Dining Plan

[tylerandalexsmom]

We are WDW vets, but planning first time to DL.

I always get the Dining Plan at WDW, and we love it -- it works great for us! But everything for the Dining Plan at DL seems to say to stay away from it, like the plague! I must be missing something when I read the plan description -- I'm not getting the difference. Can someone please explain what the difference in the DL dining plan is from the WDW plan, and why it's not a good idea? Thanks!

Oh, and also, are there resort mugs at DL like at WDW? (for free refills at the resort self serve beverage stations) Sorry -- having a hard time wrapping my brain around the differences in the two resorts -- I keep feeling like I should know what I'm doing after planning so many WDW trips, but keep finding myself a little lost in DL plans!! Thanks again!

 

[3monkeys4me]

I think this thread by Hydroguy might answer all of your questions better than I can.

I am not aware of any resort mugs at the DLR. I have used them at WDW and loved them!

 

[Girimama33]

With the dining plan, you get vouchers for exactly what you pay face value.
I purchased the dining plan for our recent trip a few weeks ago, and had no issues. We planned on doing several table service meals, and wanted to give the dining plan a shot. Each day, we received a voucher for a Character meal (voucher value $33), a $15 QS voucher and a $5 snack voucher. The key thing to know is that if you pay with a voucher, you will not get change. If you use a $5 voucher for a $3 bottle of water, you will not get change back. If you buy two bottles of water, you would have to pay the $1 difference.
We didn't lose any $ with the vouchers, but I know some people do depending on what they are buying.
I think if you want to eat at the table service locations, and don't want to carry around cash/credit to pay, then the dining plan is fine. Just keep in mind that it isn't saving you any $$.
HTH

 

[ValpoCory]

With the dining plan, you get vouchers for exactly what you pay face value.
I purchased the dining plan for our recent trip a few weeks ago, and had no issues. We planned on doing several table service meals, and wanted to give the dining plan a shot. Each day, we received a voucher for a Character meal (voucher value $33), a $15 QS voucher and a $5 snack voucher. The key thing to know is that if you pay with a voucher, you will not get change. If you use a $5 voucher for a $3 bottle of water, you will not get change back. If you buy two bottles of water, you would have to pay the $1 difference.
We didn't lose any $ with the vouchers, but I know some people do depending on what they are buying.
I think if you want to eat at the table service locations, and don't want to carry around cash/credit to pay, then the dining plan is fine. Just keep in mind that it isn't saving you any $$.
HTH

Yep. Like many others, I priced it out and yes, at best you brake even. During non-peak times, the character meals are cheaper and then you'd lose money guaranteed.

However, I priced the WDW Dining Plans out too, and only the Deluxe Dining Plans saves you money. So all the talk about how great the Quick Service and Standard Disney Dining Plans are is misguided, IMO, beyond the idea that it gets you to be acquainted with the Dining system. The Standard DDP can be a slight deal if you want steak everyday and avoid certain restaurants. Look here: Maximizing Table Service Credit Value on the Dining Plan

 

[Huff]

At WDW the dining plans give you meals, you can order what you want without regard to price. At DLR you simply get cash vouchers good towards your bill except in the case of character meals which works similar to WDW's.

WDW's restaurants are a big part of a Disney vacation for many and the dining plan there makes sense. Disneyland is frequented mostly by locals, day trippers etc. Dining while important is not usually a central part of a Disneyland vacation like it is at WDW. Still, there are some great restaurants at DLR.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i like the dplan but i know most here sya buy gift cards and use it where you want to eat, im doing that this year with my dad but normaly i buy package and take the dplan for my own familys sanity we also like big nice meals when we are at the park and chr meals. We dont go out when we are home most times its what we have in the freezer for dinner, but when we are out we try to make up for it.

On that note I like the wdw plan and think with DCA reworked they should make dl dp like wdw just wish they would before we go back in year or two for carsland for my son and hubby

 

[EmmasGrammy]

We just returned from DL on May 5th and we had purchased the meal voucher plan with our WDTC package. I hated using the vouchers for several reasons.
FIRST.. At our character meal at the Plaza Inn the meal price was 23.99 and the voucher value was 33.00. It was just my DH and myself and the cashier said we should just pay with 2 character meal vouchers, but the total bill was only 49 dollars and change and the value of the 2 vouchers was 66.00. I was not about to leave a 16.00 tip for a buffet meal when we only saw our server once when we were seated and no one ever came by to clear our plates throughout our whole meal. What I did was to use one character meal voucher and 15.00 counter service voucher and paid the balance in cash.

SECOND... at another counter service meal they were not sure they were permitted to except the vouchers and we had to wait until they cleared it with the manager which took almost 20 minutes.

THIRD...The vouchers are printed with "Not valid if removed from the booklet" and so as I was tearing one out from the booklet to pay a counter service cashier says, "just tear those all out, you are holding up the line!" "REALLY?"

We just found them to be more frustrating than helpful. We purchased gift cards for our upcoming August trip.