Dining Plan Questions from a DIS newbie

[mrsarbogast]

We're going in November of next year and I've been researching frantically so I can go ahead and make ressies.

I've pretty well settled on the ASMu resort suites, 6 day park passes, and the DDP. This is for a family of 6 - 2 adults and 4 kids (14, 12, 10, and 7)

What are the 2008 changes to the plan? No more tip included? Will it be worth our $$ if we tend to go to more "fancy" (expensive) restaurants? My 3 olders are relatively big eaters anyway....

Thanks in advance

Darlene

 

[Sparkie]

I think the DDP is still a good value.

We had the plan in 2007 when the appetizer and the tip were included. We ate alot. But sometimes the entree is so big to have an appetizer, entree and desert was just too much and we never finished everything.


We are going again July 2008 and will be on the basic dining plan again. We are not big breakfast people so I usually plan light breakfast in the room, head to a park, CS lunch and a nice dinner. We had the most trouble using our snack credits- we just werent hungry. There has been alot of talk about the decreased value of the plan with the loss of the appetizer and the tip so I did some calculations based off what I thought my family would order including an occasional appetizer or special drink, tax and a generous 20% gratuity. I averaged $62 per day for my family of 4 (kids ages 16 and 12) for counterservice lunch. and a $3 snack per person per day then subtracted that amount from the cost of the DDP and we still came out to the good.

The main attraction for me is everything is paid in advance, there is no argument about where we are going to eat- MAMA decides that 180 days in advance -

I do have another suggestion. The family suites are nice but with a family your size have you thought about 2 adjoining regular rooms at one of the value resorts? The advantage is a 2nd bathroom. The disadvantage is you lose your mini kitchen. Last summer there was 6 of us (me, dad, 3 teen girls and grandmom) and that second bathroom was well worth it

 

[Sparkie]

oh, one more thing- I know to us 14,12,and 10 are still kids but to Disney they are "adults" at least where your money is concerned.

 

[mrsarbogast]

oh, one more thing- I know to us 14,12,and 10 are still kids but to Disney they are "adults" at least where your money is concerned.

I know, Thanks dh for making us wait it out so long, but whatever.

Thanks for the advice, and yes I have considered the two room option over the suite, but don't the suites at ASMu have 2 bathrooms anyway. We're still looking to see which way will be the cheapest.

Thanks again...

D

 

[Texas lady]

I know, Thanks dh for making us wait it out so long, but whatever.

Thanks for the advice, and yes I have considered the two room option over the suite, but don't the suites at ASMu have 2 bathrooms anyway. We're still looking to see which way will be the cheapest.

Thanks again...

D

Yes the All Star Music Family suites do have 2 bathrooms!