Very confused with the dining plan can you help?

[hollyb]

We are a family of 4, DS is 9 and DD will be almost 7 when we go, DH, plus me. All along we have said no to the DP simply because we thought it was alot of money and did not meet our needs. Fastforward I just spoke to my SIL over Christmas she said they used it and it saved them a ton of money.

I have a few questions. We are staying at POP Century can we use the plan there? Would it be considered CS or TS or snack? How do we use it in the parks? The only sit down we have planned so far is Rain Forrest Cafe in AK can we use it there?

Sorry for so many question I am just really confused. I should also add we will be there from Saturday-Friday in May.

Thanks so much!

 

[hollyb]

OOPS sorry I just saw an entire section on the dining plan. I copied and posted this over there.

 

[DisneyKidds]

If you normally wouldn't do a lot of sit down meals then the plan may not be right for you....and the only table service meal you currently have planned (Rainforest Cafe) is NOT someplace that accepts the dining plan.

For us the dining plan worked very well. We always eat at least one table service meal a day, be it a character breakfast or sit down dinner. For us, on average, that one daily table service meal would cost as much (or more) than we pay for the dining plan. So that really makes all the counter service meals and snacks essentially free gravy.

Do some homework to determine if the plan is right for you. Figure out where you are likely to eat each day. You can access Disney dining menus via this site and figure out how much those meals will cost you. Compare that to what the plan would cost and you have your answer. When I did that I figured we save about $200 with the plan over paying out of pocket for what we most likely would have eaten. We probably ended up saving a little more than that since the plan allowed us to eat at a couple more expensive restaurants that we probably wouldn't have paid cash for.

The plan can be a very good value, or no value at all. It all depends on what your eating habits are. If you end up paying more for food you wouldn't have eaten in the first place you really haven't saved anything.......even if the plan ends up being cheaper than out of pocket for those meals.

 

[stm61]

I agree with the above poster, it all depends on your family. For us it's definately worth it. We usually eat one ts meal a day, eat breakfast in the rm and have cs the other meal. I compared old receipts from previous trips, to this yr's dining plan receipts. It usually costs us over $100 each meal for 3 adults and 2 kids, and that's without alcohol or extras like glowing ice-cubes. The cost of the plan was much less. Plus my younger kids usually don't eat much on vacation, with the plan (we got it free last fall) I didn't worry about how much money it was costing me for them to not eat the food.

 

[udsweetpea]

It also depends on when you go. For the past few years, they've offered the dining plan for almost free during September and I think some of the months surrounding September as a way to get more guests in the parks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Actually, it depends on whether you purchased a package or just your room. The dining plan is only available with package deals purchased from Disney. You pay rack rate for the room and you must purchase tickets for each member of the family with the package. Then you can also purchase the dining plan for each family member for the entire length of your trip. It is purchased by the nights you stay and is good from the time you arrive until midnight the day you check out.

 

[Linda 441]

Actually, it depends on whether you purchased a package or just your room. The dining plan is only available with package deals purchased from Disney. You pay rack rate for the room and you must purchase tickets for each member of the family with the package. Then you can also purchase the dining plan for each family member for the entire length of your trip. It is purchased by the nights you stay and is good from the time you arrive until midnight the day you check out.

Actually, you don't necessarily pay rack rate for the room. We went in late November and our package - which yes, was ORIGIANLLY booked at rack rates - was discounted quite a bit with a code (I think we got in on the Disney Visa code) - somewhere around $400 off for our 7 nights. We were going to buy the park tickets anyway, so we saved almost $60 night (we stayed at the AKL). Not quite as good as AP rates for the same time frame, but about the same as the room only code that was out later on.
It's really no different than any other reservation as far as rack vs discounted rates goes. You book at rack and hope a code comes out right?

We LOVED the dining plan. It worked VERY well for us. As 4 dining adults (2 actual adults and 2 kids ages 10 and 13). We tried places we always wanted to and hadn't (Rose & Crown, LeCellier, CG, LTT, Boma), and really enjoyed it. It was great not having to worry about money as well. But, as others asid, do the math on what you would normally eat AND also what you would LIKE to based on your budget. Then compare. If you are going to do many buffets, you really can't go wrong.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I booked my plan with AAA and got the AAA discount on the room portion then the tickets and meal plan added, plus you get to park in AAA parking which will help if HC parking is full. Plus you get some sort of AAA discount coupon booklet as well.