DL pros, can you explain "Dine in the Magic" meal program...

[global_mom]

Anyone with experience using this program?

We are huge fans of the Dining Plan at WDW but the "Dine in the Magic" program is VERY different.

I cant really determine if it is a good value or not. It seems that it would leave many meals to be paid OOP.

What do you all think?

Thanks!

 

[DLR29]

I have not used it, but I know enough about it to know that I probably will never use it.

On DL's dining plan each person receives a certain # of vouchers for certain amounts of $ (5, 10, 20). When you want to pay for food, you simply hand your vouchers in and take your food. The problem is that you will not receive any change from your purchase. So if you purchase something for $4.50 with a $5 voucher, it doesn't seem like much (what you're losing 50 cents), but if you want something for $4.50 and you have already used all of your $5 vouchers and you have to pay with a $10, you will lose $5.50 in change. Another disadvantage the DL plan has is that you can't use the vouchers at Downtown Disney, which is where there are a ton of good restaurants (both counter service and table service)

 

[DangerMouse]

I have read mostly negative things about the Disneyland Dining Plan on this board. The consensus is that it is not worth it.

 

[global_mom]

Thank you for the replies!! I thought that it might result in some "loss" but it is hard to tell from the promo material. Sounds like we will be much better to pay OOP since we plan to do mostly TS meals and we want to try a couple of places at DTD.

Such a shame that it is not a good deal. We love things that are "prepaid" but we also want to know that we are saving some money by giving them our money in advance of our trip.

Thanks again!

 

[Hound 109]

Thank you for the replies!! I thought that it might result in some "loss" but it is hard to tell from the promo material. Sounds like we will be much better to pay OOP since we plan to do mostly TS meals and we want to try a couple of places at DTD.

Such a shame that it is not a good deal. We love things that are "prepaid" but we also want to know that we are saving some money by giving them our money in advance of our trip.

Thanks again!

I agree with DLR & DangerMouse, Global Mom. The DL food plan isn't a logical purchase.

& i agree with you about how nice the food plan is at WDW. (I've used it twice). I'm sure if DLR had a similar plan offered, then alot of people would enjoy it & alot of the "sit down" places would see more business.

I know I tried places at WDW i never would have tried w/o the food plan. (The restaurant in France & Narcoosee for example).

I much prefer DLR visits to WDW...but there are about 8-10 things i'd like for DLR to have from WDW...& the food plan would be one of them.

 

[tink2dw]

The 4 day Goofy Plan $139. - gets you 1 Character Breakfast, 3 snacks, 2 $10 vouchers and 2 $15.00 vouchers. To my mind that is Not 4 days of food.

You are getting 2 $10. meals, 2 $15. meals = $50
3 snacks unknow price. but say $5.00 = $15
Total = $65.00
139
-65
$74 for 1 to have a Character Breakfast/ with out plan a character meal is $32.50 per person - a lose of
$41.50 for buying the Goofy Meal Plan?

Disney Dollars are $1. for $1. collect these for your meals at DL. You loss nothing.

 

[Dobie]

The 4 day Goofy Plan $139. - gets you 1 Character Breakfast, 3 snacks, 2 $10 vouchers and 2 $15.00 vouchers. To my mind that is Not 4 days of food.

You are getting 2 $10. meals, 2 $15. meals = $50
3 snacks unknow price. but say $5.00 = $15
Total = $65.00
139
-65
$74 for 1 to have a Character Breakfast/ with out plan a character meal is $32.50 per person - a lose of
$41.50 for buying the Goofy Meal Plan?

Disney Dollars are $1. for $1. collect these for your meals at DL. You loss nothing.

The four day Goofy plan includes the following:

Character Breakfast 1
Character Lunch 1
Breakfast in the Park 1
$5 Voucher 3
$10 Voucher 2
$15 Voucher 2

If you use every penny of every voucher to come out even, as the posters above indicated, you might save a buck or two. I, personally, don't think it's worth it.

 

[agent]

By using the dining plan you also lose out on a 10% discount at several dining locations if you have a AAA card. This discount can add up if you do any character meals.

 

[global_mom]

By using the dining plan you also lose out on a 10% discount at several dining locations if you have a AAA card. This discount can add up if you do any character meals.

We dont have AAA but we are DVC members. Any DVC discounts on dining?

 

[ksoehrlein]

Yes, there are DVC discounts! They are posted on the Members Perks page of the DVC website. 10% off all meals at Plaza Inn, Redd Rockett's Pizza Port, Cocina Cucamonga, Pacific Wharf Café, Pizza Oom Mow Mow, Taste Pilots' Grill, and a bunch of DTD restaurants that have more complicated restrictions (food purchase only, or $40 minimum purchase, etc, depending on the restaurant).

 

[keishashadow]

chase disney visa offers discounts too, on website

 

[global_mom]

I will check the DVC site and the Chase visa site (we have a couple of those). This is all so different from planning a WDW vacation but I am having a blast! Thanks again for the help, I am sure that I will have a million more questions!!

 

[Hound 109]

I will check the DVC site and the Chase visa site (we have a couple of those). This is all so different from planning a WDW vacation but I am having a blast! Thanks again for the help, I am sure that I will have a million more questions!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

global mom, if you haven't already read this, the tip thread above is essential reading for the WDW vet.

The rest of HG's tip threads are great, too.