Dining package

[janemum3]

is it worth paying extra for the dining package or not.

 

[tashasmum]

We got ours free for aug with virgin and it will be our first time to try it out. Would be interested to see the replies you get though.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Have you looked at the dining plan forum, seems like most people say it is, but then again a lot of people seem to want to eat they're monies worth which is understandable, but it appeals to us as its paid for in advance including tips and tax and all we have to worry about is where to eat and making the ADR's. We have an 11 year old who only eats the kiddie foods (chicket nuggets etc) but we have to pay adult prices for him, in that respect its a waste of money for him, but for us to have it so has he. It will be our first visit this year and will be trying it out, good luck with your decision.

 

[Chris and Pooh]

Hello,

For us I do not think it would work, we do not normally lunch and prefer a snack or sandwich lunchtime but do enjoy dinner in the evening, but if you like us like to dine off resort at times you would be wasting money, however if you are staying on resort for the duration and wish to eat quite large meals at lunch time and in the evening, then it may well suit, and of course you can use up two credits when eating in a signature restaurant such as the Brown Derby or Artist's Point etc

 

[natalielongstaff]

i think its worth it but then we are big eaters and love going out for meals, weve managed to get it free this year but we would have paid for it

we are having great fun at the minute deciding on where to eat,even more harder because i have decided not to go anywhere we have been to before

 

[florida sun]

After seeing what friends of ours had with theirs on our last holiday, I would def say its worth it

 

[paulh]

we did itfree last year,and would pay for it anytime
Paulh

 

[jtlover]

We paid for it last Feb and have it free this Aug - it is definitely worth it - you tend to venture to restaurants that you possibly wouldnt have considered. The tip is included so you dont even have to consider that - other than if you want to give your server extra.

It is a lot of food - but it is one thing you dont have to worry about having enough money for food on your holiday - we find it relaxing. Planning where you are going to eat is fun too

 

[Merylj]

Me and DD have done the DP twice now - it is fantastic.
We do 2/3 buffet breakfasts each trip plus at least 2 signature restaurants, so we don`t feel overloaded with food.
It will be hard to do WDW without it.

 

[Amyrlin]

If you like eating at sit down resturants and want to do this in Disney for all, or most of the holiday then it is difficult not to come out ahead, there are two things to think about.

The first is the relief of not having to think about money and choosing whatever you want on the menu without worrying about the cost or paying for it.

The second is to make sure you eat what you want to, and do not end up just trying to make the most of it. We had the free DDP last year, it was great, but we did not use anywhere near the full amount of CS meals, and a lot of the snacks we used at Goofeys Candy Co for treats to bring home. We found when we paid too much attention on how to make the most of the plan it can become a little time consuming, but planning ahead we used it without worrying.

 

[irongirlof12]

we are also using the DDP for the first time this sept and it was free with virgin package... I am really looking forward to it as we normally eat..on the hoof.. counter service style - from the research i have done it is good value for money and I love planning so I think we will get the best of of it. !!!


Andrea

 

[KayleeUK]

You will be very full But it is worth it. We paid for the DDP last year.

 

[jns]

which are the signature restaurants and what is the difference
thanks

 

[Perrine]

can anyone tell me if we go from 08/17 to 03/09 if DDP will be FREE like last Year ????
It was really fantastic last year !

Perrine

 

[Madjock]

We did the dinning plan for our trip in December but it didn't suit us so we wouldn't do it again, unless of course it was offered free . It is good value for money if you can/will eat that amount of food. We like our food but we would not normally order a starter each, we would order a couple and share, and neither DH or myself are dessert eaters. On our return we worked out that if we had ate as we normally would have it would have cost us less but it was worth a try and you live and learn. I also felt quilty about the amount of food we left so towards the end of our stay we didn't even bother ordering dessert.

Also, we found the children's choices to be very limited especially at CS, there were a couple of days when DD wanted a hamburger so we ended up paying OOP just so she could eat what she wanted and dinner was sometimes just as bad but luckily she shared with one of us.

Please note that if you order a glass of wine/beer you get billed separately and they will charge you a gratuity on that so they get tipped twice, most of the time for us it was only a couple of $ so we left it but you may want to bear it in mind if there is a group of you.

 

[DisneyJo]

can anyone tell me if we go from 08/17 to 03/09 if DDP will be FREE like last Year ????
It was really fantastic last year !

Perrine

Unless it's been changed you had to book your holiday within a certain time (about sept to Nov) to get your free Aug/Sept dining, so now thats finished I'm afraid you'd have to pay.

 

[lorapinky]

I tried to blag the free dining but to no avail

I wouldn't pay for it though as me and DH live on hotdogs and burgers from the stands!!!

So we would actually lose money

Though if you eat out alot it maybe worth while you buying it?

 

[Sweet Pea UK]

We got ours free for aug with virgin and it will be our first time to try it out. Would be interested to see the replies you get though.

Hi Tashasmum

Can I just ask how you got it free with Virgin - without being rude. I've just been looking into it - I've already booked with Virgin but they seem to be charging double for the dining plan compared to what Disney are charging - espcially for 3-9 year olds. My DD couldn't possibly eat 19 pounds worth of food in a day! I just wondered if it was worth me rining Virgin to see why they charge so much?

 

[DisneyJo]

Hi Tashasmum,

I was born in Great Yarmouth and lived in Lowestoft till a few years ago (parents still do!) sorry OT. Any how Disney were doing a special deal a while ago where UK visitors could get free dining if they booked within a certain time (now finished) I would certainly contact Virgin about their prices and tell them how much it is on the official WDW site as surely that's what they will be paying so you should too!

 

[paulh]

when disney offered the free ddp the last 2 times it was offered to disney visa card holders first,dates were early april then 2 days later to the general public.Last year they extended the bokking period by 2 weeks before they finished the offer(might have been longer).To get it you had to book a package, room and a min 1 day base ticket each peron in party, booking for up to 10 nights.We did it in 2, 7night blocks
This years free ddp was first offered to the uk but you had to buy a min 5 day ticket to qualify.Then they offered bounceback,this was if you were staying onsite in november you could book a package and get free ddp(only 1 days base ticket for up to 10 nights).
There is a lot of speculation that it might be offered agan and most think it will but over a shorter time frame to book it
Paul