Any anyone bought the dining plan even though you had annual passes?

[tinkandonaldfans]

We are looking to use the annual pass vouchers we got from our Disney wedding in December this year. We are looking at staying at a Disney hotel but we are wondering whether we can purchase the dining plan. I have asked this question on the dining plan board and people have said that Disney do ticketless packages so that annual pass holders can purchase the dinng plan. However they were unsure as to how we do it from the uk if at all.

Anyone tried or know?

 

[Elise79]

You would need to book through Disney US to get the ticketless package.

Have you looked at TIW? We find it a better deal than paying for the DDP.

 

[wayneg]

Are you eating 100% onsite or have a car and eating some meals offsite?

DDP costs £51.54($53.54 peak) for 3 of us thats upto $160. Last year when we did DDP eating top priced items(2 of us, DW always has chicken) desserts with every meal etc we averaged $163/day. I don't know how anyone can gain by paying for DDP. Its great free but there is no way I would pay for it.
If paying OOP we wouldn't eat anywhere near as much (no desserts at lunch, share drinks instead of 1 each etc) even TS sometimes a main course is enough, we only order desserts because they are included.

If we didn't have free DDP then we have always have a ca so eat mostly offsite, far better value but if you have no car it will be mainly Disney dining.

I would look into TIW, must be better value than DDP, can't be any worse IMO.

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

We looked at TIW but it seemed e discount they gave you was counterbalanced by the fact that they automatically add the 18% service charge. Although we are not against tipping I find 18% a little excessive at times so the 20% they give you by using the card seemed a little pointless after buying the card!

We may just pay for food OOP

 

[Elise79]

I just think of the TIW card as covering our tips - it still saves money over OOP plus any level of tip.

Personally, I like it as I don't have to think and not once when using the card have I thought the tip was not deserved. If you do you can always speak to a manager and they will reduce or remove it.

 

[torsie24]

We got TiW with our APs last year. It saved us loads.

You're going to have to tip on top of DDP anyway.

We loved TiW as it meant we never ha to think about a tip.

15% is the minimum you should tip anyway so 18 is a fair amount unless you get exceptional service. Then we left a little extra on top of the TiW payment.

 

[irenep]

We have APs but wouldn't consider buying DDP as we find the TiW so much better value.

The way I look at is that it pays our tips for us- so if we spend $100 on food we automatically save $18. For us, that soon mounts up and quickly covers the initial cost of the card. It also means we eat what we want and are not under pressure to have a main plus dessert. For instance we always go to CG at least once every trip- I usually have a starter plus sushi, my DD sometimes just has a starter plus dessert - with DDP we would have to use 2 credits each and not be able to eat exactly what we want.

However, if the plan does suits your dining habits, you can book the packages by logging onto the passholder section of the Disney website.
I am not sure if you can log on here using your voucher and if you have a problem you might have to phone Disney reservations in the US.

 

[london75]

Or do what we've done and go for free dining, choose the 7 day tickets which obviously means paying out but then use the value towards another year of APs so you're either getting free dining or the majority of another year free APs.

 

[crabbie1]

Another vote for TIW card. It saves a lot on tips if for a family of 3 the average TS meal is $80 then even if you only left a 10%tip over 2 weks that $140 so the Tiw pays for itself and also on the DDP you have to have an entree and a sweet where as if like us prefer an appetizer.
Like wayne says too much food and often have it because its free but expensive if paying OOP. Ohana is around $35 a head adult so a combi abt $8 and a snack $3 so $46 dollors a day.TIW $75( may be a $100 now) - 20% off the main after tips added works out cheaper than DDp OOp. Correct me if Im wrongMy maths isnt that good

 

[disneyholic family]

we had the dining plan although we have APs

we booked with US disney not UK