Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<can you do this in your city for 'special' restaurants which WDW's certainly qualify as since they are limited in number for that location ? I know I can't. If there are 20,000 people in the park on a non-peak day how many sit down restaurants seats exist ? Are you willing to wait 2-3 hours for a seat ? I know I'm not.>> Comparing a city to a theme park is ridiculous, but I digress. The fact that there are almost no walk ups every single day of the year for every premium restaurant at a theme park is not supposed to happen. I know it always wasn't like this.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Way to early. I eat dinner then! 10:30 at the earliesst makes seems to me.... Like Disney used to have. << Mickey will be happy to feed you at 9. If not then eat a little later. Now would you like Mickey to wipe your nose when it runs too?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Sorry, I can't agree. Disney basically made it impossible to get a table on the same day with the Dining Plan. << ABSOLUTELY!!!!!! And they are making the price points for food extremely high so the dining plan seems like a bargain.
Originally Posted By dshyates "can you do this in your city for 'special' restaurants which WDW's certainly qualify as since they are limited in number for that location ? I know I can't. If there are 20,000 people in the park on a non-peak day how many sit down restaurants seats exist ? Are you willing to wait 2-3 hours for a seat ? I know I'm not." I know that in major cities there is a need for reservations, but I don't know of many restaurants in many cities that are booked solid 180 days out.
Originally Posted By MPierce ^^^ Also the fact that Disney actively created the problem. It hasn't always been like this.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Comparing a city to a theme park is ridiculous, but I digress. The fact that there are almost no walk ups every single day of the year for every premium restaurant at a theme park is not supposed to happen. I know it always wasn't like this. ---- I guess it's only silly when it doesn't help make one's point. Higher end restaurants have limited capacity and higher demand- just like WDW restaurants I can't walk into Charlie Trotters or Rick Bayless high end places without a reservation- EVER..and many of those made months out as well. but yeah, no correlation there as far as not all being booked always, that is true, but 20 years ago I went 5 years without being able to get into the castle...went multiple trips without getting into Cali Grill - Le Cellier... so yeah they took walk up ( or you went to a kiosk) but multi hour wiats or 'sorry they booked up right away' was many times the story. You are never going to have a perfect system with captive audiences of 20K and seating capactites of hundreds for a day like @ Le Cellier. BTW- not every restaurant is booked - we have changed last minute a few times and have gotten in place- but not prime time @ the favorite places no... that would be like going to...oh wait.. that's ridiculous too.. `
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I know that in major cities there is a need for reservations, but I don't know of many restaurants in many cities that are booked solid 180 days out. -------------------- most aren't in the major cities, but the best places are..hence the comparison I can name more than a few here with 6 month+ ressies..again because audience far outstrips capacity
Originally Posted By disneykid90 I have usually ALWAYS had luck with going to a kiosk in the park to make a reservation same day or day in advance. Yes I do it in peak season, IE Christmas, thanksgiving. I do that for Le Cellar, Mama Melrose, and several other top ones. Always keep checking the kiosks because most of the time there are openings or spots that become open
Originally Posted By dshyates Ok, I am gonna play devils advocate for a second. We all know what has caused this "problem" in regards to crowded restaurants. It is the free dining and the dining plan. But the fact that the better restaurants are now more crowded means that more visitors are now able to enjoy better meals therefore making a better theme park experience. And thus actually allowing more people have a better vacationing experience. I know that it makes it rather inconvenient for us regulars. And I also realize that it is causing a downward slide in the quality and variety at these better restaurants. But I can see where for the average vacationer, it is still providing a better vacation.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I was under the impression the Dining plan concept was in response to the popularity of the ALL-Inclusive Resort Vacations that the audiences seemed to love. Disney designed this to resemble the family cruise vacation including offering the Magic Express in the package. It has kept DisneyWorld financially alive. I wonder how the castmembers like this concept. Are tips and wages and workload better? Interesting to know the other side of the story.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper CMs hate the Dining Plan, at least the ones I know that have dealt with it.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> Mickey will be happy to feed you at 9. If not then eat a little later. Now would you like Mickey to wipe your nose when it runs too? >>> Nah, I'll just feed myself later, and not in Disney. ;-)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 what part of the dining plan do they hate, I am curious. Yes dshates I agree I believe the Dining Plan ( which I have never done since I use my AP to buy a Tables in Wonderland card ) - has caused the menu's to become more generic and prices may have increased even more to make people think they are getting an even better deal...I think you are spot on. Does the Dining Plan guarantee 18% gratuity as the Tables in Wonderland does ? If so I am really curious Hokie what CM's hate about it...as I am willing to bet Ma and Pa from Yokelville normally do not tip 18% or more. I use the 18% as a start on the TIW card- and add to it if service exceptional - and if I was unhappy with service I would ask to talk to a manager because 18% is way too much for crappy service. I did not have that issue the last 2 trips but would not hesitate to attempt to lower gratuity if the service was lousy--
Originally Posted By -em >> Does the Dining Plan guarantee 18% gratuity as the Tables in Wonderland does ? << Not anymore. It used to be included but now its separate which has caused issues over to some the tip on "free" is nothing and for others to leave a 20-30 dollar tip (assuming they tip 18-20% of an average disney dinner with 4 people)per meal is "highway robbery" so will leave 5-10 bucks... Plus having to explain and re-explain what their plan is good for, what it excludes and dealing with the "but I want that included" per group instead of you want X you pay for X... Even using a Cast Discount (20% off- guarantees a 18% tip) so I would say historically its an issue...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Then that I agree IS a cause for concern-and totally understand why they would be upset - I wonder why they leave the 18% on Tables in Wonderland ( and per 'em also on cast discount) yet took it off the DDP-- that is really stupid. I agree Joe Sixpack likely isn't going to leave 18%....
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Not anymore. It used to be included but now its separate which has caused issues over to some the tip on "free" is nothing and for others to leave a 20-30 dollar tip (assuming they tip 18-20% of an average disney dinner with 4 people)per meal is "highway robbery" so will leave 5-10 bucks... Plus having to explain and re-explain what their plan is good for, what it excludes and dealing with the "but I want that included" per group instead of you want X you pay for X... Even using a Cast Discount (20% off- guarantees a 18% tip) so I would say historically its an issue... << That's pretty much what I read from other Cm's in other discussion forums. Also back when the tip was included, some of them said Mickey was stiffing them on some of the tip money. Remember when the plan was 1 snack, 1 counter service, and 1 table service which included appetizer, entree, dessert, and tip. Due to guest demand they eliminated the tip, and appetizer. I know this for a fact. Until WDW starting pushing the DDP I never, let me repeat that, I never made arrangements for Priority Seating prior to arriving at my resort. Then a PS was made the day of or the night prior to dining, always. I ate at Le Cellier every trip around 7:30 PM. The Disney Dining Plan has ruined the dining experience at WDW for me. Just look at the menus now compared to what they were like before Mickey wanted to give us a break, and save us some money with the DDP.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> - I wonder why they leave the 18% on Tables in Wonderland ( and per 'em also on cast discount) yet took it off the DDP-- that is really stupid. << I've had a theory all along with the DDP, and it is just a theory since there is no way I can prove it. It's the classic bait, and switch, with a new wrinkle. You put the initial program out there, and get people use to it. You then start eliminating things from the plan. All the time you slowly increase the price of food, while making all menus more generic. You emphasize the need to make Advanced Reservations now. It's no longer Priority Seating. The restaurants fill up with people trying to use up their table credits. You even get spill over into restaurants that aren't popular because you have to eat somewhere. The real topper is that big smile Mickey has on his face when you leave, and still have unused credits on your card. Food is going to become so expensive that you will be forced to purchase the DDP TO SAVE MONEY. That is if you want to eat on property. The Mouse is very smart.
Originally Posted By danyoung >...and 1 table service which included appetizer, entree, dessert, and tip.< I remember the early incarnation of the DDP, but I don't remember it including the dessert. Appetizer and tip - yeah, but not dessert.
