Disney Dining Plan?

[JuneB]

Hi, I've been to Disney World before; but I have never stayed on property. Well, my fiance and I would like to spend our honeymoon at the Polynesian Resort. We plan to check in after our wedding at his sister's house on July 14 and stay until July 18. And I have a few questions...

First, I was wondering what's the best way to go about getting the components of the trip: buy separately or buy in a package.

Second, I was wondering if we went to the parks on the 18th, where would we put our luggage in the meantime if check out is 11am.

Third, I was wondering if the Disney Dining plan is worth the money; and if so, can I buy it separately when I get to the hotel; or do I have to buy it in a package.

Fourth, does the Disney Visa give a discount on hotel rooms or the dining package?

I kind of want to buy discounted tickets online at MapleLeaf or Undercover Tourist; and I was thinking about buying the 10 day Park Hopper with No Expiration so that we can use some of the days for the California trip we are planning in August for the D23 Destination: D event and still have some left over for a trip next year and get a discounted per day rate in the process.

I wish I could have an Escape Wedding; but with the minimum being $7,500, it's out of my reach; and I wouldn't be able to have a nice honeymoon.

 

[princesswendy720]

Hi, I've been to Disney World before; but I have never stayed on property. Well, my fiance and I would like to spend our honeymoon at the Polynesian Resort. We plan to check in after our wedding at his sister's house on July 14 and stay until July 18. And I have a few questions...

First, I was wondering what's the best way to go about getting the components of the trip: buy separately or buy in a package.
Almost always best to buy as a package in my experience.

Second, I was wondering if we went to the parks on the 18th, where would we put our luggage in the meantime if check out is 11am.
If you use Disney's Magical Express, you won't have your luggage with you. They will deliver it to your room later in the day once its ready. If you're not using DME, you can leave it in a baggage check area at the resort.

Third, I was wondering if the Disney Dining plan is worth the money; and if so, can I buy it separately when I get to the hotel; or do I have to buy it in a package.
I get it for the convenience factor more so than the money savings. Its really great for all of your meals to be pre-paid and only have to worry about the tip. They've been increasing the price of the plan the last few years. You can't buy it separately at the hotel as far as I know. It has to be part of your package through Disney and payment is due in full 45 days before your trip.

Fourth, does the Disney Visa give a discount on hotel rooms or the dining package?
I don't have one but I know that Disney offers periodic discounts for Visa card holders. Check Mouse Savers for a list of all the current promotions.

I kind of want to buy discounted tickets online at MapleLeaf or Undercover Tourist; and I was thinking about buying the 10 day Park Hopper with No Expiration so that we can use some of the days for the California trip we are planning in August for the D23 Destination: D event and still have some left over for a trip next year and get a discounted per day rate in the process.
WDW tickets can't be used at Disneyland. The only ticket good for both is the Disney Premier Passport. Also, you will need to purchase a package with tickets through Disney to get the dining plan.

I wish I could have an Escape Wedding; but with the minimum being $7,500, it's out of my reach; and I wouldn't be able to have a nice honeymoon.

Answers in red!

 

[dreamcometruemom]

i can totally agree with princesswendy 72 answers. i have been to disney many times and the dining plan is great! the only thing you have to worry about is reservations for your favorite restaurants!..

 

[JuneB]

Answers in red!

If you use Disney's Magical Express, you won't have your luggage with you. They will deliver it to your room later in the day once its ready. If you're not using DME, you can leave it in a baggage check area at the resort.

Well, I was talking about the day we leave; but I guess the same applies?

WDW tickets can't be used at Disneyland. The only ticket good for both is the Disney Premier Passport. Also, you will need to purchase a package with tickets through Disney to get the dining plan.

I read that you can get a day pass exchanged for taking one day off of a DW ticket if you go to guest relations.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi sweetie
Don't know about the Disneyland ticket question, but certainly you can leave your luggage with bell services in resort until you are ready to leave (whether you use ME or not)

 

[2dogmom]

You may be able to get a discount through AAA if you have it. That can be booked through disney directly, or through AAA.

 

[JuneB]

You may be able to get a discount through AAA if you have it. That can be booked through disney directly, or through AAA.

Hmmm.... I think my future in-laws have AAA. Can I get a discount on a package as a whole? Or just if I do room only?

As it stands, there seems to be a $79.79 difference in my calculations of what it should cost and what the package on the Disney website is quoting me. I think that could be a resort fee that I can't seem to find listed anywhere. So that's not a big deal; but that does mean that there doesn't seem to be any discount in getting everything packaged together. Unless the dining plan is a great savings by itself, it seems to be a better deal buying separately, unless the AAA discount is nice...

 

[lurkyloo]

My experience has been that it's always cheaper to book room and tickets separately, but I don't work with a travel agent, so maybe that's the way to get a good deal on a package. Whenever I've checked, AAA's packages don't give you a huge amount of savings but they do include perks you wouldn't get otherwise. You can also use AAA to get a discount on a room-only reservation, so that might be a more flexible way to do it.

And, just to give you another perspective, we are not huge fans of the dining plan. We like to split meals, and we mostly eat at Signature restaurants, so for us it would be paying too much money for way more food than we need. Because we have annual passes, we buy the Tables in Wonderland card instead and get 20% off food and beverages without having to juggle credits or map out exactly which restaurants we can and can't eat at.

 

[MrRomance]

Third, I was wondering if the Disney Dining plan is worth the money; and if so, can I buy it separately when I get to the hotel; or do I have to buy it in a package.

As far as I know, you have to buy it as part of your package but it is absolutely worth it both in terms of the money you'll save and the convenience of it.

We got the DP (free) on our wedding trip last month, we tallied the OOP costs for all of our meals and compared that to the price of the DP. It's not a massive saving, but it is enough to warrant doing it. You get a LOT of food, so if you're not a big eater, it might not be for you. It's the second time we've had the DP (both times it was free dining period) the first time we had a lot of credits left over, but this time we used pretty much everything.

It gives you freedom to eat wherever you want to without worrying about the cost and if you aren't big eaters you can use it to book signature meals (such as Cinderella's Royal Table, Le Cellier, etc.) and have a great dining experience.

 

[JuneB]

My experience has been that it's always cheaper to book room and tickets separately, but I don't work with a travel agent, so maybe that's the way to get a good deal on a package. Whenever I've checked, AAA's packages don't give you a huge amount of savings but they do include perks you wouldn't get otherwise. You can also use AAA to get a discount on a room-only reservation, so that might be a more flexible way to do it.

And, just to give you another perspective, we are not huge fans of the dining plan. We like to split meals, and we mostly eat at Signature restaurants, so for us it would be paying too much money for way more food than we need. Because we have annual passes, we buy the Tables in Wonderland card instead and get 20% off food and beverages without having to juggle credits or map out exactly which restaurants we can and can't eat at.

You are allowed to split meals if you pay out of pocket?
I didn't realize that that was possible....

I'm having a hard time finding any place that is offering discounts on the rooms, period. Luckily, all but the first night is considered value season, apparently; but that does not seem to be true for the Value or Moderate resorts, which is weird.

I'm not sure an annual pass is valuable for us... The MYW can have no expiration applied to it, which will allow me to skip some a year, which is all we have in our budget at the moment with me getting into high gear with going to college.

I've heard that you can get discounts to equal the price of an annual pass, though.... But, then again, it would only be good for this trip, as I doubt we will be back before our year is up...


And the AAA website doesn't seem to have anything talking about a deal with the Polynesian. I think I'm going to have to call and ask about that, I guess.

As far as I know, you have to buy it as part of your package but it is absolutely worth it both in terms of the money you'll save and the convenience of it.

We got the DP (free) on our wedding trip last month, we tallied the OOP costs for all of our meals and compared that to the price of the DP. It's not a massive saving, but it is enough to warrant doing it. You get a LOT of food, so if you're not a big eater, it might not be for you. It's the second time we've had the DP (both times it was free dining period) the first time we had a lot of credits left over, but this time we used pretty much everything.

It gives you freedom to eat wherever you want to without worrying about the cost and if you aren't big eaters you can use it to book signature meals (such as Cinderella's Royal Table, Le Cellier, etc.) and have a great dining experience.

You got the plan free? Wow. I kind of like the idea of going to one of the nicer restaurants at least once on the trip....
Does dining at Cinderella's Royal Table take up two dining credits only, or can it take the quick service credits?

 

[figmentfan6]

Does dining at Cinderella's Royal Table take up two dining credits only, or can it take the quick service credits?

No table service restaurants can take Quick Service Credits. It will require 2 table service credits for CRT.

In regards to ordering the dining plan upon arrival, the dining plan must be ordered 48 hours in advance of your stay. It can not be purchased upon arrival under any circumstances.

Congrats and good luck!

 

[lurkyloo]

You are allowed to split meals if you pay out of pocket?
I didn't realize that that was possible....

Totally! We have never ever run into a problem or had a waiter hassle us about it. There's no split-plate fee either.

I'm having a hard time finding any place that is offering discounts on the rooms, period. Luckily, all but the first night is considered value season, apparently; but that does not seem to be true for the Value or Moderate resorts, which is weird.

Disney hasn't released discounts for any dates after June 14 yet. Your dates will be in the next round.

You got the plan free? Wow.

When Disney offers the dining plan free, you have to pay full rack rate for your room.

 

[JuneB]

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the help and insight into your personal experiences. I'm very excited about finally staying on property. I wince a little at the budget; but it will be worth it.