV ads stabilized

Yes, which may be why they are making changes to the DDP. And the analysis of this is of course, much more complex than "did overall profit drop" - its balancing restaurant costs with DDP revenue and the overall benefit to the parks.

Of course park profit dropped - and of course last quarter the DDP brought in little revenue...they were giving it away.

 

[crisi]

Geeze Louise did I strike a nerve here or what!?!

I expect my customers to comment about the services I render and the quality of the product they are getting. "Feedback" from the consumer is welcome and needed! And I believe Disney is listening to us, but I don't expect every feedback thread will have instant results, but there can be results none the less. Even a small drip eventually leaves a stain in the bottom of the sink.

As to the DDP and whether or not it changes, the free DDP offers I believe definitely have had a negative effect on the food quality, not to mention the ability to get ADRs. We call at the 90 day mark and usually get the ADRs we want, but not always at the times we need. I can't imagine what it is like calling at 80 days out.

No nerve - I just think you are being naive. But you can spit into the wind all you want. Maybe the wind is blowing the way you think it is. I'm just not going to stand near you or do any spitting myself.

I agree that the DDP has negatively impacted food quality. I've been complaining about that here for years. But it isn't like Disney doesn't KNOW that repeat visitors think food quality has gone down. We've taken enough surveys over the years. So they are making decisions off something else.

 

[JimMIA]

The real diminishment to what the DDP offered came, what 3 years ago when they took away the included appetizer and gratuity. Since then, as they've raised the prices, and as Diane said, made many of the truly wonderful unique table service experiences standard and boring (dumbed down in my mind) - the DDP has definitely lost it's appeal.

I agree with the real timeline for scuttling DDP. When they eliminated the appetizer and gratuity, that was a 25% price increase in one year.

In retrospect, however, making the DDP worthless to us has been one of the better things we've experienced in the last 3 years. We not only don't do DDP, but we rarely eat onsite at all -- usually only one character meal per trip. We eat just about every other meal offsite, where we find the variety MUCH better, the food quality at least as good in the chains and better in the better restaurants offsite, and we save a little money.

Frankly, we never thought onsite dining was anything to write home about anyway. We liked California Grill, but most Disney food is essentially the same in every restaurant, okay quality, marginally prepared, and served with all the ambiance of a NY subway. No thanks.

 

[JimMIA]

... But it isn't like Disney doesn't KNOW that repeat visitors think food quality has gone down. We've taken enough surveys over the years. So they are making decisions off something else.

Agree. All aspects of food -- variety, quality, preparation, venue, service, and price -- are purely monetary decisions. It's all about the money.

 

[Crystal_27]

most Disney food is essentially the same in every restaurant, okay quality, marginally prepared, and served with all the ambiance of a NY subway. No thanks.

You are right, there; after doing the DDP for 7+ days, it all starts tasting the same, TS and CS alike. The problem, though, is the convenience factor. We drive down to Disney so we have our car readily available, yet still choose not to venture outside of the WDW complex. Also, having our dining credits on our KTTW is just so darn easy. We do exactly as Disney expects us to, which is why they can continue to keep raising prices. Heck, we're even talking about doing the DxDDP for our December, 2010 trip.

I'm sure at some point we'll reach the point where we're fed up and will seek other options, but, again, Disney just suckers us in by making it so convenient.

 

[LilGMom]

I think the biggest "tweak" to the DDP was when they dropped the appetizer and gratuity while "saving guests money" by dropping the DDP cost by a whole $1.