Need help/info on Premium Dining Plan?

[*NikkiBell*]

Just curious, for those that have gone on the premium and earlier similar-type plans, have you ever overscheduled yourself? I've got (or will have when I go) ADRs for nearly all of our lunches and dinners, I'm pretty well scheduled daily. mostly it is because we all have different morning plans and are using lunches as our mid-day meet up...then we'll touch base, go off and maybe spend the afternoons together (or not) and have dinner together. It seems like a reasonable plan, but, I hardly know what I'm doing for dinner tomorrow...and here I have 8 days of planned events...so I just wondered, have you ever felt too scheduled?

We did not find this to be the case too much. We based where we would be in the World around EMH-Nites and then made PS's for lunches and dinners from there. It is easier to schedule these meals than to walk around hoping for an open table.

 

[LauraK]

Hi - we just made a reservation for the Wilderness Lodge with the premium package. I'm wondering how they track your meals, and if we could choose to use our meals to take another couple out to dinner?

My sister and her husband will be joining us for dinner, and rather then them get a separate bill, I'd like to use our plan for their dinner as well, and maybe do without a meal on another day.

Can you do this?

 

[honeymo78]

Your meals are tracked as credits . We are staying 7 nights so 7nights x 3meals a day = 21 x 2 people = 42 credits. They are not broken into breakfast, lunch or dinner. I don't think there would be a problem using your credits for another couple's dinner and just skipping a meal. I have never done that but maybe someone else here has some firsthand info.

 

[wasabi girl]

I haven't had time to check this, but I think quite a while ago there was a trip report about a guy on the old Platinum Plan, who for whatever reason, amssed many unused meals and used them to treat others to lunch or dinner...you might try a search.

 

[michellejed]

You can use as many credits as you want at any sitting, You can even have the table next to you get one of your appt or dessert

 

[wasabi girl]

Hey Nikkibelle or Honeymo78....I'm about to make the last payment on my Dec vacation and I'm starting to have about a zillion questions....itinerary questions, last day questions, photographers at WDW....guidance, reassurance, insight whatever....are you guys out there? From Wasabi girl who is getting very nervous....

 

[honeymo78]

I'm here, ask away

 

[wasabi girl]

Thanks!

Last day- Our flight leaves about 7 PM, if I understand correctly my park tickets are valid until midnight of our checkout day? After check out at the hotel, we will have one lunch left from our plan...how do they do this? How much time do we need to allow to get from WDW and back to the airport?

Photographers- I've seen some photos taken by photographers at the parks, are there many of them? Can I plan on many photos being taken by them? How does that work?

Itinerary- I've got Cirque, 3 tours, golf, horseback riding....meals planned (everyone isn't doing everything...we meet for meals, we have the Keys to the Kingdom tour together, Cirque, and MVMCP together)...how hard is it to actually stick to a plan? If we are a little early or a little late for our ADRs...is it a problem? Actually often we will be using our meals as meeting up times...if we are waiting for one more will it cause problems?

Transportation- I'm not renting a car, staying at the Polynesian, will the combo of disney transport and if we are rushing, using a taxi...is it a hassle? Most of our lunches are in the parks, dinners are at the resorts (the other monorail hotels, WL, and AKL)....

Thanks for your help...I've only ever been to WDW for day trips as a child, and anything else I know I've learned here on the DIS and in guidebooks!

 

[diswedwish]

wasabi girl -

Your tickets/points/recreation are still valid until midnight of the day you check-out. Then you turn into a pumpkin

Haven't been there since photo-pass, but there are photographers everywhere, and if you ask, they'll also take pictures using your camera.

Our last 3 trips have been super-planned - lol! Especially when on the Gold/Platinum plans. It was just the 2 of us, but we managed to make every meal, show, horsebackriding, tour, etc. You will be tired and possibly need a vacation once you get home but it's a blast!! We were usually early for meals, and most of the time we were taken early as well, except the obvious places like CA Grill on a Sat. night.

We always relied on Disney transportation, and while sometimes it was a hassle, we got where we needed to go. Never even needed to use a taxi... Although our first time to Cirque was cutting it very close (our fault), as was our Backstage Safari tour (AK bus didn't show up for over 30 min.). We should've gotten a taxi just to save the headache...

I would recommend leaving plenty of time to get to Cirque by the time they state on your voucher (I think it's an hour prior to the show), or picking up your tickets earlier. I was very anxious that they'd sell our tickets since they say they'll release them if you don't pick them up. I doubt they do it often, but for peace of mind, give yourself a lot of time or take a taxi. The second time we saw Cirque was so much more relaxing, we had plenty of time before and weren't rushing at all.

Have a great trip and enjoy the Premium Plan

 

[tashast]

Hi everyone,
I just made my ressies using the premium package and now I have a ton of questions. I hope you don't mind me asking a bunch.

What are the options that we can do for the water sports? My FI is wondering if we can get a sailboat. Do you guys know?

Also, do I call and make my ressies for the Cirque asap or is it automatically chosen for me with my purchase? Also, can I make a ressie even if my trip isn't completely paid for yet?

Is appetizer, main course & dessert served? Also, am I limited to 2 table meals and one counter service meal or is that the regular dining plan.

I'm sure I will have more questions as I figure it all out so please bear with me.

Thanks so much!!!

 

[wasabi girl]

Hi Tashast!

I'm new to the Premium Plan too (and to WDW) but I can answer some of your questions. With the Premium Plan you can have 3 table service meals per day...lots of choices.
Cirque is included but you have to make the reservations yourself.
Don't know about the sailboat....
Yes, you can make reservations even though your trip isn't completely paid for. I'm going to put a link to the brochure about the premium plan from the disneyworld website, you can print it if you like and it will have alot of information about recreation, dining and so on...are you going on the premium plan for your honeymoon trip? Congrats!

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...especific/eng/nontheme/tickets/MYWPremium.pdf

 

[Rizel]

I've been following up with this thread and am unsure if this was covered but i'm still a little confused.

With the Premium plan, i get unlimited food credits?? So your saying that i could do a signature dining that takes 2 credits and not go into the next days? So is there no limit on how many CS, TS and snack credits i get?

And from what i gather so far i could save up all my snack credits and just cash them out at the end?
Must i cash out before my actual checkout date for the specific plan or whenever i leave disney? As i'm planning to do a split stay at AKL/BWI and one other hotel.

Thanks again for all the help ^^;;

 

[honeymo78]

Wasabi - you'll be fine with your tickets with lunch still left on them - it will still show the credits available. The only thing you won't be able to do with the card is get back into your room after you checkout (well maybe you can, I've never tried it)

It always seemed like the photographers were everywhere when we last went. You shouldn't have a problem and when in doubt, ask a CM.

transportation has never been an issue for us. Never had a rental car or used a taxi. We've showed up a few minutes late before but it never made us wait more than a half hour (which we might have had to wait anyway). Also depending on the restaurant they may seat you if you are only waiting on one person. I met up with my family for meals all the time when I was a teen but I can't remember if I was always on time (I doubt it).

You'll have a wonderful trip

 

[Nancyg56]

I priced it just because it sounded neat. Reading thsi thread made me think, "maybe that would work for us!!"


I was just trying to share my comparison of plans, in case someone else like me read these posts. I wasn't trying to cricitize the plan or anyone on it. I was just offering a comparison as to why the benefit (financially and usage wise) may really differ.

Julia

I did the same thing, Julia...thought what a great deal!!! I can't drag my DH out much, so when I can I do make it count. For us, the TA said it was overkill, because we had added concierge, park hoppers, and 7 day passes. I was trying to figure a way to get more signature dinners into our week...(too many restaurants and too little time) but I think paying OOP will be the better bet.

Having said that, we are journaling to determine the total cost of things we want to do and realistically, how much we will eat and where, next time, and add that up to see what will work better for us when our DGD is older. Maybe I will have more stamina to keep up with all that is included.

 

[tashast]

Wasabi -
Thanks so much for the brochure. I answered a lot of my questions. It looks like we can get a sailboat, FI is going to be pretty happy!

And to answer your questions, yup, we are doing this for our honeymoon. We decided to go for it since it includes a lot of stuff we secretly wanted to do but didn't think we would be able to afford it.

 

[honeymo78]

I've been following up with this thread and am unsure if this was covered but i'm still a little confused.

With the Premium plan, i get unlimited food credits?? So your saying that i could do a signature dining that takes 2 credits and not go into the next days? So is there no limit on how many CS, TS and snack credits i get?

And from what i gather so far i could save up all my snack credits and just cash them out at the end?
Must i cash out before my actual checkout date for the specific plan or whenever i leave disney? As i'm planning to do a split stay at AKL/BWI and one other hotel.

Thanks again for all the help ^^;;

It's not unlimited food. You get 3 meals per person, per night of your stay. These can be used at CS or TS for any meal. There are no "signature" restaurants on this plan and several restaurants that are not included in the dining add on are available (like Rainforest Cafe and some DTD restaurants). This means you would use 1 meal credit for any place you choose to eat, whether it is California Grill or Pecos Bills. There are also no snack credits on the premium plan (next year's platinium plan includes them plus many other benefits).

You must use your credits before midnight of the day you check out. For example on a spilt stay with 3 nights at each you would have 9 credits per person during the stay at each resort. If you check in to the first one on Monday you have to use those 9 credits by the end of the day on Thursday. You would get 9 more credits on your room key at the second resort when you check in on Thursday and those would expire at midnight on Sunday.

 

[wasabi girl]

Great! Happy planning!

 

[honeymo78]

Tashat - for water recreation you can basically rent anything at the marina except for the fireworks cruise. I don't know if there are sailboats at the marinas but if there are I'm pretty sure you could rent them. I would call 407-WDW-PLAY and find out.

With the premium plan you get 3 meals per person, per night of your stay. They are not divided b/w TS and CS - you can eat anywhere you like (except V&A). And yes you get appy, entree and dessert with your meals.

 

[wasabi girl]

I just got an e-mail from my hardworking TA and she got all of our ADRs!! We were able to get everything we wanted, meals, tours, golf, Cirque, horseback riding....I'm so excited I just had to tell someone!

 

[jw50]

The only drawback to the Premium Plan is the weight gain that goes with it

I highly recommend that anyone on the Premium Plan do the parasailing, and do it early in your stay so that if you really like it you have time to schedule it again. The water sprites are fun too.