Dining Plan and BLT question

[weathernlu]

Hey all......

I need some help on a couple of things and I know where to come when I need help! I tried the search function but I could not get these answers.

1) We own at SSR and we just love everything we've seen about Bay Lake Towers. We've goo-goo'ed over other resorts like AKL but never jumped in. We just can't do it financially right now with our situation unless we sold SSR which we also love. Does anyone think we could wait on BLT and still get resales or do you think this will be a hard property to get? Also, we're going in November, do they have tours of it yet or a model somewhere?

2) Dining Plan: Can some of you give me suggestions on the Dining Plan and if it is worth it. We've gone to DW in the past with pretty much no budget, we just spent what we wanted. With two adults and two kids, it is about $96per day for us. We've got some things scheduled as a group with others and it looks like we can use it at all of those. It seems like a good deal and with staying at SSR we usually go to the grocery the first night for breakfast stuff.....so we always eat breakfast in the room. Also, we have $300 on our Disney card thanks to our Disney Visa and we were wondering if we could use at check-in for the Dining Plan. You do have to wait until check in to get the dining plan, right?

Thanks so much!

GO SAINTS!

 

[JaxFLBear]

There are BLT models at the DVC Sales Center located at SSR.

As to the dining plan, we've considered it but haven't used it. I don't think it would work for us so we got the Tables in Wonderland (formerly DDE) card.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't think you'll have any issues finding resales.

As for DDP, I don't look at it as a way to save money. I don't really pay attention to what price things are when I order, I just order what I want. Sometimes we get dessert, sometimes we don't. I look at the DDP more of a convenience factor that most of our food expenditures are paid up front and that I don't really need to keep track.

 

[WRWDisney]

One quick note on the Dining plan. You have to order it in advance and can only pay for it at check-in. You must add it to your reservation at least 48 hours before you arrive.

I would make the dining reservations I wanted and if I had enough to use all of the TS credits, then I would think about adding it. I would not add it before I determined if I could get the reservations I wanted though.

And again, most important, as a DVC member, you have to add the DDP to your reservation at least 48 hours prior to arrival.

Good luck

 

[mooneyda]

I personally like it last thing I want to do is cook on vacation. Besides Disney cooks better than me lol.per adult it is like 38 dollars a day or something last time I went but it included NA beverage, entre, desert, and appetizer if you use for lunch and dinner( tip is out of your pocket now) depending on the dining plan you choose I usually choose the sit down counter service and snack plan.By then end of the trip i am so full from all the food I am usually trying to use up mostly snacks so what I do I usually use to get sodas and pack them in bag for when I get home or buy a bunch of donuts and muffins to eat at airport.If you do not like that options they have others. I guess I would recommend it

 

[JaxFLBear]

The DDP no longer includes an appetizer unless you get the deluxe plan. Beginning in 2009 there will also be a quick service dining plan. It's going to cost $30/night for adults. If that was priced at $25 I would consider it.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Others have answered your BLT question so I'll just stick to the one concerning the DDP...

Since the removal of the gratuity and appetizer the DDP, IMO, is not worth the money. We do much better paying for each meal on its own and by doing so we aren't held to any set number of table-service or counter-service locations, which we prefer.

We find that the TIW (Tables in Wonderland) card is much better for us. You must be a Florida resident or AP holder to purchase it, but it gives you 20% off of most table-service and many counter-service meals, including alcohol. We are able to order just what we want and we aren't limited to a entree/dessert/beverage which works out better for us.

 

[weathernlu]

Thanks so much for the quick responses. Most of the things we already have scheduled seem to be a part of the dining plan, like Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom, and Chef Mickey both of which are covered from what I am reading in the brochure.

I'm leaning towards it simply for budgeting purposes, I know what it will cost and what I will get in advance. Does anyone think it's just NOT worth it at all?

 

[its_jason]

I'm leaning towards it simply for budgeting purposes, I know what it will cost and what I will get in advance. Does anyone think it's just NOT worth it at all?

Hey fellow NOLA'er! Im on the northshore, but will be moving back into the city before xmas.

We get the DDP for exactly the reason you mentioned, it makes it great having most of the food budget already figured out prior to the trip. It's not that we can't budget or anything, just convenient is all. We run the numbers every now and then and the DDP still works for us, even with the gratuity taken out.

 

[hakepb]

Thanks so much for the quick responses. Most of the things we already have scheduled seem to be a part of the dining plan, like Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom, and Chef Mickey both of which are covered from what I am reading in the brochure.

I'm leaning towards it simply for budgeting purposes, I know what it will cost and what I will get in advance. Does anyone think it's just NOT worth it at all?

It may depend on the total (all meals with kids) But why prepay $39/day to get a ~$25 Chef Mickey's breakfast? DDP works out better if you want more expensive dinners and can get those difficult dinner ADR's..

 

[ChelleinNC]

I'm leaning towards it simply for budgeting purposes, I know what it will cost and what I will get in advance. Does anyone think it's just NOT worth it at all?

It's not worth it if:

-You don't like to eat/spend time at a lot of TS meals
-You don't like to eat CS meals
-your kids are 10+ but don't eat anything besides kids pizza meals
-You like to eat at Signature restaurants

For my family, it's not worth it. We tried it once and it worked for that particular situation (family traveling with that would have fainted at dinner prices) When we add it up for each trip we don't even break even. Tables in Wonderland works much better for us

 

[weathernlu]

Hey fellow NOLA'er! Im on the northshore, but will be moving back into the city before xmas.

We get the DDP for exactly the reason you mentioned, it makes it great having most of the food budget already figured out prior to the trip. It's not that we can't budget or anything, just convenient is all. We run the numbers every now and then and the DDP still works for us, even with the gratuity taken out.

Cool, I'm in DA PARISH. That's what I was thinking. Since this trip has to be a little smarter budget wise than most I am thinking it might be best this time. You never know until you try something, then we will know for future trips.