2009 - Will you do the Dining Plan?

[HayGan]

Just a little informal poll to see where people on the new dining plans for 2009.

Here is a refresher regarding the new plans and prices... (click on links for pdf documents)

Quick Service Dining Plan
2 quick service meals
2 snacks
1 refillable mug
$29.99 adult
$8.99 child

Dining Plan
1 table service meal
1 quick service meal
1 snack
$39.99 adult
$10.99 child

Deluxe Dining Plan
3 meals at any participating location
2 snacks
1 refillable mug
$71.99 adult
$20.99 child

 

[imthatgirl]

are we sure these are the prices????

and yes i will still be doing the basic dining plan. if thats really the cost, it only went up $1!! woohoo, i thought it would have gone up to at least $45 for an adult!

 

[kakiegirl]

Sadly we will not be doing the dining plan next year even though I love it we have eaten places we never would have without it. We have decided not to do the basic dining because DD will be 10 and an adult and because we have done it our last three trips and DH does not like being tied down to a TS meal every day. We were planning possibly doing the Counter Service Dining with a couple of TS OP until the prices came out (I was hopping it would be around $25.00 per person) but again with DD considered an adult at $30.00 a day per person I think we can eat CS cheaper than that. I am going to miss it though. We are going to keep up with what we do spend paying OP next year and see which way is the most econmical.

 

[MomofCKJ]

We are not for our January trip. It is just a few days (we are coming down for the Half Marathon) and didn't seem effective for us to use it. I did use it my last 2 trips and I am a fan of having most of the food prepaid but for the January trip we aren't really there long enough, I felt, to make it worthwhile.

For my August 2009 trip it is just my oldest dd and myself. She will be 12 and eats like a bird. I think we'll skip it then too. Would just be better for us I think to pay OOP and share some things than pay $40 a day for her to pick at food.

Allyson

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

God willing, I will never do Disney again without the dinning plan, I just really love having prepaid all my meals and not having to have all headache.

I love the dinning plan.

 

[HayGan]

are we sure these are the prices????

and yes i will still be doing the basic dining plan. if thats really the cost, it only went up $1!! woohoo, i thought it would have gone up to at least $45 for an adult!

Those are in fact the prices.

The basic dining plan that you are used to has gone up $12. The quick service meal plan is up $1 over this year's basic dining plan. The quick service meal plan gives you 2 CS meals & 2 snacks per day as well as 1 refillable mug.

We will likely just be getting the DDE for next year. I really do not see the savings in any of the plans now (except for kids.)

 

[imthatgirl]

Those are in fact the prices.

The basic dining plan that you are used to has gone up $12. The quick service meal plan is up $1 over this year's basic dining plan. The quick service meal plan gives you 2 CS meals & 2 snacks per day as well as 1 refillable mug.

We will likely just be getting the DDE for next year. I really do not see the savings in any of the plans now (except for kids.)

it was only 27.99 this year?

 

[imthatgirl]

i just went and checked, this year the basic was 37.99 for an adult and 9.99 for a child. if indeed the prices you posted are correct that means it only went up 2.00 for an adult and 1.00 for a child? right? im not good at math, but im not that bad?

 

[HayGan]

i just went and checked, this year the basic was 37.99 for an adult and 9.99 for a child. if indeed the prices you posted are correct that means it only went up 2.00 for an adult and 1.00 for a child? right? im not good at math, but im not that bad?

You were correct and I was wrong

I still don't think it is that great of a value (even though were are getting it this year.)

 

[imthatgirl]

You were correct and I was wrong

I still don't think it is that great of a value (even though were are getting it this year.)

sorry, i wasnt trying to prove you srong, persay. i just wanted to understand if maybe the price you posted was a typo or not.

 

[Todd&Copper]

How is the CS plan even worth it? Are they banking on people wanting it for the supposed convenience factor (although I do not see swiping my room key as any more convenient than swiping my CC)?

 

[loriandmatt]

am i reading this right......for the dining plan (not the delux or the counter service)...for the table service meals, only the kids get an appetizer?!?!?

 

[rainwatter]

How is the CS plan even worth it? Are they banking on people wanting it for the supposed convenience factor (although I do not see swiping my room key as any more convenient than swiping my CC)?

I've been thinking the same thing about the CS plan. After paying for our June trip OOP (stayed at the Hilton so couldn't do the DDP) I think the regular dinning is still a good deal if you do the more expensive TS, and we will be trying it out for the first time this March.

 

[World Bouncer]

I think we will probably do the QuickDP if that is what is offered for free dining.

We are doing deluxe this year, so next year we will just enjoy what they give us and the freedom of no ADRs.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

Please do not flame me but I think it's kind of funny how people are griping about $38.99 per adult for the basic DDP. I do wish we had a choice of appetizer or dessert rather than just dessert. However, I think that $38.99 is a good deal for 2 meals and a snack. DH and I go to some more expensive restaurants (about once a month) and we rarely walk out of those meals at under $80. That's just for 1 meal for 2 people.

Food is expensive and it seems like every time I go to the grocery store I'm paying a little bit more. Disney, and I know a lot of their stuff is over priced, they still need to make money and I don't think they're making much money if any by charging only $38.99/day for the DDP. I know I use my TS credits for things like steak and seafood which usually run in the $30.00 range. Then dessert and drink on top of that. I feel as though I'm getting my snack and my CS meal for free.

I do agree that charging kids 10 and older the full price is a little ridiculous. I can understand wanting to charge more than the $10.99 but how about something more reasonable like $19.99 or $25.99. Those kids who will eat off the kids menus will balance out those that eat off the adult menu.

 

[imthatgirl]

i agree. i think its a great deal! 39.99 for a whole days worth of food, sign me up!!
it does make wonder how people justify the 29.99 for 2 quick serve meals? does disney really feel there only a $10 difference between a quick serve and a table serve meal?

 

[TDC Nala]

I am a "no." It is likely that I will never use the dining plan, although I did use it a couple of times in 2007. And I should amend the wording to "no dining plan for me" because I am not an "us."

I could, if I wanted to, justify the counter service meals in this fashion:

1) I don't want to waste time making and keeping ADRS, I'd rather be touring the parks

2) Counter service doesn't require tips.

 

[amykay9377]

i agree. i think its a great deal! 39.99 for a whole days worth of food, sign me up!!
it does make wonder how people justify the 29.99 for 2 quick serve meals? does disney really feel there only a $10 difference between a quick serve and a table serve meal?

Hubby and I looked at both the Qddp and the regular DDP and we thought that the regular ddp was a much better deal. If I get a meal/drink/dessert at a CS restaurant, it is usually only $10, so $20 in meals, and $5-6 in snacks (a Mickey head and a bottle of soda), then I am coming out BEHIND in this deal.

However, with the regulr DDP, we can go get get steak or lobster or all those other meals that we would never pay for OOP, and come out WAY ahead (Just the three of us at CRT for breakfast is $100!).

I look forward to perusing all the menus and making my ADRs!

 

[javaj]

I voted for the Deluxe, but probably won't decide between the regular and deluxe for 2009 until next year.

We're trying deluxe for the first time this November but have been on the regular dining plan several times. I can't imagine going to WDW without the dining plan as long as it is available.

 

[LilGMom]

am i reading this right......for the dining plan (not the delux or the counter service)...for the table service meals, only the kids get an appetizer?!?!?

Yes you are reading that right. I think they put that in there because the kids meals at the TS locations include an appetizer, entree and dessert. The following is for Mama Melrose (courtesy of AllEars)

Kids' Picks - Choice of 1 appetizer, 1 entree and 1 dessert - $7.59

Appetizers:
Garden Salad
Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

Entrees:
Cheese Pizza
Pepperoni Pizza
Spaghetti or Penne Pasta topped with tomato sauce, meat sauce or cheese sauce

Soft Drinks Available Upon Request

Desserts:
Fruit Salad
Ice Cream Sundae