Changes to DDP?

[JoseyDisney]

Read somewhere there were changews coming to DDP? does anyone know what they are and when they are being implemented?

[nbodyhome]

Re: Changes to DDP?

No appetizer or tip in 2008.

[BigPigletFan]

Re: Changes to DDP?

Also, some locations will be removed from the list of dining options as well.

[nbodyhome]

Re: Changes to DDP?

It took a while for some restaurants to sign on for 2007 (the non Disney owned ones, which includes a few WS restaurants). I haven't heard of any specifically not signing on for 2008?

[FantasticDuck]

Re: Changes to DDP?

I heard there's going to be two levels to pick from now as well?

[nbodyhome]

Re: Changes to DDP?

I heard there's going to be two levels to pick from now as well?

Yes - there are two. The regular dining plan and the deluxe dining plan. I already can't eat all that is on the regular!

[FantasticDuck]

Re: Changes to DDP?

Me either! We were shocked by the amount of food and took our desserts to go a few times.

[nbodyhome]

Re: Changes to DDP?

Me either! We were shocked by the amount of food and took our desserts to go a few times.

I ended up sometimes not using the counter service, and just getting a cheap kids meal (which I would do anyway) at the Pop. I mean, how much food can I eat?

I wouldn't myself pay for the DP, I ended up with 17 food credits (11 counter service, 6 table service) and then 7 snacks. All of it came home with me in to-go food. And I didn't even take everything I was supposed to with those. No sides on many meals, etc.

[Jerren]

Re: Changes to DDP?

I miss the one they had about 10 years ago where you basically could eat what you wanted at any restaurant on the property, :crybye: there was no 1 TS, 1 CS, 1 Snack limit and that flexibility made it much easier for everyone. The current plan seems to put more of a strain on the table service restaurants as they cannot turn around as many meals as the counter service restaurants, which means you didn't have to make reservations 3-6 months in advance to be able to use it!

[Stimpy215]

Re: Changes to DDP?

No appetizer or tip in 2008.

The appetizer part..eh ok...but the no tip part kinda sucks...the DDP is supposed to make it like a no brainer to dine there now you have to figure out a tip...where as now you'd leave it as is and if you got excellent service leave a few extra bucks maybe

[nbodyhome]

Re: Changes to DDP?

The appetizer part..eh ok...but the no tip part kinda sucks...the DDP is supposed to make it like a no brainer to dine there now you have to figure out a tip...where as now you'd leave it as is and if you got excellent service leave a few extra bucks maybe

And it's now a lot more expensive due to that as well. The nice part was that it was all inclusive. I'd rather have them include either an appetizer and dessert, as well as the tip (even if the plan cost more).

[Pacha]

Re: Changes to DDP?

Me either! We were shocked by the amount of food and took our desserts to go a few times.

Same here! Last year, we unfortunately had to throw away a LOT of good desserts, which was a real shame. Lesson learned: This year we'll turn down the free desserts rather than trying to save them all and have to toss them later. :thumbdown

[Phonedave]

Re: Changes to DDP?

Same here! Last year, we unfortunately had to throw away a LOT of good desserts, which was a real shame. Lesson learned: This year we'll turn down the free desserts rather than trying to save them all and have to toss them later. :thumbdown

What would make sense to me - and maybe just me, is using "tickets"


They could add them onto your MYW ticket. You could buy in blocks of 5 for example. Buy 5 dinners for, lets say $125, five counter services for $40, or buy five snacks for $12. Or whatever the pricing works out to.

Have them added to your MYW ticket, and if you want, pay an extra charge to make them non-expiring.

That way a family could budget by buying their meals ahead of time. Maybe they are not big sit down dinner people, so they buy 10 QSFB meals each, and 5 snacks each. Maybe you are like me, and rarely get a snack, but prefer to eat a sit down dinner each day, then you just get the 5 dinner plan.

It fits the guests needs, nobody feels "forced" to use credits they would otherwise loose, or look for sit down places because to use a sit down credit on a QSFB meal is a "waste". It would also allow people to budget ahead of time, and if priced correctly still receive a discount for buying meals ahead and in "bulk".

Disney could also do less costly marketing. Instead of "free meal plan September" they could just say for every 5 days you stay, or portion thereof, you get 5 QSFB credits - make it the Year of a Million Lunches.

-dave

[FantasticDuck]

Re: Changes to DDP?

What we wound up doing is using most of our snack credits in our resort store and bringing home little candy tins and other things we could save as souveniers. The snacks were the only thing we really had a problem finding a place we could use the credits at.

[BALASADA]

Re: Changes to DDP?

Here is the evil lowdown that is coming to the DDP
They are taking away he tip. Now the wait staff will have to remind the guests tips are not included. I guess Disney wants the 18% for themselves.

They are dropping the appetizer, for some it was too much food anyway.

The snack part will have less choices. Disney hated all the candy they were giving away.

Two levels on the plan. New plan will cost $69.99 and include two table service a day. Too much food for alot of people.

Here is the worse part about the whole plan. The only resturants that I know of that use two table service coupons are at the Castle, Grand Floridian, Contemporary and room service. All the vendors get ripped off on the price per coupon that Disney contracted with them.

Bottom line Disney messes up another program that they say is great for the guests.
The only problem is once Disney sees that it is hurting the bottom line they change it for their benefit. I would love to see a major reduction of people getting the DDP but we know that will not happen.

[danyoung]

Re: Changes to DDP?

The snacks were the only thing we really had a problem finding a place we could use the credits at.

The one time I used the plan was during last year's F&W Festival. I saved all my snack credits and used them at the food booths. It worked out great!

I agree with others here that the revised plan is no good. I was on the fence before, and now most definitely will NOT be using the plan in the future, unless it gets some radical rethinking.

[WDW1974]

Re: Changes to DDP?

The only way the plan is good is when it is free or if you long to be morbidly obese.

There's way too much food, and I like to eat ... a lot.

And next year, even 'free' I won't book it because I always order an appetizer with dinner (and they average about $8) and then to not include the tip, well, there are going to be a lot of servers getting screwed next year by angry (and cheap) guests ... and even some who just aren't used to it not being included.

The bottom line is the DDP is bad for Disney Dining.

[Jerren]

Re: Changes to DDP?

The only way the plan is good is when it is free or if you long to be morbidly obese.

There's way too much food, and I like to eat ... a lot.

Yeah it does appear to be less of a value and I'm concerned about the additional table service meal per day since there are just not enough table service offerings to go around during peak seasons.

As far as the morbid obese part, I find I burn way more calories when I'm at the parks with all the walking and running around than I do at home. I've even had my blood sugar crash there where I almost never have that problem at home. It could just be me though I am diabetic and self monitor what and how much I eat each day because I have to. Most folks on vacation tend to go off their diets while folks like me cannot, but with all the extra activity I find I have to eat more to keep it all in balance.