Why I Hate the DDP

[phred]

whew! we haven't been to wdw in a few years, before ddp, and i can't believe it is such a hot topic. imho it seems great and can't wait to try it. we're going to restaurants we probably wouldn't have tried otherwise because of the savings. i don't think i'm anal, but planning things typically leads to greater success and satisfaction so i have no problem booking food 180 days ahead--other parts of the day can still be spontaneous. i booked our TS for late nov several days ago and i'm happy these meals are all set, got just what i wanted!

 

[marivaid]

Its called AAA. Anyone can join AAA.

Wrong, wrong and yeah wrong.Not anyone can join.I can't and I'm definitely not the only one.Additionally AAA only has a limited number of rooms available and only at specific dates and specific resorts.If everyone joined AAA as you advise,there wouldn't be enough rooms for everybody.Refer to the July code rate watch thread where several members posted that they were unable to get an AAA discount this summer.

 

[Tinkerbell24]

Oh I totally agree with you, that was my point. I didn't think the food was crappy, it was good, but not $28 good. Just like the T-shirts are cute, but not $34 cute. Know what I mean ?
If they can get away with making a 400 or 500 percent profit on a shirt they're going to try & do the same thing with food and beverages. It's normal,they are a business after all.

In my opinion the wheels were already in motion when the DDP was created, and it was used as a way to control the crowds, by giving us the somewhat false impression that we are saving a bundle on the plan.

For example we had a rather negative experience at the character breakfast in AK, that I paid OOP for. I was later upset that I didn't choose to use TS credits for it because it wasn't "worth paying OOP for".In reality it would have cost us more if we had used credits. But because the money was paid so long ago, and I wouldn't have had to actually put cash on the table, I would have felt as if I hadn't really paid $50 for what was a very substandard meal.

at least we are on the same page and understand that it is not only the DDP...

Well said.

Additionally, if someone thinks the food is that bad, how about before eating the whole plate and griping about it after making a "happy plate", after the first bite or two, politely tell the waiter \ waitress that the food is not to your satisfaction, pay for your drinks, appetizers, & tip and go somewhere else?

Everything at WDW is overpriced and we pay it anyway, but if it ever gets to a point where I really don't think it is worth it, I won't be back.

I agree...instead of complaining later, say something when you realize the food is not good.

I am not sure what the problem is with the portions on the dining plan. We have done the DP. The portions were large. More than we could eat. You also get an appetizer and dessert. That's a lot of food.

I also thought the food was great. If I did not like it I would certainly not be going back. Since the restaurants at Disney are packed most people must like the food, portions, and price.

some people believe that the portions have gotten smaller beause of the DDP. I agree that with the DDP you did eat a lot of food because you get an appetizer, entree, and desert. But there are people that think the portions of the meals are smaller simply because of the DDP, but could it be because they are trying to make as much money as they can and we ALL pay it?? I say yes

 

[Disney8704]

Do you just love copying what people say? Oh and another thing, your wrong about the whole specific dates and resorts. You can go anytime of the year and stay at any resort and get a AAA rate. For those who dont get one for the time they wanted to go, they need to realize that those rooms are probably what goes first. So they need to book when the packages comes out. Its only $200 and if you have to postpone or change your dates, you can. I've postponed this trip since Jan 2005. I know that AAA only has a set limited of rooms. Thats why its strongly encouraged to book when the packages come out. I dont know where you got that the AAA rate is only good for certain dates and resorts. Who ever told you that, lied to you. If you are thinking about the Free DDP, then you can still get the room discount. You would just have to pay for the DDP if you wanted the DDP.

Wrong, wrong and yeah wrong.Not anyone can join.I can't and I'm definitely not the only one.Additionally AAA only has a limited number of rooms available and only at specific dates and specific resorts.If everyone joined AAA as you advise,there wouldn't be enough rooms for everybody.Refer to the July code rate watch thread where several members posted that they were unable to get an AAA discount this summer.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Is not ordering food a waste or ordering food and only eating a few bites? You seem to contradict yourself.

Where is it written that a person has to eat every bite placed before them? If Disney reduced the portion sizes, people would revolt, saying they are getting less for their money. Believe me, when you charge $8.99 for an appetizer, people are going to want what they perceive to be valued at $8.99, whether they eat it all or not.

If you don't see the DDP as a value to your particular dining style, that's one thing. To say it's not a value at all is incorrect. The plan costs $38.99 a day. You can get anywhere from $0 to $60 worth of food/tax/tip value from from it. It's all in how you use (or don't use) the plan.

Personally I dont see the VALUE in DDP. In order to get your full moneys worth you have to eat a CS and TS meal everyday plus snack and get everything that is included. What would happen if someone bought the DDP, ate a late TS breakfast, skipped lunch and ate a early TS dinner. Very possible, I should know cuz thats what we are gonna be doing for our next trip, so therefor no CS credits would be used. Thats nothing more then a waste. If you ask me the DDP is a waste. Your wasting a lot of food when you are on the plan. Say you got an appitzer, took 2 bites, ate your entree and ate very little of your desert. You basically wasted food not to mention the chef's time making it all for you. And then people wonder why they can never get a last min ADR. Thats why. Cuz the restraunts are always packed due to all the food that has to be made. The less food the chef has to make for you, the less time it takes to cook, the sooner you get the food, the sooner you get to get out of the restraunt and make room for the next group.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

BAM!
I doubt very much that Emeril would have the bank account he does now if not for "lowland food" !

 

[photo_chick]

Dismissing no........stating IMO opinion it is lowland food that is lovely but I do not connect it to fine dining at all.
To each his own.

So if Cajun is lowland food, then what is soul food? Or southern cooking in general? can that not be fine dining? I think you have a skewed vision of what fine dining is (your Yankee is showing).

Fine dining does not have to be a certain cuisine, it has to be well prepared and well presented. I promise I can make you a meal of southern food that rivlas anything you can find in the "finest" restaraunt in New York or Boston. I grew up a Navy brat and have had the opportunity to eat in many different places too, so my taste is not from lack of exposure to "fine dining" becasue of my geographic location. THough Dallas does have it's share of great places to eat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Personally I dont see the VALUE in DDP. In order to get your full moneys worth you have to eat a CS and TS meal everyday plus snack and get everything that is included.

No, you don't.
Let's say the average price of a snack is $2.50 (I think it's higher, but don't have access to the price of every single covered snack).
The average price of a counter service meal is $12.05, or $12.83 with tax.
$38.99 - $12.83 - $2.50 = $23.66.
The table service credit is for the meal, plus tax, plus 18% gratuity.
Of the $23.66, $19 is food (tax $1.24, gratuity $4.25).
If the diner orders one CENT over $19 in food - appetizer, entree, dessert, beverage - the DDP is a good value. Given the dearth of entrees alone under that price, the DDP is an excellent value.

Very possible, I should know cuz thats what we are gonna be doing for our next trip, so therefor no CS credits would be used.

The average Table Service meal is worth $36.05. Get one snack per day, and you're already at or over the cost of the DDP. Even without ANY counter service meals, the Guest is already saving money.

You basically wasted food not to mention the chef's time making it all for you. And then people wonder why they can never get a last min ADR. Thats why. Cuz the restraunts are always packed due to all the food that has to be made

Um, that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Restaurants are staffed to handle the number of expected diners. Restaurants are packed because a lot of people want/need to eat.

Do you just love copying what people say? Oh and another thing, your wrong about the whole specific dates and resorts. You can go anytime of the year and stay at any resort and get a AAA rate. For those who dont get one for the time they wanted to go, they need to realize that those rooms are probably what goes first. So they need to book when the packages comes out.

Wrong. Every discount has limited availability. Simply being an AAA member does not automatically mean one gets the AAA discount. If all the discount-designated rooms are booked, that's it. It's got ZERO to do with packages. AAA members can get room-only discounts if all the already-designated rooms are not booked by other Guests. Sure, the year starts with every room night available with an AAA discount - but not EVERY room every night. Once the designated number of rooms any given night is booked, there's no more AAA discount available at that resort that night.

 

[marivaid]

You can go anytime of the year and stay at any resort and get a AAA rate.

IF a room is available when and where you want it.
And according to MousePlanet there are no AAA discounts during Holiday season (starting a few days before Christmas until New Year's)

Its only $200 and if you have to postpone or change your dates, you can.

As long as there's a room, yes. But you're not guaranteed anything, just like with AP rates. I don't know about you, but I have a job and can't take a week off whenever I please.

In any case, I can't join AAA so this to me is useless.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

So, you seem to be the type who can not be made happy anywhere.....now it is clear to everyone. What about Charlie Trottier......is he too low class for you!! As for my name, I don't have an inflated view of myself so I do not expect you to have anything (good or bad) to say about it. On the other hand, if some day you do hear of me.......well, I will just keep that to myself...

Right now you could be the Pope.....you are rude no matter what.
Some of the restaurants I think are wonderful are just that wonderful IMO.
There are many restaurants that make me VERY happy.
You assumptions are out of control.
Remember what they say about assumptions.....

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

So if Cajun is lowland food, then what is soul food? Or southern cooking in general? can that not be fine dining? I think you have a skewed vision of what fine dining is (your Yankee is showing).

Fine dining does not have to be a certain cuisine, it has to be well prepared and well presented. I promise I can make you a meal of southern food that rivlas anything you can find in the "finest" restaraunt in New York or Boston. I grew up a Navy brat and have had the opportunity to eat in many different places too, so my taste is not from lack of exposure to "fine dining" becasue of my geographic location. THough Dallas does have it's share of great places to eat.

I like my Yankee, thanks for noticing

 

[amykathleen2005]

Right now you could be the Pope.....you are rude no matter what.
Some of the restaurants I think are wonderful are just that wonderful IMO.
There are many restaurants that make me VERY happy.
You assumptions are out of control.
Remember what they say about assumptions.....

I think it would be really cool if the pope liked WDW and the dining plan....

 

[drakethib]

I like my Yankee, thanks for noticing

Again, please I have to ask what / where do you consider good food?

I want to know if I am missing out on something.

Thanks

 

[Disney8704]

To show you that the DDP wouldnt save me and DH any money, here is proof:

Water $2.13 ($2 per bottle + tax) x 64 bottles (32 bottles for each of us = 1 bottle of water for day 1 and last day and 3 bottles for the other 10 days) = $136.32

Snack $10 per day x 11 days = $110.00

Breakfast INCLUDES tax and tip - grand total of $426
No Lunch - the snacks will be the lunch
Dinner INCLUDES tax, tip and deserts - grand total of $737

GRAND OVER ALL TOTAL $1409.32





Price for DDP - say it goes up to $39.99 next yr - thats a $1 jump - just figuring thats what it might be since this last time it went up $1
$39.99 x 11 days = $439.89 x 2 = $879.78
Snack credits would be used for snacks
CS credits would be used for lunch
Water $136.32
1 OOP Dinner TS meal $80
2 OOP Dinner CS meal $60
12 OOP Breakfast TS & CS $426

GRAND OVER ALL TOTAL INCLUDING DDP $1582.10

$1582.10(DDP) - $1409.32 (OOP) = $172.78 I would be saving by NOT doing the DDP.

This is eating at the following:
Breakfast
Crystal Palace
Grand Floridian Cafe
'Ohana
Rainforest Cafe (AK)
Donald's Safari Breakfast (Tusker House)
Boma x 2
Princess Storybook
Mara x 3
Airport (arrival day)

Dinner
Cinderellas Royal Table
Jiko
Sci-Fi
Liberty Tree Tavern
Les Chefs de France
Coral Reef
Boma
50's Prime Time Cafe
T-Rex Cafe (DTD)
Counterservice x 2

Now granted I know everyone's eating habits are different, but this is just to go show everyone that the DDP will not always save everyone money. The figures above just to go show you, that the DDP wouldnt work for me and DH. Now if we were to eat CS meals for lunchs then yes it would probably save us maybe at most $200, but in any case I would still pay OOP cuz I would hate to do the DDP and not use all the credits. I know there will be days where we would have a late breakfast and wouldnt want lunch and just a small snack. That right there would save us money especially if it was everyday. I am going by how we ate last time we went down, and bascially kept it the same. Not the same places but the same times for our meals and what we would order.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

To show you that the DDP wouldnt save me and DH any money, here is proof:

Water $2.13 ($2 per bottle + tax) x 64 bottles (32 bottles for each of us = 1 bottle of water for day 1 and last day and 3 bottles for the other 10 days) = $136.32

Snack $10 per day x 11 days = $110.00

Breakfast INCLUDES tax and tip - grand total of $426
No Lunch - the snacks will be the lunch
Dinner INCLUDES tax, tip and deserts - grand total of $737

GRAND OVER ALL TOTAL $1409.32





Price for DDP - say it goes up to $39.99 next yr - thats a $1 jump - just figuring thats what it might be since this last time it went up $1
$39.99 x 11 days = $439.89 x 2 = $879.78
Snack credits would be used for snacks
CS credits would be used for lunch
Water $136.32
1 OOP Dinner TS meal $80
2 OOP Dinner CS meal $60
12 OOP Breakfast TS & CS $426

GRAND OVER ALL TOTAL INCLUDING DDP $1582.10

$1582.10(DDP) - $1409.32 (OOP) = $172.78 I would be saving by NOT doing the DDP.

This is eating at the following:
Breakfast
Crystal Palace
Grand Floridian Cafe
'Ohana
Rainforest Cafe (AK)
Donald's Safari Breakfast (Tusker House)
Boma x 2
Princess Storybook
Mara x 3
Airport (arrival day)

Dinner
Cinderellas Royal Table
Jiko
Sci-Fi
Liberty Tree Tavern
Les Chefs de France
Coral Reef
Boma
50's Prime Time Cafe
T-Rex Cafe (DTD)
Counterservice x 2

Now granted I know everyone's eating habits are different, but this is just to go show everyone that the DDP will not always save everyone money. The figures above just to go show you, that the DDP wouldnt work for me and DH. Now if we were to eat CS meals for lunchs then yes it would probably save us maybe at most $200, but in any case I would still pay OOP cuz I would hate to do the DDP and not use all the credits. I know there will be days where we would have a late breakfast and wouldnt want lunch and just a small snack. That right there would save us money especially if it was everyday. I am going by how we ate last time we went down, and bascially kept it the same. Not the same places but the same times for our meals and what we would order.

So don't use the plan. But quitchercomplainin about the availability of the plan. Some of us love it and we ain't giving it up till they take it away.

 

[Disney8704]

Im not complaining. Only complaint I have is having to book my ADRs so far in advance. Im not complaining about how the service is or how much food I got. There are people on here doing a lot more complaining then I am. So tell them to stop, not me.

So don't use the plan. But quitchercomplainin about the availability of the plan. Some of us love it and we ain't giving it up till they take it away.

 

[Katiebell]

Does anyone else find it funny that DonaldTDuck and Disney8704 have the exact same avatar? I did a double take following that last bit of conversation...

Look...folks...

The DDP is a fantastic deal for some families.

The DDP is a waste of money for some families -- so don't buy it if it isn't a good deal for you. It doesn't mean that it isn't a great deal for other people.

Disney has hit a goldmine here -- people are paying for their meals in advance...COMMITTING to eating all their vacation meals on Disney property...and the restaurants are all now full. That isn't going to change, Disney likes it this way, so if you want a guaranteed TS meal at a particular restaurant, make the ADR. Otherwise, be prepared to wing it and see what you can find. There is always a TS restaurant, somewhere, that you can get into -- just probably not your first, or maybe even your 20th choice, and you might end up with a 3:00 pm lunch or an 8:00 pm dinner. But give it a try, it might be good.

Disney has made some changes to make more money -- menu changes, cutting portions, standardizing some menus (including drink menus which have absolutely nothing to do with the DDP)

The menus are NOT all the same -- Marrakesh doesn't serve bangers and mash, Le Cellier doesn't serve couscous and baklava, PT 50's doesn't serve Brown Derby Cobb Salad, Grand Floridian Cafe doesn't serve sauerbraten or spatzle, Chef Mickey's doesn't serve Sichuan Kung Bao Chicken or Xinjiang style Lamb chops. For pete's sake, there is a TON of variety at WDW -- you could eat at 42 different restaurants in 21 different days and never have the same thing.

WDW has some good restaurants, many not on the plan. If you think all of the popular places are now serving garbage, then stick to bluezoo, Puck's upstairs, Fulton's, V&A, Bistro de Paris, Shula's, and all of the other restaurants that don't take the DDP -- and thus are not affected by the DDP in any way. Or the 2 TS restaurants like Citrico's, CG, Flying Fish...they won't be as crowded, and you are more likely to find the upscale, elegant, dining experience you are looking for. Or if none of those are appealing to you...and I don't mean this unkindly...then maybe Disney is not the best vacation destination for you? Because my understanding is that those are the best they offer. Maybe if you rent a car or have your own car, you could try some off site restaurants that are supposed to be really good, like Norman's, the Venetian Room, Manuel's on the 28th, Blue Bistro and Grill, Le Coq au Vin?

If you hate what's happened to the menus at your old favorites, then stop going there -- find a new favorite. If Disney sees that no one will go to a particular restaurant, they will re-think the menu. But don't be surprised if that restaurant stays busy and packed with people who think the new menu looks good. Everyone has different tastes.

Oh...and:

Cajun food is fabulous, and has great variety -- it's not all catfish and "lowland" food. If you think it's beneath you, then you are missing out on some great stuff. There is also some wonderful Southern soul food, Amish food, Mexican food, Thai food, Morroccan food, vegetarian food, BBQ...not every good meal has to have a wine pairing, or a menu printed in French. I totally agree with apostolic and others who have said food is a way to learn about other cultures, other people, history; I also agree that we eat to live, we don't live to eat -- but eating can be fun, too. Breaking bread with good company is one of the greatest pleasures in life.

And I couldn't get a AAA discount and the DDP for our trip in May. I am a member of AAA, but it wasn't available -- and I bought our tickets in January. For anyone who disagrees, I would have to refer them to my AAA office.

 

[gokenin]

Right now you could be the Pope.....you are rude no matter what.
Some of the restaurants I think are wonderful are just that wonderful IMO.
There are many restaurants that make me VERY happy.
You assumptions are out of control.
Remember what they say about assumptions.....

I think that what people are saying is that they are looking for a base line example from which to get an idea of that your level of "fine" dining is.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

No one ever said the DDP saves everyone money depending on their dining style. The fact remains, it's a great discount if used to even its half extent.

All that aside... do you really pay park prices for water??? Yikes. I know this little secret that will save you about $120

To show you that the DDP wouldnt save me and DH any money, here is proof:

Water $2.13 ($2 per bottle + tax) x 64 bottles (32 bottles for each of us = 1 bottle of water for day 1 and last day and 3 bottles for the other 10 days) = $136.32

 

[kaytieeldr]

Im not complaining. Only complaint I have is having to book my ADRs so far in advance. Im not complaining about how the service is or how much food I got.

Are you sure about that, that your only complaint with the DDP is having to make reservations far in advance?

I dont get it. How can you all sit there and say that the cutting back on poritions and have a limited menus isnt being caused by the DDP?

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