Deluxe Dining Plan vs. Dining Plan vs. No Dining Plan???

[AJackson]

I'm really having trouble with this one!
I know the deluxe is a lot of food, but I figure it's good because a) my husband likes to eat, and b) we could use 2 TS credits/person for a really nice dinner, so that will use up a lot of credits.

*Are the majority of the restaurants available on the dinner plans?? I don't want to spend a lot of time walking from place to place, only to find out you can't use the service there (that may affect my decision in using the deluxe vs. the regular plan)? Like what percentage of restaurants, 50%, 75%, more, less?

*Are there some absolutely great restaurants that I just MUST eat at (never been to WDW before) that won't be covered by the dining plan, so I'll have to pay on my own anyway??

* Can you use the dining plan at restaurants in Downtown Disney, like Planet Hollywood?

Any other opinions, praise, concerns, tips?? I'm reading the boards, but I'm still not sure what to do???

 

[asmit4]

Read the sticky link on the top of this board. It's something like "all you want to know about 2008 DDP"

It will give you all the basics. There is a list on www.wdw info.com that tells you all the restaurants in DW and a list of all the restaurants on the DDP.

I cross checked them all and highlighted them so I knew which ones counted. It seemed like all the ones I wanted were on the DDP. You will not have trouble finding good places on the DDP.

 

[disneyfan55]

I'm really having trouble with this one!
I know the deluxe is a lot of food, but I figure it's good because a) my husband likes to eat, and b) we could use 2 TS credits/person for a really nice dinner, so that will use up a lot of credits.

*Are the majority of the restaurants available on the dinner plans?? I don't want to spend a lot of time walking from place to place, only to find out you can't use the service there (that may affect my decision in using the deluxe vs. the regular plan)? Like what percentage of restaurants, 50%, 75%, more, less?

*Are there some absolutely great restaurants that I just MUST eat at (never been to WDW before) that won't be covered by the dining plan, so I'll have to pay on my own anyway??

* Can you use the dining plan at restaurants in Downtown Disney, like Planet Hollywood?

Any other opinions, praise, concerns, tips?? I'm reading the boards, but I'm still not sure what to do???

Look at allears.net. They list the all the places available on the dining plans. They will tell if the restaurant is one or two credits. They have the menus and locations. All of the locations for 2008 may not be listed as included, but they will shortly I have read here. Also, you will need reservations for all TS meals. We were there last week and most restaurants we were at had no TS available on the day of. That's how I would start. I already told you my feelings on the deluxe plan. The regular plan is probably worth it if you want to eat at TS every day. We have visited WDW a great number of times mostly visiting CS and bringing along snacks and cereal for the morning. That's one of the things we did do that allowed so many trips. We also drove cross country in between 7 times!!

 

[libinatorsmom]

We decided on the Dulx plan... we are going to be able to eat at all the resturants we hoped now... including many that require the 2ts credits... we actually have one day planned to eat at 2 -2ts credit resturants... we arent big breakfast eaters and may skip lunches while busy at the parks... or just get a quick serivce meal to share... or a snack... PLUS hubby wants to go to EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Colleen27]

I'm really having trouble with this one!
I know the deluxe is a lot of food, but I figure it's good because a) my husband likes to eat, and b) we could use 2 TS credits/person for a really nice dinner, so that will use up a lot of credits.

*Are the majority of the restaurants available on the dinner plans?? I don't want to spend a lot of time walking from place to place, only to find out you can't use the service there (that may affect my decision in using the deluxe vs. the regular plan)? Like what percentage of restaurants, 50%, 75%, more, less?

*Are there some absolutely great restaurants that I just MUST eat at (never been to WDW before) that won't be covered by the dining plan, so I'll have to pay on my own anyway??

* Can you use the dining plan at restaurants in Downtown Disney, like Planet Hollywood?

Any other opinions, praise, concerns, tips?? I'm reading the boards, but I'm still not sure what to do???

The list of restaurants for the 2008 plan isn't finalized yet, so it is hard to answer your questions. Right now, only Disney-owned restaurants are listed, which accounts for the majority of WDW restaurants, but there are some excellent World Showcase restaurants that are still missing, as are most of the Downtown Disney choices. Look for a finalized list around mid-November.

 

[gina2000]

My personal belief is that IF you intend to eat at WDW exclusively, you should consider either the DDP or the DDDP. If you enjoy fine dining, go with the DDDP. If you enjoy dining in the parks or downtown Disney, go with the DDP.

And there's one other caveat. MAKE ADRs as soon as you book if you are within the 180 day window. If the 2008 DDP is as successful as the 2007, you will have limited opportunity to change dining venues or times so spur of the momeny decisions could cost you money. I know people always say that there is always a restaurant that will have an opening, but if you're at the opposite side of the world, it's of little or no use to you. If you're lucky, you'll be able to change restaurants and times; if you're not, you're stuck with what you've got booked. And don't think of buying a dining plan without making ADRs ahead of time. It could be a disaster.

 

[WETWHISTLE]

Right now we have the DDP booked - but just this evening my DF and I decided that we MAY upgrade to the Deluxe DDP.

But I really can't decide what to do.

I think if we didn't have to plan out every single meal and reservation I'd be more inclined to say we are definitely doing this...but that's the part that is making me hesitate!

 

[DCDisney]

*Are the majority of the restaurants available on the dinner plans?? I don't want to spend a lot of time walking from place to place, only to find out you can't use the service there

*Are there some absolutely great restaurants that I just MUST eat at (never been to WDW before) that won't be covered by the dining plan, so I'll have to pay on my own anyway??

* Can you use the dining plan at restaurants in Downtown Disney, like Planet Hollywood?

You will really need to make reservations for most if not all your meals especially for a first time visitor it can get overwhelming just finding places much less knowing and being there at the best times to get a table without a reservation. You don't say if you are travelling with kids but many of these meals will be very long especially on the deluxe plan with the app. If you are really into food and don't mind spending a decent portion of your day eating (most TS meals took 60-120 minutes for us and the majority were well over an hour) plus waiting time and time to travel to the restaurant etc. The other issue is that unless you are travelling during a season with late hours having dinners will often conflict with being able to see fireworks,etc. Are you staying in a resort with a TS breakfast location? To make the most of having numerous TS meals a day having somewhere you can quickly get to for breakfast would be helpful. Personally on our first trip I was happy to have a TS each day but more than that would have made it very difficult to do a lot of the other stuff we wanted to do. I can't relaly imagine being willing to take the time each day to have 2 or 3 TS meals plus there comes a point even with just 1 TS meal plus snack plus cs meal with dessert where you just aren't that hungry anymore (and we are good eaters).

Yvonne

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I'm really having trouble with this one!
I know the deluxe is a lot of food, but I figure it's good because a) my husband likes to eat, and b) we could use 2 TS credits/person for a really nice dinner, so that will use up a lot of credits.

*Are the majority of the restaurants available on the dinner plans?? I don't want to spend a lot of time walking from place to place, only to find out you can't use the service there (that may affect my decision in using the deluxe vs. the regular plan)? Like what percentage of restaurants, 50%, 75%, more, less?

*Are there some absolutely great restaurants that I just MUST eat at (never been to WDW before) that won't be covered by the dining plan, so I'll have to pay on my own anyway??

* Can you use the dining plan at restaurants in Downtown Disney, like Planet Hollywood?

Any other opinions, praise, concerns, tips?? I'm reading the boards, but I'm still not sure what to do???

Not all the restaurants that will be on the plan have yet signed on for 2008 but most will.
One thing that very much concerned me in your post is the, " I don't want to walk place to place only to find they don't take the plan. Most places do take it but the point is you don't go to any Table service place without ADRs and those should be made as far out as you can many people do make them on the 180 out limit. in any event make them as soon as you know where you think you want to eat or you won't be getting any TS meals if you just arrive and expect to wait to be seated. Many places don't take walk ups at all and those that do have LONG waits.

Planet Hollywood is NOT on the plan. I suggest you look at the participating places in the current plan which can be found on the Disneyworld.com site the list should be similiar for next year.

 

[debaone]

If you enjoy dining at Disney then I can't imagine that you would not go deluxe.

Echo the others that say to make ADR's. You will be very sorry if you try to walk up to a table service restaurant!

I have been disappointed at how the list of DP restaurants has dwindled from 2006 to 2007.....hopefully this is reversed for 2008.