Things not going well with the DDP changes

[JimMIA]

think it was around the beginnig of Agust end of july 07,i knew when i was there before i holidayed last aug
Paulh

That sounds about right to me. The initial contract was rejected by the union membership.

Disney then reduced the mandatory gratuity threshhold to parties of 6 and added a mandatory gratuity to all DDE checks to help offset the loss of the gratuity which had previously been included in DDP. With those changes, the contract passed.

 

[Lady V]

I'm not sure how a trip to Disney is supposed to fatten MY wallet, after all I am paying for the vacation. As far as maximizing goes, I guess it's fine for corporate America, the money-maker that is Disney, to find any and all ways to maximize their profits, but when a patron wants to get the most out of their vacation, it is somehow wrong.

I think I must have not typed it the way I meant it. What I am trying to say is that we all knew that based on the amount they charged for the old plan and the way we all knew how to really maximize it..there were bound to be changes. Also-there were also threads in the past that said they didn't like the server getting an automatic tip because they felt the service was lacking because of it. Now the tip is gone and people are mad. So, the fact is..we can't have it both ways...
Fact is...if someone doesn't like the changes then we have the choice to not buy it. So, people can enjoy some of the off property restaurants. No one is forcing anyone to buy the plan.

 

[onelugnut]

of course no one is forced,
I am no longer feeling bad for the servers if a guarranteed 18%
from tables that probably average in the $200's was not enough.
(most of the time i added to make it a full 20%)

another union looking out for the best interests of their people.

as for me, i am not doing DDP on my November trip, and since DDP was one
of my favorite features, we may cancel all together.

There is a whole world of places we havent tried yet.

Whats the weather at the Grand Canyon in November?

 

[LexPlayer]

I think I must have not typed it the way I meant it. What I am trying to say is that we all knew that based on the amount they charged for the old plan and the way we all knew how to really maximize it..there were bound to be changes. Also-there were also threads in the past that said they didn't like the server getting an automatic tip because they felt the service was lacking because of it. Now the tip is gone and people are mad. So, the fact is..we can't have it both ways...
Fact is...if someone doesn't like the changes then we have the choice to not buy it. So, people can enjoy some of the off property restaurants. No one is forcing anyone to buy the plan.

I know that I never had a problem with Disney automatically paying the tip!

The one thing that I remember from old threads was people telling me that 18% wasn't enough and that I needed to leave more to push it into the 20-25% range. That was laughable.

 

[deide71]

I was on the Disney Cruise line site today, and followed their link to the 2008 DDP. The gratuity situation is clear, but if you follow the link this brochure still lists the appetizer as part of the table service credits.

http://adisneycruise.disney.go.com/...dia/reserve/packages/2008DisneyDiningPlan.pdf

Honestly, Disney has a great deal of culpability regarding customer confusion and the Dining plan.

 

[danalee]

I think I would fall off my computer chair if there were ever to be a thread about the DDP and everyone agreed!

Last yaer at this time people were having nutties about "my server was awful and I dont want them to get 18% I want to tip myself" and the "I couldnt eat all that food" threads plus so many more.

If you dont want it, dont like it, dont buy it.

I know this was said earlier but a "disser" or not if you go on vacation to Tim-buck-too and buy a "plan" of any kind why in the world would you not read about? I think you would, if dont then you deserve what you do or do not get.

The other thing I dont get is(while I am at it )
The added 18% of 6 or more added to your bill, well um no as far as what I have read.
They bring you two slips, one being to "add" your tip. Charging to your room, credit card or cash but isnt it up to you
It might say TIP $50 and you could give them $2 or it could say $2 and you give them $50 as far I see it the tip at 18% isnt forced and still up to you, what like I said many wanted.

Me I liked it included, only had not so great service once in past two trips and was on the DDP both times and will be again, the DDDP to be honest, why cause it works for us, not anybody else just us and we want to!

I would hope that everyone would do the same and tailor there vacation to what would work for them. No plan ever, ever, ever will work for everybody it just cant be done and Disney gives you many choices, so pick what works for you and lighten up its vacation!

 

[emmsmama]

It would be understandable if the change in cost was relatively close to the loss in value, but it wasn't. The loss in value by losing the app. and the grat. covered is $15+. The cost reduction was only $1!!

I don't like auto grat. as a customer because then there is little incentive for a lousy server to give you good service, however in this instance WDW should have either made sure all the CM's and all TA's dealing with them were well-versed on the changes and that they were letting all people choosing the DDP know of the changes or they should have just upped the cost of the plan by around $5/adult to get some extra $$ but at least the plan change details wouldn't have elluded so many. People would have definitely noticed a $5 price increase without any trouble!

 

[JimMIA]

There is a whole world of places we havent tried yet.

Whats the weather at the Grand Canyon in November?

Breathtaking! Search Google Images for "winter Grand Canyon"

Or, better yet, go to www.nps.gov/grca and look for winter activities.

Or, even BETTER YET...go to www.nps.gov/yose and look for winter activities at Yosemite National Park.

 

[VacationDad]

I was on the Disney Cruise line site today, and followed their link to the 2008 DDP. The gratuity situation is clear, but if you follow the link this brochure still lists the appetizer as part of the table service credits.

http://adisneycruise.disney.go.com/...dia/reserve/packages/2008DisneyDiningPlan.pdf

Honestly, Disney has a great deal of culpability regarding customer confusion and the Dining plan.

I think if you read it carefully it says Guests ages 3-9 for the appetizer.

 

[LexPlayer]

Here's an interesting FAQ answer from the Disney cruise line:

"At the Walt Disney World® Resort, 15% is the customary gratuity at restaurants and bars."

 

[FDV]

I think if you read it carefully it says Guests ages 3-9 for the appetizer.

Ah haaa! Yet another loophole discovered! Can you order the appetizer under the pretense of the child eating it, and then allow the adults at the table to indulge themselves when the manager isn't looking?

 

[TDC Nala]

Ah haaa! Yet another loophole discovered! Can you order the appetizer under the pretense of the child eating it, and then allow the adults at the table to indulge themselves when the manager isn't looking?

Whoa there, it's not an appetizer off the regular menu, it's the children's menu. WDW likes to present children's meals as balanced three-course meals including one serving from each of the five food groups. So you're probably getting raw veggies.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I think we'd be better off not looking for loopholes...isn't that what got this whole mess started in the first place?

 

[CarolA]

According to Jim Hiill Media things are NOT going well with the new dining plan changes!

http://jimhillmedia.com:80/blogs/ji...-disney-dining-plan-infuriate-wdw-guests.aspx

Umm... this is one of the most unreliable sources of "rumors" on the Internet

So if Jim Hilll says it's true I vote exact opposite. A few of his FACTS

1. COP is closing. (He has been reporting this for about five years)
2. Tarzan was closed because Disney can't have a theme park show and a Broadway show on the same topc. (Shh..don't mention Lion King or Beauty and the Beast to Disney mayve they won't notice)
3. LAST Oct there were going to nights like Halloween Horror Nights at MGM a

ANd on and on and on....

 

[VacationDad]

Umm... this is one of the most unreliable sources of "rumors" on the Internet

Ha! Yeah, I guess we all just assumed it was true. I guess only the servers lurking out there know for sure.

 

[CarolA]

I actually wasted a few minutes of my life reading this piece of JUNKE!!!

This man is just trying to stir up trouble. QUIT READING HIM, it's like feed a troll on these boards!

His lies and "made up stories" (calling them rumors implies he has sources!!!) are the reason I will never again by the Unoffical Guide. As long as they pay this man to make up his stories.

(Am I the only person who recalls that Disney actually threw him out of thier parks once??? He is an idiot! )

 

[FDV]

I actually wasted a few minutes of my life reading this piece of JUNKE!!!

This man is just trying to stir up trouble. QUIT READING HIM, it's like feed a troll on these boards!

His lies and "made up stories" (calling them rumors implies he has sources!!!) are the reason I will never again by the Unoffical Guide. As long as they pay this man to make up his stories.

(Am I the only person who recalls that Disney actually threw him out of thier parks once??? He is an idiot! )

I have no idea who the author is, I've never read him before. But what part of the article do you think is lies? Yes guests are upset with the plan, we know that because they are posting their rants right here. Even under the old plan, that was a true bargain, there was frequent altercations between staff and guests about such things as "Why is sushi an entre, when it is in the appetizer section".

As for WDW informing repeat guests about the change: I am a repeat guest, and I assure you they did not tell me. Maybe on check in I would have gotten the literature that explains the changes, but then it's too late. And honestly, most people don't read that stuff. Most people assume they are getting about the same plan as they did before. No one would expect such a drastic change in the plan.

 

[GreatLakes5]

I have no idea who the author is, I've never read him before. But what part of the article do you think is lies?

You may want to google him and figure out for yourself how much credence you want to give to Mr. Hill's opinion. One item that may come up is the fact that in 2005 Disneyland, ahem, showed him the door when it was discovered he was charging people to take a tour of Disneyland with him.

Not saying that makes his articles a bunch of lies, just something to consider, I do believe, is what the posters are suggesting....

I don't doubt that there have been some issues - probably didn't need an aritcle to figure that out.

 

[paulh]

that in 2005 Disneyland, ahem, showed him the door when it was discovered he was charging people to take a tour of Disneyland with him.

.

how do`s that make him a tell lies
Paulh

 

[sandym718]

Great thread! Very interesting!

Good point. The Coral Reef example I used before has a pre-tax/pre-grat difference of $10 per adult. That means that servers are losing out on $1.80 in gratuities per adult DDP guest even if those guests tip 18%.

I think the "rationale" is that, because many families will now NOT order the appetizer (hence the price difference), tables will turn over faster and more seatings per table will make up for that loss in gratuity per guest.