Anyone know about the premium package?

[WDWSuperFan]

We have booked the dining with our room and tickets, but I was wondering about the premium package because it includes three meals a day. Is this 2 CS and 1 SD? I think we would be better off paying on any extra meals, anyone have experience with this? Thanks for any input!

 

[diswedwish]

I've done the Premium Package, back when it was called the Gold Plan. You get 3 meals per day and unlimited recreation and tours (well, essentially unlimited - almost everything is included). There aren't any limitations with your sit down meals either - no "signature dining" spots. Everything is 1 credit. You can try almost all of the tours if you like that - Keys to the Kingdom, Backstage Safari, etc. (all except for the pricier tours are included); also golfing, horsebackriding, boating, parasailing, etc. Cirque tickets too. When we tried it it was to try a lot of different sit down restaurants and the recreation. Lots of character breakfasts, $$ lunches, and all of the "signature" restaurants for dinner. Cirque for the first time and parasailing. So we definitely enjoyed ourselves and got our $s worth. Didn't relax very much, but it was a fun trip! It's not for everyone though - I wouldn't do it if I were going in a hot time of the year (we went in Jan.) because I don't have much of an appetite when it's hot, and I wouldn't do it if I wasn't planning to use some of the other extras aside from the food. If you want, I can dig up a link to that trip report. HTH

 

[Princess Amy]

If you are deciding to get the plan just based on the dining part, I would suggest just sticking with the basic dining plan and paying out of pocket for the extra little things. The platinum plan is highly expensive, though worth it if you plan on doing all the things that it involves. Look at the prices of each plan, decide what you would use from it, and then decide if it is worth it. We did this and we would be losing money, even if we paid out of pocket for some meals.

 

[tink606]

DH and I did the premium package last year in November for our Honeymoon and loved it. There are two plans besides the regular dining plan, there is the premium and the platinum. We did the premium b/c we weren't interested in child care or grand gatherings since it was just us two. We did a whole bunch of the extra curricular activities since we've never done them when we go b/c of the costs to do them without the plan. We did Keys to the Kingdom Tour in MK which was awesome and we did Hidden Treasures of the WorldShowCase in Epcot, although the tour was awesome Disney decided to discontinue that specific tour. We also went parasailing at the contemporary resort and we did a horse carriage ride at Fort Wilderness. We used a lot of the extras that were included so we thought it was well worth it. We also went to play minature golf which is also included in the premium plan and we watched the MK Wishes Fireworks and Epcot Illuminations Fireworks from a special viewing area which were both awesome areas and it was also included in the premium package. We also went to see Cirque de Soleil since the tickets are included in your package, and the seats that are given to you with this package is awesome, and i must say that it is an awesome show and it should be a must do on everyone's list. It also depends on the length of time that you will be staying. We stayed for a week and a half so we had plenty of time to take advantage of all these extra things. The food was more than enough, like a previous dis member mentioned the premium package does not go by a point system. You get breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at where ever you decide you want to eat. It doesnt matter if its a signature restaurant either. You could have TS meals everyday three times a day. Dinner Shows are also included and you dont have to worry about 2 points or 1 points either b/c like I mentioned the premium package does not go by point systems. The only place where you can't use the premium package is at Victoria and Alberts, other than that, you could use it everywhere where the DDP is accepted. You don't have snacks b/c who needs it when you have three meals a day at a table service restaurant. You could also use it at counterservice locations but why waste your plan on those places when you could have sit downs three times a day. We also chose this plan b/c we wanted to try all those really expensive restaurants that we wouldn't be able to eat at if we weren't on that plan. We loved it and would definitely choose that plan if we had the money to afford it each time we went to disney, but since we don't then we decided to spluge on our Honeymoon and get it then b/c we knew it would probably be a long time from now when we would get to use this package again, but given the choice and money available we would definitely go with this plan again. It was a little tiring but lots of fun and a great way to enjoy all of Disney, not just the parks.

 

[jimmalru80]

We've had the premium package for our last two trips and will be doing it again on Wednesday. Kids are older now (23,17,17) so it works quite well for us. We enjoy our dining as much as we enjoy our time in the parks.

 

[WDWSuperFan]

Thank you for all the replies. I haven't been able to find much info on this concerning the meals. We probably won't do any of the tours since this trip, we will be traveling with our children, ages 1 and 7. DH however, would enjoy the golf. After hearing the responses and doing the math, I think we would be better off just paying for the extra meals. We usually do 2 sit down meals a day and a lot of them are character meals. This would be great when they are older. There are so many tours and other restaurants I would love to try. This plan would be great for then.

 

[septbaby]

I'm paying OOP for a round in Sept $55 for 10am tee time. There is a $149 special for 2 rounds at any course. A good deal if you'd tee off before 10am.

I am only willing to be "away" from my 5yo nephew once during the trip, so one round is enough. He'll be asleep when I leave then in the pool, so I'll get a free pass, but a lot of questions when I get back.

 

[WDWSuperFan]

Of all our trips, my husband has only golfed once, because he didn't want to miss our vacation with our daughter any over our trip. In fact he had a 7:30 tee time the trip he golfed. He met up with us at the park around lunch while she was enjoying a Mickey bar. If your nephew is like my child, the Mickey shaped sand trap photo was thought to be very interesting!

Hope you have a great trip!