Discovery Magic Pkg/meals....

[kdibattista]

Has anyone used the Discovery Magic Plan? We are going 10/14 - 10/21 and have the package. Couple questions:

- is tip included? If so, did you still leave something?'
- what did you get for lunch/dinner - we have 4 people (4 appetizers, 4 entrees, 4 desserts, etc???)
- do you have to mention the package when you make PS

Thanks!!

 

[jeank74]

Hello kdibattista ,

I have never used the package before but I will do so for my trip in October. In the past, I have asked similar questions to those who have used it before. So, this is what I know about the package.

1. It does include tips and you are not obligated to leave extra.

2. I believe you are allowed to order the following items for breakfast, lunch and dinner (information from Deb's website)


Breakfast: Choice of one juice, one breakfast entree, one hot beverage and one bakery item per person OR one full breakfast buffet per person.

Lunch: Choice of one appetizer, one entree, one dessert, one non-alcoholic beverage and one coffee or tea per person OR one full lunch buffet per person OR one combo meal per person.

Dinner: Choice of one appetizer, one soup or salad, one entree, one dessert, one non-alcoholic beverage, one dessert and one coffee or tea per person OR one full dinner buffet per person.


3. When I made my PS, the CM did ask me whether I have any meal plan or package that includes meals. So I informed the CM that I am using Discovery Package. If no one asks you about it, you don't need to tell them until you go to the restaurant. But make sure you check the balance of your magic options each day with the Guest Relations of your resort. Some CM may not be experienced enough to charge you properly.

Hope it help!

Jean

 

[BabyMo]

I used this for my HM earlier this month.

Tip is included. We ended up leaving extra onn two occassions, but you are not obligated to do so.

You get the same for lunch and dinner: appetizer, entree, non alcoholic drink, dessert and coffee. You used to be able to get an additional soup or salad for dinner, but not anymore.

You don't have to tell anyone when you make a PS. You also don't have to tell the cast member when you get to the restaurant. You might need to tell them when you pay if you opt to have your resort card function as a charge card.

We had fun with this package- let me know if you want any recommendations, etc.

 

[rcyannacci]

When we used the plan on our honeymoon, we made sure to tip well on any alcoholic drinks we ordered, bottles of wine, etc.

What we loved most about the package is that we got to see a side of WDW that we hadn't experienced before (we maybe didn't hit all the rides in the parks, but we had a much more relaxing and enjoyable vacation). It was so great to go to some of the nicer places in other resorts- and we found that we had our best food here and got the best deal for the money we invested in the plan. Dinners at places like Artist Point and Flying Fish (****) were even a bargin.

 

[MadMadamMim]

We used it back in 2000 when it was really a bargain - every restaurant was included (as ONE flex feature) with the exception of Victoria & Alberts - we DEFINATELY got our money's worth (and then some) out of it.... now, the higher end restaurants count as two 'magical wishes' (California Grill, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Flying Fish, Citrico's, Narcooses, Bistro de Paris, and Fulton's Crab House - for now)...

If you want to know the real nitty gritty of it (I've done all the math, scoured the menus to make sure we're getting our money's worth yet again since we're using it in November) each wish is basically worth approxamately $31.25 per meal per person - so if you're looking to get the value out of it, you might want to keep that in mind.
(and yes, that is after the price of the park hopper ticket)

Here's the link to what all comes with the package
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wa...acationpackageindex?id=PK2002DiscoveryMagicVP

I enjoy the fact that with it, you get to eat things and places that you might not necessarily try otherwise.

Hope this helps!

 

[icelady]

Make it a point to tell your waiter you are using this plan when they come to your table the first time .

 

[AspiringCindy]

Just as Icelady stated, it is best to let the waiters know your using the plan before you order. We just returned from WDW and had the discovery plan. This was the first time we ever opted for the plan and felt it was a great bargain if you use it wisely. We have 2 children and an infant! For 1 of our meals, we paid the 4.99 for the children's lunch and used the extra 2 wishes for legacy tiles. There are different ways you can use these wishes, so think it through. Also, the tip that is included is 15% and alot of the restaurants have meals that are not on the menu (for the plan members.) We were offered lobster tails and filet mignon at a restaurant that didn't even list it.

 

[jeank74]

AspiringCindy,

I don't quite understand what you meant by "Also, the tip that is included is 15% and alot of the restaurants have meals that are not on the menu (for the plan members.) We were offered lobster tails and filet mignon at a restaurant that didn't even list it."

Do you mean people with Discovery Magic Plan are not allowed to order a certain items on the menu????????

thank you for the clarification.

Jean

 

[NancyinCt]

AspiringCindy,

Do you recall which restaurant it was that offered the Lobster Tails and Filet Mignon that wasn't on the menu?

That's my kind of restaurant.

Was there other restaurants that you recall that also offered other items that weren't on the menu.?

Ran into something like this at the Granville Steak House at Disneyland Hotel in California.

Thanks for any info.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Let me clarify my previous remarks. Not only did we have an option of anything that was on the menu, but when we stated that we were on the plan, the waiters frequently gave us bonus options unavailable to others. The specific restaurants that come to mind are Le Cellier and The Coral Reef. By the way, the tip that is included in the discovery wish was a 15% tip. On 3 occasions, we left additional tip because the service was that good!

 

[Eeyore1954]

My DW and I did the Grand Plan in May for our 25th anniversary. Some Disney servers did make recommendations on how to maximize the Plan at meals (not to mention maximizing our waistlines!).

If you are doing any Plan that includes meals, always tell the server in advance. Since their tip is based on your meal total, it's to their benefit to suggest items that will help boost that.

However, not all CM servers do that. But it's a good idea to mention it anyway.

 

[kdibattista]

I don't understand how you cannot tell the CM? Don't they have to know before you order?

 

[PrincessAurora]

I used this plan for my last trip November 2001. It included Appetizer, Soup or Salad, Entree, Dessert, Non-alchoholic bev and 15% tip.

We usually left more cash because the service was excellent. We chose the best restaurants and ate like pigs. I ordered usually the most expensive thing on the menu that appealed to me.

I priced it out for next year and you actually save money with this plan IF you eat at expensive sit down places (even using both your wishes for the day on one place like Citricos). We would eat at LEAST $80 per person per restaurant for dinner, at least $45 for lunch.

I'm OK with the best places being two wishes now. For the most part full lunch and dinner was TOO MUCH FOOD.

So GO FOR IT. Also, we did NOT tell about our meal plan ahead of time, just told them to use the wishes when I put my card down with the check. Had no problems.

I love this plan because you dont have to mind your wallet, just eat what you want. If you have milder tastes and a smaller stomach, it might be cheaper for you to go without or use the wishes for other things.

I HIGHLY recommend the spa at the Grand Floridian.

 

[matterhorngirl]

Thanks for these tips. I never used them before.

 

[MadMadamMim]

Originally posted by PrincessAurora

I priced it out for next year and you actually save money with this plan IF you eat at expensive sit down places (even using both your wishes for the day on one place like Citricos). We would eat at LEAST $80 per person per restaurant for dinner, at least $45 for lunch.

Are you forgetting to take out the price for the parkhopper? It's only $31.25 per person per meal for 2002 - seems really REALLY overpriced for 2003 if your figures are correct.

 

[StaceyA]

Originally posted by MadMadamMim


Are you forgetting to take out the price for the parkhopper? It's only $31.25 per person per meal for 2002 - seems really REALLY overpriced for 2003 if your figures are correct.

If I understand correctly, Princess Aurora meant that they ate at least 80.00 worth at dinner and 45.00 worth each at lunch, when the wishes were alot less then that meaning they saved a lot of money since that is almost double the amount of the wishes...that is how I took it, I could be wrong though....

 

[MadMadamMim]

ahhhh gotcha!

The packages are changing for 2003 also, (according to Deb's site (www.wdwig.com)..

here's the actual link
http://www.wdwig.com/packages03.htm

 

[icelady]

By the way last year we had the Discovery Magic Plan and when the waiter ask us if we wanted water with our meals we asked for bottled water and that was covered too.

 

[kdibattista]

Wow... thanks for all the responses. It is especially good to know about the bottled water - that suprises me (but I am glad!!!)

 

[PrincessAurora]

StaceyA - you are 100% correct. I kept reciepts (even listed prices on my trip reports) so I could approximate how much we ate (as if we had to pay for it ourselves) and it is cheaper but ONLY if you eat at the high priced places. It would be a wash or too much if you mainly eat at places like Sci Fi Diner, etc.