Dining plan at DLR?

[Lady V]

Hey-I normally go to WDW but might be going to DLR this Sept!! Very excited and doing all my research! Is there a pre pay dining plan at DL? thanks...

 

[aprincess@mail.com]

unfortunately not!
sorry, i love the dining option at WDW, but DL has no dining plan.

if you find one, let me know though, because that would be wonderful!

 

[BillyFan]

There is a dining plan, but it is nothing like the one at WDW. I believe they just offer pre-paid vouchers, with no real savings attached.

 

[aprincess@mail.com]

oh the vouchers, thats right. but they save you like $5 on the Ariels Grotto and small amounts like that. NOTHING like WDW.
I forgot about those.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i happen to like it. i have a post down on page one of this thread excplains it..and actuely you save more then 5dollers. I see it well worth it even if otehrs dont.

 

[DLR29]

The dining plan at DLR is inferior (IMO and many others here) to WDW's because:
a) It doesn't save you as much money
b) You get a set amount of dollar amount vouchers and when you use those vouchers you don't get change. So for example if you want to pay for something that costs $4.95 with a $5 voucher, you will lose 5 cents. That's not a big deal, but if you have run out of $5 vouchers, you need to either pay in cash (which defeats the purpose of a dining plan) or pay with a $10 voucher and lose $5.05 (which can add up significantly)
c) You can't use the vouchers at Downtown Disney restaurants

 

[moppety]

I looked at this earlier and it actually saves very little to no money. Along with the no change given, the vouchers also can't be used for tips or any alcohol, if you are the alcohol drinking type (me and hubby like a glass of wine or 2).

Using the 3-day plan as my base figure, you actually lost money if your character meal was anything less than Goofy's Kitchen.

I second (and third) the idea others have posted of buying gift cards at The Disney Store if you are just looking for a way to pre-pay for meals. That way, if there is anything left over, you can still use the money loaded on them.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Think of DLR's meal plan as a no interest loan to Disney. Disney pays you back in the form of food, which you turn in a series of vouchers to receive. If you spend less than the voucher, well that portion of the loan just became a gift. If you spend more than the voucher, you pay the difference. Such a deal eh?

You are far better off paying as you go. Then you don't have to worry about spending anything to consume up the voucher. They also give a discount to Disney Visa holders at certain places and to AAA members at certain places.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

if you use the vouchers at a charcter meal it includes tips and stuff with out them who knows what they would charge. it was so much better then worrying about what to leave behind or anything and we used alot the 5doller ones for drinks before going back to hotle..this time were ording from vons so we wont waist on drinks.. but we did get alot of suviners with the suviner cups we got

 

[pixiewings71]

Actually Jade, all the characters meals have the tax and tip included in the meal price. Having the vouchers or not doesn't change that. Just thought I'd mention that. We've never done the DL dining plan.....I think for us it would work only because we have AP's and we go a LOT, otherwise it wouldn't work at all, we would feel like we were losing money on it so we just don't do it.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

ahh ok well ya we will have an ap to so hopeing it will help

 

[pixiewings71]

When you show your AP you will get a discount on your meal, but you won't get change from the food vouchers.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i have ideas of how to make the vouchers stretch more. and ya the change thing dose suck lol