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

[kimberh]

I voted NO, We didn't use it in May, because I had a AP discount on the room, used the DDE card. We went as 2 people. I loved the DDP when we go as a family, we are a party between 7 -9. When I went over the Math, we came out ahead, getting the room discount, eating where we wanted to eat, leaving off the Appetizers, eating normal lunches. We were fine, and I came out ahead on the food budget. It was close, but I was a few dollars ahead. Now, will I miss the DDP, Yes, but I am not paying more and then tips too. I loved being able to set down, with the whole family and not worry about what everyone was ordering, that I will miss. My husband said it is time for another type of vacation, cruises. The DDP was a closer for us. We use to only go to Disney every few years, since the DDP, we have went 3 or more times a year. We may need a break for a while, and let Disney get this figured out. Sounds like some hotel rooms to fill, if more start to think this way.

Just a thought... Disney needed more restaurants, maybe this is their answer to the walk in problem.

 

[GurGie]

We won't get the dining plan for sure, and we might move to off site accomodation. We used to always rent a condo or vacation home, but for the past couple of years we have been doing the all-inclusive experience at WDW. I liked the ease and convenience of it and since it was prepaid, I didn't worry about the cost of what everyone ordered.
My girls are getting a little older and perhaps it's time to experience other Orlando attractions. The onsite hotels and the DDP really kept me from seriously considering it. I think a change might be in order regardless.

 

[luv2nascar]

depends on the increase and if tips are no longer included. Are kids are getting older and with the new HP park going in universal not so much disney maybe. DH wants to do Harry Potter park once its open. We may stay offsite or just not spend everyday in disney so why get DP anyways.
Actually this trip in Sept w/free dining we are already going to SW and maybe Busch Gardens if we get the $136.95 tickets that include BG Williamsburg, Tampa, SW, Watercountry USA, and Sesame Place.

 

[Katiebell]

The dining plan was great, but if the tip is excluded, and especially if the price is increased, then no. We loved being able to order whatever we wanted (DH and I have different tastes) and not worrying if we couldn't finish all the appetizer or dessert, or even all of the main course -- we got to try everything, which was the fun part. If the tip is excluded, we won't order all that food -- it would just run up our bill and then we'd have to tip on a much higher bill. We'll probably go back to our old way of ordering: sharing the appetizer (maybe, if we even get one), getting our own entrees, and sharing dessert. Or just ordering two appetizers and two desserts. And we'd be happy with more CS -- we didn't get to try EoS, would like to have gone back to WPE, didn't get to try Yakitori, Cosmic Ray's, or Pecos Bill's, and loved Tangierine, Kringla, Sunshine Seasons... and wouldn't buy dessert at CS unless it's really something special like the Soarin' Orange Creme Brulee or School Bread.

We'd go for the AAA room discount, and might spend a couple of days at US, especially once the HP area opens. Go to the beach a day or two...

Well, this should help resolve the restaurant overcrowding issue, shouldn't it?

 

[thunderbird1]

The dining plan was great, but if the tip is excluded, and especially if the price is increased, then no. We loved being able to order whatever we wanted (DH and I have different tastes) and not worrying if we couldn't finish all the appetizer or dessert, or even all of the main course -- we got to try everything, which was the fun part. If the tip is excluded, we won't order all that food -- it would just run up our bill and then we'd have to tip on a much higher bill. We'll probably go back to our old way of ordering: sharing the appetizer (maybe, if we even get one), getting our own entrees, and sharing dessert. Or just ordering two appetizers and two desserts. And we'd be happy with more CS -- we didn't get to try EoS, would like to have gone back to WPE, didn't get to try Yakitori, Cosmic Ray's, or Pecos Bill's, and loved Tangierine, Kringla, Sunshine Seasons... and wouldn't buy dessert at CS unless it's really something special like the Soarin' Orange Creme Brulee or School Bread.

We'd go for the AAA room discount, and might spend a couple of days at US, especially once the HP area opens. Go to the beach a day or two...

I love the DDP in it's current incarnation, and that's exactly the problem I have with it, too. If I have to watch what I'm ordering because I'm going to be footing the 18% gratuity, it's no longer an "all inclusive" plan. I'll be less inclined to order everything, or at least not the more expensive items, thus defeating the point of the plan, for me. We'd be better off going for the various room discounts, and perhaps try the DDE again.

Well, this should help resolve the restaurant overcrowding issue, shouldn't it?

And maybe that's part of the point.

 

[MomofKatie]

We won't do the Dining plan in 2008 because of 2 things-

1- No tips included- not nearly such a good deal

and

2- DD will be 10 in 2008, making the DDP too expensive for how we eat at the parks. We will just cut out buffets and order 2 entrees at most restaurants to share between the 3 of us.

 

[PinkTink63]

If the tip is already factored in, I wouldn't think the price should go up! If anything, it should go down a little, if you are going to have to pay tip on every meal. For a family of three at a TS our tip is always a min. of $10-12.
It certainly wouldn't be a deal for us, considering we have to pay for an adult for our son in the first place!

 

[Carys]

I'm leaning towards going plan-less (why does that sound like culinary nudity?). If the plan goes to say $41 a day (I have no idea what the increase will be, I'm just using a $2 increase as an example) in real terms it would be an increase to $46.40 (assuming an 18% tip on a $30 table service meal), which is a significant decrease in value.

When the dining plan is all inclusive, I'm more likely to choose the more expensive of two dishes with all else being equal. The higher the dish cost, the higher the out of pocket tip, and the lower the margin of "value" in the dining plan. If I were tipping out of pocket, I might be more inclined to choose less expensive dishes. That in itself would also decrease the margin of value in the dining plan.

If I then consider what I would normally eat in a day if I weren't on the dining plan, the cost of that dining style vs the cost of the dining plan without tips included and at a higher rate are starting to look very similar, and sometimes in the former's favour. Not being on the plan would have the advantage of flexibility as to how much you eat at any given time (after all, if you don't have all your dining plan entitlements, that lessens its margin of value), and more control over tipping.

(I would rather see Disney hold the price and drop the counter service dessert, if they were going to decrease the value of the plan, because at least that would not have decreased the plan's all-inclusiveness convenience.)