Tusker House is now 2 dining credits!

[lockedoutlogic]

As long as it's just those 3, I'm okay. No need to eat at any of them. It does seem hard to believe that they would elevate them to the same level as a signature or a dinner show.

(And yes, I am a "pathetic moron" that likes DDP. It allows us to relax - although I have to admit we didn't get quite enough food last time).

There's nothing wrong with using it...if the value is there.

From what you are saying - you didn't get enough out of it and it has continually increased in price...

So what are you getting for your money? The fact that it was 6 months ago and they give you "credits" changes nothing for the loss of value.

Not only that ...each time they turn the screws on restaurant pricing - the real tragedy of the dining plan - then you pay 20% of continually escalating costs out of pocket at restaurants.

I don't think people budget for that. And months ago several knowledgable posters informed me that they believe that there's a decent chunk of people who don't pay the tips and actively think it's ok. That is appalling as well.

I'm not telling the individual what to do...but collectively...on the whole...the customers need to move towards a better practice.

Disney dining is almost broken at this point. We all let it happen through different means.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I did not think they changed the credits half way through the year. Once 2016 is out, wouldn't it be left alone?

I believe they have made in year adjustments before. As they print everywhere "pricing subject to change without notice"

I want to say that Le cellier was changed mid year - you know, fine dining and all...

 

[mom2rtk]

I did not think they changed the credits half way through the year. Once 2016 is out, wouldn't it be left alone?

There's a lot of stuff that happens now that didn't used to happen.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There's a lot of stuff that happens now that didn't used to happen.

AMEN, sister

 

[ChipnDale79]

If this is true and in fact does go to 2, whether this year or next, how does it change your "touring plan"?

We'll just skip them, simple as that.

We haven't been back to Le cellier since they "upgraded" it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If this is true and in fact does go to 2, whether this year or next, how does it change your "touring plan"?

We'll just skip them, simple as that.

We haven't been back to Le cellier since they "upgraded" it.

...no big loss...I'm sure the mussels still smell really bad

 

[mom2rtk]

If this is true and in fact does go to 2, whether this year or next, how does it change your "touring plan"?

We'll just skip them, simple as that.

We haven't been back to Le cellier since they "upgraded" it.

They don't care. As long as those restaurants continue to fill up, they won't care. In fact, they might be hoping more people with the dining plan skip those restaurants so other diners get a shot at paying the insanely high retail price for eating there.

 

[ELSA711]

Both of my reservations for Tusker House and Chef Mickeys say 1 ddp credit per meal in my confirmations so that is what I am holding them to when we go. We have loved the dining plan and always maximize our TS credits , not so much QS credits but we still make out ahead somehow.
With my kids getting older we decided long before this nonsense that this was our last year on the dining plan.

We just won't utilize the character meals and we really want the added space in hotel.

Next year we are renting DVC points and going to try Bonnet Creek, with the addition to a kitchen in both circumstances we won't be eating out as much.

 

[ziravan]

We like Tusker House because it's normally a good place and time on our trip to see Mickey.

Food's OK but not all that.

Chef Mickeys the same way.

Paying 1 credit was already the upgrade for a character meal. 2 credits is jumping the shark.

Now. I said a year ago and still believe that if you add the sisters, Akershus is easily a 2 credit meal. And given its continued popularity, BOG. If they upgraded BOG and a Sisters-Added Akershus, I'd certainly understand those moves.

These moves? Well, it's a good way to burn up free dining credits but I think, just like Disney After Hours, there's a limit to what people will actually pay to do.

For me, I've used the dining plans because character meals are too expensive and the DDP makes sense for those.

But. But. I can always burn a tier 2 for Character Spot at EPCOT. Sorry, Figment!

 

[ArwenMarie]

This makes sense to me. Wasn't it pretty well known that you could do well on the dining plan if you did a lot of character meals? Ok, so WDW sees that as a profit opportunity.

I agree that there may also be an element of trying to encourage people to go to other meals to leave spots open for OOP customers. I guess you would call it optimization.

I hope they do the right thing and honor everyone's ADR who booked thinking it was 1 credit.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

This makes sense to me. Wasn't it pretty well known that you could do well on the dining plan if you did a lot of character meals? Ok, so WDW sees that as a profit opportunity.

I agree that there may also be an element of trying to encourage people to go to other meals to leave spots open for OOP customers. I guess you would call it optimization.

I hope they do the right thing and honor everyone's ADR who booked thinking it was 1 credit.

...on the other hand...if restaurants start to go empty because fewer dining plan customers...
Then they may have to suffer the wrath of we OOP customers that have watched things go bad to worse for ten years...

That's the only way you can stop the bleed of food quality and price hikes.

Around the time of the housing bubble...the large sit down restaurant groups - like Darden - just decided they were gonna streamline the menus of specialty items (chilies famously dumped their awesome blossom because they couldnt use the sauce for anything else) and doubled prices.

Those outlets have struggled and even come close to failure ever since. The public is like a herd of gnus...they typically follow pattern and the hooves in front of them. But a herd will alter its plan permenently when they collectively become aware of failure...and choose a different route. They cross where the crocodiles are only till the light switches on. Nature adjusts...people should too.

 

[grimley1968]

This is literally almost unbelievable. I've gotten somewhat used to WDW charging more and providing less over the last few years, but sometimes something like this comes along like a splash of cold water to the face, and makes me realize the magnitude of the recent slide in the spend more/get less direction for WDW guests.

 

[Red Scathach]

I would not, under any circumstances, take call center CMs answer as gospel. They have no information and are prone to just make stuff up.

I hear you! I am a bit nervous since this is our first Disney trip I am planning, I just want things to go smoothly lol.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

This is literally almost unbelievable. I've gotten somewhat used to WDW charging more and providing less over the last few years, but sometimes something like this comes along like a splash of cold water to the face, and makes me realize the magnitude of the recent slide in the spend more/get less direction for WDW guests.

It is almost hard to comprehend...even for a hypercritical cynic like me...

It's shielded by "credits"...which is the bait and switch for the dining plan from the start.

If you assume that the TS credit for the plan is worth approximately $40 a day?...which is about right...

Then you just bought an $80 buffet...2 of the 3 are pretty bad too...plus tip.

So as previously pointed out...now the "price" has to Increase by AT LEAST 25%...to maybe $50 a person...

You are paying your Norwegian server $12 a person and the overlords $50...out of pocket...

And that is LESS of a ripoff than the plan.

Why? Exclusive seating in animal kingdom (the 15 year fantasmic hoax)? Proximity to the maelstrom? Or nothing in the case of chef mickeys.

We have GOT to wake up here...it's not of matter of financial means anymore...it's a matter of cheap quality. Cheap quality always fails in the longterm.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you assume that the TS credit for the plan is worth approximately $40 a day?...which is about right...

Then you just bought an $80 buffet...2 of the 3 are pretty bad too...plus tip.

I never even used the dining plan for CRT. Could never bring myself to spend 2 credits on any meal (not even during free dining). I always paid OOP then used the extra credit somewhere else.

That approach really falls apart if you wanted to do several character meals over the course of a trip. We like doing 2 table service meals a day (breakfast and dinner) maybe once. But not enough to it several times.

 

[Spacedog1975]

I haven't taken the time to read pages 2-5, but if these venues go 2 credit, I am affirmed I won't do DDP again. I was 75% there after the last trip.

 

[ArwenMarie]

...on the other hand...if restaurants start to go empty because fewer dining plan customers...
Then they may have to suffer the wrath of we OOP customers that have watched things go bad to worse for ten years...

That's the only way you can stop the bleed of food quality and price hikes.

Around the time of the housing bubble...the large sit down restaurant groups - like Darden - just decided they were gonna streamline the menus of specialty items (chilies famously dumped their awesome blossom because they couldnt use the sauce for anything else) and doubled prices.

Those outlets have struggled and even come close to failure ever since. The public is like a herd of gnus...they typically follow pattern and the hooves in front of them. But a herd will alter its plan permenently when they collectively become aware of failure...and choose a different route. They cross where the crocodiles are only till the light switches on. Nature adjusts...people should too.

I guess the bet they are taking is that those particular restaurants won't go empty. Some people will be ok with the increased number of credits. OOP customers won't be affected. So perhaps a few dining plan customers switch things up and go to some different character meals. More room for OOP.

 

[speeb]

another cast member who said both of these resteraunts are both 2 credits for dinner for the Thanksgiving season only./shrug

I was wondering about this because each of these 3 restaurants are the only ones I see this on the detail page:

 

[Greenbmw17]

Luckily, I have breakfast reservations at both Akershus and Chef Mickeys and those both are showing as 1 credit still. We did CRT back in 2008 and we're not impressed so when my 6yr old requested a princess meal, I knew I would do a breakfast in Norway (she is way too picky for any of the other meals there). But I made a lunch reservation at Tusker House and am really wishing I would have done a late breakfast just in case this isn't a glitch. I really want to try Tusker House and I would hate to have to cancel it. We are only doing the dining plan this 1 trip and I am trying to get most of our must try experiences/meals done this trip while we have the dining plan. I have found this trip so much more difficult to plan due to all the changes and lack of hours being posted etc than back in 2008. We have 1 trip planned in 2017 and then we won't be back for a long time.

 

[gabriellyn]

Luckily, I have breakfast reservations at both Akershus and Chef Mickeys and those both are showing as 1 credit still. We did CRT back in 2008 and we're not impressed so when my 6yr old requested a princess meal, I knew I would do a breakfast in Norway (she is way too picky for any of the other meals there). But I made a lunch reservation at Tusker House and am really wishing I would have done a late breakfast just in case this isn't a glitch. I really want to try Tusker House and I would hate to have to cancel it. We are only doing the dining plan this 1 trip and I am trying to get most of our must try experiences/meals done this trip while we have the dining plan. I have found this trip so much more difficult to plan due to all the changes and lack of hours being posted etc than back in 2008. We have 1 trip planned in 2017 and then we won't be back for a long time.

We tried Tusker House for lunch on our last trip and were extremely unimpressed with the food. We won't be going back, even if it were only 1/2 a credit.