Meal plan

[2iowaprincesses]

Can anyone tell me about the meal plan? And do you know the cost? Do people who purchase it find it worth the price?

 

[Perditamarie]

This link should help:

http://allearsnet.com/aa/aa111907.htm

I also believe you can only purchase it w/a package, ie: hotel and park tickets and everyone in the room has to have the same package. I'm going to read up on it myself.

 

[ksbean]

You will find a lot of information if you look at the Disney Dining Plan or Disney Restaurant board. To evaluation the plan you need to decide where you'd like to eat and use the menus to get an idea of how much you'd spend to determine if it would work out for you or not. In 2008 you are responsible for the gratuity which is a OOP (out of pocket) cost.

 

[Doogan]

I hadn't heard about the change with the gratuity. Assuming they've changed the pricing accordingly, it's a good thing! We really felt like the service we received once our wait staff found out we were on the meal plan was mediocre at best. We often found ourselves sitting around for 30 minutes or more waiting for the check at the end of the meal. That's bad enough when it's just my wife and I, but when you're with 3 kids it's unacceptable. The only place we still got great service was California Grill and I left our waiter an extra tip! It's nice to know Disney is listening.

We went in September when the meal plan was included free, so it was an easy choice for us. I kept track of the actual cost of our meals and there was no way we could have eaten for the price of the meal plan. Whenever we stay on-site we would certainly do the meal plan again, even if we had to pay for it. Remember, just because the food is "free" doesn't mean you have to eat it all! We were sick of food half way through the week. The next time we go, we are just going to have to say, "no!" to some of the appetizers and desserts that come with the plan.

Another word of advice, make your reservations early! The meal plan has made it ridiculous to get reservations at the best restaurants even 3-4 months in advance for the times you want. You don't have to have your hotel reservations made in order to make your dining reservations and you can always cancel.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I hadn't heard about the change with the gratuity. Assuming they've changed the pricing accordingly, it's a good thing!

Unfortunately, they didn't change the price "accordingly"...they dropped it by only $1/person/night but took out the gratuity and the appetizer.

 

[douglisa]

I would suggest not getting the deluxe dining plan. You get A LOT of food on the regular dining plan for alot less money for an adult per day it's $37.99 for the regular vs. $69.99 for the deluxe. For kids 9 & under it is $9.99 vs. 19.99. In order to really try to get your money's worth out of the Deluxe plan, you would need to eat three meals a day in a sit-down restaurant (counter service is still available, but not the best use of plan, money-wise), so this will take alot of time each day, lessening the time you would have to play in the parks. We (2 adults, one teen, and an 8 yr old) are going for 7 days. For us that is a difference of $867.72 vs. $1,679.58!! We are concidering ordering groceries to our room and using the microwave in the lounge instead of using the plan. Either plan it's lots of $$. There is also a Hess gas station near downtown disney where you can get food and drinks cheaper. We would eat out a few times I am sure. But as of yet we are still undecided.
Someone on here told me that if you order groceries to order a styrofoam cooler, also that there is a $50 min you must spend. There is also a McDonalds in WDW, my sis said that the prices are inflated there. At least you would get free refills. LOL

 

[OneWayFilms]

So you can order groceries and have it delivered to any of the resorts?

We're about to book our tickets, but we're looking at all the options availabel, and for food, we want to bring our own, but since we're flying in and wont have a car, we were stuck without options. But hey, if we can order groceries, then this might save a REAL bundle.

Please, anyone respond, we CAN order groceries?

 

[southtexasmom]

There are a couple of places that will deliver groceries to your room. I've never used any but plan to use gardengrocer.com this year. If you do a search I'm sure you will find one that will fit your needs.

 

[tom401]

We do the meal plan (I agree, the deluxe meal plan is too much). It gives us predictability on our meal costs - and we know the kids will be eating somewhat normally.

 

[2iowaprincesses]

Thank you so much for all the info!!!!!

 

[douglisa]

I just looked @ your screen name and saw your from IA too! We live in Dyersville near Dubuque. Sure is cold, that's why we are going to escape to Florida next Jan. LOL