FAQ about the Disney Dining Plan

[macraven]

question here for you all.

what if the counter service does not have dessert?
do they substitue with anything else?

 

[SueEllen]

question here for you all.

what if the counter service does not have dessert?
do they substitue with anything else?

All of the counter service locations have dessert available, and if you are getting breakfast you can substitute a muffin/breakfast bread/fruit cup for the dessert.

Sue Ellen

 

[SueEllen]

Related to this, I was wondering if when using the Dining Plan at TS restaurants, you can take desserts "to go" for children and those of us who cannot eat such a large amount in 1 sitting but may enjoy it later as a snack.

Yes, the restaurants will box up your food (or dessert) to go if you ask.

Sue Ellen

 

[PLUTO2]

What would you say are the best counter service restaurants to eat at with the dining plan? Best for food and best deal for the price? TIA

 

[donaldtutter]

good question

 

[macraven]

thanx sue ellen

 

[blueroses]

i don't understand why so many people are trying to take such advantage of this system. i think what is going to happen is that there is going to be extreme restrictions on this plan in the future. does a family of 4, with 2 "adults" under 11 really need, i mean eat, 3 shrimp cocktails and 4 surf and turfs and 4 desserts and milkshakes at one meal? i'm going in December and i do plan to eat at places and things i would not eat if i were not on the dining plan, but i will not take advantage of this plan. i think the further out you are going to Disney with the dining plan, the more resticted the plan will be because of people taking advantage of "free" food. it sounds like so much food is wasted, i never bought into that "i don't waste food because i lived through the depression", that i hear from my parents' generation, but with what is going on in the wake of Katrina, how can people get so much food that they will waddle out of the restaurant and not enjoy the rest of the day in the park?
sorry, my heart is with the people in the Gulf region, and some of this greed just is so sad.

I agree. There is a fine line between getting your money's worth from the plan and wasting food or overeating just because it's "free." Not everyone on the dining plan does this of course. Just my opinion, flame me at will.

 

[have2getaway]

Originally Posted by usingthephone

I think Disney knows what people are doing. True, they are now limiting the breakfast selections to not include a dessert for 2006, but I haven't heard of them limiting the number of TS utilized and frankly, I doubt they ever will. The PR & word of mouth they are getting from this new plan is probably the best advertising they could ask for. Vacationers have always complained at the cost and quality of Disney food. Now, a family goes to Disney, stays on-site to take advantage of the new dining plan, and spends nearly all their time and money at Disney. I have heard from many posters that Disney encourages families to pay oop for children and save the TS for other meals. Clearly they want people to spend additional money and leave Disney and tell everyone about what a great deal their Disney trip was. I have heard that Universal plans to offer a similar dining plan. I can't say that I'm surprised.

I am not saying that you should take advantage and eat as many TS meals as you can. I personally don't want to spend that much time with my preschooler eating at TS restaurants , but I do think we need to be aware of the bigger picture here.

 

[DW mouser]

Sue Ellen, I have a trip planned for March and I have already gotten info from Disney that if you use your counter service meal for breakfast you can not get a dessert!! Maybe they are just going to wait and change it at the first of the year. I know some people have posted that they did get a muffin for a dessert.

 

[macraven]

dw mouser: you are correct, there are changes in the dining program starting january 2006.......
the no dessert for breakfast is just one of the many changes that will happen

 

[mommyoeo]

I agree. There is a fine line between getting your money's worth from the plan and wasting food or overeating just because it's "free." Not everyone on the dining plan does this of course. Just my opinion, flame me at will.

We've been thinking the same thing! We never (and I mean NEVER) get desserts and we always drink water. My DH and I talked about how our children will think the world is upside down if we give them 2 desserts, a snack and sprites each day! He and I think it is best to be healthy, even if it means turning down "free" food.

Of course, I know the value of a buck and I will use my "free" food well, and plan to stretch it to cover 3 meals a day by making my snack a breakfast or something. I won't waste food but I won't waste my money either. it's a happy medium, I guess.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Sue Ellen, I have a trip planned for March and I have already gotten info from Disney that if you use your counter service meal for breakfast you can not get a dessert!! Maybe they are just going to wait and change it at the first of the year. I know some people have posted that they did get a muffin for a dessert.

Ok, clarify this for me. Do they mean: No items that are traditionally thought of as dessert, i.e. rice krispy treats, cheesecake, OR do they mean no additional item besides a breakfast main course item and a beverage. For example, I was able (8/05) to get milk and cereal as my main course, a cinnamon roll as my add on (i.e. dessert) and an orange juice as my beverage. We also got pancake/bacon platters w/ a cinn. roll.
Would I no longer be able to get the cinn. roll?
Thanks!

 

[DW mouser]

Disney Mom, That's correct. No cinnamon roll or krispie treats for breakfast in 2006 that counts as a dessert anyway. I'm sure if you want to use a counter meal for a cinnamon roll for breakfast they will let you! That would be silly though, cost wise.

 

[PLUTO2]

I was looking over the online brochure and it sure seemed like most of the restaurants were on there. Which restaurants are not included?TIA.

 

[DW mouser]

One that we've always eaten at that is not included is The Rain Forest in either DTD or AK. Also, Fulton's in DTD.

 

[maxsmom1216]

I posted this on another board too!

We booked our room through a special offer I recieved in the mail. It was for room only. At the time of booking and again a week ago I called and confirmed with CRO that I could add on my tickets and dinning package later as I was finalizing how many people from our family were coming.
I called last evening to buy the tickets an dinner package and I was told by the cast member that I could only book this through Disney Vacations and if I did I would loose the rate on my hotel room. I explained to her that I checked 2 times to make sure I could do this with my reservation and was told both times I could. She put me on hold and said she spoke with her manager and unfortunately, while I could keep my room (as all Monorail hotels are sold out the week we are there) I would not be able to purchase the meal plan as part of MYW ticketing.
My mom, a disney veteran since it opened told me to just hold off until we got there she is sure that when we check in the hotel will give us the package we want, however, I am so scared...

HELP HELP HELP!!!! Has anyone been able to do this in the past? Is it a possiblity? I am so worried, we haven't traveled with out a dinning plan in 10 years, my husband won't know what to do..he gorges at every meal.

Thank you!

Max's Mom!

 

[macraven]

I posted this on another board too!

We booked our room through a special offer I recieved in the mail. It was for room only. At the time of booking and again a week ago I called and confirmed with CRO that I could add on my tickets and dinning package later as I was finalizing how many people from our family were coming.
I called last evening to buy the tickets an dinner package and I was told by the cast member that I could only book this through Disney Vacations and if I did I would loose the rate on my hotel room. I explained to her that I checked 2 times to make sure I could do this with my reservation and was told both times I could. She put me on hold and said she spoke with her manager and unfortunately, while I could keep my room (as all Monorail hotels are sold out the week we are there) I would not be able to purchase the meal plan as part of MYW ticketing.
My mom, a disney veteran since it opened told me to just hold off until we got there she is sure that when we check in the hotel will give us the package we want, however, I am so scared...

HELP HELP HELP!!!! Has anyone been able to do this in the past? Is it a possiblity? I am so worried, we haven't traveled with out a dinning plan in 10 years, my husband won't know what to do..he gorges at every meal.

Thank you!

Max's Mom!

i know the cm you talked to last was correct, it happened to me also.

in the spring i booked the room only and used the AAA discount which made it very cheap.
when the dining program came out for the time period i would be in the mother land, i called disney to add it.
this was about 3 months after i did the room ressie and paid the deposit on it.

it took about 5 phone calls but i talked to a supervisor and had to switch to a package to qualify the free dining program promo. it ended up costing me an additional $124 to do so. i lost the discount for the room when i did this though.

you can only get the promo dining program if you have a package.
if you don't want to do the package with disney, they will accept AAA setting up the ressie package for you.
so you have two options, book the package with disney or with AAA if you are a member with them.

i was upset to have to change all of mine but it only cost me 124 to add the dining. it is well worth it.

 

[DisneyMom5]

I posted this on another board too!

We booked our room through a special offer I recieved in the mail. It was for room only. At the time of booking and again a week ago I called and confirmed with CRO that I could add on my tickets and dinning package later as I was finalizing how many people from our family were coming.
I called last evening to buy the tickets an dinner package and I was told by the cast member that I could only book this through Disney Vacations and if I did I would loose the rate on my hotel room. I explained to her that I checked 2 times to make sure I could do this with my reservation and was told both times I could. She put me on hold and said she spoke with her manager and unfortunately, while I could keep my room (as all Monorail hotels are sold out the week we are there) I would not be able to purchase the meal plan as part of MYW ticketing.
My mom, a disney veteran since it opened told me to just hold off until we got there she is sure that when we check in the hotel will give us the package we want, however, I am so scared...

HELP HELP HELP!!!! Has anyone been able to do this in the past? Is it a possiblity? I am so worried, we haven't traveled with out a dinning plan in 10 years, my husband won't know what to do..he gorges at every meal.

Thank you!

Max's Mom!

That's a bummer! By definition Room Only is only a room, no package components. What they were probably telling you is that you could convert to a package at any time. They didn't elaborate to say that you would lose your room rate, which you for sure will, and would have to pay a package rack rate. I think it should be more carefully explained to customers, as most people are not that clear on how it works. Dining is ONLY available as part of a package, therefore not with room only, not with DVC, not with APs.
I hope you get it all worked out.

 

[scrapperjill]

Just to add to the other thougths that everyone else mentioned...I wanted to say that I'm fairly sure you CAN NOT add it on once you get there...it has to be done at least a week before. They are not set up to "add" it on at arrival.

I also have to agree with loosing your room rate....from what I've read and heard the "special room rates" don't fall within the MYW packages. Have you tryed dropping the special room rate and adding the tickets and dinning? I guess that would depend alot on what price increase you'd be looking at and overall savings by doing the dinning plan.

Good luck.

 

[macraven]

one more thing i forgot to add.

only a certain number of rooms per resort were allocated in the free dining promo.

2 friends of mine wanted all star movies for their trip but nothing was available at the time they went. they had to set it up for staying at pop then.
there were rooms for rent, but not for the package of myw + dining.

other 3 friends could only get pop this coming weekend and not sports.
same thing again. the number of packages for that resort was maxed out so they also went with pop.

you can get a room only ressie at most places but if you had wanted the disney package that had the free dining and you reserved by aug 20th, then you had to select the resort that had it available.