2009 Dining Plan

[TDC Nala]

I believe the prices from that post are the estimated US dollar equivalent of the British pound prices given by Virgin. Some of the British posters state that Virgin tends to mark everything up, so these may or may not be accurate prices for the purpose of forecasting what WDW will charge US customers in 2009. Nor did Virgin specify what exactly was included in the basic and deluxe plans, as far as an appetizer or gratuity.

 

[n2mm]

Talking to the servers when I was down there in April. They were not happy at all about this. Everyone of them told us to call and complain about it. Not one was happy with the tip not being included.

We heard the same things from many servers during our January and April trips.

The only change I foresee is the price going up. Seems to be a Disney trend lately.

 

[jcemom]

I would love to have the choice of appy or dessert. As far as the tip being included, does anyone know how much they actually got when it was included?

18% if I recall correctly.

 

[catne]

Here's the Virgin UK website with all the amounts listed as British pounds, not US dollars...

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/ext.../walt_disney_world/tickets_prices.aspx#dining

Any way we slice it, looks like it's changing & going up (isn't everything... Except wages! )

Don't know what conversion factor was being used in previous posts, but the one I found said 18 pounds = $35 approx. Another thread on similar topic said the UK 2008 prices were not that far off from the US prices...believe a Brit poster said the regular 2008 DDP through Virgin was US $40, just $3 over the price US residents paid.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I would be shocked to see the tip come back.

 

[jcemom]

According to the Virgin site the 2008 DDP is the equivalent of nearly $50 USD. We only pay $38 directly through Disney. I'd say their markup is considerable. The 2009 price is the same for adults as 2008, no increase at all.

I would not freak out over what Virgin is offering, as far as rates go. If we go by them it appears that there is no increase in price for the basic DDP in 2009, only a slight increase in the child's price and the adult deluxe plan, and a decrease in the cost of the child's deluxe plan.

Disney Quick Service Dining Plan
Not available for 2008
2009 £18 / £7 = USD $35.91 / $13.97

Disney Dining Plan
2008 £25 / £9 = USD $49.89 / $17.96 -- WDW price $37.99 / $9.99
2009 £25 / £10 = USD $49.89 / $19.96

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan
2008 £41 / £18 = USD $81.82 / $35.92 -- WDW price $69.99 / $19.99
2009 £43 / £16 = USD $85.81 / $31.92


This makes Virgin's markup 30% on the adult basic DDP, 75% on the child basic DDP, 18% on the adult deluxe plan, and 75% on the child deluxe plan.

*IF* their markup percentages are the same for 2009 that would make the projected prices through WDW:

Disney Dining Plan
2009 $37.99 / $10.49

Disney Deluxe Dining Plan
2009 $73.25 / $18.99

Of course I'm just speculating here. I have no way of knowing what Disney will do. Unfortunately I'm not in any information loop.

It's just that I've been reading everywhere where people are worried silly that Disney is going to increase the cost of the basic DDP to $50 USD next year. I could be wrong (just don't tell my kids it's possible, LOL) but I don't think that's going to happen. Their goal is to sell the DDP, not drive everyone away, right?

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I welcome the appy and tips back with the 2009 plan. This is what many wanted and posted on this board: bring the tip and appys back and raise the price. But the $50 price tag would put my wallet on Jenny Craig. See, my eldest DS turned 10 last month and he graduates to the adult meals. And even though my youngest would be 9 next year when we go back, we'll have to boost him up to adult meals just to make him eat like he wants to eat. And that would raise my food bill to $1000 for 5 nights, so they have to reduce it a bit, though. We normally eat half of that for the month!

But even at current prices, our bill would be something like $760. And with tips, we would probably spend an additional $200. With no appetizers. So, in hindsight, it's about even with us. ($1000 for food, sheesh! )

 

[honeybee8200]

We are looking to get the Deluxe Dining Plan with our trip in April. Hopefully it won't go up too much but I can understand some. Any word yet on when the 2009 resturants and such are coming out???? I would like to book my ADRs and MYW package soon.

 

[asmit4]

Ok, so I know we LOVE the 37.99 it once was...but how is $50 not spot on for what you get?

I usually figure on:
$3 for snack
10 for CS (and that's low b/c I refuse to use CS credits for cheap meals, we tend to hit up cosmic rays and order the ribs/chicken which is up to around 14 bucks I think).

That leaves 37 for the meal and tip. Say we go to Coral Reef. I order:
Caesar salad 5.99
Catfish 20.99 (which is the 2nd cheapest item on the menu)
Chocolate wave 7.99
Coke say 1.99
= 36.96 plus tax plus tip....

I've spent the 37 bucks and still haven't accounted for the tax or the tip, the tip on this would be around 7.00 plus tax.

I realize that 50 is hard to swallow b/c we loved the cheaper price. My guess is that DW lost their butts on that plan and that's one of the reasons they changed it.

I think that 50 is a fair price. The way I see it is that I'm still saving about 10 bucks a day per person, perhaps more depending on what I eat. I could have ordered a meal at Coral Reef that was 26.99 and saved even more.

Any idea on what week in August we will have the 2009 pricing? I am hoping soon!

 

[jcemom]

I think $50 would work for us *IF* appetizer and tip were included again. As it is we're going to be spending an average of $5-6 per adult per night on tips anyway when figured at 18%. That would bring us to $44 with the current cost of the DDP plus tips, no appetizers.

I just don't forsee them adding in the appy and tip again. Giving every party appetizers and desserts made the turnaround time too long for the tables. And wasn't the inclusion of the tip something that I recall reading about when the CMs' contract was renewed last year? If the inclusion or disinclusion of tips is written into the contract would/could that change before the contract was up?

 

[TDC Nala]

If the price remains $37.99 for the basic, I'd seriously doubt you'll see tips and appetizer with that.

 

[slduck]

I know that I have seen this posted somewhere else, but I repost it here. Disney's UK site is showing the price increase in the dining plan. Here's the link... http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdwi/en_GB/index?bhcp=1

If you act like you are booking a flight inclusive holiday, it will take you to a page with the 2009 prices for dining. It also has 2008 listed. After you have chosed a flight and hotel, click on 'book it". As you scroll to the bottom of the next screen you will see a place to give your personal information (didn't fill that part out of course) then the dining info is below that.

According to Disney UK... 2008 was 19.99 pounds and 2009 is 25 pounds. The age of adult and child is different too. Those 11 and below are still considered "children" in the UK version. Guess we will all have to wait and see.

I am not good at waiting!!!!!

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Wow, thats not fair that kids are 11 and under for the UK, but 9 and under for everyone else. I am all fine with the UK people getting some extra vacation perks, but for us having to pay adult prices for our 10 and overs is wrong.
I still believe kids should be 12 and under, but thats a whole other post.

 

[catne]

Well, I expected the plan cost to go up...lordy, look at how much groceries have gone up this year! What I find interesting about this is that on this WDW Travel Co site, the 2009 Dining plan looks like it's just offering the same two dining plans (regular and Deluxe dining plan) No mention of the 3rd option (2 counter service & 2 snacks per day) which is showing up on the Virgin UK travel pages.

Can't wait to see what comes out for US bookers...the same old 2 options or the 3 options? Maybe the 3rd option is just for people booking overseas?

 

[rentayenta]

I would like to see the tip back in the plan and a choice of either App's or dessert.

This is what I'd like to see too. And if the tip cannot be included then I would like to at least have the choice between app or dessert.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I would like to see the DP cost increased by 18% to cover the cost of tips so no one has to carry cash, credit card or have their room key on them to dine.

 

[asmit4]

I would like to see the DP cost increased by 18% to cover the cost of tips so no one has to carry cash, credit card or have their room key on them to dine.

Agreed...that would bring the cost up to about 44/pp. If they added in the appy like many want, they could add on maybe another 5 bucks or so. I see 50 as right on.

When are we going to find out the truth???? Did they roll it out the first week of Aug last year?

 

[borgthe]

DVC Sadie,

You will still need your key card as that has the dining plan credits on it.

 

[iluvpluto27]

Wow, thats not fair that kids are 11 and under for the UK, but 9 and under for everyone else. I am all fine with the UK people getting some extra vacation perks, but for us having to pay adult prices for our 10 and overs is wrong.
I still believe kids should be 12 and under, but thats a whole other post.

Kids aren't 11 and under for the UK, that only shows because a 'flight inclusive' holiday includes a flight with Virgin Atlantic, and that's the child ages they use. If you book a normal package through Disney's uk site, 10 and over is used as the adult age.

 

[TDC Nala]

And it's my opinion - I do this but apparently many people do - that one should carry SOME cash in case of emergencies. If transportation goes down and you can't get back to your resort, and you need a taxi, what are you going to pay them with?

Yeah, that does happen - it happened to me once. I was able to wait until Disney scheduled alternate transportation, but what if you couldn't wait?