Dining Plan????

[loveDmouse]

Hi everyone!
We are looking at the dinning plan for our visit in December. It will be 2 adults. We will be there for 6 nights. I had originally ruled out the dinning plan thinking it wouldn't be worth it but now looking at it closer I am beginning to think it will. It would be around $500 more.
If I am looking at this right and please let me know if I am wrong....
you basically can get your lunch, dinner and a snack each day. You are on your own for breakfast which is no problem. I don't see where it is worth it for us to do the premium package. All the choices on places to eat look great and maybe one night we might exchange 2 for one of the "fancier" dinner options.
So, what to you guys think? Thanks so much for your help. Sorry if this is a silly question I have just never done the dinning plan before.

 

[Anewman]

I think you pretty much have it covered.

You get 2 meal credits per day(1 ts,1 cs), most choose to use them for lunch and dinner since they are a bit more expensive than breakfast. But you are free to use them towards breakfast.

Just remember to make all you reservations ahead of time.

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

I highly recommend the dining plan. We did it in Nov. and it was wonderful! We took some pop tarts and snacks to keep in our room for breakfast, which we are not big breakfast eaters anyway. We had CS for lunch and a BIG delicious table service meal for dinner. There are many places to choose from. We usually had popcorn or ice cream bars for snack. It was great!! We ate around $700 worth of food for $400.

 

[loveDmouse]

I am glad I seem to have an understanding. After asking this question I saw the sticky at the top on this same topic. Found some very good info but boy is that a lot to look through.
So much good information.
I am fairly certain I will call and add this plan to our package. I tried to figure out with the menus around what it might cost for what we might eat and it is close to what it will cost and that is without tax included since I am unsure of the rate. I think it would be worth it not to think about it so much and be able to eat what you want. I would guess it is tough just to order a little something because you are constantly thinking you need to get your moneys worth.
I don't think I have ever thought so much about eating in my life as I have trying to figure out what it might cost us.
I am better now though!

 

[jennifer293]

The dining plan is the most exciting part of planning the trip for me. As if it were not for the DP we would not get to eat at any of these places. We went and spent 560 on the DP and would have spent over 1200 on food for 7 nights. We had friends that went a few months before us that opted out on the dining plan and they spent over 1000 on food and she said the majority of that food was at McDonald's. I would hate to think I could spend that much money at McDonald's.

We ate very good during our stay..soooo well I gained 6lbs..

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We found we didn't need to eat any third meal. The 1 sit down and 1 counter were sufficient along with the snacks to get us through. Some days, we were still so full from dinner, we didn't want anything for breakfast. We did buy a bunch of bananas and ate some before we went out the door on occasion. But that's it. You can buy them at the super rather than from Disney. They're a buck a piece at Disney I think.

You can do better price wise on your own exclusively at the counters. But that would involve very few character meals and certainly no sit down dinners allowed. And I went in thinking the sit downs would take up alot of park time. But they really didn't. We found we really were refreshed just taking a break and sitting down for a restaurant meal instead of standing in lines at the counters and rushing through. We thought it would have been worth the extra money had we not got it free. It also really wasn't a hassle to make and keep the ressies. We had to change on the fly real fast because a show we wanted to see got rained out, but we managed and we got a good meal. We didn't go hungry.

The only caveat I have is it is difficult to go from resort to resort after park hours on the bus system. And the resorts have alot of the best places. We'd have had a difficult time of it eating at Boma, California Grill, Chef Mickeys, and Spoodles without a car. The trouble is you have to route through downtown disney after hours and it takes up to two hours to get back to your resort. It's ok if you don't have younger ones but if you do, well it can be a real hassle. We had a car so we used it on those occasions.

 

[loveDmouse]

It is great getting insights from people who have done the plan. Thanks.
I am going to call them tonight probably and add it on. I figure no need to wait. I think you can't beat the price and it will be nice not having to worry about what you are eating, you know, price wise.
Jennifer293 I can't believe the money your friends paid and ate mostly at McDonalds. WOW.
That should be proof that the dining plan is the way to go.
CannotWait4Disney---thanks for the info about getting to the resorts after parks close. I wonder if the boat still launches from WL after parks close. If so than we could get to the Contemporary. Does the monarail still run? Sorry for the dumb questions. I have not stayed inside the park since I was, lets just say, much younger than I am now. Last time we went in 2001 and we had to stay outside cause we had lots of other running around to do. BTW I swore I would not go back to Disney without staying inside. It makes all the difference.
Thanks again guys! Thanks to waltdisneyworlddreamer & Anewman too!
I can't wait!!!!!!

 

[nbodyhome]

It is good to get an idea of what you plan to eat, and then price it out. I've mentioned enough that I don't tend to spend much on food when I'm on property. But if you are doing table service each day, it really can be a wonderful value (I personally wouldn't buy it unless for just a couple of days).

Remember that the plan includes like 2 desserts AND a snack, not including all the rest of the food! It was too much for me, really. But it was fun, for free.

Denise

 

[Hollyster2]

I am thinking the dining plan may not work for us. What do you all think?
We are travelling in a group with 3 different rooms-Two families. Our dining credits would be split up on 3 cards right? And since we would all be eating most of our meals together we would have to give all three cards each time right? I just think it might be too much to keep track of. If just my family was traveling alone I would love this plan.
Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[My2Cinderellas]

when you are considering the cost of the plan, don't forget that it includes drinks (unless you normally just drink water) and the tax and gratuity. Those add up fast for us, and were what really sold us on using the dining plan. I looked at allearsnet menus/prices and figured out a few typical meals if we ordered normally and we broke even or came out ahead in every case. Usually the TS meal alone totalled more than the price of the dining plan, so the CS and snack are pure bonus.

DH and I usually split and a dessert, and each get our own entree. sometimes we split an appetizer, sometimes we each get soup or salad.

***********
what DH and I would typically order at a place like Le Cellier - these are Le Cellier prices
soup $5
salad $5
prime rib $22
pork $20
creme brulee to share $6
2 coffees $4
TOTAL $62 plus tax ($4) plus gratuity($12)
GRAND TOTAL $78

Dining plan is $76/day for 2 adults, and you also get a counter service meal and a snack

************
dinner buffet at 1900 Park Fare
$28/adult
$13/child

2 adults/2 child = $82 plus tax ($5) plus gratuity ($16)
TOTAL = $103

dining plan for 2A2C is $98/day



spend some time and do the math, to see if the DP is worth it for your family.

 

[Anewman]

I am thinking the dining plan may not work for us. What do you all think?
We are travelling in a group with 3 different rooms-Two families. Our dining credits would be split up on 3 cards right? And since we would all be eating most of our meals together we would have to give all three cards each time right? I just think it might be too much to keep track of. If just my family was traveling alone I would love this plan.
Anyone have any thoughts?

No big deal, IMO.

On our trip in AUG, My parents and sister were @SSR and we were @WL.
Every sit down meal we just told the server, "2 dining plans". It did not matter what meals went on what reciept, just as long as it was 4 credits on our bill and 3 credits on on my parents bill.

 

[iluvdizknee]

Dining Plan would not work for us, I dont think. I have a 15 and 12 year old who are very very picky eaters. We are going for 11 nights. My hubby and I went day by day what we would eat and where. Even adding in 3 character meals, the dining plan would cost us about $400 more than we would normally spend. My kids are not into the "restaurant" sit down big meals. We are not drinkers, water or tea thats it. Dining plan is not for everyone.
Now...if it were just me and my hubby, I would love it. We would go to all the restaurants in Epcot I am dying to try.

 

[loveDmouse]

the more I read the more confused I get on whether or not it would be a good idea for us to do the plan. I really don't plan on TS meals everyday. I am not sure I want to be so pinned down to something. Don't get me wrong, I like to save money too but I don't really like the idea of things being so "scheduled" if that makes sense. We might one night go for the fancier dinner but not much. I see ourselves probably doing mostly CS meals. I just don't know.
Sorry, I thought I was set on this thing now I am not so sure. When I did the estimating it was pretty close, like $15 difference (less) than the plan and that was using quite a few TS in my estimating. Seems to me being so close makes it worth it not to be pinned down to doing a certain thing and just doing what we want when we want. Does that make sense? Am I crazy?

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I am thinking the dining plan may not work for us. What do you all think?
We are travelling in a group with 3 different rooms-Two families. Our dining credits would be split up on 3 cards right? And since we would all be eating most of our meals together we would have to give all three cards each time right? I just think it might be too much to keep track of. If just my family was traveling alone I would love this plan.
Anyone have any thoughts?

Unless one person is paying for all of the meals for everyone (in which case could I join your family!?!) then you would require separate bills anyways so three room keys or three credit cards or three cash payments (cause who carries change in Disney?) it would be the same.

Also - for groups over 8 (? or maybe 9?) there is an automatic 18% gratuity at most restaurants - that would be covered by the dining plan.

For my family it was a nice sense of freedom to just go into a restaurant and order what we wanted - no price checks or ordering the cheapest thing because well, it's the cheapest thing.

 

[Anewman]

I am not sure I want to be so pinned down to something. Don't get me wrong, I like to save money too but I don't really like the idea of things being so "scheduled" if that makes sense.

worth it not to be pinned down to doing a certain thing and just doing what we want when we want. Does that make sense?

Yes of course it makes sense, but have you been to WDW?

If you want to eat at certian places you will need to schedule ahead of time, REGARDLESS of using the plan or paying out of pocket.

Without or without the plan you can not just walk into SCI FI at noon and expect to be seated, you would need to call ahead of time.

I think the planning and schedules are must if you intend to eat at some of the popular eateries, but this is not exclusive to those on the dining plan.


I agree though, if not planning on TS meals the plan would not be needed.

 

[loveDmouse]

As I said in an earlier post, yes I have been to WDW before. It has been a long time since I stayed in the park, I was a kid going with my parents. Last time we were there (my husband and I) we had to stay outside the park so we weren't exclusivly eating in DW. I get that if there are particular places we want to eat then we should call ahead anyway regardless of plan or no plan. I do plan on making a reservation or two probably for dinner which of course we would do TS. I shouldn't have to make a reservation for every single place we eat should I? Last time we were there the only reservation I made was for Valentine's night at Coral Sea the rest we just went to. We try to go at off times to eat not say right at noon or at 5.
Some of our stuff will be very scheduled according to when I can get tickets for the Christmas party and the other stuff they have going on for Christmas. I just don't want every single minute mapped out. That to me is no fun.
Do I understand correctly that I have up until I make final payment to add this on? I just have a lot more research to do.

 

[d4est]

You have up until one week (maybe a tad closer) before your arrival to add the dining plan. Take your time & think it over.

As far as ADR's, if there is someplace you REALLY want to eat, it is a good idea to make ADR's. You can now book them at 180 days out. I have them for every night but one that we are there. I don't feel I overplanned, I feel secure. I know we won't have to wait an hour or be turned away. As the dining plan becomes more popular, it seems that walk ups at the popular restaurants are becoming impossible.

 

[indigoxtreme]

The table service meals are the ones to make ADR's for in advance. Christmas this year I understand was very busy. So for any TS meals you need to make these in advance. The Counter Service do not take ADR's. We had the plan in Sept for free and 6 of us age ranged from 70 to 4 Great food. Plus the tip and tax are included so when doing your calculations don't forget the tax (not sure how much it is in Fla) and the tip. We had such great service that we increased the tip by 5% in cash wherever we went for TS. Even during that time in Sept there was one time we decided we would like to be at another place other than where we were supposed to eat. I was able to get same day ADR at the other place around the same time. We never had to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes. We always arrived 5 to 10 minutes early and never late. We are going again just hubby and I in February and yes we are paying for the dining plan. It is was so good not having to worry about how much something cost. and that it was all paid for. What ever you decide, don't let it bother you. Basically what I did was map out the park or parks that we would visit and look to see where we might be at dinner time. Then I looked at the menus to see where our group would like to eat. So it all worked out fine and we not only ate at the parks but at some of the resorts and the Hoop de Doo too. Have fun and do what is right for you and your family.....

 

[loveDmouse]

I will just take my time and think about exactly what we want to do since I do have plenty of time. There are definetly some places I want to go eat for a nice dinner and would definetly make reservations for those.
I really think the plan would work out but then you look at other posts on the issue where it really is such a hassle according to some. I don't want things to be a hassle and feel like I have to eat and eat and eat to get my moneys worth. I just want to have a relaxing vacation in DW with my husband at WL. This will be his first time staying inside.
My main reason for this time of the year (2nd week Dec) is to see all the Christmas decorations, gingerbread house and do the Christmas Party. Never done it before and saw it on the Travel Channel and just thought it would be wonderful.
I was starting to feel a little crazed thinking about all the different things I had read in regards to this dinning plan.
Did you guys feel like you just had to eat and eat to get your moneys worth?
Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Anewman]

Did you guys feel like you just had to eat and eat to get your moneys worth?

No we did not feel required to eat and eat, but we do tend to be big eaters, and instead of paying out of pocket for a third meal we just sampled treats that called out to us in between.

But the last night of our stay we had booked Ohana and chose to cancel we just did not feel hungry enough. We decided to grab a smallish dinner at ESPN, the bill came out to $165 for a party of 4. And that was about the lowest priced TS meal we had(tied with Sci Fi), we kept dessert(hockey pucks were great) till the plane ride back home(SoCal).