Magic your way Platinum Dining

[jojoandhb]

I'm new. I have a 3-year-old who is constantly asking to go see Cinderella. We decided next December would be a perfect time to go to Disney. We set our dates at December 5 to December 10th. My travel agent suggested a magic your way platinum package. For 2 adults and a 4-year-old, it'll add over $2,000 to our total bill. I'm not sure this is a real deal. She said we also get unlimited horseback riding, fishing, and golf. We also get into Cirque du Soleil, free tours, lots of food even at upscale restaurants (which we love), Illuminations which she said includes a free boat ride to see the fireworks, and theme park tickets. I'm not sure we want to go to all of these tours, we won't be playing golf, and I doubt my daughter will go horseback riding. Is it worth it to go the Platinum route? We are first timers, and maybe we do want to do all of that stuff. I'm just not sure and I need advice.
Thanks!

 

[pepperw23]

I'm new. I have a 3-year-old who is constantly asking to go see Cinderella. We decided next December would be a perfect time to go to Disney. We set our dates at December 5 to December 10th. My travel agent suggested a magic your way platinum package. For 2 adults and a 4-year-old, it'll add over $2,000 to our total bill. I'm not sure this is a real deal. She said we also get unlimited horseback riding, fishing, and golf. We also get into Cirque du Soleil, free tours, lots of food even at upscale restaurants (which we love), Illuminations which she said includes a free boat ride to see the fireworks, and theme park tickets. I'm not sure we want to go to all of these tours, we won't be playing golf, and I doubt my daughter will go horseback riding. Is it worth it to go the Platinum route? We are first timers, and maybe we do want to do all of that stuff. I'm just not sure and I need advice.
Thanks!

That seems like overkill with a three year old. The regular dining plan however is awsome. You get a Table Service (TS)(The same 'upscale' resturants as the other plan minus maybe one or two) Counter Service (CS) and a snack per day per person. It is a lot of food (the TS includes an appetizer per adult and dessert, CS includes dessert. Both include drinks) Some of the snacks are like a meal in themselves. For example anything with a purple "DP" on it is considered a snack. Pretty much anything under 4.00 but that includes french fries, funnel cake, entimens donuts (whole pack!) etc...

The other things like the tours can be purchased seperatly if you choose to do them, but to get the premium plan would have a lot of stuff added on (that you are paying for) that you probably would not use. This is without a doubt the place to be to get answers. Welcome to the DIS btw.

 

[Pams]

I was looking into this too.
For the magic your way plan it is $38 a day for adults. YOu get a TS a CS and a snack.
With the premium plan you can stay at any hotel and it is $138 a day for adults. You get 3 meals a day and tours and recreation and la Nouba.

With platinum you must stay at a deluxe hotel. You get three meal and a snack a day. You get the same recreation, a few more tours and a fireworks cruise. It was even more expensive. I think about another $60 a day = $200 per adult per day.

In 2006 the premium and platinum package require you to buy MYW hopper tickets with water park. In 2007 you can buy base tickets for as little as one day.

If you are planning to stay at a Deluxe hotel and you want to eat 3 sit down meal a day the Platinum may be for you but I decided that the most I would do was the Premium. I would not do the premium with small children because most of the tours do not allow children and with little ones you want to be flexible with your eating and having the three sit downs would make for a lot of planning.

For your first trip the MYW with dining might be good to get and for a future trip try one of the others.

 

[diswedwish]

I did the Platinum Plan, and did manage to "save" $2000 over what we laid out for the plan. With that said, we went non-stop for 4 days to get the full usage of all of the components of the package and it was 2 adults - no kids. We did the first half of our trip with the old Silver Plan (similar to the regular Dining Plan now) and finished up with 3 nights Platinum so we could do Cirque, the tours, horsebackriding, Victoria and Albert's, spa treatment - all of that stuff. By that point we had done all we wanted to of the parks and were ready to do the extras.

But if it was my first trip and I had a 3-year-old, there's no way I would do the Platinum Plan. Unless, of course, funds weren't an issue and I had $ to burn Otherwise I'd be too worried about getting my $'s worth to enjoy running into Mickey in the park or hopping onto Dumbo one more time.

So enjoy all of the other stuff now and *later* you can try out all the perks of the Platinum Plan on your other subsequent trips

 

[Dorisk3]

I think that travel agent is really trying to up-sell you! There is no way I'd book that package with a 3 year old (actually I think that package is really very extravagant). When will you really have time to play golf, go on long boring tours with a little one, or ride horses- much less have the time to sit down for 3 meals a day! Sorry if I sound a little adamant- but I would go it alone without the travel agent and look at the disneyworld travel site as well as www.mousesavers.com to look for any special deals when you are going. Good luck!

 

[jojoandhb]

I did decide againt the paltinum. My fiance wants premium, but he is such a food eater. He's been a cook for 20 years, and he's so skinny, but he eats a lot! He doesn't want a "counter" meal. That sounds like fast food. This board has helped me save about $1,300 so far. We've changed hotels and the meal plan. Thanks for the great advice.

 

[Lostgirlz]

I honestly wouldnt. Are you all going to be golfing, fishing, using the water rentals and things? I would weigh the plat or prem plan very carefully to see if you would really take advantage of all it has to offer. I have a feeling with a 3 y/o half the stuff offered you will wind up not needing or using.

 

[CF'er]

I agree about re-thinking even the premium plan. The recreation has age/weight/height restrictions that I know your 3yo wouldn't meet. There would be alot of things you'd be paying for and not getting. I would get the regular dining plan and if he wants to do TS instead of CS pay for it out of pocket. I think this would be a cheaper option than the premium plan.

Think about that. It takes alot of time and energy to do the plat/premium plans. I have thought about it but my kids are 10 and 8 and I don't think we could use it.

 

[jojoandhb]

My fiance loves food. He's one of those skinny cooks who can eat and eat and eat. He is not interested in "counter" meals. He wants to go to a restaurant. The basic meal plan wouldn't do it for him. So I agreed to compromise. His list of things to do is basically a list of places to eat.
As for weight and height restrictions, I'm not sure we'll have a problem. My daughter, who just turned 3 in July, is 42 inches tall and 35 pounds. She grows out of shoes like there is no tomorrow. Her pediatrician says she will be 5 foot 11 give or take 3 inches. She's extremely tall for her age.
For the most part, we don't like roller coasters and spinning rides anyway. We like shows and mild rides. I'm not planning on taking her on anything huge or scary. I think I'll be able to find enough things for her to do, and my fiance will get to eat at all the great places he wants. I do not think the basic meal plan will satisfy him. He's a guy that orders two meals when we go out. He'll get a dozen eggs for breakfast at IHOP. People always stare because they cannot believe that skinny guy can eat all of that food!

 

[MommyBuzz909]

I did it - and my son will be 5 when we go in August '08. I did it because it's my first time going and I decided to go big for it and then my next trip, see what I can and can't do without. I think it's great because it's money that you don't have to worry about while you are at the park. Less money to bring and less bills to have to come home to. I figure between all of the character dining places and everything that it has to offer, why not? Plus, they'll watch my son at no additional cost while I head up to the GF and get my spa service at no additional cost!! Plus, I think that the whole refillable mug option is quite kick *** as well.

 

[plutolovr]

I would suggest just doing the MYW w/Deluxe dining plan. You get your 3 sit down meals a day (or you can double up and dine at signature restaurants, again though with a 3yo?) , snacks and a refillable mug at your resort. With a 3yo, there are lots of things on those premium and platinum plans that won't be able to take advantage of. Most tours require you be 16yo, and I'm not sure a 3yo can sit through LaNouba. You can just get base tickets and add hopping on later if you need it. I'm a travel agent, and I would never suggest a premium or platinum package for your party unless you insisted. The last thing you want on your vacation is to stress yourselves out by trying to fit all the stuff in that you paid for. With a young child try to keep it simple and you will be much happier.

 

[1313WEBFOOTWALK]

I took my 3 yr old in 2003. We had an 8 day stay planned and even w/ just doing the parks and the two waterparks, we did not have ANY time left over for those other things you're consdering. Keep in mind that the parks are ALOT to take in for a three year old and you want to keep your pace gentle so that the child will enjoy it. We went back every day at lunch and had a nap or a quiet swim at the hotel before coming back to the park. Even so, we only had time for one Table Service meal per day becuase we were so busy touring otherwise. For the first trip, I would get the basic dining plan and The Magic Your Way basic package. Then, if you want to add things to your itinerary, just bring extra cash.

 

[TDC Nala]

You should note that on the Deluxe Dining Plan you do not HAVE to get three sit down meals a day. You get three meal credits per night of your stay. They can be used either for table or counter service. Some table service meals (the signature restaurants, dinner shows) require 2 meal credits.

I would not recommend going for the premium or platinum plan if you're not going to use the recreational activities, La Nouba, golf or fireworks viewing options that are included with the plan. A three year old is probably too young to enjoy most of the extras. Probably the basic dining plan would do, unless your family is interested in either 1) two to three sit down meals per day and/or 2) lots of signature restaurants. That many sit-down meals will take time. If you don't mind spending a great deal of your vacation in restaurants, go with the deluxe plan.

 

[Colleen27]

I'll just toss another agreement to the group - I wouldn't do the platinum plan with a child that young, because you're very unlikely to get your money's worth out of it. For the platinum plan to make sense from a dollars-and-cents standpoint, you have to take advantage of *many* tours and recreational features, and most of those have a minimum age limit that would exclude your daughter. Most tours have a minimum age of 10 or even 16, the only horseback riding your DD could do would be a pony ride, she's too young for the kids' clubs, etc. And I don't think the plan is good for first-timers anyway, because you're going to be more interested in the parks and rides and shows than in the other recreational options.

You mention you love upscale dining. We went with the deluxe dining package for just that reason - we're foodies, and we're trying a lot of Disney's best restaurants on our January trip. Aside from Victoria & Alberts, which isn't someplace you'd take a young child anyway, the DxDDP includes most Disney restaurants, including all of their more upscale "signature" restaurants. It is priced *much* lower than the platinum plan, though, because it does not include all those recreational offerings that you'd be unlikely to take advantage of anyway.

 

[tigger536]

Another vote to just do the deluxe DDP. This is a far better deal (IMHO) than the regular DDP anyway, especially after they took appetizers away from the regular DDP for 2008. Just like othrs have said, you get 3 TS per day (appetizer, entree, dessert) plus 2 snacks per day plus refillable mugs for each person in your party. You can use the meal credits for CS places too (obviously not maximizing value that way though). You can also double up like others have said and use 2 per person for a signature restaurant. If you love fine dining this is the best compromise. The platnum plan really doesn't giv you much more in the way of food (except that signature restaurants don't count as 2 TS on that plan). I agree with the others - the tours and other perks you just won't have a lot of time for (the parks have too much for a first timer to do everything as it is). And especially with such a young child - the best attraction there is likely to be the resort pool, LOL!

Enjoy!

 

[Melissa_E]

Since your husband is such a foodie, I'd vote for the deluxe dining plan! This way you can bank some of your meal credits. You are allotted 3 credits per night of your reservation per person. So if you stay 8 days 7 nights, you have 21 TS meal credits per person. You can use them for table service or counter service.

There are certain signature restaurants that will take up two of your meal credits (Narcoosees, Jiko, Artists Point, Yachtsman's Steakhouse, Cinderella's Royal Table, to name a few). We are using some of our meal credits towards those signature meals and then we'll just fill up with a TS breakfast and snack until dinner.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Anything Disney!]

I just did the Premium plan this spring, but it was just my DH and myself. We wanted the food and the tours, shows etc, but I would not do it with a 3 year old, and consider the Platimum major overkill! Another thing to consider, we booked concierge services, and with the premium plan, that was a ton of available food for us! We left with 12 food credits! When we do take the DD and DS who are young adults, the concierge plan is perfect for light breakfast, then do the Deluxe Dining. The availibilty of cocktails/snacks you could take to the room and watch the animals off the balcony at AKL was waay cool!

Good thing that Disney has so many options. It can be overwhelming, but you can darn near taylor it a perfect fit. Kudos to you for doing the research!

 

[crazykids]

Get a new travel agent!

I would agree w/ the deluxe plan if you want to visit all sit down restaurants. I have 3 young ones ages 2, 3, & 5 & I would not take any of them on a tour, nor do I think they would want to go. The kids want rides, parades, characters, etc., you will end up throwing a lot of money away. We were there for 10 nights this past September & it took us that long to see all of the attractions in the 4 parks with the kids. We stayed concierge at the Poly with the dining plan & it was so much food that we actually got sick of eating. You will also have to visit how your little one will do at all of the sit down restaurants. Ours usually do ok at home, but they started getting tired of all the restaurants midway through our trip & we ended up cancelling some of our reservations & doing some quick service meals instead. The kids will definitely dictate your vacation plans at that age.