Dining Plan...I'm totally confused on how it works!

[heat14]

So this is what I can grasp so far...

Me and FH would pay each $37/day and we would get 1 Table service, 1 Counter service, 1 snack...regardless of what the costs of each meal are? We would never have to actually fork over money to eat?

Now, if say our TS equalled $100 for us both normally, we would still only use one TS credit?

I find this hard to believe Disney would consider losing all this money.

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

The DP is such a good deal!! It does seem too good to be true, but you're right. You each get 1 CS meal(an entree, dessert and drink) 1 snack (such as a drink, popcorn, ice cream bar, bag of chips, etc.) and a 1 TS meal (appetizer, entree, dessert and drink). You are not limited to what you can order from the menu, except for add-ons such as crab legs. The only place I am aware of is Planet Hollywood that has a surcharge for items over $22, but there is only one entree that applies to. I loved the DP!!! It is a lot of food, but it was delicious!!!

 

[zachnlucy]

I believe the lobster add-on to entrees is also not allowed on the DDP. But that's about it. I certainly think it's more than worth it.

 

[dizplanner]

The only thing is that certain restaurants require 2 TS credits per person. (California Grill is an example) Otherwise, each TS credit gives one entree, one drink (like a soda, not speciality drinks), one appeatizer and one dessert and it includes the tax and tip. You don't need to pay anything else.

 

[lillygator]

but you have to be booking on a package right? I can't just call up and get the dining plan can I?

 

[heat14]

Wow! Unbelievable!

Now, how do I book this? Do I have to book my hotel, tickets and DP all together as one package?

How do people advise on bookings? Last year, I just booked my hotel separately and booked on WDW online for tickets.

 

[goofy4tink]

So this is what I can grasp so far...

Me and FH would pay each $37/day and we would get 1 Table service, 1 Counter service, 1 snack...regardless of what the costs of each meal are? We would never have to actually fork over money to eat?

Now, if say our TS equalled $100 for us both normally, we would still only use one TS credit?

I find this hard to believe Disney would consider losing all this money.

Just to clarify....you would both have to use one of your TS credits. I just wasn't too sure if you realized that is the case from the way you worded your question. I didn't want you to think that you only needed to use 1 credit for both your meals...its one credit per person for each 1 credit meal.

As far as getting the DDP, yes, you have to book a package to do it.

 

[heat14]

Oh yes, I realize we each need to use credits.

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

You get 1 TS, 1 CS and one snack per person per day. Alcohol is not included in this so you have to pay out of pocket. So, if you are staying for 5 days, you get 10 TS, 10 CS and 10 snacks for the BOTH of you. Lets say then that you go to LeCellier and yall both have a appetizers, steaks and dessert; the total is 96.14 and you got a glass of wine that cost $10. So you get 2 TS credits taken away (one for you and one for your husband) and you pay the $10 for the wine...tip is already included in your credit but you can always leave more if you want). Now you're doing to 8 TS. Make sense? If you were going to California Grill then you would use 4 TS since it's 2 per person. Hope this helps some. If I confused you even more, I'm sorry.

 

[TikiGoddess]

Also wanted to make sure your realized that the number of credits is based on how many NIGHTS you are there instead of DAYS. I was confused on this point until I used the dining plan. So if you are there 7 days and 6 nights you would have 12TS 12CS and 12 Snacks to use while you are there. I thougt it was well worth it, though. The food is so pricey otherwise.

 

[Hopefully]

It must be booked as part of the Magic Your Way package. This means that you must book your room, without any discount codes, as well as a ticket for at least one day for everyone in the room, and the meal plan for every night of your reservation. All people in the room must be on the same package for the entire stay. The only downside here would be if you were able to book a room with a discount deeper than the savings from the Dining Plan. No room discounts are allowed on the plan.
You can use your credits anyway you wish. For example you could use a TS for a character buffet breakfast or a sit down dinner at a restaurant. CS can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner - whatever fits your style. You can use multple credits on one day, and none on another if that is what you want to do. It is a lot of food. We are not big breakfast eaters, so we had juice and fruit in the room in the morning, used our CS for lunch and our TS for dinner each day.
We used the Dining Plan in October . We were 3 adults and we saved over $450 over the cost of the package and what we actually ate on the plan (I saved my receipts and added up the actual costs).
If you like a TS sit down meal each day, it is well worth it.
I would use it again on a future trip.

 

[DebIreland]

'Hopefully' has made great points above about discounts. If you feel an AP would be worth purchasing for room discounts then you'd need to weigh up the pros and cons of no discounts + dining plan OR discounts on room with no dining plan. Although AAA discounts can still be used I believe because you can book a package with AAA and they'll give a discount on the room portion.

Also be aware that DVC members and renters can now get the dining plan too which is great! They don't need to buy park tickets from Disney either, the DP is based on length of stay, nothing to do with park tickets. So you could consider renting points from a DVC member and getting the DP plan.

I think for two or more adults or for parents of young children the plan is a great thing! It's not a good deal for parents of children aged 10 and up though. If I were going in an adult only group or if my boys were younger I would jump at the chance to use the plan.

Oh, check out the brand new thread started by jjohnson - it's a sticky at the top of this board called '2006 Dining Plan FAQ'.

 

[r3ngels]

'Hopefully' has made great points above about discounts. If you feel an AP would be worth purchasing for room discounts then you'd need to weigh up the pros and cons of no discounts + dining plan OR discounts on room with no dining plan. Although AAA discounts can still be used I believe because you can book a package with AAA and they'll give a discount on the room portion.

Also be aware that DVC members and renters can now get the dining plan too which is great! They don't need to buy park tickets from Disney either, the DP is based on length of stay, nothing to do with park tickets. So you could consider renting points from a DVC member and getting the DP plan.

I think for two or more adults or for parents of young children the plan is a great thing! It's not a good deal for parents of children aged 10 and up though. If I were going in an adult only group or if my boys were younger I would jump at the chance to use the plan.

Oh, check out the brand new thread started by jjohnson - it's a sticky at the top of this board called '2006 Dining Plan FAQ'.

Do you any details about the DVC dining plan? How does that work?

 

[DebIreland]

The dining plan for DVC members/renters is the exact same as the one offered on the MYW package with the only difference being that you don't have to buy tickets. There's a great thread here at the DVC board for more info http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=994635

 

[r3ngels]

I started reading that today, I didn't get to far into it but no one said exactly what it was then I had to get off the computer... so it is the same as the package deal... counter, snack and table?

I am sorry... I didn't mean to hijack this tread but I appreciate the info...

 

[DCHSswimmer10]

I'm getting the dining plan too! I understand all of this but which restaurants cost 2 TS credits? Is there a list somewhere?

 

[DebIreland]

I started reading that today, I didn't get to far into it but no one said exactly what it was then I had to get off the computer... so it is the same as the package deal... counter, snack and table?

I am sorry... I didn't mean to hijack this tread but I appreciate the info...

Yes, it's the exact same as the package deal except you don't need the park tickets.

 

[DebIreland]

I'm getting the dining plan too! I understand all of this but which restaurants cost 2 TS credits? Is there a list somewhere?

Yes, here's the list of all restaurants under the dining plan including the signature restaurants
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m.../eng/nontheme/tickets/2006DiningLocations.pdf
There's also more info in the sticky at the top of the board.

 

[LoveWDW]

Someone mentioned that there was a lot of food, but we never felt we were overeating or wasting food. We shared counter service meals for breakfast and lunch, we usually didn't want snacks so we brought rice krispie treats home, and we each ate a table service dinner, usually bringing the dessert back to the room to have as a snack at night or as first breakfast. It was fun to have the food costs, tax and tips covered. We did leave a tip to bring the percentage up to 20%.

 

[r3ngels]

Thanks... Deb you have so much info tonight and here I was going to try to search by myself... you're great

Thanks again.