Anyone think the deluxe dining plan is worth it?

[mish2378]

should we do it?

 

[AdWayInc]

My DH and I are definitely doing it on our next vacation - March 1 - 9th
I have all my reservations ready to go.... We are doing signature dinners (2 pnts) at night and early lunch
1st - WC
2nd - Mama Melrose - Hollywood Brown Derby
3rd - Tusker House - Captain Jacks
4th - Coral Reef - California Grill
5th - Palace Restauarant - Artist Point
6th - Liberty Tavern - Narcoosees
7th - Sci FI - Le Cellier
8th WC - HDDR
Since we are staying at Wilderness Villa - we can do WC for breakfast if we so choose. THe whole idea is to have an early lunch and a late dinner but must be planned around the fireworks. Also the appetizers are included... the only difference is the tip. BUt we get to eat at all the 2 TS Signature restaurants and not decide which to eat at.

My DH and I are really looking forward to this trip - i know it is alot of food but we will be walking most of it off.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would consider it if I were avearging one Signature meal per day.

 

[N.Bailey]

If you decide to crunch the numbers, don't forget that you have to pay rack rate for the hotel, so while it may appear to be an excellent deal, my guess is, you'll probably break even (depending on where you eat/stay).

IMO though, it's a way to pay for it all before leaving home. I've always liked that aspect of the various dining plans thru out the years.

 

[ready4mouse]

We did the regular dining plan in 2006 and loved it so we knew we really wanted to do the DDP in 08 but we were on the fence about bumping up to deluxe or not... we did and I am so glad! I called last week to make my ADR's and it was so much fun! I didn't have to pick and choose and balance numbers b/c I had so many to work with. It also let us add some fun extras like HDDR and CRT as well as some character breakfasts that we would have left out if we weren't on the deluxe.
For me, it's definitely a good move for a fun vacation!

 

[BCV23]

For families like ours who really enjoy dining together at WDW I think the deluxe plan can be a sweet deal.

We could choose a light breakfast using snack credits, a table service lunch and then a signature dinner. Or a nice TS breakfast and then a signature dinner. Or three meals/day. The snack credits could be use for icy bottles of water at the parks or for snacks to take home.

But it is per night of your stay.

Oh, and for those staying at a DVC resort on points, there is no ticket requirement.

 

[Colleen27]

If you decide to crunch the numbers, don't forget that you have to pay rack rate for the hotel, so while it may appear to be an excellent deal, my guess is, you'll probably break even (depending on where you eat/stay).

You are only tied to paying rack rate to get the dining plan during free dining. We have a very nice little discount (over $800) on our package with deluxe dining for January.

 

[Colleen27]

Whether or not the deluxe dining plan makes sense depends on your travel style. We like nice meals and generally dislike CS, so it is a great fit for us - we'd like 2 sit-down meals per day regardless, and the delue plan lets us do that without giving up the convenience of having meals pre-paid. We're doing a lot of signature dinners and mostly sticking to two TS meals per day, and just on the ADRs I've made (without taking into account any CS we might eat or the snacks & mugs), the plan makes sense from a financial perspective.

 

[quietgirll]

I also think it depends on when you are going...we are going in september, and although I like the idea, I just think it would be way too much food in the hot weather. Also, keep in mind it will cut into your touring time, so if it is an off season and hours are shortened, that could factor in as well...

 

[hmillerbarilla]

I just called two days ago to upgrade ours to the DDDP. One of our favorite things to do at the World is eat, so it fits our family perfectly. We'll get to do character meals and a sit down dinner--where on the regular dining plan I was paying OOP for Chef Mickey's or the Princess lunch in Norway since we always had dinner ressies at a TS each night.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to trying some signature places, we usually do Cali Grill but now I'm looking into other 2 TS options. I've decided on Yachtsman, but can't decide between Jiko or Narcoosee's. Any suggestions?

I think the DDDP sounds like fun--and I can't wait to make my adrs!!!

 

[itchin2go]

If you decide to crunch the numbers, don't forget that you have to pay rack rate for the hotel, so while it may appear to be an excellent deal, my guess is, you'll probably break even (depending on where you eat/stay).

IMO though, it's a way to pay for it all before leaving home. I've always liked that aspect of the various dining plans thru out the years.

I booked a January pkg with DxDDP at a good discount....

I agree about the paying in advance thing. Helps to make the vacation more easygoing....

 

[SnowWitch]

As others have mentioned it depends on your dining style. We will utilize the plan on our Dec trips but opt for no dining plan during warmer months. We just don't eat alot when we're hot so we cannot justify the cost during lets say a summer trip. However, during a Dec trip we could completely use up those TS credits. Breakfast at the castle one morning and a 1 TS service dinner, then an early 1 TS lunch and a 2 TS dinner. We love Narcossee's and the Cali grill. Look forward to trying Artist Point and Jiko on our next trip.