Originally Posted By MPierce >> guess that's why we are NOT average- we do 1-2 sit downs per day - average about 12 in 8 day stay...we look at it as we did not travel 1200 miles to eat hamburgers ( and not good ones- LOL !) ..but that is our largest expense each trip.. we do very little interms of souveneirs now..we eat/drink our way thru some great restaurants/experiences << Same for us. We might eat 1 or 2 counter service meals while we are there.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Use this site to calulate your perfect date to book - <a href="http://pscalculator.net/pscalc.php" target="_blank">http://pscalculator.net/pscalc.php</a> << Having a site dedicated to letting you know when you can make your dining reservations at WDW pretty much saids it all about the DDP.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Can't say I agree...I've felt snubbed by the waiter before when we said we weren't on the DP. Same with the CM who couldn't get over the fact that I was a Disney Fan, and not in D23... << Were you at Whispering Canyon Cafe, and wearing your Uni fanboy T-shirt?
Originally Posted By Christi22222 "Having a site dedicated to letting you know when you can make your dining reservations at WDW pretty much saids it all about the DDP." Totally agree.
Originally Posted By hopemax >> ^^^^ really glad I have never been there during free DDP time...and don't ever plan to now. See there is some advantage to going in August when it's blazing hot. << Uhh, free dining has usually been in the late Aug/Sept time period. So are you usually going in early Aug? Next years dates: Aug 19 - Sep 29, this years: started on Aug 14, 2009: started Aug 16 And just found out about another crappy menu change. At Sunshine Seasons...the salmon meal that used to come with choice of 2 sides, now just comes with salad.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> And just found out about another crappy menu change. At Sunshine Seasons...the salmon meal that used to come with choice of 2 sides, now just comes with salad. << The changes are all coming gradually so as not to be so obvious. Menu choices, and quanity of food are all changing while prices continue to rise. Slowly, but surely.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 I don't know whether to say to myself, "That's why I rent a car. There are tons of great options OFF property." Or just go straight to, "I'm going to Disneyland (California)!" There are so many things making me mad at the WDW mouse, and the DDP situation just seems to get worse and worse! Argghhh!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Uhh, free dining has usually been in the late Aug/Sept time period. So are you usually going in early Aug? Next years dates: Aug 19 - Sep 29, this years: started on Aug 14, 2009: started Aug 16 ---- yes usually the only time we can go is late July - early August - between school- summer volleyball camps - etc.. it has been that way for years now..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Same for us. We might eat 1 or 2 counter service meals while we are there ------------------- we hadn't done counter srvice in years- then this year we skipped Prime Time when at DHS --because we just weren't hungry enough after lunch @Sci Fi.. So about 9 PM we decided to grab something ( was late EMH there) - and Pizza Planet was closed ( they closed at 9 on the dot ) - so we ended up at the commisary...and couldn't believe all burgers were doubles etc..--... no single burger choices ( and one wonders why there are so many scooters around) - not a fan of the counter stuff there..except items like Dole Whip etc...
Originally Posted By MPierce >> we hadn't done counter srvice in years- then this year we skipped Prime Time when at DHS --because we just weren't hungry enough after lunch @Sci Fi.. So about 9 PM we decided to grab something ( was late EMH there) - and Pizza Planet was closed ( they closed at 9 on the dot ) - so we ended up at the commisary...and couldn't believe all burgers were doubles etc..--... no single burger choices ( and one wonders why there are so many scooters around) - not a fan of the counter stuff there..except items like Dole Whip etc... << Before the DDP they had a great CS at Roaring Fork at WL. They had different lunch specials everyday that weren't on the normal menu. Really reasonably priced also. Usually under $5 or $6. It was always good, so we would eat there a couple of times a trip.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Great points all around ... and I don't know how many times I've run into people leaving with loads of 'credits' left for meals. If you have meals left over, then you have to extrapolate that 'cost' to what you paid for the dining package to begin with ... and you'll crap your pants realizing just how much $$$ you wasted. Even if you booked the free dining, you are not throwing away 'free' food because in order to get the 'free' dining you paid rack rate for your lodgings ... and now we are in an era where you can easily get 30-45% discounts on the rooms, so again ... you leave food on the table and you are really getting the white glove. As to talking about free dining being only a temp deal in hurricane season, which is what it once was. That simply isn't the case. Already free dining is being offered for the following dates a year out: <<2010 October 1-7 October 22-28 November 12-18 November 27 to December 2 December 10-21 2011 January 1-5 January 9-13 January 21 to February 3 February 11-17 February 25 to March 3 May 27 to June 2 August 19 to September 29>> As you can see, other than busy periods like Christmas and Sping Break and two months for summer, free dining is pretty much all the time.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<While we were talking he told us that they were heading home the next day and still had 6 TS meals, 10 CS meals, and who knows how many snacks leftover. They were all going to be unused. >> The last time I did the 'free' dining (back when it all inclusive and not tiered) it was still hard to use all the credits in 11 days. Going to California Grill, Narcoosee's and Brown Derby (all two credit locales did help) ... but between full serve and quick serve, I remember getting to the last day and having like 17 snack credits not used. Living in FLA, though, it was easy to fill up backs of stuff at the food court and just bring it all home. I just don't know how people can eat that much anyway (although the morbid obesity gives a clue!) ... just like being on a cruise, there's only so much a person can eat at a time.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> I've since been proven to have a faulty memory. Geez, it sucks to be getting older!!! << <<It gets worse, believe me Dan!>> >> Believe him, Dan. The guy could pass for 102 ... on a good day! << <<And that's wearing makeup.>> Is VBDAD giving you tips on that?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Yes. But it has made dining even more profittable for Disney. They get paid in advance. Many folks leave with loads of meals that were pre-paid but not used. Disney can streamline menus. Disney can use less labor by staffing based on DDP patterns more than traditional crowds (hence, seeing a restaurant booked while half the tables are empty) << <<Good point on the staffing issues that I completely overlooked.>> It's not at all different from running fewer cars on BTMRR or fewer buses at non-peak periods. But I can only imagine being a guest spending thousands of $$$ snd visiting from thousands of miles away, who walks up to San Angel Inn or Biergarten or Crystal Palace and is told hours before closing that 'we're booked for the night' when they see many empty tables. >> I think it's terrible for many guests, but it's obviously working for The Mouse. The reason EPCOT is getting two new (one reworked) WS dining locales isn't because Disney wants to keep the park fresh, but because of the money it is making on food and beverage (and these locations are third parties, so I wonder how much $$$ Disney even spent on them). << <<Absolutely, and what I really don't get is that some people in Disney forums act as if these new restaurants are the equivalent of new attractions.>> Well, some people on some Disney forums (and in the real world too) are either dumb, mentally ill or just ignore facts that contradict their World and world views. New dining locales are nice, but they are in no way the same as attractions. And let's not point out that EPCOT has lost dining locales over the years from Odyssey and Sunrise Terrace/Pasta Piazza to the health food place (with the great shakes) at WoL (Good and Fresh?)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> p.s. you know the actor in the ad was Italian, not native american....not trying to take away from a great campaign, just some trivia << <<I'm glad I read your next post as I was fixing to mention that. Hooray for Hollywood!>> That in no way should overshadow the message. And I dragged it out of the 70s to illustrate that if anything people were bigger pigs back when Disney parks were near pristine daily. >> ^^^^ really glad I have never been there during free DDP time...and don't ever plan to now. See there is some advantage to going in August when it's blazing hot. << <<Trouble is it's nearly free dining year round now.>> Yep. I think I just posted all the dates that free dining is being offered. And even when it isn't 'free', the DDP just messes with dining anyway. BTW, just an FYI, but you can now buy gift certificates for WDW Swan/Dolphin locales, House of Blues, Andiamo in Hilton DD, and some other great locales including Portofino Bay at UNI, Rosen Shingle Creek, etc on restaurant.com at GREAT rates (try $2 for $25 worth of dining). Also, you can sign up for Patina restaurants B-Day deal, which gives you $30 off at EPCOT locations (or any locales in SoCal and Vegas, $50 off NYC) and you have two months to use them. Benihana, which has a great place at the DD Hilton and a new one on I-Drive, also has a $30 B-Day certificate (that one must be used during your B-Day month). DD's Levy Restaurants are great values (and you can take 20% off reasonable lunch prices (30% with DVC), 10% dinner with APs). And then there's the 40% off cast lunch deal if you happen to have any CM pals (think that one is good at Sanaa, Wave, Turf Club, Olivia's and Captain's Grille). My point is, you can dine at WDW like a king without dealing with Disney at all or the DDP. And that is even sticking to on property locales. I don't even bother with DDE (or the absurdly named Tables in Wonderland) anymore ... at those price points, 20% off and the hassle of trying to dine where I want/when I want just isn't worth it.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I don't know whether to say to myself, "That's why I rent a car. There are tons of great options OFF property." Or just go straight to, "I'm going to Disneyland (California)!" There are so many things making me mad at the WDW mouse, and the DDP situation just seems to get worse and worse! Argghhh!>> Going to DL is certainly a better choice for a quality all around Disney experience these days. And folks who won't leave the pixie dust behind to go dine for one hour or two are just ... good for Disney's bottom line (see, you thought I was gonna say something bad when I just thought it, but didn't type it!)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<we hadn't done counter srvice in years- then this year we skipped Prime Time when at DHS --because we just weren't hungry enough after lunch @Sci Fi.. So about 9 PM we decided to grab something ( was late EMH there) - and Pizza Planet was closed ( they closed at 9 on the dot ) - so we ended up at the commisary...and couldn't believe all burgers were doubles etc..--... no single burger choices ( and one wonders why there are so many scooters around) - not a fan of the counter stuff there..except items like Dole Whip etc...>> You can always order a single burger. They are purposely not listed because they are cheaper. Just like they'll take off a token 70-90 cents if you opt to not get the fries/fruit and just get the burger. But the food is so lousy (I actually demanded and got a refund for a burger I got at Rosie's on an EMH night 2-3 years ago at Guest Relations), I don't know why folks would be so against getting in the car (oh ... real world ... scary ... no magic ... no pixie dust ... no Al Weiss!) and drive 10 minutes to Crossroads and get either a cheap burger at McD's or a quality one at Fuddrucker's.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I just don't know how people can eat that much anyway (although the morbid obesity gives a clue!) ... just like being on a cruise, there's only so much a person can eat at a time. ---------------------- the key is to not try and eat like the world is ending the next day... much like not trying to do every ride in one day..moderation my friend. I like the variety but never stuff myself ( okay one night at 'Ohana )- when you are either going to be walking around for 12 hours - or going to sleep soon... I do see people who look like a buzz saw- and have plates stacked like it's some kind of contest
Originally Posted By vbdad55 >> I've since been proven to have a faulty memory. Geez, it sucks to be getting older!!! << <<It gets worse, believe me Dan!>> >> Believe him, Dan. The guy could pass for 102 ... on a good day! << <<And that's wearing makeup.>> Is VBDAD giving you tips on that? -------------- it's all in my book
Originally Posted By vbdad55 BTW, just an FYI, but you can now buy gift certificates for WDW Swan/Dolphin locales, House of Blues, Andiamo in Hilton DD, and some other great locales including Portofino Bay at UNI, Rosen Shingle Creek, etc on restaurant.com at GREAT rates (try $2 for $25 worth of dining). ---------------- is this at restaurant.com ? ( great site btw )
