Is the Dining Option worth it?

[JJsmama]

We'll be there Spring Break with 3 adults and 4 kids. Is having the dining option worth the money or (in case the kids are too tired or busy to get to the fancy restaurants) is it lots cheaper to do a la carte? THANKS!

 

[summerrluvv]

I think it's a good deal because it includes character meals!!

 

[MagicKingdom05]

JJsmama,

It all depends on how long you want to go and then it is still really hard to say. My problem with the dinning option is it has to be tied in to a package and I would only beable to go for 8 nights/7 days, instead of the 10 night/11 days that I want to go.

 

[Carrieberry]

The packages in general seem to be a very good deal, with the 8 night one i priced being equal to the rack rate and MYW tickets purchased seperately,but the package included the dining. In other words it was equal to paying rack rate for the room and tickets only, but getting the dining for free. Now the only thing that might be cheaper is doing the room only and tickets seperately with a good discount code. Stilll with the all you can eat places being around $15-20 for dinner, it still seems like a good deal by the time you add on the snack and counter service stuff, plus it is so nice that you can pay that all up front!

 

[Chuck S]

If you are eligible to use a room only discount code, figure that price. Then, figure rack rate (which is what the dining package requires) plus the cost of the dining package.

If you are not able to use a discount code, then the dining may be a good deal. If, however you have to pay a lot extra for the room, your dining option "savings" may have flown out the window.

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

For us it was not a good deal, because we are using a code for our room. And with the package the rooms are at rack rate. I was very interested in the dining option, until I found out the rooms were at rack rate. But, for those who can't get their room discounted, I think its a pretty good deal.

 

[swilphil]

I think if you are willing to stay at a value or maybe a moderate it is worth it, especially if you go at a slow time of year. The problem I found was paying rack rate at a deluxe was so much more than staying on the discount code at the same resort. I'm thinking for our next trip of staying value or mod and getting the dining option.

 

[JJsmama]

Thanks for all the opinions. To answer a couple questions: We'll be there 4 or 5 nights. We have reservations at Wilderness Lodge. I only remembered to check for codes today and the ones for March said 'expired.' Unless someone knows of a code I could use for March (that'd be great!), we're already paying rack rate for WL. With that info, whatdaya think?

Good point about the character breakfasts! Can I go ahead and make reservations? We have 4 boys (4,6,7,10.) Which character breakfast would you recommend?

 

[crisi]

It really depends on how you will eat (after you figure out the code thing). I decided that we NEED one sit down meal a day - and we do eat dessert at that meal. So for us - $35 day is a good deal. Others won't spend $35 a day anyway, so it isn't.

Keep in mind it needs to be purchased for your whole trip.

 

[Carrieberry]

You can make dining priority seatings 90 days from the day you want to eat. So start with 90 days from the first restaurant you want to eat at and then call back dialy and ake your ressies for that day, etc. The places my boys like for breakfast are:
Donald's Breakfastasaurus at Animal Kingdom
Chef Mickey's and the Contemporary
Cape May Cafe character breakfast (Goofy's Beach Club Blast) Beach Club
Your younger one might like Crystal Palace (Pooh and Friends) MK (my boys got too old for this one at about 5 but it is good food!
Also Chef Mickey's is great for a dinner and Liberty Tree Tavern at MK has a great lunch or a character dinner with Thanksgiving style food and colonial dressed characters.
For your money's worth with the dining plan, the dinners are the best option since they cost more! Have you looked at the menus? http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

 

[NoodlesTheRabbit]

maybe this is a dumb question, but can you order anything from the regular menu? Is there a special menu for the dining plan?

 

[Carrieberry]

I am pretty sure includes an appitizer per family, an entree per person and dessert and a beverage. Anything off the menu like the old dining plan.

 

[summerrluvv]

I am pretty sure includes an appitizer per family, an entree per person and dessert and a beverage. Anything off the menu like the old dining plan.

It's one appetizer per person, not family.

 

[Carrieberry]

Wow then it is even a better deal than i thought! That is alot of food since an appiitizer can be pretty large and to have 4 or 5 of them is a really good deal!

 

[doberlady]

counter lunch
snack

appitizer per person
entree
drink
dessert per person

I think we are all going to gain some poundage this trip!!

 

[Carrieberry]

Yep- here is what it says, but if the children have to order off the children's menu do they get an appitizer since there are none on the kid's menus?

The Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining enhancement provides two meals and one snack at the following participating Disney restaurants.

The Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining includes:

• Accommodations at a Disney Resort
• Magic Your Way Base ticket
• Disney Dining Plan

Choose from over 100 participating Disney restaurants. For each night of the package you receive:

* 1 Table-Service meal including appetizer, entrée, dessert, non-alcoholic beverage and/or gratuity/service charge
* 1 Counter Service meal including entrée and non-alcoholic beverage
* 1 Snack, such as snack-cart ice cream, popcorn or a non-alcoholic beverage

Children ages 3-9 must choose from children’s menu if available

Meal options are flexible and can be used in a variety of combinations, including:

* using multiple meal options in any one day
* exchanging one table-service meal for one character dining experience
* exchanging two table-service meals for one meal at a dinner show or at a signature restaurant such as the California Grill.

1 Table-Service meal can be exchanged for 1 Character Dining Experience. 2 Table-Service meals may also be exchanged for either 1 Signature Dining Experience at one of Disney’s finer restaurants or for 1 Disney Dinner Show, such as Hoop-De-Doo Musical Review.

* Official Walt Disney Travel Company luggage tag (one per person)

Everyone in the room must be on the same package and ticket options. All passes must be used within 14 days of first use, unless the No Expiration option is purchased.

 

[doberlady]

* 1 Table-Service meal including appetizer, entrée, dessert, non-alcoholic beverage and/or gratuity/service charge

I didn't realize it included the tip! Wonder how they work that out with the servers?

 

[dmslush]

I didn't realize it included the tip! Wonder how they work that out with the servers?

I wondered that also. SO and I were talking about it.. I wonder if we will get less attentive service if they feel that they don't have to 'work' for their tip, they are already going to get it? I know that sounds bad, but you know what I mean. When I waited tables, I worked for the best tip I could get, never knowing how much it was going to be.. sometimes 15% and sometimes more.

 

[benebire]

Heres a sample meal , I plan to order with 1 sit down meal. This is for Le Cellier in Canada At Epcot.

Appetizer -Beef and Barley Soup - rich beef broth and fresh vegetables $4.99

Entree- 20 oz. Bone-in Ribeye Steak - roasted garlic, frisee, and Roasted Yukon potatoes flavored with caramelized Vidalia onions, finished with veal demi glace $36.99
Dessert- Canadian Club Cake $6.99
Beverage- Coke $2.29 (estimate couldnt find price)
Sub-Total $ 51.26
Gratuity $ 7.65 15%
Total meal $ 58.91 (all totally included in the dining plan)

I think i can get my moneys worth, considering this doesnt even include the counter service lunch and snack I get for the day. I'm guessing lunch will cost another $10.00 and snack $2.50-3.00 so I think for this day I would be getting about $71.41 worth of food for $35.00. For us its a good deal as we love the opportunity to eat at some of the nicer restaurants, which we probably wouldnt do if we had to pay per meal.
FyI- prices taken from wdwig.com

 

[cyndibelle]

we are going to be there for 10 days and i just feel like with the dining option i would be forced to sit down and eat like all the time.....i dont think i could handle 8 nights of sit down full blown meals.....thats alot of food...i dont know....anyone have any advice..i know we will go to chef mickeys..and ohanas to eat..and probably the 50s prime time cafe... 2 adults 2 kids..