Premium Plan for One Night Just for the Tours, LaNouba, etc.??

[FoodLover]

Question for people who have done this: what things do you have to book through Itinerary Planning? I assume the fireworks cruises, priority fireworks viewing and Fantasmic! seating would be handled through them.

But what about spa treatments? Can you book those yourself and just "charge" the treatments to your room key when you show up, or does IP at your resort have to set the appointments up for you? What about tours?

I've booked a 1-night Platinum Plan in February and just emailed IP tonight, but I want to make sure I have everything covered.

To answer my own question - it's really easier just to let them do everything. I spent some time on the phone with an Itinerary Planner this morning and he was DELIGHTFUL and so helpful!

There was an issue with a tour I want to take (it's not currently bookable in the system due to some glitch) so he set it up in a "tickler file" so they can check periodically and book it for me when the system is working. Ah, now I understand why it's so nice to have an IP do the work for you!

So in a nutshell, if you book the Platinum Plan, figure out what you want to do and when, and then call the IPO and have them book everything for you. (The only part he suggested I do myself was V&A, because he says the restaurant prefers to talk with the guest personally. But he offered to have them call me!)

Mary

 

[Disbug1]

I hope this is so at the GF!

Has anyone been able to verify if this is correct at The GF??? I would imagine though that in order to get CL access to the Lounge you would indeed need to book a CL Room

TIA

 

[nannette]

Wow 47 pages.. finally finished! So I'm booked for 7 days platinum! I called the Disney number and they connected me to IPO. I asked many questions knowing that things will probably change because this trip is planned for Thanksgiving week 2011. DD and I have done the premium plan before and had a ball so kind of understand how it works. Platinum is a little different. I asked IPO when I should reach out to them to make reservations and they said to call around 8 months out so I can get the times/dates of tours as they aren't really set yet and could change or new tours could be added (I'm a planner color coded excel spreadsheets and all). I'll work on the spreadsheet so at 190 days I can call and give IPO all the info so they can book it all. While reading this thread I see people saying they've used the IPO at AKL as a manager courtesy (LUCKY PEOPLE) I stay CL DVC most times and the IPO is great. I asked IPO if I would be using CL IPO at the YC to make the plans and was told no unless you stay CL you will not have the use of the CL lounge mad, but that I wouldn't need that because the IPO's that plan for the platinum plan are very very good and I wouldn't need the CL food offerings. I plan on asking IPO in October when I'm at YC CL for food and wine if they offer the same as the AKL (maybe i'll be lucky cause I love IPO at YC and I love CL stays!).

Anyway I've really learned a lot reading this thread and want to thank everyone for the great idea's! DD and I plan on having a nice relaxing vacation eating and touring galore with wine at every meal since I added the wine plan. I do love the idea of just planning a one day premium/platinum plan (have to admit never thought about doing that), looking forward to a slow paced trip and doing things we've never done and eating at some new places.

I'll be posting here once I start to plan November 2011!! My DD said last night let's get through October 2010 first!! I'm a planner like I said and I finished planning and paying for October 2010 and needed to start the next plan!!

Sorry for rambling! Hope all of you have a great time planning and executing your plans!!

~Nannette

 

[sajat5]

The premium package says that you can have 3 "Table service" per day but the platinum package specifically says that you can do signature dining and dinner shows. I know many of you have done signature dining on the premium already but I was wondering if this was a changed with the new release of 2011 packages? Or has it always been worded this way. Sorry I can not post a link yet for easy reference. Thank you for any help.

 

[nannette]

The premium package says that you can have 3 "Table service" per day but the platinum package specifically says that you can do signature dining and dinner shows. I know many of you have done signature dining on the premium already but I was wondering if this was a changed with the new release of 2011 packages? Or has it always been worded this way. Sorry I can not post a link yet for easy reference. Thank you for any help.

Number of Meals During Your Package Stay
Each Guest on the Disney Premium Plan receives one (1) breakfast,
lunch and dinner and two (2) snacks each night of their package stay.
The plan also includes one (1) Resort refillable drink mug per person,
per package (eligible for refills at a Quick Service location only in
your Disney Resort hotel). The example below illustrates the dining
plan for a three-night, four-day package.

They look the same to me:

Each Guest on the Disney Platinum Plan receives one (1) breakfast,
lunch and dinner and two (2) snacks each night of their package stay.
The plan also includes one (1) Resort refillable drink mug per person,
per package (eligible for refills at a Quick-Service location only in
your Disney Resort hotel). The example below illustrates the dining
plan for a three-night, four-day package.

I also noticed that the only DTD place to eat in 2011 is in disney Quest. I remember when I was on the premium plan a few years ago around Christmas time they were talking about the DTD restaurants being on a different contract so they had to wait to see about participation. So I expect there to be more DTD restaurants to be added later.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this??

~Nannette

 

[FoodLover]

I also noticed that the only DTD place to eat in 2011 is in disney Quest. I remember when I was on the premium plan a few years ago around Christmas time they were talking about the DTD restaurants being on a different contract so they had to wait to see about participation. So I expect there to be more DTD restaurants to be added later.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this??

~Nannette

Nothing has changed in the Premium Plan. You could always eat at the Signature restaurants and dinner shows for one credit with that plan.

A lot of WDW restaurants are not owned or operated by Disney: almost every restaurant in DTD, many of the Epcot World Showcase locations and some or all of the Coronado Springs Resort restaurants. Disney has to line up new contracts with them each year. Every year when the packages are released, people freak out because their favorite restaurants are not on the list. Every year they are eventually added.

Mary

 

[nannette]

Nothing has changed in the Premium Plan. You could always eat at the Signature restaurants and dinner shows for one credit with that plan.

A lot of WDW restaurants are not owned or operated by Disney: almost every restaurant in DTD, many of the Epcot World Showcase locations and some or all of the Coronado Springs Resort restaurants. Disney has to line up new contracts with them each year. Every year when the packages are released, people freak out because their favorite restaurants are not on the list. Every year they are eventually added.

Mary

Yeah not freaking out here because like I said I was there a few years ago on the plan when this was happening. That's how it was all explained at that time. The reason for the explanation at the time was because I was there when the switches were being made at the beginning of a new year. This was when the gratuities were included in the plan (now that was a deal)!

Simply noting it should someone else notice the DTD restaurants were not listed.

Thanks for your input Mary!
~Nannette

 

[sajat5]

Thanks Nannette and Foodlover. I was getting my info from the red letter banner on top of the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies page announcing Free Dining 2011. When you click through the links to get to the 2010/2011 plans they say:

Disney Premium Plan:
Per each night of your stay, you'll enjoy three meals per person at any combination of Quick Service or Table Service restaurants. You'll also be entitled to two snacks and each guest receives a refillable mug.

Disney Platinum Plan:
You'll enjoy daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at your choice of select Table-Service and Quick-Service restaurants, category 1 -3 seating for Disney Dinner Shows, Character Dining and Signature Dining at Disney's finest restaurants plus room service. Additionally, the Platinum Plan includes dining at Disney's exclusive "Victoria and Albert's" restaurant.

This is where I was getting confused but glad to hear that we can eat at the signature restaurants on the premium plan. Thanks again.

 

[FoodLover]

Thanks Nannette and Foodlover. I was getting my info from the red letter banner on top of the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies page announcing Free Dining 2011. When you click through the links to get to the 2010/2011 plans they say:

Disney Premium Plan:
Per each night of your stay, you'll enjoy three meals per person at any combination of Quick Service or Table Service restaurants. You'll also be entitled to two snacks and each guest receives a refillable mug.

Disney Platinum Plan:
You'll enjoy daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at your choice of select Table-Service and Quick-Service restaurants, category 1 -3 seating for Disney Dinner Shows, Character Dining and Signature Dining at Disney's finest restaurants plus room service. Additionally, the Platinum Plan includes dining at Disney's exclusive "Victoria and Albert's" restaurant.

This is where I was getting confused but glad to hear that we can eat at the signature restaurants on the premium plan. Thanks again.

I don't know why they wrote it that way. It's confusing, I agree. The only difference in the dining between the Premium and Platinum plans is that Platinum includes Victoria & Albert's, and Premium does not.

Mary

 

[Symans3honeybees]

we are heading home the platinum plan was amazing!!!! right now' my knees are killing me from segway. my back is sore from golfing lession. other than these minor things, i would give our trip an A+. I will give you all the details when we get back home. TTYL

 

[beautifultomorrow]

we are heading home the platinum plan was amazing!!!! right now' my knees are killing me from segway. my back is sore from golfing lession. other than these minor things, i would give our trip an A+. I will give you all the details when we get back home. TTYL

Can't wait to hear all the details!!

 

[beautifultomorrow]

Ok, we are now hooked on this premium/platinum plan thing and thinking of doing it again in October!

I am interested in the personal watercraft guided excursion/tour for a couple of people in our group who won't be using park admission during the premium plan. Is that offered year round? Does anyone know what times it is offered? It sounds interesting.

Thanks!

 

[wdisneyaholic]

Hi all, I just love this thread. I have a couple of questions. 1. I can't find anywhere what the price is for the platinum package. and 2. If you book 1 night do you get 3 meals? and do they all have to be used on that day? Can I only do the tours on the that day or do they continue until midnight of checkout day? I am really thinking of doing this for 1 night but not sure if it worth it with 2 10 year olds and an 11 year old. TIA

 

[beautifultomorrow]

Hi all, I just love this thread. I have a couple of questions. 1. I can't find anywhere what the price is for the platinum package. and 2. If you book 1 night do you get 3 meals? and do they all have to be used on that day? Can I only do the tours on the that day or do they continue until midnight of checkout day? I am really thinking of doing this for 1 night but not sure if it worth it with 2 10 year olds and an 11 year old. TIA

1. The price for the 2011 platinum package is $229 per adult and $160 per child. Don't forget the added costs of paying rack rate for a room at a deluxe resort (as opposed to using a discount) and at least a 1-day base ticket.
2. If you book 1 night you get 3 meals that can be used anytime from check-in on the first day to midnight on the second (check-out) day. You can do as many tours and activities as you can fit in those two days (the day you check-in and until midnight the day you checkout).

I don't have kids so I can't really say but it does seems like most of the tours and activities -- especially the extra inclusions on the platinum plan -- are geared towards adults. Most of the activities and tours have a minimum age. That being said you could always utilize the provided child care but I am not sure how happy your kids would be about that!

 

[wdisneyaholic]

Hey thanks for the info. Yeah I agree, probably not worth it with the kids. Seems like better for an adult only trip.

 

[jmskinner]

We are thinking of going Premium for our belated anniversary trip in January. My DH is concerned about the weather and water activities. Any you recommend or don't recommend? I thought we could do the parasailing and sea raycers. Maybe even the jet skis if we don't go crazy and splash each other, which I guessing isn't really allowed. We live just an hour away, so we know it could be beautiful or like last year FREEZING!

Also, my DH has always wanted to stay in the tower of the Contemporary, but the cost of it makes us go . But I was thinking, if we stayed at a moderate or value for the first 2 days of our trip using the premium plan, we could then move to the Contemporary for our last night and use our last meal from the premium plan that night. We have AP's, and hopefully could get a better rate using an AP discount. Am I thinking correctly?

I also, I understand AAA gives a discount, is it worth joining AAA for this discount?

 

[Symans3honeybees]

Ok, we have finally made it home. The wind, rain and cold weather was waiting for us at home I will try to update my platinum trip report with some pictures later. So here it goes:
Day one:
9:30am - 12:30pm Dolphin in Depth Tour
-The tour was 10 minutes behind, but all was good(we made up with extra time towards the end) There was only 7 people participating this tour. We spent a lot of time with our dolphin. We were all given a souvenir back-sacs and individual photo taken with our dolphin. I would definitely do this again.
1:00pm - 1:45pm Richard Petty Ride-a-long experience
-This has got to be the only "once is enough" thing from our 2 days' activities. The place was totally empty. We had to wait for about 20 minutes for the driven to return from lunch. The 3 laps were over before I could let out any scream. WOW!!! However, we might try to do the "Indy Car" experience if it can be covered by the platinum plan. BTW, the Nascar and the Indy car experiences share the same track at the speedway, but independently owned. Nascar's hours are 9 to 4pm while the Indy car would take over at 4pm to 6pm(I think)
4:00pm - 5:00pm Portrait session @GF
-Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! our photographer "Pedro" was just awesome. We took home the 7 pose prints package which was included with the plan Quite honestly, I liked all 69 pictures, but had to settle with only 7 freebies (DH didn't want to pay $100 more) This is one of the best inclusions with the Premium/Platinum plan.
5:30pm - 8:45pm Victoria and Albert's Dinner
-First let me say this, this is not going to be our "once in a lifetime" thing for us. We want to do this every year now. So let this be our Once a year to do thing. Every morsel was a perfection with a "P" DH upgraded to the Japanese "Waygu"@$80 and had the caviar@$90 plus wine pairing@$60. DS upgraded his fish course with the Turbot@$30. I went to the basic and dry (designated driver) Needless to say that there was a lot of wine for my dear hubby. He was extremely happy during these 3 hours
I was given a long-stem rose before we left. The rose is still alive and well in the living room right now.
9:25pm - 10:30pm Wishes Firework Cruise
-This platinum plan is pure "Evil" How in the world are we going to watch the Wishes Firework from now on????? On Main Street? Maybe! But I would much rather have my boat captain takes me in the middle of Bay Lake and watch the firework full view(you know what I mean)

I will post our day two tomorrow! night!

 

[beautifultomorrow]

Symans3honeybees, sounds amazing! I can't wait to hear more!

 

[Dizney73]

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Symans3honeybees]

Good morning everyone
After a restful night of sleep, I am all ready to complete day two.

8:15am - 10:30am Wilderness Segway Tour
-You probably keep on hearing me complaining about my poor old knees being sored. Will I go on a Segway Tour again? YES!!! I am ready to go right now. It was fantastic. We only spent about 10 min instruction time and the rest was spent on the Segway X2. The tour was given by two wonderfully funny men, Sean and Ron. We are already planning to do this one at Fort Wilderness and the other one at Epcot. We are "Pro" now, lol
11:30am - 12:15pm Parasailings at Contemporary Resort's Sammy Duvall
-We had to wait for more than 30 minutes for another family doing parasailings too. My son did the solo flight and the crew had him flied really high at more than 500 feet. My son loved his flight and will most likely do this again next time. My husband and I went with the tandem flight. We didn't go as high as my son's(weight differential) My DH loved being so high up and found the flight relaxing. Me?? been there done that...
12:30pm - 1:50pm Lunch at Kona Cafe
-Lunch has always been good at Kona Cafe. I had my usual "Fried Teriyaki Steak" lunch, smoothie to drink, Chicken noodle soup as appetizer, and the no sugar added "Apple stacker" for my dessert. DH had the crab cake, smoothie, stirred fry noodle, and creme brulee. DS ordered the pot stickers, smoothie, fish taco and the kiddie kone. All of us ordered the 100% kona french pressed coffee. The coffee was not charged by our server, Betty
2:00pm - 4:00pm Private Golf Lesson at Palm/Magnolia
-This is the one my DH was looking forward of doing for months. Diane was our golf Pro instructor. She has been playing professionally for 15 years and she was really patient with all of us. The Pro shop CM was kind to remind us that with our "Plan", we can play and take as many lesson as we want. We might take up their suggestions and plan more time learning to golf (earlier in the morning next time) Our timing cannot be more worse than anything. 2 to 4 is usually the hottest time of the day. CRAZY ME!! What was thinking when I scheduled this??!!!
5:15pm - 7:45pm Cirque du Soleil
-This was our first La Nouba. What a show!! We will most definitely watch this again.
8:05pm - 10:00pm Dinner at Fulton's Crab House
-We have never eaten at this restaurant before, so we didn't know what to expect. The food was pretty good. My DS and I ordered half a dozen of raw oysters on the half shells each. They were delicious!! Both of us had the filet and King Crab Claw as entrees. My DH went with his favorite, Fried Calamari as his appetizer. His entree was the King Crab Claws with Lobster tail. We were all too full for dessert, so each of us ordered Cappuccino as our desserts. We might try Portobello next trip instead.