2008 Vacationers

Have you heard about the rumored changes to the DDP and what are your thoughts?

I'm not thrilled with the changes but I'll probably suck it up and get it anyway so I don't have to worry about the cost of each meal and how much we are spending. Sure I could pay OOP but I don't want to deal with charging to the room and getting sticker shock at the end or worse charging to the cc and not realizing how much we spent until much later. I do pretty well tracking my souvineer purchases on the cc but I see that it would be easy for us to not track so closely if we are having to add meals into the estimate each day with the cc.

I just hate the idea of having to now carry cash to cover the tip of the darn meal. At least its only the TS meals that will require a tip.

When we go in '08 we will really have to think about if the DDP is still worth it. :( Tips on a TS meal really add up when you are paying for 6 people!

I can't imagine getting the deluxe plan though, maybe if it was just me and DH going then it would be nice.

It would have been better imo if they would have kept one appetizer per table on the regular ddp. Or something like that, not just taken off the apps and the tip too and only reduced the price by $1 :confused:

I really hope the rumors are not true because the tips do add up & it kinda takes away the convicience for the guest, I think anyway. We always pay more than the automatic tip to bring it up to 20% but I'm sure it does suck for the servers.

Thankfully I have yet to notice any difference in service when we tell the server we are on the DDP. I have read many threads that people were given horrible service. We'll see what this year brings I suppose.

Any more rumors on when the 2008 rates will be out so we know for sure what's going on w/the DDP?

I can deal without an appetizer. I can actually deal better without a dessert but oh well. What I hate is the no tip.

I thought about the deluxe plan until I added up the cost for our planned 2008trip. No way unless its free could I do the deluxe plan. $70 * 9 days = $630 *2 = $1,260. There is no way we'd ever eat that much in a week and 2 days!!

Oh crud, I haven't been paying attention...it's more than then tip they want to change now?? I guess I have to make a stop over on the DIS today huh? Yeah, we go for 10 days so that would mighty pricey...

See we never had bad service last year either. The only bad service we had was due to either the place was very busy in general (H&V) or the server in general was having a bad day (50s PT).

I think the problem will be the servers will be getting stiffed more and more which will lead to unhappy servers. I know I'll do my best to guestimate my meals before we leave for the day and plan to tip according to my estimate but that will be hard since you don't know exactly what you will order until you get there.

I will be using my coupon holder for dining tips instead of coupons now. Better start putting away money for this.

When we went in May on the dining plan we didn't have any bad service either. Everyone was really nice and helpful, even at the CS places.

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Originally posted by MagicalJenK >Oh crud, I haven't been paying attention...it's more than then tip they want to change now?? I guess I have to make a stop over on the DIS today huh? Yeah, we go for 10 days so that would mighty pricey...

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Basically the changes are eliminating the appetizers from the TS meals, eliminating the tips, and price reduced by $1

And the addition of a deluxe ddp that has 3 meals a day and costs around $70 per day (it has other features but it won't ever be something we consider unless our income triples and I all of the sudden lose my frugality :rotfl: )

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Originally Posted by m 'n c

See we never had bad service last year either. The only bad service we had was due to either the place was very busy in general (H&V) or the server in general was having a bad day (50s PT).

I think the problem will be the servers will be getting stiffed more and more which will lead to unhappy servers. I know I'll do my best to guestimate my meals before we leave for the day and plan to tip according to my estimate but that will be hard since you don't know exactly what you will order until you get there.

I will be using my coupon holder for dining tips instead of coupons now. Better start putting away money for this.

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Someplace I read that they were hoping servers would now try a little harder, in order to get better tips than what the original DDP gave them, since it's more up to them and their service now. But who knows - we had very good service last year when we went also!! We'll have to get the calculator out to figure it's costs when the official plan comes out!!

Yeah, I just read the allearsnet blog about the changes. Hmmm...here's my big complaint...I LOVE appetizers! If I could make a meal out of apps & desserts I would!! I wish instead of getting rid of them all together, perhaps they could say for every 2 people you get 1 app or 1 app for the table? I don't know...I will just miss my apps in the plan. Or maybe they could say your choice of app or dessert...that way it's just one or the other not both?? Like I said, I love my apps so this really bums me out & for sure I could pay OOP, but I don't know...this plan really makes me have to do a lot of math!! :0)

But I think I like my idea best....either your choice of app or dessert....I'd rather have apps most days anyway...dang....who do you think I could call to give my suggestion?? :0)

Ooh!! I don't like the sound of this at all...I could do with one appetizer for table too, but no tips??!! That will be a big pain! Not sure if we'll continue to do it, and I LOVE having our meals prepaid and not having to carry anything but a couple disney gift cards for souveniors. :( As a DDP lover this is a a real bummer...I had not read this on DIS either...guess I'll head over there tonight and catch up....

I first caught wind of this on the Dis but they kept referring to the allearsnet newsletter and that's when I saw it in print. I think next trip we will be doing more character meals/buffets which will allow us to do appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I'm sure that strategy will not maximize the plan for us but for us its more about seeing the characters and trying new things out.

We've never used the DDP because we just didn't think it was worth it for just the 2 of us. We never eat that much food. We usually stay at OKW and have a late breakfast in the room, a salad for lunch and then dinner.

We do use the Disney Dining Experience where we get 20% off any TS meal. That has been great and has worked for us.

I think that Disney is making a mistake by not including the tip. The servers are going to be the ones to suffer. Many people tend NOT to tip what they should......when you offer a special or give a discount. Happens for our staff all the time.

Maybe if you set aside Disney gift cards to use for meals or tips, that will help your dining budget.

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Originally Posted by Magical JenK

Yeah, I just read the allearsnet blog about the changes. Hmmm...here's my big complaint...I LOVE appetizers! If I could make a meal out of apps & desserts I would!! I wish instead of getting rid of them all together, perhaps they could say for every 2 people you get 1 app or 1 app for the table? I don't know...I will just miss my apps in the plan. Or maybe they could say your choice of app or dessert...that way it's just one or the other not both?? Like I said, I love my apps so this really bums me out & for sure I could pay OOP, but I don't know...this plan really makes me have to do a lot of math!! :0)

But I think I like my idea best....either your choice of app or dessert....I'd rather have apps most days anyway...dang....who do you think I could call to give my suggestion?? :0)

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I like your plan better too, that way I can get an app and DH can get a dessert and then we can share.

I like apps better too and at least that way the plan would be giving more flexibility.

I also think the servers will suffer with the tip change, alot of people are cheap tippers especially when they are spending alot on a vacation. Also alot of foreign guests are not aware of the tipping customs in the US, so the automatic tip took care of that problem.

I guess we will wait and see :confused:

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Originally Posted by LuvMyBoys

I like your plan better too, that way I can get an app and DH can get a dessert and then we can share.

I like apps better too and at least that way the plan would be giving more flexibility.

I also think the servers will suffer with the tip change, alot of people are cheap tippers especially when they are spending alot on a vacation. Also alot of foreign guests are not aware of the tipping customs in the US, so the automatic tip took care of that problem.

I guess we will wait and see :confused:

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Thanks!! :sunshine: EXACTLY what I was thinking...share!! Still get what you want & don't feel like you're missing out!!

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Originally Posted by Magical JenK

Thanks!! :sunshine: EXACTLY what I was thinking...share!! Still get what you want & don't feel like you're missing out!!

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Yeah, it will help my hips, thighs, and butt too!! :rotfl: Honestly, I can't believe the amount of food! I know I don't need an app, entree, and dessert but you know I order them all!!! It's included, I can't NOT order it!

So I think app or dessert for each TS credit is the best option, especially considering that there are many people (strange but true) who NEVER eat dessert. (Shudder :eek: )

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Originally Posted by LuvMyBoys

Yeah, it will help my hips, thighs, and butt too!! :rotfl: Honestly, I can't believe the amount of food! I know I don't need an app, entree, and dessert but you know I order them all!!! It's included, I can't NOT order it!

So I think app or dessert for each TS credit is the best option, especially considering that there are many people (strange but true) who NEVER eat dessert. (Shudder :eek: )

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Oooh...we think the same way! Well, it comes WITH it why would I turn it down!! :p

Well if that change does happen, it sure takes the value out of the plan. We are doing it for our first time, I know it is going to be WAY too much food, but I am going to enjoy it while I can. Typically we don't stay on property, so this is a fun change and hopefully they won't make the change, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they did.

I agree with others, give people a choice of app or dessert...then people can share.

And the tip thing is a BAD idea. The servers are the only ones that will get hit...but heck Disney will be making more $$.

We're basically WDW newbies having been out on the west coast and going to D'land for years. Because of available vacation time we're really not able to spend more than a few days at WDW because we've been tacking it onto the end of DCL cruises. Now, because of our short visits to WDW the DDP worked out great last time HOWEVER I truly believe it's because we're only two people. We both enjoy our food and drink and ate like kings (DON'T go there!!!). We made out like bandits food-wise. Sure, we paid for our drinks and wine, but we do like to eat and the plan was perfect for us. If we had youngsters/picky teens with us, I think I would find it very difficult to justify the cost for them.

I actually like the thought of the deluxe plan as well as the additional wine package, but I would never do it for a stay of 10 days, that's for sure! We'll see if the rumor comes to fruition.

As far as the tip, I will continue to tip as we do. There's always talk of many others not following tipping guidelines, but do we really know that's true? There will be some, of course, who won't (my Aunt Bertha will NOT be joining us on this next trip!) but that happens in real world outside of WDW too. I know I'm not the norm (STOP SNICKERING!!!) but I'd be very interested in these versions.

For my family of 2 adults, 1 disney adult (10), and 1 child I made a spreadsheet today (go ahead, call me a geek!) listing where we wanted to eat (that wouldn't change whether or not we do the DDP), what I thought we would have if we were paying OOP: sharing 3 meals amongst the 4 of us, 1-2 desserts max with dinner and none at lunch, 1 appy for the table if not a buffet, beverages only about half the time... in other words trying really hard to be conservative and spend a minimum amount, plus tax & average of 15% tip. I also included 1 snack per person for 2 of 5 days only @ an average of $3.25.

Cost of above scenario: ~$700
Cost of DDP plus 15% tip on what I thought we'd eat: ~$690

So still, it saves money and we won't have to worry about who is ordering what or if someone doesn't want to share or wants his or her own dessert. We will get the MYW with Dining (or whatever it will be called) even if the rumored changes are true.