basic dining vs deluxe

[danielle916]

what are the pro's and con's, please~~??!?!?
I booked my trip but i think i just book the basic plan, i will be going in dec. for the first time during a holiday season, and this time around i will have to pay for 3 kids as opposed to only paying for 1 in 2006......
it will be me, dh, dd(6), ds (5) dd (3) and ds (15m) these will be their ages by the time we go in dec.

thanks everyone for any info and opinions!

 

[Tricia1972]

Basic Plan - 1 CS 1TS (Entree, Dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage) and 1 Snack credit per night of your stay. Cost of plan is $37.99/night (Adult) $9.99/night (Child)

DxDDP - 3 "Flexible" Credits for CS or TS (Appetizer, Entree, Dessert and non-alcoholic beverage) and 2 Snack Credits per night of your stay. Also one refillable mug per guest for length of stay. Cost of plan is $69.99/night (Adult) $19.99/night (Child).

In order to compare which plan is better for you, what restaurants are you looking to eat at, and what meals do you usually eat out at while at Disney?

If going to a TS restaurant - do you and DH usually share an appetizer, entree or dessert?

Are you going to want to eat a dessert at each CS location? The menus here and at allearsnet show the CS menus with desserts also listed.

What is your usual touring style?

 

[mickeysgirl17]

If you want to spend most of your time in the parks, I would do the basic plan which is plenty of food.

If you don't mind spending a little more time dining and relaxing and exploring different cuisines, you may want to try the deluxe.

The deluxe lets you have 3 sit down meals per day if you choose. The only way to get the value from this is to eat mostly at sit down restaurants. If you don't think your family can do 3 meals per day plus 2 snacks each per day, you can do what I'm doing which is do a sit down breakfast, snacks for lunch and a signature meal for dinner.

I think the deluxe is a great idea and most reviews I've read so far are positive. The basic plan no longer includes appetizers, but the deluxe does.
It's also best to consider your transportation. The deluxe plan will require quite a bit of traveling to the different parks and resorts. If you'll be driving, this is a big plus. If your taking disney transportation, it may be difficult since its hard to get from resort to resort.

Also, its a bit harder to do the deluxe with small kids. The reason I'm mentioning this is because you'll have to do late dinners since there is so much food and you'll probably still be full from breakfast and lunch by 5 or 6pm so you'll probably have to schedule your dinners for after 7:30 or you won't be able to eat most of your food and it will be wasted. If you have small kids who go to bed early, it will be tough on them.

Go with whichever you think is best for your family, but I would recommend the deluxe if you think you can do it.

 

[danielle916]

thank you all, i have a feeling we may stick w/the basic plan....ty!!!

 

[toocherie]

Hmmm--I understand the deluxe is 3 TS credits-but if one were to plan a "signature" dining experience that takes 2 TS credits, or alternatively use room service that takes 2 TS credits, then you would only be left with one other TS credit a day--two meals a day plus snacks. That to me would be the benefit of the deluxe--the flexibility to do the signature dining or room service and still have one other TS meal per day. I agree that 3 TS meals a day would probably be a bit much!

 

[leahjade]

are tips excluded in both plans?

 

[erinsn77]

Hmmm--I understand the deluxe is 3 TS credits-but if one were to plan a "signature" dining experience that takes 2 TS credits, or alternatively use room service that takes 2 TS credits, then you would only be left with one other TS credit a day--two meals a day plus snacks. That to me would be the benefit of the deluxe--the flexibility to do the signature dining or room service and still have one other TS meal per day. I agree that 3 TS meals a day would probably be a bit much!

this is the same reasone we moved up to a Deluxe and got the DXDDP we are going to do character dining and also alot of room service Breakfasts!! CANT WAIT!

 

[douglisa]

I would suggest not getting the deluxe dining plan. You get A LOT of food on the regular dining plan for alot less money for an adult per day it's $37.99 for the regular vs. $69.99 for the deluxe. For kids 9 & under it is $9.99 vs. 19.99. In order to really try to get your money's worth out of the Deluxe plan, you would need to eat three meals a day in a sit-down restaurant (counter service is still available, but not the best use of plan, money-wise), so this will take alot of time each day, lessening the time you would have to play in the parks. We (2 adults, one teen, and an 8 yr old) are going for 7 days. For us that is a difference of $867.72 vs. $1,679.58!! We are concidering ordering groceries to our room and using the microwave in the lounge instead of using the plan. Either plan it's lots of $$. There is also a Hess gas station near downtown disney where you can get food and drinks cheaper. We would eat out a few times I am sure. But as of yet we are still undecided.
Someone on here told me that if you order groceries to order a styrofoam cooler, also that there is a $50 min you must spend. There is also a McDonalds in WDW, my sis said that the prices are inflated there. At least you would get free refills. LOL

 

[Tricia1972]

are tips excluded in both plans?

Yes, tips are not included with either plan.

 

[faberj]

Room service takes 2ts credits?

 

[shortypots]

Hmmm--I understand the deluxe is 3 TS credits-but if one were to plan a "signature" dining experience that takes 2 TS credits, or alternatively use room service that takes 2 TS credits, then you would only be left with one other TS credit a day--two meals a day plus snacks. That to me would be the benefit of the deluxe--the flexibility to do the signature dining or room service and still have one other TS meal per day. I agree that 3 TS meals a day would probably be a bit much!

Don't forget the 2 snacks a day! I would do a breakfast buffet and a signature dinner every day, then use the snacks for a munchie in the middle of the day.

 

[Kurby]

we're starting to plan our may 2009 trip and because we're changing (or at least thinking of changing) resorts half way through we're prob going to do both. the cheaper one for the first (and longer part) and the dddp for the second part.

that's when we'll do the double points dining and more expensive restaurants.

though i'm really not liking that the tip isn't included i've just finished reading a post that says they are getting a lot of complaints about it and though they won't change it for this year they might for next so we'll just have to wait and see.

my thought about it is that yes we can eat at counter services places for all our meals and save a lot of money but since we're on vacation we'll go to places we've never been before and think are really good like Le Cellier, Poly Luau, Cindy's breakfast etc...

and since we can by an inexpensive breakfast or lunch and save that credit for a double dinner we'll do it that way.

plus we're not looking to spend over $100 ever night for dinner just because we go to Wolf Gang, Cellier, Italy's but we'll pay for the deluxe and enjoy those restaurants for lunch and a late dinner.

 

[paulh]

. There is also a Hess gas station near downtown disney where you can get food and drinks cheaper.

plus the one near the broardwalk.prices comparable to supermarkets
Paulh