Why I Hate the DDP

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Wow. No need to get nasty. He didn't call anyone a liar, he just happens to think there is another reason why the food is being standardized.

How can you blame the DDP for changes in the DRINK menus when the DDP doesn't include any alcoholic drink of any kind ? While you're at it why don't you blame it for the new generic mugs.

Correction he did call me a liar.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Thanks for the support........ I try to always be respectful even in my disagreement with others!

I never learned that calling people liars was respectful.

 

[apostolic4life]

Correction he did call me a liar.

... I did not. Here is my previous post to prove it:

I am amazed at how many people on the DIS have personal and close enough relationships with the chefs at WDW so they get all this lovely insider gossip. I just think it is funny, because every thread I have posted on about DDP it seems, at some point in the disscusion, ultimate authority is declared by way of "a chef at WDW told me so". Now I am not saying any poster with those claims is not being truthful. I am saying that if there are so many disgruntled chefs making these claims, who are they and what is their authority in the WDW kitchen brigade system??? Would I trust the guy who is running the fryer as an authority on Disney dining economics and menu planning/design politics.....No. Would I trust the Executive or Sous Chef on these matters......Yes. Many times in the kitchen hierarchy people and menus come and go......if these were small mom & pop operations I am sure everyone on the staff would be somewhat knowing of the circumstances of a departure or reasoning behind a menu change, but when you are talking about a food operation as large as the one at WDW those things don't always get disseminated to ones on the front line.

As I said, I am not calling anyone a liar; I am just questioning the information due to a lack of knowledge of the "chef(s)" who seems to put this very confidential information out in a very public manner, in a very disgruntled fashion. For me to ever put stock into a third party source I would have to know some info on said source.

I never learned that calling people liars was respectful.

Let my posts speak for me.......they will always be my best defense!!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

... I did not. Here is my previous post to prove it:







Let my posts speak for me.......they will always be my best defense!!

Implying always makes it so much better

 

[apostolic4life]

Just seems highly unprofessional for someone who is in a position of authority in any kind of establishment to run down or bad mouth the operation to someone who they have a casual relationship with. If this was someone who you knew outside the parks or resorts and had a deeply personal relationship with it could be a reasonable expectation to say you may discuss such issues. Based on the above description of the relationship though ("friendly with them"), I find it hard to believe they are going to share all the company dirty laundry with a guest no matter often they in there. If these chefs are behaving in this manner, they are not professional by any stretch of the imagination and should be fired. The last thing any company needs is for someone of position in their organization to be discussing internal information with casual acquaintances.

By the way, re-read my post........I did not call you a liar because you may have been the recipient of some bad gossip from the source. I would bet if someone did give you such information they were probably on their way out because it would seem their loyalty is at question.

Hope my words can be taken for what they are.....not misinterpreted as they have been.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Hope my words can be taken for what they are.....not misinterpreted as they have been.

This tends to be your process, wacking someone and then the fluff comes out.

 

[gokenin]

I think we have established in the last 18 pages that there are two camps of people when it comes to Disney dining those that HATE the DDP for whatever reasons they have, ie dumbing down, standardizing,making portions smaller among others and those that accept DDP. I think these threads do not serve to help anyone coming here to seek advice they instead only serve as a place for people that love Disney to bicker about something that we can not control at this time. I think we all need to step back a little and remember that this is a forum to offer advice and suggestions to those people that come here looking for it. ok stepping down from the soapbox and will keep watching

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Hope my words can be taken for what they are.....not misinterpreted as they have been.

How dare CM's create relationships with a guest......This used to be the Disney standard. For the most part it has disappeared but I for one believe it was the correct way to treat guests and have hope that it is returning 100%!

 

[SharonLowe]

As a *cs person* I am glad that the DDP has given me this oppritunity. If it isnt convenient for ppl who dont like to plan, they can either take what's available for walk-ins, use CS, get room service where available, dine OP, or ofcourse, if you are that disgusted with me and the other DDp'ers, just spend your hard earned vaca $ elsewhere. Its all about choices. I chose to pay more than I had to for the convenience of the DDP, and I'm not blaming the cost on anyone

The problem with the DDP for me is that now I have to decide 6 months ahead of time where I want to eat and when. You used to be able to decide when you got there - I still have documents from when I took my son there for Christmas in 1997 - my package included a character b'fast and my notes were to make the reservation when we arrived! You can't do that anymore.

I really hate having to decide 6 months ahead of time for what have become mostly mediocre meals and I don't want to eat counter service all the time partly because I have food allergies and it doesn't always work. The appeal of Disney to me was that I could take a vacation and not have to drive; I always felt safe so as a former single parent I could take my ds and be happy; and I could get a decent meal without too much effort. Now, it has become a huge planning effort - I have to know where I am going to be 6 months before I get there and the food isn't nearly as good as it used to be. Yes, we still go back, but it isn't as much fun - it isn't a vacation anymore, it is hard work. I am less and less inclined to go there and this year could likely be our last trip for a very long time. I would rather spend my dollars and vacation time elsewhere and not stress so much about our plans.

 

[apostolic4life]

I think we have established in the last 18 pages that there are two camps of people when it comes to Disney dining those that HATE the DDP for whatever reasons they have, ie dumbing down, standardizing,making portions smaller among others and those that accept DDP. I think these threads do not serve to help anyone coming here to seek advice they instead only serve as a place for people that love Disney to bicker about something that we can not control at this time. I think we all need to step back a little and remember that this is a forum to offer advice and suggestions to those people that come here looking for it. ok stepping down from the soapbox and will keep watching

I am one of those that are kind of located in the middle. I understand and recognize the changes do exist, and I am also a big supporter of DDP who actually loves the food at most Disney restaurants. I do not believe the DDP is the main factor in the changes, rather the catalyst used to fill up restaurants allowing Disney to implement a corporate policy which created a homogeneous dining experience much like a chain restaurant. The food at most Disney venues has never been 5 star and will never be, but it is still better than most restaurants on the outside of the World.

With my opinions I take heat from both sides of the discussion.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I am one of those that are kind of located in the middle. I understand and recognize the changes do exist and I am also a big supporter of DDP who actually loves the food at most Disney restaurants. I do not believe the DDP is the main factor in the changes, rather the catalyst used to fill up restaurants allowing Disney to implement a corporate policy which created a homogeneous dining experience much like a chain restaurant. The food at most Disney venues has never been 5 star and will never be, but it is still better than most restaurants on the outside of the World.

With my opinions I take heat from both sides of the discussion.

IMO some of us would be insulted by the mear thought that WDW is better than most restaurants on the outside of WDW

 

[apostolic4life]

The problem with the DDP for me is that now I have to decide 6 months ahead of time where I want to eat and when. You used to be able to decide when you got there - I still have documents from when I took my son there for Christmas in 1997 - my package included a character b'fast and my notes were to make the reservation when we arrived! You can't do that anymore.

I really hate having to decide 6 months ahead of time for what have become mostly mediocre meals and I don't want to eat counter service all the time partly because I have food allergies and it doesn't always work. The appeal of Disney to me was that I could take a vacation and not have to drive; I always felt safe so as a former single parent I could take my ds and be happy; and I could get a decent meal without too much effort. Now, it has become a huge planning effort - I have to know where I am going to be 6 months before I get there and the food isn't nearly as good as it used to be. Yes, we still go back, but it isn't as much fun - it isn't a vacation anymore, it is hard work. I am less and less inclined to go there and this year could likely be our last trip for a very long time. I would rather spend my dollars and vacation time elsewhere and not stress so much about our plans.

DW and I are part of the weird crowd who really love to plan, plan, plan!!! I do see how many who do not like to be as structured would have a difficult time with this kind of OCD planning, but like many have referenced, the same crowd levels and dining problems exist at DL which does not have DDP. I am sure without DDP the crowd levels would still be terrible.

 

[gokenin]

IMO some of us would be insulted by the mear thought that WDW is better than most restaurants on the outside of WDW

OK lets rememeber where we are talking about Disney is afterall a Theme park (ok everyone step away from the lighters for a sec) the food here should be compared to simliar places would I compare biertgarten to someplace like Tavern on the Green of course not but would I compare it to a place that wants to mimic a german beer hall yes. Would I compare V&A to Tavern on the Green yes they are in the same level, that being said you can not say that most resturants at Disney are inferior to resturants outside of the park anymore than you can say that they are superior, and I dont think thats its an insult to say that the food at most places at Disney is better than the average resturants you would find in most average places.

 

[apostolic4life]

IMO some of us would be insulted by the mear thought that WDW is better than most restaurants on the outside of WDW

You would have to match up restaurants with comparable atmosphere and amenities. You could never compare LeCellier to Ruth's Chris, but you could compare it with Outback (aka any big box chain restaurant). When compared in the appropriate fashion the food often (not always though) is better. Yes, we have had some not so great meals at WDW before, but very rarely. IMHO

 

[Hixski]

We go to WDW because we own DVC. We don't get the DDP to be able to afford to go to WDW, we get DDP because it is just easier when we go. We have not had any problems on DDP. Servers were friendly and we tipped extra when the service warranted it. We have never felt as if we were being treated as second class citizens simply because we chose DDP.

 

[apostolic4life]

OK lets rememeber where we are talking about Disney is afterall a Theme park (ok everyone step away from the lighters for a sec) the food here should be compared to simliar places would I compare biertgarten to someplace like Tavern on the Green of course not but would I compare it to a place that wants to mimic a german beer hall yes. Would I compare V&A to Tavern on the Green yes they are in the same level, that being said you can not say that most resturants at Disney are inferior to resturants outside of the park anymore than you can say that they are superior, and I dont think thats its an insult to say that the food at most places at Disney is better than the average resturants you would find in most average places.

I concur!!! As I step away from the 5 gallon can of kerosene and box of matches.

 

[ElizabethB]

Tavern on the Green and V&A on the same level. Not! V&A is one of the best restaurants in the nation. Tavern on the Green is a tourist trap with some of the highest priced, yet most mediocre, food on the planet. No comparison between the two.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I think we have established in the last 18 pages that there are two camps of people when it comes to Disney dining those that HATE the DDP for whatever reasons they have, ie dumbing down, standardizing,making portions smaller among others and those that accept DDP. I think these threads do not serve to help anyone coming here to seek advice they instead only serve as a place for people that love Disney to bicker about something that we can not control at this time. I think we all need to step back a little and remember that this is a forum to offer advice and suggestions to those people that come here looking for it. ok stepping down from the soapbox and will keep watching

I'm enjoying this thread.

The forum is about Disney Restaurants which is what we are discussing. Changes in those places and the probable causes.

I don't HATE the DDP, I just hate anything that slows down the CS lines which I have experienced DDP does, but so do other things, I don't like them either. I won't be put in one camp or another, thank you.

I enjoy reading about the trends in WDW restaurants.

If someone doesn't like the thread, then they are free to skip it. After years on the board, some threads are repetative questions and I skip those but I would never tell anyone - "Why are you posting this thread instead of looking it up?" Everyone is free to pick and choose, what they read and respond to.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

What really baffles me about this thread is that many people feel that the decline of dining at WDW is to be blamed by a program that allows any guest (staying on property of course) the opportunity to dine at restaurants that they may not normally be able to because of money. Who are we to judge where people eat. This has nothing to do with the time that it takes, the confusion on some people's part regarding the plan, etc., but with the feeling that some people are better than other people. I promised myself I would keep my mouth shut about this whole debate, but it bothers me when other people judge other people. I've been judged before and it's horrible.

Everybody goes to WDW to have a good time regardless of their financial situation. Why can't we just be happy about going to WDW instead of feeling that some people on DDP are below us? I guess I'll never understand that.


OK, I'm stepping off my soap box.

Have a Disney Day!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

It all comes down to a personal choice....everyone is different...so people will agree or disagree.
Its my choice to open a thread, read it objectively and comment if I wish. It is my choice to add DDP to my MYW package.....and its my choice to go again and take advantage of the free DDp, while paying regular rates at resorts.
Upon my first "DDP Day" while at POP, I found many guests very pleasant and offering advice on snack pts etc while in line....DDP is not for everyone...so be it All I do know is that I would never go to a restaurant in my area and expect to get a table without a reservation....so why would it be different in WDW?? I just think the plan is affordable and affords many an opportunity to have TS meals other than just CS meals.
Its all about personal preference and our personal choice