Basic Dining + Club level?

[MagicPrincess]

DH said he doesn't want to "go hungry" when we go to Disney
So I am trying to decide the right mix for our family.

I feel that the Deluxe dining plan might be a bit too much, and all that time sitting down for table service meals would cut into our day.

Has anyone done the Basic Dining package plus club level? I haven't really sat and crunched the numbers yet, but I do like the convenience of being able to grab drinks and snacks throughout the day, and with younger kids, I'm sure we'll be going back to the room in the middle of the day for a little rest/pool time.

Any thoughts? Anyone else doing anything like this?

Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Personally I would not do the Dining Plan and Club Level together because chances are you will always be rushing to your next ADR, so who knows if you will be able to enjoy the Club Level offerings. So I say you should do the DDP or Club Level by themselves.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

Well, here are my suggestions, each gives you plenty of food.

1. Get the Counter Service Dining plan which provides for two c.s. meals each day and two snack credits as well as a refillable mug. You can easily make a nice breakfast with your resort mug filled with Hot chocolate or Coffee, a baked item and fruit or a smoothie. You also get two counter service meals.

This option has your husband with unlimited drinks, three meals, and no ADRs to fit into your touring plans.

You can book a couple of "must do" restaurants and pay for them out of pocket.


2. Get the Deluxe Dining Plan, but instead of doing 3 sit down meals each day, use two credits for some wonderful signature dining. Book Hoop-Dee-Doo, watch Wishes from California Grill, or get the Fantasmic Dinner Package at Brown Derby. In addition, you can have a sit down lunch or early character meal each day as well as appetizers. Also, keep in mind, you also get two snacks per day and one of those refillable mugs.

If two ADR's per day is too much, you can always use a credit for a counter service meal.

In the end, this is about how your family likes to vacation!

I would not however suggest the standard meal plan and the club level. Their offerings are at very specific times, and from several posts on the boards, not as extensive as they once were.

The standard plan also lacks appetizers, and I for one LOVE my starter course far more than a dessert, especially since the snacks at Disney are so often of the dessert variety.

Run a few "typical days" for your family and see which plan is the most cost effective.

 

[RachaelA]

We did both a few weeks ago and loved it. We didn't plan on ever use the lounge for any full meal other than breakfast. We stayed at AKL.

Here's what we did:

Lounge for breakfast (bagels, fruit, cereal, etc).
CS at the parks or resort for lunch.
Lounge for an afternoon snack for DH (cookies, brownies, smoothie).
TS dinner somewhere.
Snack before the lounge closed at night.
Drinks from the lounge throughout the day. I also took some fruit for a snack at the park.

We usually save most of our snack credits for treats to take home.

We never planned on using the lounge food in place of a meal. We also booked CL for the extras (Sunrise Safari, Sunset Safari, Itinerary planning, etc).

We'd do it again and we might again next May. It just depends on your family.

 

[shannn]

That's what we did too. Last time, we did Regular dining & Club level

Lounge for breakfast
CS for lunch
lounge for before dinner drink
TS for dinner
lounge for night time snack

This time we're doing Club level & Deluxe dining

Lounge for breakfast
1 credit TS for lunch (or CS)
lounge for before dinner drink
2 credit Signature TS for dinner
lounge for night time

The reason I chose deluxe is mostly because my family loves appetizers and they're not included in the regular dining anymore.

I love club level for the breakfast and for the level of service and having the lounge to relax in.

 

[JPGonzales]

Can anyone tell me how the Club Level at Coronado Springs is? Is it worth the upgrade? I am assuming continental breakfast, but tell me more about those snacks and what times are the snacks? Is it just out so we can grab some in between pool time or is there scheduled times?

What would the other perks be?

 

[MagicPrincess]

We did both a few weeks ago and loved it. We didn't plan on ever use the lounge for any full meal other than breakfast. We stayed at AKL.

Here's what we did:

Lounge for breakfast (bagels, fruit, cereal, etc).
CS at the parks or resort for lunch.
Lounge for an afternoon snack for DH (cookies, brownies, smoothie).
TS dinner somewhere.
Snack before the lounge closed at night.
Drinks from the lounge throughout the day. I also took some fruit for a snack at the park.

We usually save most of our snack credits for treats to take home.

We never planned on using the lounge food in place of a meal. We also booked CL for the extras (Sunrise Safari, Sunset Safari, Itinerary planning, etc).


We'd do it again and we might again next May. It just depends on your family.

That sounds like what I had in mind!!! When we we stayed WL CL it was so nice and convenient, we never relied on it for meals, but definitley breakfast, mid afternoon- and drinks in the evening!

Thank you for sharing that!!!