[WishUponAStar]

I would MUCH rather have the appetizer than a dessert. Also, WOW, $70 per day for the deluxe? I mean I guess that sounds fair all things considered but that's $140 per day JUST for DH and I!! Hmm, I don't know.

[WishUponAStar]

Re-reading the original post this deluxe plan REALLY stinks for us. We don't even really eat breakfast (MAYBE a banana or low-fat yogurt), and we'd never use a resort mug.

I guess we'd be stuck doing the original & paying gratuity. They're not phasing out the original plan are they?

[gingles]

Well, we'll only be doing the DDP again if it's offered for free (like this time).

[whitba]

Big changes to Epcot:
Japan, Morroco, Paris, Mexico & China are off the list!

What's left:
WS sit downs, Biergarten, Le Cellier, Rose & Crown & Norway Princess breakfast.
FW - Coral Reef, Garden Grill

We may have to add China & Mexico this trip! and will likely be back to a pre-estimated cash budget for dining which will include fewer "let's try this" and more counter services. Good thing they've been improving the CS menus.

Anyone found deletions elsewhere?

[ssn]

Originally Posted by whitba

Big changes to Epcot:
Japan, Morroco, Paris, Mexico & China are off the list!

What's left:
WS sit downs, Biergarten, Le Cellier, Rose & Crown & Norway Princess breakfast.
FW - Coral Reef, Garden Grill

We may have to add China & Mexico this trip! and will likely be back to a pre-estimated cash budget for dining which will include fewer "let's try this" and more counter services. Good thing they've been improving the CS menus.

Anyone found deletions elsewhere?

At this time last year, it was the same type of thing. Some of the countries were not on the dining plan list. It was something about firming up the contracts or something. Once that was taken care of they were all added back on. Hopefully that is the case this time around too!

[whitba]

Originally Posted by ssn

At this time last year, it was the same type of thing. Some of the countries were not on the dining plan list. It was something about firming up the contracts or something. Once that was taken care of they were all added back on. Hopefully that is the case this time around too!

Your right about that... with the new rates we would likely only do the DP if it was a trip w/o kids, a more leasurely adult trip, and would opt for the deluxe version.

[rosebud]

Originally Posted by whitba

Big changes to Epcot:
Japan, Morroco, Paris, Mexico & China are off the list!

What's left:
WS sit downs, Biergarten, Le Cellier, Rose & Crown & Norway Princess breakfast.
FW - Coral Reef, Garden Grill

We may have to add China & Mexico this trip! and will likely be back to a pre-estimated cash budget for dining which will include fewer "let's try this" and more counter services. Good thing they've been improving the CS menus.

Anyone found deletions elsewhere?

Where is this info coming from? As far as I know, and I'm an Epcot Guest Relations CM, nothing has been deleted.

[XQIXX]

I really think that our November trip will be teh last with the DDP. It just doesn't seem worth it anymore. I hope they reconsider and leave it as is!

[MegaPowersPT]

Originally Posted by XQIXX

I really think that our November trip will be teh last with the DDP. It just doesn't seem worth it anymore. I hope they reconsider and leave it as is!

I think after awhile it may go back to the way it was, at least we can hope so. People will still buy the DDP, but I think the number of people will plummet.

[whitba]

Originally Posted by rosebud

Where is this info coming from? As far as I know, and I'm an Epcot Guest Relations CM, nothing has been deleted.

I was looking at the WDW online brochure - now, I read it over and over, but I've been known to make mistakes before - and it could just be they've "not finalized contracts yet" - that's happened before to. Maybe it will change yet.

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/me...s/08Dining.pdf

[faerie dust]

this is not one of disney better ideas. I hope they soon realize if they charge less more people will come. who am i kidding people will go anyway. this is going to be our last for awhile next one for jsut DH and I is to Ireland. and the next one to after that we were hoping for a family trip. that may change.

[woohoo]

I cant stop thinking about this-
it means that you are paying approx $20 per meal if you subtract the two snacks from the $69. You are getting a bonus mug but you cant use it at the parks. If you do any of the buffets then you lose $ as they dont cost as much as the $20 and include the dessert. If you do a sitdown then you might come close if you eat the dessert. I see it as a plan that forces you to do 3 sitdown meals and waste your time at the table service meals for a discounted souvenier mug that you cant use in the parks. NO DEAL!

[hrbib21]

Originally Posted by bribren

Seems official on the Disney Website. For me, the loss of appetizer and tip is a clincher. Ill go back to our older strategies for Dining savings.

Same here. I don't need to eat like a king every night, anyway. We'll do probably 4-5 sit downs on a 1 week trip and do counter service the other times. The fact is, I don't normally eat appetizers anyway but it's the non-inclusion of the tip that makes me officially say "NO MAS!" to the DDP.

BTW, has anyone considered how mad the CM's must be over this? They'll no longer have a guaranteed tip and be at the mercy of a guests good graces. Also, less DDP users means less traffic in the restaurants. They can't possibly be happy about this.

I have to say, while I'm a huge believer in the free market, this is where Disney has disappointed me over the years. It seems like every time there's a good value of some sort, they come in and ditch it.

[palmickey]

I really think that our December trip may be the last that we use the dining plan. As much as we enjoyed the plan I don't know that it will be a savings any longer. I am really going to have to try to figure this out.

I would love to do the deluxe plan. We enjoy the character breakfasts and fine dining but not at $140.00 a day plus tip! Lets say that all you spend on the plan is $140.00 (2 adults) X 18% tip = 25.20 added to the $140.00 is $165.50. That is a lot of money for ONE day of food. Now lets say that you eat a character breakfast and a signature dining and really get $250.00 of food by menu prices X 18% is $45.00 in tips and now you have spent $185.00 for one day of food.

I think that if we ever do this it will be a short trip and a special occasion.

(Plus I don't use resort mugs.)