Just some questions from a Newbie

[*Dana*]

Hi

I'm planning my WDW trip for next year. Me and my family (means my husband and my daughter) will stay 14 days in WDW next year september. It will be our first trip to WDW- and your first trip to US to. We never been there before.

We visited Disneyland Paris for three times yet, but there is no option of dining plans, so its new stuff for me and my family. And the most informations are in english - of course. So there are a few questions inside me, and i hope you could help me to find the right answers.

At first= We think a dining plan is a really good idea, but there are much different opinions about, that i found so far.
What do you think? Is ist clever to book a dining plan or is it not to be needed?
Which kind of dining plan would you prefer?

How does it works? I understand it this way= You get voucher for different meals (like "snack" or "dinner" - things like that) and use this vouchers at the restaurant or snackbars if you want to. I will be able to use it as payment. Is it right so far?

Do we have to eat just in restaurants, which are allowed do use? Or are we free to choose everyone we want to?

How needfull is it to make a reservation in the restaurants before we arrived? The thing is, that we like it to decide spontaneously. Could it make trouble for us, if we dont have a reservation? What do you think? For example: I thought it could be able to have a look at the restaurants and make a reservation for the next day.
If this doesnt work, we will have some looks online and make our decision this way.

If some of my sentences dont make sense, feel free to ask me what i mean My school-time-english is long ago and i am not sure if i use the right words

Thank you a lot
Dana

 

[Faldred]

Welcome! Hopefully, I can provide answers that will transcend any language barrier.

We think a dining plan is a really good idea, but there are much different opinions about, that i found so far.
What do you think? Is ist clever to book a dining plan or is it not to be needed?
Which kind of dining plan would you prefer?

There are advantages and disadvantages to any of the dining plans offered. Different people going to the same restaurants and ordering the same items will still likely have different ideas as to the benefits of using a particular plan.

As to whether or not it is a good idea, that's very personal. My general advice is that if one of the plans matches (at least closely) the way you wish to dine, then it's probably a good idea.

I personally would choose the deluxe dining plan, because I prefer table service meals, and I like appetizers and desserts as often as I can get them. I'm also not fond of counter service. But that's me. Others will say it's too much food and takes too much time away from other park activities.

How does it works? I understand it this way= You get voucher for different meals (like "snack" or "dinner" - things like that) and use this vouchers at the restaurant or snackbars if you want to. I will be able to use it as payment. Is it right so far?

Pretty much. You don't receive vouchers, however. Your resort card (which acts as your resort identification, room key, park tickets, and so on) has a number of "credits" loaded onto it when you check in. All of the credits for each room can be accessed from any card in that room. When you order, you can "pay" with a credit for covered items.

The number and type of credits depend on the specific plan you choose, and are based on the number of nights you are staying at the resort. You get all of the credits when you arrive, and they are good through midnight following checking out of the resort. This link has the details of what types of credits are provided by each plan, and what you can get for those credits.

Do we have to eat just in restaurants, which are allowed do use? Or are we free to choose everyone we want to?

There are a wide variety of places to eat on the plan. Not every restaurant participates (those owned by Disney, however, pretty much all do, along with several third-party vendors). There are both table service (TS) and counter service (CS) restaurants, as well as many snack bars throughout the parks and resorts.

In general, you can order whatever you want from the menu, within your plan entitlements.

How needfull is it to make a reservation in the restaurants before we arrived? The thing is, that we like it to decide spontaneously. Could it make trouble for us, if we dont have a reservation? What do you think? For example: I thought it could be able to have a look at the restaurants and make a reservation for the next day.
If this doesnt work, we will have some looks online and make our decision this way.

For table service (TS) restaurants, it is generally strongly recommended to have advance dining reservations (ADRs), especially if you're going at busier times. In off-peak seasons, you may be able to do more last-minute reservations or walk-ups if you're flexible as to where and when you'd like to dine.

For counter service and snacks, of course, it's just a matter of going whenever you want to any participation location.

 

[pooch]

you say you are going next September. Disney has, for the past 5 years, offered the Dining plan free during September. You book a package which includes room at rack (no discount) rate and park tickets and either the Quick Service plan or the Regular Dining plan is free for your party. Depending on what level of resort you are planning, this may be a good discount for you.

I will caution you that the regular DDP which includes 1 counter service, 1 table service and 1 snack per person per day does require pre-planning (reservations) especially in September when so many have it free. Trying to find a restaurant with an opening that day can and will be a challenge.

Welcome to the DIS. Don't worry about your English, we'll understand what you mean. Ask lots of questions!!

 

[*Dana*]

Hi

First= Thank you so much! Your answers are helping me to understand how ist works.

@Faldred

I personally would choose the deluxe dining plan, because I prefer table service meals, and I like appetizers and desserts as often as I can get them. I'm also not fond of counter service. But that's me. Others will say it's too much food and takes too much time away from other park activities.

Thanks- it looks like we prefer the same way to have our meals. Table service meals is the thing, that we prefer everytime.

Your resort card (which acts as your resort identification, room key, park tickets, and so on) has a number of "credits" loaded onto it when you check in. All of the credits for each room can be accessed from any card in that room. When you order, you can "pay" with a credit for covered items.

Wow- sounds modern. Really cool and much easier than in Disneyland Paris. There you could book half board meal plans- but you get vouchers for every day and meal.
To have the credits on the resort card sounds more comfortable.

I will read the link as soon as i can. I need a lot of time to translate the things

For table service (TS) restaurants, it is generally strongly recommended to have advance dining reservations (ADRs), especially if you're going at busier times.

Thx. How early would be the best to make a reservation? 3 weeks before? 4? 7? I have no idea *lol*

@pooch

you say you are going next September. Disney has, for the past 5 years, offered the Dining plan free during September. You book a package which includes room at rack (no discount) rate and park tickets and either the Quick Service plan or the Regular Dining plan is free for your party. Depending on what level of resort you are planning, this may be a good discount for you.

Sounds cool - and would be perfekt for us. I will have a look for this offer.

I will caution you that the regular DDP which includes 1 counter service, 1 table service and 1 snack per person per day does require pre-planning (reservations) especially in September when so many have it free. Trying to find a restaurant with an opening that day can and will be a challenge.

Good to know! I dont need challenges. The journey from germany to florida would be exciting enough for us We want to have a magical time not a "we have to find a place to eat" time

Welcome to the DIS. Don't worry about your English, we'll understand what you mean. Ask lots of questions!!

I'm sure- i will ask a lot of questions. And maybe my english is getting better until next year - its getting better with every word i read and write

Dana

 

[TDC Nala]

How early would be the best to make a reservation? 3 weeks before? 4? 7? I have no idea *lol*

You can make restaurant reservations starting six months (180 days) before the first day of your trip. It's usually suggested that if you know where you want to eat, that you make a reservation for that place as soon as you can. Also, if you want a very popular restaurant, make that reservation as soon as you can.

 

[*Dana*]

Hi,

Ok- now i know what the next steps of planning will be. We will have a look of the possibilities and i hope we will decide for the right ones. I think it isnt easy to choose one restaurant, if you havent seen it before.

Dana

 

[MHSweb79]

Hello Dana -

I think your English is fine- we are having no trouble understanding your questions. (Put it this way - your English is 100 times better than our German!)

Unfortunately, you will need to make your dining reservations MANY MONTHS before your trip, especially if you are considering the Deluxe Dining Plan. Many many people call 6 months before their trip, so the restaurants do book up quickly. During September, almost every restaurant will send you away if you do not have a reservation. So you would pay for the plan but not get to use it. You can make reservations online at the Disney official web site. Of course, you will have to decide which park you will be attending on each day before you can decide where to eat. Yes, this means you will not be able to be spontaneous if you are planning to eat three table-service meals each day.

You can visit this page to see which restaurants are in each park, and how much people like them: http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=32 This site also has menus and often pictures of the restaurant.

If you decide you cannot plan your days this far ahead, then you should not purchase the dining plan.

 

[*Dana*]

Hi MHSweb79,

Thanks for your posting and thank you for the link. We will study all the restaurants and talk about where we want to go on which day. 14 days are a long time - and there comes the next question to me How long do we need for which Park?
We are "looking people". That means= We love it to go slow and have a look at most of the shops. Have a look to everything that bring the magic in our heart. Sometimes in DLP we just sit one hour in a cafe and have a look at all the happy childrens eyes, listen the musik all around...things like this.

Very importent for us is MK - of course! Are 4-5 days ok to see the most things?
Then AK - we wait in suspense of it- because there is no simular thing in DLP. I thought it could need 1-2 days.
The DHS could need 4 days also- am i right?
And Epcot just round 1-2 days.

That would be 12-13 days. I hope I'm right. Or should we spend more or lesser days in one or the other park?

Dana

 

[mittmee mouse]

I don't have much info to help you (you've been given a lot of great info already!) but I had to reply! You and your family sound like so much fun, and I'd love to be there to see you taking in all the sites of Disney for the first time! I bet it truly will be magical for you! I hope you enjoy your trip!

We're planning to go Oct 2010, but we may end up there in Sept or Nov. It's a great time of year to go!

 

[*Dana*]

Hi,

Thank you so much mittmee mouse! If we are there next year we will make a lot (very very VERY lot) of pictures, which will show us with the magic in the eyes - and one of them i will take only for you

You have to be sooooo happy, that you visit WDW this year! I'm sure you will have a really fantastic and magical time!

Greetings
Dana

 

[catne]

Hi MHSweb79,

Thanks for your posting and thank you for the link. We will study all the restaurants and talk about where we want to go on which day. 14 days are a long time - and there comes the next question to me How long do we need for which Park?
We are "looking people". That means= We love it to go slow and have a look at most of the shops. Have a look to everything that bring the magic in our heart. Sometimes in DLP we just sit one hour in a cafe and have a look at all the happy childrens eyes, listen the musik all around...things like this.

Very importent for us is MK - of course! Are 4-5 days ok to see the most things?
Then AK - we wait in suspense of it- because there is no simular thing in DLP. I thought it could need 1-2 days.
The DHS could need 4 days also- am i right?
And Epcot just round 1-2 days.

That would be 12-13 days. I hope I'm right. Or should we spend more or lesser days in one or the other park?

Dana

Hi, Dana. My daughter went to Disneyland Paris last November, and loved it (she was studying in London for a semester, so did side-trips to France, Switzerland, Ireland & Scotland.) She has been to Disney World in Florida many times and said Disneyland Paris is similar, but also has a number of differences.

Animal Kingdom, if you want to see & do everything there including shows, rides, and exhibits, would probably take 2 days. Magic Kingdom would probably be 3 days. I would say you might want to change DHS to 2 days and plan on 3-4 days for Epcot (Epcot is a huge park, with many, many attractions.)

We have used the dining plans many times and we really like the plans. It's much easier to have the meals mostly paid for in advance and convenient not to carry a lot of cash or credit cards to pay for food.

 

[*Dana*]

Hi Catne

Best wishes to your daughter - hope she liked it in europe

Thank you for your point of view. With this informations i could do my trip planning much better. And if we arent able to see all - there will be a second time - I'm sure

So i plan 2 day for AK, 3 days for MK, 2 days for DHS and 3 days for Epcot - that ist perfect for the 10 days park-hopper tickets

We have used the dining plans many times and we really like the plans. It's much easier to have the meals mostly paid for in advance and convenient not to carry a lot of cash or credit cards to pay for food.

I had the same idea, if i read about the dinings plans.

Now i looked hours for hours for the restaurants - and i am sure it will take just a lot of time to decide what we want.

Are there typical american things that we HAVE to eat, if we are in florida? Something, you say= You have to try it! Its really tasty?

Greetings
Dana

 

[sharonabe]

Hi Dana!

I'm not sure of any typical American thing you HAVE to eat, but at Disney, I think there are experiences you may want to enjoy when it comes to eating.

With the Deluxe plan, you all get three meals a day and these can be anywhere the dining plan is honored which is 95% of the restaurants at Disney.

You don't say how old your daughter is, but I think some experiences you don't want to miss are:

Cinderella's Royal Table (takes 2 dining credits) at Magic Kingdom
Akershus Princess Meal at Epcot
Coral Reef at Epcot (the restaurant has the acquarium for it's main wall and you can watch the fish)
Tusker House breakfast at Animal Kingdom is a great character breakfast with Donald and Daisy
Ohana at the Polynesian resort: Breakfast is a character meal with Stitch and Lilo and Dinner is a meat lover's paradise and different from anywhere else on property.
50's Prime Time at Studios is one of the most American meals you can have...just be prepared to be treated like family and told to get your elbows off the table
Hoop de Doo Musical Review at Fort Wilderness Resort (takes 2 credits) is a good dinner show and a taste of America's old west
California Grill at Contemporary Resort (takes 2 credits) is an upscale restaurant with a great view of the Magic Kingdom...a good place to watch the fireworks or see the sunset.
Spirit of Aloha Luau at Polynesian (takes 2 credits) is another good dinner show with an Hawaiin theme
Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge has some African food on the buffet

Other people may have others they think is a good experience. With 14 days, you should have enough credits to eat at most places you want to.

 

[*Dana*]

Hi sharonabe,

My daughter will be 14 - near to 15- next year september. Thank you for suggestions.
I love character meals and i'm sure that we will try Cinderellas Royal Table (we didn't do it in Disneyland Paris, because it was to expensive. There it is round 60 € - that would be 72 $).
I'm happy, that you say, "The Tusker House breakfast" could be a good idea. I saw it in the web yesterday and it looked nice to me, but i read some bad opinions of it. So i get a little bit unsure whether it is the right thing.

The California Grill sounds much great to me. Eating and having a look at the fireworks will be fantastic.

As i told my husband, that we have to plan our days and meals this long time before he was really surprised about it. I think he is more then happy, that i like to plan and arrange travelings.

And i have another question. Whats about the tips? How much will be right? What will be to much? What will be to little? And how does it works in us? In Germany you give it direct to your waiter. In france you could gave it to your waiter or let it on the table.

Dana

 

[Faldred]

I enjoyed Tusker House breakfast, personally. Nothing p;articularly "signature" about the food, but it was good and it was nice to be able to walk out of the restaurant pretty much right on to Kilimanjaro Safari.

All questions regarding tipping should be directed here.

 

[pooch]

you will find a "sticky" (means it won't move) all about tipping. It will give you everything you need to tip like a pro! You know you're getting us all excited to help you with your trip. All of us uber-planners love to help!!!

 

[*Dana*]

Hi,

I enjoyed Tusker House breakfast, personally. Nothing p;articularly "signature" about the food, but it was good and it was nice to be able to walk out of the restaurant pretty much right on to Kilimanjaro Safari.

All questions regarding tipping should be directed here.

Thanks for the link. I learned a lot about tipping and i hope i will do it right next year.
I am happy that i ask about, then there ar much differents to germany.

you will find a "sticky" (means it won't move) all about tipping. It will give you everything you need to tip like a pro! You know you're getting us all excited to help you with your trip. All of us uber-planners love to help!!!

Thx

Dana

 

[Faldred]

you say you are going next September. Disney has, for the past 5 years, offered the Dining plan free during September. You book a package which includes room at rack (no discount) rate and park tickets and either the Quick Service plan or the Regular Dining plan is free for your party. Depending on what level of resort you are planning, this may be a good discount for you.

As a word of caution - some of these offers may not be available outside the U.S. (or Canada). I know that at least in the past, travelers from the UK had different options and limitations on the ability to upgrade. That may be true for booking from other countries as well.

 

[*Dana*]

Hi,

I will book it directely at the disneyworld.com homepage. Because in germany are no special offers- in no time. Never.

We havent special offers for Disneyland Paris and we havent ones for WDW. Dont ask me why.
If german want to get a offer for Disneyland Paris, they have to book in the UK - isnt that crazy? And if we want offers for WDW we could see what will be better, WDW hp directely or offers in the UK.

If we would book in our travel agency, we have to pay full price, no free DP included, no lesser price or things like that.

Dana

 

[dixonsontour]

Hi welcome

I'm in England and have been to WDW twice and Disneyland Paris twice.

I'd definitely recommend staying onsite with the dining plan - we loved it and are doing it again this October.

It is so much better value than the Paris half board plans.

MK is very similar to the main disney Paris park - so you will know your way around and feel at 'home'.

On the dining review board they is a detailed review by someone from Germany - on page 2 called the deluxe dining that defeated us...a german perspective. There is also one by someone from austria who does wonderful dining reviews.