Rumors of Light (ROL discussion thread)

[jlundeen]

Wouldn't we have to spend $875 to break even on the cost of the card?

yes, but over the next year, it would be $20 off every $100 you spent on meals/beverages. Again, you need to figure out what works for you guys, and if you plan to spend money in restaurants, especially the TS ones, it might work out. It did for us.

 

[Marlyn]

Hi all, Have been following this thread for a while - finally coming out of the woodwork to say hello!
I just read the Disney blog post. Looks like EMH will not be affected by these new "After Hours":
[NOTE: Disney Resort Guests will continue to be able to enjoy Extra Magic Hours, while this new event takes place on different dates and is another option for enjoying Magic Kingdom.]

Maybe EMH will remain for those of us onsite...I certainly hope so because I would never pay $150 for it!

 

[Marlyn]

yes, but over the next year, it would be $20 off every $100 you spent on meals/beverages. Again, you need to figure out what works for you guys, and if you plan to spend money in restaurants, especially the TS ones, it might work out. It did for us.

I have an AP voucher that I will activate in July, I will also purchase the TIW card. There will be 3 adults for 2 weeks. We will save money easily on that trip, even with paying the $150. The TIW card also gives the 20% on alcohol consumed when dining. It's actually a really good deal. Also free valet parking!

 

[Paigevon]

yes, but over the next year, it would be $20 off every $100 you spent on meals/beverages. Again, you need to figure out what works for you guys, and if you plan to spend money in restaurants, especially the TS ones, it might work out. It did for us.

True. I'd probably spend exactly $880 in the course of a year.

Just kidding, it's Disney prices.

 

[Cluelyss]

I have an AP voucher that I will activate in July, I will also purchase the TIW card. There will be 3 adults for 2 weeks. We will save money easily on that trip, even with paying the $150. The TIW card also gives the 20% on alcohol consumed when dining. It's actually a really good deal. Also free valet parking!

I didn't realize TIW gave you free valet as well. Is this only for a certain time surrounding your ADR? Thx!!

 

[freediverdude]

Those TS meals, especially the dinners, are often $200+ for a family of 4. It would only take about 4 TS dinners in that case to break even. Funny how quick $800 goes, lol.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The TIW card also gives the 20% on alcohol consumed when dining.

You don't have to dine to consume alcohol. The discount's also good at resort lounges. And the Rose & Crown pub. and Tutto Gusto for wine flights.

Supposedly on the free valet it has to be within 3 hours of your meal and they ask for a receipt. but there are reports that they don't always.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

It's crazy - I'm also booking September but I'm having to do day by day because I'm staying offsite, and every morning BOG, CRT, almost all the Fantasmic packages, completely gone. A lot of the restaurants have much later times available, not the ideal meal times.

 

[fallon_angel]

Maybe EMH will remain for those of us onsite...I certainly hope so because I would never pay $150 for it!

Thank you! Happy to be here. You all are so welcoming!! I'm hoping the same thing. $150 just seems so silly to me!

 

[AngiTN]

Be sure you do the math first. Sometimes the dining play can save you money, sometimes it doesn't. You have to eat while you are there, but if you are ok with sharing meals, not ordering desserts or doing lots of counter service meals, then you may save some money. The last two trips (only two adults in the party, no kids) we did save money by ordering kids meals when we really weren't too hungry, and splitting meals at some of the table service restaurants (they are really good about this - will even split some of the meals before they bring them out to you). But since I have and Annual Pass and Tables in Wonderland discount card, that really also helped keep our dining costs down.

On the other hand, for the trip in April, the other members of my traveling party insisted on the dining plan as they didn't want to have to worry about meal costs, etc. I'm ok with that too...

But be sure and try to figure it out both ways before you drop your plan.

We never save money with the dining plan and we rarely do QS meals. You can most certainty spend less than the cost of the dining plan and eat exactly how you want, and where you want. The Dining Plan actually rarely saves folks money. It can but it's rare. That's why Disney offers is. They make money on it 9 out of 10 times. Think of them like the house at the casino. Who do you think makes money on an avg day? It ain't the gamblers

Just to add unnecessary fuel to the fire, we are there from May 2-5. I looked at park hours on May 3, and for AK all I saw was -- nothing. Just two dashes. Then I logged out and came back in and it was back to normal hours. They HAVE to be changing park hours for ROL at some point, no? I just found out about the rumored dining package, so now I'm also stalking.

Totally normal on the Disney site. Sadly.

DH is adamant that EMH will continue "in one form or another" but honestly, he doesn't work in the parks themselves so his knowledge of what happens there is limited. I do think Disney is really playing around with what they offer for free to see how many people will pay for it. I'm curious to see how the After Hours thing sells.

I'm sure he's 100% correct. But you won't convince the doomsayers here of that.

I didn't realize TIW gave you free valet as well. Is this only for a certain time surrounding your ADR? Thx!!

Yes, it is only for eating at the Resort.

 

[Paigevon]

We never save money with the dining plan and we rarely do QS meals. You can most certainty spend less than the cost of the dining plan and eat exactly how you want, and where you want. The Dining Plan actually rarely saves folks money. It can but it's rare. That's why Disney offers is. They make money on it 9 out of 10 times. Think of them like the house at the casino. Who do you think makes money on an avg day? It ain't the gamblers

I calculated we'd save money just because of the outrageous cost of multiple character buffets and BOG breakfasts--but, we'd be eating a lot more than we'd otherwise need to.

 

[Mimifree]

I've been once, a one-day trip to MK at ~11-13, and my job was to keep my preschool cousins from running away. I only remember PPF, it's a small world, and Space Mountain. I actually think we may have had breakfast in Crystal Palace LOL I vaguely remember a white room and Pooh, but nothing else. It's DD's first trip, and my husband's first trip since he was in preschool, which he doesn't remember at all. This was going to be "THE BIG TRIP" but now that logic is starting to overpower my excitement, I'm questioning the (for us) massive amount of money spent on it lol.[/QUOTE

I think the dining plan works IF (1) you are planning to eat A LOT (2) You want to mainly do the most expensive TS meals or (3) it's free. We got it free in October and decided it was more than we could eat (and we can throw down pretty well). However, we ate a very expensive TS meal every day. I think you have to do it once to see if it's worth it to you. There is a website where you can enter all your planned meals and it will tell you whether DDP would work for you. I can't remember the name but you could google DDP v. paying OOP. Also I found a great reference that ranked the restaurants according to value with the plan. I thought it was helpful.

 

[ArielSRL]

I have to admit, I'll probably love that TAG shop.

I wonder how long it will be before a stealth ROL comment appears one one of the new stories?

Already there! LOL

 

[Paigevon]

I called my husband, 100% expecting him to say we should definitely cancel DDP and save money, and he said he was looking forward to the meals, so why don't we keep it? But that it was ultimately up to me!

 

[LSUfan4444]

In jan of 2013 this was my example in response to a thread comparing ddp and non ddp:

We ate and drank what we want when we wanted, and I wanted to see how that compared to the dining plan. Now, these costs are based basically on two adults and Molly (my daughter who was under three and free), but I compared them to what the meal plan would have cost us. I think the only way you can judge the value of the dining plan is after you dine without it because it is too hard to know what you would have ordered if you weren't on the meal plan. Alot of people see their receipts and think, "wow, look how expensive that is, good thing we're on the meal plan", but would you really have ordered a dessert for everyone at the table? Would you really eat a counter service, a snack and a table service meal each day? Anyway, for us the meal plan for 2013 is $55 per day. That comes out to $880 for both of us for eight nights.

In total we spent $1,058 on food and dining. Now, maybe you're asking how could I come out better not on the dining plan when I spent more. Well, this is why. That $1,058 included all of our groceries from Publix, which included a case of beer and two bottle of wine, plus other non food items for the room. That $1,058 also included alcohol that we ordered with our meals, AND gratuity we spent, both of which you have to pay extra for with the meal plan. Most importantly, it allowed us to order what we want when we wanted it. It isn't like we ate cheap. We ate at Ohana, California Grill, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review, Be Our Guest, Wishes Dessert Party (also not included on the dining plan), Mama Melrose, Big River Grill and did the Dine with Shamu experience at Sea World. Another benefit of not having the meal plan is it doesn't cost you any more money to dine at any of the Swan and Dolphin restaurants (Blue Zoo, Kimonos, Shulas, etc). At the California Grill, the night before the marathon, we ordered an app, two sushi rolls and a salad and it was MORE THAN ENOUGH food....thats impossible on the meal plan, no matter how full you are.


Notes by Cliff:
-Dining Plan would have cost wife and I $880 (no gratuity, no apps, no salads, no alcohol, etc.)
-Opted for out of pocket and spent $1058 (included all alcohol, all gratuity, all apps, salads and a grocery store strip which included alcohol for the room snacks and cleaning supplies)
-We ate at Ohana, California Grill, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review, Be Our Guest, Wishes Dessert Party (also not included on the dining plan), Mama Melrose, Big River Grill and did the Dine with Shamu experience at Sea World

 

[Marlyn]

You don't have to dine to consume alcohol. The discount's also good at resort lounges. And the Rose & Crown pub. and Tutto Gusto for wine flights.

Supposedly on the free valet it has to be within 3 hours of your meal and they ask for a receipt. but there are reports that they don't always.

Ohhh great!!! I thought it was only good for alcohol when dining. This is really going to save us huge then. I'm travelling with my twins who will have just turned 21!! They want to try lounges all over WDW!

 

[nilla]

I had my very first comment on the Disney Blogs rejected by moderators, and it had absolutely nothing to do with RoL or AK. Harumph!

 

[Paigevon]

I think the dining plan works IF (1) you are planning to eat A LOT (2) You want to mainly do the most expensive TS meals or (3) it's free. We got it free in October and decided it was more than we could eat (and we can throw down pretty well). However, we ate a very expensive TS meal every day. I think you have to do it once to see if it's worth it to you. There is a website where you can enter all your planned meals and it will tell you whether DDP would work for you. I can't remember the name but you could google DDP v. paying OOP. Also I found a great reference that ranked the restaurants according to value with the plan. I thought it was helpful.

Got them bookmarked! I've been obsessing daily since January!

 

[AngiTN]

I calculated we'd save money just because of the outrageous cost of multiple character buffets and BOG breakfasts--but, we'd be eating a lot more than we'd otherwise need to.

We do multiple character meals each trip and it still is more expensive to get the dining plan. PP suggested using one of the dining calculators. They are very enlightening. Folks think they'll save money till the enter all the data in one. Then they realize they either break even or pay a bit more. And every time one of those says we'll break even we end up saving some by paying OOP. The #1 reason is we never eat exactly what is included on the dining plan if we have a choice. I may want just an appetizer at a meal, or an appetizer and salad. I can't do that on the dining plan. So the end result is I get to eat exactly what I want and save money.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm going to be honest here and say emailing guest relations often does nothing. You'll just get a standard Disney have a magical day type response. I'd suggest emailing people a bit higher up like Jenn from the blog.

Is there a method to decipher email addresses based on the person's name?
is it something like firstname.lastname@disneyparks.com