Honest Opinions needed on new dining rates

[Quinn222]

But, can you really do this every day of your trip? Isn't that way too much food to eat everyday? I'm just asking. I love food. But I couldn't eat an appetizer and dessert at lunch and dinner.

Yes! That's exactly how we eat on our trips. I'd love to get this plan, it would really pay for us but we can't because we are Passholders.

 

[ToyStory]

I have been thinking about this. I think I would do the Deluxe but only for part of my trip since I don't think I could take that pace of eating and be spending a lot of time sitting down in restaurants instead of touring the parks. I could eat at all the places I like for TS during my first half then the other half choose the restaurants I would eat OOP and CS.

By the time we ago again (4 to 5 years) things will most likely to change.

 

[kd2226]

I agree with other posters who have suggested having a look at the menus of the restaurants that interest you and adding up approxiamately what you would spend if paying out of pocket.
We did the dining plan in 2005 and, no doubt, it worked out to be great value for our family. The 2 "problems" we noticed at that time were: 1) It was too much food and we would end up over eating. 2) There were times when it was a bit restrictive and/or inconsistant. Example, I am a light breakfast eater and would usually just have a bagel from the food court. Sometimes the cashier would charge me a full counter service meal for just a bagel. Other times a different cashier would allow me to get 2 bagels for a counter service and 1 time I was only charged a snack credit.

We are going back in 2008 and will not be getting the dining reason for 2 reasons: 1) Now that you have to pay extra for the tip and the appetizer is not included it does not seem like that great of value. 2) Our oldest child recently turned 10 and, while the children's price seemed great value, the thought of paying $40 a day for her sounds crazy to me.

 

[rdsx28]

In my humble opinion I do not feel the dining plan is worth it with the changes. they have cut the price by $1.00 big deal! They are taking an appetizer away that are normally $6.00-$7.00 in price (I am being kind here) and now we also have to pay gratuity OOP. Honestly, it was alot of food and I can see them offering no appetizers but decrease the cost a bit more to make up for it. I do also agree that service at times reflected the dining plan. Servers knew they would get a tip so they really didn't care in most cases about the quality of their service. Restaurants outside of Disney are lower cost and I'm sure some coupons are offered through RESTAURANTS.Com for the area so it may be worth checking out all the options.We will be utilizing the dining plan in November but I would venture to say that it will be the last time we do it but then again maybe that's what Disney wants??? With all the changes in room rates as well DVC may be worth a second look in the big scheme of things. It's sad to me that many families may be priced out of Disney in the future if they continue to increase everything!