Half Board Clarifications Please

[Cheshire Figment]

As usual, in all its wisdom, Disney manages to give incomplete and/or misleading information on its web sites and brochures. I have tried to understand the Half Board Meal Plan, but certain parts are not clear.

It is obvious that there are three levels, Standard, Plus, and Premium. And the vouchers are valid for lunch or dinner. Standard is accepted at eleven locations, Plus at 21, and Premium at 25. If one gets an all-you-can-eat buffet the voucher includes the meal and a (non-alcoholic) beverage.

For menu-service locations, the information indicates “A set menu including starter, main course and dessert and beverage”. My understanding, at least at Disney World, is you may order any main course and dessert on the restaurant’s menu. Certain dining plans also allow a starter; if included it is also any starter on the menu. So the question here is are you allowed to order any item on the restaurant’s menu, or is there a specific menu for people who are using the Half Board plan?

And then there is the difference between the check mark (√) and the “SAVE!” in the brochure which I do not understand at all. Again, at WDW if using the Dining Plan for a meal you do not have to pay for anything that is covered by the Plan, even if it is the most expensive item on the menu. So, for example, if I purchase the Premium Plan and go to both Walt’s (with a √) and the California Grill (with a “SAVE!”) and order substantially the same meal what would be the difference in payment, if any?

Also, at Disney World the Dining Plans include tax but not gratuity. So, basically, if I bought the Half Board Meal Package what would I have to pay for at the restaurants?

 

[A Small World]

Each of the 3 levels are worth a set amount. Some restaurants have a set menu for vouchers or you can order off the normal menu to the value of that voucher.

Sorry I dont know what the current amounts are but someone else will know

Theres no tax added in France - well its already included in prices - but you will have to pay a tip if you want to

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Tax/Vat (5,5%) and service (15%) are included in France. They are already built into the price of each dish and drink you buy.

Tipping is not necessary as we have a minimum wage and our 35 hour week.

You can leave a € or 2 if you have had great service, our friends, family and colleagues will exceptionally go to 5% but nobody should be leaving 10/15/20% . It's far too much especially as you've already paid

If you are just having a coffee or a drink in a café just round up to the next 50cts if you wish

 

[Ware Bears]

I've never used the meal plans at DLP but the message I pick up from the boards is that they are no longer any real saving (I believe they were better value when they were first introduced) and can be quite restrictive in what you can choose to eat if you stick to the meal plan menu. Unless you're just going to be eating at buffet restaurants I think the only real advantage to them these days is that they allow you to budget in advance for your meals.

 

[staceylc]

I've never used the meal plans at DLP but the message I pick up from the boards is that they are no longer any real saving (I believe they were better value when they were first introduced) and can be quite restrictive in what you can choose to eat if you stick to the meal plan menu. Unless you're just going to be eating at buffet restaurants I think the only real advantage to them these days is that they allow you to budget in advance for your meals.

This was also my understanding. we sat down & worked out whether it was worth us buying the vouchers but my DH didn't like the idea of being restricted on where & what he could eat so we're not going to bother.

We looked back out our bank statement from when we went last year & over 4 nights/5 days we spent £350 (2 adults 1 toddler), which is the same as what we would spend if we went out for dinner every night at home. In fact we went to lunch in Debenhams the other day & it cost more that lunch in DLP.

 

[jothp]

Each level of voucher has a face value in Euros which is the same as what you paid for it. (using the exchange rate set when the brochure was printed). The 'save' in the brochure means that you will save money by eating in that restaurant as long as you eat off the set menu they offer you, the 'tick' means that the vouchers can be used to pay but they will take the face value of the voucher off your bill so you will only get back what you paid. In the restaurants with 'save' you can also choose any item off the menu but then you will use the vouchers at face value so will loose any saving.

Where you do make a saving it tends to be just a few euros per person so a lot of people think it isn't worth it. We have bought them in the past for the convenience of having our meals budgeted before we went. It can also be worth checking the exchange rate used to set the price of the vouchers because it can be very different from the current rate.

Hope this makes sense

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Thank you Carrie Cat and jothp. The answers make sense to me an clearly answer my questions. Although I am going with a group of about 50, we are only doing specific things together and for lodging and most meals we are on our own. It looks as if the Half Board is not really a value, especially when compared to the WDW Dining Plans.