Things not going well with the DDP changes

[glitzybabes]

Look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT4l8qZfu04

listen close at 1:23

 

[glitzybabes]

Look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT4l8qZfu04

listen close at 1:23

 

[glitzybabes]

Look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT4l8qZfu04

listen close at 1:23

 

[robemcdo]

Did he read the material he was given when he checked into his resort? I find it hard to believe someone would not know what's included before heading to the restaurant.

For all those who didn't know about the changes, how did you know which restaurants were included in the plan? How did you know you needed to make ADRs before your trip?

How did you find out about the park hours, EMHs...

We booked the trip online through disneyworld.com last august...I sent him the documents then which had the restaurants etc and the details of the plan...in August. He also printed out similar off the disney website on Dec 31st, which stated exactly the same thing that was listed in August..app,Entre,Des,tip. I also booked the dinners for us last august.

Granted the pamphlet he was likely handed on jan 1st listed the new plan, but he had no reason to look at it. He had printed out the stuff the day before...there was no reason to think it would be different..and if it were different, one would have thought that Disneys staff would have said something.

You make assumptions based on the best information you have at hand. My brother did normal due diligence....he printed out the full meal plan document the day before he left and it said nothing about the change that was to place the next day...how much more is one expected to do.

You assume when you get on the bus that say Magic Kingdom that it will go there...You don't go and check the disney manual to see if they've changed the names of the parks

 

[SpaceRangerEric]

Give me a break. These idiots purchased the DDP without knowing all the details?

Talk about a bunch of entitled jerks.

I totally agree. It was well documented on their website for some time now. Do a little research?

 

[robemcdo]

I totally agree. It was well documented on their website for some time now. Do a little research?

How do you explain how my brother printed out the dining plan of THEIR WEBSITE which stated the 2007 plan on Dec 31, 2007. What type of research do you suggest.

This isn't about entitlement...This is about providing what you advertise.

 

[SpaceRangerEric]

robemcdo, I have to correct you. I am looking at my printout of the plan from August, and it does not include appetizer or tip. Both the 2007 and the 2008 plans were posted on Disney's site in August, and they were clearly different.

Edit - I must make a correction. August is when I started my research, but I was told that there were going to be changes to the plan. I booked on Oct 17 and I had all the info at that point. I apologize for any misunderstanding.

 

[VacationDad]

"The year of a million schemes"..

Oh brother.

This is why America is going down the tubes.

 

[VacationDad]

How do you explain how my brother printed out the dining plan of THEIR WEBSITE which stated the 2007 plan on Dec 31, 2007. What type of research do you suggest.

This isn't about entitlement...This is about providing what you advertise.

Obviously someone is lying.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

We spent nearly a month at DW in September on the Free Dining Plan and then another ten days in December where we ate only at CS places so we have done it all, pretty much.

I loved the ease of the DP but would never pay full price as it is far too much food for me. It was great for trying new places though and I strongly suspect good for DW as it kept us on property the entire trip, which we seldom do.

I know, for a fact, since I have talked to many of the waitstaff that some of the restaurants, mostly resort, were not giving them a tip based on the full cost of a meal. I always left extra at those places.

I feel that the quality of the food took a great decline when they have a 'captive' audience. It is most disappointing to find the same items, often pre packaged, at nearly every venue. I want different things from my normal life when I vacation.

I vote for the fact that they should have just upped the cost of the DP rather than deleting the tip and I could even live with the choice of either an appetizer or dessert if that was deemed necessary.

Since I am a mystery shopper I have always figured that Disney would be a fool if they did not surf sites such as these and I know they are not. What a wonderful source of free information we all are HOWEVER, we are far from the average guest.

I have a feeling that some serious tweaking will occur and not too far in the future. Disney seems much better at correcting mistakes than our government is.

Have a great night all!

Slightly Goofy

 

[SpaceRangerEric]

I am not accusing anyone of lying. All I am saying is that the info was there.

 

[angelmav]

I am not accusing anyone of lying. All I am saying is that the info was there.

Eric, what your saying is that both plans info was on there ever so correct and up to date website, so its not possible to get the wrong version by mistake?

 

[SpaceRangerEric]

One said 2007, the other one said 2008. So, I would say no.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Eric, what your saying is that both plans info was on there ever so correct and up to date website, so its not possible to get the wrong version by mistake?

I'm not Eric, but I'll answer.

Back in August, there were 2 sets of PDFs on the site. One outlined the 2007 plan the other outlined the 2008 plans.

This thread was started on August 11. The first post contains several links to the PDFs on the Official WDW site.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1545287

 

[Joie]

I don't understand why Disney doesn't offer the ddp to everyone....not just people staying on disney themed properties. and for them to make everyone in the room buy it for their whole stay and everyone buy at least one ticket is pretty crazy especially if you have a ap. I know at Universal Studio and IOA they have a dining plan which i think blows Disney's plan out of the water and it is offered to everyone not just people who stay at their hotels. Being on the DxDDp which is $70 a day and you get 3 TS/CS and 2 snacks a day at Universal for $25 you eat all day long at both parks....I don't know it sounds like a better deal to me. Disney needs to review their meal plan because Universal has beat them!!!!! I have used both and although i have a disney ap i leaning toward going to Universal because they seem to have a better deal on their meal plans and their tickets are a better value

 

[hipchickie]

This is the kind of presumption that can make owning and running a restaurant so exasperating when dealing with the public.

I agree with everything you wrote, and you are obviously very knowledgable in this area
HOWEVER
every DDP plan participant is not eating every meal at Le Cellier (which as a steakhouse is probably running a 5-10% profit margin) Given the mix of restaurants at disney, they are eating more often at buffets with a much lower food cost, and eating plan snacks like popcorn - what is the food cost on that? My guess is a profit margin of 90% or better.

I firmly believe that Disney was not only making money, but they were making *plenty* of it too....they just want to make MORE. But that is what business is all about

 

[hipchickie]

And to go back to the topic at hand - what is so hard to believe about people not being provided or seeing info that does not correctly outline the '08 plan? I have to wonder why people are getting so lathered over this - it has been noted time and time again that if you ask 20 CM's a yes or no question you get 20 different answers from absolutely yes to positively no and everything in between.
Obviously the company has a history of not educating the staff correctly

 

[angelmav]

One said 2007, the other one said 2008. So, I would say no.

Well I have never made a mistake either but its my understanding that it happens.

It would appear, that there are some folks who are there now that legitimately are getting something other than what they expected. Sure they could all be lying about it....Or this hasnt been properly addressed to eliminate any chance of someone arriving uninformed.....

 

[FDV]

I totally agree. It was well documented on their website for some time now. Do a little research?

Disney did a lousy job of informing people. I have been to WDW 5 times, and used the DDP 3 times. When I purchased my dining plan by phone, no mention was made about the change. Why should I suspect there has been such a major change? Was it my responsibility to browse through Disney complex website to try and find the not-so-up-to-date DDP brochure? I don't think so. They have a responsibility to inform guests of this drastic change in the plan, UP FRONT AND BEFORE they purchase. It was only after I read about it here, that I realized the plan was gutted. I promptly removed the DDP from my reservation.

The vast majority do not read this board, or pay much attention to the internet at all. Those are the ones that are finding out the hard way about the changes. This was very badly handled by WDW. You shouldn't make excuses for them.

 

[just another guy]

I'm surprised no one has made this comment. Guess I'll have to point out the obvious. NOTHING disney does is at the flip of a coin. Everything is well thought out, looked into, etc.

Lets look at 3 recent changes.

1. Disney buying land in Hawaii.
2. No more grat or app on the dining plan.
3. "Holiday" pricing at restaurants.

Anyone else think the later two are fueling the first? Disney has to be banking at least 100K a day by not supplying apps or paying the grat. The holiday pricing for restaurants probably pulled in at least 40K a day.

Congrats everyone, you're paying the disney's newest resort to be built.

The restaurant managers know they have to make a profit. I think that would trump almost everything else.

The management had almost NOTHING to do with it. Often the servers know more than management. Ok, restaurant has servers. Any restaurant probably has at least 2-3 managers on staff, larger restaurants, probably more. There is than an area manager looking over maybe 3 restaurants in the same area. Then there is a food and beverage manager looking over area managers. Then there is a resort or park manager looking over food and beverage managers. It keeps going.

A restaurant manager doesn't care one bit about how many guests come in, etc. All they have to watch it their man hours, inventory, and making sure guests are happy. Profit ratios etc are not even glanced at until the higher levels. As long as everyone in the pyramid does their proper paperwork, only the way higher ups see the profits, and enjoy them.