Disney restaurant prices

[luckyman_apd]

So, how exactly to do I find out what a meal will cost? I'm trying to decide between TiW, meal plan, or just pay OOP, but it's very difficult when the website post things like $32.99 - $59.99. I know at some places it depends exactly what you order...but what about the buffets? They can't give me a set price on that? I know they change the prices during very busy seasons, but why can't they post that info?

For specifics, I'm really trying to find the price of Dinner for Cape May Cafe on a Friday evening in late January. We haven't reserved anything else yet (other than the poly Luau but we want Category 1 seating so OOP it is for that one and maybe TiW)

And a follow up....Can you buy the TiW with Disney gift cards?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

So, how exactly to do I find out what a meal will cost? I'm trying to decide between TiW, meal plan, or just pay OOP, but it's very difficult when the website post things like $32.99 - $59.99. I know at some places it depends exactly what you order...but what about the buffets? They can't give me a set price on that? I know they change the prices during very busy seasons, but why can't they post that info?

For specifics, I'm really trying to find the price of Dinner for Cape May Cafe on a Friday evening in late January. We haven't reserved anything else yet (other than the poly Luau but we want Category 1 seating so OOP it is for that one and maybe TiW)

And a follow up....Can you buy the TiW with Disney gift cards?

In your example, my experience is that the lower price is the children's price and the higher is the adult's.

 

[Missyrose]

So, how exactly to do I find out what a meal will cost? I'm trying to decide between TiW, meal plan, or just pay OOP, but it's very difficult when the website post things like $32.99 - $59.99. I know at some places it depends exactly what you order...but what about the buffets? They can't give me a set price on that? I know they change the prices during very busy seasons, but why can't they post that info?

For specifics, I'm really trying to find the price of Dinner for Cape May Cafe on a Friday evening in late January. We haven't reserved anything else yet (other than the poly Luau but we want Category 1 seating so OOP it is for that one and maybe TiW)

And a follow up....Can you buy the TiW with Disney gift cards?

The spans of prices can often include holiday-time surcharges. For me, the easiest way to get the exact price is to call Disney dining. They will look up your date and give you the price (tax included).

Yes, you can buy TiW with Disney gift cards. Or you can charge the TiW purchase to your room and apply the gift cards back at the resort.

 

[McCrae]

I think you will struggle to get the exact prices and a best guess estimate is all you can hope for.

A lot will depend on how long you plan to stay, how often you plan to dine out or cook in your room.

We used to use the dining plan, but it has so much food that it can be a struggle to use it fully, especially over a long stay. Sometimes a simple meal is all you want.

TIW works pretty well for us, we tend to stay longer and dine out a lot. We get the cost of the card back pretty quickly.

We only tend to have breakfast in our rooms.... Not much of a vacation ifor someone if they are cooking all the meals.

 

[WDWFanForLife]

So, how exactly to do I find out what a meal will cost? I'm trying to decide between TiW, meal plan, or just pay OOP, but it's very difficult when the website post things like $32.99 - $59.99. I know at some places it depends exactly what you order...but what about the buffets? They can't give me a set price on that? I know they change the prices during very busy seasons, but why can't they post that info?

For specifics, I'm really trying to find the price of Dinner for Cape May Cafe on a Friday evening in late January. We haven't reserved anything else yet (other than the poly Luau but we want Category 1 seating so OOP it is for that one and maybe TiW)

And a follow up....Can you buy the TiW with Disney gift cards?

Honestly, it depends on your party. Are there children? All adults? How do you like to dine? Do you like to get appetizers? Are you a dessert eater? Do you drink alcoholic beverages with dinner?

The DDP doesn't include appetizers, so they would be extra. If you are not a dessert person, the DDP comes with dessert and you may consider that a waste of $. Alcoholic beverages are not included in DDP either.

TIW is just a straight 20% off entire bill (including apps and drinks). My family much prefers this option.

But I would suggest you check the menus for the restaurants you plan to go to. Check allears.net for up-to-date menus with pricing. Review the menus to see what your family would order and add it up. The compare TIW to DDP. Just don't forget to add the cost of tip to DDP and TIW totals, because DDP doesn't include tip either. And if you like to order appetizers, don't forget to add that into cost of DDP too. See how the numbers work out for you.

 

[lovin'fl]

I use this calculator: http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0

It's free to use and easy. Looks like it might be complicated but it's not. Sign up, download file and begin plugging in your choices.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Allears.net the menus will give you an extemely accurate view of costs

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Just a personal observation... unless you have a LARGE party and/or drink a lot of alcohol OR eat virtually every meal in on-property table service restaurants, TIW is questionable.

Basically, if you spend around $400, you're supposed to break even. For us, we figure it isn't worth it unless we spend 500-600/year in table service. We go 2-4 times per year but eat a lot off-property so we don't do TIW anymore . Why? Because eating off-property is a better value to us, especially now that the food just isn't up to what it used to be.

YMMV.

 

[ThisIsJason]

I use this calculator: http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0

It's free to use and easy. Looks like it might be complicated but it's not. Sign up, download file and begin plugging in your choices.

That's the one I used before! Couldn't fine it for months (had a hdd crash and lost the file)! Too bad they haven't updated it since October of 2013.

 

[Geomom]

There is a sticky on the Disboards restaurants page that gives buffet prices: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3108466

Looks like Cape May dinner would be around $40 for adults, $21 for kids.

For dining plan, it works well if you have kids under 10--that's where you make the money, otherwise we feel like we're spending more than we want to eat and we really don't want the refillable mugs.

TIW, I believe $500 is the break even point and then the rest is savings--so make sure you'll spend that amount in a year of Disney trips. We have no trouble hitting it on a trip with a family of 4 doing 5 table service meals with alcohol for the adults.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I probably should have given more info. It's an adults only weekend....4 adults...2 studios....1 night at BCV, 1 at BWV. We had been considering the Deluxe dining plan the 2nd night at BWV because we are doing the Poly Luau. If we found a lunch the next day to use the 3rd credit.....the Deluxe plan would work out for us. BUT...the other couple wants category 1 seating....and you can only use deluxe credits for cat 2 or 3 seating. Sooooo.....TiW could still work as we are the later show. Pretty sure we are doing Cape May Cafe for dinner Friday, and we are considering Breakfast late (like 11:30 ish somewhere) on Saturday and Probably a lunch somewhere Sunday before flying home in the evening. We'll hit a few bars I'm sure...Maybe TOWL Friday night that the TiW card can be used at. BUT...I want to be sure the math works out before buying TiW. I know the break even is just under $500....and the LUAU alone is almost $300 (I'm paying for all the LUAU...not a split with the other couple as it's their points we're using....we're all out till we can borrow again come June).

We do NOT have plans to visit again within the next year but that may change. So TiW definitely has the potential for savings in the future as well.

 

[Cee]

There is an app called "WDW Dining" where you can view all the menus and make ADRs.

 

[Anal Annie]

I probably should have given more info. It's an adults only weekend....4 adults...2 studios....1 night at BCV, 1 at BWV. We had been considering the Deluxe dining plan the 2nd night at BWV because we are doing the Poly Luau. If we found a lunch the next day to use the 3rd credit.....the Deluxe plan would work out for us. BUT...the other couple wants category 1 seating....and you can only use deluxe credits for cat 2 or 3 seating. Sooooo.....TiW could still work as we are the later show. Pretty sure we are doing Cape May Cafe for dinner Friday, and we are considering Breakfast late (like 11:30 ish somewhere) on Saturday and Probably a lunch somewhere Sunday before flying home in the evening. We'll hit a few bars I'm sure...Maybe TOWL Friday night that the TiW card can be used at. BUT...I want to be sure the math works out before buying TiW. I know the break even is just under $500....and the LUAU alone is almost $300 (I'm paying for all the LUAU...not a split with the other couple as it's their points we're using....we're all out till we can borrow again come June).

We do NOT have plans to visit again within the next year but that may change. So TiW definitely has the potential for savings in the future as well.

Personally I don't think the TIW is worth it for that small of a party for just one weekend. If you have plans to return for another longer trip before it expires then yes, it would be a good purchase. You might just break even with it this trip. We're just a family of 3 and when we used to get it when DS was younger it took longer to pay for itself. Now that he's almost 18 and eats 2x as much as us sometimes it's more worth it. We don't eat TS meals every day tho so typically try to plan at least 2 trips when we get it - we usually come out about $100 ahead I think. When we went to the TOWL we were not impressed with the menu so didn't stay or order anything. Unless you're planning to just sit up there and drink for hours I can't see that being a big draw for it. I suppose with Cape May added to the luau you'd break even. It's close. If you DON'T get it I don't think it would be like you're losing out on a whole lot of savings.

 

[luckyman_apd]

There is an app called "WDW Dining" where you can view all the menus and make ADRs.

That App is not on Android that I can find

 

[rmcildw2m]

If you want to pay as you go 15 dollars per person is what I use as a plan.
You can spend more and less depending on your hunger level . I also use the quick serve meal plan, that one works well for my group of three as well