Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Nothing like getting to LeCellier at 5:30 and being told they are booked for the night. Walking to Rose and Crown and being told the same. Walking to Chefs de France etc ... and that's happened of late.<< It's happened to me 2 times when I didn't have a P.S. for that night at Epcot. Each time I ended up getting a better meal at the Dolphin. That is what I would recommend. The vacation feeling one should have when enjoying the World Showcase area is what I think has been harmed the most by the dining program.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>And with the dining plan, it's particularly important so we can get the value out of it rather than lose money.<< That's the more troubling trend, Dave, is that people feel compelled to use the options simply because they are paid for, or even free, not that they are hungry. It leads me to understand that some people are dining next to me with different priorities. My priority is to have a relaxing meal with good service. I have had bad experiences of late where I assume some people aren't putting the same value on their meal as I am and that is why I am witnessing poor social behavior. That really is minor nitpicking though. What I feel is the 2nd biggest negative effect, outside of the reservation problem, is that the servers are less motivated to provide the best service possible. Why should they when they are guarenteed a minimum of 18%? Talk about a sweet job, if I was custodial or busting my butt at Speedway I would be bitter.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>..six months in advance, not knowing if some parks we wanted to visit more than once, was ridiculous!<< Well, I'm glad in a sad way that I am not the only one frustrated. I try to make reservations and go along with the system but what happens if I am enjoying myself at Typhoon Lagoon?! I have to cancel my early dinner at Epcot. I surely cannot depend on Disney's transportation to get me to Epcot in less than an hour. How do I know what the weather at Typhoon Lagoon is going to be 4 months in advance?! More often than not I have a PS at one park, I'm at the other park and don't want to rush and stop-short the bad time at the other park I'm currently in and I have to cancel the PS I made and chance it at the park I'm still at. It simply wasn't so complicated before. I think it is a REAL significant negative to the WDW experience. Much, much worse than staffing or burnt out lightbulbs.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>there are times we are waiting to check in at a Disney resort and listen to the cast members telling the guests that they have one Breakfast voucher , and one dinner voucher... you have guests here for conventions that get those in their packages.. there are so many reasons now that make it hard to get your reservation... << That's a great point. I don't mind the vouchers, I think the bigger problem has been address by VBDad and '74. IMO, they need to limit PS's to 30 days. And limit those PS's so that there are plenty of day-off space. Foods was not in the red - ready to be downsized when they operated more like that. Not everything has to be ran for maximum profits. You need loss-leaders. That to me sums up the remaining problems still present at Disney. They still don't understand that their market dominance comes from needing and having loss leaders (i.e. often times attractions)
Originally Posted By ChiMike '74>>And quality? Well, I feel reasonably confident that the ingredients, side items, quality of cuts of beef etc ... are all being dropped too.<< I would second that. I eat out a lot and I have eaten at Disney a lot. You have to be the guy from Momento not to notice the difference. Which is a shame because Disney dining has been what I look forward to in the last 8 or 10 years. VBDAD>>but as a customer and viewing it from a business standpoint, I think the model works fairly well.<< My problem with the model is that it came from a need to be lazy with Dining operations. As I said in a post above, Foods has always been a goldmine. It wasn't that they were losing money due to inefficiencies. This 180 day policy coupled with the meal plan DID NOT come from a better way to SERVICE the guest. It came from a way to further squeeze golden eggs from the goose. That's my problem with it - because what happens to the goose VBDad???? >> am not sure even setting aside 20% of the seats will fix the issue of getting into Le Cellier << Probably not, In September I was told Le Cellier was booked for 3 weeks. NO AVAILABILITY - PERIOD. That is insane. We're not talking Charlie Trotters here
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <But I wasn't thrilled with the increase from $50 to $85 this year, that's some gouging if you ask me. < I believe it only went to $60 for DVC
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <That's the more troubling trend, Dave, is that people feel compelled to use the options simply because they are paid for, or even free, not that they are hungry. It leads me to understand that some people are dining next to me with different priorities. My priority is to have a relaxing meal with good service. I have had bad experiences of late where I assume some people aren't putting the same value on their meal as I am and that is why I am witnessing poor social behavior< couldn;t agree more
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I would second that. I eat out a lot and I have eaten at Disney a lot. You have to be the guy from Momento not to notice the difference. Which is a shame because Disney dining has been what I look forward to in the last 8 or 10 years.< while I agree to some point- it really varies by restaurant..some it is more noticeable than others -- but you know I feel that way at a lot of other nice places I eat out at also....non Disney
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <That is insane. We're not talking Charlie Trotters here< Charlie Trotters...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm doing my best drooling Homer imitation here...at there for my birthday...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < It came from a way to further squeeze golden eggs from the goose. That's my problem with it - because what happens to the goose VBDad????< no argument from me--- and add to the list the fact that every meal at Crystal Palce and Cindy's are character meals -- leave one for those of us who do not want to eat with Pooh also
Originally Posted By vbdad55 the goose and the gander are on a plate at LTT ( but still no honey butter ! )
Originally Posted By hopemax I am wondering how long until they bump Le Cellier up to a 2 credit place on the dining program. If that happened you'd see seats open up real quick. As it is, order the most expensive item and it is like the "maximum use" of a one credit table service place. But all I want is my pretzel bread, and cheese soup, and it makes it darn right impossible to get! I am going to visit my parents for 10 days in early September, and I haven't made my reservations yet and I am worried. But it really hard to know where I can eat, and if it is going to be for 2 or 3 people (depending on my Mom's work schedule and if she just wants to go home). Oh, and my Dad usually has the opposite experience. No PS available on the phone, but show up at the restaurant and they are half empty. They do tend to go at opening though. The last three times they went to Boma, that is what happened.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Good point. I have also had great luck showing up at Boma at opening with no worries. Watch, now that will soon be an issue too.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >And quality? Well, I feel reasonably confident that the ingredients, side items, quality of cuts of beef etc ... are all being dropped too.< I'll cast my vote for the quality of food being much poorer than in the past. It's almost to the point where the only good food is at the deluxe resorts.
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<they need to limit PS's to 30 days. And limit those PS's so that there are plenty of day-off space> I need to ask this question again, I'm not sure if I really got a answer in another thread... I know that Disney allowed PS even if you were not a resort guest... have they changed that back... if not.. that has a major impact on reservations....
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^^ A part of my agrees. That it should be a resort guest perk; however the reservation system is so out-of-control it's not very reasonable to give local guests, or even off property guests, no recourse to access the dining options. You can't create that caste system. Like anything Disney, managment has taken what once was a novel guest perk and blown it completely out of it's own usefulness.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "But I wasn't thrilled with the increase from $50 to $85 this year, that's some gouging if you ask me." Really, I paid $40 her in the UK.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "That's the more troubling trend, Dave, is that people feel compelled to use the options simply because they are paid for, or even free, not that they are hungry. It leads me to understand that some people are dining next to me with different priorities. My priority is to have a relaxing meal with good service. I have had bad experiences of late where I assume some people aren't putting the same value on their meal as I am and that is why I am witnessing poor social behavior." Don't get me wrong - I always do table service anyway (unlike these people that say "oh, the dining plan is wonderful, as we eat at restaurants we would never try" mentality). Becuase of that we opted to pay for the plan. But if we cannot get into a restaurant because they are booked up, that is bad economics. Therefore we booked up. But even in 2000 - I booked my restaurants as soon as I could. I was not going to fly 3000 miles and pay $5000 to end up eating junk food all the time!!!! I agree though, they should set aside a percentage of tables for walk up custom and serve both the planners and the spontanious people.
Originally Posted By Labuda "Really, I paid $40 her in the UK." Dave, I thin you're thiking of the per diem price for adults for the Disney Dining Plan, whereas the commet aobut a price jump from $50 ot $85/year is i regards to the Disney Diing Experience - a card that gets you free vlaet parking when dining at a hotel with it, as well as 20% off food & beverages (including alcohol) at most WDW dining locations.
