Things not going well with the DDP changes

[angelmav]

For what it is worth - when I booked my Aug trip through WDW yesterday, the CM did point out the no tip/ No app. changes to the DDP (I did not really care since I got 40% off my room, and my DD9 will turn 10 at WDW but still be considered a child for the whole trip on the DDP).

Course they have already been burned by this (hence the changes to their own website after the fact) so I would expect going forward that they would and will inform better. Still doesnt change how this was handled for those their when the plans changed over.

 

[robinb]

For what it is worth - when I booked my Aug trip through WDW yesterday, the CM did point out the no tip/ No app. changes to the DDP (I did not really care since I got 40% off my room, and my DD9 will turn 10 at WDW but still be considered a child for the whole trip on the DDP).

Huh? I thought that the DDP was only for those people paying rack rate. I assume that you booked the "Bouceback" to get that discount.

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney does sometimes offer percentage discounts that are applicable to room/tickets packages. As long as you buy a ticket, you can get the dining plan with one of these discounts. The kicker is that the discount MUST be applicable to a room/tickets package.

 

[wezee]

Why I read these threads about the DDP and tipping percentages, I don't know, but I always get sucked in. That being said:
1. Even on the old DDP we have always tipped over and above and have rarely had anything but exceptional service at WDW TS meals.
2. We would tip the same OOP or on DDP.
3. I really do not understand why the new DDP has raised everyones blood pressure.....if it works for you buy it.....if not pay OOP!
4. We were notified of the changes to the DDP months before we booked our bounceback trip for 2008, and several times while we were booking our trip (by phone).
5. When WDW did away with the smoking rooms at the resorts, they gave 30days notice.(Which we read on Allears) If you had a smoking room booked (as we did), they did not contact anyone to advise them of the new no-smoking policy. Nor did they advise you upon checkin at your resort.
So yes I must admit.....Disney has a bad habit of not notifying the public of policy changes.

 

[sandym718]

If you had a smoking room booked (as we did), they did not contact anyone to advise them of the new no-smoking policy. Nor did they advise you upon checkin at your resort.
So yes I must admit.....Disney has a bad habit of not notifying the public of policy changes.

Wow, that is another big thing not to notify about!! At least with the DDP, it seems the info was at least OUT there (if you knew where to look) BEFORE it could be booked. RE: the smoking, if you had ALREADY booked it and still weren't told, yikes!! (And this coming from a non-smoker who is soooooo glad it's smoke free, LOL!)

 

[dcibrando]

the thing I miss is having EVERYTHING prepaid... nothing to worry about when you get there... just hand them your dining plan card and it's done. No additional cost.

Also, I miss having a salad with my meal. I mean cmon.. .how much could a small salad cost. Some places give you 3 large leaves of lettuce on a fancy plate anyways.

I'd personally like to see $45-$49.95 per day which includes 1 snack, 1 counter service (remove the desert here), and for dinner (add back appetizer and gratuity) and 1 refillable mug per stay

 

[beroh2253]

I'd personally like to see $45-$49.95 per day which includes 1 snack, 1 counter service (remove the desert here), and for dinner (add back appetizer and gratuity) and 1 refillable mug per stay

This would be a great plan.

 

[angelmav]

Now thats a plan I would buy dcibrando!

 

[sandym718]

Me too!! I did like the CS dessert (I've got a bad sweet tooth!), but I could certainly do without and/or use a snack credit for one mid-afternoon which would be even better!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Wow....page 41. That big of a change.... in a wildly, popular Disney program.....buried on page 41......and this is if you received this info book.

Wild guess here - but it's probably IN the section with the REST of the Dining/Dining Plan information. That'd make the most sense. It seems silly to publish a 54 page booklet with the first page stating "Gratuities not included", then not provide ANY other relevant information until one got 75% of the way through the brochure...

We have had at least two different people talk about ordering the disney planning DVD this fall (one in October and one in December, I believe) who said that even though they indicated they were planning a 2008 vacation they were sent the 2007 DVD that said, "all gratuities included".

But that simply makes sense - if what is available is the 2007 planning DVD, and somebody requests the planning DVD, they're going to get the 2007 planning DVD. It would seem to be common sense to use that as a GUIDE for a 2008 trip.

 

[hipchickie]

I'd personally like to see $45-$49.95 per day which includes 1 snack, 1 counter service (remove the desert here), and for dinner (add back appetizer and gratuity) and 1 refillable mug per stay

Best one I've seen, although personally I don't care about the mug

 

[hematite153]

But that simply makes sense - if what is available is the 2007 planning DVD, and somebody requests the planning DVD, they're going to get the 2007 planning DVD. It would seem to be common sense to use that as a GUIDE for a 2008 trip.

See, I think the opposite... I think it would be common sense for Disney to prepare their 2008 planning DVD early enough that it is what they send people who tell them they are planning a 2008 vacation!

 

[Bride In The Attic]

I'd personally like to see $45-$49.95 per day which includes 1 snack, 1 counter service (remove the desert here), and for dinner (add back appetizer and gratuity) and 1 refillable mug per stay

I'd buy it!

 

[GPA1015]

Do you think they will change it mid year? We are going at the end of January and I am going to be ticked if they change it and we got to be part of the experiment.

Stacy

 

[Tricia1972]

3. I really do not understand why the new DDP has raised everyones blood pressure.....if it works for you buy it.....if not pay OOP!

I agree 100%

 

[skater]

the thing I miss is having EVERYTHING prepaid... nothing to worry about when you get there... just hand them your dining plan card and it's done. No additional cost.

Also, I miss having a salad with my meal. I mean cmon.. .how much could a small salad cost. Some places give you 3 large leaves of lettuce on a fancy plate anyways.

I'd personally like to see $45-$49.95 per day which includes 1 snack, 1 counter service (remove the desert here), and for dinner (add back appetizer and gratuity) and 1 refillable mug per stay

I'm not picking on you, but it struck me that you're proposing a fairly big price increase to get what we used to get for $39 (I think that's right) except minus the desert. And everybody would be so thrilled to get something like the old plan back that nobody will mind the price increase. Sounds like a great plan for Disney!

 

[dcibrando]

yea... but if Disney was so-called "losing money" on the old dining plan... they will never go back to the way it was. I'd be willing to pay $5 to even $10 more per day to get everything back the way it was and throw in a refillable mug

 

[timandlesley]

yea... but if Disney was so-called "losing money" on the old dining plan... they will never go back to the way it was. I'd be willing to pay $5 to even $10 more per day to get everything back the way it was and throw in a refillable mug

I AGREE!!!

Lesley

 

[TLSnell1981]

Wild guess here - but it's probably IN the section with the REST of the Dining/Dining Plan information. That'd make the most sense. It seems silly to publish a 54 page booklet with the first page stating "Gratuities not included", then not provide ANY other relevant information until one got 75% of the way through the brochure...

But that simply makes sense - if what is available is the 2007 planning DVD, and somebody requests the planning DVD, they're going to get the 2007 planning DVD. It would seem to be common sense to use that as a GUIDE for a 2008 trip.

Why would it be silly for Disney to highlight updates/changes on a page in the front of the book? I don't think the gratuity change is the only one made last year. I think this is one of (if not the only) the sensible things the IRS does in their publication. Why does it not make sense for Disney to do the same think. You can then focus on the changes that affect you.

If you are sending a 2007 planning DVD, it might be wise to send a page updating significant changes in the packages.

 

[gohogs34]

yea... but if Disney was so-called "losing money" on the old dining plan... they will never go back to the way it was. I'd be willing to pay $5 to even $10 more per day to get everything back the way it was and throw in a refillable mug

They are not continuing it as a give away program or they would not be in BUSINESS. Nor would any company or even you or I as a give away program. They might lose a little on some items (benefit of the dought) and make alot on other items as why they took away the appetizer, tip and some snack items, but in the long run they are not LOOSING or they would stop it completely. My 2 cents!