Will you pay OOP for TS?

[gina2000]

This thread is an outgrowth of the "Will you use the DDP in '08" thread.

Many, many people here have said that they tried TS restaurants that they normally would not have without the DDP. Well, now it appears (at least at last count on the poll) that many people will not use the DDP in '08 if the changes are as predicted.

The questions are:

Will you incorporate more TS meals into your next itinerary if you don't use the DDP?

Will you go back to eating CS meals or offsite?

Has the DDP experience exposed you to new restaurants that you are willing to pay OOP for?

How has the DDP changed your eating habits?



*****

Quite frankly, I think WDW is hoping that more CS eaters will now be hooked on TS meals and be willing to pay OOP for them even if they decide not to do the DDP or any of the variations. I'm just wondering what people are thinking.

 

[HM]

I hadn't planned on using it in 2008 or beyond, even if it were to stay the same.

Having a table service meal every day is not what we usually do. On a typical 7 night vacation, we usually only have 3-4 table service meals ( usually lunch). I doubt we'd change that for future trips.

We are staying 9 nights this month. Part of our stay (we're resort hopping)we'll use the DDP, just so my DH can try it (the kids and I've done free dining before). That will work for us since it's not the entire trip. The rest of our trip will be CS restaurants.

We did try new restaurants and my revisit them in the future. The plan did not change our habits really.

 

[Dolce27]

I used the DDP last year and loved it! I have a 14 day trip planned for next year and I originally considered doing the DDP again but I'm beginning to think that I will not (It doesn't have anything to do with the changes that they made). But, I do plan to schedule one table service for everyday - or almost everyday. I found that a sit down meal gives me a much needed break in my comado-style touring mode.

 

[thunderbird1]

Good questions! I was wondering the same things.

Will you incorporate more TS meals into your next itinerary if you don't use the DDP?.

No. But looking over our last several (non-DDP) trips, we usually averaged 8-9 TS meals in a 10 day trip anyway, so the DDP wasn't a huge departure for us in terms of the actual # of TS restaurants. Without it, we'll probably return to our old habits, which will mean less scheduling of ADR's, more lunches (both because of the lower prices and because we can more easily walk up), and ordering less food than the DDP provides.

Will you go back to eating CS meals or offsite?

It depends. If they offer some great room discounts, we'll likely continue to stay on site and fill in the extra meals with CS. But if the rumored change in resort booking policy (paying "season" rates per night instead of based on your check-in date) goes through as well, then we'll likely do more off site or split stays and fill in the extra meals with offsite dining.

Has the DDP experience exposed you to new restaurants that you are willing to pay OOP for?.

Yes. But that doesn't mean we'd actually do more TS meals; rather, we'd replace old favorites with new.

How has the DDP changed your eating habits?.

We ate like pigs. Don't get me wrong--it was fun, and I loved (and will love again, in 51 days) every minute of it. But I'd be just as happy at WDW not eating like a pig, and not having to schedule every day 6 months ahead of time. Without having pre-paid for all those TS meals, it wouldn't matter whether we were able to walk in to a restaurant or not, or whether I ate a late CS lunch and only have room for an appetizer at my TS dinner.

Quite frankly, I think WDW is hoping that more CS eaters will now be hooked on TS meals and be willing to pay OOP for them even if they decide not to do the DDP or any of the variations. I'm just wondering what people are thinking.

That was exactly what I was thinking. I was surprised at how many people said they almost never ate at TS restaurants before the DDP. We also heard a couple of different CM's say they were grateful for the DDP because without it, their restaurants would have been dead. So, either people will have gotten hooked on the DDP and will continue to buy it, or they'll continue to frequent the restaurants and pay OOP, or the restaurants will slow down and Disney will reinvent the plan again to get people back into the restaurants.

 

[n2mm]

We did a few TS before the DDP and will continue to do TS after the DDP ends for us in 2008. We are also DDE cardholders and with the changes we can do better with this discount.

 

[ReggieB]

I don't particularly like the CS places, they are okay, but I want something a little nicer when I'm on vacation. We've been working our way around all the TS places since we first stated visiting. I've only used the DDP once so far anyway. So TS aren't going to be dropped from my itinerary, if anything I am less likely to use the CS, as I won't have credits to use! I will probably try and price out the deluxe plan, if it does come into being, as that is more of a fit for my family. I can't see any huge savings, but I think it's possible to break even on it. I wouldn't want to give up my appetizer on the regular plan though, that's for sure.

 

[Palendat]

Our family did not eat at table service establishments prior to the DDP. After 2 years of free DDP, and paying for 14 days this year (in 13 sleeps ), we won't be purchasing in 2008 if these changes prove to be correct (which I am confident that they will). We will, however, probably do more table service meals in the future than we did before the DDP. However, probably only 3 or 4 in a 10-14 day trip. With the savings using the new plan MUCH less than before, the risk to missing meals, due to illness, poor planning, etc, is not worth paying for a plan. It will be just as easy to whip out a credit card as it is to whip out a room key.!

 

[wendypooh]

The questions are:

Will you incorporate more TS meals into your next itinerary if you don't use the DDP?

NO!!!

Will you go back to eating CS meals or offsite?

Yes

Has the DDP experience exposed you to new restaurants that you are willing to pay OOP for?

Maybe One or Two - but probably NOT during the same trip. We'd do a LOT LESS TS meals per trip.

How has the DDP changed your eating habits?

Typically, we would NOT eat a TS meal every day of our trip, whereas with the plan we do. If the proposed changes come to fruition, then our dining habits will change, we will NOT do more than one or two TS meals per trip, which will mostly be character meals as to appease DS, we won't be doing non character TS's meals nearly as much - probably NONE while he still enjoys the character meals.

AND - the length of our stays will ultimately become less as we would need to budget accordingly for meals.


We love the plan the way it is, it is a great value and DH said at the end of our last trip, "I will get the DP from now on for every trip". We've gotten it 3 times and I wish they'd leave it alone!!!!! I think it is a HUGE mistake to get rid of the gratuity, period!!! I think they should give you the option of app. or dessert, if they MUST take something away. But, taking away the app. and gratuity, for basically the same price as it is now, is just insulting - and DH WILL NOT get the DP if this is the case. SO, from our standpoint - everyone loses!

 

[septbaby]

Never use DDP, Aug 30th trip will be our first time, Free DDP. I have made an ADR for 1900 Park Fare on a previous strip. Have also eaten at Spoodles and I think ESPN club, no qualms using TS in the past. If I don't use a DP then we don't stay at WDW. I'd chose a condo/timeshare setting as we've done in the past. I'd want a kitchen.

 

[patsal]

This thread is an outgrowth of the "Will you use the DDP in '08" thread.

Many, many people here have said that they tried TS restaurants that they normally would not have without the DDP. Well, now it appears (at least at last count on the poll) that many people will not use the DDP in '08 if the changes are as predicted.

The questions are:

Will you incorporate more TS meals into your next itinerary if you don't use the DDP?

Will you go back to eating CS meals or offsite?

Has the DDP experience exposed you to new restaurants that you are willing to pay OOP for?

How has the DDP changed your eating habits?

1. No I will not, I will go back to what I ued to do a TS lunch at a DVC discounted venue if I am staying in the park from open to close--doesn't happen very often, but in spring and fall if I am able to go the parks close early and the weather is comfortable.

2. I will go offsite for TS meals and back to the room for the CS type meals

3.No, I have always been willing to pay OOP for quality I will still eat at signature restaurants just one per vacation like I did pre DDP.

4. DDP has not changed my eating habits at all--it fit with our vacation eating style and kept us on site, the only thing I will no longer be doing is trying to hawk snacks on my kids, they know to ask if they want something and that happens about once every two or three days not every day.

 

[jcpuppy.com]

We may eat at one or 2 favorites, but our general nature will be to not spend the extra money. CS meals are expensive enough

I really wish people would stop complaining about "how much food" the DDP. It is those folks moaning and groaning that makes changes like this..less value for your money. If it is too much food for YOU, then don't order everything..leave the plan alone for the rest of us who have figured out how to use the plan to cover all 3 of our meals each day and be able to afford to eat out at some nice places.

If the suggested DDP plans are what is in the works, then we will no longer be using it. We may get a DDE with our AP's, but even that is questionable

 

[Praying Colonel]

Will you incorporate more TS meals into your next itinerary if you don't use the DDP?

No, we'll still eat 1 TS meal/day, whether we're eating on DDP or paying OOP.

Will you go back to eating CS meals or offsite?

We'll price out the different options available to us and see which works best for us. We won't add in any CS meals--DW insists on 1 TS meal/day, whether it's onsite or off.

Has the DDP experience exposed you to new restaurants that you are willing to pay OOP for?

No. Well, depends. We're not made of money and we still have to look at what makes sense financially for us. If a restaurant fits our pocketbook, we might eat there, especially considering DDE (see above). I think the most likely outcome is we'll do what we did before the DDP--stay offsite in a condo, eat breakfast there, eat CS in the parks and eat TS offsite. We won't be paying $180 OOP for LeCellier, which is how much our meal would've cost us if we'd paid OOP. And we won't be paying $300 for Narcoosee's, which is what our meal will cost (at least) when we eat there this month.

How has the DDP changed your eating habits?

We tried out new restaurants and new dishes we never would've tried otherwise. And it just made everything so much easier. Everything was included, and we got the convenience of eating in a park or nearby resort, which meant we didn't spend so much time in transit. We were paying more for lodging and getting less room than if we stayed offsite in a condo or vacation home, but we were paying less for the meals than if we'd purchased them OOP, and overall we were just having a more pleasant overall experience. But if the numbers don't work this time (and I don't think they will), then we'll go back to doing maybe 1 TS buffet and eating the rest of our TS meals offsite.

 

[Waseller77]

Will you incorporate more TS meals into your next itinerary if you don't use the DDP?

Will you go back to eating CS meals or offsite?

Has the DDP experience exposed you to new restaurants that you are willing to pay OOP for?

How has the DDP changed your eating habits?


1. No, we'll probably eat 1 or 2 TS on a week long vacation now as opposed to daily TS with the current dining plan.

2. Yes, we'll probably do 1 CS a day and eat the rest of our meals offsite.

3. Yes.

4. The dining plan actually provided a lot more food than we needed, so we found that we ate a lot more than normal. I guess if the changes happen for 2008, it will help our waistline!

 

[familyS]

Will you incorporate more TS meals into your next itinerary if you don't use the DDP?
No

Will you go back to eating CS meals or offsite?
A few more CS meals and yes, some non-Disney DTD restaurants.

This would have been our first DDP trip, but if the rumored changes are true, it won't fit my family.

 

[northie]

If we don't use the dining plan, there are some places we will go and pay OOP, like Le Cellier and Marrakesh and a character meal each trip...but I know we would eat a lot more CS meals than TS meals without the DDP simply because as much as I enjoy the restaurants and trying new foods, it takes very valuable PARK TIME to use that DDP!

There are some places like Fulton's Crab House that don't do the DDP that we already pay OOP for, and will continue to book every trip. The Plaza Restaurant at MK is CS food at a CS price, yet it takes a TS credit to eat there, so that too will always be OOP for us, DDP or not.

We went in Oct. 2005 and paid OOP for an 8 day trip with 1 TS and 1 CS each day, and as the plan stands now, we would have been better off to spring for the DDP, but we hadn't done the math before that trip. Added it all up when we got home and went, "huh". Never dreamed without ordering appies and dessert we would rack up that kind of dough, but we did. So we now get the dining plan.

Whether we will continue to use it after the changes in 2008 I can't say till I really sit down and do the math. Right now, $70 per person seems more than we will pay. We don't want or need resort refillable mugs as we rarely use the food court, so we shall see.

 

[DisneyMom5]

This thread is an outgrowth of the "Will you use the DDP in '08" thread.

Many, many people here have said that they tried TS restaurants that they normally would not have without the DDP. Well, now it appears (at least at last count on the poll) that many people will not use the DDP in '08 if the changes are as predicted.

The questions are:

Will you incorporate more TS meals into your next itinerary if you don't use the DDP?

Will you go back to eating CS meals or offsite?

Has the DDP experience exposed you to new restaurants that you are willing to pay OOP for?

How has the DDP changed your eating habits?



*****

Quite frankly, I think WDW is hoping that more CS eaters will now be hooked on TS meals and be willing to pay OOP for them even if they decide not to do the DDP or any of the variations. I'm just wondering what people are thinking.

Our first trip was pre-DDP. We booked three TSs meals, skipped one, and got sick and missed one other. But that was what we were willing to pay for.

Our last trip was during FREE dining. And so is our upcoming trip. We cannot pass up the free DDP, even if they do not include tip it is worth it for our large family (we save more eating free than we would with a room discount.)

We discussed paying for the DDP, as it is a good way for us to budget.

If the plan gets much more picky, we will have to resort to more snacks and CS, and maybe 1 or 2 TS.