Help with Dining Plan ?'s

[prune1977]

Myself, wife, and 3 kids ages 5,3, and 10 months are staying at Disney for the first time in January 2011. Is the Dining plan prices then for 2011? Also we get the free dining but are thinking about upgrading to the Deluxe Dining? Should we? We're wanting to do all the character dining (non-signature) that we can while we're there. Thanks for all the help.

 

[worm761]

If you are going in 2011, then you have to pay the 2011 prices. You need to look at the restaurants that you want to eat at and which ones you can get reservations at and then decide if it would cost effective to upgrade to the deluxe plan. Honestly, I wouldn't suggest it. Character meals are great but sit down dining takes time and you have three kids 5 and under. How often do you eat at sit down restaurants at home? Now do that probably three times a day. Is that what you want for vacation?

To see menus and pricing: http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

 

[amyr1]

I think there is a sticky on this forum with the 2011 prices listed and also the cost to upgrade.

Honestly, with little kids I would not upgrade to Deluxe--that's way too much traveling for ADR's, time spent sitting in restaurants...I just don't think your kids would enjoy it.

I would recommend the regular dining plan (1 TS + 1 CS+ 1 Snack). This would let you have a character meal each day and allow you more time in the parks (or back at the room taking a nap.) We will also be there in January and this is the plan we are doing (with 2 kids 11 and 5)

Also, you need to get ADR's made ASAP. I'm finding things hard to get at the times I want them so don't wait too long or you won't get anything--especially with FREE dining going on.

HTH
Amy

 

[Nadjalu]

I agree, if you aren't doing signature places, go with the DDP.

1 character meal a day is good for your family at this point. You don't want to spend 3 meals a day, each at an hour or 2 eating. That would take most the day!!
And it would be overload for the kids.

Even doing 1 every other day is good at their age.

And PP is right, with Jan right around the corner you may have a very hard time finding reservations for character meals.
I would start now and book them if you know when you are going.

 

[Faldred]

Actually, I recommend the opposite. With small kids, I like DxDP because you can start the day with a character breakfast, have a relaxed, sit-down meal out of the heat and bustle for lunch, and then end the day with a nice dinner before bedtime.

To mix it up a bit, book a dinner show or CRT, and just use snacks for breakfast or lunch on some days.

I find the "it takes too much time" argument specious. If you're eating at normal mealtimes and not dawdling, a TS meal might take 15-20 minutes on average longer than a CS meal, if you factor in the time waiting in line to order and get your food (especially when dealing with kids and diaper changes/potty breaks as part of the meal). In exchange, you get a more relaxed "down time" experience which minimizes the need for taking an afternoon break from the parks. And, as some people note, doing the character dining minimizes the standing in line in the parks to get autographs or otherwise meet-and-greet.

What it does require, however, is more detailed planning. You need to make your ADRs in such a way that you don't find yourself running all over a park (or other parts of the property!) to get from place to place. Work your touring schedule and ADRs together in such a way that you should be in the general area of where your meals are at the appropriate times. Try for breakfast ADRs before park opening so that you're still starting your park touring right when the gates open.

Use fast pass and rider swap to your best advantage -- ride standby during the morning, and collect the fast passes and rider swap tickets to use later in the day when lines get long. You'll be able to have a full day and enjoy your meals. If you plan things well.

 

[TDC Nala]

This thread has the upgrade costs from free dining for 2010 and 2011. If you check in for your trip during 2011, use the 2011 pricing.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2534992

If you haven't booked character meals yet for January, do it as soon as possible. Some of them will already be very difficult to get, especially if your kids are on a schedule and you need peak mealtimes.

 

[havoc315]

I like upgrading from free basic dining to the deluxe plan, but it certainly is not for everyone.
If your goal is simply maximizing character dining, then I probably would not upgrade. There is only so much character dining, in terms of choices and in terms of time and tolerance. (I can't really imagine doing more than 1 character meal per day).

The basic plan will essentially let you do 1 character meal per day (you might have to skip a day to allot 2 credits to Royal Table).

Thus, you should be able to get all the character dining you would want, on the basic plan.

Further, character dining is not a great use of the deluxe plan. One of the advantages of the deluxe plan, is that you get an appetizer with your table meals -- But you don't get anything "extra" at the character buffets.

Comes down to this... The deluxe plan costs about an extra $30 per day for each adult, and $10 per day for the each kids. Looks like it would cost you about an extra $80 per day. So does the deluxe plan give you enough extra value to be worth over $80 per day?

If you want to do a second table service meal per day... Then it comes close. (For a family of 4, I'd say that a deluxe table service meal is really worth about $50-70 more than a CS meal) If you want to do 3 meals per day, with at least 2 of them being table service, then it is probably worth it.

 

[prune1977]

Another question while I'm thinking of it, on the deluxe plan can you actually use all your meals at table service if you wish?

 

[crashbb]

Another question while I'm thinking of it, on the deluxe plan can you actually use all your meals at table service if you wish?

Yup. You have three "meal" credit per day - you can use them at TS or CS, as you wish. Obviously more cost effective to use them at TS restaurant (though I'm sure there are weird instances where this isn't true).

 

[Colleen27]

We love the deluxe plan, but I'm reluctant to suggest it for first timers. It is a lot of time spent in restaurants, and it takes more planning than the basic or quick service plans to make sure you aren't spending inordinate amounts of time traveling to/from meals. Of course, you're a step ahead having found the DIS and with a good plan the deluxe dining package really is fabulous!

The first thing I would do, since ADRs opened up quite a while ago for your travel dates, is to make a list of the places you want to eat and try to get reservations. If you can't get many of the ones you want, that'll tell you what to do about the dining plan upgrade. If you can, and it looks like you'll need enough extra TS credits to justify the upgrade cost, your decision will be easy. Just keep in mind that you're going to want to stick to meals in or near the park you'll be in for the day, so that you aren't wasting a lot of vacation time driving to and fro.

 

[catluver01876]

Can anyone explain how disney dining plan works? I have my character dining reservations booked so I what I have left is counter service and snack. Can I use my counter service/snack for a character breakfast/dinner or not? How do they keep track of your points and know exactly what you can use for them, etc. Thanks

 

[caravarela]

Can anyone explain how disney dining plan works? I have my character dining reservations booked so I what I have left is counter service and snack. Can I use my counter service/snack for a character breakfast/dinner or not? How do they keep track of your points and know exactly what you can use for them, etc. Thanks

No. On the basic DDP your credits are separated into TS/CS/S. You can't use CS for a TS. But if you were on the Deluxe DP, you could use your meal credits at TS or CS, because they aren't kept track of separately.