Upgrade to Deluxe while on Free Dining? [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

SoonipiLady

06-29-2008, 04:45 PM

What does it cost to upgrade to the delux plan during free dining? What does it include?

but you get 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. The meal credits can be used for TS or CS and also include appetizer, which they don't on the basic plan.

We chose to upgrade because we are going mostly to spend some quiet time together and enjoy good food. If we were going to bring the kids, there's no way they'd sit through 3 sit-down meals per day!

DH and I would never be able to eat at places like Narcoossee's or Cali Grill if it weren't for free dining and upgrading to deluxe!

bigbabyblues

06-29-2008, 05:03 PM

We would if we were going at that time and already had free dining. The deluxe plan would suit us much better than the basic plan.

Scornelius

06-29-2008, 07:58 PM

We're getting the dxdp this september. It's just my DH and I, and we wanted to try a bunch of new restaurants, including a couple signatures. Here are the places we'll be eating this trip:

Narcoosees
Tusker House
Mama Melrose's
Maya Grill
Le Cellier
Coral Reef
Wolfgang Puck's
Crystal Palace
Cinderella's Royal Table
Planet Hollywood
1900 Park Faire
Sci Fi
Yachtsman's
Chef Mickey's
Liberty Tree Tavern
Akershus(sp?)
Trail's End
and last but not least,
Grand Floridian Cafe

I know that seems like an insane amount of food, but we really just order what we want, take the leftovers back to our room for midnight snacks, and enjoy every minute of the whole trip!:cloud9:

haveitall

06-29-2008, 11:10 PM

My DH and I upgraded to deluxe. We are going for 14 days so I planned 42 TS and we will have 28 snacks each.

We decided it was worth it because we would have to pay out of pocket for all breakfasts and some table service because we are doing a few shows and signature meals.

My DH has to eat a good breakfast and have two snacks a day so this will fit our budget well.

Sylvia in MN

victorandbellasmom

06-29-2008, 11:44 PM

What does it cost to upgrade to the delux plan during free dining? What does it include?

During free dining, it cost $32 to uprgade an adult to the deluxe plan and $10 to upgrade kids to the to deluxe as well.

victorandbellasmom

06-29-2008, 11:53 PM

We're going for 8 nights and 8 days and areupgrading our family of 4 to the deluxe. We were initially going to pay for CRT oop and buy the refillable mugs. Along with a few oop meals, it's only going to cost us an additional $400 to upgrade. And by upgrading, we're able to do Hoop Dee Doo Review, SPirit of Aloha, and 6 additional TS/character meals.

eeyoregon

06-30-2008, 01:47 AM

So the $30 something dollars a day it cost to upgrade is definitely worth it. So basically we are eating 2 sitdown meals a day, a couple of snacks and getting a resort mug for $30 something buck a day...sounds worth it to me.

Plus you get appetizer's on the Deluxe but not on basic.

I upgraded my DS 12 and me. I did it mostly because I didn't want to give up any of my ADR's :rotfl: !

Here is what we booked:
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Crystal Palace
Ohana's
Le Cellier x 2 meals :thumbsup2
Sci-Fi
Chef Mickey
Teppan Edo
Yak & Yeti
Hoop-De-Doo
Lilo & Stitch breakfast Ohana

WOW! That's a lot of food in 4 days, LOL!!!

DebbiC

06-30-2008, 02:59 AM

I choose the Deluxe Dining Plan instead of the Regular Dining Plan as I need to have more options when it comes to my food choices. I have Hypoglycemia, it's sorta like the opposite of a diabetic, my glucose levels run extremely low. When at Disney World, I'll need to incorporate more proteins, and less carbs and sugars into my diet, also I'll need to eat more frequently.

Since no free dining was released for our time period later this fall, we are paying outright for the upgrade to Deluxe Dining. I have it noted that I require high protein, moderate carb and low sugar meals. So for me, burgers and fries and Cokes at counter service isn't going to do.

Mostly we have booked early luncheons and late dinners (most of our dinners are at the 2 tables service restaurants. After reading the menus, I see great opportunity for proteins as appetizers, a decent entree and a cheese plate for dessert. yummo!

Most likely the cheese plate will be "packed to go" for late night sugar drops. I plan to also utilize the 2 snack credits at the Food n Wine Festival as needed to again push the proteins / carbs.

I think the sitdown restaurants with the opportuntiy to speak with the Chef is going to be the best situation for me.

gigi1313

06-30-2008, 06:48 AM

we upgraded to deluxe... we'll be traveling w/an infant and two teens and want to do the dinner shows, at least one signature experience, CRT, etc... we typically go oop for a few meals as we like our very early breakfast TS and our later dinner TS and snacks in between and deluxe gives us all that and refillable mugs too!

belle&sebastiansmom

06-30-2008, 11:17 AM

Thanks for all of your responses. I've enjoyed reading everyone's different reasons for upgrading (or not) to deluxe dining.

We decided that upgrading would be best because we were paying OOP for three TS meals, would have to pay daily for at least one extra CS, and we figured that with two small children (one an infant) it would be good to get out of the heat for a while. We've had too many bad CS experiences on previous trips, not being able to find seats, standing in line forever. We've scheduled breakfasts so that we'll be done by the time the parks open, and we usually stay at the parks from open until close, so we won't really lose any park time. For my dd, the character dining is an attraction in itself!

So here's what we've booked:

Day 1
WCC Dinner

Day 2
Crystal Palace BF
The Plaza L
Hoop De Doo D

Day 3
Akershus BF
Garden Grill L
Le Cellier D

Day 4
Hollywood and Vine BF
50's Prime Time L
Mama Melrose D

Day 5
Ohana BF
Coral Reef L
1900 Park Fare D

Day 6
CRT BF
Liberty Tree D

Day 7
Kona BF
Yak and Yeti late L

Day 8
Boma BF
Chef Mickey's D

Day 9
1900 Park Fare BF

uncspin

06-30-2008, 11:50 AM

DH and I are a young married couple, no kids that consider ourselves to be "foodies". We are going during the free dining period and had considered doing deluxe before free dining was even offered, but had not decided. When we heard about free dining, we went ahead and upgraded. We are doing it simply because it is basically 1/2 price and because we enjoy the experience of meals at WDW.

BTW - does anyone have a link to the spreadsheet showing costs that Trisha (?) did? Can you post the link in a post?

jellybeans0607

06-30-2008, 12:11 PM

we thought about it but for the $32 a day per adult we were only getting breakfast. to me breakfast isnt worth that much money. sure you get another snack and and appetizer, but still not worth $64 a day for the 2 adults in my party. i just felt like i was no longer getting anything for free at that point.

aubriee

07-01-2008, 04:12 AM

We upgraded b/c we have been many times using the regular dining plan and always pay oop for a few meals. We also don't like the CS options very much so we loved the idea of the Deluxe and doing it during the free dining let us do it a little cheaper.

This is exactly why we upgraded, too. My husband LOVES to eat. My mom is a diabetic and must eat three meals a day, so we always round up paying for a few meals OOP every time we did the basic plan. Plus, we just prefer to take a break from the heat and eat TS. There is only a few CS we really like anyway. We also love the appetizers and would now have to pay OOP for them with the basic DDP. The DxDDP just works better for us. For just $32.00 more a day we get three TS meals, two snacks instead of one, and each get a free mug that we'd be buying anyway. We probably won't be using all of our snack credits, but usually go by Goofy's on our last day to pick up stuff to bring home. For us upgrading to the DxDDP was a no brainer.

FYI: I went solo to WDW this past May and used the DxDDP. I never had to pay for a meal OOP. I did an early TS lunch every day, then did a 2 credit Signature Restaurant every night. I got to enjoy an appetizer at every meal, plus an entree, plus tasted desert for every meal. No, I didn't finish every meal, but I ordered exactly what I wanted, tasted everything I wanted, and got waited on every meal. I never had to stand in those long CS lines or look for a table. I had enough snack credits left over to bring treats back home for family and friends. The DxDDP was great!

aubriee

07-01-2008, 04:30 AM

To the OP, when you figure the DxDDP be sure to figure in the extra you'll be paying in tips for all the extra TS meals. On my solo trip this past May I spent about $175.00 (and that included only one alcoholic drink). For our Sept trip we are figuring about $525.00 just for tips (with no alcohol) for the three of us for our eight night/nine day trip. I looked at the menus on Allears, figured what we would probably order (not necessarily the most expensive, just what we would probably want), then figured what the tip would be for each meal. Obviously with more TS meals your tips will be quite a bit more than if you went with the basic DDP. For us it is worth it though.

wezee

07-01-2008, 04:20 PM

Just two adults going and planning on eating at few signature restaurants. So the $30 something dollars a day it cost to upgrade is definitely worth it. So basically we are eating 2 sitdown meals a day, a couple of snacks and getting a resort mug for $30 something buck a day...sounds worth it to me.

Ditto :thumbsup2 DH can't wait till Sept. We have signature ressies everyday for 8 nights....including several we have been dying to try...like Jiko, Flying Fish and Artist Pt.!! I am currently dieting to lose an extra 5 lb., cause I'm sure I will need a buffer zone for this trip! But we have all our ressies and will only eat 2 meals a day....1TS and 1 Signature!

CruisingCamper

07-01-2008, 06:01 PM

We too upgraded to the DxDDP during the free dining. We are so excited. I know we sound crazy, but one of our favoraite parts of WDW is the restaurants and the experience at each. We love to dine and consider it a big part of our vacation. So the Deluxe just seemed like it would be a great add-on to our already wonderful WDW trip.

We have never had the even the regular dining before, but the couple of times that we have gone to WDW, we spent a lot on food. We like having the option of sit down meals everytime and to have appetizer, entree and dessert!! What a treat!! And we already know what it will cost us!!!

I may try to go figure our tips too!!

Here's our Schedule:

Saturday Sept 6
Lunch- Out of Pocket
Dinner – 7:40PM Rose and Crown Pub EPCOT (Illuminations is at 9PM)

Sunday Sept 7
Breakfast – 8:10AM Kona Café (Table Service Breakfast) Polynesian
Lunch - Out of Pocket Typhoon Lagoon
Dinner – 6:55PM Tony’s Magic Kingdom (Spectromagic Parade is a 7PM)

Monday Sept 8

Breakfast – 7:35AM Ohana Character Breakfast Buffet (Mickey, Lilo and Stitch) Polynesian
Lunch – 11:30AM Rainforest Café Animal Kingdom (Pay Out of Pocket)
Dinner – 7:40PM Narcoossee’s Grand FloridianSignature Restaurant 2TS

Tuesday Sept 9
Breakfast – 8:10AM Chef Mickey’s (Breakfast Buffet) Mickey and Friends
Contemporary Resort
Lunch – Out of Pocket Blizzard Beach
Dinner – 8:00PM Wolfgang Pucks Grand Café at Downtown Disney

Wednesday Sept 10
Breakfast – 8:05AM Supercalifragilistic 1900 Park Fare Character BK Grand Floridian
Lunch – 2:35 PM Le Cellier Steakhouse Epcot
Dinner – 8:30 PM Teppan Epo (sp?) Epcot Japan

Thursday Sept 11
Breakfast – 8:05 AM Playhouse Disney’s Play and Dine – Disney Hollywood Studios
Lunch – 1:00PM Mama Melrose (Italian)- Disney Hollywood Studios
Dinner – 9:10PM California Grill – Contemporary Resort, Signature Restaurant 2TS (Wishes is at 10PM)

Friday Sept 12
Breakfast – 9:10AM Cinderella’s Royal Table- MK
Lunch – 2:10PM Crystal Palace Character Lunch MK
Dinner – 8:00PM Yachtsman Steakhouse – YC

Saturday Sept 13
Breakfast – 7:30AM Ohana Character Breakfast Poly

raistlin

07-01-2008, 09:24 PM

We also upgraded to the DxDDP. We reserved narcoossee's, california grill and Jiko. I find it's worth it to try new restaurants where we us 2Ts

GoofySon'sMom

07-02-2008, 10:19 AM

I also upgraded to deluxe for our upcoming trip. DS12 and I are definitely foodies. We also love appetizers sometimes more than the entrees and wanted to try some signature places. I have been putting aside the tip money in envelopes each week so it won't be such a big chunk when we get there. I love having all of our meals paid in advance as well!

iluvpluto27

07-02-2008, 02:33 PM

We upgraded as we love dining in signature restaurants, and using this plan we are able to dine in every signature restaurant on our next trip.

The other reason is my DH is vegetarian and the vegetarian choices in TS restuarants are normally a bit more varied then CS, which means he'll get a nice lunch as well as dinner.

Gymbomom

07-02-2008, 09:31 PM

Too much time for us.....although I am tempted just because I like apps. Also it is not just the price to upgrade....but the additional $$$ for tips. OUCH!

TheRatPack

07-03-2008, 10:41 AM

We are not, I wanted to but it would be an additional 160.00 a night for our family of 7 (4 considered adults), and for 160.00 we can just pay OOP for another sit down meal if we want one.

fey_spirit

07-03-2008, 10:47 AM

I'm curious as a Diabetic I have to keep a fairly similar diet and this confuses me. That someone who suffers from chronic low blood sugar would need to keep sugar down, seems counter intuitive. I know you obviously know what you're talking about - I'm just wondering why it works this way.

I would think that a Diabetic and Hypoglycemic would be like Jack Sprat and His Wife on this subject. Like I said I don't doubt you - but because it seems the opposite of what it should be it fascinates me.

I choose the Deluxe Dining Plan instead of the Regular Dining Plan as I need to have more options when it comes to my food choices. I have Hypoglycemia, it's sorta like the opposite of a diabetic, my glucose levels run extremely low. When at Disney World, I'll need to incorporate more proteins, and less carbs and sugars into my diet, also I'll need to eat more frequently.

Since no free dining was released for our time period later this fall, we are paying outright for the upgrade to Deluxe Dining. I have it noted that I require high protein, moderate carb and low sugar meals. So for me, burgers and fries and Cokes at counter service isn't going to do.

Mostly we have booked early luncheons and late dinners (most of our dinners are at the 2 tables service restaurants. After reading the menus, I see great opportunity for proteins as appetizers, a decent entree and a cheese plate for dessert. yummo!

Most likely the cheese plate will be "packed to go" for late night sugar drops. I plan to also utilize the 2 snack credits at the Food n Wine Festival as needed to again push the proteins / carbs.

I think the sitdown restaurants with the opportuntiy to speak with the Chef is going to be the best situation for me.

DebbiC

07-03-2008, 01:24 PM

I'm curious as a Diabetic I have to keep a fairly similar diet and this confuses me. That someone who suffers from chronic low blood sugar would need to keep sugar down, seems counter intuitive. I know you obviously know what you're talking about - I'm just wondering why it works this way.

I would think that a Diabetic and Hypoglycemic would be like Jack Sprat and His Wife on this subject. Like I said I don't doubt you - but because it seems the opposite of what it should be it fascinates me.

I'm not diabetic, I'm hypoglycemic and yes that means my sugar runs low.

If I eat lots of pure sugars Like candy or soft drinks, it immediately surges my sugar, great in a critical situation, say like the sugars are 28 or so .. but in normal situations with hypoglycemics, the sugar surges and if more sugar does not follow, it drops drastically, sometimes below where it was in the beginning.

Carbs have the same effect but slower. I tend to eat a high protein, middle carb and low sugar diet. I also have malabsorption so I eat more meals than most.

I eat lots of natural peanut butter, hard boiled eggs, chicken and fish.
I try to stay away from white breads and mostly eat whole grain, including bagels but in moderation. I like baked potatoes, including sweet potatoes, I also eat cheese and yogurt. Candy and Soda are not in my diet. I eat fruit early on in the day as it can also cause the surge/drop effect.

yes, the diet is similar.

tiger4me2

07-03-2008, 05:13 PM

Anyone upgrading to the Deluxe Dining Plan while using the Free Dining?

Reasoning?

We were going to in fact did so but after coming back from our May trip the basic was just too much to eat for us at least. We would have had to have three TS almost to make it work & we are not heavy eaters lol. It was a nice thought that we could have done more 2 TS dinners but oh well. ;)

gigi1313

07-03-2008, 07:57 PM

I
Saturday Sept 6
Lunch- Out of Pocket
Dinner – 7:40PM Rose and Crown Pub EPCOT (Illuminations is at 9PM)

Sunday Sept 7
Breakfast – 8:10AM Kona Café (Table Service Breakfast) Polynesian
Lunch - Out of Pocket Typhoon Lagoon
Dinner – 6:55PM Tony’s Magic Kingdom (Spectromagic Parade is a 7PM)

Monday Sept 8

Breakfast – 7:35AM Ohana Character Breakfast Buffet (Mickey, Lilo and Stitch) Polynesian
Lunch – 11:30AM Rainforest Café Animal Kingdom (Pay Out of Pocket)
Dinner – 7:40PM Narcoossee’s Grand FloridianSignature Restaurant 2TS

Tuesday Sept 9
Breakfast – 8:10AM Chef Mickey’s (Breakfast Buffet) Mickey and Friends
Contemporary Resort
Lunch – Out of Pocket Blizzard Beach
Dinner – 8:00PM Wolfgang Pucks Grand Café at Downtown Disney

Wednesday Sept 10
Breakfast – 8:05AM Supercalifragilistic 1900 Park Fare Character BK Grand Floridian
Lunch – 2:35 PM Le Cellier Steakhouse Epcot
Dinner – 8:30 PM Teppan Epo (sp?) Epcot Japan

Thursday Sept 11
Breakfast – 8:05 AM Playhouse Disney’s Play and Dine – Disney Hollywood Studios
Lunch – 1:00PM Mama Melrose (Italian)- Disney Hollywood Studios
Dinner – 9:10PM California Grill – Contemporary Resort, Signature Restaurant 2TS (Wishes is at 10PM)

Friday Sept 12
Breakfast – 9:10AM Cinderella’s Royal Table- MK
Lunch – 2:10PM Crystal Palace Character Lunch MK
Dinner – 8:00PM Yachtsman Steakhouse – YC

Saturday Sept 13
Breakfast – 7:30AM Ohana Character Breakfast Poly

cruisingcamper... i would reconsider paying OOP so early in the trip... i'd rather spend a few extra bucks at the end than go home w/leftover/unused credits... there may come a day or two when your ::gasp:: tired of eating :scared1: and skip a meal or two... and having paid OOP early on, you'll end up with credits...

i realize this is not popular advice, but i think it's sound advice for a weeklong trip with so many meals...

or perhaps instead of OOP meals at the water parks, you make a lunch out of snacks as you'll have lots of snack credits...

CruisingCamper

07-03-2008, 11:55 PM

cruisingcamper... i would reconsider paying OOP so early in the trip... i'd rather spend a few extra bucks at the end than go home w/leftover/unused credits... there may come a day or two when your ::gasp:: tired of eating :scared1: and skip a meal or two... and having paid OOP early on, you'll end up with credits...

i realize this is not popular advice, but i think it's sound advice for a weeklong trip with so many meals...

or perhaps instead of OOP meals at the water parks, you make a lunch out of snacks as you'll have lots of snack credits...

Thanks for the advice about the snack credits!! Your right, we could probably make do on using those for our meals at the waterparks. I don't have any doubt that we'll eat all the meals we have scheduled, we may gain 10 lbs while we're there!! LOL!!! DH loves to eat and considers it a major part of his vacation, so the DxDDP is for him!!!!

SummerIrmoma2_3

07-04-2008, 01:36 PM

We chose to upgrade because we are going mostly to spend some quiet time together and enjoy good food. If we were going to bring the kids, there's no way they'd sit through 3 sit-down meals per day!

DH and I would never be able to eat at places like Narcoossee's or Cali Grill if it weren't for free dining and upgrading to deluxe!

This is the exact same reason we chose to upgrade. DH and I are going for a get away for just the 2 of us and I have no problem trading park time for soem nice meals together.

We too upgraded to the DxDDP during the free dining. We are so excited. I know we sound crazy, but one of our favoraite parts of WDW is the restaurants and the experience at each. We love to dine and consider it a big part of our vacation. So the Deluxe just seemed like it would be a great add-on to our already wonderful WDW trip.

It doesn't sound crazy to me at all. I am a huge "foodie" and my mom swears I should be at least 500 pounds since whenever we plan a trip the first thing I do is plan out where I want to eat. LoL

Thursday Sept 11
Breakfast – 8:05 AM Playhouse Disney’s Play and Dine – Disney Hollywood Studios
Lunch – 1:00PM Mama Melrose (Italian)- Disney Hollywood Studios
Dinner – 9:10PM California Grill – Contemporary Resort, Signature Restaurant 2TS (Wishes is at 10PM)

I would double check the time of Wishes if you are planning on that as part of your meal. I checked the Disney calendar and it is saying Wishes is at 9 so you might just miss it.

Cinderelly5507

07-04-2008, 05:46 PM

So, now I'm back to thinking of possibly upgrading... I have 6 TS reservations and only 4 free TS reservations (I added nights after the FD promotion so I need more meals)... anyways, how much will upgrading be for a 4 night? it's $32/night per person, so $64/night x 4nights= $256+tax... ugh! I'll probably keep switching back and forth... until the 72 hour timeline comes!

CruisingCamper

07-04-2008, 10:18 PM

I thought WISHES was always at 10PM that time of year, I have not checked the calendar!!

Thanks so much for the information, I 'd better call and see what I can do about that, but I bet their already booked up for then.

frannn

07-06-2008, 11:26 AM

We would probably never get to do it without the free dining "discount". We look at it as not just a dining treat, but also additional entertainment value, as we are doing HDD and MBBQ for the first time. We are also doing some signatures- CRT, BD, Narcooses. We don't have to give up old favorites- CM, LC, CR, and most character meals :banana: . The best part is that I don't have to eat at the food court :yay: (DH normally pushes the food court for convenience). Not sure if the increased ADRs will lead to more or less meltdowns for DD5. Sure hope its the latter. Looking to switch things up a bit- made 8-ish breakfast ADRs to motivate us to get up & out early. Also looking forward to avoiding the dreaded "where do you want to eat" summit. Just nervous that our ride time will be severely shortened, I'll miss out on trying custom snacks at Goofy's (again), and I'll have very limited time at the outlets :scared1: . Wait a minute...missing those things will put a smile on DH's face :rolleyes: .