FAQ about the Disney Dining Plan

[rainman1962]

If I have problems with OOP or sharing meals, whom do I contact? I have heard that I should contact Disney Dining while still in the restaurant (Is this necessary) but I have also heard that it is best handled by the resort you are staying at (whom exactly...just anyone at the desk)? If DD is the ones to contact, is it the same number we us to make ADRs?

Anyone who has had experience with these contacts

Thanks!

bump this

 

[TinkOhio]

I'm sure this has been posted before, but I couldn't find it. So... is the Brown Derby a signature dining credit? The CM that I talked to didn't mention it, but Deb's website says that it is. Anyone know?

Many thanks!

 

[TinkOhio]

Sorry! That was supposed to be it's own thread!

 

[macraven]

do you think that sept 06 could have the free dining package again?

with the hurricanes that have hit florida the last two septembers, i would think attendance would be down.

trying to plan a late sept trip next year and not sure to book a package or just room with discount

 

[legendsguy]

Ok..It's really late for planning a trip to wdw but I'm doing it. Managed to secure two rooms at the PO-RS resort for Dec. 30-Jan2. We have two adults and 3 teenage children. AAA quoted me a price of $569.00 for the meal plan. As I understand it we will get vouchers for a snack, a lunch and a dinner for each of us for each of the three days. I have to pay for it this week.

Should I be buying this? Are there other options? Just want to make this trip as easy and uncomplicated as possible without overspending. (too much) lol

Quick advice will be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[macraven]

i did the plan for 10 days. it took a lot of time out of my day for the table service ones.

since you are only going to be there for 4 days, you could lose a lot of time that could be spent in the parks.

on the average, it took close to 1.5 hours on my dining sit downs.



you really need to book the adrs now since you are going during a holiday time, new years eve. i went in a low period time and many resturants had not the best times available for what i wanted.

such as crt for dinner, the times i had to chose from were 4:00/4:40 and near the end of their dining hours.
lecellier had nothing between 5:50 to 7:45 for me on the day i planned it.

if you and your family want to plan your trip around food, then go for the dining plan.
if not and you plan to hit the parks as much as possible and dtd, you may want to rethink the dining program.
the coupons/card does not expire until midnight of the day you check out.
you could still use it once you leave the resort if you plan to leave later in the day.

 

[legendsguy]

Thanks for that quick reply. Now I think I understand that the sit down tickets can also be traded for two counter tickets??? Are you familiar with this option? I don't see us sitting down to eat a meal much.

 

[adrock1976]

Ok..It's really late for planning a trip to wdw but I'm doing it. Managed to secure two rooms at the PO-RS resort for Dec. 30-Jan2. We have two adults and 3 teenage children. AAA quoted me a price of $569.00 for the meal plan. As I understand it we will get vouchers for a snack, a lunch and a dinner for each of us for each of the three days. I have to pay for it this week.

Should I be buying this? Are there other options? Just want to make this trip as easy and uncomplicated as possible without overspending. (too much) lol

Quick advice will be greatly appreciated!!!!

I would say that based on all the information on the boards from people that have used the dining plan, it is worth it for most everyone, if a couple of conditions are met:

1. You enjoy table service restaurants (my family does, they are part of the whole experience for us). However, many families don't want to commit that kind of time to table service restaurants. You are going at a busy time, and depending on the location, wait times could be long.

2. If you can get ADR's for that time of year. Many people report days like yours have little or no availability for seating at table service restaurants. People also seem to report reservations for over 4 people to be problematic.

I would say that if you can secure some ADR's for table service meals, then the plan would be most worth the cost.

 

[macraven]

Thanks for that quick reply. Now I think I understand that the sit down tickets can also be traded for two counter tickets??? Are you familiar with this option? I don't see us sitting down to eat a meal much.

no, 2 counter service tickets can NOT be traded for 1 table service.

there is no trading up or down with them
1 cs, 1 ts, 1 snack per night you stay at the disney resort.

 

[legendsguy]

Thanks for the info. I guess when we sit down to dinner tonight I will have to ask the kids what they think about sit down dinners. I'm guessing they would much rather spend their time having fun than sitting down to a dinner.

So....are their other meal plans that don't include the sit down dinners? Boy oh boy, I should've been planning this months ago. This is becoming a full time job six weeks before we leave.

 

[macraven]

the only meal plan that disney has that is affordable right now is the one you are considering.
if you go with the plan, it would be valid for the days you have on your disney package, even by going over to 2006.
next year 1/1/06 the price rises but other programs will be available.
gold/ platinum or something like that.(3 meals a day)

if you do not go with the disney package (which is the only way to get the meal plan) then you would buy the food whenever you are hungry.
pay cash, charge to room, etc.

 

[macraven]

the meal deal that was at the ak has discontinued.


you could do some sit downs that aren't too pricey such as the plaza in the mk. you chose from the menu.

the garden grill is a sit down at epcot that costs $19.99 per person for lunch and has catfish, flank steak, pork and something else/ all you can eat.


counter service is good for me and i can always find a selection without having to repeat and do burgers and fries.

columbia house has tuna salad sandwiches, fish, chicken
if you need help, post here and i or someone will help you out with suggestions based on what you like to eat.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Thanks for that quick reply. Now I think I understand that the sit down tickets can also be traded for two counter tickets??? Are you familiar with this option? I don't see us sitting down to eat a meal much.

just to clarify...there are NO coupons or vouchers or tickets involved in the meal plan. There ARE credits listed on your park/room cards. You use it like a credit card, only it is credits, not cash. you inform your server that you are using the dining plan and they will deduct credits for your meals.
We loved the dining plan, but the sit downs do take a long time. But we went when it was hot, so it was nice to sit and take a break. We used the sit downs mostly for lunch.

 

[granmaz]

Could anybody tell me what the changes are to the dining plan for next year?
I thought I saw that you weren't allowed deserts any more, but can't find out. I know there is a price increase. Thanks.

 

[DW mouser]

The meal prices increase to $37.95 adults and $11.99 for children I think. Also, the castle meals increase to 2 TS credits and the dinner is downsized to 4 entrees and one large shared appetizer and no choice on desserts. If you use a cs for breakfast, no dessert. Coral Seas goes from 2 Ts credits to 1 ts credit. There will probably be more, maybe someone else will reply too.

I edited to add that you will not be able to save child credits for adult meals either, they will have their own key card the way I understand it.

 

[jjohnson]

I noticed Wolfgang Puck is not an option for CS in 2006

 

[DW mouser]

Another change!! Where did you see this? I haven't been able to find anything that has all the changes posted and it would be nice to know while I can still change ADR'S!!!

 

[jjohnson]

Another change!! Where did you see this? I haven't been able to find anything that has all the changes posted and it would be nice to know while I can still change ADR'S!!!

On there web site. They show CR changed to 1 TS but haven't updated CRT to 2 TS. They added Raglan Road but WP is gone.

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m.../eng/nontheme/tickets/2006DiningLocations.pdf

That's all I noticed so far.

 

[granmaz]

Disney doesn't seem to help at all by not advertising changes very well do they?! Still trying to decide whether to add the plan....well, still trying to decide whether to go from our AAA booking to the new package actually. My brain is in a scramble trying to decide! But that's another forum!
Thanks for your help.

 

[jjohnson]

Disney doesn't seem to help at all by not advertising changes very well do they?! Still trying to decide whether to add the plan....well, still trying to decide whether to go from our AAA booking to the new package actually. My brain is in a scramble trying to decide! But that's another forum!
Thanks for your help.

If your going in the beginning of the year, you can book the new package & keep your AAA discount. You just have to book thru a AAA agent.