Deluxe Dining Plan in June, 2008?

[lovetotravel07]

Have read a lot of threads and most people find one meal plan or another depending on their family's likes and needs to be worth the money versus always paying al a carte.

We are traveling in June, 2008 with 2 older teens. Doesn't seem like the regular 2008 dining plan would help us much.

I was thinking of trying the Deluxe Plan and Doing Breakfast or lunch and then a two-ticket restaurant or dinner show for dinner. Except, I was considering Cinderella's Castle for either Breakfast or lunch so then we would do a normal dinner that night.

Sounds like I would save money, especially on the Hoop de Doo night as it is $55.00 a person just for that show, and I would still get 2 snacks and a table service that day.

Just need some expert help: Is it worth trying for 4 adults: i.e. $280.00 per day for 4 days??

Also, if I use two-ticket restaurants, name some of your favorites. And, how do you work out Breakfast or lunch sit down if it is a full park day??

Appreciate any guidance/tips that helped all of you!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!

 

[smiller]

We're going to do the DxDDP for 8 nights this September - and I'm so looking forward to it!

We as well are looking to do a lot of the 2 credit restaurants. As for fitting sit-down restaurants in to our touring plans, we try to eat early. We're hoping to get the first (or one of the first) ADRs for CRT breakfast, have lunch around 11AM, and then dinner around 5PM.

We usually get to a park early, eat early, and then head back to the room. We return to a park in time to have dinner, and then enjoy the attractions. If anyone gets hungry around 9PM, 10PM or so - the DxDDP provides 2 snack credits a day so I'm not too worried!

I think this coming trip is the perfect opportunity for us to try the DxDDP and fit in a whole lot of TS dining. Next trip will probably either be regular DDP or maybe *gasp* a CS dining kind of trip.

Oh, and we're planning on staying at a DVC resort to try to have breakfast in the room most mornings. Here's hoping there's room at BCV!

As for favorite 2 credit restaurants, I've only been to Cali Grill and I loved it! I'm doing a solo dinner there next trip, as well as CRT, Jiko, and BD with the whole family.

Enjoy!

 

[lovetotravel07]

Thanks!

Anyone else??

 

[dgagnon519]

You figure 70 a person per day and you technically get 3 meals and 2 snacks.
I am all for the deluxe I will be doing it in May. Eating 3 counter service can run you about 50 so for 20 more you can eat at better places and gain better experiences. Hoop de doo gets great reviews. I loved CRT. My cousin just did the BBQ and said it was great plus some of the shows include alc beverages like wine and bear.

 

[lovetotravel07]

What is the BBQ? Yes, non alcholic drinks are unlimited at shows and I think buffets??

The thing is not so much the $70.00 though $280.00 a day does seem high, it's the "wasted" time??

 

[smiller]

Half the fun (and part of the attraction) for our family is dining at all the different restaurants. We usually plan the meals first and then which attractions we'll do! I can understand if you're trying to pack a lot into a short amount of time you might not want to spend too much time seated and eating. You've gotta do what's right for your travel style!

I'd really like to do HDDR but so far I only have DNiece on board... I'll keep working on the rest of the fam! Plus, I think according to the official Disney website, gratuity is included in the dinner shows and the in-room dining. So, that makes "spending" 2 credits on one meal even better in my book!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The thing to remember about the plan is that you have to pay gratuity on all of your TS meals, so it is NOT $70 per person, per day. If you have a buffet breakfast or lunch and a signature dinner the tips could significantly increase your cost. If you would definitely order appetizer, entree, and dessert at every dinner without the plan then the plan may save you some money. Especially if your boys are big eaters. If you think you might skip some of those components at some of your meals then it would probably be wise to add up approximately how much you would spend without the plan and see if it is worthwhile.

My DS11 eats NOTHING, so for us the plan doesn't save us any money. It is less expensive to pay as we go and let him order from the kids menu when he wants to. If the tips were still included I would be really tempted to do the deluxe plan, even if we just broke even. The way it stands now I think we'll come out ahead without the plan. No matter how many times I crunch the numbers I can't make the plan worthwhile for us.

 

[Noleball]

My kids do not exactly eat piles of food either. DD3 and DD7 may go two days without eating much but then they will sit and eat like an adult. That said, we still have to buy them food whenever DW and I eat. So, if they eat alot it is fine, and if they eat a little, it is fine also. We have to buy it either way.

I am booking my ADR's now and am looking forward to every meal.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

We have gotten the Premium Dining Plan during our past two trips and plan on trying the Deluxe Dining Plan in April. I think it is a happy medium and provides better savings in the long run (for us, maybe not others though). We have eaten at the majority of the high end places in our past few trips and are trying a couple of different places this time around. I listed them below along with a few of our favorite selections for each trip.

Crystal Palace
Liberty Tree Tavern
Sci-Fi Theater
50's Prime Time Cafe
Coral Reef
Jiko
O'hana
Pecos Bill's
Narcoossee's
Yorkshire Fish Co.
Le Cellier
Boma
Earl of Sandwich

 

[lovetotravel07]

Thanks NikkiBell for your list of restaurants.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Not a problem. We tend to go during the busier seasons (Easter, Christmas, etc.) due to my being a school teacher and take full advantage of the nighttime Extra Magic Hours. We get up and into the parks around 11:30ish, eat lunch at a resort or the park, and enjoy ourselves, but don't rush around like crazy. We may take a break later on in the afternoon when people are beginning to think of dinner (inbetween 3:30-4:30 PM) or go to dinner ourselves. Afterwards, we head back to the parks and stay through EMH. Because it's during the busy seasons, MK is usually open until 3 AM, Epcot until 12ish, etc. We hit the majority of the attractions during this time. The lines are nonexistent and we already covered those things that are not open during EMH in the afternoon time. The day after Christmas, for example, we covered all of MK during EMH. It was incredible and we loved not having to wait longer than 2 minutes in a line. Consider this touring plan, if it works for you and your family.