There are a bevy of articles written on the subject of the Disney Dining Plan. Should you buy it if it’s not included during a promotion? Is it worth the money? If I get the dining plan free can I still get a discounted rate on rooms with my annual pass? If I have an annual pass do I still qualify for the dining plan?
The list of questions can get quite lengthy, especially if you are not familiar with the plan, the property or the protocol. And those articles do a good job answering those questions. But why is there a DDP?
Let’s back up a moment to pre dining plan days. There was a time when the restaurants on Disney property offered very unique culinary offerings and dining experiences. To the average guest, this may still seem very much the case but I assure you it is not.
Price points and menu offerings were widely varied in the days before the DDP. There were certain restaurants that really stood above the rest as far as menu and the quality of the items they presented. Often these venues were higher priced and often difficult to get “reservations” for. (Disney does not accept reservations for their restaurants, they arrange for “preferred seating times”.) And for the most part, guests did not mind paying a little more to splurge on one or two meals during their stay to celebrate an occasion or have an opportunity to “do it up” for a night.
Enter the DDP. With the introduction of this new dining plan, Disney essentially leveled the playing field for most of their eateries across the property, with a few exceptions, of course. If you read menus from one location to another, they are pretty much the same when it comes to entrees. Aside from variations on the preparation, you will notice a strip steak, chicken, pasta, vegan and fish entrée. Accompanied by some venue related sides and there you have it. Pricing is relatively the same, too. But why? You have to remember that Disney is an entertainment company, not a food service company. Although they have some remarkable culinary offerings and some extremely talented chefs, their main goal is guest traffic and attractions management.
By going to the DDP format, Disney can procure standard menu items for all of its dining services in great quantities and fulfill each restaurants grocery needs from a central commissary rather than placing individual orders per unit. Think of it as shopping at a discount club. (Some restaurants are different as they are not owned or operated by Disney) With the menu ingredients remaining equal in quality and price, this also spreads interest out among guests that once would clamor for one particular restaurant. Such is the case of one very popular location in the World Showcase. Once the DDP was introduced and La Cellier was on par with all other restaurants, attendance waned-until it became a double meal entitlement. It now has the mystique of being exclusive again and guess what? Good luck getting a walk up “reservation”.
I loved the dining plan in its early days. It gave me an opportunity to dine at just about every restaurant on property. Now, however, I have my favorites that I visit on my own, but can’t possibly eat as much as the dining plan would allow each day. It all comes down to what is best for you, your budget and family’s interests. Do your research, count the numbers and by all means, Bon Appetit!
