2009 DDP, DxDP and QS plans - Everything you always wanted to know

[Minniekins]

Yeah, that's why I missed it at first, although if you notice, the CS places are listed first, but I sure can't figure out the logic in how the TS places are listed for MK. Do you mind if I ask where you live?

I live in a very small rural town you probably wouldn't know the name of. Basically I live alittle west of Dekalb.

Hey, this is a bit ot, I guess, but I guess I live sort of inbetween the two of you as we are in Cortland(just east of Dekalb)! I was reading the lastest entries and suddenly I'm reading the word 'Dekalb' so I had to check if it was Dekalb, Il and yep, it was!

Okay, now back to a bit more on topic, I'm still trying to decide if we should get DDP for our Jan 2 - 10 trip. We had FD last Nov and my daughter loved it and really wants to do again, she loved a TS each day and whatever she wanted to eat! Just not sure if it will be a good deal if we just purchase it, plus we could obviously eat for less than the 672 something it would cost us now, compared to last years' 640 or so. Without the tip added in I think the value is less than it could be, if it's supposed to be a deal. or the least, being able to choose an appetizer or dessert. I think the last would make it a bit better of a deal, we just don't usually eat dessert that much, though either way there is enough food, no going hungry at least!

Btw, were we supposed to get a free mug last year while on the FD? We got one mug, only because we bought it ourselves. Should we have gotten one free for each of us or wasn't that offered with FD last year?

 

[TDC Nala]

A mug is not and has never been included with the basic dining plan. It is included only with the deluxe plan and the quick service plan. Because the basic dining plan is by far the most popular plan, Disney apparently didn't feel the need to offer a mug with it.

You should not have gotten a mug with free dining because the free dining has always featured the basic plan. This fall, free dining users staying at value resorts will get the quick service plan free, and therefore they'll get a mug (unless they upgrade to the basic plan - no mug with the basic plan.)

Is Crystal Palace on the DDP? And what about the Horseshoe Inn?

If you are referring to the Diamond Horseshoe, it's a seasonal overflow dining location so it is not on the brochures. Yes, it's on the dining plan. This year it is a CS at lunch and a TS at dinner, so CS credit at lunch, and 1 TS credit per person for dinner. The food is exactly the same all you can eat family style meal served at Liberty Tree Tavern's dinner.

 

[DisneyMom5]

I had the same question about the resort mug and Quick Service plan, especially if you can't convert the TS to CS when you don't want to waste valuable sightseeing time sitting down at a table for a long time, etc. Does anyone know the cost of any Buffet, because the Quick Service offers 1 more snack and the mug. We're only 3 people. The difference each day between the plans would be $21 less with a mug and extra snack. The buffet or character dining seems to be the incentive in the higher priced plan. We don't mind paying $63 extra for 3 days, but we lose out on the extra snack and mug. Any thoughts either way? Can we pay extra one day and get the buffet added on, saving a counter service for the last day when we check out?

You have to have the same plan for each day. However, if you wanted to pay out of pocket for the one sit-down, and it's a buffet, it might be worth it to have the QS plan, get the extra snack and mugs, and pay for the buffet. Buffets tend to be lower price meals.

Have a great trip!

 

[Wonderdis]

We will be in WDW next week ... all 5 ADRs have been made months ago.
I know what credit/how many credits we are entitled.

My questions are:
- when we get to the restaurant (Tokyo Dining, Mama Melrose), do I immediately tell the server that we are on the Free DDP ?

- since these restaurants are not buffet, and we are ordering from the same regular menu ... how would I know which food will be acceptable under the free DDP plan ?

- How are the credits deducted ? Do I have a card to give them to swipe to deduct credits from ?

Sorry for these very basic question .... but thank you in advance for your responses.

 

[TDC Nala]

We will be in WDW next week ... all 5 ADRs have been made months ago.
I know what credit/how many credits we are entitled.

My questions are:
- when we get to the restaurant (Tokyo Dining, Mama Melrose), do I immediately tell the server that we are on the Free DDP ?

- since these restaurants are not buffet, and we are ordering from the same regular menu ... how would I know which food will be acceptable under the free DDP plan ?

- How are the credits deducted ? Do I have a card to give them to swipe to deduct credits from ?

Sorry for these very basic question .... but thank you in advance for your responses.

You will be asked if you are on a dining plan. It makes absolutely no difference whether or not the plan was free. All you have to say is that you are on the regular dining plan.

You will find no restrictions on ordering from the regular menu at Mama Melrose. At Tokyo Dining, the separate sushi menu is not included for DDP ordering. If you want sushi, you can get it as part of a combo platter on the regular menu.

You will present one KTTW card (Key to the World - your resort room key card, which will also contain your park tickets) for your party, and all credits for the meal will be deducted from that. You will then need to decide how to pay the tip - you can use cash, credit card, Disney gift card, Disney dollars, or Disney Visa reward dollars.

 

[Wonderdis]

You will be asked if you are on a dining plan. It makes absolutely no difference whether or not the plan was free. All you have to say is that you are on the regular dining plan.

You will find no restrictions on ordering from the regular menu at Mama Melrose. At Tokyo Dining, the separate sushi menu is not included for DDP ordering. If you want sushi, you can get it as part of a combo platter on the regular menu.

You will present one KTTW card (Key to the World - your resort room key card, which will also contain your park tickets) for your party, and all credits for the meal will be deducted from that. You will then need to decide how to pay the tip - you can use cash, credit card, Disney gift card, Disney dollars, or Disney Visa reward dollars.

Thank you very much for the response. I understand it a lot more now but I am sure if and when I get confused ... the server will surely help us.

 

[The COH]

On my next trip, i'm going with 4 people. Only two of us want the disney dining plan. Is that allowed even though were going together?

 

[Tricia1972]

On my next trip, i'm going with 4 people. Only two of us want the disney dining plan. Is that allowed even though were going together?

If you are staying in the same room, or share a reservation number, you will all need to be on the same plan.

If you are staying separately from your friends, you will be able to purchase the plan for just the two of you.

 

[portsofcall]

I've called different numbers for Disney and no one seems to know this question. I had a hotel reservation directly with the AKL, I made dinner reservations. Now, I just confirmed a studio with DVC points through a member for the same room accommodation, but with a different confirmation number. These are 2 separate hotel reservations. I tried to ask if I can change the hotel confirmation number for the dining reservations, so I can have them all under one Log In. One person said it doesnt' matter, just show up and show your card. In another phone call, I was told I need to cancel the first dinner reservations (about 5 of them) and then start new with the new hotel confirmation number. Is there any way around this? The DVC owner added the dining plan and magical express for me.

 

[portsofcall]

You have to have the same plan for each day. However, if you wanted to pay out of pocket for the one sit-down, and it's a buffet, it might be worth it to have the QS plan, get the extra snack and mugs, and pay for the buffet. Buffets tend to be lower price meals.

Have a great trip!

Thanks, should we purchase the less expensive plan and then pay for the extra dish each day or pay for the more expensive plan and purchase the refillable mug, if possible. Can we purchase the refillable mug? We're actually there 4 full days, but have a 3 day dining plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've called different numbers for Disney and no one seems to know this question. I had a hotel reservation directly with the AKL, I made dinner reservations. Now, I just confirmed a studio with DVC points through a member for the same room accommodation, but with a different confirmation number. These are 2 separate hotel reservations. I tried to ask if I can change the hotel confirmation number for the dining reservations, so I can have them all under one Log In. One person said it doesnt' matter, just show up and show your card. In another phone call, I was told I need to cancel the first dinner reservations (about 5 of them) and then start new with the new hotel confirmation number. Is there any way around this? The DVC owner added the dining plan and magical express for me.

I don't understand. You are changing accommodations from AKL cash reservation to an AKV point rental for the same trip? You are therefore now going to cancel your AKL cash reservation, and someone has told you you now have to cancel and rebook your restaurant reservations because you will now have a different room reservation number?

Call WDW-DINE and tell them what you want to do and you'd like the reservations linked to your telephone number, not your resort confirmation number.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Thanks, should we purchase the less expensive plan and then pay for the extra dish each day or pay for the more expensive plan and purchase the refillable mug, if possible. Can we purchase the refillable mug? We're actually there 4 full days, but have a 3 day dining plan.

Personally, we eat so much on the basic dining plan that we have never had to pay for an additional snack. We usually have snacks left over (we bring our own water.)

The refillable mugs are for sale, but you can only use them at your hotel.
We have never found them to be a good value for that reason.
We don't eat at the hotel often enough to make it worth the $. And when we do, a drink is included.

Now, if they were free, we'd get extra drinks, or use our drink option for a bottle of water.

We prefer to eat one TS each day, so the basic plan works for us. We have been blessed to get the basic plan free three times, so if we had to pay...hard to say. Probably WOULD pay for the basic plan, or upgrade to it, if that were the case. But, like I said, we're all about the 1 sit-down a day.

If you add up the sit down meals you want to do, you will be better able to see the cost. Use the menus here on the WDWinfo, or go to allearsnet.com to price them out.

If you plan on eating several sit downs, go with the basic plan. If not, probably paying out of pocket for the TS meals is a better idea.

Happy to answer any other questions (we're getting good at this!)

Have a great trip!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We too have used the (basic) DDP many times now. It'll be our 6th time next month (5th time free!).

We actually still buy the refillable mugs. Financially it doesn't really make sense, I know but we like to have them. We have a whole collection of our mugs from through the years. We even stop on the way to POP at WM and pick up some Diet Cokes and waters. But we just don't spend a lot of $$ on souvenirs since we go so often and we go to DLR (AP holders) even more so I figure the cups are a good little souvenir. (I've even been known to use them at home)

As we head out to the parks we stop off at the food court and grab something in them. My DM usually gets coffee, I'll get Diet Coke, and DD will do Sprite or Frozen Cokes (I'm not sure if they are still there?) and then we're off the to parks (in our own rental). When we return to POP we do the reverse, stopping off in the food court to grab a quick beverage (and maybe a snack) and then back to the room.

If we eat a meal in the food court then we use our drink allowance for something bottled-water, soda, ice tea, or fruit juice. (2 drinks with breakfast) My DD has a thing now for the Minute Maid Cranberry juice and one of the few places we can find it is at WDW. This gives us quite a supply of bottled drinks to drink. When DD was small enough to need a stroller we would throw some of the bottles in it for the day in the park. Now I'll put just a few in my Baggalini for the day. (or ice chest at waterparks). It can be a little heavy at first but once I drink them it lightens up! Also, we all have water bottel straps I made and we carry our water that way. We don't use any SC for regular beverages. Only the frozen kind!

Additionally we'll be spending 2 days at the waterparks (TL and BB) so we'll bring in our own beverages (and snacks from WM). And we don't spend all our days at Disney (I know - DM insists!) so when we hit the road we pack up our beverages, sandwich makings, etc. and off we go.

If I can remember I will also put a few of the bottled beverages in an ice chest in the car to drink when we leave the parks. It's amazing how hot it can get crossing the parking lot to get into your car! Especially, it seems at AK and EPCOT. Some times it's so hot crossing that asphalt that I'll have my DD and DM wait (hopefully in the shade) while I hurry for the car and then pick them up. So a Nice, Cold, Drink can really hit the spot (I can get really grumpy when overheated!)

Oh, and one last thing, I really like that I can get any of the beverages at the beverage station with my mug-soda, ice tea, hot tea, coffee (DM, not me), frozen coke (DD not me!), and even occasionally, hot chocolate-I add some of the coffee creamer to it-makes it pretty good!

Anyway, this is probably more info than you needed-for us buying the mugs is good, but financially, not so much-make sense?

 

[Dean]

I've called different numbers for Disney and no one seems to know this question. I had a hotel reservation directly with the AKL, I made dinner reservations. Now, I just confirmed a studio with DVC points through a member for the same room accommodation, but with a different confirmation number. These are 2 separate hotel reservations. I tried to ask if I can change the hotel confirmation number for the dining reservations, so I can have them all under one Log In. One person said it doesnt' matter, just show up and show your card. In another phone call, I was told I need to cancel the first dinner reservations (about 5 of them) and then start new with the new hotel confirmation number. Is there any way around this? The DVC owner added the dining plan and magical express for me.

I'm pretty sure you will not be able to do that without canceling and rebooking. However, the concierge should be able to pull it up by name and/or phone number to give you a combined list assuming all are listed the same way.

 

[minniebeth]

In the 2009 DDP (regular plan) brochure, it states that for 2 CS credits, you can get 1 16" pizza, 2 desserts and 2 beverages...

has anyone ever done this, and where is it available?

Must they be 2 adult CS credits?

Any information on this, would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[squirrel]

In the 2009 DDP (regular plan) brochure, it states that for 2 CS credits, you can get 1 16" pizza, 2 desserts and 2 beverages...

has anyone ever done this, and where is it available?

Must they be 2 adult CS credits?

Any information on this, would be appreciated!

Thanks!

I haven't done this, but was waiting for my nieces food to be made by the chef (lactose intollerant) and over heard that they wanted the guest to pick up the drinks and the desserts and go through the til and tell them to add the pizza to it. Then bring the receipt back to the pizza station and show it to the CM who would make/get the pizza. I'm not sure if this is still the way they are doing things but there is usually a floor manager when it is busy at the food court you could ask or just ask the CM at the Pizza station.

 

[wifey]

Sorry but the official Disney PDF clearly states in room pizza will cost you 2 Adult TABLE Service credits not Counter Service ones.

 

[Faldred]

Sorry but the official Disney PDF clearly states in room pizza will cost you 2 Adult TABLE Service credits not Counter Service ones.

That's for in-room pizza delivery. For pick-up, people have reported in the past that they can do so for 2 CS credits at some locations. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I too have wondered how many credits a whole pizza in the food court would run. Obviously it should be less than in room delivery since it isn't being delivered. It makes sense that it's 2 CS. We may well try this out in a little more than 3 weeks. If no one has verified it for sure I'll try to remember to come back here to post. ( I may have internet while there)

First time we used DDP (Jan. 05) when it first started we got a whole pizza, large salad and 2 drinks (actually she gave us 3) for 2 CS at the Spoodles window. They don't do this anymore.

 

[Qtips4Mick]

I booked a trip for December, Moderate with free regular dining. I have been told I can upgrade to deluxe dining and use all those credits for signature restaurants. I can't see that anywhere (other then forgoing a TS meal or two and paying OOP)
As this is a celebration of sorts and we have tried most restaurants this is tempting. If the info is true.

Thanks for any help!