VERY Confused, PLEASE HELP ME! Thank you!

[Faldred]

Thank you Caryn. I believe we would miss the appeitzer. So the "only" difference in Deluxe and regular is that you get an appetizer with the Dx.
Is that correct?

You have ALL been VERY VERY helpful and I greatly appreciate it!

Oh, gosh, no. There's a huge difference between DDP and DxDP.

DDP provides 1 TS, 1 CS, and 1 snack credit per person per night.

DxDP provides 3 meal credits (each can be used as TS or CS) and 2 snack credits per person per night. Meal credits used at menu service TS restaurants (as opposed to buffets) also get an appetizer per person for lunch or dinner. For about $30/adult/night more than basic DDP.

You do not need DxDP to use credits at a signature restaurant. However, it's generally considered unoptimal use of credits on basic DDP for any of the 2-credit meals; with DxDP you have so many more credits to use, at a lower cost per credit and including the appetizer, that DxDP is recommended for people who want to do a fair amount of signature dining.

On one other question, when you're quoted DDP prices to add to your reservation, that includes all sales taxes.

 

[sharonabe]

Take a deep breath and stay with the regular DDP.

You still need to decide if you're going to keep Calif Grill or Citrocos AND you need to plan one more TS to use all five of your credits. You have less than two weeks, so you need to do that fairly quickly to find a meal you will all enjoy.

If you are planning on seeing Fantasmic, you may want to call to see if there are any Fantasmic Dining Pkgs still available. I suggest Mama Melrose for your party as you do get apps with the pkg. If they only have Hollywood & Vine, that is a buffet and not very well reviewed and Brown Derby is another 2 TS place, so you'd be over on your credits again.

 

[js]

Deluxe dining plan is $78.99 per adult per day, and regular dining plan is $45.99 per adult per day. It's a significant price difference. Deluxe is only beneficial if you will be eating at least two TS meals per day and/or multiple signature restaurants which use up 2 TS credits per person. If you are doing a lot of TS breakfasts, it's not a great value because you do not get an appetizer and dessert at breakfast.

You will be there for 5 nights if I added correctly? That means if you did regular plan you would get 5 TS per person, 5 QS per person and 5 snacks per person for the duration of your stay. On deluxe plan, you would get 15 meal credits per person which you can use as either TS or QS. If you plan on eating multiple QS meals, it's not the best value to use Deluxe credits for this. You wouldn't be getting your money's worth. Also, each person would also get 10 snacks for the duration.

Deluxe is a lot of food and can also be time consuming going between reservations. Based on your current ADRs, even with the signature restaurant, I personally wouldn't pay to upgrade. Even if you think you will buy an appetizer at every TS meal, it would still probably come out cheaper to just pay for the app OOP.

Thank you VERY much! I will pay for the app OOP and keep the Regular plan. YEY, one less thing to think about LOL

2011 Disney Dining Plan prices:
Quick Service Dining Plan
Adults: $34.99 | Children: $11.99
Basic Dining Plan
Adults: $45.99 (regular season) | $47.99 (peak season*)
Children: $11.99 (regular season) | $12.99 (peak season*)
Deluxe Dining Plan
Adults: $78.99 | Children: $21.99
*Peak Seasons: 2/17/11 - 2/26/11, 3/11/11 - 4/30/11, 6/3/11 - 8/13/11,12/23/11 - 12/31/11

from: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-dining-plan.htm

Not needy -- it is a lot of info to process and an important component to a not inexpensive vacation.

Thank you for the kind words. I think I will go with the regular plan and I will be there in 2 weeks, which is not prime time, good for me LOL

On the regular dining plan, you would have to pay out of pocket for the appetizers.

It would not be worth upgrading to the deluxe just to get appetizers. (It's about $33 per person per night to upgrade).

If you are looking for dining plan prices, there is a sticky on this board.

If you want Disney restaurant prices, try:

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

Thank you very much. I printed out the Dining Plan from the Sticky but didn't have the prices. Another poster told me to go to my DVC webpage, which I did and I found the prices on the pdf files. I am sure it is here too but somehow I did not see it
I agree with you after doing research all morning, I do not want the deluxe plan and will pay OOP for any apps.

Oh, gosh, no. There's a huge difference between DDP and DxDP.

DDP provides 1 TS, 1 CS, and 1 snack credit per person per night.

DxDP provides 3 meal credits (each can be used as TS or CS) and 2 snack credits per person per night. Meal credits used at menu service TS restaurants (as opposed to buffets) also get an appetizer per person for lunch or dinner. For about $30/adult/night more than basic DDP.

You do not need DxDP to use credits at a signature restaurant. However, it's generally considered unoptimal use of credits on basic DDP for any of the 2-credit meals; with DxDP you have so many more credits to use, at a lower cost per credit and including the appetizer, that DxDP is recommended for people who want to do a fair amount of signature dining.

On one other question, when you're quoted DDP prices to add to your reservation, that includes all sales taxes.

Take a deep breath and stay with the regular DDP.

You still need to decide if you're going to keep Calif Grill or Citrocos AND you need to plan one more TS to use all five of your credits. You have less than two weeks, so you need to do that fairly quickly to find a meal you will all enjoy.

If you are planning on seeing Fantasmic, you may want to call to see if there are any Fantasmic Dining Pkgs still available. I suggest Mama Melrose for your party as you do get apps with the pkg. If they only have Hollywood & Vine, that is a buffet and not very well reviewed and Brown Derby is another 2 TS place, so you'd be over on your credits again.

Thank you very much for ALL your advice/help. I will do the Regular Dining.
I canceled CG since we have been and kept Citrocos.

I have modified my dining and will cancel what I don't need after seeing how many credits I need for each meal.

This is what I currently have:

August 31:
No credits used all day since arriving late.

September 1:
DINNER: Rose and Crown

September 2:
DINNER: Liberty Tree Tavern

September 3:
DINNER: Citricos

September 4:
LUNCH: Sci-Fi
DINNER: Brown Derby

Do you think for a party of 5, this will be a good deal since all of us like to eat and my ds seems to always want the most expensive meat or fish?
We may get 1-2 apps and we will be ordering alcohol.


ALSO, from reading, it looks like I pay for the plan when I call and order.
IF this is the case, I will book all 5 of us (including my mother) on my dh's KTTK card. Can he just use his card when one of us wants soda, ice cream, CS or dinner or do we all need to hand in our card at time of purchase?
I think it can be just his card from what I am reading but can you reassure me?
ps, of course not a deal breaker, but are Mickey Bars and Turkey Legs included?

Thank you all so much!

 

[TDC Nala]

SO, is this correct and think I just learned, my 5 pp TS credits can be used for a lunch or dinner that accepts the DDP. Is that correct?

Or breakfast, but you say you will not be using credits for breakfast.

August 31:
No credits used all day since arriving late.

September 1:
DINNER: Rose and Crown

September 2:
DINNER: Liberty Tree Tavern

September 3:
DINNER: Citricos

September 4:
LUNCH: Sci-Fi
DINNER: Brown Derby

The TS meals you have chosen will take 7 TS credits to cover with the dining plan. Citricos and Brown Derby both cost 2 TS credits per person to eat there. You will only have five credits per person. You will need to pay for some of these meals outside of the dining plan. I might suggest that you pay out of pocket for the Brown Derby. That will leave enough credits to cover all the rest of your meals.

You can use only one KTTW card to pay. All your credits for the entire party will be accessible from all KTTW cards assigned to your party.

Mickey Bars are a snack credit. Turkey Legs can be had for a CS credit, plus a beverage. Not sure about desserts. Some places that sell the turkey legs will apparently give a bag of chips instead of a dessert.

 

[js]

Or breakfast, but you say you will not be using credits for breakfast.



The TS meals you have chosen will take 7 TS credits to cover with the dining plan. Citricos and Brown Derby both cost 2 TS credits per person to eat there. You will only have five credits per person. You will need to pay for some of these meals outside of the dining plan. I might suggest that you pay out of pocket for the Brown Derby. That will leave enough credits to cover all the rest of your meals.

You can use only one KTTW card to pay. All your credits for the entire party will be accessible from all KTTW cards assigned to your party.

Mickey Bars are a snack credit. Turkey Legs can be had for a CS credit, plus a beverage. Not sure about desserts. Some places that sell the turkey legs will apparently give a bag of chips instead of a dessert.

Thank you very much!

If I figured it all out correctly, I can keep ALL my ressies and opt for the following:

For September 4 I have:

LUNCH: Sci - Fi

CANCEL DINNER: Brown Derby

It is our last night and I can use a CS somewhere when we go back and pack and kids go to pool or something like that. Is that correct?

Is it correct that I can keep everything and just cancel Brown Derby?
Thanks ALL very much!

If that is the case and given above, does it make sense for me to use the DDP? We usually order snacks, breakfast and beverages from Garden Grocer or wegoshop but perhaps won't order the snacks and just pick up the beverags in the little shop in the Contemporary. Use CS for breakfast in the Contemporary or whatever park we are in for a quick bite for CS breakfast. Does that make sense?

I have a 3 hour car ride to DE tonight for my ds's baseball tournament and need to convenience my dh this is the best option (if, of course, it is). I told him last night the disboards said I should get the DDP to see his reaction and he told me to look into it.

Thank you ALL!

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, that's correct. If you cancel Brown Derby you have enough credits to cover all the TS you have booked.

You also have 5 CS credits per person to use. Breakfast is really not the best use of credits as far as getting value for your credits, unless you have them left over and no other way to use them. Use them for lunch or for a quick dinner on your last night. You can also share CS meals.

 

[havoc315]

Thank you very much!

If I figured it all out correctly, I can keep ALL my ressies and opt for the following:

For September 4 I have:

LUNCH: Sci - Fi

CANCEL DINNER: Brown Derby

It is our last night and I can use a CS somewhere when we go back and pack and kids go to pool or something like that. Is that correct?

Is it correct that I can keep everything and just cancel Brown Derby?
Thanks ALL very much!

If that is the case and given above, does it make sense for me to use the DDP? We usually order snacks, breakfast and beverages from Garden Grocer or wegoshop but perhaps won't order the snacks and just pick up the beverags in the little shop in the Contemporary. Use CS for breakfast in the Contemporary or whatever park we are in for a quick bite for CS breakfast. Does that make sense?

CS breakfasts are often a very poor value on the dining plan. If that's how you intend to use your CS credits, you may be better off financially, just skipping the plan.
A CS breakfast at the contemporary, is about $8-$11. Compared to $15-18 of typical credit for a CS lunch or dinner.

Yes, you can simply cancel the Brown Derby. Or pick the cheapest meals, and pay for that meal(s) out of pocket.

 

[js]

All, you have been SO helpful! Thank you.

I have a question. My dh will be golfing on Saturday and if he not with us, we cannot use the credits, is this correct?

Therefore, I should get them on my card. Is this correct?
Is there any way to have them on both my dh and my card?

Thanks again!

 

[TDC Nala]

All, you have been SO helpful! Thank you.

I have a question. My dh will be golfing on Saturday and if he not with us, we cannot use the credits, is this correct?

Therefore, I should get them on my card. Is this correct?
Is there any way to have them on both my dh and my card?

Thanks again!

Here's how it will work.

Everyone in your party will get their own KTTW card. Each card will have the notation 5A on it for the dining plan. This means on your reservation you have five adults using the dining plan (anyone age 10 or over is an adult for dining).

Anyone can present a card to pay for a meal with dining credits. Anyone in the room can use the credits. All the credits are pooled for everybody in the room. When you first arrive you will be looking at a pool of 25 TS credits, 25 CS credits and 25 snack credits for your entire party (5 people staying 5 nights).

You do not have specific credits for each person on their own KTTW cards. Everyone can access all the credits at all times from their KTTW cards. Even the kids will have access to everyone's credits, not just their own. You can pay for your meals using any one of your party's KTTW cards.

If your husband is not with you then you can use his credits. The only restriction is that you will not be able to order more than 5 meals in one transaction.

 

[js]

Here's how it will work.

Everyone in your party will get their own KTTW card. Each card will have the notation 5A on it for the dining plan. This means on your reservation you have five adults using the dining plan (anyone age 10 or over is an adult for dining).

Anyone can present a card to pay for a meal with dining credits. Anyone in the room can use the credits. All the credits are pooled for everybody in the room. When you first arrive you will be looking at a pool of 25 TS credits, 25 CS credits and 25 snack credits for your entire party (5 people staying 5 nights).

You do not have specific credits for each person on their own KTTW cards. Everyone can access all the credits at all times from their KTTW cards. Even the kids will have access to everyone's credits, not just their own. You can pay for your meals using any one of your party's KTTW cards.

If your husband is not with you then you can use his credits. The only restriction is that you will not be able to order more than 5 meals in one transaction.

Thank you very much!


Now that I have read up, I think I may have graduated to segmenting:

I am staying at BLT on points for 5 nights.
Can I segment and just do 3 nights (not consecutive).
If so, I think I want to segment.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

 

[TDC Nala]

Check the DVC board...they have several threads with detailed information on segmenting your reservation for dining plan purposes.

Although if you already have restaurants booked that will use up all five of your TS credits...I'm not clear on why you now want to segment. If you segment the way you have noted, so you have DDP for 3 nights, you will only have three credits per person. Are you planning to cancel some of your current restaurant reservations, or just pay for some of them? Unless you are planning to segment so that you will have the deluxe plan for some or all of those nights.

Please check the DVC board regarding segmenting for nonconsecutive nights, as I believe you will have to go to the main desk to get new KTTW cards every day, and you will have to keep track of which dining credits have been used or not used on each card, and when each will expire.

 

[js]

Check the DVC board...they have several threads with detailed information on segmenting your reservation for dining plan purposes.

Although if you already have restaurants booked that will use up all five of your TS credits...I'm not clear on why you now want to segment. If you segment the way you have noted, so you have DDP for 3 nights, you will only have three credits per person. Are you planning to cancel some of your current restaurant reservations, or just pay for some of them?

Thank you VERY much for taking the time to read my posts and help me. I greatly appreciate it!

Yes, this is what I plan on doing. Since you seem knowledgeable, can you please let me know if this sounds good for 5 adults:

Wednesday, August 31 - Arrive around 9 pm. No Dining Plan

Thursday, September 1 - DINNER: Rose and Crown - DINING PLAN

Friday, September 2 - DINNER: DINING PLAN Need to find a good place. Suggestions? I will be at BLT with no car but not scared to get on bus. Would like Ohana but can't get for this night but I keep trying. Where would be a good use of a dinner creidt (we will be at MK this day, without hoppers but my dh doesn't want to do LTT. How about Tonys? Never been though)

Saturday, September 3, 2011 - No Dining Plan
DINNER: Citricos OOP

Sunday, September 4, 2011 - DINING PLAN
DINNER: Ohana

Do you think above is a good idea?

Thank you.

 

[havoc315]

Thank you VERY much for taking the time to read my posts and help me. I greatly appreciate it!

Yes, this is what I plan on doing. Since you seem knowledgeable, can you please let me know if this sounds good for 5 adults:

Wednesday, August 31 - Arrive around 9 pm. No Dining Plan

Thursday, September 1 - DINNER: Rose and Crown - DINING PLAN

Friday, September 2 - DINNER: DINING PLAN Need to find a good place. Suggestions? I will be at BLT with no car but not scared to get on bus. Would like Ohana but can't get for this night but I keep trying. Where would be a good use of a dinner creidt (we will be at MK this day, without hoppers but my dh doesn't want to do LTT. How about Tonys? Never been though)

Saturday, September 3, 2011 - No Dining Plan
DINNER: Citricos OOP

Sunday, September 4, 2011 - DINING PLAN
DINNER: Ohana

That many segments seems rather annoying, not sure if it would be worth it. But I won't address that.

In terms of your Friday dinner, since you are at BLT, you have easy access to all the monorail resort restaurants, which I find far superior to the Magic Kingdom restaurants. Kona Cafe and The Wave are both good options.

 

[js]

That many segments seems rather annoying, not sure if it would be worth it. But I won't address that.

In terms of your Friday dinner, since you are at BLT, you have easy access to all the monorail resort restaurants, which I find far superior to the Magic Kingdom restaurants. Kona Cafe and The Wave are both good options.

Thank you. So, you think Kona Cafe is better than Tony's and a better use of a TS credit?

Also, I thought segmenting wasn't suppose to be bad (I am now on the DVC board too trying to find out information). I thought I could just do 3 nights of DDP without any hassles. Is this not correct?

YIKES and thanks! Please let me know about Tony's vs. Kona.

Thanks.

 

[js]

Thank you.
I looked at Kona's menu and it looks wonderful for all the people in my party.
I booked it and canceled Tonys.
We have never been to either so either way fine but the menu looks better at Kona.
Thanks again.
Can you please tell me though why you don't think my segmenting is a good idea and a hassle? This is all new to me so just want to get all the info. I need.
Thanks.

 

[sharonabe]

If you just do the DDP for all five nights, then all of your meals are covered and you don't have to pay OOP for Citrocos AND you'll have 5 QS to use as well.

To me that would be a lot easier than on/off/on.

 

[havoc315]

Thank you.
I looked at Kona's menu and it looks wonderful for all the people in my party.
I booked it and canceled Tonys.
We have never been to either so either way fine but the menu looks better at Kona.
Thanks again.
Can you please tell me though why you don't think my segmenting is a good idea and a hassle? This is all new to me so just want to get all the info. I need.
Thanks.

I've heard good things about Tony's, and plan on trying it for lunch on our next trip, but we only do TS in and out of the parks generally. I just overall, find the resort restaurants better than the park restaurants. It may be a matter of competition -- The parks have you locked in, with limited choices. But outside of the parks, the resort restaurants need to truly compete with off-site dining.

But speaking purely in terms of $$$, Kona has a couple slightly more expensive entrees. It depends on what you order at both, but neither is necessarily a great value on the DDP. (Value will be between $25 and about $38 at each).

I'm not DVC, and I know next to nothing about segmenting. So if you find it easy, go right ahead. I do believe you will have to constantly get new KTTW cards. And by segmenting, it could hurt your flexibility with using your credits. That is, if you end up skipping a CS on day 1... you won't be able to save it for day 5, as the credit will expire on day 2. If you forget to use your snack on day 3, you won't be able to cash it in on day 5. If you want an extra snack on day 1, you won't be able to "advance" your credits from later in the trip.

 

[js]

I've heard good things about Tony's, and plan on trying it for lunch on our next trip, but we only do TS in and out of the parks generally. I just overall, find the resort restaurants better than the park restaurants. It may be a matter of competition -- The parks have you locked in, with limited choices. But outside of the parks, the resort restaurants need to truly compete with off-site dining.

But speaking purely in terms of $$$, Kona has a couple slightly more expensive entrees. It depends on what you order at both, but neither is necessarily a great value on the DDP. (Value will be between $25 and about $38 at each).

I'm not DVC, and I know next to nothing about segmenting. So if you find it easy, go right ahead. I do believe you will have to constantly get new KTTW cards. And by segmenting, it could hurt your flexibility with using your credits. That is, if you end up skipping a CS on day 1... you won't be able to save it for day 5, as the credit will expire on day 2. If you forget to use your snack on day 3, you won't be able to cash it in on day 5. If you want an extra snack on day 1, you won't be able to "advance" your credits from later in the trip.

Thank you very much. That is good advice I hadn't thought of about advancing my credits. But with 3 days of using, we will use the CS, Snack and Dinner. I don't think anyone in my family has ever forgot to get a snack in the parks LOL

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm DVC, but I don't do the dining plan so I haven't attempted segmenting. All I can suggest is that you read the segmenting threads on the DVC board. I understand it's pretty much the exception for a segmented reservation to proceed smoothly...and with what you are doing it appears you want at least three separate segments. That means you will be at the front desk three times picking up new KTTW cards. On the DVC board, you will find guests who have done it.

 

[sharonabe]

Here's a couple more reasons to NOT segment the dining plan:

1. What if someone gets sick on the day you HAVE the DDP and can't use their credits. You simply lose them and have no opportunity to make it up later.

2. With the CS meals, there are several places where you may be able to share meals. 3 combo meals with an extra snack or two of fries or soup could feed all 5 of you. So you now have 2 extra CS meals to use later in the week. This way 10 CS meals could feed 5 of you 3 times instead of just twice.