Disney Dining Plan confusion, help?

[Invisable89]

I bet this has been asked many times so i apologise in advance!

I'm not really 'with it' with the Dining Plan, i think if you choose it you have to use it everyday?!

BUT can you make reservations at the Restaurants (table) without the Dining Plan? Because during my future Disney trip i'm hoping to stay in a DVC villa for our 2 week stay or do half/half with CL. The DVC villa's have a kitchen which we WILL use (a bit silly otherwise) so we won't eat out every night within WDW, maybe 5-7 times during our 2 week stay.

We want to try Via Napoli, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Rose & Crown, Tokyo Dining, Wolfgang Puck, Tony's, Crystal Palace, Mama Melrose's, California Grill & Beaches & Cream.

We're hoping to stay at BLT but not sure which CL hotel yet.

So what do i do?

Thankyou!

 

[catne]

I bet this has been asked many times so i apologise in advance!

I'm not really 'with it' with the Dining Plan, i think if you choose it you have to use it everyday?!

BUT can you make reservations at the Restaurants (table) without the Dining Plan? Because during my future Disney trip i'm hoping to stay in a DVC villa for our 2 week stay or do half/half with CL. The DVC villa's have a kitchen which we WILL use (a bit silly otherwise) so we won't eat out every night within WDW, maybe 5-7 times during our 2 week stay.

We want to try Via Napoli, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Rose & Crown, Tokyo Dining, Wolfgang Puck, Tony's, Crystal Palace, Mama Melrose's, California Grill & Beaches & Cream.

We're hoping to stay at BLT but not sure which CL hotel yet.

So what do i do?

Thankyou!

Sounds like the dining plan would be a waste of money for you (unless you're a DVC owner, you have to book a room+tickets package to add the dining plan, and then you pay for every night, whether or not your use it every night. If you're a DVC owner, staying on your points, then you can book the dining plan for just part of your stay.)

You can get reservations at any of the restaurants without a dining plan (they gladly accept cash or credit cards) And we found staying Club Level a waste with the dining plans...barely used the food offered in the club room because we were full from the dining plan.

 

[Faldred]

Anyone, with or without a dining plan, may make reservations up to 180 days in advance. A benefit to resort guests (with or without a dining plan), including (IIRC) DVC members staying on points, is that they may book up to 10 days' worth of reservations 180 days out from their arrival date.

 

[Invisable89]

Thankyou for replying!

None of my party who are going are DVC members so it will be a cash reservation or we might even rent points (so much cheaper!).

Oh, that's good that we can still make reservations without the DDP! I was getting a little bit worried.

Should i book my ressies over the internet? (Disney website)

 

[catne]

I use the on-line booking for dining...only time I call is if I need to change some reservation that has a credit card hold on it, like a Fantasmic dinner package