Meals with packages

[awatt]

Am looking at Disney Club packages. the silver Plan includes 2 meals per day. Cost I believe is an extra $240-$250 per day for aour famile. We have 2 small children.
What do you realistivally spend out of pocket per day if you don't get a package?
It lists character meals. Are all character meals available,or any exclusions?
Thanks for your help. I'm trying to decide if its worth it.

 

[RNMOM]

I personally feel it would be hard for you to eat that much per day with your family. I don't even know if my two teen boys and DH and I could spend that much.

We tend to have breakfast on the fly, try to eat a good lunch at either a counter service or a sit down and then have a nice meal at dinner. We also enjoy eating at Planet Hollywood and other places in Downtown Disney.

Look at some of the menus on www.wdwig.com to see what your family's choices would equal. Are drinks included on that plan? Alcohol? Don't forget the small food carts lots of us use for a quick breakfast or lunch....

 

[ebaynut31]

My dd9 and I were at CS in June and we did the Discovery Magic package, 2 wishes per person per night. I kept all receipts and we just about broke even with what I paid. As an adult who likes to eat, I could not keep up with the dinners. I was sooo sick of food that I cancelled the 1900 park fare res I had because I just could not eat anymore! We did Cirque, got a bunch of souveniers, breakfasts, you name it. I am real happy I did the package because now I have that experience. I don't think I will do it again though. Maybe when she is a bit older and we can do some real fancy restaurants like Fultons or what is it, Portobellos? We shared breakfasts, had very little for lunch and ate a feast at dinner. One day we went to 50's Prime time cafe for lunch because I just wanted to go there. Good food, so much though. Appetizer, meal, desert, and drink. If your family can eat that much, go for it. Otherwise, don't bother yet.

Sorry I rambled.

 

[awatt]

Thanks for your help! Now I know what to do.

 

[WDW2002]

In most cases you will end up paying more with a package. Unless you plan to do character meals for each meal or purchase the most expensive things on the menu at each meal then you won't save money.

I am figuring that we will spend about $100 day for food for our family of 3 (1 adult, 1 teen, 1 child).

 

[mom_rules]

We did the Deluxe Plan last time 2 adults 2 teens-for us
it was worth the extra $. We also saved our receipts and we came out ahead. We did all the recreational activities (we have golfers, wakeboarders, parasailers, boaters etc) and ate at most of the more expensive restaurants. DH likes surf and turf, DS is a picky eater - filet mignon and caesar salads. Stayed at BC so there was a CB every morning-did all the dinner shows and cirque du soleil. Packages are great if you are going to take full advantage of them.
(We always book airfare and rental car separately).

We intend on using the Gold package in 2003-I can't get any specifics on how the Deluxe and Gold differ? Anyone?

 

[dansyr]

YES, I would also like to know how deluxe and gold differ !!!

 

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by mom_rules
Packages are great if you are going to take full advantage of them.

This is the key, most people don't want or don't use a lot of the extras that come with packages. So for them packages cost more and are not very practical.

 

[mom_rules]

There is another thread re: Gold packages
that I have posted to. Really long-so don't want to
post twice.

 

[irishone1979]

I am going to Disney in 17 days and my FH booked us on the Disney Honeymoon Grand Plan. He wanted no stress for either of us and all those extras are great! We are going to be staying at the WL concierge level and going to all the fancy, nice rest. in Disney. He is taking advantage of the fishing and I am taking advantage of the spa and the Horseback ridding. I think it is a great plan if you use all the extras. We are staying to 10 days so we have time to do all the extra stuff that we normally wouldn't get to do at Disney.
I can't wait to get there!!!!!!

Heather K

 

[BCV23]

Every time we've done a deluxe (or Gold Key plan as it was called years ago) we've come out ahead, too. But we golfed, used boats, dinner shows and dined at very nice restaurants. Nice meals at sit-down restaurants helped make our Disney vacations such wonderful family memories. Now that we go more than once a year, annual passes and the room rates that can be had with an AP make more sense for us but we had a blast on those plans. It was also very nice for our children to try things that we might have been reluctant to let them order if we hadn't been on a plan. If they try something exotic and don't like it it's easier to swallow.

 

[mom_rules]

BVC23
I totally agree-We do the deluxe plan- We do golf and mini-golf, and wakeboard and parasail, and drive boats and ride bikes and eat at really nice sit down restaurants-had character breakfasts every morning-did dinner shows at Poly, HDDR, did La nouba.

As I said before-saved our receipts and we did very well.

Firstly we wouldn't have done all this stuff if we didn't have a plan. There was no muss-no fuss-we didn't have to carry $ for meals etc. I liked the no hassle approach. My kids also experienced things they otherwise wouldn't have if we didn't have the plan.

 

[CindyKansas]

We have done the Grand Plan, Deluxe Plan, Discovery Magic Plan just to name a few. We have been to WDW many times and we find that the plans do work for us. We eat at the nicer restaurants, do character breakfasts, Hoop De Doo, water mice, miniature golf, Cirque du soleil, spa benefits, etc. I also save my receipts and we come out ahead.

 

[AspiringCindy]

We did the Discovery Magic plan this summer with DD's age 8 &9. For some of our meals, we paid cash for the children's meals(around $5-6) and used the extra wishes for adult meals and legacy tiles. You just have to let the server know how many wishes you are using for your meal. Always double check you receipt!

 

[patgoofy]

we went on the deluxe majic package last dec. you get 3 meals per day, while it is expensive i think it is the best way to go. everthing is included and already paid for when you get there. plus it gives you a chance to try some great restaraunts that you may not try otherwise. we ate dinner at fulton's twice and each time the bill was around $175 for 2 people

 

[mom_rules]

I agree-for four of us it was almost $300 at
Yachtsmen Steakhouse, $80 for breakfast everyday.

 

[mom_rules]

Talked to my TA today. The Dream Maker brochures will be distributed next week (finally).

She gave me the following information:

La Nouba tickets are part of gold pkg. Seats can be
reserved 6 months in advance.

Water sports are included in the gold pkg (ie. wakeboarding
parasailing, waterskiing) as well as water sprite and boat rentals. Restrictions apply to heights, weights and age in some cases.
Surfing lessons @ Typhoon Lagoon are not included.

Golf includes all equipment and cart rentals and tee times can be booked 120 days in advance with no restrictions.

Unlimited mini golf is included.

All dinner shows EXCEPT Mickey's Backyard BBQ are included.

Restaurants NOT included in gold package:

Victoria and Alberts.
Chefs Domaine at Citricos
Swan and Dolphin restaurants
Downtown Disney restaurants (disappointing-last time we
we ate at HOB, PH, RK, WP on the deluxe magic plan-wanted to try Fultons, Bongos etc this time).

I should have more info next week.

 

[patgoofy]

do you know if the DD restaraunts are availableon the Deluxe Magic Package ? We are going the 2nd week of Dec. and have always enjoyed eating at some of these.[ especially Fulton's ]

 

[mom_rules]

When we used the Deluxe Magic plan in 2001 all
Downtown Disney Restaurants were included.

We used the plan to eat at House of Blues, Planet Hollywood,
andWolfgang Pucks.

We wanted to do Fulton's and Bongo's on the Gold plan but now we were told it's not included

We also used the Deluxe Plan at the waterparks but I'm not sure they are included anymore either-I'll have to find out.

 

[mom_rules]

Just got an answer on another thread.

Look like DTD restaurants are included in Gold
pkg-DTD Resort restaurants are not.

This sounds better-the other was a little strange.