DVC Dining Plan

[calypso*a*go-go]

See below.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I am really excited about finding out about the dinning plan.
Can anyone tell me what you get for $38.00 per person per day?
Do you get two sit down meals, or is it counter service?
We had some deluxe type plan years ago when we went as nonmembers that we booked through our travel agent along with our trip and we got a certain amount to use towards food I thought. At the end of our trip we had lots of extra money on our account and we had gone to lots of sit down places. I think they might have changed it a bit since then though. Any input would be great. Can you use it for a certain amount of days or must you book it for the whole time? Do kids that are 13 and 14 pay the adult rate? Is there a link I can go to?
Thanks - We are staying at the beach club for the very first time and we are SO excited.

Hi Sherri -- This is from the WDW website:

For each night of your package, the Disney Dining Plan includes the following meals for each Guest:
One (1) Table-Service Meal
Includes appetizer, entree, dessert or full buffet and non-alcoholic beverage as well as gratuity (children ages 3-9 must choose from the children's menu if available; dessert not available at breakfast)
One (1) Counter-Service Meal
Includes entree, dessert or one complete combo meal, and non-alcoholic beverage (children ages 3-9 must choose from the children's menu if available; dessert not available at breakfast)
One (1) Snack
Choose from a frozen ice-cream novelty or fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single serving box), single piece of whole fruit, single serving Grab Bag of Frito-Lay's Chips, 20oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or 24oz. Dasani Water, medium fountain soft drink or apple juice. Available at select counter-service and snack-cart locations.
As an added benefit, you may exchange 2 table-service meals for either 1 Signature Dining Experience at one of our finest restaurants, such as the acclaimed Citricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or for 1 Disney Dinner Show, such as Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
Select Downtown Disney® restaurants may require a surcharge for certain entree items.
Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made up to 180 days in advance. Please call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463).† Reservations are required for Disney dinner shows.

You have to include the plan for everyone in the room for the entire length of stay (based on the number of nights...not days) and your children would have to pay the adult rate.

 

[BCV23]

No. And unless your a DVC member using an AP you can't get it at all.

It is for Magic Your Way Packages

or DVC members

Maybe I'm reading this post incorrectly but you do not need to have an AP to buy the dining plan. Any DVC member staying on points can do so.

You do have to have an AP or be a FL resident to buy the DDE.

 

[Dean]

You have to buy it for your whole reservation. You may want to look into spliting your reservation into two seperate reservations (with 2 confirmation numbers) and then have MS "connect" them in the computer so you don't have to move.

Robin, are you talking about the DP option. Linking would make it one stay and one would have to buy for the entire time. In the past with other LOS options, Disney has said that even stays in different unit types at the same resort was one stay but they haven't enforced it very well.

 

[Dean]

I was there in October for the FREE dining and it was A LOT of food!
We will be there in August also.In one room will be myself and youngest daughter. In another will be my older daughter/husband and two children. My older daughter is a vegetarian and eats little. Her son eats like a bird.
Now the dining is attached to your room key. I COULD put one of the grandchildren in my room (reservation prurposes) and buy 2 adult one child and allow my family to share the the expense. 2 days they use it three us etc
The DDE is great too but we ALL have to be at the table and figure the bill later. I'm still scratching my head.

That would work as long as you're not talking about paying for the kids and using them for the adults.

 

[patsal]

Only thing is if you are busy or want to stay by the pool it would be nice to grab a bite anywhere and save 20%. I think DDE may be the way for us to go.

But the DDE is not good for 20% everywhere. If you are looking at any knd of CS for example, the 20% is not able to be used at resorts that have a sit down option. So if I stay at VWL I would not be able to use the 20% discount at Roaring Forks for quick stuff at the pool. I would be able to use it at values and many mods. In addition the 20% does not work at any CS in any of the parks except the AK and water parks. For some this does not matter, but for others it is important that they know that the DDE is not good for 20% off everywhere. In addition, many ofthe TS options at DTD are not included. So for this it is important to check the menus and plan on where you are going to eat in order to get the discount.
It is absolutely a preference of style and planning, and both plans have their positive and negatives. I found that the DDE combined with the DDP in December saved us about $20 on drinks and little extras at the food court on a six day trip. Over the course of a year (30 days total) it might be a break even for us. For that small savings I don't think I'll bother with the DDE. However for those that eat only TS and enjoy a few drinks with each meal, the DDE could be a huge money saver and I'm sure the DDP isn't nearly as appealing.

 

[BCV23]

And actually it looks like DDE is no longer good at the food courts of the value resorts nor at POFQ which was the only moderate on the old list because it doesn't have a full service restaurant.

We very rarely dine at CS but might still try the plan in conjunction with DDE for our next trip. I know it will be easy to choose TS restaurants for us to use for our days on the plan. But I have to do some research and find CS spots that we might like.

 

[LakeAriel]

That would work as long as you're not talking about paying for the kids and using them for the adults.

Oh no! I'm well aware the price for children's vs adult is about a $27 difference and they order from the children's menu. It would help if the one that eats like a bird isn't on the plan and the vegetarian gets to use it in restaurants that have a good selection of vegetarian dishes. Myself and my youngest daughter only eat poultry and fish so that makes 3 of 4 adults that do not eat beef/pork/lamb etc That means no steaks etc so it is trickier to figure out the best way to go. Someone else posted that most counter service restaurants don't take DDE. If that's the case that isn't worth it. We will probably go to TS restaurants for all dinners but we aren't big drinkers either (children with us) and won't do TS for lunch so...still scratching my head!!!!

 

[Dean]

Oh no! I'm well aware the price for children's vs adult is about a $27 difference and they order from the children's menu. It would help if the one that eats like a bird isn't on the plan and the vegetarian gets to use it in restaurants that have a good selection of vegetarian dishes. Myself and my youngest daughter only eat poultry and fish so that makes 3 of 4 adults that do not eat beef/pork/lamb etc That means no steaks etc so it is trickier to figure out the best way to go. Someone else posted that most counter service restaurants don't take DDE. If that's the case that isn't worth it. We will probably go to TS restaurants for all dinners but we aren't big drinkers either (children with us) and won't do TS for lunch so...still scratching my head!!!!

That's what I thought but wasn't certain. I'd agree, and have said prviously, that having multiple rooms and only getting the DP for one room and not the other.

 

[bwbuddy5]

...having multiple rooms and only getting the DP for one room and not the other.

That's what we're doing in July, using a 1BR and studio, rather than a 2BR. It costs us a few more points, but we'll still come out ahead.

Our only logistical problem is who is officially in which room. Basically, myself and 2 16yo sons will be listed in one room to get DDP, with my wife and 2 20YO girls listed in other room, no DDP. But obviously, I would like for the wife to stay with me, so I'm hoping I could work out the "key" logistics in my head (she's hanging around Stormalong more than the rest of us). I wonder if BCV CMs would give us one "key only" card for the other room, so I can enter both rooms; or better yet, have the same card keyed to both rooms. Of course, this is only an issue if we don't get adjoining rooms.

 

[LakeAriel]

That's what we're doing in July, using a 1BR and studio, rather than a 2BR. It costs us a few more points, but we'll still come out ahead.

Our only logistical problem is who is officially in which room. Basically, myself and 2 16yo sons will be listed in one room to get DDP, with my wife and 2 20YO girls listed in other room, no DDP. But obviously, I would like for the wife to stay with me, so I'm hoping I could work out the "key" logistics in my head (she's hanging around Stormalong more than the rest of us). I wonder if BCV CMs would give us one "key only" card for the other room, so I can enter both rooms; or better yet, have the same card keyed to both rooms. Of course, this is only an issue if we don't get adjoining rooms.

Let me know if you find out!

 

[Luvmyfam3]

I think I already know the answer to my question, but I thought I'd ask anyway....

The Dining Plan doesn't include their Vero Beach Resort, does it???

 

[tinkercubbyfan]

Now that they have added the DDP to DVC Members staying on points I called members Services to see if we can add the plan since we are just renting points. They said yes but the member has to add it for us. Well does anyone know if everyone in our party has to be on the plan or can just a few of us. I ask because DD is not a big eater and I think it would be cheaper for us to pay op for her. Plus my parents who are going with us don't think they want to do the plan because they "don't like to committ" to anything

 

[Figment2]

Everyone has to be on the plan (all or none, so to speak) for the entire stay.

Cyn

 

[pjpoohbear]

Everyone in the room must be on the plan. This is what MS told me when I booked my 12/06 stay.

Penny

 

[CarolMN]

I think I already know the answer to my question, but I thought I'd ask anyway....

The Dining Plan doesn't include their Vero Beach Resort, does it???

No, and it doesn't include HHI, either - just the WDW resorts.

Best wishes -

 

[David Koenig]

Does anyone know 100% for sure if Coral Reef (Living Seas) is 1 TS credit or 2 for the DVC dining program?
I realize the DVC site list shows it as 2, the WDW site list shows it as 1, and folks are speculating that the DVC site is outdated. But I just got off the phone with Member Services, and she swears up and down that the DVC program is slightly different than the WDW program and the DVC site list is correct.
Help?

 

[Dean]

That's what we're doing in July, using a 1BR and studio, rather than a 2BR. It costs us a few more points, but we'll still come out ahead.

Our only logistical problem is who is officially in which room. Basically, myself and 2 16yo sons will be listed in one room to get DDP, with my wife and 2 20YO girls listed in other room, no DDP. But obviously, I would like for the wife to stay with me, so I'm hoping I could work out the "key" logistics in my head (she's hanging around Stormalong more than the rest of us). I wonder if BCV CMs would give us one "key only" card for the other room, so I can enter both rooms; or better yet, have the same card keyed to both rooms. Of course, this is only an issue if we don't get adjoining rooms.

I know in the past I've gotten multiple keys just for this purpose. We had a 2 BR plus a couple of studios and needed others to have access to the kitchen. But this was before they started putting every singled name on the cards and that could have changed the dynamics.

 

[patsal]

Does anyone know 100% for sure if Coral Reef (Living Seas) is 1 TS credit or 2 for the DVC dining program?
I realize the DVC site list shows it as 2, the WDW site list shows it as 1, and folks are speculating that the DVC site is outdated. But I just got off the phone with Member Services, and she swears up and down that the DVC program is slightly different than the WDW program and the DVC site list is correct.
Help?

I just looked at the DVC website and they have Coral Reef listed as one credit. Everythng that they have appears to match up to the regular dining plan.

 

[David Koenig]

Holy Smokes!
Thanks for checking, Patsal. The Other List (multi-colored, landscape style vs. blue & white portrait style) was there a few hours ago. I wonder if my call had anything to do with the new list being put up.
Looks like another call to Member Services in the morning.