Meal plans?

[Queen2PrincessG]

Does anyone mind explaining the Disneyland meal plans to me?

 

[CrazyDuck]

I'll explain it in 9 words: "Don't do it... it is a waste of money!".

 

[ConnieB]

While I tend to agree with the PP, perhaps that is a decision for the OP to decide, lol...so here is some information:

Disneyland's "meal plan" is basically a buy-in-advance gift certificate like item....it doesn't save you a dime...you buy $15 vouchers and you can use it for $15 of food. The downside is that if your meal total is less than your voucher...well, sorry, no change given. Add to that the fact that you can't use them everywhere (especially not anywhere in DTD) makes it less than appealing. The people who do use them tend to cite the convenience factor of having their meals already paid and not having to bring along money.....if that were my concern I'd put the money on a prepaid VISA or even a Disney gift card so that I could decide where to use and how much to spend, AND if I were frugal and didn't spend it all I'd have money towards my next trip (or in the case of a prepaid VISA, able to use leftover money at home anywhere. Caution on the Disney cards as obviously they're only good at Disney).

So...the general consesus is that the meal plan at Disneyland is simply not a good plan.


There are also some discounted character meal vouchers that you can purchase, but because the voucher price is just one amount and the meals they can be used for vary based on breakfast/lunch/dinner and even which of the restaurants you choose, it's one that you want to compare very closely before deciding if it's a value. If I recall correctly the discounted vouchers from Ares Travel include tax and tip so you save a couple dollars by not having to leave a tip. Not worth the extra effort unless you are absolutely sure you're going to eat there anyway.

Now...as I recall, during Spring Break and the holidays Disney raises the cost of the character meals, and I believe that the vouchers still work the same but the price on them doesn't raise, so if that's still the case, it might be worth the extra effort of ordering them to save the price increase. Again, though, be absolutely sure you plan to go as they're not refundable.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

ok thanks! It didn't look worthwhile. I was wondering if I was missing something.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i love it

 

[ConnieB]

i love it

You love what? The meal plan? Could you tell us why? I'm not being snarky, I'd honestly like to know what folks who use the meal plan think of it, because I haven't figured out WHY it's a good thing yet, lol....so enlighten me! I'd hate to think I've been bashing it for years if there is something to love.

 

[Captain Hindsight]

You love what? The meal plan? Could you tell us why? I'm not being snarky, I'd honestly like to know what folks who use the meal plan think of it, because I haven't figured out WHY it's a good thing yet, lol....so enlighten me! I'd hate to think I've been bashing it for years if there is something to love.

The only people that love the meal plan are those that need to prepay for everything because they are too irresponsible to be trusted with money or credit cards!

 

[sonnyjane]

The only people that love the meal plan are those that need to prepay for everything because they are too irresponsible to be trusted with money or credit cards!

Eek. While I personally don't endorse the dining plan, I don't think this is an appropriate comment given that there are still a couple of people on these boards that do, in fact, choose to use it for one reason or another.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

As an overseas visitor it is a great way to lock in an exchange rate on food that you would already spend. I purchase a plan that covers half of our stay allowing for eating elsewhere. We cannot purchase Disney gift cards.

It is a valid point on the prepaid visa cards and hadn't really thought of it for food. Same principle applies of locking in the exchange rate

 

[ConnieB]

The only people that love the meal plan are those that need to prepay for everything because they are too irresponsible to be trusted with money or credit cards!

Wow, that was a little harsh. Since you'd still have to keep track of the vouchers it also doesn't quite make sense, lol.

I like the PP's response about the exchange rate...that is certainly something I had never thought of...and that sounds like a good reason, not irresponsible at all!

I do sort of understand the "everything is prepaid and I don't have to worry about the budget" reason, but like I said earlier, I'd put my food money into a Prepaid VISA or Disney gift card before I did the vouchers that are so restrictive or potentially less value. But again, this doesn't sound irresponsible either.....knowing you have to stick to a budget and finding a way to be able to do so without stress or temptation is actually very responsible.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i love the way it works.
I use it becasue i go to most all the char meals. we like how it pays for everything up front an need no cash but what we want to spend on us.
having the food pre paid is much better for our family an we have used it 3 or 4 times now it works.
we are getting the 5day one this time
4 chr meals 1 prem char meal
5 15$ vouchers
5 snacks

 

[brookies_mommy]

Eek. While I personally don't endorse the dining plan, I don't think this is an appropriate comment given that there are still a couple of people on these boards that do, in fact, choose to use it for one reason or another.

I agree with Sonnyjane.


Captain Hindsight- looks like you are new to the boards, insulting people is not how we operate here on the DIS.

 

[tlovesdis]

I don't get the appeal of it either? I guess for someone outside of the US it might be helpful, but not for anyone else!

I just get a disney gift card and put money on it for my food ahead of time. There is no way I would want to use the vouchers and not get change back! That is a waste of money!!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

its not a waist of money if you know how to use it. i have only lost money once an that was becasue we were sick an we gacve the vouchers to a honeymooning couple when we left our lastnight. besieds that we never lose money

 

[Funball]

Eek. While I personally don't endorse the dining plan, I don't think this is an appropriate comment given that there are still a couple of people on these boards that do, in fact, choose to use it for one reason or another.

if it works for them then cool beans right?! i don't use it, i never knew DL had one..

As an overseas visitor it is a great way to lock in an exchange rate on food that you would already spend. I purchase a plan that covers half of our stay allowing for eating elsewhere. We cannot purchase Disney gift cards.

It is a valid point on the prepaid visa cards and hadn't really thought of it for food. Same principle applies of locking in the exchange rate

i guess it would be great for overseas visitors..

its not a waist of money if you know how to use it. i have only lost money once an that was becasue we were sick an we gave the vouchers to a honeymooning couple when we left our lastnight. besieds that we never lose money

 

[DLR29]

its not a waist of money if you know how to use it. i have only lost money once an that was becasue we were sick an we gacve the vouchers to a honeymooning couple when we left our lastnight. besieds that we never lose money

While I'm not questioning you, I am saying that the ONLY way to not lose money is to use the vouchers to their full money's worth. That would mean:

a) Buying food that happens to cost the EXACT amount as the vouchers, which is difficult to do at every meal
or
b) Buying food that costs more than the amount, and then supplementing the vouchers with extra money. However, this almost ruins the point of the plan because you have to carry around extra cash anyway.

 

[Captain Hindsight]

having the food pre paid is much better for our family an we have used it 3 or 4 times now it works.

its not a waist of money if you know how to use it. i have only lost money once an that was becasue we were sick an we gacve the vouchers to a honeymooning couple when we left our lastnight. besieds that we never lose money

See that's the problem with the meal plan right there... With the meal plan you may only end up losing money while It does not provide any way to actually save money! Why would someone keep buying the meal plan if they lose money 25% of the time?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

because we like it an you dont really lose money only once have we but we plan our meals out. to us eatting is half of the vacation we have fun we know where we go we know what we like an it works.

Yes some times on snack vouchers we need to spend an extra buck to get two snacks

 

[aubs04783]

You would be wasting your money!

Aubrey

 

[sabrecmc]

We're trying the meal plan for our upcoming trip. I don't expect to save anything, but liked the convenience of having it "paid for." I know I could use a gift card or prepaid Visa, but living so close to WDW, I doubted my ability to devote those things to this trip, lol. We're off to WDW this weekend for a quickie trip and I can see the desire to just use a bit of that for this trip and then...blam, no "prepaid" dining for DL. That being said, we did the meal plan for 1 day less than what we are there and have people meeting us there that we will dine with who are not on the plan, so I think we'll end up using all our credit.

I never use the WDW dining plan, unless its "free." Seems a terrible waste of food, but some people love it, so who knows!