purchasing the dining plan

[timandlesley]

We are looking into purchasing points and staying at a DVC resort for our June vacation, especially after we were told we could purchase the dining plan. Does anyone know the details of this. What is the cost, can ANYONE staying at the DVC resorts purchase them or just members?
Thanks,
Lesley

 

[RobDoc]

No official information has been released about the dining program for DVC members. Members can make reservations for the dining plan beginning January 3, 2006 for trips after April 1, 2006 - but no further details have been released.

Stay Tuned.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Doc is right. There is only sketchy information about this available to us. If you ant more detailed information, you might have to call DVC directly.

 

[GrimGhost]

I called MS, they are saying:
$37.99 adults and $10.99 ages 3-9.
It has to be purchased for your entire stay.
They can be added to reservations arriving after April 1.
You can't call MS to add until Jan 1.
Also you have to put down a credit card number to hold the plan, and it cannot be added the day you check-in (just in case you decided you wanted to wait and add it then).

 

[timandlesley]

Perfect- THANK YOU!!!


Lesley

 

[pbharris4]

I called MS, they are saying:
$37.99 adults and $10.99 ages 3-9.
It has to be purchased for your entire stay.
They can be added to reservations arriving after April 1.
You can't call MS to add until Jan 1.
Also you have to put down a credit card number to hold the plan, and it cannot be added the day you check-in (just in case you decided you wanted to wait and add it then).

Grim....do you think (just your opinion, I know there's no definitive answer here) they would charge your card when you add it on or "hold" it until a few days before or when you get there and then charge it?

To Lesly: Someone said it would be similar to the non-DVCer Dining Plan (with some exceptions i.e. not tied to a hotel/ticket pkg or other things). You do have to buy it for everyone in your party. To learn a little more about the non-DVC plan..there's a thread (a VERY long one) on the restaurant board near the top, that should give you a few ideas.

 

[Pluto 2]

lets say you have a family of four all over 10 years old.
everyone will get an appertizer, main meal and dessert. that sound like too much food to me. i eat a lot im about 50 pounds over weight and that is too much food for me it will go to waste. most of the time you will not take any left overs with you being at disney.
for your counter service meal you get a dessert also with your meal and beverage. than you get one snack a day. so for 38 dollars a day its probaly worth it if your going to eat all that food at your main meal.
it seems to be that if you have kids 9 and younger this is a much better deal. just my opinion

 

[blossomz]

Which do you think is a better deal? The dining plan or Disney Dining Experience card?

 

[paults]

IMO the DDE is better for us because it's good for up to 10 people and includes drinks (even booze). Good for 1 yr Can eat when I want and as much as I want. 20% off

 

[blossomz]

Yes, that was my thought as well!

 

[yitbos96bb]

Which do you think is a better deal? The dining plan or Disney Dining Experience card?

It depends on how much you eat. If you like to eat at all TS restaurants, then DDE is better. If you like to do CS for lunch and TS for dinner, than DP may be better. If you drink a lot, then DDE helps because of the alcohol discount. If you just order an Entree and no desert or appetizer, then DDE is better. But if you order an Entree, Desert and an Appetizer, the DP blows DDE out of the water (provided the alcohol purchase is minimal).

Of course you could do what we are planning...


We are going with the DP because we will eat all the food included (appetizer, entree and Desert) and can't afford to eat two TS EVERY DAY. So for $37.99 we get our value out of it.

However, I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Victoria's and Albert's so we are also getting the DDE. One, the discount off of V and A for 2 of us (and there will be 6 in the party) pays for the card. And you can use it to cover the alcohol at other dinners. SO If we want to go to an extra TS, then no big deal and if we drink, no big deal... Best of both worlds.

SO IMHO, GO DDE if you Eat at two or more TS per day. GO DDE if you are not going to eat an Appetizer, Entree and Dessert.

Go DP if you are going to eat 1 CS and 1 TS and not drink a lot.

If you are going to eat 1 CS and 1 TS and Drink a lot, then do as we do and do both. For $50, one night of drinking, a party of two at V/A with the wine pairings OR using the Atlantic CIty Dance or PI discounts will pay for the card.

Hope this helped.

 

[GrimGhost]

Grim....do you think (just your opinion, I know there's no definitive answer here) they would charge your card when you add it on or "hold" it until a few days before or when you get there and then charge it?

To Lesly: Someone said it would be similar to the non-DVCer Dining Plan (with some exceptions i.e. not tied to a hotel/ticket pkg or other things). You do have to buy it for everyone in your party. To learn a little more about the non-DVC plan..there's a thread (a VERY long one) on the restaurant board near the top, that should give you a few ideas.

I actually asked, and what they are saying as of now is: It's just a hold. I am assuming it would then be charged at check-in

 

[NMW]

Having just done a 9 day trip with the DDE card, I have to say we will be getting the DP for our October trip if available, and we are VERY excited about it.

We eat a TS breakfast most mornings (like Spoodles, Crystal Palace, and both princess ones), a CS lunch and a TS dinner. We still plan to get the DDE card to cover our TS breakfasts and alcohol. The DP will cover our CS lunch, our TS dinner and a snack or drink during the day. For us it is a great deal and we even have a son who will turn 10 in Sept a few weeks before our trip, so adult price, and it's still worth it for us. I added up what we spent on meals and was even a little shocked at how much we would have saved if we could have bought the dining plan. You can easily spend $150 for dinner at places like Kona Cafe and Brown Derby with 2 adults and 3 kids. Not even taking into account that you ALSO get a counter service lunch and a snack, it's already worth it. BTW, our counter service lunches were always about $40 for the 5 of us-for burgers! I guess every family is different though, you have to do what works for you and your family.

 

[pbharris4]

Thanks for the 411 Grim!! The DP would defintely be worth it for us. Just for the dinners alone. We probably won't eat all the food, but we can try new things that we wouldn't have before. As the above poster stated..even burgers and sodas run you $50. We plan on sharing some CS meals, paying for 3-4 kid's meals, and bringing just a few breakfast items (to use the TS credits for more dinners and strecthing out the CS credits, as well) and most of the food for the entire trip is covered. In case anyone hasn't seen it, there is a MYW Dining Plan Planner Spreadsheet someone made up to help you plan your meals. YOu can save to your computer. It's really quite helpful. You can type in the date, meal, credit used and notes.

I need to figure how to add it..will get back with it.

Check it out!!

 

[pbharris4]

Let's try this: Robinb originally sent this in on the Dining Plan FAQ thread. You can download it to your own computer and save it.

It was easier to plan meals for our 10 day trip in June and I can keep it in my purse!

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW-Dining-Planner.xls

 

[auntsue]

Thanks for the great planner. It looks excellent.