Sorry, but I'm new to the DDP idea!!

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi, I am considering purchasing the dining plan (either basic or deluxe) but I'm not sure whether it would suit us, so I was hoping to tell you what restaurants we plan to eat in, and hope that you could tell me if its a good idea for us or not!! And also which package we would need (Sorry I find it all a bit confusing!!:lmao: )

We will be onsite for 7 nights - although we won't be eating much on arrival night as we will have been on a long transatlantic flight and we also would only have breakfast on departure day (as we will be joining a disney cruise!:banana: )

Anyway, the restaurants we are planning are:

TRex (Dinner)
Whispering Canyon cafe (lunch)
Crystal Palace (Breakfast)
O'Hanas (Breakfast)
O'Hanas (Dinner)
Chef Mickey (Breakfast)
Tusker House (Breakfast)
Rainforest Cafe (dinner)
1900 Park Fare (Dinner)
& then either Le Cellier or Coral Reef (and possibly Candlelight Processional package)

We would also be needing snack credits but I don't think we would be able to eat many more 'proper' meals - be they table or counter service.

My other concern is that I am more of a starter person - am I right in thinking I would have to pay OOP for those?? And if so, is that easy to do - do the CM's bring you a special DDP menu and then you have to ask for the 'regular' one, or are they both the same and you order what you want and just pay for the extras??

Sorry for so many questions - I like the idea of trying the dining plan at least once, but not sure if this is the right vacation to do it!! (By the way - i'm not actually travelling until 2010 - so I don't have to worry about adr's just yet!!:rotfl: )

thanks for your help!:thumbsup2

[Bete]

If you will not utilize the CS meals then it won't be worth it. The plans are based on eating at least two meals a day or going to Signature restaurants which you did not choose in your choices.

Infact, Rainforest Cafe is not included in the DP on any level; so, that's OOP.

The CP package is included in the plan which is a plus, but that's not enough savings for you to do it.

[Tricia1972]

With the DDP you order off of the regular menu.

However, if you aren't eating any more meals than what you are showing the DDP is not for you.

The DDP is $39.99/night of your stay.

You have 7 credits, which is fine because Rainforest and T-Rex don't participate in the plan. Using the plan you'd have to pay for Tusker House OOP.

Just purchasing one snack per day and eating at the restaurants you indicated will come nowhere near that cost of the DDP for you.

[soontobewed07]

I'm afraid I agree with the PP. We use the dining plan because we like to have a sit down meal everyday and also because then I do not have to budget for food it is all set. We usually use our snack credit for breakfast and CS for lunch.

[TDC Nala]

Using the basic plan, you are correct in saying that the appetizer or starter is not included in the plan price and you 'd have to pay extra if you ordered them.

They're included in the deluxe plan, but you have far too few restaurants to use up deluxe credits - especially considering the fact that you can't use credits at Rainforest or T-Rex.

If you're not going to eat any meals other than those you listed, the dining plan is probably not a fit for you. If you're going to fill those out with counter service meals, you may want to consider one. If you have several children under age 10, you may also want to consider it as the basic plan is a fantastic deal for young children.

[amystevekai&bump]

thanks everyone!!:lovestruc

I guess I'll speak to DH and see if he thinks we will also eat some CS meals - but I think that might be too much food for us - at least I understand it now - so thank you all!:thumbsup2