Citricos/ California Grill and the Dining Plan

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

I was just looking at the menus for these places and it sounds amazing...but there is a app course, then a soup/salad course, etc at these places...so how does that work with the dining plan? Do you pick one or the other? :confused3 I am thinking of using the 2 credits, but I want to make sure what that includes before I go. Thanks for any and all info!

[aubriee]

You didn't say if you are on the basic DDP or the DxDDP.

Appetizers are not included with the basic DDP, even at Signature restaurants. With the basic DDP you get an entree, dessert, and nonalcoholic beverage. Most will allow things like virgin drinks, smoothies, etc for a beverage (no drinks with special straws or light up cubes though).

Only with the DxDDP do you get an appetizer, entree, dessert, and nonalcohlic drink. Usually you can choose either a salad, soup, or appetizer. You don't get both. There are some appetizers that are not included though (appetizers for two, the two most expensive sushi at California Grill, any sushi at Wolfgang Pucks, etc.) I ate at Citricos on the DxDDP when I was at WDW earlier this month. I don't believe they had any limitations on the appetizers. I also ate at California Grill. The only limitations were that the two most expensive sushi items could only be ordered as an entree.

I did hear the couple sitting next to me at Citricos, trying to argue that even though they were on the basic DDP that they should get appetizers and wouldn't listen when the waiter told them they did not. They insisted on a manager being called, who had to explain that even at Signature restaurants the basic DDP does not include appetizers. They were not happy! Funny thing is, I was told that I could get one of three different kinds of water there, in addition to my iced tea. I chose sparkling water. The waiter brought out a huge green bottle of water. At the end of the meal, I looked at the receipt to see what the tip should be and noticed that that bottle of sparkling water was about $9.00 bucks. It plus the iced tea was included on the DxDP. This was the only restaurant where this happened though. Everywhere else even the DxDDP included only one beverage. Just FYI: I was able to get virgin drinks (pina colavas) at California Grill, Artist Point, Yatchsman, and Flying Fish. I probably could have at Citricos also. I just didn't ask.

[TDC Nala]

On the basic DDP you are entitled to two courses - entree and dessert (plus a non-alcoholic beverage). The level of the restaurant doesn't matter. To have appetizers included you need to purchase the deluxe dining plan. Many guests think that because the signatures charge 2 credits per meal, surely that means you get an appetizer. Not so on the basic dining plan.

If you prefer you may order your entree off the first course or appetizer menu - but what you order will count as your dining plan entree. If you would like to order a third course - soup, salad or another appetizer - you may order them, but the dining plan won't cover them so you'd need to pay cash for that item.

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

Ok now I am confused...I got th eplan that is $42 a day for adults and $12 for kids...I just looked at this:

http://www.mousemisers.com/docs/diningplan09.pdf

And it says that with the table service you DO get a an app....so how do I know if I am on regular dining or deluxe? Also the woman on the phone who booked me for Coral Reef told me it was only one credit but the list I had said it's 2?

Also my daughter is 2 when we go but it says you can't buy a dining plan for her? Why?

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

Ok so I tried to find prices and I think we just have the regular DDP...that said is it still worth it without the apps? I am thinking maybe going to Buffet route then with one special meal? I am so confused as the last time we went, in 2005 it was included as were the gratuities....so it is still a good deal? The reason I like it is that it takes the guess work out of how much we spend on food, which is the only thing my husband and I argue about, this made that stop, and it was wonderful.

Thanks for your thoughts

[TDC Nala]

Children 3-9 get appetizers on the basic plan. Adults do not. Looking at the brochures, a lot of readers miss the "age 3-9 only" on the appetizers. And they're talking "kids meal" appetizers which are mostly things like a small cup of soup, a small green salad, or some raw vegetables. Kids can't order appetizers off the regular menu.

Coral Reef used to be 2 credits but is now 1 and has been for awhile. The list you have must be quite old. The basic DDP no longer includes appetizers (they now have a deluxe plan which does) and gratuities are not included on either plan.

Children under 3 are not charged on package reservations and cannot use any package components, so they don't get the dining plan. They're expected to share with the rest of the party. At buffets or all you can eat family style places they eat for free.

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

Thanks so much for your help. I just had a chat with a cast member and she told me this also. I also thought about doing the deluxe for hubby and I and regular for the kids, but you can't do that....so we will keep the plan and just enjoy ourselves. Do you feel it is worth the money?

[TDC Nala]

I don't like the dining plans at all - they are not worth anything for me. But you will find many posters on this board who love them.

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

I loved them the last time, but it inculded the apps and the tip. The only part that I still love is it takes away the arguing about how much to spend on food. Which for us is huge. We will see if we like it this time and maybe next time we won't use it or I will try to get the free dining, which we TOTALLY be great!

[aubriee]

Ok so I tried to find prices and I think we just have the regular DDP...that said is it still worth it without the apps? I am thinking maybe going to Buffet route then with one special meal? I am so confused as the last time we went, in 2005 it was included as were the gratuities....so it is still a good deal? The reason I like it is that it takes the guess work out of how much we spend on food, which is the only thing my husband and I argue about, this made that stop, and it was wonderful.

Thanks for your thoughts

I am in the group that loves the DDP and can't imagine a trip without at least the basic DDP. No, it's not as great a deal as it was when it included the appetizer and tip, but we feel it's still a good deal. Like you I like knowing I have everything paid for in advance and also not even glancing at the prices on the menu. If I'm in the mood for a $10.00 hamburger I'll order it, but if I'm in the mood for a $30.00 steak, I'll order that. Don't feel like you have to order the most expensive thing on the menu in order to get the best value out of it. For me the value is in the convenience of having everything paid for in advance. However, when I add up my receipts, I find that I always do save money with the dining plans. If you happen to have any CS or snack credits left at the end of your trip, just be sure to use them for something to take home.

When I was there Sept 26th-Oct 4th I was on the DxDDP and loved it. I did an early TS lunch every day, then a 2 credit Signature meal every night between 7pm-8-pm. We'll be using the DxDDP again in Dec when we go, but that's mainly because my husband and mom don't particularly care for counter service meals and with the DxDDP we can do TS for every meal, if we want. However, when I was there last May I used the basic DDP and enjoyed it also. I felt it was worth the price. I just paid out of pocket for an occasional appetizer, if I saw one I really wanted to try. Again for me, I just like the convenience factor of having meals prepaid. I put money on a Disney gift card before I go and use that to pay for tips and anything I might want OOP. That way I don't have to carry any cash and also don't have a credit card bill waiting for me when I get home. Everything is prepaid, plus I get reward points on my Chase Visa for buying the gift card with it. If anything is left on the gift card, I can use it for my next trip.

Just FYI: there are some meals where an appetizer is included even with the basic DDP. Chef's de France and Le Cellier both have a chef's choice option where you can choose from a list of specific appetizers, entrees, and desserts. You can't make any substitutions, but as long as you like those items anyway, it's a way to get an appetizer. Also if you do the Fantasmic pkg at Mama Melrose (1 credit) or Brown Derby (2 credits), you get to select an appetizer. Of course at buffets you can eat whatever you want. Also if you like smoothies/shakes or virgin drinks, be sure to ask. Alot of restaurants will let you have them as your beverage on the DDP. I know when I was there a few weeks ago I got them at California Grill, Flying Fish, Artist Point, Yatchsman, Kouzzina, and Le Cellier. I've also gotten them in the past at 50's Prime Time, Sci Fi, Grand Floridian Cafe, Mama Melrose, the Wave, and maybe a few others.

[Pumbaa_]

I hate having to have a set plan and be somewhere at a specific time. Dining plans don't generally work for us (although I confess we did do 2 nights of DXDP last month when we were at AKV 2 nights before we moved to the BCV. 2 nights was perfect, had signature dinners and enjoyed it!)

BUt in general, we are much more last minute what do you want to eat now.

Your other choice is figure out what the DDP will cost your family and buy a visa gift card with that amount. If the DDP is $100 per night, and you will be there 7 nights, how far will that $700 go for your family. That is a lot to spend on food for a week, even in a theme park. :)

But, it depends too on where you dine and what you want to order. Do you really want a dessert at every single meal every single day for every single person? We like to share an app and rarely get dessert. Rather have something later.

Figure out what you would realistically order, compare that to the cost of DDP and decide what works. The nice thing about putting that money on a gift card, you can also pay your tips that way and if someone is off and doesn't want to have a sit down dinner, or you nap through your adr time, you don't 'lose' a credit

good luck deciding, let us know where you land :cool1:

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

The nice thing about putting that money on a gift card, you can also pay your tips that way and if someone is off and doesn't want to have a sit down dinner, or you nap through your adr time, you don't 'lose' a credit

good luck deciding, let us know where you land :cool1:



So does this mean if I miss my ADR then I lose the credit?

For the 2 kids old enough and both adults it comes to $760 for food. The gift card thing might be a good idea. With a 2 year old it might not work for the times we have planned to eat. I am going to go back and add up the places we REALLY want to eat at and what it might cost. In the meantime I am keeping my ADR if we go that route. I could not get into Le Cellier which is our very favorite place to eat.

Thanks for the help and I will let you know what we decide:)

[TDC Nala]

You do not lose your credit if you miss your ADR, but then you have to find another way to use the credit. In busy periods where the restaurants are mostly full, that can be difficult, and you run the risk of ending up with unused credits or devaluing your TS credits by using them for CS. Or, eating a TS meal you didn't really want because it was the only place you could go to use that credit up.