Entertainment changes

[WDW1974]

You really need to come up with a new term. The one you use 'Walmarting' is not accurate for the point you are trying to convey.

No. You really need to either get the point I am making or ask questions.

But thanks for the opinion!

~Pass the Pixie Dust~

 

[WDW1974]

To be fair, I didn't think Chefs was all that wonderful even before the DDP.

Just curious '74, where are your favorite dining spots? 'Cause I can't imagine going and not doing any dining at Epcot, which is pretty much all on the DDP.

Almost every WDW dining spot is on the DDP. That doesn't mean they are worthy of your business ... and I certainly don't advise buying the DDP at all.

As to your question ... taking money and the recent price increases out of the equation, my Top 10 WDW dining locales would be:
1.) Victoria and Alberts;
2.) California Grill;
3.) Narcoosee's;
4.) Bistro de Paris;
5.) Artist Point;
6.) Shula's;
7.) Jiko;
8.) Brown Derby;
9.) Boma;
10.) Bluezoo;

Again, those would be my 'choices' if money were no object. I have never had anything less than a very good meal at all of the above ... and the top two are among the best I have had anywhere on the planet.

~Pass the Pixie Dust~

 

[WDW1974]

I honestly never heard of the term Walmarting but I think it fits perfectly into what happened to many of the restaurants at Walt Disney World since DDP. Before all the EPCOT restaurants would offer unique, authentic cuisine native to its host country or pavilion. This slowly went away, especially with the DDP. The choices have been reduced and when you sit down you get the sense that they are trying to turn your table really quick, even to the point that the wait time to get your food from the time you order it rivals McDonald's in terms of both speediness and effiency. (How many times do they forget your fries in the drive through....exactly my point.) This wouldn't be so bad if the prices in the restaurants did not keep going up while the quality of the food is slipping past mediocre. This almost penalizes the guests who opt not to get the dining plan, or do not have DDP available to them. I know DDP is good for Disney's bottom line but I would LOVE to see it go and bring back quality restaurants to WDW.

I doubt it will happen ... it's amazing how gullible people are and how they buy into the Disney hype that DDP is some deal. It is destroying WDW dining for everyone. It isn't a good thing ...

~Pass the Pixie Dust~

 

[yankspy]

WalMarting is a term I use for dumbing down/homogenizing the WDW product to the lowest common denomenator. Lower quality, less selection, same crap all over, dirtier parks etc ...



Actually, I have been using it for many, many years now. It's also widely used by many inside TWDC who share my views for what is being done to 'the brand.'



Except, they don't. Not to mention it goes against the way Disney parks were created. Merchandising is part of the show and is supposed to help continue to tell the tale of the area it is located ... that's why you should only get pirate and nautical themed items at a PoC shop ... jungle goods and wares at a shop near the JC ... futuristic items in Tomorrowland ... historical items in Liberty Square etc ... when you get Jonas Bros CDs or Tink hoodies or Grumpy tees or assorted pins for other parks and resorts and cartoon characters in every shop, it immediately takes you out of the story (whether you are conscious of it, care about it or not) and reminds you that you are at a GENERIC DISNEY STORE.

Whether it sells (and they are struggling to sell anything these days) isn't the point, so I am not going to argue it.



Except that's not how it works.



The DDP has destroyed WDW dining. It has raised prices to absurd pricepoints ... the exact same noodle dish I had at Brown Derby less than two years ago for $14 is now $22 ... a basic a la carte steak is $32 FOR LUNCH. The idea is to force people into buying the DDP, which is working, and then it allows them to go to a cruise line type menu model where you may have six or eight entrees at a restaurant. DDP has utterly destroyed so many places. And the absurd pricepoints give people who buy DDP the ignorant notion they are getting 'a great deal' when in fact they are getting screwed and paying more for less variety and quality and more crowded restaurants. Locals/APers are screwed completely because they can't simply walk up anymore as NO tables are held back for day of ressies and if they do get in, they are forced to pay absurd prices.

If you want some idea as to how much WDW locations have raised prices while limiting variety you might want to check out Deb Wills' great WDW site and do an archive search of her menus.

As to characters, no, Disney isn't simply about characters. It is that mindset that has helped allow Disney to dumb down its offerings. That Walmart simplistic notion that Disney is simply a place to see teens in foamhead costumes chase kids through a dining room while you're trying to eat.

Do you know that EPCOT didn't have a single character meal its first 15 years? And it did just fine.

Can you imagine a WDW without any character dining?

I can. I lived it. It was better.

If you think about it, many of the more popular WDW restaurants do not have characters. It just goes to show that it is not necessary all the time. I can't say that I am crazy about characters in WS. There are times when I just want to have a nice quiet meal.

The biggest loss due to character dining has to be the castle. That used to be such a nice experience. I am not totally against character dining, I just think it should be limited.

 

[WDW1974]

I am all for Disney being Disney.
I think there are some people that go to Disney and forget that it is a place for the young and young at heart. If you are so much better than "the people who use the DDP" then maybe you should go to the Country of France and eat. I am sure they would make you feel really welcome and you just might find they have rats too and not the character kind.:hammer:
These are just my opinions.

Thanks for your opinions.

I have gone to France. Many times. Enough that I've had a DLP AP ...

Perhaps, if more of the people here who mindlesly support every decision that WDW's exec 'leadership' team makes that eats away at the magic and quality of a WDW vacation, actually traveled a bit beyond WDW they might have a better perspective to comment here.

The people in France have been wonderful to me for the most part in my visits, the food is amazing and DLP makes the MK look like a sorry excuse for a theme park.

~Pass the Pixie Dust~

 

[WDW1974]

If you think about it, many of their more popular restaurants do not have characters. It just goes to show that it is not necessary all the time. I can't say that I am crazy about characters in WS. There are times when I just want to have a nice quiet meal.

The biggest loss due to character dining has to be the castle. That used to be such a nice experience. I am not totally against character dining, I just think it should be limited.

Agreed on all points above.

I used to love Crystal Palace. Then it became a Pooh buffet.

I used to love the Good Turn/Garden Grill. Then it became a family style meal with Mickey and pals in farmer duds.

I used to love Liberty Tree Tavern. Then dinner became a character meal.

I used to love King Stefan's (now Cindy's). Then it became a hugely popular breakfast, but I didn't complain because I sleep through it most days. But then they took lunch and dinner and did the same, all the while doubling or tripling the prices in the process. I'll never get to dine there again.

Character dining much like pins or foamhead shows or hard ticket events aren't bad things in and of themselves ... but Disney has so overdone them so you can't escape them. That's a problem.

~Pass the Pixie Dust~

 

[Computer Magic]

Except, they don't. Not to mention it goes against the way Disney parks were created. Merchandising is part of the show and is supposed to help continue to tell the tale of the area it is located ... that's why you should only get pirate and nautical themed items at a PoC shop ... jungle goods and wares at a shop near the JC ... futuristic items in Tomorrowland ... historical items in Liberty Square etc ... when you get Jonas Bros CDs or Tink hoodies or Grumpy tees or assorted pins for other parks and resorts and cartoon characters in every shop, it immediately takes you out of the story (whether you are conscious of it, care about it or not) and reminds you that you are at a GENERIC DISNEY STORE.

Whether it sells (and they are struggling to sell anything these days) isn't the point, so I am not going to argue it.
.

That is an excellent point.

The DDP has destroyed WDW dining. It has raised prices to absurd pricepoints ... the exact same noodle dish I had at Brown Derby less than two years ago for $14 is now $22 ... a basic a la carte steak is $32 FOR LUNCH. The idea is to force people into buying the DDP, which is working, and then it allows them to go to a cruise line type menu model where you may have six or eight entrees at a restaurant. DDP has utterly destroyed so many places. And the absurd pricepoints give people who buy DDP the ignorant notion they are getting 'a great deal' when in fact they are getting screwed and paying more for less variety and quality and more crowded restaurants. Locals/APers are screwed completely because they can't simply walk up anymore as NO tables are held back for day of ressies and if they do get in, they are forced to pay absurd prices.

If you want some idea as to how much WDW locations have raised prices while limiting variety you might want to check out Deb Wills' great WDW site and do an archive search of her menus.



.

Paying in advance for food purchases was a good idea in the beginning. Remember the days of the Silver Plan. Disney seems to take advantage of things that were good for customers and water it down for their own profit. That is the issue

Disney is forcing customers to pay in advance or else pay a higher price at check out. But what are the options? Disney is to blame. It seems around these parts the customers get blamed for saving money. We are forced to play in Disney sand box.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

so that