Dining vs Deluxe Dining Packages

[Terk-1]

Is it worth an additional $288 to upgrade from the regular dining plan to the deluxe dining plan? Am planning a 10 day trip at the end of November next year and am just wondering if it's worth the extra $$. It also seems like alot of food, since it would be sit down meals, but was also thinking of maybe doing a couple of dinner shows or nicer restaurants that would be 2 credits each. This is a solo trip.

 

[Mr_P_Bear]

My wife and I are scheduled for deluxe dining in just under a month so while I cannot speak from experience, I can tell you what changed my mind. Like you, we are planning on doing a signature meal (at Artist Point) which would eat into the normal TS credits, pardon the pun. At the same time, the 3 credits a day allows you to eat at a CS in case you decide not to do all three TS. Plus, you can 2 snaks a day which you can use to stocking up on goodies at Goofy's candy company. You also get a refillable mug.

To me, the deluxe plan is going to give us more flexibility while at the same time we'll be able to try things we weren't able to do in the past.

Hope you have fun.

 

[twoeeyy]

we are paying about 800.00 more to upgrade to the DDDP( for three adults ). We currently have the free bounceback DDP for our Sept vacation. We just decided that for the price of 32.00 a day a person we could upgrade to the delux plan so what the heck why not give it a try, after all its only $ . We figured this was the time to try it as I would not pay 70.00 a day pp for the DDDP.

 

[Terk-1]

The difference of $384 is for 1 person staying at POFQ for 10 days. As this trip is a birthday trip for myself, thought it would be a nice treat to do a couple of the "signature" places, such as California Grill & Hoop Dee Doo review. When I go to WDW, I try to do more sit-down meals.

 

[libinatorsmom]

THough I dont know from experience we went with the Dulx dining plan for several reasons... when we 1st started planning our trip we were not aware of the dulx plan and had to really skimp out on some of our dining choices and were going to have days where we would have to eat out of pocket if we wanted to do the signature dining experiences... NOW with the dulx plan we are going to be able to eat at every place we wanted!!!! including Cinderellas Royal Table, Artist Point, Yachtsman Steak house, Citracos, etc

 

[hddanis]

We opted for the Deluxe Dining as well. I like a sit down breakfast and dinner. We're only doing CRT as a 2 credit meal, everthing else is one credit. We arrive early in the day and leave late in the day, so we'll basically have a full extra day to use our credits. I expect we'll have a bit of a problem using all our snack creadits, but then we'll just them to bring treats home for DH and DS!

By my figures, it's saving us a couple hundred dollars and I don't have all the credits accounted for yet. Even if we only broke even, I like the idea of everything being paid up front and not having to worry about what we order (my DD13 wants to order prime rib every night!).

This will be a trial run before we do our big family trip next December. If it works for the 4 of us this trip, then we'll use it, if not, we'll probably go with the regular dining plan.

 

[letthewookiewin]

We are doing the Deluxe DP on our 9 day trip next year the week of Christmas. It's worth the extra money to me, to be able to have ADR's for TS meals instead of having to deal with CS meals. I have all of my ADR's planned and we plan on eating at CRT twice, and doing the Luau once.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm doing the deluxe plan on my next trip. I'm solo too, and enjoy going to the signature restaurants, and love getting an appetizer, so the deluxe plan was worth it to me. Granted I got it during the bounce-back promo, but even the extra $300 that it would usually cost to upgrade from the basic plan would be worth it to me.

I also like eating at the character meals, so I plan on doing a character breakfast some days, and a signature restaurant for dinner, so the $32 I'm paying a night is definatly worth it. I mean, the last time I ate at Artist Point I spent that much on my entree alone.

 

[Pakey]

I think it all depends on how much food you want to eat. DH and I always eat every dinner at a signature, always have. We've went twice on the deluxe dining plan (actually, it was the platinum plan but for food, it's basically the same). It's just too much food for us. Neither of us can eat an appetizer, entree and dessert for one meal a day, let alone trying to do it for two meals a day. Both trips, we left with so many credits left over and were stuffed miserably even with what we did eat. With so many trips now under our belt, we know that we are going to eat a light counter meal or a snack sometime during the day and then go to a signature for dinner, but we'll only have an entree as that's all we can eat. We used to get our desserts to go but then realized that we never ate them later so now we just skip it. If it's something special, we will split an appetizer on occasion.

If you can eat all of that food and don't mind the amount of time spent each day eating (we don't mind the time) then the plan is an excellent way to go. If you can't eat that much, you are much better off OOP.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think it all depends on how much food you want to eat. DH and I always eat every dinner at a signature, always have. We've went twice on the deluxe dining plan (actually, it was the platinum plan but for food, it's basically the same). It's just too much food for us. Neither of us can eat an appetizer, entree and dessert for one meal a day, let alone trying to do it for two meals a day. Both trips, we left with so many credits left over and were stuffed miserably even with what we did eat. With so many trips now under our belt, we know that we are going to eat a light counter meal or a snack sometime during the day and then go to a signature for dinner, but we'll only have an entree as that's all we can eat. We used to get our desserts to go but then realized that we never ate them later so now we just skip it. If it's something special, we will split an appetizer on occasion.

If you can eat all of that food and don't mind the amount of time spent each day eating (we don't mind the time) then the plan is an excellent way to go. If you can't eat that much, you are much better off OOP.

I agree with you, it does take up a lot of time to eat at the table-service restaurants, especially when you start eating at two or more a day. I would never recommend the deluxe plan to a first-timer, since they would have to spend less time in the parks, unless it were someone I know who would really like the food, and enjoy the dining experience.

 

[Terk-1]

Well, my trip has increased from 10 days to 13 days. Still think it's worth the DDDP. This also gives me a good excuse to choose some restaurants that I would not normally do on the regular dining plan, such as the Yachtsman Steakhouse, Hoop Dee Doo, California Grill, maybe try the Luau, Cindy's, etc. Of course, I have to go to my must dines, such as the Crystal Palace, 50's Primetime, Le Cellier and the Rose & Crown.

I like sitting & taking my time dining versus rushing through a meal.

 

[kimis]

My dh and I debated rather to have the regular or deluxe plan. We went with the deluxe plan because we could eat at more of the signature resturants that require two credits. More choices for us. We go in Feb when it isn't very busy so we can get through the parks and shows faster than we relax during dinner. We will know in about 46 days how good our choice was. I can't wait!

 

[TLSnell1981]

If you enjoy the dining experience...I wouldn't worry about how much time it takes for TS....you'll be there 10 days. It really doesn't have to be a lot of food. A 10 day stay = 27 credits.... add a few signature restaurants and it will average out to mostly 2 meals per day, plus your snacks. Add up what your likely dining will cost and see which way is most beneficial to you.

 

[Terk-1]

Add up what your likely dining will cost and see which way is most beneficial to you.

Great idea. Will do this today.

 

[ajleone]

My DW and I have been discussing this quite a bit lately, and in the end I think the Deluxe DDP can be a great value- the way I see it if we do a signature meal for dinner everyday even if we do a CS for lunch we'll still be ahead of the game.

 

[drag n' fly]

Dh and I are going in April no kids and decided to treat ourselves to the Deluxe plan. We can linger and drink nice wine at 2 credit restaurants and really enjoy ourselves. No character meals or commando dining for us on this trip. If we had to pay deluxe for all five of us then I probably wouldn't do it and just do the regular one. We are even thinking of adding the wine package to our deluxe one in April

 

[scottybnyc]

After being on the regular dining plan for two years in a row (and getting some extra cash), my fiancee and I decided it was well worth it for the extra money over our 5 night stay. We have early lunch reservations and late dinner reservations, and a meal and snacks in between. We plan on using our leftovers to bring home snacks as gifts. We love the food. It's all we talk about aside from the rides, the atmosphere, the ambience........okay....you understand what I'm saying. I believe it is well worth it, alone or with someone.

Eat hearty!!!