Basic Dining Plan questions

[Karnak]

I need some basic info about the Disney Dining Plan.

1. How much does it cost? Is the cost based upon the number of nights spent at the WDW resort?

2. Is there any effect on room rates? For example, when I made my room reservation at the French Quarter for my upcoming solo trip I got the AAA discount, saving me just over $500. below the rack rate for a six night stay. If I had requested the Dining Plan, would that have made any difference in the room charge?

3. People on these boards often talk about "free dining." How does Disney afford to give away all these free meals?

I guess these are dumb questions, but in the many trips I've made to WDW I've never really considered the Dining Plan. I might mention that I do eat table service meals almost all of the time when on vacation at WDW, three meals a day. It's part of the Disney experience to me, as I like to take it easy and take my time when on vacation.

Thanks for the Info. ahead of time.

Karnak

 

[disneyin2008]

There are several different dining plans now...

The newest is the Counter Service plan, you get 2 CS and 2 snacks per NIGHT of your reservations (in other words 3 nights/4 day stay would get you 6 CS and 6 snacks per person). You also get a refillable mug. THe price is $29.99 per night for adults, $8.99 per night for kids (3-10yo). A basic CS meal is considered to be an entree, non-alcoholic drink and a dessert (for breakfast you get a juice not a dessert).

The basic dining plan gives you 1 TS, 1 CS and 1 snack for each night of your reservation. I don't think a refillable mug is included. Cost is $37.99 and 9.99 (it goes up in January, 2009, but I am not sure how much). You get entree, non-alcoholic drink, and dessert.

THe deluxe dining plan gives you 3TS/CS credits per day (you can use any combination of TS/CS that you want), I think it's 2 snacks per day, and a refillable mug. For the TS meals you get an appetizer, entree, non-alcoholic drink, dessert. For the CS meals you get an entree, drink, dessert (breakfast you get juice instead of dessert). The cost is $69.99 for adults and $19.99 for kids.

There is also a wine add on, but I don't remember the details, sorry. There is also a Platinum or something, but again, I don't know about that one.

For ALL the dining plan, you must purchase them as part of a package....that is Disney Resort room, at least 1 day ticket, and dining package. EVERYONE in the room must be on the same dining plan. Kids under 3 don't have to purchase a dining plan and can eat off mom/dad's plate. There are some packages available to Annual Passholders that don't require the 1 day ticket.

The biggie to remember....gratuities are NOT included in any of the dining plan, and you will be presented with a bill for 18% gratuity at all TS meals, so you still need to have money available (2007 and before plans included the tip).

Signature Restaurants, and places like CRT and the luau and Hoop de do cost 2 TS credits per person.

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The dining plan does NOT affect the price of your room.....you can still get discounts like PIN codes, AP, Disney VISA, etc. You can get the dining plan on a AAA discount, but only through AAA directly, Disney will only do AAA room only discounts.

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Free dining has been announced in spring each year and usually booking goes until late June (though by then there are few rooms left with the free dining available, so book early for the best room selection). The free dining requires that you pay full rack rate....no discounts allowed, so that's how they make some of the money back. Free dining dates are usually mid August to mid-September. I 'think' there is a 3 day minimum stay? It's also extremely important to make your ADRs during free dining as early as possible (you can start booking them 180 days before arrival), because they fill up fast! THere are thread after thread about people not being able to book ADRs and worrying about where they're going to eat!



Considering that you say you eat TS 3 times a day on your trips, the Deluxe Plan may be a good deal for your style. Only you know what you normally order so you can decide if it's financially a good deal.

 

[Karnak]

I appreciate the time you took to answer my question about the Disney Dining Plan, as well as the Free dining plan. I was not aware that there are different plans, but as I said earlier, I'm trying to learn about this subject.

Using my record from my most recent trip to the World, in December of 2007, I will now be able to look at the receipts from the restaurants I visited last year, total the charges for each day (this year's planned trip is the exact length of stay, and very similar to last years), and get an excellent estimate of wether or not I should consider the Dining plans for next years trip.

Thanks a bunch.

Karnak

 

[magic mouse]

18% is only included with parties of 6 or more I thought. Under 6 people you can tip what you feel is appropriate. I wont have anyone tell me how much to tip!