Deluxe Dining / When Can We Eat - Help needed :)

[thesoldtrain]

Hi there! My hubby and I are leaving in a few days to celebrate our 15th anniversary at WDW. I am trying to make a dining plan decision and for some reason, can't seem to settle in my head whether to stick with the basic plan or upgrade. For those of you who have wanted a more romantic trip, did you find having the deluxe dining worth the extra money? I am fantasizing about having lovely meals in lovely restaurants without children, LOL, but sometimes, fantasy doesn't equal reality. I just wonder about whether having 3 sit-down meals daily (which would be our purpose in upgrading) has been great for you or if it ends up getting old after a couple days. We have 6 days there, we tend to be planners, and don't mind abiding by a schedule.
Advice?

Also, for those of you who have done the dining plan, can you tell me when you are allowed to start using credits? I ask because we are arriving very early in the morning on our first day. Plan is to check-in at the hotel (DVC) by 8am or so (don't expect room to be ready, obviously, but hope they will hold our luggage?) and then have breakfast at the hotel. If we upgrade to deluxe dining, we are hoping to use those credits that morning and afternoon for lunch. Is that available to us that early?

Thank you!

 

[TDC Nala]

Your credits are available to you as soon as you check in to your resort and receive your KTTW cards, which you will receive whether the room is ready for occupation or not. All the credits for your entire trip will be accessible at that time.

As for the fantasy of lovely restaurants with no children - there will be children everywhere, unless you eat at Victoria & Albert's (which is not on the dining plan)

Everyone is different but I could never, ever do 3 TS meals a day at WDW. Especially if I am supposed to order three courses for lunch AND dinner.

 

[scanne]

We're doing the DxDP and we are not eating 3 meals a day. We have mainly a breakfast and a dinner booked or a lunch and dinner. We are eating at several signature restaurants that take 2 of your credits (Cinderella's Royal Table, Narcoosee's, Hoop Dee Doo). I do have ONE day where we are scheduled for three meals, but the times are really spaced out: 8am, 1pm, 8pm

Many of the signature places will have children dining there, however, when they're not yours, there seems to be less stress involved. DH and I went to Citricos last year for a nice dinner for 2. There were kids there, but it was not bother and we had a lovely romantic dinner.

If you want to try some signature restaurants, then the DxDP plan may be worth a try to you. You can have a late breakfast each day and then a signature dinner. You won't be a slave to food or dining reservations, and each night of your trip will be a bit special.

Good luck with your decision and have a magical vacation!

 

[francie57]

Your post doesn't mention if you have existing ADRs for not. If you don't, that may be the deciding factor as to what ADRs you are able to make. We only do the regular DDP. Years ago we did what would now be the deluxe plan and it was way too much food for us. Also took too much time out of the day with having to be places for ADRs. If you are going to signature restaurants it might be worth it. Again, ADRs may be the deciding factor.

 

[thesoldtrain]

Thank you for your input. I guess I should have mentioned that I meant OUR KIDS . Yes, we have ADRs...I think that is part of the problem. I plan way ahead, and had planned on the deluxe plan, so we scored some great ADRS. Now I have those lovely confirmation numbers staring me in the face, and I can't bear to cancel them, LOL.

 

[goodferry]

We did the deluxe plan four our anniversary plan and loved it! We too did not do three sit down meals a day, we would do one regular and one signature per day. It is a lot of food, and not something I would do every trip, but definitely enjoyable. We liked taking time to sit down and enjoy a meal and talk. The breaks to eat kind of forced us to slow down and relax, we can tend to be a little commando!
We checked in to our DVC unit at 7 am and got our room keys (room was ready!) and meal plan and used it that day at lunch, worked like a charm.

 

[saintstickets]

Hi there! My hubby and I are leaving in a few days to celebrate our 15th anniversary at WDW. I am trying to make a dining plan decision and for some reason, can't seem to settle in my head whether to stick with the basic plan or upgrade. For those of you who have wanted a more romantic trip, did you find having the deluxe dining worth the extra money? I am fantasizing about having lovely meals in lovely restaurants without children, LOL, but sometimes, fantasy doesn't equal reality. I just wonder about whether having 3 sit-down meals daily (which would be our purpose in upgrading) has been great for you or if it ends up getting old after a couple days. We have 6 days there, we tend to be planners, and don't mind abiding by a schedule.
Advice?

Also, for those of you who have done the dining plan, can you tell me when you are allowed to start using credits? I ask because we are arriving very early in the morning on our first day. Plan is to check-in at the hotel (DVC) by 8am or so (don't expect room to be ready, obviously, but hope they will hold our luggage?) and then have breakfast at the hotel. If we upgrade to deluxe dining, we are hoping to use those credits that morning and afternoon for lunch. Is that available to us that early?

Thank you!

As PP's said before, the dining plan is available for use immediately after check in whether your room is ready or not. And yes, you can leave your luggage until your room is available. You can leave a cell phone number with them and they will call you when your room is ready.

We just returned from WDW last month and did the DP (1-TS, 1-CS & 1 snack per day) for the first time. Whether you like any of the dining plans or not might depend on your eating habits. With the DP, there are no appetizers but there is a dessert with both the TS and CS meal. The Deluxe DP has 3 meals and 2 snacks per day - that is a LOT of food. I gained 5 lbs on the DP; there is no telling what I would have gained on the DxDP!

For a cost comparison of the DP vs cash, go to the trip report link below. If you have AP's, you might want to consider the TIW card as well.