Was planning and dining at WDW easier? I am a total WDW newbie... but have been to DLR 4 times for 4-5 day trips. There are dining plans available at DLR but you hear little talk of them- at least I do. I only know one family personally who's used it. And PS can be made 30-60 day in advance... not 6 months. Wow.

Just wondering if WDW used to be more like DLR in terms of planning your dining? We will be at WDW only 2.5 days in March (4 adults) and are not doing a dining plan for this short time. But, someday we intend to go w/our 3 children and it seems like dealing with the Dining Plans is stressful?

nvmom

It's actually a lot of fun and a big savings, even with the changes this year. It depends on your family. If you have a couple of younger kids and you and your spouse don't eat a whole lot (don't like desert every night -- hey, c'mon, you're on vacation, enjoy), then maybe it won't work out. But here's a suggestion. Keep all your receipts from your visit this time, including dinner (sit-down?), lunch (counter-service) and snacks. After your trip, compare what you paid to what you would have paid with the dining plan and then you'll have a pretty good idea if it'll work for you. I loved it. I hate that DL doesn't have the same deal; I don't like their voucher system; I'd rather have the full-blown dining plan, and I WOULD have done this for my upcoming vacation.

As someone who doesn't do the dining plan, the impact to me is that the table service restaurants are more popular, and therefore it's harder to get in on the fly. Since I generally don't go during super busy times of the year, and rarely with a large group, it's not a big deal, but it's still something I have to work around. The ADR time used to be shorter, but there were different times for different restaurants. Now they're just about all the same, so it's less confusing. Plus I think being 6 months, I think it might spread out the calling a little more. Some people just are NOT ready to make ADRs 6 months ahead of time!

ETA - plus since there are SOOOO many more table service restaurants at WDW vs DL, 'dining' is a much bigger part of most peoples' vacations in Florida, than it is in California.

Yes, I think the dining plan has changed WDW dining, and not for the better. First, there are many many people who used to be happy with just getting a burger for dinner, now doing sitdown meals. So the restaurants are much more crowded, making dining reservations much more important and harder to get at the more popular restaurants.

Second, and I need to say this carefully - the clientele at the nicer restaurants is now primarily made up of the burger & fries crowd, and as such (nice people though I'm sure they are) aren't used to many of the nicer dishes. Many of the menus have been dumbed down significantly over the last couple of years, as chefs make moves to attempt to accommodate their guests. For those of us who were enjoying the nicer restaurants all along, the end result is more difficulty getting in, and fewer choices than before.

I'm sure it's been a win for Disney, and many people love the savings. But it's hurt the dining experience that I've enjoyed at WDW for at least the past 15 years or so.

Great post, Dan!:)
Ditto to everything you said...that's been our experience too!:crying:

Interesting info... thank you.

That is a good idea to keep receipts and such... although I always jot down notes at the end of each day anyway because I like to do trip reports. I'll do one for this trip too, even though it's short, because it's our first taste of the World. :)

nvmom

I am extremely anti-dining plan.

It makes it almost impossible to get a seat at a decent restaurant.

The menus have been dumbed down.

Primarily the quality of the choices has dropped considerably. I know two people who are "area managers" (Disney-speak for General Manager) of Epcot Restaurants. Both have told me that they only get reimbursed a fixed amount for each meal, no matter what is ordered. This is why they do not use high-end ingrediants in some of their dishes; they would be effectively loising money on each meal served.

Before this year the servers did not really care what you ordered, as their tip (unless you gave extra in cash) was based only on what the credit to the restaurant was and not the value of the meal. Starting this year the servers, if they know you are on DDP, tend to push the higher price items which is good for their tip but bad for the restaurant's bottom line.

In the past a restaurant, with entrees running in the $12-$15 dollar range could afford to have some entrees (or even one) in the $25 range; knowing that people were willing to pay for the unusualness/quality of the dis. Now, of course, they can't have thiese items on the menu.

Before this year the servers did not really care what you ordered, as their tip (unless you gave extra in cash) was based only on what the credit to the restaurant was and not the value of the meal. Starting this year the servers, if they know you are on DDP, tend to push the higher price items which is good for their tip but bad for the restaurant's bottom line.
Now THAT is an interesting tid-bit of info.
So... going off of what you said, and in reference to past conversations about this very topic, some comments were only partially correct. The servers knew that they were going to get at least a tip - but not necessarily 18% of the value of the final bill. Of course, that's changed now.
(By all means, please correct me if I am misinterpreting that wrong.)

Gus, you are correct.

You know the saying, "It is what is is"? Yep, that sums it up. I like to do one sit down (table service) per day. I just do. It keeps me in vacation mode and keeps me from getting too commando.

SO, I HAVE to make ADRs. Now being the Type A-freaky planner that I am, I like having a schedule and knowing where I am going to eat. I'm also ok with bailing if something else comes up and actually am also ok with flexing the schedule, just as long as I had one to begin with. (BTW, I always call to cancel if my plans change, whether it is 2 months or 20 minutes before my ADR.)

I like to do one sit down (table service) per day. I just do. It keeps me in vacation mode and keeps me from getting too commando.

I completely agree. Dining is one of the things that continues to make a WDW vacation special for me. As much as I don't like what the DDP has done to WDW's restaurants, they're mostly still pretty danged good, and I'll continue to book my ADR's and enjoy the sitting and the eating.

Before this year the servers did not really care what you ordered, as their tip (unless you gave extra in cash) was based only on what the credit to the restaurant was and not the value of the meal. Starting this year the servers, if they know you are on DDP, tend to push the higher price items which is good for their tip but bad for the restaurant's bottom line.


A friend who is only a lurker here on MP wanted me to post this response to the above -

"This isn't correct. Servers did get paid based on the value of the meal, EXCEPT for those who worked for non-Disney owned restaurants (participants). That would include Mexico, Italy, I believe Japan as well (and Raglan Road, etc). They received an amount only on the price of the dining plan. It was about $4.00 for adults. I discussed it with waiters at Tutto Italia (I had already known that they were getting tipped less), and always tipped them extra (as well as any other operating participant). Disney servers tended to do quite well, I met one who worked at a character buffet location and he claimed about $70k in 2006. He said that many people tipped extra, on top of the 18%."

70 GRAND? I've just decided to return to waitressing (um, serving) when I move to FL. WOW--that's wonderful!!!

70 GRAND? I've just decided to return to waitressing (um, serving) when I move to FL. WOW--that's wonderful!!!

Okay - I'm the one who is "the friend". I have lurked a fairly long time, but wasn't signed on (and wasn't really planning to ever post). I'm so spread thin online as it is!

However, the CM who I spoke with - who was off the clock, we were both doing volunteer work, said that is what he claimed on his taxes. I'm not sure if he even knew what his actual earnings were. (when I did waitressing - many years ago, I claimed everything - I don't even know the formula servers use).

The CM also said that the DDP had been very good to servers over the last couple of years. There were a lot of people who didn't realize that the tip was included, so that is nearly 40% in some cases on each meal. Also, I've seen posters online who gave extra tip money, just for the heck of it. He also said that servers previously hadn't always done so well, it depended on location. The DDP helps keep all the restaurants busy.

I expect that tips will be down greatly this year. No double tipping (unless on DDE if guests don't realize it's added already). And not everyone even tips at all. (That isn't to say the servers will do badly, but it has to go down).

For the last couple of years, the operating participant waiters made less (only a percentage on the DDP cost). Now everyone is on equal footing.

And while I'm at it - another post I was itching to answer in December - someone mentioned the DRC sign at the Contemporary one evening. The Disney Reservation Center has a yearly party (I used to work for them, earlier in this decade), and it moved from the CSR to the CR a couple of years or so. Very nice party!

Denise

We used the DDP this past October. It was our first time doing so. It was A LOT of food. What I didn't like was that I felt pressured to schedule everything to the minute so that we could eat at a nice place every night. The planning involved was pretty intense. I had to figure in advance where we were going to be on which days, cross-reference them with EMH's and whatnot. We usually eat at one or two nice places on our trips and use counter-service the rest of the time. It was fun, regardless, but to be honest, it was way to much food and I felt guilty when I couldn't finish everything.

So, we are not opting for that again. And after I compared what we usually spend on food and what we spent of the DDP, we actually didn't save all that much, if anything. We just ended up eating at one nice restaurant per day.

Okay - I'm the one who is "the friend". I have lurked a fairly long time, but wasn't signed on (and wasn't really planning to ever post). I'm so spread thin online as it is!

However, the CM who I spoke with - who was off the clock, we were both doing volunteer work, said that is what he claimed on his taxes. I'm not sure if he even knew what his actual earnings were. (when I did waitressing - many years ago, I claimed everything - I don't even know the formula servers use).

The CM also said that the DDP had been very good to servers over the last couple of years. There were a lot of people who didn't realize that the tip was included, so that is nearly 40% in some cases on each meal. Also, I've seen posters online who gave extra tip money, just for the heck of it. He also said that servers previously hadn't always done so well, it depended on location. The DDP helps keep all the restaurants busy.

I expect that tips will be down greatly this year. No double tipping (unless on DDE if guests don't realize it's added already). And not everyone even tips at all. (That isn't to say the servers will do badly, but it has to go down).

For the last couple of years, the operating participant waiters made less (only a percentage on the DDP cost). Now everyone is on equal footing.

And while I'm at it - another post I was itching to answer in December - someone mentioned the DRC sign at the Contemporary one evening. The Disney Reservation Center has a yearly party (I used to work for them, earlier in this decade), and it moved from the CSR to the CR a couple of years or so. Very nice party!

Denise

Well, welcome lurker! Denise, I'm one of those people who really loved serving. I never minded it, for some reason. Many other jobs under the bridge by now, and it's still one of my favorites! Thanks for the info!

Well, welcome lurker! Denise, I'm one of those people who really loved serving. I never minded it, for some reason. Many other jobs under the bridge by now, and it's still one of my favorites! Thanks for the info!

Thanks! You are welcome, I won't be posting too much - I wasn't really planning to post at all! (I post everywhere already). :)

As a big-time, major klutz, serving was not my strength. I did fine in places like Steak and Shake and Farrells (that was a long time ago!), or anywhere that includes runners. But large trays and myself do not mix. Plus I am not good at uncorking wine. Nor at upselling. :) Did I mention that I drop things?

If I was ever going to wait tables at Disney, I'd want Trails End. It's a favorite restaurant of mine, but you'd really need a server to quit or die - and that doesn't happen often. My two favorite servers are Ken and Donnell - Ken has been there 21 or so years, and Donnell said he has been there for around 12. It's a great atmosphere, and no large trays needed.

Denise

We pulled out the stops this year and will do the Deluxe dining plan. The rational we used was that we did not want to worry about budgeting money for food as well as we are "foodies" and like to eat well but not the junkie diner food. My daughter and I did a spreadsheet, looked at all the restaurants and really planned it well. We are using 2 meal credits for California Grill and then Hollywood Brown Derby for the Fantasmic show.

Also, we plan on being in all of the parks for the full day, so taking an hour or so off for lunch will be a nice break.

I would not use this plan for young families or if your children do not like to sit for long times in a restaurants.

We had used the regular dining plan in 2005 where you did get an appetizer and dessert with your entree for dinner; however Disney changed all of that - so check on the different dining plans.

If you get the Unofficial guide to WDW, it does not go into detail on the different dining plans so ASK, ASK and ASK again, when you make your reservations to make sure you are getting the plan you want. Get the customer service person to talk to you and do not assume!!

I found this out because I did not read in full what the "new" dining plans were until I downloaded the dining plan and saw in detail what we were getting in the deluxe dining plan - that is 3 full sit down meals! It was a pleasant surprise and yes, I did call and check with the reservations desk to confirm this. Also you get the refillable mug program which is a plus.

We are 66 days away from our Adventure:-)) I hope this info helps:D

Get the customer service person to talk to you and do not assume!!


Remember that the agents at DRC are sales agents - not customer service per se. They are on a commission type plan. I think it's better to look at unofficial sites, and the Disney website as well - to get more unbiased information. Not that the Disney site is unbiased really, but it doesn't try to persuade you vocally!

I personally couldn't do the deluxe plan, because I can barely eat what is on the regular plan. And once you include tips, you could be up at $100.00 per day per adult/junior on the deluxe. That is a LOT of money. But that is up to each person, what they want to spend (and how much they want to eat while on vacation).

I don't think the regular dining plan is a good value either, for the most part. If you do a character breakfast on some of the days, it is very hard to get the daily total up to what you spent for the adult plan. I've done the free dine 2x, and it was fun - but I'm local and can take unused credits home in meals for the freezer.

Do I think it was easier before the dining plans? In some cases yes. However, we always planned way ahead. We would always get PS's (old term) and ADR's when we were first eligible to do so and in most cases got what we want.

I think it is a little more challenging to get some of the best places now but there are still plenty of hidden treasures among TS eateries. Many which I am still waiting to try.

In some cases, I think it has brought a decline in service and in food quality. And to some extend, that is disappointing. When you rave about a place one time then a year or so later you walk out disappointed, that is never a good sign. I do remember how the food was so good at some places we would talk about it months, if not years later with a subsequent trip making us think twice about our first thoughts. Thank goodness that some of the places are consistently good or have even improved over the years.

In most cases, the dining plan works for us. We feel that dining is a part of our overall vacation experience and like to treat ourselves accordingly. At the same time, we dont usually go out to eat much so it makes the experience even better.

When I see someone ask "Is the DDP worth it?" I sometimes think the best answer is "It is for us but the only way for you to find out is to compare the price of the plan vs. the price of the food that your family is likely to eat." It is surely not a one-size-fits-all sort of thing.

I know I said I'd not say much. :) I will try not to after this - but I was a Disney-specialized travel planner (working one year at DRC as well) for 7 years. My advice would be to check menus, add up the totals on what you'd expect to eat. If I was still doing travel planning, I expect that I would talk most of my guests out of the DDP by discussing it with them.

If you are mostly doing character breakfasts, I wouldn't do the DDP. If you are doing mostly Le Cellier/Tutto Italia type meals, I would. The one bad thing when I was on the free DDP was that I wanted to get as much value as I could, instead of eating what I really wanted. I actually don't need a filet mignon every night, I might just want a light dinner. But the value wasn't really there (even though the dining was free, I eschewed a room discount to be on it).

I chose not to book the bounceback offer last year due to the tip not being included this year. I would have to go in on it with a few friends at a value to make the free dine worth it, so we'll see (if offered, and I would expect the free dine to be again).

Denise

But the value wasn't really there (even though the dining was free, I eschewed a room discount to be on it).

First of all, I just love it when someone uses words like eschewed!

And that's the problem I had with the plan. I got in on the "free" plan, but I had to pay rack rates to get it. I'm an AP, and can usually save from $25 to $75 or even more per night on a room. I can't do that and get the dining plan, so the loss of that savings cuts into any savings on the plan. And I have to buy a package, which has to include at least a 1-day 1-park ticket. It's still sitting in my desk drawer, and maybe will get some use some day.

OT - You're finding discussion around MP to be pretty interesting, aren't you Denise? There are some nice folks here, and some good chatter.

First of all, I just love it when someone uses words like eschewed!

I almost used it again today, but I prefer to re-word on different boards, so people don't see the same thing 3x. :)

And I have to buy a package, which has to include at least a 1-day 1-park ticket. It's still sitting in my desk drawer, and maybe will get some use some day.

Dan, you can use that base ticket towards the purchase of a renewal AP. (or a new one). They will just remove the value of it, and subtract it from your new one.

OT - You're finding discussion around MP to be pretty interesting, aren't you Denise? There are some nice folks here, and some good chatter.

I've been lurking on and off since around July (though I've read here before, and may have had another log-in previously). Each board has a different vibe to it, which I like. But at the same time, I like to answer questions and unfortunately could do it all day long if unabated. (that isn't a good thing, I have other things to do too!) Like, I'm going down to get some pics of AK in about 20 minutes.

Each person needs to decide for themselves on the DDP. But I would really do research on it, because - lets say you are giving Disney an extra $5.00 per day per person for the "convenience" of having it. That is a lot of money! If I had a $18.00 character breakfast, and a $2.00 snack and a $13.00 counter service - I'm leaving $5.00 free and clear for Disney (per adult/junior, if everyone did the same). When I did free dine, I tried to do $4.00 snacks. But sometimes I just want an orange, or any $1.00 or $2.00 snack. I didn't feel like I should use the plan for that. It's less freedom for me.

I always think that guests should get the most value for their dollar. I do pay for experiences/conveniences I think are valuable to me. Like the VIP tour at Universal Hollywood - pricey, but worth every penny and then some. But I don't like throwing extra money at Disney for something I'm not using, or trying to fit a round peg in a square hole (eating the way I normally wouldn't just to try to find value in a plan). Often, people get the water park option on their ticket, even though they don't really plan to use it. I just like to streamline my costs and save the money for other things.

Denise

Like the VIP tour at Universal Hollywood - pricey, but worth every penny and then some.

I know it is not the right form but could you give a little insight here on what you get and how much it costs?

hi,
Thanks for all the great info everyone.
I was just wondering, when or how do you find out when the free dining plan is? I will be traveling with my 4 teenage children, so saving on food would help a great deal. Any ideas?