Disneyland dinning plan?

[surfergrl31]

My family and I are taking a trip to CA to visit family and will finally get to visit Disneyland. I was looking at some of the packages and wanted to know about the dinning plan. I saw that it is different than disneyworld so I was wondering if it is really worth the money? Would I be better off just paying OOP? Can you use more than one voucher at a time? I really like to have my trips all inclusive, but this looks a like it might be more of a hassel.

 

[Pezalicious]

Personally, I LOVE the WDW dining plan and wouldn't go there without it. However, I really don't like the DLR dining plan and would never buy it. It doesn't really offer a savings, and it doesn't offer much of a choice in where you eat your nice meals (breakfast character meals - I'm not big on breakfast or character meals, so it's a double strike for me).

If you want to eat at the Blue Bayou or one of the nice restaurants at the hotels, it won't work for you at all, IMO.

 

[DLR29]

Different from the WDW plan, at DL you don't get vouchers for meals or different foods. Instead you pay for vouchers for a specific amount of $. When you use the vouchers, you don't get change. Unless you REALLY don't want to pay for the meals there, I wouldn't do it. The only plus is that it's convinient. But it does not save you any money. Plus, I've heard that the restaurants are really limited.

 

[Grandma Debby]

We've used the Disneyland Dining twice - in 2005 & 2007. You don't save money it just helps you pay ahead and you don't have to carry cash with you. If your bill comes to $38.00 you give them 2 - $20.00 coupons and you don't get change back. Everywhere we ate in the Magic Kingdom & California Adventure took the coupons but the restaurants in Downtown Disney do not honor them. You don't save money it just helps your budget to have food paid off before you go - you can give the coupons to your kids when you go seperate ways. Will we use it again? Maybe - Maybe Not

 

[texasteacher35]

bump...looking for info on DLR dining plan...Mickey's 6 Day Plan...not sure if the $100 vouchers per person are a good deal or bad??!! What about the 2 breakfasts in the park??WHat does that mean?? Obviously, not Character meals...what are some other good restaurants to eat at on property/in the parks?? Thanks!

 

[zukeeper]

I repeat from other posters - the dining plan is a bad deal. You are giving your money away. I believe you can get a Disney card and perhaps use it at the restaurants, maybe someone can comment on this. That would be a good way to get some dining paid for ahead if you could purchase it online or in the Disney Store. Do not get the dining plan!

 

[iceskatejen]

My suggestion is using Disney gift cards and Disney Dollars. All the restaurants and shops in the parks and Disney hotels (any place with an actual cash register) take the gift cards and you can use the Disney Dollars at the carts that don't have registers. Of course, DTD restaurants don't take either the cards or Disney Dollars.

 

[kimis]

Okay I absolutely love the WDW dining plan and not very fond of the DL dining plan. However we do use the DL dining plan. Every little bit helps. The DL dining plan does allow character meals I believe__I will find out in Dec. Good luck

 

[ShawnaF]

Heard fantastic thing about WDW meal plan. However, for DL - my only advice is DO NOT get it, not worth it unless you're really into planning and watching very very carefully - otherwise, you'll spend more money on the plan than you would without it.

I will not and will never use this plan until it changes.

 

[texasteacher35]

I love the WDW dining plan, but as everyone has stated above...the Dl plan must stink! That is too bad! I am surprised that Disney is not more consistant! Maybe they are putting tons of emphasis on WDW and not enough on DL??!! Weird! Okay, I will definiteyl consider just paying for all of my meals for DL, but WHICH meals should I do? I definitely want ALL of the character meals! What is Disney without CHARACTER MEALS!!??? I love them and my kids have loved them!

 

[texasteacher35]

Sorry to post twice, but why doesn't Dl do a dining plan similar to WDW...I know they do not have ALL the restaurants, but they could do something similar and proportional to the amount of restaurants that have to dine at!!??

 

[ShawnaF]

No idea why DL and WDW are so different, maybe just more options at WDW.

Okay - character meals (we do every one each time too and actually do some more than once, we're totaly character meal junkies!)

Breakfast - Princess at Ariel's Grotto, Storyteller's Cafe with Chip & Dale, Minnie & Friends at Plaza Inn, Lilo and Stitch Breakfast at PP, and Goofy's Kitchen. Princess is "new" and we're just trying it out this next trip, but surely not to be missed if you have a princess fan. Storyteller's is animals and we always do this at least once or more if we're staying at the GCH. Minnie & Friends is inside the park so that's hard unless they have early hours when you're there - but you'll see Pooh and Friends there too and that's the only meal you'll see them at. Lilo & Stitch is a must for us since this is the only place to see Daisy. Goofy's is our favorite but we always save that one for dinner.

Lunch - Ariel's Grotto with the princesses and Goofy's Kitchen.

Dinner - Ariel's Grotto and Goofy's Kitchen.

So - we usually save Goofy's and Ariel's for evenings and lunch and do the others for breakfast so we can hit each one. Not enough dinner choices right now and they all book up fast. All are different and you'll have your own favorites depending upon the kids.