Dining Plan review

[poohfan]

We just got back yesterday and had the free Dining Plan. We were 3 adults (including one pre-teen, DS12) and one child DD9. We stayed 7 nights. I kept notes on what we would have spent if we had to pay for our meals.

We were able to use the counter service credits for adult meals but sometimes our DD9 insisted on the kids menu selection. We definately would have gotten even more value if we had only ordered adult selections. My total for 28 counter service meals was $323.83.

We ate at the hotel a few times. I brought some cereal and oatmeal to have in the mornings but I didn't bring enough and we used some credits for breakfast.

We usually ended up sharing meals and saved the desserts for snacks later. I found the portions were very large and with the heat the kids and I weren't that hungry anyway.

We liked Tusker House at AK, Pizza Planet at Studios, and Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney.

Our Table Service meals totaled $730.57. We used some credits for 2 character breakfasts and lunch at Sci Fi. If we'd used all the credits for dinner the total would have been much higher. Here's where we ate:
- Whispering Canyon Cafe ... great atmosphere, kids loved it, food good
- Sci Fi Diner... great atmosphere, kids loved it, food just OK but kids liked the hamburgers
- CRT for breakfast ... fabulous atmosphere, got a table by the window so the view of Fantasyland was a bonus, food good, princesses were a hit with DD
- Primetime 50's... I'd eat here again but the fun factor totally depends on the server you get, ours was so-so, the Smores dessert was to die for
- Rose & Crown ... had a great server, food was good, overall very enjoyable
- Crystal Palace ... food was great, breakfast lasagna is delicious, Pooh characters came by several times, definately would eat here again
- Teppenyaki ... had a great chef who was very funny, kids loved it and the food was good (DH complained DS's chicken was a little dry but I thought it was fine), I'd eat here again

I estimated the snacks were worth $56. I think we spent more because we used some for ice cream but mostly I got bottles of water. On our last day we had 8 credits left so I made DH get a few drinks and snacks for the plane ride home.

So the total was $323.83 + $730.57 + 56 = $1110.04

So the free Dining Plan was definately a great deal. Not totally convinced this is something I'd pay for. We don't typically eat big meals and I found myself ordering more food than I normally would have. But it was really nice to get the bills and see a total of $0

 

[Harambe]

Thanks for the reviews.

A little off topic, but how did you feel the crowds were over the Labor Day weekend?

 

[poohfan]

the crowds were really low. No need for any touring plans and we didn't do fastpass at all. We got there on Sat but didn't go in to the parks until Sunday. We did AK on Sunday and Studios on Mon. The crowds were low, no more than a 10 minute wait for any of the rides. By Tuesday the crowds were nonexistent until around 1 pm. On Tues am we did every ride in Fantasyland in under 1 hour. We walked on to everything! It was the same for the rest of the week. One day we rode Splash Mountain 3 times, the CM just kept letting us ride through. The next day we rode Soarin 3 times with no wait. On Saturday we went in to MK in the morning and the crowds were heavier but most of the rides were walk-on until close to noon.