New Disney Dining Plan 2008

[solferino]

The deluxe plan is awesome.

It looks great on paper, but speaking only for myself and our family- 3 sit downs a day is an incredible waste of touring time. We aren't commando in any stretch of the word but 3 meals at an hour and a half each is a good chunk of time to lose, IMO.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

The "new" Deluxe plan has always been available--I forget what it's been called, thgough the years, but we've been on it a few times. When we've been to WDW in past years, it was my MIL's treat and she paid for everything including the "grand Poo-bah three meals a day plan". So, here are some thoughts:

3 sit-down meals a day eats up a lot of touring time. In our case, this meant 3 sit-downs with young children, who aren't always in the mood. We did do some CS, but the price didn't drop because of that--MIL was paying for three TS per day regardless.

We never would have had room for any snacks with those big meals. Not to mention additional time to purchase/consume them. Maybe drinks, but even those, we'd take our unfinished ones with us when we had CS.

We seemed to waste a ton of food--between kids ordering a full kids meal each mealtime, and us adults having appetizers and desserts, and no real way to save any leftovers--a ton of stuff got left behind. It would steam my clams to do this if I were paying for it.

For a 7-night trip for our family, the new "deluxe" plan would be $70 X 7 nights X 4 adults= $2800, plus tip, plus a child's portion (sorry, don't remember what that cost was, screaming toddler in my ear).

I would never do this type of plan on my own dime. Since our visit last year, we've purchased DVC, and were considering the original DDP for next year's trip. Now, we'll hold out and see what pans out.

In addition, dropping both the appetizer AND the tip from the original plan, and then only dropping the price by $1, is just bogus. Of course, they coudl argue that it was underpriced to begin with, or food costs have increased, but there is much less perceived value than under the current parameters.

 

[patsal]

My thoughts
You can't be serious drop the plan $1.00 but expect me to pay for tips and appetizers--not going to happen

Deluxe plan would cost my family of four (prices rounded for easy math)$280 to this I am supposed to add tip which would be another $80+ per day--can I feed a family of four for less than $400 per day at WDW you bet I can and we will eat very well. Besides I can't be spending 6+ hours eating or preparing to eat when I'd rather be in the parks.

Honestly, I believe they want less people to purchase the plan to free up the restaurants.

It was fun for us when it worked for us--doesn't work anymore so no biggie there is a great big world out there beyond the gates of WDW.

 

[huey578]

I hope the price still includes snack credits and counter service meal.

It will be interesting to see if they implement these changes and don't sell as many of these plans as they did before if they will change them again.

I also think eliminating the appetizer (approx $6.00/day) and the tip (approx $25.00/day) and only decreasing the package cost by $1.00/day is an insult to our intelligence.

 

[NMW]

It looks great on paper, but speaking only for myself and our family- 3 sit downs a day is an incredible waste of touring time. We aren't commando in any stretch of the word but 3 meals at an hour and a half each is a good chunk of time to lose, IMO.

Well, the way we always do Disney is an early character or resort breakfast (8-8:30). This in no way cuts into our touring time. In fact, it helps it tremendously. If we have an 8:10 breakfast at Crystal palace we are INSIDE the park before the gates even open. We eat, and stand at the rope inside the castle leading to Fantasyland. We have done 5-6 rides before any lines whatsoever (I'm talking even a few people) have begun to form. We also do this with AK (Donald's) and Epcot (Norway princess). If we do Cape May Cafe or Spoodles, we eat at 8 AM, and then get right on the boat to MGM or walk right into Epcot. It doesn't effect our touring time at all. In the cases of the ADR's in the parks, it helps it.

Our dinners are always later, 7:30-8:30 usually. This doesn't effect touring either. In fact, eating at Rose and Crown and seeing Illuminations is a perfect way to end our touring.

I wouldn't do a TS lunch every day, snacks would be fine a lot of days. However, there are a couple TS places I enjoy doing for lunch-Sci-Fi and Brown Derby for example. Japan is another one I'd do for lunch (I forget the new name ). I never felt it interfered with our touring, but made our day more relaxing and fun.

 

[NMW]

I hope the price still includes snack credits and counter service meal.

The basic plan is 1 TS, 1CS, 1 snack. No app with dinner and no tip. They are reducing it $1 per person.

The Deluxe plan is 3 meals per day (can be either TS or CS), 2 snacks per person/per day, apps ARE included with dinner, refillable mugs, no tip.

Also with the deluxe you can use 2 of your meals for a signature. So, in effect do a TS breakfast and then a signature dinner, skipping lunch.

 

[swanc02]

If Disney wants to reduce ADRs and/or dining at their restaurants, why are they giving the DDP away with such frequency? Clearly, less guests would opt for the DDP if they had to pay for it.
I don't think Disney is worried about congestion or service quality in their restaurants as much as their bottom line. In my somewhat humble opinion, the changes to the 2008 DDP are all about money. More money for Disney, less for their customers at a time when we are all being squeezed from every conceivable direction. It's a shame. Guess they better stop advertising how affordable a Disney vacation can be.

 

[kjetjl]

Will they change the selection of the snacks?
It was the included gratuity and the snack options that hooked our family on the dining plan.
We probably wouldn't do the dining plan again if the rumors are true.
I have actually talked many friends and family into going with the dining plan...I will have to make sure I tell them of the changes once the official word is out.

 

[HamTown]

I just did a quick calculation for the Deluxe package (which I had 11 years ago on my honeymoon, I'm sure it was called something different then).

I priced breakfast at Boatwrights (French toast, fruit cup and orange juice)
Lunch at Electric Umbrella (turkey sandwich, soda and cheesecake)
Dinner at LeCellier (cheese soup, 7 oz filet, chocolate moose, soda)
Two $3 snacks = roughly $72

I have no idea what the tax rate is but add that and know that you'll be paying tip either way, it could still be a good deal if your family tends to eat "well" on vacation or do lots of character meals (which mine does).

I'd still rather have the old plan, but for some families, this may actually be a better deal. Plus, you get a refillable mug!

 

[HayGan]

I'm not going to get too upset about it at this point because it is still just a rumor. (We know that many rumors, even those from reliable sources, have been wrong in the past.) I don't like the proposed changes. I don't care for either plan. We usually only like to do 1 TS restaurant per day. I can't see spending 3 hours a day eating (most of the TS restaurants do take at least that long except for the buffets.) And I definitely don't see us paying almost $200 a day to eat either! Taking the tip off of the budget dining plan really kills that one for me.

While I love Disney resorts and the benefits that come along with them, if these changes do go into place I can really see our liklihood off staying off-site increasing!

 

[momoftwodisneykids]

the only thing that kept us from universal was the dining plan...food cost was the big deal for us but now i guess we can try universal sometimes...great resorts,express pass and a cheaper meal plan..yeh i know the food is not as good but hey we have three kids so cost is importent!lol we are florida res. so we get GREAT deals at universal and every year a free park ticket and coupon for 35.00 2 park tickets so royal pacific here we come.....

I live in Florida also. How do you get the ticket deals you listed above. We would definitely try Universal if we could get a good deal. Thanks.

Joanne

 

[luv2nascar]

so sad if this is true as it will mean the end of the dining plan for us.
The deluxe would be $230 day plus tip. That's our food budget at home for a week. No way will I pay those prices. We were wanting to go back to universal anyways with new Harry Potter park coming.


the deal breaker for us is no tip included. Sad to see appetizer gone but tip is the deal breaker.

 

[kritter]

I know it is all rumored so far but I think Disney is going to make a mistake changing the dining plan. I own DVC I will go back to not eating in the restr. as much I will cook more in the room......Why fix what is not broken I vote to keep it the way it is........

 

[mtblujeans]

As I read all these posts, a good many of the points brought out would also pertain to our family. I can't help but wonder if an increase in park food/meals is coming in the not-so-distant future.

 

[jenr812]

I totally agree that the deal breaker is the lack of tip. That is a huge chunk. Even the person who had a long post saying how this new deluxe plan would work great for her family (sorry too lazy to go back and see who is was LOL) - there was a $200 savings in what you said you paid total for the as-is DDP (including the cost of your OOP meals) vs. the new rumored deluxe DDP. Add 7 nights of tipping and that will eliminate your $200 savings and add more money to your cost.

For us, 3 TS meals (or even 2!) is way too much each day. Once or twice during the trip, sure, but otherwise it is way too much food and way too much time sitting in restaurants. So the deluxe is out for us

These new changes stink IMHO.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

Okay... so I ran some numbers based on what we ate on the DDP last year and what we probably would have got instead if we were paying OOP.

I think it totally stinks that they are taking out the tip and appetizer. However, I noticed that a lot of the places we went didn't have a separate appetizer (think buffets or family style all you can eat).

Also, even though this clearly lessens the amount you save each day and over the course of your vacation, unless I did something wrong, it seems like we would still be saving money. My figures for doing stuff OOP still cost more each day than the DDP. It seems like the only way to save even more would be not to have a TS every day, which wouldn't be as fun.

The deluxe sounds like a big savings, but it's really a buy more to save more kind of deal. I don't think they could pry all that money out of my hands. I mean, it's a lot of money for some of us. Plus, wouldn't I really feel obligated to do 3 TS each day to get the best value? That would be kind of difficult with kids. Or, I could do two signature and one regular credit or throw in a different combination with a CS. The extra snacks are cool and the refillable mug, but you really are forking out the dough for stuff that I probably don't need.

So, to make a long post a little shorter, I'm not sure what we'll do if these rumors prove to be true...

 

[disneymom06]

The new plan doesn't work well for our family either and we love the DDP. Having 2 children over 10 and 2 under that would be $180 a day to feed four kids plus $140 for DH and myself, grand total $320 A DAY without tip. I will go back to my room discount and my DDE.

(Note, on our next trip, I opted for a non AP higher room rate so that I could book and would have the convenience of the DDP. The DDE may have been a bit cheaper, but the difference in expense was worth the convenience. The difference is expense on the new plan will not outway the convenience)

 

[faindrops27]

You know even though it is a rumor so far. I have a feeling the sources are right. Anyhow, I believe the "value" of the DDP relies on your party size. All the people who are for it. More than likely have fewer than 5 in thier family. Say for instance if I only had 2 in my party. I would pay 140, total for deluxe, and then tip on top of that. Ok.

But, when you have a family of 5. The value, decreases dramatically, and by my calculations 250 with a 80-100 per day tip, or more depending on signature dining.. My usual ten day vacation. Viola 3500 dollars for food, and 5 mugs??
Add on a moderate room, and park hoppers, and I am looking at 7000, without airfare, or spending money. For 10 nights? I really do not think my husband is going to go for this. That is a downpayment on a new car. Investment's. Maybe it is time for a change.

 

[harleyquinn]

If the rumors are true, we won't be on the plan in the future. I have a hard enough time justifying the current plan.

I think the Deluxe plan is insane and so completely wasteful for my family. We can barely eat the food on the regular plan, I can't imagine eating more.

 

[fakereadhed]

It was fun while it lasted. I do think if these changes are made more people will eat off-site, especially if they rent a car. Also, for the price for 5 we would rather upgrade our hotel. While we enjoyed experiencing more TS during our stay, it really was a pain to have to keep those ADR's when we were having fun at the park. So I can live without it.