Question about the free dining....

[jd7004]

How exactly does it work if you stay at a deluxe resort? Which plan do you receive?

We are really thinking about the dining plan that includes 3 table/cs meals because of all the character dining my children want to do....

Is it worth rolling the dice and upgrading to a deluxe or moderate resort for a October trip? We are at a value right now...


Thanks in advance!

 

[dansdad]

In the past it the Values get the Quick Service Plan. The Moderates and Deluxes get the regular Disney Dining Plan. In the past you have always been able to upgrade the Dining Plan by paying the difference. No need to switch resorts now. If Free Dining comes out later on run the numbers and see what works best. Staying value and upgrading your Dining Plan to the Regular or the Deluxe. Or upgrade your resort to a Moderate or Deluxe and then keep the Regular Dining Plan or upgrade to the Deluxe Plan. Depending on your party size and eating habits, you have to run the numbers for your family and see what is best.

 

[smitch425]

How exactly does it work if you stay at a deluxe resort? Which plan do you receive?

We are really thinking about the dining plan that includes 3 table/cs meals because of all the character dining my children want to do....

Is it worth rolling the dice and upgrading to a deluxe or moderate resort for a October trip? We are at a value right now...


Thanks in advance!

Deluxe resorts (and moderates) typically receive the regular DDP for free. Values get the QSDP. They never offer the deluxe DDP for free, but you can pay the difference between the free plan and the plan you want, so if the value resort fits your hotel needs, just upgrade to the deluxe plan. What are your planned dates of travel? Historically, October has had limited dates for free dining. For example, last year's eligible check in dates wer Oct. 1 & 2 and 18-31.

 

[jd7004]

We are arriving the 5th-11th

 

[smitch425]

We are arriving the 5th-11th

Those dates will be unlikely for FD, unfortunately. We should know by mid to late July what the covered dates will be, assuming they even offer Fall FD, of course.

 

[jd7004]

So since my children want to do a LOT of character dining, I should just upgrade to deluxe dining and cross my fingers maybe the will have FD I guess...


Thought about upgrading rooms to AK Lodge but got to thinking about the time we actually spend at resort, it is literally to sleep for a few hours and gone.....I think my money would be better used at upgrading dining

 

[smitch425]

So since my children want to do a LOT of character dining, I should just upgrade to deluxe dining and cross my fingers maybe the will have FD I guess...


Thought about upgrading rooms to AK Lodge but got to thinking about the time we actually spend at resort, it is literally to sleep for a few hours and gone.....I think my money would be better used at upgrading dining

You would probably be okay with the regular plan, especially if you are paying for the dining plan. That would give you 6 TS meals to use during your stay, along with 6 QS meals. The deluxe plan would require you to make reservations for every meal to get the most out of the money spent, which means a lot of scheduling. Plus, on average, character meals can easily last 75-90 minutes long. That is a lot of time spent in restaurants. Some of the meals have similar character offerings, too, so 6 character meals should get you most of the offered characters. Many popular characters have Fastpass+ available now, so that is a good way to meet characters without the extra cost of meals. Also, tips are not included in the plans, so be sure to factor that added cost in, as well.

 

[deakam]

The only Character dining that requires more than one dining credit is Cinderellas Royal Table. If you are planning on doing a breakfast lunch and dinner character meal you will be spending up to 6 hours at meals to see all of the characters. We normally do one breakfast--either the Lilo and Stitch breakfast at O'hana or Donald's breakfast at Tusker House. I like the food at O'hana and the early entry to Animal Kingdom is a great way to get on Everest 2 or 3 times before the crowds get there. Epcot offers the Princesses for one dining credit at Akshus for Breakfast lunch and dinner and then a dinner only Mickey and Chip and Dale at the Garden Grill. We loved both but would not be able to eat at both in one day. Way too much food for us. There is only one place at Hollywood Studios with Characters and we did not find the food to be that good. We usually leave early and head over to Chef Mickey's for a late dinner. We find that with the regular dining plan we still have meals left over at the end of our week. The only way I would ever get the Deluxe plan is if I was planning a whole bunch of 2 credit dinners.

 

[Corrineee]

The only Character dining that requires more than one dining credit is Cinderellas Royal Table. If you are planning on doing a breakfast lunch and dinner character meal you will be spending up to 6 hours at meals to see all of the characters. We normally do one breakfast--either the Lilo and Stitch breakfast at O'hana or Donald's breakfast at Tusker House. I like the food at O'hana and the early entry to Animal Kingdom is a great way to get on Everest 2 or 3 times before the crowds get there. Epcot offers the Princesses for one dining credit at Akshus for Breakfast lunch and dinner and then a dinner only Mickey and Chip and Dale at the Garden Grill. We loved both but would not be able to eat at both in one day. Way too much food for us. There is only one place at Hollywood Studios with Characters and we did not find the food to be that good. We usually leave early and head over to Chef Mickey's for a late dinner. We find that with the regular dining plan we still have meals left over at the end of our week. The only way I would ever get the Deluxe plan is if I was planning a whole bunch of 2 credit dinners.

I'm guessing from previous FD history that December offers wont come available until August time ? This is our first time and we will be there from 5-12th Dec. Ideally I would like to stay at AoA (if FD comes avail) will AoA include the QS meal plan ?? then I guess I can upgrade to TS meal plan ? We are only visiting Epcot and AK (maybe MK one evening) so breakfast at O'hana or Tusker House sounds great (is this two vouchers each?) and Bfast with the princesses at Epcot (1 voucher?)
Any tips or advice would be great - thank you

 

[jd7004]

We are wanting to dine at the following places for sure:

Cinderellas Royal Table (2)
Mickeys BBQ (if the have it in Oct) (2)
Be Our Guest (1)
Tusker House (1)
T-Rex (1)
Coral Reef (1)

So just right there is more than the 6 for the regular dining.......may have to bit the bullet and upgrade

 

[mya12347]

Hi the last two vacation we had the Deluxe dining plan, but like the other say it is a lot of food!!! And you will spend most of you day in the restaurants if you use the 3 table services . I think is great it if you use it for the character and fine dining, here is how we did it las time ( we stayed at Anima Kingdom lodge , pool wire but they upgraded us to Savannah view )
Day one: Jiko Place ( my favorite , 2 TS )
Day 2: Hollywood and Vine ( Disney junior ) food not so good but excellent for toddlers , 1TS )
The Brown Hollywood Derby ( steakhouse 2 TS )
Day 3 : Arkeshus Royal ( princess character , we had early , was best to Anna and Elsa meet and greeting, 1 TS )
Le Cellier ( steak house 2TS)
Day 4 : Crystal Garden ( Magic Kingdom, 1TS)
Capital Grill ( saw fireworks , beautiful view, excellent food , 2TS )
Day 5: Tusker House (Character and good breakfast , Character 1TS)
O'Hana (Dinner show 2TS)
Day 6: Boma Cafe ( excellent buffet 1TS )
The Cinderella Royal Table , food not so good, but my Little one had the Dibibi Princess makeover , and she always is excited to meet Cinderella and be I the Castle , 2TS )
Day 7 : Boma Cafe (1ts)
Sanna for lunch is delicious ( 1TS)

We had a early breakfast and late dinner, we have a lot of snacks 2 per person but with this food , you don't even use all of the credits so at the end we buy a lot of snacks and bring in home as souvenirs!


Animal Kingdom is an amazing resort!!! Kids love it, super relax , transportation is really good, view to the Savannah's is incredible!! No words to describe.

If the Free dining plan is offer we will take it , but we will stay most at the hotel and do 1 or 2 days park, hotel has a lot to amenities .

Just have in mind with the plans tips are not included and of some of the restaurants depending what you order , tip is proportional )

Last year we tried Be our guest but in the lunch time ( they gave us a fast pass voucher at the hotel , try to get a reservation and was impossible for dinner )
Chefs Mickey and The dinner with the Princr charming ( terrible food )

Sorry for my long post
Have a wonderful and Magic Vacation!!!!!

 

[mya12347]

Just forgot we had the Hollywood Derby dinner because the Fantasmic show for preferred seating )

 

[mmbl]

IMHO- ALL the dining plans are a waste. They force you to eat way more and more often than most people normally would. We avoid them at all costs! Would much rather get a room discount which you can frequently get in lieu of the dining plans.

 

[dansdad]

IMHO- ALL the dining plans are a waste. They force you to eat way more and more often than most people normally would. We avoid them at all costs! Would much rather get a room discount which you can frequently get in lieu of the dining plans.

I will say that paying for any of the Dining Plans is a waste of $$. However, when they offer Free Dining, it has always worked out better for us than the room only discounts. We run the numbers every year to see if that changes, but for our family FD has come out best. We save all our receipts from previous trips when we paid OOP for food, my DW is in accounting what can I say, and know exactly what we would spend on food.

I'm just highlighting that everyone needs to run the numbers for their specific situation. There's no way to say that one option, Free Dining or Room Discount, is the best value across the board.

 

[TDC Nala]

Ideally I would like to stay at AoA (if FD comes avail) will AoA include the QS meal plan ??

AOA was completely excluded from the last fall free dining offer. But if it ever does participate, it's a value resort, so it will be free QS and you'd need to upgrade to a plan that includes table service.

For the OP, exactly how much character dining were you planning? More than one per day? I'm not sure you need the deluxe plan unless you're going to do some signature restaurants, and CRT is the only signature with characters.

 

[Corrineee]

AOA was completely excluded from the last fall free dining offer. But if it ever does participate, it's a value resort, so it will be free QS and you'd need to upgrade to a plan that includes table service.

For the OP, exactly how much character dining were you planning? More than one per day? I'm not sure you need the deluxe plan unless you're going to do some signature restaurants, and CRT is the only signature with characters.

Thank you, AoA is our preferred choice, but if good discount and/or FD comes available we'll happily choose another hotel !

 

[coolbrook]

OP, I see from your restaurant list that you have 6 TS credits and need 8TS credits. What most people do in that situation is pay out of pocket for one of the 2TS restaurant meals instead of upgrading. Upgrading to Deluxe is a lot more and it is usually cheaper to just pay out of pocket for a meal than upgrade the whole plan. Something to consider.