Upgrade the Summer Meal Offer?

[DrFacilier]

Someone please check my "math". So we booked the Summer Meal Offer (which includes 1 QS meal per night) for our 6 night stay at Pop in August. The cost to upgrade to the regular DDP for our family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) seems to be around $150 per night. In the past, I didn't find value in it but for this trip I'm leaning towards springing for it for the following reasons:

1. We already have 6 table service ADRs
2. My wife and I will have likely have one alcoholic beverage at these meals (excluding SC)
3. Our kids will want specialty kids drinks and it would be nice to give them the option for free
4. We could eat at least one snack per person per day
5. We probably buy one bottle of water per person most days

These are the ADRs we have at the moment
Dinner: Hacienda
Lunch: Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
Lunch: Sanaa
Lunch: Chef Mickeys
Dinner: Tusker House ROL Package
Lunch: Skipper Canteen

We aren't really planning on eating at the food court so I'm not really convinced we'd get much value out of the refillable mugs.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[crazylady]

How are you calculating the extra nightly cost? That seems low to me.

 

[DrFacilier]

I haven't had time to run the actual numbers myself and google searches haven't really turned up much but I am tentatively going with those numbers based on this post by @sharonabe

https://www.disboards.com/threads/cost-to-upgrade-summer-meal-deal.3660498/

 

[DrFacilier]

OK. I actually just checked by messing around with the change my dining plan option on the Disney site. The cost to upgrade to the DDP would be 907. Divide that by 6 nights and it's $151 per night.

 

[POTCfan]

I'm not real familiar with the summer offer, but I'll add my 2 cents. If you are getting dessert your table service and substituting a water for your dessert at the quick service (and still taking a snack each day), I think it would work out in your favor to upgrade to the dining plan, but slightly. As everyone always says, look at the menu and see what you would normally order costs. Compare what your family would normally order at the TS and add $18 for four snacks, and compare that to the $151. Being that you and your significant other will be getting an alcoholic drink, and your kids a specialty drink, I don't think it would be hard to hit that $151.

 

[micstand]

I also crunched some numbers and worked out to $150/night or @$120/day. We're doing enough character meals that I think it's worth it to upgrade to the dining package.

 

[DrFacilier]

I'm not real familiar with the summer offer, but I'll add my 2 cents. If you are getting dessert your table service and substituting a water for your dessert at the quick service (and still taking a snack each day), I think it would work out in your favor to upgrade to the dining plan, but slightly. As everyone always says, look at the menu and see what you would normally order costs. Compare what your family would normally order at the TS and add $18 for four snacks, and compare that to the $151. Being that you and your significant other will be getting an alcoholic drink, and your kids a specialty drink, I don't think it would be hard to hit that $151.

Thanks. I'm going to go through the menus and check it out. We've never done a DP before but I didn't know you could substitute water for a quick service dessert. That's a great tip.

 

[DrFacilier]

I had a chance to run our hypothetical numbers and I'm thinking the upgrade is a good deal! If anyone is interested, here's what I think we'd spend OOP:

(OOP cost includes tax but not gratuity, just like the DP)
Hacienda Dinner - $133
Mama Melrose Fantasmic Lunch - $154
Sanaa Lunch - $122
Chef Mickeys - $161
Tusker ROL Dinner - $200
Skipper Canteen Lunch - $126

Grand Total OOP - $896
Total to upgrade from SMO to DDP - $907

If the difference is $11, we would be getting 2 snack credits per person per day for less than $2 per day.
Based on 1 water ($3) and 1 snack ($5) per person per day we would save about $30 per day. (If we get snacks instead of water, we'll save even more)
That's like $180 in free food
4 refillable mugs are worth $75.96. If they are free, we'll put them to use.
That's about $256 savings on top of at $300+ we'll be saving on our 1 QS per day SMO.

It's not free dining, but I think it's a great deal based on our plans. Unless I'm missing something here, I think it's a great value for us.

 

[Lynne G]

When you have kids, and when you do many buffets, the DP with 1 sit down may be a good deal for you. Only you can determine how your family eats, and want buffets and sit down meal each day. From what you did the math on, it does seem like it is a very good deal. If you have the money, it's nice to be able to say, your food is paid for before you arrive, and all can pick what they want to eat, including extra drinks and or snacks.

And we use the mugs at home. I'd never buy them, as we rarely spend much time at the resort food court.

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks. I'm going to go through the menus and check it out. We've never done a DP before but I didn't know you could substitute water for a quick service dessert. That's a great tip.

substituting a water for your dessert at the quick service

QS meals no longer come with a dessert, so there's not substitution to be had.

@DrFacilier you might want to take a look through the 2018 actual experiences sticky at the top of this forum. There have been a few reports that kids ordering from the kid's menu at some TS restaurants were NOT allowed a specialty drink. QS shouldn't be a problem, but some TS are making the kids get a drink that is listed on the kid's menu. Not sure how that will shake out by Aug, but thought you might want to figure that in to the calculation.

 

[DrFacilier]

QS meals no longer come with a dessert, so there's not substitution to be had.

@DrFacilier you might want to take a look through the 2018 actual experiences sticky at the top of this forum. There have been a few reports that kids ordering from the kid's menu at some TS restaurants were NOT allowed a specialty drink. QS shouldn't be a problem, but some TS are making the kids get a drink that is listed on the kid's menu. Not sure how that will shake out by Aug, but thought you might want to figure that in to the calculation.

Thanks for the heads up. In my research, I did see that dessert was no longer included in QS so I wasn't planning on trying that substitution. I was not aware about the kids specialty drinks at TS restaurants. I think we are still going to come out ahead even without any kids specialty drinks (I had only included a couple in my calculations) but it is definitely worth a look. I will check out the sticky.

 

[POTCfan]

QS meals no longer come with a dessert, so there's not substitution to be had.

Good to know.

Regarding the specialty beverage, the regular dining plan says that it includes non-alcoholic beverages... here is it directly from their website:

Each Quick-Service meal includes (for breakfast, lunch or dinner):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

Each Table-Service meal includes (for breakfast):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

-OR-

• 1 Full Buffet** or Family-Style Meal

Each Table-Service meal includes (for lunch or dinner):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Dessert*
• Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

-OR-

• 1 Full Buffet** or Family-Style Meal

*Ask your server about potential substitutions, but substitutions are not guaranteed. **If available.


And further down on their page they define the beverages as such:

Beverages:
Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered). Guests 21 and older can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single-serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement.

A single-serving non-alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

• Artisanal Milkshakes
• Fresh Smoothies
• Premium Hot Chocolate
• Soda, Coffee or Tea

There is no mention that specialty beverages are not available to children ordering from a child's menu. I would absolutely complain to Disney if "where offered" only meant where there was no child's menu, as that is very misleading. I wonder if the specialty drinks that were not offered were one's that were in souvenir cups or had glow cubes (as it does mention that those are considered merchandise and are not included).

 

[sharonabe]

Regarding the specialty beverage, the regular dining plan says that it includes non-alcoholic beverages... here is it directly from their website:

I'm just relaying the reports we've seen so far are there are some restaurants that aren't giving the kids anything that is NOT on the kid's menu. There is a clause on the PDF that says "kids must order from the kid's menu where available," so some of the restaurants are holding to that line in what they offer the kids.

 

[sharonabe]

I will check out the sticky.

Forgot we were on the Restaurant forum and not the Dining Plan sub-forum...that's where you'll find the sticky. Sorry for the wrong directions up thread.

 

[DrFacilier]

Good to know.

Regarding the specialty beverage, the regular dining plan says that it includes non-alcoholic beverages... here is it directly from their website:

Each Quick-Service meal includes (for breakfast, lunch or dinner):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

Each Table-Service meal includes (for breakfast):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

-OR-

• 1 Full Buffet** or Family-Style Meal

Each Table-Service meal includes (for lunch or dinner):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Dessert*
• Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

-OR-

• 1 Full Buffet** or Family-Style Meal

*Ask your server about potential substitutions, but substitutions are not guaranteed. **If available.


And further down on their page they define the beverages as such:

Beverages:
Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered). Guests 21 and older can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single-serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement.

A single-serving non-alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

• Artisanal Milkshakes
• Fresh Smoothies
• Premium Hot Chocolate
• Soda, Coffee or Tea

There is no mention that specialty beverages are not available to children ordering from a child's menu. I would absolutely complain to Disney if "where offered" only meant where there was no child's menu, as that is very misleading. I wonder if the specialty drinks that were not offered were one's that were in souvenir cups or had glow cubes (as it does mention that those are considered merchandise and are not included).

Good to know.

Regarding the specialty beverage, the regular dining plan says that it includes non-alcoholic beverages... here is it directly from their website:

Each Quick-Service meal includes (for breakfast, lunch or dinner):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

Each Table-Service meal includes (for breakfast):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

-OR-

• 1 Full Buffet** or Family-Style Meal

Each Table-Service meal includes (for lunch or dinner):

• 1 Entrée
• 1 Dessert*
• Non-alcoholic Beverage (or Alcoholic Beverage, for Guests 21 and older)

-OR-

• 1 Full Buffet** or Family-Style Meal

*Ask your server about potential substitutions, but substitutions are not guaranteed. **If available.


And further down on their page they define the beverages as such:

Beverages:
Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered). Guests 21 and older can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single-serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement.

A single-serving non-alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

• Artisanal Milkshakes
• Fresh Smoothies
• Premium Hot Chocolate
• Soda, Coffee or Tea

There is no mention that specialty beverages are not available to children ordering from a child's menu. I would absolutely complain to Disney if "where offered" only meant where there was no child's menu, as that is very misleading. I wonder if the specialty drinks that were not offered were one's that were in souvenir cups or had glow cubes (as it does mention that those are considered merchandise and are not included).

I agree that it seems to clearly state that kids could get a signature drink and I think it is clear enough to at least try to talk to a manager about if the server can’t do it. I wouldn’t let it go easily but wouldn’t be willing to let it ruin our experience either.

 

[DrFacilier]

I'm just relaying the reports we've seen so far are there are some restaurants that aren't giving the kids anything that is NOT on the kid's menu. There is a clause on the PDF that says "kids must order from the kid's menu where available," so some of the restaurants are holding to that line in what they offer the kids.

I would first try to get the specialty drink based on the wording that POTCfan quoted but think I understand where the grey area is. When I was trying to come up with my calculations I noticed that some restaurants had kids meals that included a drink and dessert while others were a la carte. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the “complete kids meal” restaurants people were having issues with. I’m assuming it will vary from place to place.

 

[DrFacilier]

Forgot we were on the Restaurant forum and not the Dining Plan sub-forum...that's where you'll find the sticky. Sorry for the wrong directions up thread.

Thanks. I was confused at first but found it eventually. I have lots of reading to do lol.