MYW + Dining

[jksly1998]

Has anyone used the MYW + Dining. We have 5 adults and 2 children going in May 15-21 and want to know if it is worth the extra $35 per day for adults and $10 per day fom children. Please let me know, thanks !!!

The last time I visited was May of 1991 & stayed CBR

 

[Princess Wannabe]

We aren't going until April, but based on what I've read, I purchased the Meal Plan, as it appeared to be well worth it for us.

Here is a LONG discussion that talks about the Dining Plan; you might be able to glean some helpful information from it:

MYW Dining Plan Discussion

Hope it helps.
Sherri

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think it is a good deal IF you are happy with the participating restaurants, IF you know you will be at WDW your entire stay (not cutting the trip short due to emergency or whatever) and IF you don't eat at a signature restaurant.
I think it is one of those things each person has to decide what works best for them. There are many variables that could make or break this for each guest.

 

[eeyore45]

I've not decided if its 'worth it' or not.. the big descion is MYA vs AP discounts on rooms, or not, or DDE with the AP or MYA with Dining!!

I'm using this site thanks to the unofficial guide>>

http://www.touringplans.com/MYWDining.html

 

[princessmomma]

Personally, I don't think it is worth it for the number of adults you have. $35 a day plus 11.5% tax is a lot. I think your savings will be minimal and the hassle may be great.

The $10 a day for kids is good, because they can order off the adult menu for counter.

Also depends on your eating habits, I do not eat 2 desserts and 2 non-alcoholic drinks and a snack a day.

We are getting it this time because we have 3 kids.

 

[TigerLilyBlossom]

We're going in April, and decided to go with the dining plan. We've never been to Disney before, so we have no preference in places to eat based on experience, rather we looked at the list of participation places and looked up the menus on allears--- the menus looked good to us, and we decided that for us, it will be a savings, because we'll be spending more than $35 per day on food per adult, and certainly more than the $10 for our son. There seem to be a lot of options as to places to eat, and the menus have variety too, so we're thinking it will work out well for us.

 

[WDWBetsy]

Personally, I don't think it is worth it for the number of adults you have. $35 a day plus 11.5% tax is a lot. I think your savings will be minimal and the hassle may be great.

I have to disagree - for 5 adults who would eat at a table service restaurant each night anyway, the $35/tax per night is a good deal. After you pick out an appetizer, entree, drink, dessert, plus tax/tip most meals will be at least $35, if not more. It just depends on the participating restaurant you pick and the menu choices. For the most part, you end up getting the counter service and snack as a bonus at that point.

If you do not plan on eating at table service restaurants most nights and would normally just eat counter service meals, then the plan wouldn't make sense.

Most people who have come back with their experiences using the plan have noted a hassle with snacks. Some experienced hassles in the beginning when it was still really new, but I think most people are not having the same problems as the plan is used more and more.

Just my opinion.

 

[keishashadow]

We used the plan in February (2 Adults & 1 Child) and highly recommend it. We estimate that we ate at least $300 in food over what we paid for the plan and got to try new restaurants and menu items. It was nice to have that aspect of the vacation paid for in advance, the envelope on the door was less of a heart-stopper this time.

I do agree that you do loose whatever discount you booked your room under, but since we used AAA @ the AS it was less than $10 a night.

 

[princessmomma]

for 5 adults who would eat at a table service restaurant each night anyway, the $35/tax per night is a good deal. After you pick out an appetizer, entree, drink, dessert, plus tax/tip most meals will be at least $35, if not more.

Yes, if your eating habits are such that you eat that much food it is a good deal. I would never order and appetizer, entree, drink and dessert at a restaurant ( I couldn't fathom eating like that for 7 days straight), so if it were my husband and myself, I would not get it. But we have the 3 kids with us and that $10 a day is such a great deal for them, we can't turn it down.

The kids can share my appetizer and dessert, oh, and I guess that snack in the parks as well!

 

[WDWBetsy]

Yes, if your eating habits are such that you eat that much food it is a good deal. I would never order and appetizer, entree, drink and dessert at a restaurant ( I couldn't fathom eating like that for 7 days straight), so if it were my husband and myself, I would not get it. But we have the 3 kids with us and that $10 a day is such a great deal for them, we can't turn it down.

The kids can share my appetizer and dessert, oh, and I guess that snack in the parks as well!

You're right - not everyone is going to eat that much - so in that case the dining plan is not for them. But I also don't think it this needs to be about someone's eating habits. I don't eat like that every day, but when I'm walking miles around the parks, I do get hungry.

For the most part, I'll probably order a soup or salad for the appetizer, then pick an entree and drink. As for the dessert, I'll probably eat a few bites or take the rest back to the fridge in our room.

I'm not saying it's for everyone, however, at most of the table service restaurants we're choosing, you could easily spend at least $35 per person for one meal - plus it includes tax & tip. We'll probably split many of our counter service meals and then use the remaining ones on breakfasts. Thus, the savings are great for many. As for the snack, I'll probably get the bottle of water.

I don't always finish everything on my plate, and I'm not going to wolf down everything served to me just to get my money's worth. But I still think the dining plan is a good value. If I am asked if it's a good value for 5 typical adults (and they don't mention that they're on diets or don't eat that much), I'm going to have to say yes.

 

[Aevalin]

I do agree that you do loose whatever discount you booked your room under, but since we used AAA @ the AS it was less than $10 a night.

But the thing is we only know you'd lose the room rate discount based on what's been done before - it's possible they'll take into account the fact that they have a new ticketing structure and change how they do the discount codes as well.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We have decided to use the meal plan for our April trip 2 Adults, 2 kids. Because we enjoy a sit-down meal every day, it was definately worth it for us. Also, with our kids still at the $10 price, it helps. I don't think I would have gotten it if my oldest was over 10. She doesn't need that big meal, and would never be able to finish it.

I came across our list of charges, last trip, and it confirmed my decsion.

Our breakfast at CRT was $77.00 with tax and tip- That means on our CRT this trip, we will get 4 counter service, and 4 snacks for $13.00

Our meal at Ohana, before tax and tip, is around $70, so that day I think we will come out ahead too.

Rose and Crown- $76.00, total, and I'm pretty sure we just shared dessert.


I suggest you check the menus on www.allearsnet.com and go from there. If the rest. you will be eating at, are on the list, I think you will find it does save you $$

The downside is that unless, you get a postcard, or E-mail rate, that can be applied along with the my way dining you do lose resort savings. We have decided to only pay rack at Pop Century. The difference at the moderates would cut into the savings of the meal plan too much for us.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I think you really have to sit down and figure out where you will eat. DH and DS eat at the Cheesecake Factory many days and they are not included for counter service. Training DH to eat at Mara before they left for DQ seemed like a huge negative to me. And, it depends on where you eat. I looked at the unofficial guide and we eat at Boma, H&V, and will try Whispering Canyon this time and the savings just isn't there for us. My kids are 12 and 13 so have to pay adult prices. DS would never eat an appetizer because he doesn't like enough food and DD would never be able to eat that much. I wouldn't either. At Prime Time I only ordered a dessert. I ran the numbers and it's not worth it for us. I think we would end up coming out better without the plan. Lots of times I eat breakfast and dinner and that's it. I wish they had a two sit down meal plan because we do a character breakfast and then a sit down dinner.

I'm sure that some people will save money with the plan, but I'm sure Disney the Business will do well with this meal plan otherwise they wouldn't be offering it

 

[fyrmed]

Hello,
We just booked our trip on friday are adding the dinning plan. Can anyone tell me if the restaurants publish their ingredients, or can they make special meals for kids with allergies to certain foods.
thanks

 

[jksly1998]

Just want to say thanks for all the great information. We have many character meals planned and I think the meal plan is the way to go. We are staying in the Port Orleans (FQ) and will let you know how it went...

Thanks again,
Justin

 

[mybgirl]

Personally, I don't think it is worth it for the number of adults you have. $35 a day plus 11.5% tax is a lot. I think your savings will be minimal and the hassle may be great.

The $10 a day for kids is good, because they can order off the adult menu for counter.

Also depends on your eating habits, I do not eat 2 desserts and 2 non-alcoholic drinks and a snack a day.

We are getting it this time because we have 3 kids.

HI no TAX ON MEAL PLAIN ,I HAVE PAID FOR MINE , 6 DAYS AND TOTAL FOR MY DS AND I,WAS $ 270.00 TOTAL , GREAT FOR MEAL LIKE 100 PARK FARE DINNER , THAT WOULD RUN US AFTER TIP AND TAX ABOUT $ 50 .00


IT ALL UP TO YOU, IT CAN SAVE YOU MONEY


TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS HAVE A GREAT TRIP


MARY

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Hello,
We just booked our trip on friday are adding the dinning plan. Can anyone tell me if the restaurants publish their ingredients, or can they make special meals for kids with allergies to certain foods.
thanks

We have a friend who has food allergies, and told us that yes they will make sure you are cared for.

He mentioned that at one of the buffets, the chef came out and walked him thru the line, and let him know exactly what to avoid. He also cooked a special steak for him, since most of the meat choices were going to have to be avoided.

Make sure to talk to the server, and ask to speak with the person doing the cooking.

Hope that helps. Have a great trip

 

[henrylovespooh]

We just got back from WDW and used the dining plan. I loved it. We had three family members on it (2 adults, one child) and a 2 year old not on the plan. One night we ate dinner at CRT and the bill came to about $109 for the three of us on the plan - and we had only paid $80 for the plan that day! With our CS meal, we probably saved $40 that day. Our bill at Kona Cafe was about $120 for the three of us on the plan, so again we saved a great deal. (I had crab cake appetizer, filet mignon and a macadamia nut tart with caramel sauce - yum!)We would not have eaten at these places if we weren't on the plan. When we ate at buffets like Boma and Chef Mickey's we came out about even - with tax and tip and a counter service meal that day, we still came out ahead. The snacks on the plan are gravy - you are usually ahead before using them.

I would definitely do it again.

 

[WDWBetsy]

We just got back from WDW and used the dining plan. I loved it. We had three family members on it (2 adults, one child) and a 2 year old not on the plan. One night we ate dinner at CRT and the bill came to about $109 for the three of us on the plan - and we had only paid $80 for the plan that day! With our CS meal, we probably saved $40 that day. Our bill at Kona Cafe was about $120 for the three of us on the plan, so again we saved a great deal. (I had crab cake appetizer, filet mignon and a macadamia nut tart with caramel sauce - yum!)We would not have eaten at these places if we weren't on the plan. When we ate at buffets like Boma and Chef Mickey's we came out about even - with tax and tip and a counter service meal that day, we still came out ahead. The snacks on the plan are gravy - you are usually ahead before using them.

I would definitely do it again.

Thanks for your post! We spent about $81 for the two of us (with only one appetizer and one dessert) at CRT in 2003, so this dining plan is going to be great! I can't wait until our trip.

 

[Tinseltown Trauma]

Personally, I don't think it is worth it for the number of adults you have. $35 a day plus 11.5% tax is a lot. I think your savings will be minimal and the hassle may be great.

The $10 a day for kids is good, because they can order off the adult menu for counter.

Also depends on your eating habits, I do not eat 2 desserts and 2 non-alcoholic drinks and a snack a day.

We are getting it this time because we have 3 kids.

Thought you all might like to know that the $35/day is inclusive of tax (& tip).

Incidentally, the tax rate on the meal plan portion of the MYW packages is 7% (6% state + 1% Osceola County (if your resort falls on that side of the dividing line); resort tax is 12% (for Osceola = 6 + 1 + 5) and only applies to room).

In my opinion, the meal plan is a fabulous deal if one is willing to put the effort into planning which venues will give you the most bang for the buck. After studying and pondering and finally choosing, I have no doubt that WDW will be losing $ on me!

TT

P.S.: Pepper Mkt and Maya Grill are now showing as participants in the system used by Reservations.