DDP Corruption

[chaodj9]

Hey... I was just wondering if i was the only one to notice that Disney has completely ruined the dining plan. This may have ruined my upcoming Disney trips for some time. Does anyone have anything to add on to this. :confused: :)

[Seasonscraps]

What do you mean Disney ruined the plan? And how is it ruining your trips?

We don't get the DP so it really doesn't have any impact on our vacation. I do find the menus are now lacking variety, quality and quantity which I think is part dining plan and part economy and part Disney maximizing their profit.

[chaodj9]

What do you mean Disney ruined the plan? And how is it ruining your trips?

We don't get the DP so it really doesn't have any impact on our vacation. I do find the menus are now lacking variety, quality and quantity which I think is part dining plan and part economy and part Disney maximizing their profit.

They have comepletly changed it, I guess disney found out they were losing out by giving such good deals...But the DDP is usually where my family would have money to save to afford the trip...
Basically they changed the dining plan so that your basically paying a $80 Meal for 2 snacks.
Somethings wrong :)

[Strmchsr]

They changed it a couple of years ago when they removed appetizers and tip, but other than that there's been no recent change. No impact on my trip. We just don't get it and pay OOP for our food.

[chaodj9]

They changed it a couple of years ago when they removed appetizers and tip, but other than that there's been no recent change. No impact on my trip. We just don't get it and pay OOP for our food.

I went October last year and we had no trouble? My family has been planning lately and im pretty sure it changed.?

A post on another board talked about a loophole:

YOU FOUND A Loopole ( I CANT SPELL FOR ANYTHING) PLEASE TELL ME YOUR SECRET :P

[Basket Mommy]

That link that you posted is talking about the DELUXE dining plan. The regular dining plan is still between $42 and $46 depending on when you go.

DELUXE is $71.99 per adult ($20.99 per child) and includes:

-- THREE MEALS -- Choose from select Walt Disney World Resort table-service and quick-service restaurants for all 3 of your meals.

-- 1 adult table-service meal includes 1 appetizer, 1 entree and 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only), 1 juice (breakfast only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or 1 full buffet. 1 child table-service meal includes 1 appetizer, 1 entrée, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or 1 full buffet.

-- 1 quick-service meal includes 1 entree or 1 complete Combo Meal, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only) or 1 juice (breakfast only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage.

Children ages 3-9 are limited to the Children's Menu (if one is available).

-- 2 Snacks -- e.g. 1 frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single-serving box), single-serving bag of snacks, single piece of whole fruit, 20-oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani water, 22-oz. fountain soft drink, 12-oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea, single-serving prepackaged milk or juice

-- 1 Resort-refillable drink mug per person -- The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan also includes a refillable Resort mug for each Guest. Bring your Resort mug to any quick-service restaurant at your Resort hotel and refill it as often as you like!

BASIC dining is $41.99 per adult ($11.99 per child) and includes:

--One table-service meal (including entree and dessert (lunch or dinner only), or full buffet, 1 juice (breakfast only), non-alcoholic beverage; dessert not available at breakfast). 1 child table-service meal includes 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or 1 full buffet.

--One counter service (quick service) meal (including entree/combo meal, dessert, one juice (breakfast only) and non-alcoholic beverage; dessert not available at breakfast)

--One snack (e.g. a frozen ice-cream novelty, popsicle, or fruit bar, popcorn scoop, single piece of whole fruit, single serving grab bag of chips, 20 oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani Water, medium fountain soft drink or juice, 12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate, or hot tea.)

[HoosierDisneyFan]

Ditto

[azcavalier]

I don't know that you can directly blame the DDP for ruining the menu offerings at WDW. Restaurants, especially higher end/expensive ones have been hit very hard by the recession, and I would wager that includes the restaurants at WDW. Instead of closing the restaurants there, though, they probably are and have been going through changes to keep them profitable.

The DDP has been around for a while, but the free DDP is only three or four years old. That started around the time the recession began. That's also about when Disney started making menu changes, and according to some, the quality started going down. We've been 8 or 9 times since 2003, and except for the first time, we've gotten the DDP every time. Our family hasn't noticed a drop in quality. That's purely an opinion, either way you look at it. But the menu changes for sure have happened.

In any case, It's possible that the DDP is the root of all evil, but I am not so sure that it's not just the economy and WDW trying to keep the restaurants open.

[tadshome]

They changed it a couple of years ago when they removed appetizers and tip, but other than that there's been no recent change. No impact on my trip. We just don't get it and pay OOP for our food.

I have booked the regular DP for August next year and have been advised by my TA that desserts have now been excluded. A counter or table meal will now be 1 entree and 1 soft drink only :sad:

[Marymouse2003]

Hey guys, how accurate is the previous post with info from TA?

[DizneyRox]

They (Travellers across the pond) have been saying it for a while now. It's a rumor, but I think it's got better than a 50/50 shot at being true.

This part is true... There WON'T be two dining plans, one for foreign guests, and one for us American's. And, I think this follows along with all the "complaints" about there being too much food on the dining plan.

Too much food you say? We can fix that, take away the dessert!

If/when implemented, it will probably be tied to another $1 reduction in the cost of the DDP and billed on how it's never been cheaper to be on the dining plan!

[Seasonscraps]

I have booked the regular DP for August next year and have been advised by my TA that desserts have now been excluded. A counter or table meal will now be 1 entree and 1 soft drink only :sad:

I think I read the desserts were going to be excluded from the CS meals, not the TS meals. I'm not too sure though.

[DisneyMomx2]

Will this take effect on those that already booked with the plan the way it currently is?

[Strmchsr]

Will this take effect on those that already booked with the plan the way it currently is?

No. The changes listed above are rumored for 2011, which can't yet be booked. No changes for 2010.

[DizneyRox]

Will this take effect on those that already booked with the plan the way it currently is?
Last time the plan changed, it took effect on a certain date (Jan 1). There was no consideration on when the plan was booked. It's easier to patrol that way, otherwise people would be complaining/scamming trying to get something that someone else got, etc.

[PlutoPlanet]

If they drop the dessert in 2011, we'll drop the dining plan. It just won't seem worth it.

[tadshome]

Hey guys, how accurate is the previous post with info from TA?

I have it in writing from my TA for my already booked holiday in August 2011 that neither CS nor TS will have dessert. It is also in several brochures that have been released here in the UK.

Not happy about it but I am not going to let it ruin my holiday.

[KAT1811]

After they dropped the appetizer and gratuity from the DDP I stopped considering it. It just didn't save us money that way.

Honestly I find paying OOP to be the best economical way to dine in WDW. We have APs this year so the Tables In Wonderland card has saved us tons. I think the popularity of the DDP is mostly it's "pay in advance for food ability" more so than having to save and bring tons of money/credit on vacation. I do not care for dessert but rather an appetizer. We are a family of 6 (and travel in a larger group)so automatic gratuity happens either way (with or without TIW).

To help with your hurt feelings over Disney's manipulation of the DDP why not take what you would have paid for the DDP and put it in a savings account with a debit card attached to it? That way you can save the money and in a manner of speaking still pay in advance for your dining but use any extra funds wherever you choose to.

[Scar]

I think Disney may be realizing that they are losing money (or at least not make as much as they hoped to.) In reading many of these DDP threads, it is obvious that the people (like me) who know it is not a value for them, are not buying it. Most of the people who are buying it are the people who use it to the full extent, and Disney loses money on that. I predict Disney will continue to tweek it (just like they do with the room discounts,) until they are making money off it, or enough people stop buying it and they discontinue it.

[r4kids]

We are also a family of 6 and get charged the 18% automatically. We will not be using the dining plan in Nov when we go but eating at a few select dining locations and we are not staying on property. Disney is losing quit a bit on us this year as we will also be visiting Universal for 2 days. I am a bit annoyed at the level of service and meals as well as room options for large families. We can stay off site at the Mystic Dunes for $380/week for a really nice 2 bedroom unit. Even with the $15/day it will be to park it saves us tons!!

[azcavalier]

I think Disney may be realizing that they are losing money (or at least not make as much as they hoped to.) In reading many of these DDP threads, it is obvious that the people (like me) who know it is not a value for them, are not buying it. Most of the people who are buying it are the people who use it to the full extent, and Disney loses money on that. I predict Disney will continue to tweek it (just like they do with the room discounts,) until they are making money off it, or enough people stop buying it and they discontinue it.

You know, I keep singing the praises of the DDP, but we eat a TS every day, and it's actually one of the things we look forward to. Of course, the other part of it is that the last four years (including this year), we've gone during the free DDP promotion. So, we haven't exactly been paying for it.

Next year we're planning to go in December, because my wife misses the Christmas decorations. I don't know that we'll buy the DDP then.