Some information on Deluxe Dining Plan

[smm1999]

My traveling party included 3 adults during the 2nd week of January. In the past we had traveled on the Premium Plan and then on the Disney Dining Plan. In January 2008, we used the Deluxe Dining Plan.

The plan-
We loved having the mugs included. The snacks were a nice addition mainly for bottles of water. I liked the plan and I hope that Disney continues with some version of it. It is good for adult travelers.

I planned our dining experience meticulously. In the past, my mother and I would occasionally split a meal. We were both on the plan, but we would just use one swipe. It was just a lot of food. I had planned to do this on our recent trip, so that we could try a signature restaurant. (We had plans for the Yachtsman Steakhouse with the idea that my mom and would split a steak- 8 ounces each is plenty for us.) I found out within the first 15 minutes of arriving at the resort that this is no longer allowed. So, I quickly called and canceled. I am not going to lie. This really stressed me out as I had been awake since 3 am and have traveled with my senior parents only to find something that I had planned for 6 months was falling apart… Regroup. Oh well, we had a great vacation and just ended up throwing away a lot of food. This is easier for me, but my parents (who grew up very poor) winced frequently. We could have gone to the steakhouse as we had leftover swipes. (by Wednesday we were full and choosing to skip a meal here and there.)

I found that some places allowed for muffins and rolls to be swiped as snacks, but this was not consistent at all the hotels.

The gratuity- In the past, we always left extra to make it at least 20%. This is a vacation package that I give to my parents, so I would rather just pay more at the front end and have 18% included, as they insist on paying the gratuities. On this trip, we paid these in cash. It is a bit odd, because you give your card. They come back with a recommended tip. Then you write it down… I felt uncomfortable with this and stopped doing it after the second day. I would just say. “We pay in cash. You may write it in if you would like.” It did mean that I was loaded down with $1s, $5s, $10s and $20s, but I think it was best for us. As well, some servers felt uncomfortable with bringing us a recommended tip slip. (Namely some Epcot staff- makes since as tipping is different in Europe). So I am glad that we used cash.

Tipping at Yak and Yeti- I would like to let people know that at Yak and Yeti the servers are getting cheated (in my opinion). First of all the food was great. We had a lovely server who brought us 3 apps, 3 entrees (the expensive ones), 3 desserts and 3 drinks. She then brought the first copy of the bill. The recommended tip was $15 bucks for 20%. I went to get the cash and thought that it was incorrect. Our bill should have been almost $150 and the tip should be about $30. So, I inquired that we were undercharged and wanted to ensure that she gave us the correct total. She explained that it is a policy between Disney and Landry’s (who owns the restaurant) for the dining plan. Apparently there is a set amount/ percentage. I said that is fine. I had her bring me a menu and calculated the actual cost of our meal and tipped her on that. I would not have caught this since I didn’t look at prices, but it was in the middle of the trip so I had an idea of what we were tipping at each meal.

Hope this helps!

 

[Disney Fool]

Thanks for the info...especially about Yak and Yeti--if I eat there in Sept I'll remember this.

 

[Bride In The Attic]

Thanks for the info! Great to know about not being able to split an entree....

 

[Charleston Princess]

Thanks for all the information! Especially for Yak and Yeti since I made ADRs for June there and I probably would never have even noticed the difference -- now I will! Also, I am definitely planning on tipping in cash since everything I have read points towards it being easier on everyone involved!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

So glad to read something about the Deluxe plan.. we're doing that this fall, and I usually NEVER carry cash at Disney but it sounds like it might be the right way to go. Would putting it on your card be just another time consuming step? How silly! I would have gladly paid for the convienence of tip included!!!

but enough on that....

thanks for the updates!
is splitting a meal really out of the question? we weren't planning on that this next trip, but we have done it in the past on the DDP many times.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I don't like the way they are doing the gratuity. I think I may do cash also. I pretty much know what the "standard" tip will be and have thought of making up appropriate envelopes for each restaurant. I guess they won't be getting extra if I do it this way, but why go through the akwardness of an explanation on how to tip?

 

[septbaby]

Thanks for the info! Great to know about not being able to split an entree....

Technically you can still split the entree. The policy change is both of you will be charged a TS credit ie. two adults sharing a TS credit is what has been stopped.

 

[smm1999]

In response to hmillerbarilla:
"so glad to read something about the Deluxe plan.. we're doing that this fall, and I usually NEVER carry cash at Disney but it sounds like it might be the right way to go. Would putting it on your card be just another time consuming step?"

Here is what happens- You sit down and say, "We are on the deluxe dining plan." The server looks at your card to double check that you know what you are talking about. You eat. The server takes one card. He/she brings you back one slip of paper with the suggested tip. You can give cash or have it added to your card. Then he/she comes back with another paper where you sign that you used your swipes. I did find that the server at Rose and Crown felt uncomfortable "asking" for the tip, so skipped that step and just brought the last slip of paper. Of course she felt uncomfortable as tipping in Europe is very different. So although it takes the same amount of time for tipping with the card as it does with cash, if you use a card I would still recommend carrying some cash in case you have a server who just finds it impolite to request gratutity.


As far as not splitting meals- I have no idea if we just ran into the one server was very restrictive or if it is parkwide. We tend to be rule keepers, so we accepted and moved on. The vacation was i amazing, so it is just something we will plan for the next time.

 

[isyt]

I have one question...were you given the mugs at check in or did you claim them in the food court?

I am glad you had a good time. I wa there about 2 weeks ago at a conference so no meal plan. I did ask a few servers how they liked it and they weren't thrilled, hopefully it will get better tipping wise (not having to ask).

 

[smm1999]

"were you given the mugs at check in or did you claim them in the food court?"

They are the refillable hotel mugs. You can get them at the hotel's counter service restaurant and sometimes at other places around the hotel- resort dependent. You use your card to swipe for the mugs.

We stayed at 2 different hotels during our trip, so techinically we had 3 nights of deluxe dining on one card and 3 nights deluxe dining on another (this was through Southwest Vacations- so I am not certain it works this way for everyone). That meant for my party of 3- we received 3 mugs from one hotel's (counter service restaurant) and then 3 mugs from the other hotel's...

The mugs were the same at both hotels. It allowed my infant nephew to have his own...

 

[Schneids]

Thanks for the info

 

[Sandy321]

Thanks for the info...especially about Yak and Yeti--if I eat there in Sept I'll remember this.

Thanks for this info - we ate at the CS place outside - and I couldnt figure out how the price was calculated - I wrote down the price of our foods (like Honey Chicken was $9 I think) and I couldnt figure out why it was less on their computer!!