Observations on the Dining Plan 9/23-10/2

[DeirdreTours]

We just returned from an 8 day WDW trip. We had originally planned to go in November, but changed our dates to take advantage of the "free" dining. Overall, the package was a good one for us, but I do not think that I would have paid the $115 standard cost of the dining plan (myself, DH, 13 yrs son, 7 yrs daughter, 2 yrs daughter). We found ourselves eating much too much at some meals and other times quite hungry. Although, our checks would have totalled far more than that $115 a day-- the Disney dining experience has declined so much from our previous visits that we would have been outraged to pay the full ticket price for many of those meals.

We found food quality to be largely unchanged since our last visit-- that is mostly OK with some very good and some rather bad dishes (with the exception of the San Angel Inn which has declined greatly). But, every restaurant was packed. Additional tables had been crammed in-- sometimes actually creating a hazard to diners (I was hit in the back of the head by a server passing with a tray a Norway, where our table was wedged directly into the path the servers take to the kitchen). Character interaction was rushed and rote (sign the book, snap the picture, move on).

Service was generally poor-- not because the servers weren't working hard, but because they clearly were handling too many tables. It was also pretty clear that they knew their tips were not dependant on good service anymore-- their current motivation is to serve as many tables as possible to maximize income.

Almost all of the places we dined were too noisy and, quite frankly, dirty. On more than one occassion I put my sandaled foot into small gushy piles of food left under the table by previous diners. I suspect that the places are cleaned well at night, but not properly cleaned between diners.

ADRs were an absolute nessecity. I had TS reservations for 6 of our 8 nights before departure and had to really scramble to set up something for the other two nights.

In retrospect, I wish I had:

Made 2 TS reservation each day and cancelled one at the very last minute. With small children, we often had problems making the prebooked times (we no showed Park Faire altogether as our little 2 year old princess fan didn't fall asleep for her nap until 1 hour before reservation time-- which means she would only get to sleep for about 15 minutes before waking her to catch transport over).

Made more late lunch and fewer dinner reservations. Three courses at 7pm was too much and we were often quite hungry at 4 or 5. In previous trips we have had our big meal at lunch, we changed for the dining plan, but wish we hadn't.


Tips for last minute diners:

We did not book CRT breakfast reservations before departure (I had booked Park Fair, Norway and a CRT lunch). But our two year old turned out to be TPO (totally princess obsessed!). We arrived at the Magic Kingdom around 8 am one morning, entered through the diners only entrance and applied a the castle for a last minute table. We waited in the throne room with Cruella for less than 10 minutes before being given a table. I would only try this BEFORE the park opens AND I would be willing to try the Crystal Palace if nothing was available at the castle.

If you can't get a reservation via Disney Dining, try going directly to the restaurant and asking nicely. I went to Chef Mickey's the morning of our last day and explained that we would really like to eat there for dinner, as it was our last day and they had been booked all week. They graciously gave us a reservation for 5pm. We were seated promptly, had a leisurely meal and dropped DH at the airport at 7pm. Perfect.


If you have to, take reservations for less/more than the number in your party. We were a family of 5, but accepted several reservations for 4, they accomodated us without any apparant problem.

Other notes:
Be prepared to wait even with a reservation! We waited 40 minutes at the Sci-Fi (only to find a third of the cars empty upon being seated??).

Be prepared to argue (politely) about what the dining plan covers and what it doesn't.

Be aware that some values are far better than others with the plan. Ask what is covered at each place (for snacks, counter service-- this wasn't an issue at TS where we assumed everything was covered unless told otherwise).

 

[huskies90]

Be prepared to argue (politely) about what the dining plan covers and what it doesn't.

Be aware that some values are far better than others with the plan. Ask what is covered at each place (for snacks, counter service-- this wasn't an issue at TS where we assumed everything was covered unless told otherwise).

Thanks for the observations. Can you elaborate on these two items? This is what is driving me crazy with this stupid plan. I am trying to figure out when and where I will eat to maximize the value and not knowing what is acceptable and what is not is ridiculous.

 

[diznyfanatic]

Thanks for the observations. Can you elaborate on these two items? This is what is driving me crazy with this stupid plan. I am trying to figure out when and where I will eat to maximize the value and not knowing what is acceptable and what is not is ridiculous.

My thoughts exactly as we're on the DP also. I'm an obsessive vacation planner anyway, and between what I'm being told by the CM's "the plan is so FLEXIBLE (apparent marketing buzz word since nearly every CM used it) that you can use it in whatever way works for you" and what I'm reading here, there seems to be a vast difference of opinion.

Since we do not have Hopper passes, we have to plan our dining based upon our park days (or vice versa since some ADR's are much harder to get) and I would really like to know the "reality" of the Dining Plan.

 

[DeirdreTours]

To elaborate on the "argueing" part, we found that with counter service meals, different cashiers sometimes had entirely different ideas of what the plan covered.
For example-- At the ABC Commisary, I used two counter service credits to purchase the two breakfast entrees, two sweet rolls and two drinks. Five minutes later, my husband ordered a breakfast entree, a sweet roll and a drink-- the cashier refused to ring it up as a counter service meal. When he said that his wife had done this a few minute before with no problem, another clerk was called over and with much confrencing they "allowed" it.

On another occasion, I walked into Starring Rolls and asked if they participated in the dining plan. After they said yes, I ordered the bagel w/lox and a roll. I was then informed that I couldn't have the bagel and lox at breakfast, just a single roll and a beverage. She went on to say that I could order the bagel w/ lox and a roll at lunch, so I asked what time "lunch" began and was told 11:30 (too long to wait). At that point, someone came in a paid cash for a bagel w/lox! So, I asked her, the bagel is available for cash or at lunch, but just not now? Yes. I was told. I told the clerk that I realized that she didn't make the policy, but that she should pass on to her manager how senseless I found the policy. I then left and went to the ABC Commisary for breakfast instead.

 

[diznyfanatic]

To elaborate on the "argueing" part, we found that with counter service meals, different cashiers sometimes had entirely different ideas of what the plan covered.
For example-- At the ABC Commisary, I used two counter service credits to purchase the two breakfast entrees, two sweet rolls and two drinks. Five minutes later, my husband ordered a breakfast entree, a sweet roll and a drink-- the cashier refused to ring it up as a counter service meal. When he said that his wife had done this a few minute before with no problem, another clerk was called over and with much confrencing they "allowed" it.

On another occasion, I walked into Starring Rolls and asked if they participated in the dining plan. After they said yes, I ordered the bagel w/lox and a roll. I was then informed that I couldn't have the bagel and lox at breakfast, just a single roll and a beverage. She went on to say that I could order the bagel w/ lox and a roll at lunch, so I asked what time "lunch" began and was told 11:30 (too long to wait). At that point, someone came in a paid cash for a bagel w/lox! So, I asked her, the bagel is available for cash or at lunch, but just not now? Yes. I was told. I told the clerk that I realized that she didn't make the policy, but that she should pass on to her manager how senseless I found the policy. I then left and went to the ABC Commisary for breakfast instead.

So, then am I interpreting this to mean that they are indeed "restricting" Dining Plan guests from ordering "regular" menu items that are available to non-dining plan guests?

We have also been talking about this same issue in this thread:
Thread and would appreciate your thoughts and experience there as well. Thanks!

 

[DeirdreTours]

Yes, but the limitations didn't seem at all widespread. The only places where we were restricted in our choices were Starring Rolls and San Angel Inn. Of course we didn't eat everywhere-- but we did sample a fair number of places in 8 days.

 

[rgf207]

We were in WDW 9/24 - 10/1 and we were on the dining plan too. We did character meals and dined at buffets and regular sit down restaurants. We did not experience any problems with the service at all. We had the most delighful servers at all of our dinners and the best were at Rose & Crown and Le Cellier. They spent a lot of time with us explaining the dishes and what was included in the dining plan. Nowhere did we feel that the service was poor. There was never any discrepency over what was included and we never had any problem. We had plenty of interaction with the characters at Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. They did not rush us and we got plenty of photo ops with them.

We arrived at our PS about 10 minutes prior and were seated almost immediatly for every one excepty Le Cellier which we had to wait 10 - 15 minutes.

It is true that the restaurants were busy but honestly it isn't anything I have not seen before. We usually go at spring break time and I didn't notice any difference in crowd levels in the restaurants.

I'm not saying that the OP did not experience this but we sure did not. I would definately do the dining plan everytime I go even if I have to pay for it. It was a great deal. We saved over $1000.00