8/26: No Soup for You!

[Al Lutz]

Kevin looks at how a lot of little nibbles add up to one big bite; Discuss it here...

DIRECT ARTICLE LINK: http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky082608a.htm

[The Shadoe]

I am sick of Lutz' anti-WDW attitude. It comes across as ignorant, pompous, and self-absorbed.

Walt Disney wanted to build an empire out in Florida. Another Magic Kingdom was to be a part of it. He had bigger things on his mind - a futuristic city. He was no longer interested in a Magic Kingdom, and he had his Imagineers create one that would fix the mistakes of Disneyland. It's that simple.

I have been to Disneyland, AND the Magic Kingdom. I love them both. But for him to make such ignorant comments such as appeared in his editor's notes today is absolutely unconscionable.

[AstroBlaster]

Originally Posted by The Shadoe

I am sick of Lutz' anti-WDW attitude. It comes across as ignorant, pompous, and self-absorbed.

Walt Disney wanted to build an empire out in Florida. Another Magic Kingdom was to be a part of it. He had bigger things on his mind - a futuristic city. He was no longer interested in a Magic Kingdom, and he had his Imagineers create one that would fix the mistakes of Disneyland. It's that simple.

I have been to Disneyland, AND the Magic Kingdom. I love them both. But for him to make such ignorant comments such as appeared in his editor's notes today is absolutely unconscionable.

wow dude chill out and reeeeellllaaaaaxxxx!

We all have our own opinions.

[Kiba]

So am I to assume the baked potato stand is long gone? (Been a while since I hit WDW) Gotta say I haven't had a full in-park meal in my home park in Anaheim since the Thunder Ranch closed, once McD's fries leave I'll be left with corndogs (I'm a picky eater.. lol) Paris had a nice frontier steakhouse near the Haunted Mansion.

So anyway, what is left of filet serving WDW restaurants? I'd like to get a good steak on my upcoming trip.

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Kiba

So am I to assume the baked potato stand is long gone? (Been a while since I hit WDW) Gotta say I haven't had a full in-park meal in my home park in Anaheim since the Thunder Ranch closed, once McD's fries leave I'll be left with corndogs (I'm a picky eater.. lol) Paris had a nice frontier steakhouse near the Haunted Mansion.

So anyway, what is left of filet serving WDW restaurants? I'd like to get a good steak on my upcoming trip.

No, they still serve the baked potato in Liberty Square.

[GrumpyFan]

We've been going to WDW about twice a year for the last 8 years, and since DDP has been available, we've utilized on most every one of those trips. I can attest to what Kevin (Not Al) wrote about. The choices at Disney restaurants have declined significantly. If I had to guess, I would say it's close to half of what they were 5 years ago. At most TS restaurants adults have maybe 5 choices for dinner entre's, and for kids, it's maybe 2, but it's the same 2 that most every Disney restaurant has. My memory isn't the best, but I seem to remember most TS restaurants not to long ago offered 8 or more entre's. And, as Kevin pointed out, it's not just the Table service restaurants.

We were at WDW in June, and went to have one of our favorites, the Panini at Pinocchio's and were very saddened to learn that it was gone. In fact, it seemed that the choices for QS in MK were Hamburgers, Chicken Fingers, or that awful Personal Pizza. I understand cost cutting, and the need to streamline the operations. But, I have to agree, that they've gone too far with it, and it's really starting to show.

I'm not sure what the answer is to this problem for Disney though. They have found something that works for them from a business sense and helps the guest in simplifying some of the many details that go in to their vacation planning to WDW. Disney has to balance cost and effectiveness of DDP and right now when the economy is tight and food prices have risen so much, they have to adjust to keep dining profitable. I would love to see them go to a meal credit plan with tickets/vouchers (electronic, tied to room key) kind of like the old ticket books, which might help in some ways, but I think it could also cause more confusion from the guest standpoint. I posted details a while back on another board.

Basically, all (or most) menu options would have an equivalent dining ticket/voucher/credit value that the guests could purchase with their tickets.

This is a very basic example of how it might work:
If they sold "Dining credits" for $3-4. For example, if it were $3.50 for a credit,

Snacks or drinks might require 1 credit, equivalent $3.50
Counter Svc, 2 credits, equivalent $7.00 ($8 out of pocket)
Table Svc Entree, 4 credits, equivalent $14.00 ($15-16 oop)
Table Svc Appetizer, 1 or more credits ($4-6 oop)
Table Svc Desert, 1 or more credits ($4-6 oop)
Dinner Buffets 8 credits, equivalent $28.00 ($29+ oop)
Deluxe table Svc 10 credits, equivalent $35.00, or however many credits deemed

Child meals and credits could be structured very similar.

The advantage to using dining credits over cash, or charge would be a slight discount (maybe $1 or so per item) that Disney could easily manage (behind the scenes). The discount wouldn't be much, but over the course of a week, a family of 4 might expect to save $10 per day over what they would pay out of pocket, which isn't much, but sometimes, it's about perception. Each restaurant could offer specials that might cost 1 or 2 credits more (or less). The credits could optionally be purchased by guests not staying on-property. Of course, the plan would require some extra effort in planning where and what you wanted to eat, and how many credits were needed. The advantage for Dinsey though, would be that guests would no longer be able to buy the more expensive item on the menu, because it would require more credits than a standard option. They could offer a standard TS entre' at 4 credits, then a deluxe or special entre' for 5 or more credits.

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by Kiba

So anyway, what is left of filet serving WDW restaurants? I'd like to get a good steak on my upcoming trip.

I hope that Le Cellier (sp.?) in the Canada pavilion at Epcot still serves a filet -- I had a really good one two years ago when I was there! I'm sure there are places in the hotels too that serve it. When you make reservations with Disney Dining I would just ask them (or find out how to call the restaurant directly).

Or start a thread in the WDW forums on here

Originally Posted by The Shadoe

I have been to Disneyland, AND the Magic Kingdom. I love them both.

When I have a free Sunday, I go to Disneyland. I went to WDW two years ago (and had fun) but I see no reason to go back for a loooooooooooong time because it just doesn't have the "feel", repeatability or "wow factor" of Disneyland. Now when I go to Orlando, I go to Islands of Adventure/Universal Studios Florida.

Oh jeez, I guess my opinion means I'm an ignorant, pompous arse. Sorry if I offended.

[KevinYee]

A relevant email I just got:

"You missed one menu reduction that's pretty irritating: chicken strips have now become six or eight "chicken nuggets". Unless you get the eight nugget option, you're getting less meat than you used to with the three strips. Quick Service has also changed their Barbecue sauce to Heinz, which is a bland vinegar tomato paste, rather than the nice old sweet stuff. Argh! Disney! Why do I still give you money?!"

[BC_DisneyGeek]

I think Kevin's observations are likely spot-on.

I was on the free dining plan in 2006 and it was absolutely a consideration to order the priciest entree. I have no doubt that the proliferation of the use of the plans is why the better options are systematically being removed from the menus.

They could get around this by pricing all meals closer to one another, but that would just alienate anyone not on the plan ("why does my chicken cost as much as the prime rib?").

[danyoung]

I'm concerned about the disappearance of filets, but as long as the beef tenderloin still exists at the California Grill, I'll remain out of panic mode. I do have to question your math, Kev -

There are four flavors: the quick service, the regular dining plan, the deluxe, the premium, and the platinum.

Are there really 5 plans, or just 4?

[SpectroMan]

I think one way to bring back the Filet would be to have a separate menu for those on the DDP - with NO prices listed. That way, guests would choose what they really want and not be swayed by ordering what's construed as the most expensive/highest use of the credit.

[Mtnman]

I am saddened by the continual slide of the dining experience at WDW. Much of the value was in the uniqueness of the restaurants and in the variety available over the course of the vacation. This is very disheartening to hear continued reports of reduced variety...

We are traveling to WDW this Dec. We are planning to use the dining plan, however I am not a huge believer in this plan. Our kids are all under 10 so for us it still is a great way to easily feed everyone for a decent price. If I had to pay adult prices for my kids, forget it. However, for the long term, I'd much prefer better restaurants and NO dining plan.

[sir clinksalot]

Great update Kevin.

The food troubles really irritate me because in our 3 trips to WDW, I've always felt the food-options are leaps and bounds above what is offered at Disneyland.

The Quick Service reductions don't bother me too much as we don't generally use them except for at our hotel, but it's the reductions in the restaurants that really are irritating.

Why can't they have a DDP menu and a regular menu for paying guests???

As for the "no wrist-band" thing for EMH, I disagree that it's a good move. First of all, if you have to show your card for each attraction, the odds of you losing that card become higher.

I always keep my card in my wallet, because, as we all know, that card acts as a credit card in the parks and hotels (if you choose to link a card to it, which we do). If you are using that card at every attraction, the odds are that you are just going to put it in your pocket, which could greatly increase the likelyhood of losing it.

Also ... something you may have thought of, but didn't mention ... subconsciously, if you have your card ready and available during EMH for attractions, presumably you have your card (linked to your credit card) more ready and available for purchases.

I personally don't care for this move. If they want to reduce labor costs, how about having the hotel check-in people give you your EMH bracelets for the duration of your stay upon check-in.

[fkurucz]

Originally Posted by danyoung

I'm concerned about the disappearance of filets, but as long as the beef tenderloin still exists at the California Grill, I'll remain out of panic mode. I do have to question your math, Kev -

And how can they have a teppan steak house that only serves sirloin?

[ameeg]

i have to say I'm pretty bummed about the free dining plan next year.. I'm hoping it will stay the same for state side visitors.. but I doubt it will.. which is big bummer for families like ours who can't afford the more expensive resorts but want the free dining..