What of you think of the new CS dining plan?

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

If you don't eat a TS meal every single day but only a couple per trip, this very well may be a great plan for you. Get the new CP DDP and pay for the TS OOP. It's worth doing the calculations for where you plan to eat.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

I love it!

 

[sharadoc]

This is exactly what we do. I printed out the menus of all the CS places and we high lighted items we would like to try. It helped to keep us from eating the same old stuff.

Jackie

That's what we're doing. We don't even think the DDP of CS and snacks would work for us since DS is 13, but eats very little. We plan to do all CS or in-room eating.

I think you'd get your money's worth at this price, but you can be flexible and use or save credits. Me, I'd rather just pay OOP so I don't ever see a time when we get the DDP.

We don't eat much at WDW, it's just a sustenance thing to us. For example, I've never had a Mickey Bar, never heard of Figaro Fries until the DIS, and we've been there a dozen times.

 

[pigletto]

If you don't eat a TS meal every single day but only a couple per trip, this very well may be a great plan for you. Get the new CP DDP and pay for the TS OOP. It's worth doing the calculations for where you plan to eat.

Bingo.
I was trying to figure out how this would work for us as we do enjoy some TS meals. Two or three TS meals out of pocket plus the CS plan might actually be a really good compromise.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Bingo.
I was trying to figure out how this would work for us as we do enjoy some TS meals. Two or three TS meals out of pocket plus the CS plan might actually be a really good compromise.

This is what I'm thinking of for us.

 

[Madi100]

I think that Disney is just trying many, many different ways to make sure that people never need to leave Disney property. If they can get you to do a dining plan, then you're obligated to stay on property and eat. This is another option for people . I like the prepay part of it, well DH likes that part. He wouldn't mind paying $1000 a week for food, as long as he doesn't have to fork out the money at every meal. He doesn't like thinking about what he is spending during the week. Ideally for us would be 4 table service in our 8 day stay and the rest counter service. We only eat two meals a day, bringing granola bars and fruit for breakfast.

 

[wsushocker]

I think you are right that Disney will put this in place for the free dining days! But still, it is free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NZMUM]

We would use a CS plan. We aren't doing the DP this trip as my DD is considered an adult but eats only small amounts and wouldn't eat off an adults menu.
We eat CS most of the time. We only have 2 TS meals booked for our 8 days. I would like to be able to go with most of our food pre-paid .

 

[ToyStory]

Bingo.
I was trying to figure out how this would work for us as we do enjoy some TS meals. Two or three TS meals out of pocket plus the CS plan might actually be a really good compromise.

I was thinking the same thing. The only TS meal that is a must for us would be breakfast or dinner at Chef Mickey's since it is a tradition. I love the dining plan and we have been using it since it became available and felt it was worth the money.

I think this would be great for our trips now since we won't that we need to watch the clock. There were many times during our afternoon break that our kids wanted to stay in the pool longer, but we had to get moving to get ready for dinner and drive or take the bus to where we were eating. Also our oldest is now considered and adult in pricing so this will offset some of the extra expense now. He doesn't eat like an adult so I wouldn't be upset if he wanted chicken strips and fries for dinner instead of filet migon.

Getting the refillable mug is great too. You can have lunch or dinner at your resort and for a drink get a bottle of water for later and use your refillable mug. Also when you are at the pool you can use your mug.

I think this plan will give us more time to enjoy the resorts too.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Getting the refillable mug is great too. You can have lunch or dinner at your resort and for a drink get a bottle of water for later and use your refillable mug. Also when you are at the pool you can use your mug.

Thanks for this tip! I probably wouldn't have thought of it.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I would try this plan. We've done the regular dining plan and although we really liked it, it was a lot to get to a TS meal everyday. It was great to get to eat in so many TS restaurants but now I would be just as happy to go to two or three during a trip. Also, we aren't big eaters. More frequent, smaller meals would be perfect, two snacks per day work out great for us.


I love using the ME and having the tickets and meals prepaid. Once we're there, I feel like it's almost free, lol.

 

[lilfroggie]

I am really excited about the thought of this plan. My reasoning for not doing the Dining plan in the past had to do with the TS meals. I enjoy the relaxation aspect of them, but overall I prefer to just stop and grab a CS meal when I'm ready to eat.

I really hope the cost is around $26/day. That would be great for us. Just a quick "back of the envelope" calculation based on cost of CS meals, I can see my son easily costing us $30/day with 2 CS and 2 Snacks.

 

[karapp75]

I like the current plan. My real fear is that the new CS plan will be incorporated for the free dining next year. If that is the case we'll probably delay our 2009 trip for a year. I was looking forward to the bounceback but don't mind taking a year off to go to the beach. I fear I might "over Disney" my kids and that could possibly take away the magic. I know that many of you would tell me no way that could happen, but I have my little fears and I try to deal with them

 

[clkelley]

I think it's a great plan, but unfortunately, it may not work for me.

I would love to use it on my solo quicky trips, but I really only have those solo quickie trips when I have an AP.

Our initial trip when we actually purchase the APs is usually a trip with my DH, where we eat lots of table service meals. (We don't renew our APs. We have a big trip, purchase APs, get as much use out of them as possible with Ding fares for quick weekend trips, I also go solo some cause I have a lot more leave than my DH does, then when they expire, wait at least 6 months before getting another AP)

So when I have my subsequent solo quicky trips, I've already got ticket media, and purchasing a 1-day pass for each of those would add up quick.

I know you can purchase the meal plan when you have an AP room-only rate, but I'm rarely able to get the AP rate, or it's not offered during my dates, or the AAA rate works out to be better.

 

[kim_d]

We probably wouldn't use it...we enjoy our TS meals too much. However, what might be ideal for many is to get the CS Dining Plan and if eligible purchase the DDE for any TS meals. We have APs and have used DDE on our past trip when we weren't on the dining plan and it paid for itself in like 3 TS meals.

 

[cdrn1]

Yes, but the CS non burger and fries option still taste like mass produced yuck. We ate at a few CS places on our last trip and never had a burger either. The food was still far inferior to what we would get at a proper restaurant.

Have you tried the Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad at Sunshine Seasons?
Or the Ribs at Flametree BBQ? Or Columbia Harbour House? Or the CS in Morocco? Respectfully beg to differ.

 

[Disney"5"]

I wish there was a flexible option that would allow you to pick and choose items you want for your dining package. If each option were individually priced, you could pick your options for the length of your stay. I.E. Options to purchase could be: CS, TS, snack, refillable mug, etc. each with a set price. Then, you could choose how many CS or how many TS, etc. you wanted during your stay. If you were staying 7 days, and only wanted a few TS meals, you could order 4 TS meals, and 10 CS meals. You would use them whichever days you want to have a nicer dinner. On other days, just stick to CS. If you want 3 meals a day, you could add those in as well. Then, just add up the total for your individual items. Each family would be happy, whether you want to eat cheaper, or spend more, or if you like to relax at a nice meal more often, or eat quickly to get more out of the parks. From what I have read here, there are so many different opinions, not everyone will be happy, whichever way Disney decides to go next year. Even from trip to trip, and individual family may have different needs. For a planner like me, I would LOVE to customize meals even more.

 

[Mickey-4-Me]

I like the current plan. My real fear is that the new CS plan will be incorporated for the free dining next year. If that is the case we'll probably delay our 2009 trip for a year. I was looking forward to the bounceback but don't mind taking a year off to go to the beach. I fear I might "over Disney" my kids and that could possibly take away the magic. I know that many of you would tell me no way that could happen, but I have my little fears and I try to deal with them

I agree. Isn't the whole idea for Disney to attract guests to their parks during a low census time? Hurricane season, Back to school, heat, rain, etc. August/September definitely is NOT my favorite time of the year to travel to Florida... but we do because of the free dining in 2006, 2007, and again in 2008! First they take away the appetizers AND gratuity in one season and now if they drop the current free dining plan for this counter service one - I'm out. Sure... we will visit WDW again, but not as often and not in August/September. JMHO.

I wish there was a flexible option that would allow you to pick and choose items you want for your dining package. If each option were individually priced, you could pick your options for the length of your stay. I.E. Options to purchase could be: CS, TS, snack, refillable mug, etc. each with a set price. Then, you could choose how many CS or how many TS, etc. you wanted during your stay. If you were staying 7 days, and only wanted a few TS meals, you could order 4 TS meals, and 10 CS meals. You would use them whichever days you want to have a nicer dinner. On other days, just stick to CS. If you want 3 meals a day, you could add those in as well. Then, just add up the total for your individual items. Each family would be happy, whether you want to eat cheaper, or spend more, or if you like to relax at a nice meal more often, or eat quickly to get more out of the parks. From what I have read here, there are so many different opinions, not everyone will be happy, whichever way Disney decides to go next year. Even from trip to trip, and individual family may have different needs. For a planner like me, I would LOVE to customize meals even more.

I agree. This would be perfect for everyone considering the prices were reasonable.

 

[magicmouse2]

I'm personally done with dining plans now. I have costed it out and the DDE card works out better for us. The counter service plan would be ok if you could switch 2 counter credits for a table credit (which you cant).
My lunches at counter service tend to cost around $10 as I dont get dessert and share a drink with DH.

 

[Disney_Angel]

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.

This year we are staying two weeks and I could not imagine eating counter service every day. Sure there are some healthy options but I enjoy a nice TS meal where I can reconnect with my family. Last year it was heaven to have that time together every evening. I am so looking forward to it this year.

If we went on a short trip say 4 days then it may be a good option.