Here is an update as of Sunday morning, May 31, 2015. Amid much confusion and mixed answers from Disney, I headed over to Magic Kingdom this morning to find out exactly what is going on with the possible removal of the Disney Dining Plan from multiple snack locations (Aloha Isle, etc.) and other rumored changes.
Guest Services Cast Members were extremely shocked at the changes that were made to multiple dining locations on the official Walt Disney World website as seen below:
Multiple managers and coordinators had been asked by a number of Guests about any changes, but were not aware at all of the changes made to the website. Upper management in Disney Food Services was consulted about these rumored changes, and after about 45 minutes, some clarification was given and this statement was issued to me.
“We are not sure why the website changed to show all those places no longer accepted the snack credits. They do. There are no changes to the Disney Dining Plan regarding snacks at this time.”
When asked about the other Disney Dining Plan rumored changes, it was confirmed that those were going to be happening and training for Cast Members has taken place regarding them. No further info was given.
Cast Members at Magic Kingdom did advise me that numerous Guests have been told over the “past week” by the Disney Dining phone line and other phone reps that changes to the DDP snacks and locations were true. Disney Food Services says that those Cast Members and any others saying that were “misinformed.”
Guest Services did thank me for pointing out what they called a “major Disney website glitch” as they were unaware of it, and are looking into it.
Now, them saying “at this time” doesn’t mean DDP snack changes won’t happen in the future. They simply aren’t happening right now. It’s kind of odd that a glitch would happen to over 30 snack-oriented locations only. Upon walking around Magic Kingdom though, I did notice and find out that places such as Gaston’s Tavern, Aloha Isle, Cool Ship, and others are still currently accepting the Disney Dining Plan.
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With rumors of changes coming to the Disney Dining Plan beginning tomorrow, it looks as if Walt Disney World is already doing just that.
UPDATE: A number of sources at Disney have now confirmed that these Disney Dining Plan rumored changes are indeed true and happening.
UPDATE 2: A concierge Cast Member gave a little update and info directly from the CM website: “It says snacks are accepted at all Disney operated restaurants but operating participants are not included. . I believe most on this list are ‘operating participants’ – for instance Aloha Isle is owned by Dole. It says more updates to come later. Maybe it’s just temporary.”
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Doctor Disney Note: There is some confusion as a number of people see that the WDW official website has changed all the places below to state that dining plans are no longer accepted, but the MDE still shows it as accepting them. Disney representatives have also advised a number of Guests over the phone that these changes are true.
I’ll be personally heading to Magic Kingdom in the morning to make sure 100% what’s going on. If this is a website glitch, it’s a huge glitch…and why would reps verbally tell Guests that it’s true? We will know more soon.
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Doctor Disney reader Susan R. pointed out tonight that a lot of popular snack places are no longer accepting the Disney Dining Plan at all. Well, that lends a lot of truth to some other rumors that have been floating around, and now here are some of those that are out of the Disney Dining Plan acceptance.
The following info is coming directly from the official Walt Disney World website. If you look up any of the locations listed on the website, it will state that “Dining Plans Not Accepted.”
Please stay tuned as this list will continue to be updated as we learn of more locations.
Magic Kingdom
- Aloha Isle
- Sunshine Tree Terrace
- Sleepy Hollow Refreshments
- Gaston’s Tavern
- Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
- Cheshire Cafe
- Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
- Cool Ship
- Prince Eric’s Village Market
- Storybook Treats
- Westward Ho
Epcot
- Funnel Cake at American Adventure
- L’Artisan des Glace
- Gelati (Japan)
- Joy of Tea (China)
- Popcorn in Canada
- Test Track Cool Wash
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Harambe Fruit Market
- Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
- Gardens Kiosk
- Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Anaheim Produce
- Hollywood Scoops
- Oasis Canteen
Downtown Disney and West Side
- Wetzel’s Pretzels (both DTD and West Side)
- Haagen-Dazs at West Side
- Downtown Snow Company
- Forty Thirst Street Express
- Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop
Typhoon Lagoon
- Happy Landings Ice Cream
Blizzard Beach
- I.C. Expeditions
- Frostbite Freddies
- Mini Donuts
What appears to have happened is that numerous “snack only” locations don’t accept the Disney Dining Plan at all anymore. For those that offer some type of counter service, many of those state that “Some dining plans” are still accepted.
It also appears that most popcorn, ice cream, glazed almonds, and other snack wagons do still accept snack credits from the Disney Dining Plan.
Everything listed above is as of late on Saturday, May 30, 2015, and proven by checking out any of these locations on the Walt Disney World website. Upon making calls to Disney, they did advise that “changes to the Disney Dining Plan could happen at any time and sometimes, there are places that may no longer have items that constitute as a snack.”
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I can confirm the Ddp changes are true. I am a concierge cm and we were just given the training about 3 snacks now is 1 meal and other changes all were true. We have not been told about these other changes about a lot of restaurants no longer accepting snacks so if true would be a shock. We were under the impression they were adding only. One positive is larger items are now snacks a quart of mil or 1 liter water is considered a snack
Thanks for the heads-up, Max…all of the things listed above are per the Walt Disney World website, and I checked each and every one on the list.
I am goon to collect information at work tomorrow. It seems if you view the menus they still lost everything as ‘snacks’ I am curious if them saying ‘not accepting Disney dining plans’ means simply they do not participate in the 3 snacks for 1 meal conversion so in essence they do not accept the dining plan but do accept the snack plan
Let me know what you find out. I can confirm for sure that places such as Aloha Isle and others did used to state they accepted the dining plan, which in turn was just the snack portion.
Someone also advised me that tonight at Magic Kingdom, they were told Gaston’s and some other MK locations did not accept dining plan any longer.
Will do. I’m hoping it’s just new terminology. I am in at 7 and will reach out to some contacts and see what I can find and follow up. It just strikes me as odd so many places have been removed unless it is because they are places not owned by Disney directly and are able to make their own policies. I know for a fact the Epcot funnel cake stand did not accept dining plan snacks at any point because they were owned by an outside vendor.
I looked at the cast member website and it has a little more information. It says snacks are accepted at all Disney operated restaurants but operating participants are not included. . I believe most on this list are ‘operating participants’ for instance aloha island is owned by dole. It says more updates to come later. Maybe it’s just temporary.
Very very interesting. Wonder if Disney will be coming up with something that is for the operating participants then….hmmm…Thank you for this, Max. Sincerely appreciate all your input.
Just got confirmation from L’Artisan DesGlace that nothing has changed for them and they still accept the DDP! I tagged you in the post Danny
Its from them directly on Twitter
The Disney World website is wrong very often. Once, the website excluded all character meals from DDP for several weeks. Needles to say, they were not actually excluded. If the sole source is the WDW website, don’t believe it without some independent proof.
I spoke to area leaders in 3 parks today. Heads of managers. And they all said nothing is changed the website is wrong and they have forwarded it on to correct
Hopefully the website is wrong. This would be a lot of senseless snack restrictions.
I take reservation calls for Disney Dining and we haven’t heard anything about this.
Did you find out any additional info on the snack changes with the dining plan? Aloha Isle on the Disney website still has ‘dining plans not accepted’.