What of you think of the new CS dining plan?

[Crystal_27]

I just hope that all WDW CS places will participate.

That's going to be really interesting to see too. My bet is that the "deluxe" CS restaurants (i.e., Pepper Market) will not participate. We'll see, though....

 

[wishtdream]

If they offer this new plan in addition to the current dd plan and the dlx dd plan than it's a great thing. It gives people options instead of offering a one size fits all approach. Now people will be able to choose the dining plan that fits their eating habits, vacation style and budget best. Under certain circumstances I could see my family choosing this plan.

 

[TPCShauna]

Did you try Sunshine Seasons? That was better than many of the TS we ate at in WDW. And I hate to point this out, but much of the TS food is, in fact, mass produced as well.

We did and we didn't like it. I thought for sure that it would be better but the food still tasted "rubbery" and was not evenly warmed.

Funny to hear you say this, since some CS places carry the same items as their TS counterparts! Food snobbery aside, have you seen what a CS credit will buy at the Pepper Market? TPC you sound like the kind of person the Deluxe Dining Plan was made for, but IMO, your selling an awful lot of CS places short!

I have seen the menu for Pepper Market but have never been there. In fact, I never ate in anything other than TS at resorts. And while a TS might carry similar items to a CS counterpart, the quality is typically much better, the food more freshly prepared and made to order.

And it's funny that you say the DxDP is made for me since we made sure to get it for this trip. We just couldn't find a CS that didn't make me wish we were eating at a proper restaurant (except for the Tangierine Cafe as it was at least imaginatively prepared.)

 

[ReneeA]

I guess I'm not that hard to please.

Honestly, I haven't had a truly terrible meal at WDW - ever. Some are better than others, for sure, but they were all acceptable.

 

[jjohnson]

We have used the DP the last three years. Our CS meals always average out to $12 each.

 

[Kimberle]

Personally, it's not for us. I like at least 1 TS meal per day. But I could see it working for may people, young adults, young families, etc. There are many people who really have to save to afford a small vacation at one of the value resorts, and then they have to watch every penny. Pre-paying for their meals can really help with their budgeting. There are also a wide variety of foods available at the counters. It's not all burgers and dogs. I don't see WDW taking away the current Dinning plans, rather adding this new version.

As for no "free" dining next year. I'd be suprised if they offered it anyway. I'd expect they'd come up with a new promotion. I'd rather they go back to stay 4 nights, get 3 free.

 

[DVC Sadie]

We have never used any of the dining plans that WDW has offered except for the Platinum Plan that use to be offered, instead we paid OOP.

The quick service plan may work for us.

On the mornings that we go to one of the parks we typically eat a CS meal at our resort and have a snack before returning to our resort around 12:00 pm. We then go the pool area and get another CS meal while relaxing all afternoon. That night we typically go to a signature restaurant for dinner, order room service or go off site for a wonderful meal.

On the days that we do not go to the parks in the morning we get room service for breakfast and and get a CS for lunch, and sometimes we get CS for dinner.

I think I will try it before I decide to say anything pro or con in regards to the new Quick Service Plan.

I see the Quick Service plan as an "addition" to either room service, having a 2TS meal or dining off site on a daily basis.

Edited to add: I forgot we also have the DDE card that helps with our signature dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

I won't use it any more than I use the other plans - and I have not used any dining plan in 2008.

 

[iluvpluto27]

We won't use it, simply because our trips are way to long to only have CS meals every day. We stay 2-3 weeks and enjoy a more relaxed style of touring, including lots of table service meals.

However I can see it's a good plan for people doing a short trip, who don't want to waste lots of park touring time by eating TS meals.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I read somewhere the price was $26. Can't verify it, hto.

If that's what it is, it doesn't seem like the greatest deal, most of my CS meals last year were only $10 - $13, so it would just break even it seems.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Many like the plan for the prepaid option. I have found that for us, the DDE card offers me the felxibility I want and providing a discount on just what we actually do. No need to track credits. If we want to skip a meal, or make a different plan, no need to factor i the impact to credits. much more laid back for me (who has major OCD issues!! )

I can see my parents liking the CS plan. My Dad really likes food courts. He likes going in the morning, getting a paper and breakfast and hanging out there for a while. He is also very budget conscious (no idea where I came from ) and prepaid would make him happy I think.

 

[vascubaguy]

I'd be much happer with a plan that covered 3 meals each day. I'd love a plan with 2CS and 1TS each day (don't really care about the snack credits). At home we hardly ever eat breakfast, but when we get to disney, for some reason we have to stop and get something. We have been creative with the existing plan in that we'd use 1 CS for a meal and a snack credit for a side item and then we'd split it. We'd then do the same for lunch.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I'd be much happer with a plan that covered 3 meals each day. I'd love a plan with 2CS and 1TS each day (don't really care about the snack credits).

They already have a 3 meal/day plan. It's the deluxe plan.

If you aren't into TS, you could easily use this new plan for 3 CS meals. You'd just have to use 2 snacks for a meal which is pretty easy for something like breakfast.

 

[helenk]

I like the idea of the new plan. I go on a lot of solo trips, usually for 4 or 5 nights. Since I like the freedom of doing what I want on the spur of the moment I generally only schedule 1 or 2 table service meals as a treat for myself and one of those is always the tea at the GF.
I would use the snack credit for a muffin for breakfast, and get coffee with my free mug and then use the counter service credits for lunch and dinner. My second snack credit I would use for a candy apple from the MK or popcorn or a late night snack. I would still do the GF tea but just pay for that oop.

 

[DisGal520]

.
We've used the 2007 DDP and the 2008 DDP. Liked the 2007 better - for one reason it included the tip.

What ideal plan would really fit us?

2 CS
1 TS
1 snack
1 free mug (optional to my ideal plan. It is just one more thing to carry around, so it got little use by us at the resort when we bought it)(but made for a nice souvie to take home)



DisGal

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I think this would work for all those people who say the DP is too much food, or those who say you have to plan way too far in advance.

I think this will be the "free plan" next year instead of the DP. It makes perfect sense for them to do that.

I only wish they would bring the DP from last year back the way it was including appetizers and tips.

 

[OneBadApple]

We used the DDP last year and loved it, so we are doing it again this year (not happy about the changes).

That said, ff we ever go back to Disney and they still have this new CS plan, I think we would definitely consider doing it. We would still do 1 or 2 TS OOP, but as other PPs have said there are so many different CS places to choose from I don't think any of us would get bored.

In our 2 previous trips we only had one bad meal and that was at Tony's. All of the CS that we had we enjoyed.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Before I give my honest opinion, I wanted to let you all know that we have used several dining/recreation plans over the past few years:

Silver Plan
Premium Plan
Deluxe Dining Plan

My parents have also used the regular Dining Plan, which I had the joy (note the sarcasm lol) of planning their ADR's.

I personally feel that the CS plan is a good option for short trips or those who do not want to go to TS meals. We would probably never use it unless it was a Food & Wine Festival trip to supplement our noshing around the World. I have heard that this plan will cost $26.99 or close to that. If that is the case, wouldn't it be cheaper to just pay OOP? If this is the real price, I would just pay myself.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

This would work for us, according to what the price is and if food quality does not go down further.

I enjoy eating when I feel like it instead of when I have an ADR.

I enjoy not having to fork over more for a tip than I usually pay for a meal in my world. Sometimes for less than stellar service too.

I enjoy having it all paid for and only having to carry around the room key.

We stay for extended periods of time and being able to have a bit to eat several times a day between the CS and snack credits is appealing, maybe.

Slightly Goofy

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I have heard that this plan will cost $26.99 or close to that. If that is the case, wouldn't it be cheaper to just pay OOP? If this is the real price, I would just pay myself.

Scroll on up. By my calculations, it will, at best, save you money and, at worst, you'll break even. That is, of course, unless you are the type of person who consistently orders the absolute cheapest thing on every menu and don't buy drinks and/or dessert.