Dining Plan Changes in 2009 Prices Released

[diddy_mouse]

I actually just made changes to our trip today and when I wanted to schedule one of our ADRs the CM told me that something was going on with the Dining Plan come January 25th. They were not taking any (new) ADRs at that time it seemed. :shrug: Now, not to start any crazy rumors or get people's feathers all ruffled but I was kind of curious what these so called "changes" could be.

I guess I'll have to wait until January to find out. Unless these boards get wind of things before hand

 

[MousDad]

Yes, kids do seem to get the short end of the stick. The one thing I noticed even at counter service restaurants was the limited options..say we were at cosmic rays..kids couldn't even get a hamburger. Also, the nuggets on the kids meal were totally different than the nuggets offered on the adult meals.

Variety may be an issue, but I never complain about the kids meals at WDW. They give them alot of food for the money. A good value IMO.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

My DH and I are awaiting the pick-your-own-plan day that we dream for. We are BIG fans of the table service and would rather pay more and have two table services with no counter service and no snacks.

We love to sit down early in the day to a full breakfast and skip lunch. Then sit down to a nice dinner around 7p. This is how we used to do it before it got crazy with ADR's and losing the convenience of spontaneity.

The deluxe dining plan is always an option...it is pricey, but offers 3 TS credits a day and includes an appetizer and a dessert for each. Just an option.

 

[WDFAN1977]

I actually like this plan. I am the exact vacationer a lot of you are describing (likes the idea of all inclusive regardless of losing a few $'s). This plan especially excites me because;

• You do not have to make reservations 5 years in advance for CS:lol:.

• I do not have to pay for tips, which can really add up (20% of $70 meal for 3= $14).

• I don't have to plan my day around food (Honey, we have a reservation at 2pm. But, were in line for Splash Mountain).

I would do this in combination of 1 character breakfast and 1 fine dining (paid out of pocket).

 

[RiversideBunny]

I actually like this plan. I am the exact vacationer a lot of you are describing (likes the idea of all inclusive regardless of losing a few $'s). This plan especially excites me because;

• You do not have to make reservations 5 years in advance for CS:lol:.

• I do not have to pay for tips, which can really add up (20% of $70 meal for 3= $14).

• I don't have to plan my day around food (Honey, we have a reservation at 2pm. But, were in line for Splash Mountain).

I would do this in combination of 1 character breakfast and 1 fine dining (paid out of pocket).

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[Dwarful]

Variety may be an issue, but I never complain about the kids meals at WDW. They give them alot of food for the money. A good value IMO.

I guess for us it just doesn't work well. Quantity isn't important if the quality isn't there. Mostly this was the issue at the CS meals..PBJ, cheap nuggets or cold chicken. Table services were better at some of the restaurants.

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

The DDP is ruined and this trip is the last time I'm using it, for sure.

They took something that was:

• 
  an incentive to pay upfront under the real ability to save a few dollars

• 
  the chance for you to try something at a meal you might not normally eat since it was included and "paid for" already, especially with appetizers

• 
  not really have to worry about spending extra money since you got the tip included plus the appetizer being extra food meant you probably could spend less on your one meal you had to pay. I found that I could eat a small breakfast, get a counter service lunch and a sit down dinner with no worry of going hungry...plus a snack!

But they removed the included tip and the appetizer, yet only dropped the price $1. If the 15% tip was removed....why wasn't the price dropped 15%???? :shrug:

And now, they have made it soley that the DDP is a something you can pay for before you travel...and still have to pay for meals and tips when you get there. So......where's the incentive or perceived "deal"? And I'm not one of those people who eats like a bird and says "the DDP isnt for me". I can eat a whole pizza by myself and I ate a dozen glazed donuts one day. But even the DDP seems like a gluttonous adventure to try and get your money's worth everyday.

The counter service plan is no different, except now you are just committing yourself to standing in line to order and eating off a tray for your length of stay. At least you don't have the ADR issues, but still, I don't want to spend $3K for a vacation and feel obligated to eat counter service for a 5 or 6 days.

I think you hit the nail on the head. The major perk of the DDP was having it all prepaid. Unlike the implications of some other posters, not all that use the DDP are out to make money on Disney.
I simply want my dining experiences to be prepaid and not have to worry about that expense on vacation. We used the new DDP this last June. Honestly, it wasn't that bad. There really aren't that many appetizers that I have to have. If there was a have to have, I bought it and my husband and I split it. We bought them at three meals during our entire 12 night stay. Most restaurants serve bread or something to tide you over until the entree arrives. Having to pay the tip out of pocket was a slight pain because that meant we had to carry cash. (We never tip off of credit or debit cards because my aunt got burned doing that. The waiter "mistakenly" entered a much higher tip into the computer. Luckily she had the handwritten copy to prove what she had actually tipped.) The DDP is still a good value if you want to enjoy one nice meal per night. The buffets even make the DDP a good value if you go during the holiday surcharge periods. Our dinner at 1900 Park Fare was more expensive than our dinner at the Sci-Fi.

 

[shoppingnut]

I actually just made changes to our trip today and when I wanted to schedule one of our ADRs the CM told me that something was going on with the Dining Plan come January 25th. They were not taking any (new) ADRs at that time it seemed. :shrug: Now, not to start any crazy rumors or get people's feathers all ruffled but I was kind of curious what these so called "changes" could be.

I guess I'll have to wait until January to find out. Unless these boards get wind of things before hand

It may be because they are still working on the new on-line ressie system for guests to use.

 

[diddy_mouse]

It may be because they are still working on the new on-line ressie system for guests to use.

Ah..I didn't even think of that!