What's your opinions on this DDP 2007 change?

[UrsulasShadow]

Posted in the allearsnet website:

The following Epcot locations deleted from the list of participating restaurants: Boulangerie Patisserie, Chefs de France, Cantina de San Angel, San Angel Restaurant, L'Originale Alfredo di Roma, Lotus Blossom, Nine Dragons, Tangierine Cafe, Restaurant Marrakesh, Yakitori House, Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki, Refreshment Outpost, Refreshment Port.

So, that leaves Biergarten, Le Cellier, and Rose&Crown. Also, Coronado Springs Resort restaurants are off the plan. Getting a little lean, isn't it?

 

[jnshakun]

I was just thinking the same thing! That seems like an awful lot of table service restaurants to cut.

 

[eblack0409]

As long as they don't get rid of LeCellier, I am ok....it's our favorite place to eat at Disney!

 

[robinb]

I think it's going to bite those restaurants in the butt. My guess is that their days of being totally full will be over.

 

[denecarter]

Posted in the allearsnet website:
So, that leaves Biergarten, Le Cellier, and Rose&Crown. Also, Coronado Springs Resort restaurants are off the plan. Getting a little lean, isn't it?

Storybook Princess meals at Norway are still included I believe.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

I just got done reading about the changes. It really limits your choices in Epcot. Hopefully something will change!!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I think it's going to be harder for CMs to sell dining plans... which hurts them. =(

I hope they add some back in if enough people revolt against it

 

[shaycamp21]

It may still change. I remember when we booked the dining plan in Jan 2005, the choices seemed to be quite limited initially at DTD and Epcot and by the time we went last August more restaurants had been added plus the great bonus was the dining plan which we had planned to pay for was now free.

There is speculation that these restaurants are still negotiating with Disney and may be added. As for CSR I had read reports somewhere where a Cm had said the exclusion of the restaurants at CSR were a mistake. So I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Cool-Beans]

OK, I don't want to get flamed, but...I'm glad. Kinda hoping those restaurants will be less crowded. I don't do the DP.

 

[lawyergirl]

I've never used the DDP... but my annual pass just expired and now I really want my DDE back, dammit!!!! The DTD and WS restaurants are some of my favourites in the parks!! Wah!

I find it odd that Disney allows in so many "outside" owned restaurants on their property, and subsequently seeks to limit its guests' incentive to try these restaurants.

That being said, DH just made a very good point when I told him about this change - it may make these restaurants easier to get into for the people who just show up at WDW without any ADRs or a concrete plan of what they want to do. It may be a good thing for those guests, but I'm still pretty mystified with this decision...

 

[Peepster]

My initial reaction is one of joy! Not just to be able to get into those restaurants again, but perhaps the menu standardization will decrease and the Chefs may once again be creative. Hopefully the quality of meals will rise once again to the high level WDW had not that long ago.

 

[LeesyUD]

Also all Dowtown Disney restaurants are being removed except for Captin Jacks. I am not sure if that just means the TS meals which I would think so. I hope they keep the CS meals like Earl of Sandwich on. I am bummed about San Angel Inn. I am not sure how much it will hurt the dining plan, but it does seem the Epcot restaurants seem to be the most popular. At least Le Cellier will still be on it. I think it will be interesting to see what happens. I think that San Angel Inn is the only thing that would affect me bc none of the other restaurants were really on my list to ever try.

 

[travelitis]

The list of restaurants in Epcot offering a lunch discount was cut back for 2006, and I didn't like that. It surprises me that they'd cut so many out and then leave Le Cellier and Akershus, 2 of the most popular in WS. We've still been able to get in during peak season and no ADR. The last week of July we got into Le Cellier by calling the Dine line while in WS. They asked if we could get there in 15 min. The day prior and earlier that day they'd been booked solid. It'll be interesting to see if this adjustment to the DDP stands and how it is received. I don't do DDP, so I like anything that might help AP holders find availability. Sorry!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I sure do feel for those people who bought the Dining Plan and now are getting less than they paid for.

I think you should get whatever plan you signed up for.

The fewer options the busier those places will be??

I hope they do not change things before we arrive in a few weeks even though ours is free.

Slightly Goofy

 

[The Sweetness]

Hopefully, most of the EPCOT restaurants (both CS and TS) will jump on-board. I am not happy with ao many CS options being stripped, and I hate to think what will happen at Le Cel This place is ALREADY hard to get. But if the alternative ops are so severely limited... It may get even worse

 

[swimmom]

My initial reaction is one of joy! Not just to be able to get into those restaurants again, but perhaps the menu standardization will decrease and the Chefs may once again be creative. Hopefully the quality of meals will rise once again to the high level WDW had not that long ago.

I'm with you - just got back from a week long trip and was dissapointed by so many meals

 

[mars315]

I'm with Peepster and swimmom on this one. The DDP had a definite negative impact on our last 2 trips. I cannot even IMAGINE Le Cellier with all those other restaurants off the plan. Last time we were in WDW, Epcot in particular, almost every table service meal was a rushed, hectic experience. Oh sure, I'd go back tomorrow in a heartbeat, but I wouldn't miss it if they got rid of the plan.

Michelle

 

[PlutoLuvr]

My initial reaction was one of joy, too. I've noticed a lot of the menus going downhill over the past couple years. I've grown tired with how packed Disney restaurants are, especially during the free DDP (which I hate to even use the term free, since it's really not; a guest's funds are just being allocated somewhere else). This booking dinner reservations 180 days away from a trip is quite frustrating for the guest who decides to take a last-minute getaway to Disney. I just booked our timeshare for September a couple weeks ago, and we're simply barely eating at Disney this trip because it's just gotten to be such a headache.

So my initial reaction was, "Wow...wonder if this will help those of use who don't use the DDP."

However, seeing that CSR isn't included (yet) really doesn't seem fair to folks staying at that hotel. I can see where the DDP should be honored at WDW hotels -- even if nowhere else. I also can't believe how many WS places are omitted. I think Epcot; I think food. If this plan enables families to be able to eat at places they wouldn't otherwise be able to, I think that's a good thing. I think that if it stays the way it is, the few places at Epcot on the plan are going to be crazy packed, even more than they are now.

Basically I think there needs to be a happy medium. I don't think the plan, the past couple years, acheived that medium since a lot of folks I know personally, as well as online, have been heading off site for their meals. I don't think the plan today, as it stands, acheives that happy medium, either. I've seen posts from people who are really bummed, had planned incredibly for their January vacation, all their meals/parks -- heck, I even saw a Disneymoon! -- and now it's all up in the air. Vacation shouldn't be a stressful headache for anyone, for those that use the DDP or those that don't.

Hopefully it will be tweaked to make everyone happy...and quickly.

I still think the DDE is Disney's best deal. You're able to get discounts on rooms, get discounts on park tix (if applicable) and get a nice 20 percent off your meals, including alcohol. It's also good for a full year

Just my $0.02

 

[drsanvil]

We called last night for ADR's in Feb and were told that some of the original pending restaurants from earlier this week are already back on the plan. Some are still pending. In order to determine which ones, she needed to check each one individually? We didn't have the time to do that, but I think the message is - RELAX!! I think they will all come back.

Patty

 

[loralie]

The only part of the change that bothered me was that CSR is not particpating because I wanted to try that resort for my next trip. I love the DDP and the only Epcot restuarant that I really wanted to go is Le Cellier, which is still there so I am happy with that. Most of my ADR's are for resort restaurants so it does not bother me at all.

Loralie