Trying to decide on the wine package...

[Mcert01]

We are trying to decide whether or not to purchase the wine package. It seems to me that the package is a lot like the WDW Dining Plan. You can run the numbers in a variety of ways to show it costs more, less or the same as buying off the menu.

My question is the gratuity. A 15% gratuity is added to the package. However, I'm not sure how / if the gratuity is calculated for alcohol on an MDR meal. Is it paid separately, or is it included in the tip at the end of the cruise? If paid at the end of the cruise, is it included in the recommended Disney rate, or do you pay something above for the alcohol? We are first time cruisers so I am confused about what to tip when it comes to alcohol for meals. The answer will inform our decision on whether or not to buy the wine package.

For that matter, do you tip at Palo the evening of the meal, or is it paid at the end of the cruise?

Thanks for the help!

 

[disnygirl55]

In my experience, we never saw a bill in regards to the pre-ordered wine package, so no gratuity was ever expected. In the MDR, just remind your waiter that you have a wine package and would like to have one brought to the table. They will give you a card with your choices, and you simply tell them which one you would like. You can also "invoke" your wine package if you dine in Palo or Remy. You will never leave a gratuity for your wait staff in the MDRs. You tip them in a lump sum at the end of the cruise, or you can pre-pay your gratuities before you even board the ship by calling the reservations line.

In Palo, you tip at the end of the meal, since there is a charge for dining there. You'll get an itemized slip at the end of dinner and you simply add the gratuity. You won't see wine from a wine package included on the charge for dinner, and if you pre-ordered the wine package, you'll pay before you get on the ship.

Everything is charged to the stateroom account, so no credit card or cash is processed at Palo. Your credit card will be charged at the end of the cruise with all of your shopping items, spa visits, mixology classes, adult dining, and anything else you purchased. It is all super-easy, and the final bill at the end of the cruise will be itemized, showing which location the charge was made at.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have order this many times, each time you get a bottle it's logged on the system against it, do if your server logs it, they get a percentage of the gratuity paid in advance. If say you get a bottle on the package in Palo, they say get the 15% on that bottle average cost.

Say a seven night package + 15% gratuity.

Palo, one night. Then the server gets 1/7 of gratuity. And if six nights MDR that assistant server gets 6/7 of the 15%. You do not need to tip more.

 

[ohMom]

Since you are first time cruiser, I'll share this tip that I didn't know. You don't have to purchase the same number of day package that your cruise is, for example, I purchased a three night package on our seven day cruise. unless that has changed and someone please correct me

 

[Scillycruisers]

We have had the wine package and seperate alcoholic drinks in the MDR.
If you buy the wine package the gratuity is added to the cost and the whole amount charged to your account at once. When you choose a bottle from the package you will get a slip to sign that you have had a bottle, but there will be no charge to your account as it and the gratuity have already been paid. If you get any other charged for drinks in the MDR, you will get a slip to sign for these and a gratuity of 15% will have been added to this. This will then be charged to your account to be settled the same way you have selected to pay for all your on board costs.
Non of the above has anything to do with the recommended gratuity added to your stateroom account which is shared between your stateroom host and MDR servers (even though it will be those servers bringing the wine / drinks).

 

[Mcert01]

Thanks for the replies. This is a big help!​

 

[AmandaRG]

Could you order the same bottle of wine almost every time? I'm trying to decide if I want to do this in advance or just order by the bottle.

 

[rwatson626]

Could you order the same bottle of wine almost every time? I'm trying to decide if I want to do this in advance or just order by the bottle.

Yes, when we did the package we ordered a few of the same bottle once we found on we really liked.

 

[rwatson626]

Could you order the same bottle of wine almost every time? I'm trying to decide if I want to do this in advance or just order by the bottle.

Also, I like the package if you are a wine drinker and have a glass or two with dinner the package is perfect.

 

[dmunsil]

The wine package is not actually a savings unless you pick from the most expensive two or three bottles from each list (red or white) each night. The cost of the package is higher than the average cost per bottle multiplied by the number of bottles in the package. And they make it difficult for you to ascertain this, because if you have the package, they just bring you the package list with no prices. You can ask for a regular wine list, but they won't bring it automatically. And they won't bring you the wine list with prices on the first night until they ascertain whether you're getting the wine package.

We tried it on one cruise, assuming we would save some money over buying individual bottles. It wasn't until the last night that I actually looked up the prices of the bottles on the list and realized most of them were cheaper than the per-night package cost. Luckily, we'd picked some fairly expensive wines the first two nights, so we came out ahead, but only slightly. And the bottle I wanted to pick that last night was one of the cheaper bottles, but I felt like I "shouldn't" because it wouldn't be a good deal.

So I guess I would say that if you get the wine package, just don't think about prices and relax. It's a nice wine list, with some lovely crowd-pleasing bottles. If you overthink it (like me), you end up feeling a need to make it pay for itself. I felt like I really had a choice of about 3 white and 3 red bottles, which didn't feel great. But really, if you like wine and want the best selection, just don't get the package.

 

[JJsmama]

How does the wine package compare to wine by the glass? Is there a price list for by the glass anywhere?

 

[turtle27]

Buy the bottle and have them cork it for you for later on. Unless you are purchasing the most expensive wines you will lose money on the wine package, plus as appalling as dcls wine list is, it is better than the package offerings, just my opinion. Except I have done the math on the wine package more than once, not worth it. And you do pay gratuity on the wine package, when purchased.

 

[JJsmama]

Buy the bottle and have them cork it for you for later on. Unless you are purchasing the most expensive wines you will lose money on the wine package, plus as appalling as dcls wine list is, it is better than the package offerings, just my opinion. Except I have done the math on the wine package more than once, not worth it. And you do pay gratuity on the wine package, when purchased.

So if we buy a bottle the first night, do we just pay gratuity on the whole thing once or on each glass that gets poured? Dh drinks beer so a bottle takes me a couple days at least.

 

[rwatson626]

How does the wine package compare to wine by the glass? Is there a price list for by the glass anywhere?

Wine Price list http://www.cruisemapper.com/wiki/701-disney-cruise-alcohol-policy#wine_prices

 

[reddog1473]

does anyone have the wine list offered at the MDR's

 

[dmunsil]

It looks like I was wrong about the classic wine package; most of the wines on that list are priced higher than the average cost per night of the package. For the premium, it's pretty much as I said; the wines are mostly cheaper, with a few that are much more expensive.

Here are the packages, with Disney's price from the MDR wine list (all from menus posted from July 2015; I'm assuming current lists are fairly similar):

Classic package (package price per bottle $28.43-$29.67, depending on number of bottles):

White/Sparkling:
Santa Margherita Prosecco: $32
Antinori Villa Antinori Toscana Bianco: $29
Casa De La Ermita: $32
Masianco Pinot Grigio: $32
Bouchard Petit Chablis: $39
Beringer White Zinfandel: $29
Rosemount Estate Chardonnay: $28

Red:
Nero D'Avola Duca Di Salaparuta: $39
Prunotto Barbera D'Alba: $36
George Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages: $27
Segura Viudas Cabernet: $31
Penfolds Rawson's Retreat Merlot: $31
Casa De La Ermita Petit Verdot: $33
Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rose: $27

Average price of all bottles: $31.79



Premium Package (package price per bottle $44.14 - $45.43, depending on number of bottles):

White/Sparkling:
Rosa Regale Banfi: $42
Baron de Ladoucette Pouilly Fume: $65
Paco Lola Albarino: $34
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio: $38
Marques de Allela Allier 110 Anniversario: $65
Selbach Oster Riesling Kabinett: $46
Louis Latour Pouilly Fuisse: $52

Red:
Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva: $43
Renato Ratti Dolcetto D'Alba: $36
Chateau Castera: $36
Kendall Jackson Merlot: $41
Matua Pinot Noir: $45
Bordon Rioja Gran Riserva: $61
Chateauneuf Du Pape Mont-Redon: $65

Average price of all bottles: $47.79


All prices, whether in the wine package or by the bottle, will have 15% service charge added when you pay for them, so that's a wash. It looks like Disney is pricing the wine packages at a slight discount from the average price of the wine per bottle. Of course, if you happen to pick the priciest bottles you come out ahead by a fair amount, and if you pick the cheapest, you come out behind. It's not unlike the Disney Dining Plan in that regard.

 

[DIS_Ag]

Has anyone done the math on buying those bottles at the store and paying the corkage fee?

 

[turtle27]

So if we buy a bottle the first night, do we just pay gratuity on the whole thing once or on each glass that gets poured? Dh drinks beer so a bottle takes me a couple days at least.

If you buy the bottle, you would pay the gratuity on the bottle that night. They will just recork the bottle and store it for you until you want it. You can call room service and get it delivered, or have it in any of the dining rooms. DM and I do this sometimes when one has fish and one has steak, but I think the price per bottle is cheaper than by the glass. Also, not every wine is available by the glass. For example, there is a lovely Lanson Rose Champagne that is only available by the bottle!

 

[turtle27]

Has anyone done the math on buying those bottles at the store and paying the corkage fee?

I have not because I would probably not buy any of the wines that DCL has on the lists. You will do better bringing your 2 bottles per person on a 3 -4 night cruise if you have a favorite wine, bring it! The upcharge that DCL and ALL lines/restaurants charge is more than the corkage fee.

For example, I think on the ships, that Lanson Rose Champagne is about 100 bucks a bottle, but I can find it for about 50-60 in the stores. So even with the corkage fee, would end up ahead.

 

[vinotinto]

I would suggest against the wine package because the choices are limited.

If you don't get the package, you can order from a longer list, or from any of the bar menus, or even from the Palo wine menu, in any of the MDRs. Just let your drinks server know what you want and they'll be happy to get it because they get 15%.