Dining Plan Option

[kowalchicky]

We are considering getting the "dining option" plan. I'm looking for information on the pro's and con's of it. Are you able to order anything off the menu or are there restrictions? Is it really worth it? We are a family of 4 so the cost would be $ 97.96 a day.........it sounds good but I would like to hear from people who have used it already.........any comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

We are considering getting the "dining option" plan. I'm looking for information on the pro's and con's of it. Are you able to order anything off the menu or are there restrictions? Is it really worth it? We are a family of 4 so the cost would be $ 97.96 a day.........it sounds good but I would like to hear from people who have used it already.........any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Hi!

First, here's a WHOLE forum of information, just about the dining plan...
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=116

Next, there are no (or minimal) restrictions on what you can order (if you want to add, say, an extra lobster to your steak dinner, they might charge you, but generally speaking you can have whatever your heart desires).

I haven't actually used it, but am planning to in June. For our family of four, using the menus (and prices!) on allearsnet.com as a reference, it's gonna save us a TON o' cash!

Last, but certainly not least, when are you going? Cause the dining plan is FREE!!! from August 13 - September 30 this year! Now THAT'S a bargain!

Good luck!

 

[kowalchicky]

We are going in November ( Jersey week ).........
Thanks for the the link to allearsnet.com, I checked out some of the menus and it does look like it would save a ton of money.

 

[daisyduck123]

We used the Dining Plan for our 9 day stay in January. We have a DD11 & DS7...it was definitely worth it.

We're going back again in May for 9 days...we'll do the DP again.

You can order just about anything off the menu (not alcoholic drinks though)...it's not like you have just a few options.

When you think about how much food you'll spend in one day for your meals...the DP can't be beat!!

It also allows you to use the Table Service credits for character meals...that made it worth it for us right there.

 

[amarberry]

We got in on the free dining plan promotion last fall and paid for it on our trip in January. Obviously, the free dining plan promotion from last year did it's job and hooked us in!!!

We really, really liked the DP because it gives you a great opportunity to try out different restaurants that you might not normally be willing to splurge on. Even our "cheaper" TS meals (character meals, buffets) ended up costing about what we paid for the dining plan per day so we ended up ahead with our CS and snacks. Our January trip was for 9 nights and 5 of our meals ended up costing over $100 for DH and I (DD is under 3 so she either shared our meal or we paid OOP for a kids meal)! Oh...and I'm a vegetarian, so my entrees were generally the least expensive thing on the menu. Our cheaper meals were around $75-80 after tax and tip were added in.

I think the only disadvantage is that the DP gives you A LOT of food and if you aren't big eaters or have issues with only eating half your meal, it might not be for you. DH and I LOVE to eat and try new things, so it definitely wasn't a problem for us!!!!

 

[fran99999]

Here is a moderate example;

chef Mickeys

2 adults @27.99= 55.98
2 kids @12.99= 25.98
total with tip included =81.96
dining plan cost
2 adults @37.99= 75.98
2 kids @11.99 = 23.98
total per day =99.96

so for $18 you will get an additional 2 adult CS meals 2 kids CS meals and 4 snacks.

Sounds like a good deal to me. Yes I added dining to my reservations this May.

Have a great trip hope this helps.

 

[katgarbars]

It didn't work out for my family. My kids DD8 and DS8 don't like to be stuck ordering "kids" food. They like the variety that is only offered on the adult menu. That wasn't an option for them on the Dining plan. Chicken nuggets and hot dogs is not the only food a kid likes. At least not mine.

 

[3mickeys&me]

We used it during Jersey Week in 2005. It worked out well for our family. We too are a family of 4.

 

[Reese]

We found it worked out very well for us. It was a great value and not having to worry about what we were spending on a meal was nice. It is a lot of food though. We found we were taking desserts back to our room as a snack for later.

 

[disneyjunkie]

My son and I used the plan last April and will be using it again this June.

We didn't order everything that came with the plan (skipped a few desserts and appetizers) and still came out ahead.

It's a great way to prepay your meals and a nice meal each day.

 

[disneyjunkie]