Who will no longer use DDP in 2008?~Tips will be gone.

[NMW]

I voted yes, but I'm not thrilled about it. I'd much rather pay more $$ for the plan and have the tips included. I like the all-inclusive thing. We always carry extra money to bring the tips to 20%, but now we will have to have the extra money to cover the entire tip. Not a big deal, just a little bit of a hassle.
I wish they would bring back the dreammaker silver plan with 2 TS meals a day+ tip included.

 

[Tink3Belle]

When I heard the rumor I made sure I went before Jan. 1st.
Call me crazy but I like it the way it is.

 

[BillSears]

I voted no. I have used the DDP before and plan to do so again in September but I've only used it when it was free. The AP room discounts combined with the DDE card I have make it just barely better for me to not use the DDP usually. Add in the increased price and not including the tip and the AP discount/DDE card will make it cheaper for me to not do the DDP.

 

[beattyfamily]

It is hard to decide this based on tips alone. Let me know exactly how much the plan is going to cost, then I can make a reasonable decision.

ITA

 

[IlovemythreeC's]

Sadly, we will most probably not purchase the dining plan if they no longer include the gratuity. The all inclusive aspect of this plan is what really appeals to us. I am surprised to hear they are going to do this, because I think many people will dine off-site now.

 

[Tink10]

If they increase the DDP price to the point that it no longer makes sense to buy DDP, then people will quit buying it.

That may be true for people who read the Dis, but the majority of WDW visitors don't read here and just want an easy vacation. The majority of people aren't concerned with maximizing the DDP, free dining or "Will I get my money's worth?". If this happens, WDW would see a small decrease in DDP sales, but not enough to offset the gain in DDP profits.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

When is this said to take place? Will it go into affect? And if it does go into will it apply to people aready having it booked?

 

[Nancyg56]

We will probably not even be staying on Disney property!! Windsor Hills here we come, October 2008!!!

I'll be right beside you! Right now ME and the DDP are enough incentive to get my family on site. My DH felt as though we were held captive by a bus and some darn good meals the last time and he is ready to stay in a less expensive hotel or resort and perhaps visit different area attractions. I was opposed to leaving Disney when were were paying so much to stay at a nice resort.

Once the value and convenience of the DDP are reduced it may be easy to take the next step and stay off site. And maybe visit Universal Studios....

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

We are not going again until 2010 so who knows if the plan will even still be around. We went last September on the free dining. Before we knew we had the free dining we were just planning on eating CS meals and no TS. We loved the dining plan of course because it was free but also because I didn't have budget for food. We have already decided for our next trip we would do DDP even if it wasn't free just because we loved the convenience of it. We pretty much would break even how it is now but without the tip included I would have to refigure and see where we stand. If we had excellent service we still tipped a little bit extra anyway. I will just have to wait and see what the price is in 2010 to decide.

 

[mom2my3kids]

This is our first year with the dining plan yes during free dining. I think if tipping was not included it would not be worth it for us. Maybe they could go back to the vouchers for CS meals and snacks..

 

[Tink10]

This is our first year with the dining plan yes during free dining. I think if tipping was not included it would not be worth it for us. Maybe they could go back to the vouchers for CS meals and snacks..

So you're saying it wouldn't be worth it to go during free dining if tips weren't included?

 

[JimMIA]

I voted "no." I take a conservative approach (I think more realistic approach, but YMMV) to calculating the value of DDP to our family, and removing the included tips would tip the scales for us.

By my fearless calculations now, we save about $100 per 4-5 day trip with DDP. If the DDP price remains $38.99/10.99 without tips included, DDP becomes a wash for us at best. The price should come down a few dollars, but if it goes up, we lose money with DDP.

If it's a wash, I'd rather not be tied to eating onsite. There are a lot of very good restaurants offsite that we'd like to try.

We would still eat some meals onsite, but probably just Le Cellier + one character meal per trip. We wouldn't go near a CS outlet, and probably would take our own snacks. I don't think we would eat onsite enough to make DDE worth considering.

 

[tink_about_it]

We used it last year, but opted out this year for a more economical trip...We honestly liked it last year, but if the price goes up and tips are not included..count us out! We already would have to pay the adult price for our tiny 10 year old that wouldn't consider eating an adult's portion! We'll just do less ADR's and more CS's.

 

[MinnieGi]

We've used it once and liked it. Have a trip planned for Nov. and plan on using it again. However one of the things we like about DDP is that the tip is already included. I liked paying the bill up front and was done with it. When the new prices come out for 2008 we will have to do the math and see if it still makes sense for us to use. If the price goes up as some predict plus paying oop for the tip then I know we will NOT be on the plan. Before DDP we used to cook quite a few meals in our DVC villa and we can easily return to that.

 

[MomofCKJ]

We loved DDP in December, just loved it. We planned to do it again in March on our next trip. Now, not so sure.

We loved the convenience of it. Now having to carry cash for a tip or charge the tip. It just doesn't seem as convenient to me. And we liked having it all prepaid before we even got there.

And if they do raise the kid's price to $20-$25/day as I am seeing in some rumor posts than no way. I have 2 who will be considered kids and they can eat for much less than that per day OOP. I am not opposed to a price increase (fact of life, things go up each year) but to go from $12 to $20 would be a bit much. Esp with the lack of variety on the kid's menu as it is.

One reason we like cruising is having so much of it prepaid, we just like to vacation that way. Having the DDP reminded us of being on a cruise, having things already paid for. That is what made the DDP so nice for us.

Allyson

 

[Disneyof3]

I voted no because like the above post said I like the convience that my trrip is all paid for inadvance and I don't have to carry money around with me for the tip. The kids menu right now SUCKS and if the price does increase then my two younger ones can order off the normal menu and share and that will safe me right there. We always eat in our rooms for breakfast and that won't change but yes we will now not be doing as many TS as before due to the DDP changes. I also feel that the TS restaurants won't be as busy again like before. (ISN'T THAT WHY THEY DID INTRODUCE THE DDP!!!!!) and that will reflect on likely laying people off. Like the kids menu change WDW will let it go for several months and likely realize there mistake and then do some changes again . People now will take the option of staying off site and go to restaurants outside WDW that serve less expensive meals and more realistic for families. WDW is only shooting themselves in the foot and they will realize it after awhile.

 

[rotlex]

Voted yes - will still use it. I can't believe all the negative reaction to this. Even if I was FORCED to tip 25%, it's STILL an unreal deal for anyone who enjoys sit down meals, character dining etc.

 

[skater]

Unless it is free, I would not purchase, and would probably take a break from WDW for a year or two. (Well, maybe.... )

 

[DisOrBust]

For me this is liberating!! I am finally thinking offsite again! I am done being a lemming. Our family loved our past 9 trips but every year they decrease the value and the magic just a little more. From parks hours to menu choices everything is getting "smaller". We cancel one trip after the whole "10yo is an adult " business. I can't afford/justify to feed my kids( adults to Disney) at WDW anymore. My DH has been begging to go back to Portofino Bay and now Universal will have Arry Potter in 2010. We will go back to WDW but no longer have APs but be day guests or split our visits.

 

[ransom]

We'd still do it. Our typical day's food costs $55 per person, including tax (but not tip). If we can get that $55 worth of food for significantly less with DDP, then we'll do it.

However, we might consider DDE if the price difference isn't much. If DDP was $45 per person, for example, we would probably go with DDE instead.