Are Magic Your Way dining options a good deal for everyone?

[LglBlonde]

We went in June. We ate at R&C, and got 2 apps, 2 meals (moderate), one dessert and probably a few beers - tax & tip - came to about $80. Ohana was also about $80 for two of us. I can definitely see how this would work to our advantage. Esp. because we don't mind sharing counter meals - so I imagine we'd trade in two sit downs for a signature meal and then just share a counter meal.

 

[pplasky]

Definitely good for us. We have three kids under 10 and do the equivalent of one character meal a day. This is one of our favorite things at WDW and the dining option is a definite savings. When our children are in the 10-14 range, it will probably be a different story, but for now it's great.

 

[lindaso]

I think this will work out well for us too. We budget $100-$125 per day for food. So at $90 per day, we're ahead. We do lots of character meals b/c my kids are so into characters and we hate having to wait on line in the parks to see them. We definitely do at least 1 sit-down meal per day, sometimes 2. And in a non-buffet restaurant, with the appetizers, there will definitely be enough food to cover my 2 year old who won't get his own meal under the plan.

So depending on the room rate, we'll probably go for it in April.

 

[wide awake]

I think Disney is being pretty smart with this. For one thing, lots of people will not use the dining option to the best advantage...they'll decide to eat at McDonalds, they'll pick the cheap entrees, etc...The second point is that Disney gets customers used to having a sitdown meal every day...and when the ticket prices go up, or options are dropped, customers will still buy the tickets because the dining has become an integral part of the WDW package. Thirdly, how many people have a nice dinner and don't have a cocktail or glass of wine ? I think the tickets are a great deal now, and would save my family money, but I wonder what the prices and options will look like in 2-3 years.

 

[Liz]

Do you think there's any chance these meal vouchers will be something that can be saved and used on multiple trips? If so then those who are used to sharing meals can still do that and make this a truly terrific savings.

 

[summerrluvv]

Do you think there's any chance these meal vouchers will be something that can be saved and used on multiple trips? If so then those who are used to sharing meals can still do that and make this a truly terrific savings.

I'm sure it will be the same as the meal plan they offer right now (Silver and gold packages) and the meals are coded into your room key.

 

[bizeemom4]

One problem I see, is that WDW considers a child at 10 to be an adult eater for this plan. Other menus stated children 11 and older. My son is very picky, and certainly can't eat adult size portions. But we would have to pay the adult price for him. So while this plan is great for DH and me, we would be paying way too much for DS.

I sent an email into the disneyworld website about this. We're a family of 6 with one son who is 11. There is no way that we would need 4 adult meals and 2 kids meals! If we have to pay the adult price of $35 for an 11 year old, we're going to waste a lot of food and $$$. The portions at Disney are HUGE!

 

[bigbabyblues]

They will be a good deal for us, but probably not for everyone. On our last trip, I budgeted $140 a day for food, and most days we used at least $100 of it, sometimes all $140. For us, the MYW dining option would be $80 a day, and that is a savings. We ate pretty much what the MYW gives, one sit down meal (mostly character) a day, one counter service (sometimes at resort, can you use it for that too?) and sometimes another c/s meal, sometimes a snack. We normally don't share meals either, a few times the 2 boys shared a c/s meal; we did share a few Mickey bars between two of us, but that's not a big deal if it's included. One of us would have to share with our younger DS, since he won't have a ticket, but that's not a big deal, there was plenty of food.

On the other hand, I do see where it wouldn't be a savings for some families. Especially if you stay offsite, and have a car to eat offsite. A lot of people do this to save money, and if you're staying offsite, you certainly don't want to have to go onsite for every meal.

It will just be something we each have to decide for ourselves, and go with what we want!

Steph

 

[WDWBetsy]

I think the MYW + Dining would be great for the DH and I. I've reviewed the menus, picked out items we'd typically try, and found that it would save us lots of money. Of course, we could save more just eating at the counter service restaurants, but this dining plan would allow us to try the sit-down restaurants we've always wanted to without worrying about spending too much.

I'm very excited about the new packages!

 

[Julia M]

I'm sure it will be the same as the meal plan they offer right now (Silver and gold packages) and the meals are coded into your room key.

That's too bad for us. We will be resort hopping on our next trip. So I was thinking we could buy the package with the first resort, and then just get a room only at the second resort, and use up the remaining meals. Oh well

Julia

 

[pooh2001]

We plan $150 per day. Our DS & DD will be both considered adults the next time we go to WDW. Our DS is not a big eater - our DS will fair well with an adult menu. I think $35 is still a good deal- even if our DD orders off the children's menu (pizza, chicken nuggets). Our DS will be thrilled with the option to order steak or shrimp off an adult menu. We also do HDD, LTT, Cindy's, CP - so I think we will not have a problem using up the meal points. As for snacks we limit everyone in our family to one Mickey ice cream a day - so it may be a great way to keep our calories in check.

So depending on where your family likes to eat - it may be a savings.

I think WDW is trying to keep you in the WDW area to eat meals.
I think it is better to stay and eat where you play than to drive somewhere
else and never get back to the magic of WDW.

Just my 2 cents.
Happy 2005 !

 

[pampam]

The meal plan is tied in with the resort package, not the ticket package. Very smart on Disney's part, because those who have the package will have to eat their meals on site and not leave the property. Therefore, people who want to go to Sea World, or go shopping off site will very likely not be using their MYW meal plan, even though they have paid for it.

For those with small appetites, I believe they can split their meals, leaving extra meals on the plan to use for a third meal a day.