DVC members take on the Dining Plan

[jbhaupt]

Hi,
We were thinking of taking the dining plan for a trip this November. Looking for input from members who have used it. What if you miss a dinner...can vouchers be used during another trip or do they expire? I was checking the list and it seems almost every place is on it...even Beaches and Cream (surprised)! I also noted that tips are included. We get the DDE normally, wondering if it is a better bet doing the dining plan.

Thanks,
Bonnie

 

[1000th happy haunt]

All vouchers expire at the end of your checkout date.

We tried the dining plan during part of our trip in May (we had split reservations). We're going to try it again in October (another split stay). We also have DDE. Most people feel that the dining plan gives too much food, and I agree. Neither my husband nor I would want to eat like that for an entire week. True, they don't force you to take the appetizer and dessert (we usually don't have an appetizer and dessert with dinner), but it's hard to pass up when it's free. All three of our table service meals in May were over $100 (for two people), so it is well worth the price. And it's nice that tips are included (although you may tip extra if you get extraordinary service).

 

[castleri]

There are no vouchers - the meal credits are on your room key and it is a use it or lose it deal. There are many comments over on the restaurant board about the plan and how people feel about it. You might want to check that out. It all comes down to how do you want to eat and how does it compare with what you would get with the plan. If you never order apps or dessert and usually eat at CS restaurants it may not be for you. If you want to try the TS places and order all that is included it is a good deal. We have only done it for one day so far and while it cost $75.98 for the 2 of us we ate one meal at Mama Melrose and the other at Pepper Market and had an ice cream and a soda. All in all it saved us about $40+ for the meals we ate. Had we not had the plan we probably would have been at a break even cost for what we would have eaten if we used the DDE card since we would not have eaten at Pepper Market (more likely Flame Tree while at the park instead) and DH would not have ordered dessert at MM.

We are doing it for 10 days in September and while I hate being restricted by the need to be at a restaurant at a given time amd think we will have more food than we need it is still our best option for this trip, We have two reservations going and without the plan we could have 1. a bill that needs to be divided up so everyone knows what they owe or 2. have to have the waiter make out separate checks (up to 5 at a sitting for a total of 10 people) . This way everyone orders what they want and the only thing people need to keep track of is who consumes what adult beverages as we have drinkers and non drinkers in the mix. We really went back and forth looking at menus and prices and and for us this is easier not necessarily the smartest move financially. good luck with your decison-

 

[lovinthemouse]

We loved it. It is alot of food. We used our counter meal for breakfast and our table service for dinner. Dinner alone makes the price worth it. To us it is much easier. However, it does take some planning. Especially if you want certain character meals. Have a great trip

 

[abk96]

All vouchers expire at the end of your checkout date.

We tried the dining plan during part of our trip in May (we had split reservations). We're going to try it again in October (another split stay). We also have DDE. Most people feel that the dining plan gives too much food, and I agree. Neither my husband nor I would want to eat like that for an entire week. True, they don't force you to take the appetizer and dessert (we usually don't have an appetizer and dessert with dinner), but it's hard to pass up when it's free. All three of our table service meals in May were over $100 (for two people), so it is well worth the price. And it's nice that tips are included (although you may tip extra if you get extraordinary service).

Hi 1000th happy haunt,

We are thinking of doing a split stay next year and I was wondering if you are able to get the DP for the entire trip or just one part of it, if they are offering the DP next year? We were thinking 2 nights GF and 6 nights SSR. How does this work?

OP,
The dining plan is well worth it. We used it twice already and enjoyed it a lot. Very easy to use and it made having our meals and snacks more enjoyable knowing we didn't have to worry about money.

We had a few CS left over the last day so we just used them in the Boardwalk Bakery to get a breakfast burrito, bagel, and some drinks. It's very flexable.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

May trip, used DDP. It was just DH and I..for us, it was too much food. With the kids, maybe it would be different. But for everyone to get an appetizer, meal and dessert...it's too much food. I felt forced to focus on food the entire trip.

For next week's trip, we are doing it again. Go figure...but we are in a larger group, and it's easier for that. I have learned my lesson, though and will leave food on the menu...no reason to order it if I'm full and I can't have that much food thrown away.

Sept, and Nov trips, we are passing on the plan. We have the DDE card and for our family, we'll be happy going to China for a "snack" of sesame chicken mid afternoon...shared...and then having a bigger meal later, or vice-versa. None of us do a counter service and sit down everyday.

The snack credits, though...that's another story. Love walking up to the stand in MK and getting a Dole Whip...without digging for money!

Just my .02

Patty

 

[crisi]

I think its really cool, but I haven't used it and am now convinced that a DDE is a better choice for us - even if we have to spend extra for one person to have an AP....

Here is why, for us:

The DDE is prepay for a lot of food - we often split the app and dessert. And I almost never order anything more than just the sandwich and we split a soda at lunchtime - skip the fries and it never occurs to me that you could actually get dessert at these places. We also don't snack at the places they think we should snack.

We almost always order alcohol with dinner, discounted with the DDE, OOP on the DDP.

We eat sit down every day, but add more signature places each trip - plus a character meal. That leaves us paying OOP for some meals.

However, I think that for most people the DDP is a good deal. You just have to figure out if you are one of those people.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

We are thinking of doing a split stay next year and I was wondering if you are able to get the DP for the entire trip or just one part of it, if they are offering the DP next year? We were thinking 2 nights GF and 6 nights SSR. How does this work?

Back in May we spent a weekend in a two-bedroom at BCV with friends, then DH and I transferred to OKW for three nights. We purchased the dining plan for the (entire) OKW portion of our stay. It was arranged through member services.

From what I've seen, they don't have the DDP prices yet for next year. Everyone who's been booking through member services has been asked to call back later if they want the dining plan.

How are you booking your trip? Are you using points at the GF, or is it a cash reservation through CRO? The way the DDP is set up for DVC, you must purchase the plan the entire length of stay (of one reservation) for everyone in the party. I'm guessing it works the same way for a cash reservation. So if you wanted it for the SSR portion of your trip, you would need to purchase it for all six nights (although you would actually have seven days to use your credits). I don't know if you can purchase it for the GF if you're staying on points. Maybe someone else has experience with that.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

we've done it and are doing it again this Dec.

My dh/mil/fil say that they don't want to go to WDW w/o it ever again!

 

[abk96]

Back in May we spent a weekend in a two-bedroom at BCV with friends, then DH and I transferred to OKW for three nights. We purchased the dining plan for the (entire) OKW portion of our stay. It was arranged through member services.

From what I've seen, they don't have the DDP prices yet for next year. Everyone who's been booking through member services has been asked to call back later if they want the dining plan.

How are you booking your trip? Are you using points at the GF, or is it a cash reservation through CRO? The way the DDP is set up for DVC, you must purchase the plan the entire length of stay (of one reservation) for everyone in the party. I'm guessing it works the same way for a cash reservation. So if you wanted it for the SSR portion of your trip, you would need to purchase it for all six nights (although you would actually have seven days to use your credits). I don't know if you can purchase it for the GF if you're staying on points. Maybe someone else has experience with that.

I don't want to hijack this thread from the OP. Apologies.

It will be all points for both resorts. I guess I'll find out when I book the trip. If we can't get the dining plan for GF part of the ressie, then I think we'll just stay the entire time at SSR. The dining plan is very worth it for our family.

Thanks for the help.

 

[JimMIA]

I think it depends on your family composition and how you eat. We have 2A/1C, we always do one nice dinner or a character meal per day, and we have the DDE card.

On our 5-night May trip, I compared our DDP cost, not to the menu prices, but to what we normally would have spent paying cash with the 20% DDE discount. I calculated that we saved $70 on the dinners and all the lunches and snacks were bonuses (not that we didn't enjoy them, mind you). We used the DDE card for alcoholic bevs, but that really didn't amount to much this trip.

We're using the DDP again for our Nov trip, and if it's available to DVC in 2007, we probably will not renew our DDE.

And yes, both tip and tax are included, so it's really all-inclusive. It could be a lot of food, but you don't have to eat everything.

 

[SLM]

My husband and I purchased the DDP for our trip in June and really liked the convenience of meals being pre-paid-not carrying cash or putting it on a credit card. It CAN be alot of food, but we ate at the Flying Fish and the California Grill-these were 2 credits (and well worth it!) so we ate lighter meals two other nights (using counter service credits). We also shared counter meals at the resort pool (adding a fruit bowl which was a snack credit) twice knowing we were eating a larger meal later. I usually chose a salad as an appetizer. Wolfgang Puck Express was a great counter service meal and we could share the pizza. Desserts could be something to take back to the room-like a cookie or brownie-or at the resort, they allowed us to order our ice cream later in the afternoon. Frozen lemonade was also a dessert. AND, if I was full, I stopped eating! I've never felt like I had to clean my plate! If I could take it back to the resort, fine, if not, I left it! I weighed myself two days after we returned and I didn't gain any weight-but luckily, we were only there a week!