Dining Plan vs. Deluxe Dining Plan

[nnyl_irret]

What are your thoughts? Is there enough food with the Dining Plan? Does the Deluxe Plan provide too much food? Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[Carmell226]

We find that there is MORE than enough food on the regular dining plan, we have considered doing the Deluxe but we never do because we think it will be way too much food for us. The only reason we may do the Deluxe next time is to experience more of the signature restaurants because those take 2 credits each.

 

[nnyl_irret]

We find that there is MORE than enough food on the regular dining plan, we have considered doing the Deluxe but we never do because we think it will be way too much food for us. The only reason we may do the Deluxe next time is to experience more of the signature restaurants because those take 2 credits each.

Thanks a lot - that's what I was thinking too... but I noticed quite a few people that must have the deluxe dining because they had TS booked three times a day - seems like a huge amount of food, but I have never done it so I didn't want to miss out if it's the best way to go.

 

[TDC Nala]

Depends totally on how your party intends to eat. If you want 3 TS a day and you want them covered by a prepaid dining plan, the deluxe is the one you want. Remember you also don't have to use deluxe credits for TS, you can use them for CS if you wish.

 

[nnyl_irret]

Thank you for the information - since we have never done the dining plan I find it so hard to judge. My husnband is not a large man, but is a BIG eater - my daugter and I aren't.

TDC Nala - do you know if there is a big different in price between the regular and deluxe plans?

I can certainly find enough restuarants that I would love to book with

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

What are your thoughts? Is there enough food with the Dining Plan? Does the Deluxe Plan provide too much food? Would love to hear your thoughts.

We have done both the basic dining and deluxe and have found that deluxe provides the opportunity to do signature dining while basic does not unless you want to miss a few meals altogether.
Going basic and trying to do signatures.. well just the sound of that makes me hungry!
If you are staying 6 nights and you plan 3 Signature meals, you have used up ALL your TS credits.
Some people say that Signatures are not worth 2 TS credits when you think of the cost of the meals you could be eating at a 1TS establishment, and a number of folks choose to pay for signatures OOP because they believe it is less expensive that way.
I have no idea which is cheaper... and I don't want to make my brain explode trying to figure it out
Last time, on deluxe, we did 4 signatures and are glad we had the experience, but found that there were numerous 1 TS credit spots we enjoyed almost as much: Kona Cafe, Akershus, Teppan Edo,etc.
We did find signature offerings to have a little more imagination and flair and are really glad we went deluxe at least once.


When we went basic in 2005, appys & gratuity were still covered, so this year when we go basic again we'll be missing out on appys but plan to pay OOP to share an appy or two throughout our week.
Honestly, some of the appys are so filling that half of the time I left food on my plate because I was too full or afraid of being too full.
I don't need my own appy... I can share.

We have been known to ask CMs to box up our dessert to go so that we could enjoy it later.

There is no way that I could eat three meals a day at WDW...
Our first WDW trip, it took us all week to learn that every WDW meal is really more volume that we were used to, and I had thought we were heavy eaters .
We'd stuff at CS breakfast, get hungry & snack at lunch, still be kinda hungry, then stuff at dinner. It was feast or famine and I really did not feel good that trip.
Not used to the oilier food at the POP food court, especially the eggs at breakfast...

By the end of the week we learned to split breakfast between 2 people (felt much better!) , then split lunch between 2 people, have a snack, then enjoy dinner.

This time, we are planning on ordering bananas, cereal & milk thru Garden Grocer and having breakfast in our studio. Probably will round that out with a snack in the morning or an early CS lunch and enjoy the heck out of our TS dinners...

Either way you go, there is a way to make it work for you...

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

Thank you for the information - since we have never done the dining plan I find it so hard to judge. My husnband is not a large man, but is a BIG eater - my daugter and I aren't.

TDC Nala - do you know if there is a big different in price between the regular and deluxe plans?

I can certainly find enough restuarants that I would love to book with

OK, this is just from memory, so I'm in the ballpark, but probably off on the exact number, but deluxe was around $69 - $79 per person per night last year and I think that basic is around $40 - $45 per person per night.
Someone feel free to correct my numbers as I'm sure they are not accurate.

That's why some folks feel deluxe isn't worth it- you spend $$ more and may not eat any more. Or if you go signature deluxe, you are spending $$$.
If you go signature basic, you are not spending as much, but you are giving up another meal, which brings us back to the question:
pay OOP for the signature meal or pay OOP for another meal... either way, you gotta eat...

 

[jenbarnwell]

We like Deluxe because it allows us to do the signature restaurants...We ALWAYS have meals left over but we have no worries about having to pay out of pocket. And if we don't like the food somewhere we can always use another meal The price difference is significant, but so worth it for us because we always do Hopp Dee Doo, CRT, and Brown Derby!

 

[tinka-belle]

This year, depending on when you are going, the price difference can be a bit less. It's either $30 or $25 more per adult per night.

The basic DDP is $42 per night, but $47 per night during most of the summer 6/04 - 8/14, and Christmas dates 12/17 - 12/31.

The DxDP is $72 per night, no date differences.

All prices are for Disney adults, ages 10 & up.

In addition to an extra meal credit and snack per night, you have flexibilty between TS and CS meals, the credits can be used for either. Your appetizer is included with TS meals, and you get one resort refillable mug per person.

You have to decide if it fits with the way your family likes to eat. Some people like having 3 meals covered, others think that's too much time eating. Some plan for a few Signature 2TS meals and shows and limit TS to two per day. Some say that all those meals with appetizers leave little desire for using the snack credits, others make full use of them. Only you can decide which plan makes more sense for you.

 

[mom2val]

Ideal for us would be 2 TS credits a day. We really only want to eat 2 meals a day. DD & I really dislike the QS meals- DH can eat a burger 3 times a day and be happy! We have done the regular dining 2 times and this next trip will be our second time doing the Deluxe. We will still only be eating 2 meals a day but will have 4 signature meals during our 6 night stay.

 

[nnyl_irret]

Ideal for us would be 2 TS credits a day. We really only want to eat 2 meals a day. DD & I really dislike the QS meals- DH can eat a burger 3 times a day and be happy! We have done the regular dining 2 times and this next trip will be our second time doing the Deluxe. We will still only be eating 2 meals a day but will have 4 signature meals during our 6 night stay.

I know I am going to sound extremely dumb for asking this but the only wwy to get the answer is to ask - what qualifies as Signature meals?

 

[texasgirl73]

For me, it's not about how much food but about the type of food and the type of atmosphere. I don't like Counterservice, I don't like eating in the heat (going in July,) don't like to carry trays of food for a family of 6 in a crowded restaurant. I like appetizers (I often prefer them over the entrees, but like to try both.) I like taking the kids to character meals because I don't want to wait in line to meet characters in the parks. I like to try a Signature meal or two. The regular plan would be a waste for me because I wouldn't use the QS credits and would end up paying for a bunch of TS out of pocket. If I skip a dessert, some snacks, and the kids skip an appetizer here and there we still come out ahead. For me, it makes sense. You just have to figure out if it will work for you. For those who hate being tied to a schedule and would rather grab their food and go the QS plan makes the most sense. For those who will be eating off property a lot, the plan might make no sense what-so-ever. For those who want to try a little of everything the regular plan makes a lot of sense.

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

I know I am going to sound extremely dumb for asking this but the only wwy to get the answer is to ask - what qualifies as Signature meals?

When you check out different restaurants, either here on the dis or on the wdw website, they will state that they are a signature dining experience or not.
Signatures:
Jiko @ AKL
California Grill @ CR
Citrico's
Narcoosees- both of GF
Yachtsman @ YC
Flying Fish @ BW

there are others, some at parks like CRT, but all you have to do is look at a restaurant online and it should tell you either 1 TS credit or 2 TS credits.
2 TS credits are signatures.
All room service is 2 TS credits also...

 

[kifuller4]

We chose DxDP because we are going in late August and we have 2 kids and 1 adult with MS. We decided this would be best so we can eat a good breakfast (plus I have made ADR's in the parks before they open), then have a nice A/C break at lunch and then a good dinner. Plus it gives us a chance to eat just about where ever we want. We have a 1/2 day when we get there (arrive at MCO at 2p) and 3/4 day on departure day (plane leaves MCO at 8p).

 

[Charmaine]

Just wondering for my family of 4, if we should buy the Dining Package? What are the pro's and con's?

We are a family of foodies...

Me
Hubby
Son 16
Daughter 7

We have never been to WDW...but love the character meals @ DL!
We usually have a light breakfast (unless we do a character breakfast)...QS Lunch & TS Dinner, and do enjoy a hot cocoa during parades, coffee in the morning, and a waffle cone or other treat daily! Food is a big part of our experience!

From what I can tell (although we're not going till Sept/Oct 2011) it will run our family about $250/day for their Deluxe Dining Plan...I am guessing that just on Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner with no snacks or extra's, or any Character Meals we'd easily spend $150/day...

I am just trying to justify that extra $100/day...

It is worth mentioning that we are only staying 3 nights, as we are going on a 4 day cruise immediately following. We were only going to get 2-day park hoppers, but if deals come about next year we might extend our trip a couple more days.

Sorry for the long post...just looking for some advice from you regular DIS'ers!

 

[texasgirl73]

No I don't think the dining plan "saves" a lot of money when you think about it in the budget frame of mind. You can dine cheaper without it. It's more about saving on a splurge, if that makes sense. Sort of like buying a designer purse on sale. The purse may cost $200 (retailing at $400) but you could have bought the $50 purse. Did you really save money? It depends on how much you wanted that purse. That's how I see the deluxe dining plan. How much do you want to be able to eat those meals? The answer is different for everyone.