WDW vet with some questions- dining, etc.

[disneymom0104]

Hello I think I have technically been to Disneyland more than I have been to WDW, but it has been more than 20 years since I was there, and I was a child- so things are much different now! We have been to WDW 3 times in the past 4 years (for almost 30 days total) and are now planning a DL trip! We are thinking about the spring- we love low crowds and tend to do WDW in early Sept.

Anyway- I have read so many links and I am so excited about bringing my family to DL. I do have a couple questions, though. We are used to the dining plan at WDW and all the character meals. We are planning on having 5 or 6 days at DL. Does anybody do the dining plan there? I guess you get 2 meals and one snack per day? I know you get vouchers, but dont' really get how those work. I do think we would be interested in doing each of the character meals while there and will have myself, my DH, a newly turned 10 year old , a 7 year old and a 2 year old. Can you do the World of Color priority seating meals or the Fantasmic picnic thing with the vouchers?

I don't hear much about the dining plan so am thinking not many use it. But if a character meal is $38 per person, and the dining plan is around $50 per person it seems like an okay deal since you would get 2 meals and a snack as well.

Also- I see that the longest you can get the dining plan is 5 days. If we were going to have 6 day tickets can the vouchers be spread to be used over those 6 days or do they need to be used within 5 days?

Thanks so much!

 

[sonnyjane]

Hi there!

First of all, when in the spring were you thinking of going? Spring Break is a very busy time at Disneyland, so keep that in mind when selecting your dates. It's usually busy the two weeks before and two weeks after Easter.

As far as the dining plan, it is not recommended on these boards. It is not like the WDW plan. What you do is pay up front for dollar value vouchers. For instance (these denominations are just examples) but you might pay $40 for two $15 vouchers and two $5 vouchers. There is no savings, you are paying dollar for dollar, $40 for $40 in vouchers. You use the vouchers just like cash at the restaurants, but the real drawback is that they do NOT give change, so if you buy a $12 meal with a $15 voucher, you just lost $3.00. If you really wish to pre-pay for meals, it's advised to put money on a Disney gift card, but the dining plan is really not a value whatsoever. At best you break even, but at worst, you lose money. The vouchers do not apply to WOC premium dining or Fantasmic! dessert packages.

 

[disneymom0104]

Thank you so much! I am so glad I asked- how weird that it is absolutely no savings what-so-ever.

We are tentatively planning maybe early May? I do want to avoid the spring break/Easter crowds. I haven't booked anything yet, though and at this point we are flexible! I want low crowds, but don't want a ton of rides to be closed (especially ones that aren't at WDW).

Thanks again for the info!

 

[skiingfast]

Thank you so much! I am so glad I asked- how weird that it is absolutely no savings what-so-ever.

We are tentatively planning maybe early May? I do want to avoid the spring break/Easter crowds. I haven't booked anything yet, though and at this point we are flexible! I want low crowds, but don't want a ton of rides to be closed (especially ones that aren't at WDW).

Thanks again for the info!

May should be great crowdwise, should be. Carsland will opening next year. If it opens in the Spring it may take a dead day and make it crazy. So you have a little risk of going when this happens. But it's also a month of offseason prepping for summer so rehabs are likely.

 

[sonnyjane]

Do make sure to read all of Hydroguy's stickies at the top of the main page. Early May will mean lower crowds but can also mean ride closures and decreased entertainment (for example, fireworks and Fantasmic! only running on the weekends). It's a trade-off. Just go into the experience knowing what to expect!

 

[TeddiBarra]

It is sad the way DLR continues to do the dining plan. I think, in part the reason it's not done the same way as WDW- is the fact that the dining doesn't DRAW ppl to the park in the first place. We see how folks sit around waiting for free dining to book their trips, or will decide to do it at all because they get the free dining. Since there aren't as many, varied and nice "foodie" choices at DLR (don't get me wrong, their food is still very good) people have never traditionally booked their trip around food.

I wish DLR would do something- even if not cost savings- I would do a dining plan for the other reasons it's beneficial (pre-paid, keeping to a budget, ease of using a "keycard" as meal payment, esp when I send my kids off w/others). I did the dining plan before. I really really hated having to keep track of paper vouchers. Some liquid spilled on them once, and I was really worried about losing them (plus deciding how many to carry around). I shouldn't be more stressed using one of Disney's options.