wine packages - details needed please

[imgoingtodisney]

I know there's 2 wine packages available on the Disney Magic. But how much is each? What is included in them? What kinds, etc.? What if we dont make it to our assigned dining room that night? Is it cheaper for 2 people (usually not wine drinkers) to just get a glass? or have a different drink?

[Firefighter Mickey]

If I recall correctly, the less expensive package is about $150, the more expensive about $210 (not including 15% gratuity).

They have a variety of wines and the selection can vary.

If you aren't wine drinkers, it may be better for you to just purchase wine by the glass. They also have a different drink special each day, and it's fun to sample the different drinks.

All you are doing is pre-purchasing 7 bottles - those 7 bottles can be consumed one per night, or all 7 in one night - it's really your choice (so if you miss one day, you can double up on the next).

[nedleycan]

I also know that whatever you don't drink, you can take home with you. It is approx. a 25% discount, however, if you aren't big wine drinkers and aren't sure if you would finish a bottle a night, then I wouldn't do it. We are considering it. We are also considering bringing our own and paying the $15 corkage. I heard that sometimes they don't charge the corkage.
Still trying to decide......

[4megs]

Hi - We are just back from the cruise last week and can confirm prices and content for the Wine Packages. The Classic Package was USD $145.00 and Premium Package USD $265.00. The on-board advertising promotes as follows: "This package will entitle you to select fine wines from our specially designed wine list at 25% saving over our regular prices." Both selections command an additional an auto-gratuity of 15%. 7 bottles in each package - drink 'em one at a time, all at once or take home what you don't use. Have the same one every night if you wish.

Each package contained 1 Sparkling wine (listed as Champagne), 4 or 5 white wines and 4 or 5 red wines. I will have go by memory for the content since I can't find the list I thought I brought back. The Classic Package was oriented around wines like Robert Mondavi Coastal Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Most of the bottles would have been USD $10.00 or less in a grocery store. What I would call Tuesday night wines. The Premium Package featured better quality wines including: Iron Horse Disney Cuvee Sparkling wine, Louis Latour Pouilly Fuisse, Fess Parker Anniversary Chardonnay, La Crema Chardonnay. Reds: Chateau Mont Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Crema Pinot Noir, Beringer Reserve Cabernet, Zinfandel (vintner escapes me just now), etc. If you do the math, the premium package works out to about USD $38.00 per bottle. These wines a-la-carte were USD $45 - $55.

The cellar master accomodated us for trade-ups to better bottles by paying the difference when we saw something we could not resist (1990 First Growth Petit Village Bordeaux). However, when you substitute be warned that the per bottle credit is only USD $33.00, which I guess is one of those restocking charge things.

We decided to go the package route since we were a party of 5 adults with 2 glasses each at a meal which consumes 2 bottles. Single glasses of the Mondavi Chardonnay were around USD $5.99. Better wines were offered each evening either by the glass USD $8.99 - $16.99 depending on the wine. Example: Chassange-Montrachet 1999 was USD $16.99 per glass. However, one quickly pays for a bottle with the single glass price for better wines.

About the wine lists. There is a 'standard' wine list (feeds the Classic Package), a 'select' wine list (feeds the Premium Package) and the 'vintage' wine list. The vintage list contains the wines displayed at the wine package table set up in the ship's lobby. There were 6 or so wines under USD $100.00, a couple between USD $100 -$200 and then another 6 to 10 that ranged up to USD $500. This list also contains the port selections - non-Vintage Ruby, Late Bottled Vintage Ruby, 10 Year Tawny, 20 Year Tawny and other dessert selections culminating in Chateau Y'Quem Sauternes at around USD $300+. NOTE: You can only get the good port at Palo's and Lumiere's restaurants. I tried elsewhere and was told it was not possible.

One final note. We had 2 great wine surprises during the cruise. First, after ordering a 1993 La Grande Dame Champagne we were delighted to receive a 1990 as a substitute. Apparently they still have some in Palo's wine cellar. Second, we received a complemenatry upgrade on each of our last 2 bottles of wine at the final cruise dinner.

Okay, really the last item. We also tried the Stem to Stern Wine Tasting - excellent value, interesting viewpoints from the different cellar masters, nice introduction to tastings if you have never been.

Enjoy!

[DARWIN91]

If your not a big wine drinker but like to have a glass with dinner. You can also buy indiv. wine bottles and if you do not finish it, it will be available to you the next night. I did it that way. I was the only one drinking wine so my asst waiter told me it would be cheaper for me to purchase a bottle. He would tell me when I had no more and I would purchase another.

[imgoingtodisney]

so - did you take it with you each night? or do they take care of it? label it somehow? and take it to the next dining room youre assigned to?

[DARWIN91]

Your asst waiter held on to it and it was available in the next restaurant that you dined in. You did not have to take it with you.