Ugh, what were we thinking?! 9 days Deluxe Dining with pics! MY Number 2! 7/21!

[Marshay]

1st -- yeah for going back to Disney this weekend (heck, go back over Memorial weekend too -- nothing says you can't do BOTH!!)

Thanks for your summary.

I'm pretty sure the $79.99 doesn't include tax ...

Your report has definitely made me want to try the Deluxe plan, for a long weekend, when we don't have the kids (like that would happen, buI can dream!). I'm not sure I would have considered it before, so many, many thanks! We love the Signature Restaurants but usually can only get one in per trip.

I'm not sure how you guys handled all the transportation without a car. I also think we'd rent a car in order to do the plan (but we like driving ourselves instead of waiting for a Disney bus) since so many SR are at the resorts.

Thanks again and can't wait to hear both of your top 3 picks!

 

[Leshaface]

Great summary! You are the first person whose report I have read on DxDDP who actually finished and summed everything up to find that dollarwise it worked to your advantage.

We could never do the DxDDP because we are happy sharing one meal between the two of us, but maybe adding an extra course or two. I can't finish an entree by myself much less with appetizer and dessert. I don't know how you two put it all away and stay so thin, but I suppose with you working out so much and so often that does it for you. I was skinny when I was your age!

When is your trip to Disneyland? Hopefully you'll be there while F&W is still going on. You should try the beer walk, and all the great snacks at the Marketplace. My F&W journey is coming to an end, only two events left and two celebrity chefs to try and catch.

Thanks for persevering and following through to the end!

I'm so glad you replied! Needed some advice!

Yes we're going to Disneyland May 22-23...so this weekend! Will be a short trip but oh well!! Am going to have to buy block-out tickets for sat since it's not covered with Deluxe...BUT please tell me where the beer walk is! And how much is it, what's included, etc...just fill me in on what we could do in very short amount of time! We won't be making reservations for anything because 1) it's too late and there's prob no spots left open for anything and 2) we don't have enough time

Give me some things I can do!!!

I just wanted to say that I really loved your review, it is getting that much more excited fro our trip!!!

Yay so glad you like my reviews! You're gonna have a blast!!

1st -- yeah for going back to Disney this weekend (heck, go back over Memorial weekend too -- nothing says you can't do BOTH!!)

Thanks for your summary.

I'm pretty sure the $79.99 doesn't include tax ...

Your report has definitely made me want to try the Deluxe plan, for a long weekend, when we don't have the kids (like that would happen, buI can dream!). I'm not sure I would have considered it before, so many, many thanks! We love the Signature Restaurants but usually can only get one in per trip.

I'm not sure how you guys handled all the transportation without a car. I also think we'd rent a car in order to do the plan (but we like driving ourselves instead of waiting for a Disney bus) since so many SR are at the resorts.

Thanks again and can't wait to hear both of your top 3 picks!

Yeah, I didn't think the 79.99 didn't include tax, but then I was trying to figure out if they taxed it per day, or for the entire stay, so I was like forget it! I'll just keep it at 79.99!

Ooh you should definitely plan a long weekend with the deluxe plan! That actually sounds nice!

I know!! We were seriously all over the world on this trip! I was even telling DH in the middle of the trip, that maybe we should have just rented a car...we were ALWAYS waiting for a bus at CSR...ALWAYS! Then there was two times when the bus we needed was pulling out of our Bus Stop, so we ran BOTH times across the resort to the lobby area, where the First Bus Stop was because we knew that was the buses last stop! EXHAUSTING! Aside from those two times, we were always waiting at least 15 minutes...next time we do Deluxe, we'll definitely be renting a car!

I can't wait to hear what DH has to say too!!

 

[wdwobsessed]

The DxDp is $71.99 not $79.99 so you made out better than you thought.

WDWO

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Great closing thoughts on Deluxe Dining Plan. We used it for our first trip- the once-in-a-lifetime- we- won't-be-back-for-years trip - and it was perfect because we wanted to have multiple character breakfasts and used two credits at Cinderella's Castle. (It was a little cheaper in 2008). We used the reg DDP last trip and will use it again this trip. In the future, we will probably get TIW card.

Tax is included in the $79.99.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Great closing thoughts on Deluxe Dining Plan. We used it for our first trip- the once-in-a-lifetime- we- won't-be-back-for-years trip - and it was perfect because we wanted to have multiple character breakfasts and used two credits at Cinderella's Castle. (It was a little cheaper in 2008). We used the reg DDP last trip and will use it again this trip. In the future, we will probably get TIW card.

Tax is included in the $79.99.

Every where I have looked it sais 71.99 ....

 

[Leshaface]

The DxDp is $71.99 not $79.99 so you made out better than you thought.

WDWO

WOW! I sure did make out better if that's the case!! Thanks for pointing that out!!

I'll go back and make an edit!

Great closing thoughts on Deluxe Dining Plan. We used it for our first trip- the once-in-a-lifetime- we- won't-be-back-for-years trip - and it was perfect because we wanted to have multiple character breakfasts and used two credits at Cinderella's Castle. (It was a little cheaper in 2008). We used the reg DDP last trip and will use it again this trip. In the future, we will probably get TIW card.

Tax is included in the $79.99.

Exactly! For character breakfasts, shows, CRT, having the deluxe really pays off!

We were planning on going in summer of 2012, so if we do go then, we'll go Deluxe again, but if we have to go at the beginning of 2012, like when we had just gone Jan 20-28, we'll do the Basic...

 

[sjs314]

Great Summary, I so want to try the deluxe DP but won't be this trip since DS and Ddil are going with us and staying in the villa, they don't want the DP nor will they be eating with us for every meal we have planned, they both had gastric bypass and no longer eat much at each sitting at home when they go out they share meals a lot of the time. I wish Disney did not have that rule about everyone on the reservation has to have the DP Oh well
Have a great time in Disneyland this weekend, I envy you living so close. I enjoyed our trip there 2 years ago but I do not care for the long plane ride to get there and back

 

[LuccaDrake]

Thanks for all the great reviews! Makes me even more excited to be eating at Cali Grill this year! Enjoy your DL trip!

~Beka~

 

[wdwobsessed]

I really enjoyed reading your reviews.

I am going with the DxDp next month ... I already have the first 5 nights we are at WL booked and paid for with it.

The last 3 nights we are switching over to the Beach Club so I am trying to decide between dropping back to the regular plan or just keeping with the deluxe.

What would you do based on your experience?

Thanks!

WDWO

 

[02AggieGirl]

LOVED your reviews! Thanks so much!

 

[franandaj]

I'm so glad you replied! Needed some advice!

Yes we're going to Disneyland May 22-23...so this weekend! Will be a short trip but oh well!! Am going to have to buy block-out tickets for sat since it's not covered with Deluxe...BUT please tell me where the beer walk is! And how much is it, what's included, etc...just fill me in on what we could do in very short amount of time! We won't be making reservations for anything because 1) it's too late and there's prob no spots left open for anything and 2) we don't have enough time

Give me some things I can do!!!

We'll be there Friday night, last Winemaker Dinner of the year. But we're just driving in for the evening.

The Beer Walk is the first thing that you come to outside Sunshine Plaza. This is it

Basically you pay $10 that gets you a passport, and my picture doesn't show it very well, but there are different regions represented. They have taps at each counter and at least a couple choices (maybe three I didn't look that close). You take your passport around to each region and you get 4 tastes for your $10, I would suggest that you each get something different and share. That way you get to taste eight different beers.

Also not to be missed is the Marketplace, head over towards Monsters Inc, go past the stage where the community bands perform and it's behind there.

I tried the first four items, the Ahi and all the desserts, they were tasty! The slider was bland, and the Quesdilla was so so. The Halibut was AWESOME! The soup in the mini bowl was good, and you'll probably love the Ahi, since you like sushi so much. It was really great with all the elements on the plate working in harmony. You HAVE to eat the Chocolate Profiterole!

They have set up a "Lounge" where you can buy beer & wine to go with your food.

If you're at all a Food Network Fan Robert Irvine and Kerry Simon are going to be there this weekend. You couldn't see both in one day because the queue for Robert Irvine will fill up during Kerry Simon's demo. I'm going early to the WMD on Friday and hoping to catch Robert Irvine.

There's also a special food at each of the CS restaurants priced between $3-$10. Check my F&W report for the details on those. Now that I'm done hijacking your Review: Have fun! Do some rides too!

 

[Leshaface]

Great Summary, I so want to try the deluxe DP but won't be this trip since DS and Ddil are going with us and staying in the villa, they don't want the DP nor will they be eating with us for every meal we have planned, they both had gastric bypass and no longer eat much at each sitting at home when they go out they share meals a lot of the time. I wish Disney did not have that rule about everyone on the reservation has to have the DP Oh well
Have a great time in Disneyland this weekend, I envy you living so close. I enjoyed our trip there 2 years ago but I do not care for the long plane ride to get there and back

That does stink..you'd think they'd be a little more flexible...and I was thinking about this the other day too...what happens if me and DH shared a room with my bro and his wife, me and DH want Deluxe, but they want basic (just for an example). Does this mean there's no way to work around that or it HAS to be either Basic or Deluxe?

I know, I love being so close! I was even closer living in Long Beach! 20 mins!...alas, no more of that...I'll just have to settle for 3 hours, which is still VERY doable!

I hear ya about the plane ride! What works for me, whenever we make our way out east once a year to PA, is we never take a direct flight...I don't know why but the layovers really rejuvenate me! Sounds weird cuz it would then take longer to get to our final destination but it really does help! All psychological I suppose!

Thanks for all the great reviews! Makes me even more excited to be eating at Cali Grill this year! Enjoy your DL trip!

~Beka~

Cali grill is terrific! You'll LOVE it!

And I will enjoy my DL trip, thanks!

I really enjoyed reading your reviews.

I am going with the DxDp next month ... I already have the first 5 nights we are at WL booked and paid for with it.

The last 3 nights we are switching over to the Beach Club so I am trying to decide between dropping back to the regular plan or just keeping with the deluxe.

What would you do based on your experience?

Thanks!

WDWO

Ooh, you would probably enjoy the change of switching from Deluxe to Basic, IMO. Plus it will save you some cash!

How WONDERFUL! You'll be staying at both WL and the Beach Club!!! You're going to have sooo much fun! Enjoy!

LOVED your reviews! Thanks so much!

Thanks Aggie!!

We'll be there Friday night, last Winemaker Dinner of the year. But we're just driving in for the evening.

The Beer Walk is the first thing that you come to outside Sunshine Plaza. This is it

Basically you pay $10 that gets you a passport, and my picture doesn't show it very well, but there are different regions represented. They have taps at each counter and at least a couple choices (maybe three I didn't look that close). You take your passport around to each region and you get 4 tastes for your $10, I would suggest that you each get something different and share. That way you get to taste eight different beers.

Also not to be missed is the Marketplace, head over towards Monsters Inc, go past the stage where the community bands perform and it's behind there.

I tried the first four items, the Ahi and all the desserts, they were tasty! The slider was bland, and the Quesdilla was so so. The Halibut was AWESOME! The soup in the mini bowl was good, and you'll probably love the Ahi, since you like sushi so much. It was really great with all the elements on the plate working in harmony. You HAVE to eat the Chocolate Profiterole!

They have set up a "Lounge" where you can buy beer & wine to go with your food.

If you're at all a Food Network Fan Robert Irvine and Kerry Simon are going to be there this weekend. You couldn't see both in one day because the queue for Robert Irvine will fill up during Kerry Simon's demo. I'm going early to the WMD on Friday and hoping to catch Robert Irvine.

There's also a special food at each of the CS restaurants priced between $3-$10. Check my F&W report for the details on those. Now that I'm done hijacking your Review: Have fun! Do some rides too!

Franandaj I KNEW you would come through!

AWESOME!! I just showed DH your post and he's set on doing the Beer Walk and heading over to the marketplace!!! Eeek! I'm soo excited now!

I was actually thinking of getting the Halibut (glad you approved) and the Ahi...mmm ahi...SAME with the profiterole! I'm SOOO getting that!!

 

[TeresaNJ]

Just found your dining review report today & I'm so tired and ready to go to bed, but I had to stay up to finish reading! You are hilarious and I loved reading your report. Looks like you had a great time.

 

[Leshaface]

Just found your dining review report today & I'm so tired and ready to go to bed, but I had to stay up to finish reading! You are hilarious and I loved reading your report. Looks like you had a great time.

Lol!! I'm glad you chose my report over sleeping!! I mean, it's only sleep right?!

Thanks so much! I had a blast being there, and writing it!!

You're not Teresa from Real Housewives of New Jersey are you?

 

[franandaj]

Franandaj I KNEW you would come through!

AWESOME!! I just showed DH your post and he's set on doing the Beer Walk and heading over to the marketplace!!! Eeek! I'm soo excited now!

I was actually thinking of getting the Halibut (glad you approved) and the Ahi...mmm ahi...SAME with the profiterole! I'm SOOO getting that!!

I'm so glad that you found a way to get your DH to take you during F&W! We did a Wine Walk last year and it was kinda cool. DP wanted to do a Beer Walk but we haven't been able to fit it in. I hope we can before it ends, you will LOVE the Profiterole, it's very tasty! I'm working on posting my Brewmaster Dinner on my report, you guys should look out for it next year, you'd probably really enjoy it because it was SO popular this year they HAVE to do it again. It was the first Signature event to sell out this year, even before the cooking school!

I'm so glad you guys are going to get to do a little bit of F&W!

 

[smillerguy]

Best dining review ever. You have a gret sense of humor!

OK I was hoping to get help deciding which other Sig to add to our DxDDP but you make them all sound so great. We have CRT breakfast, Flyng Fish (first night) and Cal. Grill. Which other sig would you rec? We are staying at Poly so WL and GF easy to get to. We also have a car so can easily get to others as well.
Thanks for the great review!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I Love, love love your final though Part 1!!! You saved a lot of money and got to eat some really terrific WDW food! I also like how you pointed out that if going during peak season, the parks are open for longer every day. I mean, on an EMH-evening you can be in MK until 2AM!!! Not that this is for us right now, as our boys are little, but in the future when they are teens I can definitely see this happening!!!

You have inspired me to write a very detailed dining review when I get back from my trip. We'll be using the Tables in Wonderland card so I would like to break it down to see how much we save overall (including the extra money to upgrade my ticket to an AP and the cost of the TIW card), and share it with people here on the DIS. Maybe I will get a photo bucket account and include some food pics too, but I will see how many food pics I get to take while dealing with the kids...I'm sure I'll get at least a few!

We are going in summer 2012 too! We go every other year in July for 10 nights.

I will have to check out the customized maps and make sure it goes through. For our 2008 trip, I got them with no problem. Still have them of course!

 

[AshClan]

GREAT JOB. Loved the summary and all of your reviews. I'm looking forward to hearing your top 3!!

Thanks for all the hard work on this. It was great for all of us. Hope it was for you too!!!

Have a blast this weekend!!

 

[TeresaNJ]

Lol!! I'm glad you chose my report over sleeping!! I mean, it's only sleep right?!

Thanks so much! I had a blast being there, and writing it!!

You're not Teresa from Real Housewives of New Jersey are you?

Nope, not me. I'm from South Jersey. Many South Jerseyans are transplants from South Philly, not New Yawk. We root for the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers & Sixers, and our Jersey shore is Ocean City, Sea Isle, Wildwood, Avalon, & Cape May. There's a huge difference!

 

[Leshaface]

I'm so glad that you found a way to get your DH to take you during F&W! We did a Wine Walk last year and it was kinda cool. DP wanted to do a Beer Walk but we haven't been able to fit it in. I hope we can before it ends, you will LOVE the Profiterole, it's very tasty! I'm working on posting my Brewmaster Dinner on my report, you guys should look out for it next year, you'd probably really enjoy it because it was SO popular this year they HAVE to do it again. It was the first Signature event to sell out this year, even before the cooking school!

I'm so glad you guys are going to get to do a little bit of F&W!

Omgosh I know!! Last year we did a beer tasting which was really neat...it may have been Karl Strauss perhaps, but it looks like they really kicked up the F&W festival a notch from all the past years! It appears that there is way more stuff to do!

I would LOVE to do a Brewmaster Dinner, but I would REALLY to do the cooking school with Chef Andrew Sutton!! Napa Rose has the best food ever!!....unfortunately, we could not swing $475 per person...at least not now...perhaps in the future DEFINITELY!!

So your Brewmaster dinner is tonight correct? Will you have gone to all of them now, seeing as this is the last Brewmaster dinner??

Best dining review ever. You have a gret sense of humor!

OK I was hoping to get help deciding which other Sig to add to our DxDDP but you make them all sound so great. We have CRT breakfast, Flyng Fish (first night) and Cal. Grill. Which other sig would you rec? We are staying at Poly so WL and GF easy to get to. We also have a car so can easily get to others as well.
Thanks for the great review!

Thank you! I'm glad you liked my reviews!!

You have two GREAT Sig's so far! Hmmm....I would say either Citricos over at the GF (wouldn't have to go far and the food is spectacular!) or Artist Point over at WL (also not far, and if you love soup, the Portobello Mushroom soup is to die for!)

Perhaps you should go to Yachtsman so you can fill me in on what they got going on over there!!

Would love to know what you pick!

I Love, love love your final though Part 1!!! You saved a lot of money and got to eat some really terrific WDW food! I also like how you pointed out that if going during peak season, the parks are open for longer every day. I mean, on an EMH-evening you can be in MK until 2AM!!! Not that this is for us right now, as our boys are little, but in the future when they are teens I can definitely see this happening!!!

Exactly! Which is why I'm SOOO looking forward to the summer hours! I think the latest EMH during our trip was until 11pm...blah...it was really pathetic! Oh yeah, and your boys will be trying to stay there until 2am i'm sure...not that you'd complain of course!

You have inspired me to write a very detailed dining review when I get back from my trip. We'll be using the Tables in Wonderland card so I would like to break it down to see how much we save overall (including the extra money to upgrade my ticket to an AP and the cost of the TIW card), and share it with people here on the DIS. Maybe I will get a photo bucket account and include some food pics too, but I will see how many food pics I get to take while dealing with the kids...I'm sure I'll get at least a few!

We are going in summer 2012 too! We go every other year in July for 10 nights.

You really should do a comparison with the TIW card! I wouldn't mind seeing how much you saved, especially since we're considering getting the Premier Pass for when we go in 2012 and we'll probably get the TIW card!

I can already see the distorted and blurry pics now...here's you trying to take a photo of this magnificent meal before you, and your kid throws his chicken finger at you! Yeah, I could see how it may be a little difficult trying to take pics...


I will have to check out the customized maps and make sure it goes through. For our 2008 trip, I got them with no problem. Still have them of course!

It worked for me too in 2008!! Which is why I was so stoked that when 2010 trip came around, they still offered the free maps! I really did want them though, because I wanted to choose what attractions we did/saw, then when we got home, we would highlight or circle the attractions that we actually did....oh well, 2012 here i come, I suppose!

GREAT JOB. Loved the summary and all of your reviews. I'm looking forward to hearing your top 3!!

Thanks for all the hard work on this. It was great for all of us. Hope it was for you too!!!

Have a blast this weekend!!

I seriously loved writing this! I wish I had gone to every single restaurant that WDW has to offer just so I could write about it!

I would LOVE to work for Disney writing about their food....DISNEY ARE YOU LISTENING!?!? I WANT TO WORK FOR YOU!!!

Nope, not me. I'm from South Jersey. Many South Jerseyans are transplants from South Philly, not New Yawk. We root for the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers & Sixers, and our Jersey shore is Ocean City, Sea Isle, Wildwood, Avalon, & Cape May. There's a huge difference!

Wow didn't know that! Learn something new everyday!!

I find it intriguing that how different areas of the same state can be....for example..."You know you're a Northern Cali resident when you say the word 'Hella'.." Beaches are all different too from southern to northern...good thing I'm front Central Cal...I claim neutral!