New DDP 2018 Changes! Post your actual experiences

[eeyoresmom]

I was thinking I read it here. I know I read somewhere that the creme brulee at WGPE was not included as it was $6, then someone posted that they were able to get it? But I have also seen lists where some things over $5 were included as well. Just somewhat confused on this aspect of it.

There are lots of snack options over $5 that are included. I get a few dole whip floats and giant ice cream sandwiches each trip and both are over $5. Lots of the food booth items at any of the Epcot festivals are also included. We've also gotten the creme brulee at WGPE many times but as a dessert option when it was an entitlement on the qsdp.

 

[Lisa Warner]

What I am wondering about the most is the snack credits. Is it an absolutely anything over $5 is not included, or could it just vary by the location? Could Disney be cracking down on the snack credits to make up for the alcohol being included? It sounds like they are not wanting the inclusion of alcohol to be widely advertised. Is this the first year they removed the desserts from the counter service options?

I've been there this past week. While most snacks are $5 and under there are some higher. We got some pastries in Norway that were almost $6 and my daughter got some Asian noodles in AK that were almost $7. The desserts at QS all seemed to have a snack symbol.

We ate table service all week and the alcohol option was explained everytime. We never felt that they weren't trying to advertise it.

 

[otterpop]

I get the feeling that many people are looking too much into this...I could be wrong (just my thought; no actually evidence), but everything with all 3 dining plans is the exact same as it was before, the only difference being the alcoholic beverage component and associated questions that pertain to that (which we only have bits and pieces of information from a few actual experiences). Just like any change, it will take CM's a little bit of time to figure things out.

My plan of attack for the next time my family of 4 are at a TS restaurant...I'm going to order for everyone, so that I can get their alcoholic beverages! No need for drinking around the world..I'm going to drink around just one table!

 

[bluejasmine]

Where have you heard anything over $5 is no longer included?

Thats actually has been said now for years, it was a good rule of thumb normally as to what what included as SC..

 

[eeyoresmom]

Thats actually has been said now for years, it was a good rule of thumb normally as to what what included as SC..

Eh, that's just anecdotal. It may have been closer to the "rules" several years ago but with the prices of Disney food rapidly rising it's far less true now.

 

[NYCgrrl]

We were already on property and using a 2017 deluxe dining plan when we were offered free unlimited non alcoholic beverages at the following restaurants during the last weeks of December:

Brown Derby
Flying Fish
Boathouse
Tokyo Dining
*Narcossee's * (might have been part of the brunch menu since that was what we were there to have)
Via Napoli
Jiko's
Artist Point

Most included this fact in their spiel about what was included in the DDxP currently and I suspect they had been "schooled" in saying it for so long management made a decision to not differentiate between the two year's plan.
No one offered us a free alcoholic drink option per adult participant with the exception of Narcoossee's which as I pointed out was at brunch time.

 

[sharonabe]

I was thinking I read it here. I know I read somewhere that the creme brulee at WGPE was not included as it was $6, then someone posted that they were able to get it? But I have also seen lists where some things over $5 were included as well. Just somewhat confused on this aspect of it.

I wonder if what you're remembering is the value breakdown for the dining plans. Most assign a $5 "value" to the snacks because that's a good average of what most people use them on.

 

[sharonabe]

free unlimited non alcoholic beverages

Do you mean they were refillable?

 

[NYCgrrl]

Do you mean they were refillable?

Yes.

 

[sharonabe]

Yes.

Sorry, I just now re-read your post and you said NON-alcoholic beverages (first time through, I missed the NON). Soda, tea, coffee, etc. have always been refillable. I wouldn't expect that to change if that is what you order. But as of Jan 1, you should have been able to get an alcoholic beverage if you chose to as they have no way of knowing when you arrived and which plan you purchased.

 

[Aela]

We are returning from our trip today. We were on DxDP.

The snacks seemed exactly the same as I recall from last year. There was nothing I had remembered I was unable to get. There were a number of >$5 items.

We got alcoholic drinks at breakfast at 1900 park fare, but it was INCREDIBLY weak. Tasted like crushed ice with food color. Wasn’t worth it at all.

My daughter got glow lights with her drinks twice, and I got a Lotus Cube at Jiko, included.

We were allowed to order a mixed drink and ice tea more than once.

 

[HappyGrape]

I wondered about that, will the inclusion of the drinks bring the quality of the drinks down. .

 

[HappyGrape]

I get the feeling that many people are looking too much into this...I could be wrong (just my thought; no actually evidence), but everything with all 3 dining plans is the exact same as it was before, the only difference being the alcoholic beverage component and associated questions that pertain to that (which we only have bits and pieces of information from a few actual experiences). Just like any change, it will take CM's a little bit of time to figure things out.

My plan of attack for the next time my family of 4 are at a TS restaurant...I'm going to order for everyone, so that I can get their alcoholic beverages! No need for drinking around the world..I'm going to drink around just one table!

If you order at TS for 4, but you have 2 under 21 - would they allow you to order 4 drinks on the plan? I feel it may not be as straight forward. if everyone is over 21 - sure!

 

[NYCgrrl]

Sorry, I just now re-read your post and you said NON-alcoholic beverages (first time through, I missed the NON). Soda, tea, coffee, etc. have always been refillable. I wouldn't expect that to change if that is what you order. But as of Jan 1, you should have been able to get an alcoholic beverage if you chose to as they have no way of knowing when you arrived and which plan you purchased.

We limit how many sugared drinks children get assuming they choose it for their last meal of the day. They are given a choice of one per day but are allowed just the one. This doesn't change the fact that you still had to pay for at least the first non alcoholic drink. We were not offered free beer or wine during any meal before or after 01/01/18 which is fine with me past a brunch meal. A glass of non house wine with certain dinner entrees; a Campari and soda in places that have it to start the meal, and wayyy after dinner (make me walk for it), a Drambuie on the rocks just before bed makes me happy. That being the case, I doubt that the freebie booze offered in 2018, will make a big difference for me and mine BUT I'll be sure to compare the cost when comparing the 2017 vs 2018 deluxe and standard dining plans.

 

[sharonabe]

This doesn't change the fact that you still had to pay for at least the first non alcoholic drink. We were not offered free beer or wine during any meal before or after 01/01/18 which is fine with me past a brunch meal

Now I'm confused again. You had the DxDDP, but had to PAY for your non-alcoholic drink and didn't have an alcoholic or specialty drink or coffee either? If that's the case, you got robbed and I would be at least writing an email to someone.

 

[bluejasmine]

So as of now, most places are allowing you to get a tea/soda AND a cocktail/beer/wine?

 

[Pumbaa_]

You get A beverage. If you order both expect to pay

I can see breakfast being offered coffee and juice. If that use the case you may get one alcoholic and one non

 

[1983DisneyFanatic]

Has anyone been been able to get an alcoholic drink with a snack credit or is it confirmed that alcoholic drinks only come with meal entitlements and not snack credits?

 

[NYCgrrl]

Now I'm confused again. You had the DxDDP, but had to PAY for your non-alcoholic drink and didn't have an alcoholic or specialty drink or coffee either? If that's the case, you got robbed and I would be at least writing an email to someone.

Sorry didn't mean to be confusing.
Maybe this will help.

NEW FOR 2018: Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered). Guests 21 and older can can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) with their meal entitlement.

During the 2017 dining plan NO beverages of any kind were included unless management choose to.

 

[otterpop]

Sorry didn't mean to be confusing.
Maybe this will help.

NEW FOR 2018: Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered). Guests 21 and older can can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) with their meal entitlement.

During the 2017 dining plan NO beverages of any kind were included unless management choose to.

Add me to the confusion bunch! I thought non-alcoholic and non-specialty beverages (i.e. iced tea, soda, coffee, etc) and refills were always included when dining at a TS on the regular or deluxe dining plans. My understanding is that the only thing that has changed for 2018, is that now you can get an alcoholic or specialty beverage (without refills) instead of the tea, soda, etc.

Am I missing something? My family and I are potentially going to do the deluxe DP for a Summer trip and I'm hoping that I understand everything correctly before paying. Thanks!

Edit - Just found this with regards to the 2017 Dining plans:

The 2017 Disney Dining Plan includes:

• 1 Quick Service Meal (entrée and non-alcoholic drink)
• 1 Table Service Meal (entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink or full buffet meal)
• 2 Snacks
• 1 Resort Refillable Mug per person

The 2017 Deluxe Disney Dining Plan includes:

• 3 Meals (any combination of Quick Service or Table Service (Table Service on the Deluxe Plan includes appetizer, entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage)
• 2 Snacks
• 1 Resort Refillable Mug per person