Disney Dining Plan??

[rochek1999]

Hi Everyone -

My DH and I will be at WDW Nov 14-18. We got our "package" through Small World Travel (BTW - they're great!). We're staying at a mod (POR) with just the basic MYW and ME. Lori, our reservationist, said that we could upgrade our tickets to "hoppers" if we wanted to, once we arrived and it could be done right at the resort. I DON'T remember if she said we could get the DDP too once we arrived. Is this possible? Also, I can't find the prices quoted anywhere and I know I've read them, more than once!

My question to you is this: Is it worth the price? We only have 2 ADR's, one at Rose and Crown and the other at CP for breakfast. Neither one of us are big eaters, so being under all that pressure to eat all that food might be too much for us! BUT - since I've heard all restaurants have just raised their prices, I'm wondering if MAYBE it would be economical for us? I'd never get DH into a signature restaurant.

In your opinions, is the DDP worth it for just the two of us??

Thanks so much in advance for all your advice! You guys are GREATTTT!

Cheers!

Kim

 

[Colleen27]

You can't add the DDP at check in, so if you want to add it be sure to contact your travel agent about it in advance.

As far as whether or not it is worth it, that's going to depend on how you want to eat on your trip. You get 1 sit down and 1 quick service meal per day on the standard plan. If you aren't planning enough meals to use all the sit down credits, it won't be worth it. If you want to add a couple more ADRs, it might be.

The best way to decide is to run the numbers. Look at the menus at Allearsnet.com and pick some likely choices for your meals, then compare your totals to the cost of the dining plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

You don't really get 1 quick and one counter service meal per day - you get 1 quick service, one counter service and one snack for each NIGHT you stay at the resort. If you stay 4 nights, and there are two people in your party, you will have 8 TS, 8 CS and 8 snacks to use over the length of your stay. That may or may not translate to two meals and a snack per day. It depends on how you want to use the credits.

If you don't want to eat in the TS restaurants on a regular basis, you may want to consider not using the dining plan. Since you don't want signature restaurants, there isn't much of a way for you to use the extra credits. In order to maximize the value of the plan, you must use all your credits. No matter how high they raise the prices, it won't be a deal for you if you intend to eat in only two one-credit TS restaurants on a four night trip.

 

[disneyin2008]

Actually it's 1 TS, 1 CS (aka Quick Service) and 1 snack on the basic plan (TDC Nala said 1QS which I think was just a typo/brain splat).

You have to add the dining plan BEFORE you arrive....this board seems to disagree on how many days, as I've seen 3 and 5, so to be safe, I'd recommend you have your Travel Agent make that request at least 5 days before you arrive.

That said, though, you will need to do some research/leg work to figure out whether the dining plan is right for you or not. Consider this:

At this late date you may have some difficulty making ADRs to use your TS credits, so that would be something to check into BEFORE you commit to the dining plan.

For two adults the cost would be $76 per night....looks like you are staying 4 nights, so it would cost $304 . So you need to figure out whether you would eat $304 or more worth of food. On the dining plan, when you check in your room key is "loaded" with all your TS/CS/Snack credits for your entire stay, so you'll have a total of 8TS, 8CS and 8Snacks for the two of you. You are NOT required to use it 1 per day.....you can use them in whatever combination you want....in fact, Signature Restaurants cost 2 TS credits, as do some dinner/show events.

The best way to guesstimate if you'd spend that much money on food would be to go to http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm and take a look at each restaurant that interests you and pretend you are ordering right now. The basic dining plan includes entree, dessert and non-alcoholic drink (if drinks aren't listed I use $2.50 for a soda). If you want appetizers or alcoholic drinks, those are not included in the plan so for now, don't include them in your calculations. Once you've figured out what you would eat add it all up to see how close it is to $304. Remember that you only have 4 TS, so be sure you don't calculate it with more. Also remember that the tip is NOT included in the dining plan, so you will have to pay 18% based on what your meal would have cost at any TS restaurant (no tip at CS).

From what little you said about your habits, I would think that the dining plan wouldn't really be for you. My family is also light eaters, in fact we typically share two entrees between the 3 of us (1 adult, 2 pre-teens) and we typically don't eat snacks so it would be more food than we need and when I calculate us sharing entrees and no snacks, in other words, our typical eating, it is more expensive to do the dining plan. So instead, since we are Annual Pass holders, I use the DDE to get a small discount.

Remember, if you do decide that the dining plan would be financially worthwhile, BEFORE you add it to your package, call and get your ADRs set. Disney won't refund even if you can't get into any restaurants. While you're going the week before we are.....we're finding it impossible to change ADRs around as there is no availablity....if your week has the same thing, you will definitely not want the dining plan, as the TS component is the most expensive and if you can't use them it'd be an awful expense.


As for upgrading to hopper tickets...yes you can, but think about whether you would really use hoppers. If you're only there 4 days and there are 4 parks, are you really going to want/need to do more than one park in a day??? If not, then the hopper option is an unnecessary expense.

 

[TDC Nala]

Also remember that the tip is NOT included in the dining plan, so you will have to pay 18% based on what your meal would have cost at any TS restaurant (no tip at CS).

An automatic tip will not be charged for a party of two. Only parties of six or more on the dining plan are charged an automatic 18%.

 

[rochek1999]

Thanks all of you for your valued opinions! So much information from you in such a short period of time!!!!

I am thinking the DDP is not for us...plus, I don't really need all those calories! And ADR's will be nearly impossible to get at this late time as you all suggested. Besides, I'm going to be full from all the FUNNEL CAKE!!!

Thanks again for all your help and we'll see you at "THE WORLD"!

Cheers!

Kim

 

[disneyin2008]

removed see post below

 

[disneyin2008]

Thanks all of you for your valued opinions! So much information from you in such a short period of time!!!!

I am thinking the DDP is not for us...plus, I don't really need all those calories! And ADR's will be nearly impossible to get at this late time as you all suggested. Besides, I'm going to be full from all the FUNNEL CAKE!!!

Thanks again for all your help and we'll see you at "THE WORLD"!

Cheers!

Kim

Hey....looks like we WILL see you....we leave in 1 month 2 days, and you leave in one month. I'll be sure to waive at the folks gorging on the funnel cakes.....or maybe just join you.

 

[TDC Nala]

Tip is not included in the dining plan in 2008. You also will not be charged an automatic tip unless you have a party of six or more. A party of five or less can determine the amount of tip they want to pay. I am not suggesting that the tip is included in the dining plan. The previous post gives the impression that everyone will be charged an 18% tip automatically, which is not the case.

Further discussion of tipping should be referred to the Tipping Info Thread which is a sticky at the top of this page.

 

[buzzsgirl]

Originally Posted by TDC Nala
An automatic tip will not be charged for a party of two. Only parties of six or more on the dining plan are charged an automatic 18%.

This is WRONG information....in 2007 the tip was included, but this year, 2008 and next year, 2009, the tip is NOT included.

How do you see this as WRONG information? Nowhere is TDC Nala suggesting that the gratuity (tip) is included in the dining plan price. They are saying that at the end of the meal you will be presented a bill with the suggested amount of gratuity on it.

 

[mbanks21]

Tip is not included but you are NOT required to tip, thats only on parties of 6 or more


and you have to add the ddp outside of 72 hours from travel

 

[disneyin2008]

removed, see below.

 

[disneyin2008]

Removed post. Rude PMs mean I will just let ya'll do your own research and figure it out yourself. Or have a nice surprise when you arrive.

 

[mbanks21]

Not sure who sent you rude posts but your info was incorrect. You are NOT required to tip unless you have 6 or more people. Tips are not included in any dining plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

As this thread has become a discussion of tipping, it is now closed. All tipping questions should be posted on the Tipping Info Thread, where you can also find information about the policies of Walt Disney World concerning tipping at restaurants.