Fulton's does not (and for the record has never) participated in the Magic Your Way Plus Dining (commonly referred to as the Disney Dining Plan - DDP).
But, thanks for coming out today, we have some lovely parting gifts for you....:brick:
Yes, I am aware of it. The point I was making that was because they had no ADRs anywhere, and every restaurant that takes the credits in DTD was booked with 2-3 hour walk-up waits that evening, they were headed to Fulton's in order get something, ANYTHING, to eat. Whilst standing beside the check-in desk after dinner waiting on some family who were using the men's restroom there, I watched half a dozen groups attempt to get in and use table service credits at Fulton's. Most of them went ahead and got on the wait list to pay for their dinner, when they were told they could not use credits.
But my main point was that the quality of food at Fulton's has really gone downhill. Nor is my family the only one to think so - go read the reviews of Fulton's on AllEarsNet. I don't know what happened but they have changed drastically in the last few years, and not for the better. I wish I'd been aware of those reviews before we stopped there to eat - we would not have gone, because our experience there matched up to the others' exactly.
Whilst standing beside the check-in desk after dinner waiting on some family who were using the men's restroom there, I watched half a dozen groups attempt to get in and use table service credits at Fulton's. Most of them went ahead and got on the wait list to pay for their dinner, when they were told they could not use credits.
Like it or not... the DDP has had a negative impact overall on the dining experience at WDW. Menus are shorter, food is not as good, waits are MUCH longer, even with ADRs. Amongst 8 ADRs last week we were only seated within 5 minutes of the ADR time twice. The longest wait was 45 minutes past the seating time.
As for folks arguing that you should be able to stretch your table service credits out by plate sharing... it IS one of the things that leads to the extreme overcrowding and the 180 day reservation requirement. And whether or not Disney ever changes it - while I personally think they should- at the least they should charge a plating fee, as many good restaurants do for sharing. At any rate, cutting down on the food quantities will help alleviate the desire to share.
Beyond that are the ones you see taking extra food from the buffets and wrapping it up in bags and napkins, then stashing it in their bags, but that's a whole different problem that's far more difficult for the management to effectively prevent, I'd guess. I cannot see them attempting to dislodge packets of food from people on the way out the door, and assume they factor the loss into the cost we all pay.
Someone else up the thread a bit commented on the increased noise and general chaos in the restaurants now, and that's true too.
Sorry you dislike my feelings about the DDP's impact on the dining experience, but I am entirely entitled to have my opinion about it, as are you. Dining at Disney is nothing like it was 5 years ago for my family. We honeymooned at Disney a decade ago, and I have such fond memories of quiet, romantic dinners in EPCOT World Showcase and DTD restaurants, absolutely fantastic food, and sublime service.
It isn't like that anymore, and that's unfortunate. I'm sure it works for some people as it is now - clearly it does, or they wouldn't be using it. But Disney has changed their standards in this area, and it simply means that some peoples' dollars won't come their way anymore, while others' will. At least every August and September. :animwink:
If you love WDW Dining the way it is now, more power to you.
We're actually looking forward to discovering some of the fine dining offsite.
