dining plan-premium:dont want add-ons!

[dana1003]

ok can anyone clear this up? i like the idea of having all three meals per day but the premium plan has too many extras that we wont use...can we just pay for the plan w/out all the extras? we're traveling w/3 year olds and golf,la nouba, tours are out of the question w/ toddlers? will it be cheaper?

 

[Deb & Bill]

You can pay for the premium plan and just waste those things you can't use. Or get the regular plan and pay OOP for those extra meals. Or don't get the DDP at all and pay all OOP. Or purchase an AP and then purchase the Disney Dining Experience Card and get 20% of most of your TS dining.

I guess you have four choices here.

 

[bicker]

There is no separately- (lower-) priced plan with three TS meals but none of the extras.

 

[dana1003]

oh boy--thanks all...it seems like such a waste to lose all those extras. id rather pay out of pocket i guess..thanks.

 

[bicker]

I figure those extras don't really cost Disney much to include in the offering (so the offering isn't any less costly to provide without them), and it does make the offering more attractive to some guests.

I wouldn't choose paying out-of-pocket on principle though: You may want to do the math and just make sure that paying out-of-pocket will save you money. I bet it will, but it cannot hurt to check.

 

[dcgrumpy]

The regular DDP would probably be your best bet. Will you really do 3 sit down meals a day with 3yos?

 

[dana1003]

no probably not...but can i just pay for the adults on ddp and have the 3 year olds eat from our plates...they eat like birds!!!

 

[labdogs42]

no probably not...but can i just pay for the adults on ddp and have the 3 year olds eat from our plates...they eat like birds!!!

Three year olds need their own DDP, but it costs less than an adult DDP. I'm sure the cost of the DDP for the 3 yo's will be much less than the cost of the premium package anyway. I think the premium package is a rip off, actually!

 

[dcgrumpy]

DDP for ages 3-9 is only $10.99 per night. A character dinner is $12.99+ tax and tip. When you add in a snack and CS you're way ahead.

 

[Chloesmom]

I cannot imagine being given any more food than the regular dining plan already gives you. We were so full last time that we never used snacks and split some CS too because we just could not eat a full meal. The idea of having 3 sit downs a day sounds wonderful but it would be way too much food and take so much time out of the day. You would spend 3-4 hours just eating.

 

[PrincessMinnie28]

DBF and I are actually going to be on the Premium Plan when we go to WDW in a few days. We went back and forth between the regular DDP and the Premium. In the end, our decision was based on several factors, including that DBF has never been to WDW, we enjoy nice meals, and we are going to be using a lot of the activities that are included in the plan. I don't think the plan was a rip-off for us because if we price out everything we're doing, we come out way ahead (actually just with the meals we have ADRs for, never mind the activities).

But, as you pointed out, you probably wouldn't be using many (if any) of the options on the plan except for the dining. In that instance, it may not be worth it for you, but I know families with children who have used the Premium Plan and really enjoyed it. We are leaving in 6 days, so I would be more than happy to answer any questions about how the plan worked for us when we get back.

 

[Lewisc]

You can do a search. Several posters, who participated in a Disney survey, started threads listing the questions Disney was asking regarding possible changes to the dining plan. One of the options was a 3 meal a day plan but without most of the other extras that are included with the premium plan.

It sounds like there may be some plan changes in 2008. Several posters have indicated the dining plan will no longer include the gratuity. There may be some changes to the premium plan. Bicker has a point, options that don't cost Disney much such as fireworks viewing, may remain. Options that have a real cost like La Nouba and spa services might get dropped.

 

[dana1003]

that sounds good to hear! we went in dec and really only did one sit down a day.we took turns everyday on whether it was b,l, or dinner. but honestly i wish we could do ddp w/three meals. dropping the tip wouldnt be a problem i guess. its a give and take. but no i wouldnt dream of doing 3 sit downs a day-my toddlers would drive us CRAZY!!!

 

[dana1003]

You can pay for the premium plan and just waste those things you can't use. Or get the regular plan and pay OOP for those extra meals. Or don't get the DDP at all and pay all OOP. Or purchase an AP and then purchase the Disney Dining Experience Card and get 20% of most of your TS dining.

I guess you have four choices here.

what is the ddp card?

 

[Deb & Bill]

what is the ddp card?

I never heard of a DDP card, but the DDE card is something that you can purchase if you have a current AP or PAP or are a resident of FL. If you are an AP or PAP holder it costs $60. Fl residents pay $75. This card gives you a 20% discount on many table service restaurants (including alcoholic beverages) and a few counter service locations where there isn't a table service restaurant available.

 

[NMW]

I would love a meal plan that you can customize they way you want it. Kind of like Magic your way dining. Our family eats TS breakfast and dinner every day at WDW. We do CS lunch most days-mostly because my sons are always starving and granted, we do eat late (7:30-8:00) dinners every night. A couple days we do TS lunch as well.

A meal plan with 2 TS/1 CS/1 snack would be great for us. I'd also take 2 TS/0 CS/0 snack. I would even take 3 TS meals per day. We just don't use all the extras that come with the premium plan. We don't do tours, rent boats, etc. I'd rather just pay for a plan that includes the food.

I completed an online survey for Disney a while back with some questions about dining plans. I hope they change it up for 2008!

 

[dana1003]

I would love a meal plan that you can customize they way you want it. Kind of like Magic your way dining. Our family eats TS breakfast and dinner every day at WDW. We do CS lunch most days-mostly because my sons are always starving and granted, we do eat late (7:30-8:00) dinners every night. A couple days we do TS lunch as well.

A meal plan with 2 TS/1 CS/1 snack would be great for us. I'd also take 2 TS/0 CS/0 snack. I would even take 3 TS meals per day. We just don't use all the extras that come with the premium plan. We don't do tours, rent boats, etc. I'd rather just pay for a plan that includes the food.

I completed an online survey for Disney a while back with some questions about dining plans. I hope they change it up for 2008!

yep just like us..we would love that also!!!

 

[amcjeep4life]

We are doing the Premium plan in September, during the free dining period! I know, are we crazy? But we have plans to do horseback riding, rent boats, play mini golf, take a wagon ride, and my DH and I are taking a tour while our neices are in the children's programs. Also, I can't leave WDW without seeing Cirque du Soleil! We are having 2 sitdown meals daily, at least one character meal each day including CRT, category 1 seating at Spirit of Aloha, and guaranteed seating for Fantasmic and Wishes. We are also staying concierge (Gotta have the Sunrise Safari!) which is not available through the free dining program. This is a surprise, once-in-a-lifetime trip for our neices, aged 10 and 12, so we went all out and did the most we could. We just couldn't see the extra for platinum, since that really did include some things we just couldn't fit in. I work hard for my money, and want everything to be so good for this trip, and yet I really had no problem putting out the extra cash for the perks. Call me crazy, but I fully intend to enjoy every second of this trip, and if it costs extra to have extra, I'm willing to do it!

 

[Fionasmommy]

A meal plan with 2 TS/1 CS/1 snack would be great for us. I'd also take 2 TS/0 CS/0 snack. I would even take 3 TS meals per day. We just don't use all the extras that come with the premium plan. We don't do tours, rent boats, etc. I'd rather just pay for a plan that includes the food.

I agree! I'd happily pay more for 2 TS/day.