Dining package, is it worth it?

[asaj]

I am getting ready to send my trip details to the travel agent for our Oct trip. When we have gone in the past, we have just gotten the room and the park tickets in the package, the thought of adding the dining never even crossed my mind. I read something recently though that indicated the dining package might be a good deal. Just wanting to get some of your thoughts on wheher or not it's worth it. Also, how does the plan work? Do you get vouchers or something for the meals?

Thanks,
Andy

 

[Alexander]

I personally think the plan is a great deal! $35 for an adult counter meal, sit-down meal and snack is a great price!

They will attach your meals to your room key. Each time you use it, they will deduct one meal for your balance. You will get a receipt at each meal showing what you have remaining.

 

[asaj]

I personally think the plan is a great deal! $35 for an adult counter meal, sit-down meal and snack is a great price!

They will attach your meals to your room key. Each time you use it, they will deduct one meal for your balance. You will get a receipt at each meal showing what you have remaining.

Do you know where I can find some details on the plan? Just wondering exactly what the definition of each type of meal is, as well as any restrictions. We were planning on going to the Whispering Canyon one evening for dinner, would that be our sit-down meal? Also, are there restrictions on what we could order?

thanks for the info.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Check the restaurants forum here on this board. I don't have a link handy but there is a lot of info there.

 

[maggiew]

I am getting ready to send my trip details to the travel agent for our Oct trip. When we have gone in the past, we have just gotten the room and the park tickets in the package, the thought of adding the dining never even crossed my mind. I read something recently though that indicated the dining package might be a good deal. Just wanting to get some of your thoughts on wheher or not it's worth it. Also, how does the plan work? Do you get vouchers or something for the meals?

Thanks,
Andy

It also matters how many people, what age, and how much they eat.

I have a DD 12 who is considered an adult. There is no way she would eat $35 worth of food. We usually share meals or she orders from the kids menu. So, for us, its not worth it.

For others, it is a great deal.

Maggie

 

[calie_j]

Here are my thoughts on the dining package. It's $35/per day for adult and $10 for kids. With that you get 1 sitdown (apetizer, entree, dessert, beverage, tax & tip included) 1 counter service meal with drink, & 1 snack per day but you can use these in any combination during the length of your stay until they're all used. You can use the sitdown at a character breakfast/lunch and some of the signiture restaurants use 2 sitdowns if you want to eat there. You will be a little limited and have to go by the list of participating restaurants, I'm sure someone will have that link.

Sounds like a good deal but here's the catch. If you book the dining you now have a package deal and aren't eligible for any room only discounts that come out (you can book the package with a AAA discount on the room but only direct from disney or a AAA TA). On another board someone had a difference between a discounted room with a code and the rack rate with the package at $46/night at a value, I'm estimating I could save $43/night or more (3 nights at a moderate/4 at a deluxe) if a code comes out for my dates, right now my room has the AAA discount so that is savings above that. So now you have to add that to the cost of your dining. If you have 4 people in the room that's $11-13 per person extra you're paying for the room in order to get the dining plan, which now makes the dining plan cost $46 for adults $21 for children.

For us it's not worth it with 3 adults (14yr old DS would be adult price) and 1 child and we normally wouldn't order or be able to eat 3 appetizers, entrees, & desserts so I'm basing my prices on what we'd normally order (each get an entree and share an extra appetizer/salad/soup/dessert between the 4 of us).

Just something to consider when making your decision.

Calie

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Unless Disney begins to offer discount codes for the packages, I'm less inclined to think that the MYW dining option is that much of a bargain. In order to purchase the MYW dining addon, you must purchase a package. The room will be at rack rate. The tickets will be at Disney's advance purchase price.

So, instead of getting a room at, let's say POP, during peak season for $74/night using a code, you pay the rack rate of $109/night. Plus taxes. The difference would be about $39/night when you factor in the extra taxes! For a 5-night stay, you'd be shelling out and extra $195 on the room.

Then there's the cost of tickets. 5-day MYW Hopper passes (expiry) cost $235.37/$195.96 (adult/child) when purchased in advance thru Disney. Those same passes cost $228/$191 at Ticketmania. For a family of 4 (2 children under 9), the difference is about $25.

The cost of the dining option is $35/adult and $10/child per night. For a 5-night stay, our family of 4 will pay Disney $450.

If you add up the additional cost of the tickets, the additional cost of a rack rate for the room and the actual cost of the dining plan, our family of 4 will be paying Disney $670 for the luxury of 2 meals plus a snack for 6 days. That's pretty much what I would spend during a 5-night stay to feed my family of 4 and my children are teenagers and it includes 3 meals/day plus snacks.

 

[Sleuth]

Do you know where I can find some details on the plan? Just wondering exactly what the definition of each type of meal is, as well as any restrictions. We were planning on going to the Whispering Canyon one evening for dinner, would that be our sit-down meal? Also, are there restrictions on what we could order?

thanks for the info.

MYW Brochure (PDF)

 

[asaj]

Yeah, I had heard that about the lack of discounts. we are going to WL in Oct, so right now the only discount we are getting is the AAA discount on the rooms. But, I can see that even that discount may make it worthwhile to skip the dining plan. I am not sure how much the AAA discount is (haven't booked just yet), but I thought it was maybe 15% on the deluxe resorts. So you are right, you would basically have to add that 15% savings to the price of the dining package per day, since you are losing out on it to get the dining.

Sounds like it may be better to take the room discount, and then have the flexibility of eating where/when/what we want....

Thanks.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Yeah, I had heard that about the lack of discounts. we are going to WL in Oct, so right now the only discount we are getting is the AAA discount on the rooms. But, I can see that even that discount may make it worthwhile to skip the dining plan. I am not sure how much the AAA discount is (haven't booked just yet), but I thought it was maybe 15% on the deluxe resorts. So you are right, you would basically have to add that 15% savings to the price of the dining package per day, since you are losing out on it to get the dining.

Sounds like it may be better to take the room discount, and then have the flexibility of eating where/when/what we want....

Thanks.

If you book your package through AAA, you'll get a discount on your room. That's what I'm doing for our April trip.

 

[MrsPete]

Point taken about the room codes.

Another thing to consider is the type of ticket you must buy. I dislike the Ultimate Hoppers (or whatever they're called now). I suppose they're a good deal for some people, but for the great majority of us, the park hoppers are a much better deal. But to qualify for the inexpensive meals, you must first buy the expensive tickets.

I'd suggest that you do the math for what YOUR FAMILY is likely to want to do, then decide what is good for you. And I don't think there's a set "yes" or "no" for everyone.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Point taken about the room codes.

Another thing to consider is the type of ticket you must buy. I dislike the Ultimate Hoppers (or whatever they're called now). I suppose they're a good deal for some people, but for the great majority of us, the park hoppers are a much better deal. But to qualify for the inexpensive meals, you must first buy the expensive tickets.

I'd suggest that you do the math for what YOUR FAMILY is likely to want to do, then decide what is good for you. And I don't think there's a set "yes" or "no" for everyone.

You're free to purchase the type of tickets that will work best for you. I went with the 7 day with hopping, water park, Disney Quest add on. I could have gone with a 1 day base ticket. The only thing I didn't have a choice about was the dining plan. It had to equal the number of nights of our trip.

 

[Ellester]

I think with planning it could be a very good deal if you typically eat at least one sit down meal a day. However, I agree that it depends on how your family eats. We typically wouldn't eat a sit down meal every day, but might with this deal. We have 2 adults and 2 kids right now (plus one baby, he's free at buffets!). I don't know if it would be a good deal for us or not. But, keep in mind that the sit down meals include the gratuity. Since a character meal is typically around $30 per adult without tip and dinner at, say, Cindy's can easily top that, it could save you quite a bit. However, we usually have water with meals and wouldn't all order appetizers and desserts so it might not save us much; particularly if there are discount codes available. Plus, it would certainly pack on a few extra pounds!

 

[Alexander]

Point taken about the room codes.

Another thing to consider is the type of ticket you must buy. I dislike the Ultimate Hoppers (or whatever they're called now). I suppose they're a good deal for some people, but for the great majority of us, the park hoppers are a much better deal. But to qualify for the inexpensive meals, you must first buy the expensive tickets.

This is not necessarily true. We have park hoppers left over from last year, so we don't need to purchase tickets. However in order to get the dining plan you have to buy at least a ticket for one day.

Example: I booked a four night stay for Feb., I added a 1 day MYW ticket (no extra options because we'll just use it up), and I was able to add the dining for four days. This is a good deal at this time because there are no other discounts right now.

I guess it doesn't make sense for those with children required to pay the adult price, but we easily eat a $35 sit down dinner. And you don't have to use them one per day. You can use them how you choose, all in one day, two in one day, trade two for a dinner show, etc.

For my family it is a really good deal. I am very disappointed I can't add it on to our DVC stay in April.

 

[swilshire]

If these can't be used by DVC members or penalize annual pass holders, it's time for a guest uprising! That's just not fair. The only way Disney will back down is if they get enough grief about it.

I understand that they are trying to force people to stay on-site by eliminating other meal vouchers. I can live with that (though I don't like it). It's ridiculous for them to exclude DVC members, who have spent more than most of us to "own a piece of the magic". They should get the best bennies of all.

And why force a person with an annual pass to buy a ticket. Again, we are their best customers. How can they step on us like that? I'm glad we won't be going back for at least nine or ten months. I'll happily join any letter writing or email campaign that anyone would like to put together on these issues. Is it just me that is outraged?

Sheila

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I don't look at it Disney "penalizing" their AP holders or DVC members. Both of those types of guests have their own set of special benefits. AP holders always got a 10% dining discount at select restaurants and now they can join the DDE for $50 and get 20% off at an even wider range of restaurants. They get free parking at the parks. There are almost always room discounts. DVC members get discounts on their APs that make them even more affordable than FL resident APs. It's all in how you look at it.

 

[disneyjunkie]

DVC members and AP holders can purchase the Disney Dining Experience card. (I think it's $50.00 for a year) With that you can get a 20% discount on many of your meals.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Let's not forget the great discount DVC members get when they purchase an AP.

 

[drumflower]

I have used last years plan, the silver , and could dine anywhere except Victoria and Alberts. Plus there a lot less Signature restaurant which require 2 meals to dine at . I loved the old plan. I even got a discount on the package. With the new plan there are a lot of restrictions on where to dine plus the Signature list is a lot bigger. I could not book with my room discount and would have to pay rack rate for my hotel room. So I am keeping my room discount, buying discounted tickets, and eating what and where I choose. Even if it ends up costing the same, at least I am eating where I want to.

 

[FayeW]

I thought that at the Disney restaurants, children had a discounted price up until age 12! If that is the case, then the meal plan price should change at age 12, not age 10.