MYW Dining Plan & EPCOT Restaurants

[MICKEEP]

Is anyone else unhappy about the lack of choices of EPCOT restaurants that are included in the MYW Dining Plan. Apparently Biergarten and Rose and Crown are the only Non-character Table Service Restaurants and Le Cellier is listed as a signature restaurant and counted as two dinners.

We would really like to see Tepanyaki and Marakesh added to this list.

Any plans to add more restaurants to the list in the future?

 

[MomofKatie]

Yeah, it kinda ticks me off that there are so few places at Epcot to eat on the MYW Dining plan! I have my fingers crossed that there will be some more places added in the next few months...

There have been a few posters who said they have been able to use counter svc credits at places not on the list- one person ate at Cantina de San Angel in Mexico, and just a day or so ago, someone posted that they used a Counter credit at the Moroccon counter svc place. Also, someone posted that Earl of Sandwich at DTD accepted the Plan, with a $$ limit. So, hopefully, more places are realizing the benefits of being on the plan.

 

[MICKEEP]

Also the selection of restaurants at DTD are pretty pitiful

 

[bhencey]

The Epcot places (and Earl of Sandwich) are included in the Premium package, perhaps that is what the posters had purchased.

 

[becka]

I was looking at the dining plan costs and it looks like a good plan but once I saw the list of restaurants you could use it at it looked pretty limiting. If enough places (especially in Epcot) join then we might consider it. I really was hoping to see Marrakesh and Teppanyaki in particular just like you.

 

[MICKEEP]

I was looking at the dining plan costs and it looks like a good plan but once I saw the list of restaurants you could use it at it looked pretty limiting. If enough places (especially in Epcot) join then we might consider it. I really was hoping to see Marrakesh and Teppanyaki in particular just like you.

Marrakesh is one of our favorites and we were looking forward to trying Teppanyaki and Fulton's on the next trip.

I keep changing my opinion on whether this plan is a good deal or not. If you normally buy an appetizer and a desert for each person in your party, the cost appears to definitely be worth it. But we don't, we usually split one or two appetizers and hardly ever get desert after a big meal.

I have to use the menus on allears and run through a whole weeks worth of costs based on what we would "normally order" and then compare the costs.

 

[becka]

Marrakesh is one of our favorites and we were looking forward to trying Teppanyaki and Fulton's on the next trip.

I keep changing my opinion on whether this plan is a good deal or not. If you normally buy an appetizer and a desert for each person in your party, the cost appears to definitely be worth it. But we don't, we usually split one or two appetizers and hardly ever get desert after a big meal.

I have to use the menus on allears and run through a whole weeks worth of costs based on what we would "normally order" and then compare the costs.

We would usually order an appetizer to split as a family and only occassionally order dessert. When I run some numbers it almost looks like we would be paying about the same amount money wise at most places but we would be getting an extra app and always get to sample dessert. There are a few places where we could really get our money's worth. I figure for an average week for us we could save $200 over the menu costs but then again we would never have ordered that much food if we were paying cash at the restaurant. I just can't decide. The lack of restaurant selection may deter us from getting the plan.

 

[Cplofdisneynutz]

Keep in mind the program has just started & it is optional. We have read that there are possible plans for expansion of restaurants, possibly even this year. We also are hoping that several places at Epcot are added. I think they wanted to "test" the plan and see how well it was recieved. I will admit by the posts on the board it is kind of mixed. I think people are just apprehensive about something new and once they try it it will be ok. As for DTD places like HOB, WP, PH, RFC, these are not owned by disney. They are franchises on Disney property and all have Corporate offices, so Disney would have to get those outsiders on board with the program. I guess it really depends on the contracts they have set-up.Granted there are places like Fulton's that are not on there, but I do think that Disney has plans to expand this in the future. I think with anything new there are bumps and stumbles on the way to making something what you truly envisioned. One thing to keep in mind though, what did we all do before there was the MYW dining plan?

hope that helps

 

[MICKEEP]

Keep in mind the program has just started & it is optional. We have read that there are possible plans for expansion of restaurants, possibly even this year. We also are hoping that several places at Epcot are added. I think they wanted to "test" the plan and see how well it was recieved. I will admit by the posts on the board it is kind of mixed. I think people are just apprehensive about something new and once they try it it will be ok. As for DTD places like HOB, WP, PH, RFC, these are not owned by disney. They are franchises on Disney property and all have Corporate offices, so Disney would have to get those outsiders on board with the program. I guess it really depends on the contracts they have set-up.Granted there are places like Fulton's that are not on there, but I do think that Disney has plans to expand this in the future.

hope that helps

I think that non-plan/non-Disney restaurants will probably see a decline in their customers due to the new dining plan. So we may very well see these restaurants come on board in future.

I am now wondering if the Disney owned restaurants, specifically those at EPCOT, will now be less crowded and PS will be easier to come by at peak times.

 

[SeattleMark]

I know I'd definitely love to see Nine Dragons and Teppanyaki on the list by the time we're there in July!

 

[estnh]

I think that non-plan/non-Disney restaurants will probably see a decline in their customers due to the new dining plan. So we may very well see these restaurants come on board in future.

I am now wondering if the Disney owned restaurants, specifically those at EPCOT, will now be less crowded and PS will be easier to come by at peak times.

I think you are absolutely right, MICKEP, I think the MYW restaurants are going to be buried, and the others will be much less crowded. If you are going and NOT doing the plan, it would probably be a good idea for you to focus on non-plan restaurants for last minute PS.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

We were disappointed with the Epcot choices too. Its our first trip to WDW (since we are driving distance to DL) and were really looking forward to sampling alot of the Epcot restaurants, particularly Marakesh. We also have not yet decided if we are going to do the dining plan. Its definitely appealing to have all the meals prepaid so thats one less thing I'm worrying about, but it'll probably come down to if I can get a room discount that allows a dining package add on (my current discount does not).

 

[Lewisc]

I guess the non-Disney owned restaurants don't think the plan is in their interest. It looks like a normal sit down meal is valued at about $25 including tax and tip. Most of the EPCOT restaurants would come out way behind if people could order off the menu.

I don't think you'll see them participate unless they become signature restaurants, have surcharges for some items or limit you to a price fixed menu.

 

[Pedler]

One thing that we are planning on doing is using the meal plan for two of the character breakfast. Crystal on one MK day and Chef Mickey's on our departure day. By using the plan to pay for those meals we will have two dinners to cover ourselves. The plan is to pay for at least one dinner out of pocket at World showcase restuarant.

Our basic strategy is that we have we are there for 7 nights so we have 7 dinners, lunches and breakfast to cover. We will use the counter service credits for the lunches and 5 of the sit down rest. credits for dinner and two for the character breakfasts. The rest of the breakfasts we will do in the room. (My preference, doing restaurant breakfast with a 6 & 8 year old is not the most fun meal of the day!)

Then we have two meals left to cover. One we will pay for out of pocket at Epcot the other we may end up sharing sit down meals or pay for some of the kids meal to cover. Or we may end up sharing counter service meals and then use the extra credits to cover a counter dinner somewhere.

For the 4 of us I figure we will spend $630 on the plan and then most likely another $200 on out of pocket meals, breakfast in the room and snacks not covered by the plan. (Some of our snack credits will be used for bottled water in the parks)

That makes it $830 for 7 full days or aprox. $118 per day for a family of 4. With that we have 2 character meals, 5 dinning plan sit down meals and two meals we cover ourselves. We may be doing a bit more than we would if I had to pay for every meal out of pocket but this way the kids get two character meals, a dinner in the castle and I am not worrying about how much each meal costs. Its not the least expensive way to eat at Disney but if you are going to do some character meals and live with the list of sit down restuarants I think it definitely worth it. For the cost savings and it just reduces the stress.

If on the other hand you have a hit list of the fine dinning rest. to go to or your kids are on the wrong size of the age bubble (10 and up) then it may not make sense.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I have to use the menus on allears and run through a whole weeks worth of costs based on what we would "normally order" and then compare the costs.

I did this last week: it turns out that the dining plan would cost almost the same as what we'd spend out of pocket, so with the restrictions on restaurants it actually is more of a hassle to use the plan. We never order appetizers, rarely get snacks, and DD (10) would be charged as an adult.

 

[disneycrazzzy]

We ate at Japan's Teppanyaki on Friday, April 1st. When I handed the hostess my room key to charge to my room, she asked if I wanted to charge to the dining plan. I said "sure" (bill was $90+ for myself, DS11 and DS7). So, I have hopes that more of the Epcot restaurants will be included shortly. I would have ordered differently (more expensive choices and desserts and drinks), but it was still a good deal.

FYI: We had a great trip and the Dining Plan was one of the reasons. My sons loved being able to pick anything off the menu without worrying about how much it cost. I liked it because it felt like we were actually saving money at Disney which doesn't seem to happen very often. We had a $140 meal at Concourse Steakhouse too. Other meals were buffets where you don't get as big of "bang for the buck".

 

[MICKEEP]

I have to use the menus on allears and run through a whole weeks worth of costs based on what we would "normally order" and then compare the costs.

Well, I did that and the cost for the plan and the cost for what I would have paid out of pocket were very close. I chose items on the menu that we would have normally picked and I only picked the appetizers and deserts that were interesting. We would typically only pick 1 or 2 per restaurant. And we also selected restaurants which were not in the plan.

If you compare the plan with picking an appetizer and a desert for each person, then the plan is definitely cheaper. But I do not think many people can eat that much or admit to eating that much.

 

[golfgal]

Well, I did that and the cost for the plan and the cost for what I would have paid out of pocket were very close. I chose items on the menu that we would have normally picked and I only picked the appetizers and deserts that were interesting. We would typically only pick 1 or 2 per restaurant. And we also selected restaurants which were not in the plan.

If you compare the plan with picking an appetizer and a desert for each person, then the plan is definitely cheaper. But I do not think many people can eat that much or admit to eating that much.

Don't forget that the TIP is included with the MYW plan. That can save you $10+ meal.

 

[MICKEEP]

Don't forget that the TIP is included with the MYW plan. That can save you $10+ meal.

Yes, your right. I did include a tip and I also included 6.5% sales tax.

 

[MNmom]

We ate at Japan's Teppanyaki on Friday, April 1st. When I handed the hostess my room key to charge to my room, she asked if I wanted to charge to the dining plan. I said "sure" (bill was $90+ for myself, DS11 and DS7). So, I have hopes that more of the Epcot restaurants will be included shortly. I would have ordered differently (more expensive choices and desserts and drinks), but it was still a good deal.

FYI: We had a great trip and the Dining Plan was one of the reasons. My sons loved being able to pick anything off the menu without worrying about how much it cost. I liked it because it felt like we were actually saving money at Disney which doesn't seem to happen very often. We had a $140 meal at Concourse Steakhouse too. Other meals were buffets where you don't get as big of "bang for the buck".

WOW!! That would be great if we could do this. I guess we won't count on it until it is "official" from the Mouse. But it would be great if they added this rest.