2012/2013 Beach and Yacht FAQ- Closing Soon- New Thread Started- Don't Post Here

[DisneyLifeMel]

I did a MMP before our trip in 2011 and found that the only reason the dining plan was a slightly better deal for us is the kids pricing for four of our five kids (baby didn't need a plan..lol). Once the become adults the meal plan will end ip costing much more than OOP.

The mock up took me forever when I started factoring in not only the meal but the drinks n apps too...lol. Unless the dining plan changes I have a feeling most families will opt out...

If tipping was included in the DDP then it might make a little more sense to go with the 1TS/1QS/1snack meal plan. But for our family of 5, the buffets & character meals we like are nearly $200 w/o a tip, and that is what you base your tip on. So tipping adds about $40 to a meal - which I don't mind for good TS, but not for buffets.

Our kids are not really into the character meals anymore, so we go to TS restaurants where we order off menu. Then we add up those prices, add tax & tip, and we can all eat (quite well) for around $100 - $140 total. Much better. Most of our trips are 5 nights, and we do about 2TS meals. That is more our pace.

Until all of our kids are ravenous teenagers, which will be very soon, we will likely eat OOP and make MMPs before every trip. It is fun thinking about, though!

 

[DisneyLifeMel]

You may want to check out Tables in Wonderland too. Lots of guests use that and find it saves them considerable money when they decide to go without the dining plans.

I need to do some research on TIW. Do you like it? Is it per person or per family? I have an AP. So, am I right in thinking I only need 1 TIW membership for my family of 5?

Thanks!!

 

[ocalla]

How old is your DD? Mine will be 8 when we go and as of now, she is not a big eater. We call her our little birdie, but my DS (who will be 11) is a good eater but also has more expensive taste (steak, lobster, the good stuff). Plus, my son and I both enjoy dessert after our meals. But, I'm thinking of taking the advice and doing a mock meal plan and pricing it out. This should not be so stressful, but when given too many choices, my brain can't seem to quit and then I stress out!! But, that's why I love it here, everyone has good ideas, advice, and whatnots!!!

DD is now 15! We are celebrating her Sweet Sixteen while at Disney at our lovely Beach Club resort this July.

She is a good eater as is my DH, but we snack so much (mickey ears ice cream, dole whips, Caramels in Germany, pretzels, on and on and on because after all it's vacation!) and usually want to share a dessert, that we can get away with sharing a meal every now and then!!!

We have been to Disney SEVERAL times, and have never gotten the dining plan. DH doesn't like to be tied down to "well, we have to have a nice meal otherwise we are wasting money on this dining plan". As for myself, there are times that all I want is a bowl of soup for my meal (Sanaa is a perfect example, I LOVE, LOVE their tomato soup.) so using a meal credit for a $6 bowl is kind of nuts.

I'm sure the plan is a good thing for many families, it just isn't for us.

 

[ocalla]

Teena: I hope you are feeling better this week?

We are scheduling our trip this year for July 19-27 and I do hope you will be in town???

Oh yea, guess what? I was kind of joking last week with DH and DD and said instead of WDW this year how about a cruise?? Out of the blue (nearly knocked me over) DH (who has refused for years) actually said "Maybe next year"!!!!

Now granted that is not a YES, but it's the next best thing.

 

[DisneyLifeMel]

Teena: I hope you are feeling better this week?

We are scheduling our trip this year for July 19-27 and I do hope you will be in town???

Oh yea, guess what? I was kind of joking last week with DH and DD and said instead of WDW this year how about a cruise?? Out of the blue (nearly knocked me over) DH (who has refused for years) actually said "Maybe next year"!!!!

Now granted that is not a YES, but it's the next best thing.

My DH did the same thing to me a couple of years ago. He was in the Navy when we got married, and for years he avoided cruise ships. I guess he never thought ships & vacations should go together.

So the day before we were to fly out to go o Disneyland (my first time in CA), he says, "How 'bout a cruise to Alaska?"

Oh, and this spring trip.... totally his idea! I think I have brought him over to the Dark Side.

 

[The V Gang]

If tipping was included in the DDP then it might make a little more sense to go with the 1TS/1QS/1snack meal plan. But for our family of 5, the buffets & character meals we like are nearly $200 w/o a tip, and that is what you base your tip on. So tipping adds about $40 to a meal - which I don't mind for good TS, but not for buffets.

Our kids are not really into the character meals anymore, so we go to TS restaurants where we order off menu. Then we add up those prices, add tax & tip, and we can all eat (quite well) for around $100 - $140 total. Much better. Most of our trips are 5 nights, and we do about 2TS meals. That is more our pace.

Until all of our kids are ravenous teenagers, which will be very soon, we will likely eat OOP and make MMPs before every trip. It is fun thinking about, though!

We are still in the character buffet stage. The kids love to see the characters and love trying so of everything. I agree that the food is much better at TS but the variety of options means nobody can complain. Since the average price per child for the buffets is more than we pay for the dining plan (per day) we end up saving money. We also love to each (well my husband and I do...haha) so we have a table ressie almost everyday. As soon as they no longer qualify for the kids dining plan we are moving to oop though.

 

[The V Gang]

Btw...wasnt the tip included in the ddp a few years ago? I can't remember for sure but I do remember enjoying the appetizer option much more .

 

[natebenma]

Come Inside and Have a Seat.......Relax and Enjoy!

Nice!!!

Great advice.

 

[natebenma]

I did a MMP before our trip in 2011 and found that the only reason the dining plan was a slightly better deal for us is the kids pricing for four of our five kids (baby didn't need a plan..lol). Once the become adults the meal plan will end ip costing much more than OOP.

The mock up took me forever when I started factoring in not only the meal but the drinks n apps too...lol. Unless the dining plan changes I have a feeling most families will opt out...

Btw...wasnt the tip included in the ddp a few years ago? I can't remember for sure but I do remember enjoying the appetizer option much more .

to the thread!

Will you be staying at the YC/BC/BCV for part or all of your trip? If so, would you like to be added to the Be Our Guest list on Page 1?



You are correct, tip was included when the Dining Plan was new. I know the switch happened prior to 2008, because that is the first year we used it, and we were on hook for the tip.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

It will now & forever be called the MMP! I needed a name for it!!! I am looking at the diff between the Standard BC rooms and the Standard Club Level...for now..I may bump it up, but I feel like if I am not planning I am wasting time! LOL!!So,...We usually go the full week before Thanksgiving, which is the 16th for us this year! Hopefully if they put out room only discounts I will be able to snag one!! Fingers crossed!!

 

[bigAWL]

I need to do some research on TIW. Do you like it? Is it per person or per family? I have an AP. So, am I right in thinking I only need 1 TIW membership for my family of 5?

Thanks!!

Check out this site: http://tablesinwonderland.com/

We used it last trip (and the year-long benefits will last through our upcoming trip as well - woohoo). We really like it for the way we used it. We were travelling with my in-laws and planned many TS meals including several signature restaurants - one or two almost every day. It was nice to know that no matter what we ordered: appetizers, desserts, wine, before and after dinner drinks... it was all covered and all 20% off. It more than paid for itself during our trip (I wish I had calculated everything we spent and saved, but I never did ).

It works perfectly with a family. One card is all you need. When using it for multiple families (it's good for parties up to 10) it still works, but they will only bring one bill. You have to divide it yourself. However, there were one or two places that were willing to seperate the check and apply the discount to both.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Come Inside and Have a Seat.......Relax and Enjoy!

That looks so perfectly inviting

 

[bigAWL]

Come Inside and Have a Seat.......Relax and Enjoy!

What building is represented by that model? Is it a particular house? It resemebles the Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris (their version of the Haunted Mansion), but with quite a few differences in details and color palette. Maybe it's some other Victorian manor?

 

[1coolnini]

Thank you so much for all the great information. It has been so helpful in planning our first trip to WDW. I have made reservations for a vacation to WDW 2 or 3 previous times, but we have always had to cancel for one reason or another. 2 weeks ago I decided to take advantage of the spring sale. We have booked a 8 night stay at BC CL 5/17-5/25. I am so excited. I have booked the standard dining plan but after reading the recent discussion I am planning on canceling. It will just be my DH and myself, we are not big dessert eaters, so I just don't think we will get our money's worth from a dining plan.

We are young active grandparents that live in Southern California. My very first REAL paying job was at Disneyland. I have been an AP holder at Dland since my adult children were young one's! WDW has been on my "bucket list" for years and it looks like 2013 is going to be the year that I finally can cross it off my list.

I would love to hear from others who have been to Disneyland what are "must do's" @WDW. We will not have a car.....we are leaving the driving to Mickey.

Jan

 

[TeenaS]

Teena: I hope you are feeling better this week?

We are scheduling our trip this year for July 19-27 and I do hope you will be in town???

Oh yea, guess what? I was kind of joking last week with DH and DD and said instead of WDW this year how about a cruise?? Out of the blue (nearly knocked me over) DH (who has refused for years) actually said "Maybe next year"!!!!

Now granted that is not a YES, but it's the next best thing.

Feeling better but still very weak. House is so dirty but it's all I can do to just do the clothes and dish washing. I got my appetite back so maybe now that I start eating again I'll start feeling better.

We may have to alternate our "shore" week because Lily's birthday is 7/11 (the week we are going this year). Jeanne said next year she may have to spend birthday with her dad. If that's the case, we'll either do the shore the week before or the week after. I'll be shooting for the earlier week in July because then Jeanne and the baby always come here for the first two weeks of August too.

 

[DisneyLifeMel]

Btw...wasnt the tip included in the ddp a few years ago? I can't remember for sure but I do remember enjoying the appetizer option much more .

The first time we used the TS/QS dining plan was in 2010, and I remember that we needed to tip at the table. And you can charge tips to you KTTW card, so it all got rather confusing.

 

[DancinDaisyDuck]

What building is represented by that model? Is it a particular house? It resemebles the Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris (their version of the Haunted Mansion), but with quite a few differences in details and color palette. Maybe it's some other Victorian manor?

Looks like the Bates Motel to me

 

[DisneyLifeMel]

It will now & forever be called the MMP! I needed a name for it!!! I am looking at the diff between the Standard BC rooms and the Standard Club Level...for now..I may bump it up, but I feel like if I am not planning I am wasting time! LOL!!So,...We usually go the full week before Thanksgiving, which is the 16th for us this year! Hopefully if they put out room only discounts I will be able to snag one!! Fingers crossed!!

Haha... I love some good ol' Disney Abbreviations (DAs for short... hehe) I am pretty fluent. Sometimes y'all are the only ones who really understand me.

 

[DisneyLifeMel]

Check out this site: http://tablesinwonderland.com/

We used it last trip (and the year-long benefits will last through our upcoming trip as well - woohoo). We really like it for the way we used it. We were travelling with my in-laws and planned many TS meals including several signature restaurants - one or two almost every day. It was nice to know that no matter what we ordered: appetizers, desserts, wine, before and after dinner drinks... it was all covered and all 20% off. It more than paid for itself during our trip (I wish I had calculated everything we spent and saved, but I never did ).

It works perfectly with a family. One card is all you need. When using it for multiple families (it's good for parties up to 10) it still works, but they will only bring one bill. You have to divide it yourself. However, there were one or two places that were willing to seperate the check and apply the discount to both.

What great info... I will have to think about it over the next few weeks. We only have 2 TS meals planned for this trip. Too bad HH & BCMarketplace are not QS spots where we can get the discount, or it would be a no-brainer.

I only think I will have one or two TS meals when I go in the Fall.

I guess in addition to my MMP (goodness I am loving all the abbreviations in this post, ), I will do a little math to see if it pays to join. I don't see myself going to any of the special events (not just at this time anyway), though they seem lovely.

Thanks again!

 

[pixarmom]

ok my computer is not playing fair today and keeps messing up (it keeps losing my posts so I'm giving it a last go)
I was wondering (after reading MickeyT, Dee and NinjaMoms reviews of DP) just how easy is it to "split" an entree at a tableservice restaurant? I see lots of people mention doing it but I was wondering if restaurants frown upon it or is it a common request?

As others have said, VERY easy. We do this all the time because the portions at WDW are huge. We've been using TIW for the past several trips, so I'm not sure how it works on the dining plan anymore. But Disney very frequently offers to split an entree in the kitchen - which is so easy for us and looks so nice - much better presentation than when we have to scoop it onto another plate at the table!

You may want to check out Tables in Wonderland too. Lots of guests use that and find it saves them considerable money when they decide to go without the dining plans.

I need to do some research on TIW. Do you like it? Is it per person or per family? I have an AP. So, am I right in thinking I only need 1 TIW membership for my family of 5?

Thanks!!

We LOVE TIW!!!! We've spent a total of 15 nights at WDW over the past 12 months (not FL residents, just AP holders) and for our family of 5, it's been a great deal. We usually do two TS meals per day, so that's a lot of savings! Our 2010-11 TIW card covered 17 nights at WDW over the life of our APs. Again, huge savings! We purchased ours when they were $75 for AP holders - just one TIW card per family. It's still a great deal at $100.

With TIW, you have complete flexibility in ordering and it covers wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages. Especially now that our oldest son is a teenager, becoming a bit of a foodie and eats a ton, I just can't recommend it highly enough!

P.S. I should add that TIW works at most TS locations, but at very few CS locations. So if you plan lots of CS meals or don't have many ADRs, the savings are less significant. But again, since we usually have two ADRs per day, it works really well for us.