Has anyone tried this on the dining plan??

[clkelley]

We are two adults that are going to be using the free dining plan in September (booked during our last trip in December). We have visited many many times before, so "time" is not of the essence, but enjoying ourselves together is.

This may not be the "best" use of the dining plan, but may be the best use for our eating habits.

We're thinking about using our counter service for breakfast, (POP has a pretty good breakfast platter at 5.99 ,or omelets at 6.49).

Then we would visit a table service at lunch and split a meal, appetizer, main course, desert.

Then we would visit a table service at dinner and split a meal, appetizer, main course, desert.

Of course, we would pay OOP for the extra drink, and maybe a salad or soup to share.

Whaddya think??

I'm just really worried about losing a lot of deserts by using counter service for lunch and two table service for dinner because we usually split an appetizer, have our own main dish, then a couple hours later wander in somewhere (like Norway's, France's, Beaches and Cream, or Girradelli's and have desert).

 

[Luv Bunnies]

If you're getting free dining, I'd say use it however you want. You won't be getting the full benefit you're allowed, but that doesn't matter if you didn't pay for it. I think your plan sounds good!

 

[bicker]

Also, keep in mind that you cannot apply your approach at any prix fixe meals, such as Biergarten.

 

[clkelley]

Yep, I know that. There are lots of places we like that have both lunch and dinner that are not buffets or fixed price.

Although, our last day, we'll probably go to a buffet at lunch and use two credits as ME will probably pick us up right after lunch. (We'll be arriving late our first night and won't be using any credits, so will have all credits our last day).

 

[goofydad621]

Also Keep in mind that as of this time there is no free dinning for 2007 except I believe there was a package released for the UK.
We are hoping for free dining again also but no guarantee. They had the special buy so many nights get so many nights free two years running then dropped it for something else so who knows for sure what is in store for this year.

JMOHO

Dave

 

[clkelley]

Actually, yes there is/was a free dining offer called "your next Disney Vacation"

During December, if you were a Disney resort guest, you could go by the Beach Club or Port Orleans Riverside, or call a special number from your room phone, and book a free dining package for August ?? through September 29th, while you were there. We were staying at Ft. Wilderness and were having dinner at Yacht Club Galley one evening. There was a note on our dining receipt and we wandered over to the Beach Club and booked. (We knew about it before hand and had the special phone number, but wasn't sure where the live person desks were.)

You had to book it while you were still a Disney resort guest and pay the deposit right then and there.

This offer will be available through December 31st. So if you hurry and get a room at Disney before December 31st, you can run down there and book the deal.

 

[bicker]

Actually, the free dining promotion for the heart of Hurricane Season 2007 has also been extended to current WDW guests -- folks staying on-site right now (through 12/31/06) willing to plan a return visit for August/September.

You're right that there are no guarantees: The more they fill the rooms using this targeted promotions (UK residents; current on-site guests willing to make a return visit, etc.) the fewer rooms there will be left to offer to the general public.

 

[aubriee]

Also Keep in mind that as of this time there is no free dinning for 2007 except I believe there was a package released for the UK.
We are hoping for free dining again also but no guarantee. They had the special buy so many nights get so many nights free two years running then dropped it for something else so who knows for sure what is in store for this year.

JMOHO
Dave

The Bounce Back offer is being offered at this time until Dec 31st. I booked free dining for Sept 29th-Oct 7th, 2007 when I was down there Dec 9th-17th. It is for check-ins from early August through Sept 29th. I asked the CM at PORS (where I booked it) several times and he assured me the free dining would extend for my entire trip and when I got the blue envelope a few days after I returned home sure enough it said free dining for 8 TS, 8 CS, and 8 snacks/person. The CM also made a point of saying that the bounce back offer was being very popular and that since Disney was 'drastically reducing' the number of free dining pkgs available this year (due to complaints from both visitors and restaraunts) that the only free dining being offered this year was through the Bounce Back Program and the UK.

As far as the OP question: I think you have an excellent plan and I wouldn't worry about trying to get the best bang for your buck. We've used the dining plan three times (paid for it once and got it the last two Sept free). The first time we tried to maximize the plan, but realized we were eating too much and not what we really wanted. The last two times we used it, we ate where we wanted, ordered just what we wanted, and paid OOP for anything not covered, and found we enjoyed it much more.

 

[BuffaloGal]

Just a little side note to folks splitting a meal. Please keep in mind that two diners are still just as much work for the staff and tip accordingly. 18% on one $40 meal when you have two guests to keep happy, two beverages to keep filled, two sets of special requests to keep, and likely just as many plates to bring out and clear isn't really fair for the service provided. So, if you are going to split a TS meal, please consider tipping what you would if both of you ordered and ate. A couple of dollars goes a long way to make a servers' night.

 

[jjohnson]

We've used the dining plan three times (paid for it once and got it the last two Sept free). The first time we tried to maximize the plan, but realized we were eating too much and not what we really wanted. The last two times we used it, we ate where we wanted, ordered just what we wanted, and paid OOP for anything not covered, and found we enjoyed it much more.

Exactly what we plan to do on our next trip.

 

[clkelley]

Just a little side note to folks splitting a meal. Please keep in mind that two diners are still just as much work for the staff and tip accordingly. 18% on one $40 meal when you have two guests to keep happy, two beverages to keep filled, two sets of special requests to keep, and likely just as many plates to bring out and clear isn't really fair for the service provided. So, if you are going to split a TS meal, please consider tipping what you would if both of you ordered and ate. A couple of dollars goes a long way to make a servers' night.

That is a good thought to keep in mind. I usually tip servers well. Although off the dining plan, we'd probably order smaller priced entrees, and split an appetizer, so it may work out to be about the same. I know tipping on price is about the only way to do it, but I've always noticed a large family with small children, that probably has adults ordering just something to keep them fed and lots of kids meals, is probably lots more work than an adult couple ordering the best steaks, a good bottle of wine, salads, appetizers, etc. Where do you think the larger tip is going to come from??

I guess it all evens out in the end.

 

[The Sweetness]

IMO, on the DDP, unless we feel that our service is lacking, the server has an extra $5 comming to them at the end of the meal (unless we shared aps and desserts and ordered an additional entree/ coke) Then it would be more than $5 extra. But I tend to over tip a bit locally for good service. However, If I feel that I havent been propperly served, and the place isnt OBVIOUSLY understaffed, my server can expect no tip, and a complaint to mgmt

 

[n2mm]

Your plan sounds doeable. The only thing that comes to mind for me is that you need to remember that the lunch menus and dinner menus are often different and the portion sizes are smaller. For example, we could only get a lunch ADR last trip at Coral Reef. The cut of meat was much smaller than the dinner cut and there was no bread served with lunch, but at dinner there is. So you need to keep that in mind when choose lunch places. The menu stays the same for a few places (50s Prime Time, the Plaza), but many places have different/smaller portion meals for lunch (Coral Reef, 9 dragons, etc.). Also, you might want to supplement that breakfast at Pop, as we also stay at Pop a couple of times a year, and find the breakfasts there good, but hardly enough for us to share--actually I don't think my hubby would even consider sharing his Pop food court breakfast -- could use your snack credit for a pastry.

 

[n2mm]

As far as the OP question: I think you have an excellent plan and I wouldn't worry about trying to get the best bang for your buck. We've used the dining plan three times (paid for it once and got it the last two Sept free). The first time we tried to maximize the plan, but realized we were eating too much and not what we really wanted. The last two times we used it, we ate where we wanted, ordered just what we wanted, and paid OOP for anything not covered, and found we enjoyed it much more.

I was going to say this exact thing. We too tried to get the bang for the buck the first time and found it exhausting and a pain. AFter that we did like you, ate what we wanted, used the credits as we needed to and paid OOP for anything extra not covered, or ate extra places (breakfast) and paid OOP. We too found we enjoyed it much more and had a more relaxing stress-free trip than the first time we did the DDP. We have done the DDP 4 trips now and will be doing it again in February. We no longer worry about getting the maximum benefits, we always just hope to break even to what we paid for the dining plan.

 

[clkelley]

Your plan sounds doeable. The only thing that comes to mind for me is that you need to remember that the lunch menus and dinner menus are often different and the portion sizes are smaller. For example, we could only get a lunch ADR last trip at Coral Reef. The cut of meat was much smaller than the dinner cut and there was no bread served with lunch, but at dinner there is. So you need to keep that in mind when choose lunch places. The menu stays the same for a few places (50s Prime Time, the Plaza), but many places have different/smaller portion meals for lunch (Coral Reef, 9 dragons, etc.). Also, you might want to supplement that breakfast at Pop, as we also stay at Pop a couple of times a year, and find the breakfasts there good, but hardly enough for us to share--actually I don't think my hubby would even consider sharing his Pop food court breakfast -- could use your snack credit for a pastry.

We're not planning on sharing the CS Credit. We'll each use one for breakfast at POP.

I'm also not a big eater at lunch. Usually soup and a snack is it..

I actually eat everything that is offered for the meal plan throughout the day, but broken up into smaller bits throughout the day.

My typical Disney eating is

Breakfast: Typical breakfast at food court

Snack about 10am

Appetizer at a sit down for lunch

Main Course at Sit Down for dinner, maybe sharing appetizer with hubby.

Desert a couple of hours later

So if each portion of the meal plan was offered separately, it would be great for us. It's just having all that at once for dinner that would fill us up if we don't split.

 

[clemsondisneyfan]

We did that same sort of thing with our 2 kids (+2 adults) in Jan. 2006. We ate when we wanted, shared meals and didn't stress. We also never felt stuffed, and it was great!

Our kids would even share a kid's meal b/c sometimes the cheeseburgers or sandwiches were adult size. Then, about 3 hours later, they would share another kid's meal. (Now they have changed the menus I guess and I am not sure they will have enough to split it - we shall see)

We were all happy, well fed and pleased with the DDP. We are using it again when we arrive in....

22 days/POP

 

[chilis]

I guess I am confused.....I thought you received 1 cs, 1 ts and 1 snack per person, per day and that you had to use your entire meal credit at once. Does Disney allow you to order an appetizer at one restaurant then order an entree at another and then dessert at yet another restaurant?? If so, that would be wonderful for us, as we never order all that food at one seating. Can someone clarify this for me? Thanks!

 

[bicker]

No, you cannot order the appetizer at one restaurant and then the entree at another and then the dessert at another.

In the past, a few CS eateries sometimes allowed some patrons to come back to the same eatery for their dessert after they're done with their entree. However, it was only a few CS eateries; the eateries weren't consistent about when they permitted it and when they didn't; and I've read that at least some of those eateries have discontinued the practice.

Plan on getting your entire meal at the same time, at the same eatery, when redeeming Dining Plan credits.

 

[clkelley]

I guess I am confused.....I thought you received 1 cs, 1 ts and 1 snack per person, per day and that you had to use your entire meal credit at once. Does Disney allow you to order an appetizer at one restaurant then order an entree at another and then dessert at yet another restaurant?? If so, that would be wonderful for us, as we never order all that food at one seating. Can someone clarify this for me? Thanks!

No you can't. I didn't mean to confuse the issue. I was just stating that is the way I normally eat at Disney when NOT on the dining plan. At the counter service, you will get everything at once. At the table service, you will get everything at one seating. If you choose your desert item carefully, it "might" be possible to get your desert to go. But that's about the only option you have.

 

[chilis]

Thanks. That is how I asssumed it worked, but when I read the previous post is got me thinking that maybe I was mistaken (it certainly wouldn't be the first time!)