rainman1962
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2004
- Messages
- 34
We just got back after 8 days in the World. Our package included the Disney Dining plan. If I could sum the program in one word, it would be EXCESSIVE! We ranged in age from 10 -43 and there were 5 of us. To allow us to go to the California Grill and Hoop De Doo, we only used 4 table service credits except for Hoop De Doo and Chef Mickey. The wait staff were great! The only problem we had with the program was at Wolf Gang Puck Express. We ate there for dinner and again the next morning for Breakfast. I could tell by the server's attitude (and he was the manager) that he was less than happy about our business. When I confronted him on this he backed down a bit and explained that he was forced to participate in the program but it wasn't always in his best interest. He explained that Disney skims some profits off the top for meals purchased with the Dining plan. For example, if the total bill was $18, he would get $14 and Disney would get $4.
Every place we went tried to get us to take all the food that was assigned for the respective table or counter service credit. In other words, the TS establishments would all but jam down our throats 4 apps, 4 entrees, 4 drinks and 4 desserts. Anyone who has been to DW knows that Disney portions are pretty big. IMHO there is no way a family can eat 4 appetizers and usually we don't even eat a dessert at all! Usually when I go to a restaraunt I order 1 (or 2) apps for the whole family. One appetizer would have easily fed our whole group comfortably let alone 4!
So you say, then just don't order all that food. Two thoughts on that. First, the wait staff almost makes you feel guilty if you don't order all of it, given that their tip is based on the total bill. Second, the dining plan is billed as a cost savings. This is true on ONE condition...you eat yourself sick. If you truly eat, per person, 1 app, 1 entree, 1 desert and 1 drink, then you will save money. If however, you are not used to this much food, you will actually lose money. We went to DW last year without the dining plan and spent about $600-700 on food for 7 days. We all ate well and shared several meals. This time we went with the dining program and spent $1300, also for 7 days and gorged ourselves. Kind of a tough way to "save" money. Needless to say, alot of food was wasted since we just could not eat it all. Same goes for counter service credits. A typical breakfast entree was eggs (probably 3-4) scrambled, 2 sausage patties, 3 bacons slices, a biscuit and a generous helping of potatoes. Now...do you eat this much food at home? So if we decide to order fewer meals and share, we will have TS or CS credit left over at the end of our trip. So much for cost savings!
One thing I left out, last year the cost for food came out of my pocket. This year someone else paid for the dining program. So even though it cost twice as much, it was free to me so I benefited from the program. However, if I was paying out of pocket for the program, I would say it is NOT cost effective (unless you eat 3000+ calories a day normally!).
PS...One thing we did, although I don't think it is encouraged, we would ask the wait staff to give our desert credits to another table and in the process brighten their day
(and save our guts).
Every place we went tried to get us to take all the food that was assigned for the respective table or counter service credit. In other words, the TS establishments would all but jam down our throats 4 apps, 4 entrees, 4 drinks and 4 desserts. Anyone who has been to DW knows that Disney portions are pretty big. IMHO there is no way a family can eat 4 appetizers and usually we don't even eat a dessert at all! Usually when I go to a restaraunt I order 1 (or 2) apps for the whole family. One appetizer would have easily fed our whole group comfortably let alone 4!
So you say, then just don't order all that food. Two thoughts on that. First, the wait staff almost makes you feel guilty if you don't order all of it, given that their tip is based on the total bill. Second, the dining plan is billed as a cost savings. This is true on ONE condition...you eat yourself sick. If you truly eat, per person, 1 app, 1 entree, 1 desert and 1 drink, then you will save money. If however, you are not used to this much food, you will actually lose money. We went to DW last year without the dining plan and spent about $600-700 on food for 7 days. We all ate well and shared several meals. This time we went with the dining program and spent $1300, also for 7 days and gorged ourselves. Kind of a tough way to "save" money. Needless to say, alot of food was wasted since we just could not eat it all. Same goes for counter service credits. A typical breakfast entree was eggs (probably 3-4) scrambled, 2 sausage patties, 3 bacons slices, a biscuit and a generous helping of potatoes. Now...do you eat this much food at home? So if we decide to order fewer meals and share, we will have TS or CS credit left over at the end of our trip. So much for cost savings!
One thing I left out, last year the cost for food came out of my pocket. This year someone else paid for the dining program. So even though it cost twice as much, it was free to me so I benefited from the program. However, if I was paying out of pocket for the program, I would say it is NOT cost effective (unless you eat 3000+ calories a day normally!).
PS...One thing we did, although I don't think it is encouraged, we would ask the wait staff to give our desert credits to another table and in the process brighten their day
(and save our guts).
