*NikkiBell*
Livin’ that DVC & AP life!
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2005
- Messages
- 13,552
I just wanted to add my two cents about strategies for using the Dining Plan. We have had several of these plans over the years. This includes the Silver Plan (now deceased), Premium Plan, Deluxe Dining Plan, and so on.
Personally, I feel that the snack credits should be used for breakfast. If you are on the regular plan, you can use that for a light breakfast at the Main Street Bakery, for example. This could be a croissant, danish, roll, pastry, etc. Most counter service places all over property have small items like this that would more than suffice for breakfast.
Snack credits can also be used for a bottle water or soda, cookies, popcorn, ice cream, Dole Whips, etc. There's a great thread over at the Dining Plan part of the boards that has a list of things you can use a snack credit for. You might want to pop over there before your trip.
For lunch, use your counter service credit. You get your meal plus a dessert. This is more than enough for a lunch. An example would be a meal at Casey's which would include a hot dog, fries, drink, and dessert. Another example would be something from Epcot like a sandwich and sides or meal platter from one of the countries.
In this fashion, dinners would then be your table service credit. Select a restaurant that appeals to you and your family. With the regular dining plan, you are allotted an entree and dessert. You could purchase an appetizer out of pocket if you'd like to. The Deluxe Plan includes an appetizer per person, entree, and dessert.
For all of the plans, keep in mind where you are going to be on property that day before making your reservations. For example, if you are going to be at Epcot, pick a restaurant like Le Chefs, Le Cellier, Coral Reef, etc. for dinner. If you are going to be lounging at your resort, try a restaurant there or at a neighboring resort. If you are staying at a resort near Downtown Disney, consider eating there. This strategy eliminates extra traveling during your vacation.
I know a few of the podcasters mentioned how much "work" the dining plans can be. I am sure that some of this has to do with the fact that many of youl take shorter vacations and more day trips due to being so close to Disney. The planning is somewhat eliminated as a result. For many of us not near Disney, planning is the usual. In my opinion, I feel that the only dining plan that can be work is the regular one. Because this plan only gives you one table service credit per night, it can be tricky to get into signature restaurants which require two credits for a meal. Sure, it can be done, but then you need to either pay out of pocket for a meal somewhere else in your vacation week or skip a meal.
To combat this, we prefer using the Deluxe Plan. It eliminates the need to fret over all of the counting of credits that needs to be done. Instead, there are more options open for signature dining which do still count as two table service credits, but there is much more food provided with the plan itself. You get two snacks per day and three table service credits. We don't use all three per day because we may skip breakfast or use snack credits for it. With this being said, the Deluxe Plan is a ton of food and I go into it not forcing myself to eat absolutely everything. I eat what I can and don't worry if I didn't get that dessert, etc. My boyfriend tends to eat more and loves every minute of the Deluxe Plan experience.
We have used the Premium Plan twice before. It is a more inclusive type plan with recreation and dining included. I liked the fact that this plan included backstage tours and special recreation options. It is not something we'd use on every vacation, but for a unique occassion it is nice to have.
Before I end, I wanted to mention that I wholeheartedly agree with what Tracey or Kathy (sorry, can't remember) said about altering plans here and there. Take a day or two and change how you use the credits. Use your table service for a big breakfast, snack for lunch, and counter service for dinner. We typically do this once during the vacation, if not twice, and found that it is a nice touch. You might also consider using credits for a dinner show like Hoop Dee Do Musical Revue.
Whatever you decide, use the plan that works best for you and your family. We do not visit the World without a dining plan and the few times we have, we definitely missed it. Do not focus on making the most out of it or saving the most money. Go into the plan with the notion of pre-paying for your meals, and eat where you want and what you want. Remember that you are on vacation and enjoy it.
Personally, I feel that the snack credits should be used for breakfast. If you are on the regular plan, you can use that for a light breakfast at the Main Street Bakery, for example. This could be a croissant, danish, roll, pastry, etc. Most counter service places all over property have small items like this that would more than suffice for breakfast.
Snack credits can also be used for a bottle water or soda, cookies, popcorn, ice cream, Dole Whips, etc. There's a great thread over at the Dining Plan part of the boards that has a list of things you can use a snack credit for. You might want to pop over there before your trip.
For lunch, use your counter service credit. You get your meal plus a dessert. This is more than enough for a lunch. An example would be a meal at Casey's which would include a hot dog, fries, drink, and dessert. Another example would be something from Epcot like a sandwich and sides or meal platter from one of the countries.
In this fashion, dinners would then be your table service credit. Select a restaurant that appeals to you and your family. With the regular dining plan, you are allotted an entree and dessert. You could purchase an appetizer out of pocket if you'd like to. The Deluxe Plan includes an appetizer per person, entree, and dessert.
For all of the plans, keep in mind where you are going to be on property that day before making your reservations. For example, if you are going to be at Epcot, pick a restaurant like Le Chefs, Le Cellier, Coral Reef, etc. for dinner. If you are going to be lounging at your resort, try a restaurant there or at a neighboring resort. If you are staying at a resort near Downtown Disney, consider eating there. This strategy eliminates extra traveling during your vacation.
I know a few of the podcasters mentioned how much "work" the dining plans can be. I am sure that some of this has to do with the fact that many of youl take shorter vacations and more day trips due to being so close to Disney. The planning is somewhat eliminated as a result. For many of us not near Disney, planning is the usual. In my opinion, I feel that the only dining plan that can be work is the regular one. Because this plan only gives you one table service credit per night, it can be tricky to get into signature restaurants which require two credits for a meal. Sure, it can be done, but then you need to either pay out of pocket for a meal somewhere else in your vacation week or skip a meal.
To combat this, we prefer using the Deluxe Plan. It eliminates the need to fret over all of the counting of credits that needs to be done. Instead, there are more options open for signature dining which do still count as two table service credits, but there is much more food provided with the plan itself. You get two snacks per day and three table service credits. We don't use all three per day because we may skip breakfast or use snack credits for it. With this being said, the Deluxe Plan is a ton of food and I go into it not forcing myself to eat absolutely everything. I eat what I can and don't worry if I didn't get that dessert, etc. My boyfriend tends to eat more and loves every minute of the Deluxe Plan experience.
We have used the Premium Plan twice before. It is a more inclusive type plan with recreation and dining included. I liked the fact that this plan included backstage tours and special recreation options. It is not something we'd use on every vacation, but for a unique occassion it is nice to have.
Before I end, I wanted to mention that I wholeheartedly agree with what Tracey or Kathy (sorry, can't remember) said about altering plans here and there. Take a day or two and change how you use the credits. Use your table service for a big breakfast, snack for lunch, and counter service for dinner. We typically do this once during the vacation, if not twice, and found that it is a nice touch. You might also consider using credits for a dinner show like Hoop Dee Do Musical Revue.
Whatever you decide, use the plan that works best for you and your family. We do not visit the World without a dining plan and the few times we have, we definitely missed it. Do not focus on making the most out of it or saving the most money. Go into the plan with the notion of pre-paying for your meals, and eat where you want and what you want. Remember that you are on vacation and enjoy it.
