Disneyland Dining Plan. Worth it for a couple without kids?

[disneychrista]

Disney DOES sell al cart dining certificates

Good to know.

Disneyland DOES have a dining plan for 2-5 days (donald,goofey,minnie amd mickey in that order)the 4 and 5 days includes on premium dining at goofeys kitchen OR Ariels Disney princess celebration. Im going to check the pricing becasue summer pricing is in effect now so the savings shold be greater.

Do the 2 - 3 day include a regular character dinning or no character dinning?

 

[ValpoCory]

Example
Goofy's Kitchen

Cost of Brunch - $29.99 + 18% (5.39) + 7.75% (2.32) = $37.70

Cost of Dinner - $35.99 +18% (6.48) + 7.75% ($2.78) = $45.25

Cost of Voucher - $40

Savings
-$2.30 - Brunch
5.25 - Dinner

Thanks. As with any dining, breakfast is usually not a good value with pre-payment plans. I will do this analysis with each of my dining reservations.

 

[ValpoCory]

SORRY but unless im reading what your saying your wrong. Disney DOES sell al cart dining certificates, one regular character dining at 33 and 17(ad and CH) and the premium at 40 and 23(ad and ch though the child price might be wrong non this one i cant remember) travel agents are NOT the only ones to sell them

Disneyland DOES have a dining plan for 2-5 days (donald,goofey,minnie amd mickey in that order)the 4 and 5 days includes on premium dining at goofeys kitchen OR Ariels Disney princess celebration. Im going to check the pricing becasue summer pricing is in effect now so the savings shold be greater.

How do i know this, I work for the WDTC

You are right that the savings potential is greater in the summer. I am going in the winter, and the Mickey plan is not a good deal then. I was really wanting to prove all the Disneyland Dining haters wrong, but I couldn't.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

you don't get a prem chr meal until the 4day meal plan. the others have one or two regular chr meals (non gk non ag)

 

[DharmaLou]

 

[Girimama33]

The Disney dining plan consists of the same character meal vouchers you would get from Getawaytoday, etc. For example, the 3 day plan would include 3 character meal vouchers (each worth $33), 3 $15 vouchers and 3 $5 vouchers. The 4 day has 1 premium character meal voucher ($40 value), 3 regular character meal vouchers, 4 $15 vouchers and 4 $5 vouchers. These are the same vouchers that are offered a la carte.

There is no difference in the character meal vouchers sold by Disney or others. If you are saying you can save money with a character meal voucher from Getawaytoday, you can save $ on the Disney dining plan...it is the same shiz.

 

[ValpoCory]

The Disney dining plan consists of the same character meal vouchers you would get from Getawaytoday, etc. For example, the 3 day plan would include 3 character meal vouchers (each worth $33), 3 $15 vouchers and 3 $5 vouchers. The 4 day has 1 premium character meal voucher ($40 value), 3 regular character meal vouchers, 4 $15 vouchers and 4 $5 vouchers. These are the same vouchers that are offered a la carte.

There is no difference in the character meal vouchers sold by Disney or others. If you are saying you can save money with a character meal voucher from Getawaytoday, you can save $ on the Disney dining plan...it is the same shiz.

Are you saying that I can buy one Goofy's Kitchen dinner pass that includes tax and tip ($45.25 value) for $40 from Disney like I can from GetAwayToday?

This is somewhat lacking in fine print:
http://bookdlr.reservations.disney....strPageName=2012_Guest_STD_DiningOption_PopUp

It says lunch only for Goofy's/Ariel's, so that takes away the value I think. Also, it doesn't mention if I going to be asked to pay tip on top of the bill. GAT explicitly says tip is included in their deal.

 

[disneychrista]

There is no difference in the character meal vouchers sold by Disney or others. If you are saying you can save money with a character meal voucher from Getawaytoday, you can save $ on the Disney dining plan...it is the same shiz.

Awesome, that's great. Now other than Dinner at Goofy's can you tell me how I will SAVE money on this?

 

[ValpoCory]

Awesome, that's great. Now other than Dinner at Goofy's can you tell me how I will SAVE money on this?

But in order to eat dinner at Goofy's, you have to buy a Minnie or Mickey plan. But everything online with the Disneyland Dining Plan is so confusing. Take for instance the Minnie plan linked above. On it, it says ...

Minnie's 5 Days of Disney Dining Plan
13 Disney Dining choices per person

But on this page, there is no 13 choices per person option.
http://bookdlr.reservations.disney....strPageName=2012_Guest_STD_DiningOption_PopUp

Let's assume the Minnie plan is the 12 choices per person option, so $219 per person. But which 12 choices do you get of the 13 listed on the Minnie plan? I think the $5 Meal Voucher disappears. Even still, what in the world is the small print on this:

Minnie's 5 Days of Disney Dining Plan
[12] Disney Dining choices per person.
Adult/Junior Meals included
Character Breakfast 1
Lunch or Dinner 1
Dinner with Goofy 1
Breakfast in the Park 1
Snack Voucher 3
...
$10 Meal Voucher 3
$15 Meal Voucher 2

What does "Lunch or Dinner" mean? And "Breakfast in the Park" is pretty vague. And no mention of whether or not tip is included. It makes it difficult to make an accurate cost analysis.

 

[Girimama33]

Are you saying that I can buy one Goofy's Kitchen dinner pass that includes tax and tip ($45.25 value) for $40 from Disney like I can from GetAwayToday?

This is somewhat lacking in fine print:
http://bookdlr.reservations.disney....strPageName=2012_Guest_STD_DiningOption_PopUp

It says lunch only for Goofy's/Ariel's, so that takes away to value I think. Also, it doesn't mention if I going to be asked to pay tip on top of the bill. GAT explicitly says tip is included in their deal.

Costco packages are sold directly through WDTC. The vouchers sold by third party are the same. Even though Disney does not state the tax/tip info, it is included. I purchased a package with Costco for our April 2012 trip. We opted to try the 3 day dining plan (I wanted to check it out for myself) and got the free premium vouchers. For the character meals, we were never charged anything but the voucher for our meal...with the exception of some alcoholic beverages at Ariel's Grotto.

 

[Girimama33]

Awesome, that's great. Now other than Dinner at Goofy's can you tell me how I will SAVE money on this?

Please re-read my posts...I never said anything about saving money with the vouchers...I clarified that they are not discounted vouchers as someone posted.

 

[ValpoCory]

Costco packages are sold directly through WDTC. The vouchers sold by third party are the same. Even though Disney does not state the tax/tip info, it is included. I purchased a package with Costco for our April 2012 trip. We opted to try the 3 day dining plan (I wanted to check it out for myself) and got the free premium vouchers. For the character meals, we were never charged anything but the voucher for our meal...with the exception of some alcoholic beverages at Ariel's Grotto.

Looks like they added the premium voucher to the 3-day plan then. According to this, it used to not be included:

http://bookdlr.reservations.disney....me=2012_TravelAgent_STD_GoofyDiningPlan_PopUp

I didn't miss the irony that the Goofy plan doesn't let you eat with Goofy.

 

[ValpoCory]

Please re-read my posts...I never said anything about saving money with the vouchers...I clarified that they are not discounted vouchers as someone posted.

The confusion came in when someone proved you could save money with the GAT vouchers and you answered ...

There is no difference in the character meal vouchers sold by Disney or others. If you are saying you can save money with a character meal voucher from Getawaytoday, you can save $ on the Disney dining plan...it is the same shiz.

But I do not think you can buy a single Goofy's dinner voucher for $40 through Disney like you can through GAT. You have to buy a huge package of cryptically described stuff from Disney in order to eat dinner there. That's the difference.

 

[Girimama33]

But in order to eat dinner at Goofy's, you have to buy a Minnie or Mickey plan. But everything online with the Disneyland Dining Plan is so confusing. Take for instance the Minnie plan linked above. On it, it says ...

But on this page, there is no 13 choices per person option.
http://bookdlr.reservations.disney....strPageName=2012_Guest_STD_DiningOption_PopUp

Let's assume the Minnie plan is the 12 choices per person option, so $219 per person. But which 12 choices do you get of the 13 listed on the Minnie plan? I think the $5 Meal Voucher disappears. Even still, what in the world is the small print on this:



What does "Lunch or Dinner" mean? And "Breakfast in the Park" is pretty vague. And no mention of whether or not tip is included. It makes it difficult to make an accurate cost analysis.

Disney does a horrible job at breaking down the dining plan for people to understand. I prefer the breakdown Dreams Unlimited has: http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/disneyland/dining-packages.htm
You can use the vouchers anytime for B, L or D....none will be specified breakfast or dinner. You essentially get a booklet with x amount of CM vouchers, x amount of $15 vouchers, etc.

 

[disneychrista]

Please re-read my posts...I never said anything about saving money with the vouchers...I clarified that they are not discounted vouchers as someone posted.

Good so we agree. It is not a "value" to purchase the plan, other than to pre-pay for your meals.

 

[Girimama33]

I never said it was a value in the first place, but as you pointed out...if someone where to use a premium character meal voucher at GK for dinner, they may save $.

 

[Girimama33]

I've used the dining plan before...Goofy's. You get vouchers that total the amount you pay for the dining plan. There are no savings necessarily, just possible convienience to pre-pay TS/QS meals you know you want to have in the resort, and then not carry cash, etc.

 

[ValpoCory]

Disney does a horrible job at breaking down the dining plan for people to understand. I prefer the breakdown Dreams Unlimited has: http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/disneyland/dining-packages.htm
You can use the vouchers anytime for B, L or D....none will be specified breakfast or dinner. You essentially get a booklet with x amount of CM vouchers, x amount of $15 vouchers, etc.

Thanks for that link. It is a better breakdown. So for $219 per adult, you get

3-Character Dining Vouchers*
1-Premium Character Dining**
4-$15 Dining Certificates
4-Snack Vouchers

If you perfectly use the four $15 Dining certificates, that's $60. So the other stuff costs essentially $159. The snack vouchers average about $4 each, so take $16 off. So we are down to asking whether $143 for 3 Character Dining and 1 Premium Character Dining vouchers is a good deal.

Cost of Premium Dinner -
Goofy's -- $35.99 +18% (6.48) + 7.75% ($2.78) = $45.25
or Ariel's -- $36.99 +18% (6.66) + 7.75% ($2.87) = $46.52

Cost of Character dining
Minnie & Friends -- $23.99 + tip + tax = $30.17
Surf's Up! Breakfast -- $25.99 + tip + tax = $32.68 (Ignoring the possible 10% discount you get with your Disney Visa)
Chip 'n' Dale's Critter Breakfast -- $23.99 + tip + tax = $30.17

So if you choose Goofy's + those 3 breakfasts, it's $138.27. For Ariel's + those 3, it's $139.54. And you paid $143 for them.

Summary: Buying the bundled Disneyland Dining Plan is just not a good deal, period. The only thing that is a good deal is buying a single Goofy's Kitchen or Ariel's Grotto dinner voucher for $40, wherever you can buy one.

 

[Girimama33]

Thanks for that link. It is a better breakdown. So for $219 per adult, you get



If you perfectly use the four $15 Dining certificates, that's $60. So the other stuff costs essentially $159. The snack vouchers average about $4 each, so take $16 off. So we are down to asking whether $143 for 3 Character Dining and 1 Premium Character Dining vouchers is a good deal.

Cost of Premium Dinner -
Goofy's -- $35.99 +18% (6.48) + 7.75% ($2.78) = $45.25
or Ariel's -- $36.99 +18% (6.66) + 7.75% ($2.87) = $46.52

Cost of Character dining
Minnie & Friends -- $23.99 + tip + tax = $30.17
Surf's Up! Breakfast -- $25.99 + tip + tax = $32.68 (Ignoring the possible 10% discount you get with your Disney Visa)
Chip 'n' Dale's Critter Breakfast -- $23.99 + tip + tax = $30.17

So if you choose Goofy's + those 3 breakfasts, it's $138.27. For Ariel's + those 3, it's $139.54. And you paid $143 for them.

Summary: Buying the bundled Disneyland Dining Plan is just not a good deal, period. The only thing that is a good deal is buying a single Goofy's Kitchen or Ariel's Grotto dinner voucher for $40, wherever you can buy one.

The amount the vouchers are worth will total what you paid. The vouchers can be used essentially anywhere in DLR (with the exception of DTD). You are assuming anyone who purchases the plan will only go to character meals breakfasts. When we did the dining plan, we used our CM vouchers for GK (paid the difference), Blue Bayou and Steakhouse 55.
It is very possible for people to lose $ on the dining plan.
I made sure I understood all the crazy aspects of it so that I at least got my $ worth.

Disney does sell vouchers for premium/regular character meals only. They are listed in the link you posted.

 

[disneychrista]

You are assuming anyone who purchases the plan will only go to character meals breakfasts..

That is one of the problems it lists then as character meal vouchers. Unless you know you can use them at other places/non character meals you are stuck using them for the character breakfasts, as that is all there is (except Goofys & Airels - which are both considered premium).