staceylynnga
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2004
- Messages
- 261
My family (me, DH, DS age 18 months) just returned from a 6 night stay at the Pop Century; we booked the 4 + 3 and even got the $200 gift card for January (it lasted us from our arrival Saturday night through Thursday). We wound up leaving the day before our scheduled check out b/c of an ugly weather forecast for Friday - the rest of the week was beautiful, we were very lucky.
We were on the basic dining plan ($39.99 per adult per day) - we used the gift card for table service tips (including tips for Wolfgang Puck Express - even though it's quasi counter service, we do an auto 20% b/c the server does see to your needs; that's just our way) and also to buy meals for our son Nathan as he is under 3 and thus not eligible for any plan.
I would not return to Disney without the plan - those who are unsatisfied with the plan have skewed expectations. I did not expect to save 30%, nor do I think we did. I do know that we made out better though; the big draw for me was being able to prepay for meals, not carrying cash or my wallet anywhere for the first 5 days of our trip.
I think the regular plan is the perfect amount of food for how my family eats - we enjoy a sit down meal, yet the deluxe would be too much food and too much on the schedule with no time to enjoy our vacation for what it was, a break from the daily grind of a busy work & home life.
Generally, my husband would buy himself breakfast and I would share a kids meal with my son. We then used my quick service for lunch plus another kids meal. We actually wound up having 3 quick services remaining on Friday a.m. so enjoyed a nice breakfast (2 breakfast pizzas and an adult size belgian waffle for Nathan) at Wolfgang Puck's Express. I will provide dining reviews later, but highly recommend WPE for breakfast or lunch!
Because we arrived on a Saturday night, we had an extra TS credit so did the Hoop dee doo Sunday with 2 credits - way worth it. My toddler LOVED IT! Highly recommended. We also spent TS credits at Boma (LOVED IT), Kona Cafe (OUR FAVORITE DINNER), Le Cellier (delicious but a tough evening b/c we made our res too late for our son - 7:35 p.m., and didn't get seated til 8), Crystal Palace (not the best use of a TS credit, moneywise, but a terrific breakfast and a great chance to meet the characters), and 1900 Park Faire (ok food, yummy desserts, great character interaction).
I'm happy to answer any questions you all may have.
At the end of the day, I am so pleased we purchased the dining plan (first time in the 4 or 5 trips to Disney I've made in my lifetime - I'm 33) and would definitely recommend it for the convenience and value.
Stacey
We were on the basic dining plan ($39.99 per adult per day) - we used the gift card for table service tips (including tips for Wolfgang Puck Express - even though it's quasi counter service, we do an auto 20% b/c the server does see to your needs; that's just our way) and also to buy meals for our son Nathan as he is under 3 and thus not eligible for any plan.
I would not return to Disney without the plan - those who are unsatisfied with the plan have skewed expectations. I did not expect to save 30%, nor do I think we did. I do know that we made out better though; the big draw for me was being able to prepay for meals, not carrying cash or my wallet anywhere for the first 5 days of our trip.
I think the regular plan is the perfect amount of food for how my family eats - we enjoy a sit down meal, yet the deluxe would be too much food and too much on the schedule with no time to enjoy our vacation for what it was, a break from the daily grind of a busy work & home life.
Generally, my husband would buy himself breakfast and I would share a kids meal with my son. We then used my quick service for lunch plus another kids meal. We actually wound up having 3 quick services remaining on Friday a.m. so enjoyed a nice breakfast (2 breakfast pizzas and an adult size belgian waffle for Nathan) at Wolfgang Puck's Express. I will provide dining reviews later, but highly recommend WPE for breakfast or lunch!
Because we arrived on a Saturday night, we had an extra TS credit so did the Hoop dee doo Sunday with 2 credits - way worth it. My toddler LOVED IT! Highly recommended. We also spent TS credits at Boma (LOVED IT), Kona Cafe (OUR FAVORITE DINNER), Le Cellier (delicious but a tough evening b/c we made our res too late for our son - 7:35 p.m., and didn't get seated til 8), Crystal Palace (not the best use of a TS credit, moneywise, but a terrific breakfast and a great chance to meet the characters), and 1900 Park Faire (ok food, yummy desserts, great character interaction).
I'm happy to answer any questions you all may have.
At the end of the day, I am so pleased we purchased the dining plan (first time in the 4 or 5 trips to Disney I've made in my lifetime - I'm 33) and would definitely recommend it for the convenience and value.
Stacey
