Who Thinks That The 2008 Diney Plan Will Change?

[TMJJS]

I don't disagree that Disney won't sell a lot of 2008 plans (just not mine). The only real problem I see is that the 2009, 2010, 2011... plans will progressively get worse and worse until Disney finds the point where people aren't willing to add it on whether or not they know about previous plans.

 

[global_mom]

I don't disagree that Disney won't sell a lot of 2008 plans (just not mine). The only real problem I see is that the 2009, 2010, 2011... plans will progressively get worse and worse until Disney finds the point where people aren't willing to add it on whether or not they know about previous plans.

They may tweak some more over the next year or 2 but I doubt that they would mess it up to the point that guests wont buy it. Why would they shoot themselves in the foot. Disney wants a successful Dining Plan: it keeps guests on-site, fills the restaurants, and fills the hotel rooms. When you combine the plan with ME and EMH you give guests tons of reasons to stay on-site which is excatly what Disney wants to have happen. The Deluxe plan is already quite popular for folks who really enjoy eating in TS restaurants. For my family of 5, the Deluxe plan will be great to have for one of our upcoming trips and we will do lots of signature restaurants. Even with tips added on, I still come out ahead. Plenty of people of perfectly happy with CS so the Deluxe would not be for them. Good to have options.

There is not much more that they could take away from the Dining Plan and still market it as a money saver, they are already on the edge with their description of its savings. If you can "work" the plan the way many people know how to do (i.e. use the more expensive a la carte restaurants like Le Cellier, use snack credits for larger bags of treats, etc.) then it will still be a big money saver. And lets not forget that for many guests it is not even about saving money. Many just love the fact that it is pre-paid and convenient. It is very nice to pay for your room, meals, tickets etc in advance and not have to wory about paying for each little thing while you are on vacation.

It will be interesting to see what happens in 2009!

 

[TLSnell1981]

The biggest detriment I see for Disney Dining is the decreasing quality of the food and the mandatory service charges. Most are willing to pay premium prices for food at WDW as long as it is good. The service charges are a bit insulting. 18% for a buffet? I would rather see them go with the European way of dining. Include everything in one price...it's not as insulting.

 

[annie1995]

I'm happy that the tipping is up to me now, I'm thinking there will be better service because they will have to "work" for their tips now. I do hope to see the appitizers brought back as at least an option of an appy or dessert though.

 

[angelmav]

I'm happy that the tipping is up to me now, I'm thinking there will be better service because they will have to "work" for their tips now. I do hope to see the appitizers brought back as at least an option of an appy or dessert though.

It was up to you before, you just chose to purchase a plan that included a minimum 18% included. Assuming you were a party of less than 8 (now 6). They havent given you anything by taking this away, just like all the people that LOVE the fact they removed the appetizer from the plan because 'it was too much food' havent gotten anything they couldnt have refused before. Only in America can less be trumpeted for being more.

 

[qanita92]

I think the problem for me is that we are a group of 7 but ALL of our table service credits are buffets so I don't think that we should pay 18% for a waiter just getting our drinks. They shouldn't make that rule for all the TS restaurants.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I am curious as to what percentage of customers are part of group of more than 5. Although, I bet this will eventually be changed to a party of 4, etc. and to all dining programs. They do this in stages, so they won't receive as much resistance to the changes. They'll just chip away until their real goal is finally reached.

 

[bicker]

...it's not as insulting.

I think very few guests truly take pricing so personally.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I think very few guests truly take pricing so personally.

I'm sure you are correct. I'm just ticked at where I see this going and know there is little or nothing that can be done about it.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you are offended by the service charge amount, there is a lot to be done about it. Namely, stop eating in Disney restaurants. If enough people follow suit, then changes will happen.

 

[TLSnell1981]

If you are offended by the service charge amount, there is a lot to be done about it. Namely, stop eating in Disney restaurants. If enough people follow suit, then changes will happen.

It's not the amount, it's the principle. I guess for principle sake....I can boycott Disney restaurants, but I seriously doubt there will be enough participants to make a drop in a bucket.

 

[bicker]

Indeed. I think it would be better to "find your happy place" and not let the wording upset you.

 

[Allison]

I think the problem for me is that we are a group of 7 but ALL of our table service credits are buffets so I don't think that we should pay 18% for a waiter just getting our drinks. They shouldn't make that rule for all the TS restaurants.

I have found at buffets the waiter does more than just get our drinks. They clear plates as they are dirtied, they check in to see if we need anything, they make sure we have seen the characters, etc. I think service staff at buffets get the short end of the stick as far as people valuing what they do.

 

[global_mom]

I have found at buffets the waiter does more than just get our drinks. They clear plates as they are dirtied, they check in to see if we need anything, they make sure we have seen the characters, etc. I think service staff at buffets get the short end of the stick as far as people valuing what they do.

I agree with this. I am sure that there are times when a server at a buffet does not have to do as much as at a full service restaurant but in most cases they are doing the same amount of running around.

We have never had poor service at a Disney buffet (never had poor service at any Disney restaurant) but I know that it happens and it those cases I can see where 18% would seem too much. We are a party of 5 and go thru lots of plates and lots of drink refills. Plus the kind servers that we have had in the past have made sure that we saw the characters, have taken photos so that both DH and I can be in the picture and have been professional & helpful. Just our experience and thoughts.

 

[angelmav]

Nope sorry not buying this. Buffet servers Do not do the same or even close to the same amount of work. We had dinner at Hollywood & Vine (no characters), and aside from a couple of refills and picking up our pre-bussed dishes, the server didnt do anything. Because we were a party of 12 split equally (seperated by a wall to where we couldnt even see each other, so we should have just made two seperate ressies but thats another story), the 18% was automatic, or about a $35 tip from our half alone.

Also: Because the food is ready when you get there, a buffet will almost always have a much higher turnover rate for tables, thus an improved ability for those working there to make even more $.

 

[Allison]

Nope sorry not buying this. Buffet servers Do not do the same or even close to the same amount of work. We had dinner at Hollywood & Vine (no characters), and aside from a couple of refills and picking up our pre-bussed dishes, the server didnt do anything. Because we were a party of 12 split equally (seperated by a wall to where we couldnt even see each other, so we should have just made two seperate ressies but thats another story), the 18% was automatic, or about a $35 tip from our half alone.

Also: Because the food is ready when you get there, a buffet will almost always have a much higher turnover rate for tables, thus an improved ability for those working there to make even more $.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree or maybe we have just had different experiences (that's certainly not unusual at DW). I have also eaten at H&V without the characters and we had a great server who earned a decent gratuity.

Back to the original question-Will the gratuity be added back to the 2008 DP-----No, I don't think so.

 

[angelmav]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree or maybe we have just had different experiences (that's certainly not unusual at DW). I have also eaten at H&V without the characters and we had a great server who earned a decent gratuity.

Back to the original question-Will the gratuity be added back to the 2008 DP-----No, I don't think so.

But dont you see, its that type of customer feedback that makes Disney think they are completely justified in charging an 18% Gratuity at a buffet to begin with. So they were pleasant and cleared a couple of plates while refilling your iced tea a couple of times, that just doesnt eqaute to a guarantee'd 18%. Just wait until its across the board for all Disney dining, and that 'decent' gratuity is a guaranteed 18% no matter where or when you dine while also being completely OOP.

 

[bicker]

Customer behavior is what justifies what Disney does.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I hope gratituity will be added back on. They only lowered the plan by $1 and they removed the appetizer! Not to mention, a big reason why I loved the DP in the first place was because we didn't have to carry any money around with us and we never had any problems with any servers while on the plan so I don't think it makes a difference in service.

 

[just another guy]

I think the problem for me is that we are a group of 7 but ALL of our table service credits are buffets so I don't think that we should pay 18% for a waiter just getting our drinks. They shouldn't make that rule for all the TS restaurants.

An average buffet servers work just as hard as a normal server, if not harder. I'm not saying thats always the case, but overall its true. I was a normal TS disney restaurant just last weekend. We(4) were sat at 6pm, just before the busy rush. We waited 10 minutes for a server. After getting our meal orders, we didn't see him until the meals were dropped off. Halfway through eating, I had to steal a water from a friend, because our server was not to be found. About 20 minutes after the meals were dropped off, our server stopped by, and removed dirty plates.

The server didn't know we all had serving experience, and 2 of the people in the party were disney servers. If we hadn't gotten a 20% discount for cast members, we wouldn't have left a dime.

I have found at buffets the waiter does more than just get our drinks. They clear plates as they are dirtied, they check in to see if we need anything, they make sure we have seen the characters, etc. I think service staff at buffets get the short end of the stick as far as people valuing what they do.

Thank you!

Nope sorry not buying this. Buffet servers Do not do the same or even close to the same amount of work. We had dinner at Hollywood & Vine (no characters), and aside from a couple of refills and picking up our pre-bussed dishes, the server didnt do anything. Because we were a party of 12 split equally (seperated by a wall to where we couldnt even see each other, so we should have just made two seperate ressies but thats another story), the 18% was automatic, or about a $35 tip from our half alone.

So you are comparing a bad buffet server to other service you've received at other non buffet restaurants? Thats not a fair comparison. Read above, we had HORRIBLE service at a non-buffet. At any restaurant you can have a good or bad server.

Also: Because the food is ready when you get there, a buffet will almost always have a much higher turnover rate for tables, thus an improved ability for those working there to make even more $.

Nope, wrong again. Ok, maybe you're .01% correct. There is a rare family that rushes in, and wants their check 20 minutes later, but thats VERY rare. With any buffet on property, its not cheap like Golden Corral. People like to enjoy a family meal, talk about the days activities, the parents enjoy a drink or two from the bar, etc. Disney servers, both buffet and non buffet have about the same average for the amount of time a family seats at a table. I've known of tables sitting for 2 hours I've even been told of stories of familys getting sat when the buffet opens for dinner, and leaving at close, 4 hours later.