Basic vs deluxe...help me decide

[~April J~]

I can't decide basic dinning or deluxe? Right now we have the basic on our package but wondering if we should go with deluxe.

We like the fact that all our food would be paid for with the deluxe but not liking that 2 meals would be TS....therefore taking up too much time sitting and eating

The break would be nice IF we didn't already plan on going back to our hotel so that our dd (2) can get a nap.

I guess I am asking if the basic dinning is enough food for our family? We aren't heavy eaters at all.

 

[Superspectral]

I have booked the deluxe dining plan for a trip in late February. At first I had booked the regular dining plan, but switched when I started booking ADR's and I thought about exactly how many meals my family would eat over my length of stay. I planned 9 days and 8 nights. The way my flights are booked I figured I'd have 24 meals at Disney over those days in Disney (this is what my family would eat regardless whether I payed out of pocket or bot the plan). I estimated that my total food expense (whether I chose the deluxe w/minimal out of pocket or standard plan + more out of pocket) would be close with either plan. It occured to me then that the deluxe plan offered some real flexibility because of the subtle differences. I could buy the deluxe plan for the same money as I planned for the dining plan + out of pocked, + get some real benefits.

1) All meals are meal credits (MCs) - there is no seperate TS and CS pool to get out of synch. You can get a lot more flexibility at the parks this way to change your plans. You can change your plans (say you miss your TS ADR) and eat CS with no extra out of pocket expense - and not risk having extra TS credits left over.

2) The breakeven point that I estimated (vs regular DP) is that about half of your MCs should be used for TS, or 2 credit signature dining, dinner shows, or pizza. Unlike the regular dining plan you don't really loose any value for 2 credit choices - because it is highly unlikely you'd actually want to spend _every_ MC on TS. Why not use a few on 2 credit choices? You don't actually have to eat more than one TS meal every day of your trip that way, and you'd still get value on the deluxe plan.

3) Again flexibility - you can book more than the breakeven number of MC's on TS, or 2 credit signature dining and dinner shows by ADR, and then change your plans at the park to CS a few times without worrying that you are losing value.

4) The 3 arrival night MCs are more easily spread to departure day TS or CS, or they can be used before departure day on 2 credit alternatives.

5) I like to drink a soda with my popcorn, and would tend to use 2 snack credits a day anyway. I also could use the snack credits to pay for snacks for my 2 year old. On the deluxe plan, there is no need to worry about which snacks to pay out of pocket, and which to buy (and then accidentlly end up with extra snack credits because you paid or too many early) -- just use them as soon as you want.

6)I've always bought the resort mugs anyway - you get them free with the deluxe plan. They can give you a drink in the AM, if you actually plan to pay for a few breakfasts out of pocket (you still might, if you do 2 credit meals - which are better value than a CS breakfast).

7) Each park has one character meal that accepts ADR's about an _hour before park opening_. You can be launched into the thick of things right at park open (if you don't want to bother with the characters) or shortly thereafter. You can do this every day on the deluxe plan.

8) If you do plan to do TS at least once per day, then both plans will save more money for a 3-9 year old than it will for an adult - so the more 3-9 year olds an character meals you have per adult - the better the value. The deluxe plan is an even better value for 3-9 year olds than the regular plan. A family of 6, with 4 3-9 year olds, or a single parentwith 3 3-9 year olds, could save quite a bit on character meals.

9) Reasons 1-8 become even more valuable on shorter trips proportionally speaking(making the deluxe plan an even more attractive option). This doesn’t mean that the deluxe plan won’t be a good value for longer trips.

10) While we are not going at such a time, Disney has been adding “holiday surcharges” to most buffet meals at certain times of the year. Both Dining plans avoid the surchages. If you plan at eating at more than one TS a day, including a buffet, the Deluxe plan will avoid the extra out of pocket expense at the buffet (using a meal credit at a buffet is often less a value than a non-buffet, but with the Deluxe plan this doesn’t matter since you have many more credits).

 

[ransom]

We found that if we were not going to be eating either at two table service restaurants or one signature (2 TS credits) restaurant every day, then DDP saved us more money. With DxDDP, it seems really do need to use those credits pretty fully in order to save money.

We enjoy eating at table service restaurants and especially signature restaurants, so DxDDP will work well for us. But that's just us -- everyone's different! It sounds like you'll be happier and save more money with the regular DDP.

One thing you might find to be helpful is to peruse the menus on allearsnet.com, set up your best guesses as to where and what you'd be eating each day of your trip, then compare the out of pocket cost, the DDP + out of pocket cost, and the DxDDP + out of pocket (if any) cost. That's what I did, and that's why we'll be getting DxDDP for my parents for the upcoming trip.

 

[Tricia1972]

It's a very individual decision.

Do you plan on eating at a lot of character buffets? If you do, I'd schedule a breakfast and a supper and the DxDDP may be better for you.

If you plan on eating at quite a few signature dining locations, then the DxDDP is probably better for you.

If you plan on eating at many places like LeCellier AND you aren't big eaters, the DxDDP is probably overkill for you. At all standard TS locations you'll get two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts for lunches and for dinners. (Assuming it's you, your spouse/partner, and your dd2).

It really depends on your family's personal dining style.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I can't decide basic dinning or deluxe? Right now we have the basic on our package but wondering if we should go with deluxe.

We like the fact that all our food would be paid for with the deluxe but not liking that 2 meals would be TS....therefore taking up too much time sitting and eating

The break would be nice IF we didn't already plan on going back to our hotel so that our dd (2) can get a nap.

I guess I am asking if the basic dinning is enough food for our family? We aren't heavy eaters at all.

Last year, we thought the basic plan came with plenty of food. I don't like the changes though. I really liked the fact that everyone got an appetizer, an entree and dessert each plus a snack and that tax and tip was included. It was very convienient and easy to use. Now, I think Disney has made a horrible mistake by changing the plan and only reducing the cost by $1.
Therfore, we will be doing deluxe this December.

I would suggest trying the deluxe plan unless this is your very first trip to WDW. The plan will probably take up a little more eating time than the regular dining plan because there are so many more credits but the only way to get the most out of it is to use all the TS credits instead of CS credits. Also, if you don't think your family can eat 3 TS meals a day plus 2 snacks, just do a breakfast TS, snacks for lunch and a Signature meal for dinner leaving a few hours in between. This also means more time in the parks if your only doing 2 meals per day instead of 1. If this is your first trip, I wouldn't recommend it though because you'll want to spend as much time as possible in the parks.

It also helps to have a car. Relying on disney transportation to get to all those restaurants can be too much trouble and its very hard to get from resort to resort so it will help if you can drive yourself.