Who is with me - I LIKE the DELUXE DINING PLAN!!!!

[imsoscared]

another fan of the deluxe plan. been using it on most trips for the past few years. as a foodie, i love to eat good and different food i normally wouldnt eat everyday at home(even when we go out its usually just a steakhouse). i tend to use a few extra credits on the signature restaurants and skip a few breakfasts for some light snacking. its still well worth it if you actually use the 3 table services every day. yea your having to leave the parks to head to the resorts for dinners usually but as im not trying to ride every single ride now ive got a little extra time to play with.

just remember to plan your adr's out asap so u can get the times you really want and dont have to limit the time/days to choose the various parades/fireworks/shows to see. i tend to always have my lunch and dinners at the opening time of the restaurants which lets me fit in all the shows n such into my touring plan i put together. eating lunch around 11am, dinner around 5:30-6pm. light breakfast using snack credits when possible. i still pay oop for alot of snacks tho, cant get enough dole whips somedays.

use this opportunity to go to the restaurants you normally wouldnt go to and eat foods that you wouldnt usually eat as it could open your palette up. you just might actually enjoy the foods you thought you would never want to eat/try.

 

[bleeps]

Another family who loves DDxDP!

If you're considering it and wonder what it's really like, read our adventure at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2315601

We love signature restaurants, we love having the option of appetizers and desserts, and I'm another one who loves that we've paid in advance and so I don't feel I need to always go for the cheapest thing on the menu. DDxDP is an important part of making our WDW vacations so special.

 

[Wendy5055]

Funny....we get DXDP and I always have to plan and plot to ensure that we don't run out of credits. We definitely don't have a problem using them!

We eat 3 meals a day and can't stand counter service.

Most of our dinners are at signature dining restaurants, and we typically always eat at both CRT and Brown Derby once a trip for breakfast or lunch when we are in those parks, which take up 2 credits.

In addition, I always stretch the plan into an extra day, ensuring that we are covered both the day of check-in, the duration of our stay, and the day of check-out. (So even though we pay for 7 days on the DXDP, I always ensure I get 8 days out of it.)

So my problem is always ensuring that we have enough credits!

FINALLY!!!! Someone with the same issue as me!!!! I can never seem to stretch the credits far enough. We supplement the Dlx DP with room service one night...it gives my dd8 a thrill!!!

We the Deluxe Dining Plan and don't think we will ever do anything less. As for missing park time, that is not possible when our Breakfast ADR is for before the park opens. I also don't like to stand in the CS lines waiting just to order...then after getting the food...looking for a place to sit so we can eat the food. I prefer to sit in a cool restaurant, be waited on, relax and enjoy our meal. As an experienced planner, I plan our meals around the parks we are in that day so there is no "running around" trying to make ADRs...we are simply there. In the evening, we swim at our resort and go to a nice dinner like Narcoosees and watch the Electric Water Pagent after dessert.

We also get to all the character meals dd8 simply HAS to see, while getting in some signature dining too! Snacks for us will be water, slushies, ice cream cones, popsicles, bakery items, popcorn (a must for parade time)...just to name a few. We never feel as though we have to eat everything and sometimes stumble on a restaurant we don't want to return to and other times find awesome ones we haven't tried before.

When Mama goes to WDW...she likes the Princess Treatment!

 

[cdotla]

How wonderful to find some fellow cohorts who love the DXDP as much as we do!

It seems to get bashed a lot for having too much food, and taking too much time away from the vacation. That is not our experience at all! Our dining experiences are as much of a highlight of our trips as anything else.

Despite the common assumption that it is a waste to use 2 TS credits for one meal, I have done the math more than once, and in many cases it is actually greater value to use 2 TS credits at these restaurants than to use the same credits to pay for two 1 TS meals.

Of course, if you are looking to cover the greatest number of meals with your credits, then yes, 2 TS meals are a "waste". But that is not how we define value, and we would be going to the 2 TS restaurants anyway. Believe me, I have done the math enough times that if it wasn't advantageous for us to use the plan, I would not be doing so!

 

[zmanandshan]

We love the Deluxe Plan. The way I see it is I enjoy food, I enjoy variety, I enjoy quality. Not that quick service restaurants are horrible, they are more than adequate. We also have two little ones, one who hates the thought of eating even when at home, so getting him in a table restaurant, away from the attractions is hard at first but once he is in, he's fine. It gives us all a chance to relax a bit and recharge the batteries, while enjoying great food. True, the amount of food can quickly induce you into a "food coma"...

 

[kamikazecat]

I am so glad I found this thread. We are trying the DxDP for the first time and have had a lot of fun planning our ADR's.

 

[PurpleTurtle]

I'm considering the DxDP, too. I'm wondering what the difference is for TS kids meals. Do they get any more than they would on the DDP? Our kids OD on the limited kids meals (mac & cheese, for instance) after about day 3. Do they get an app. at the TS meals? Like a salad for instance?

 

[hoverpumpkin]

We are doing the DxDDP for the first time this July.

For me, food is really a major part of vacation. I love food. Being served exquisite food is more fun for me than roller coasters are!

When I was trying to decide whether I thought we should splurge on the Dx, I sat down with DBF and said "Some people on the message board think it's too much food." He just looked at me and said "Too much food? For us? Are you kidding?" And then we both just cracked up in hilarity as I realized that honestly, we'll probably eat every bite. We're 5'11" and 6'3" and we can eat A LOT of food. We always order appetizers, for instance, and I'm about capable of eating my weight at a buffet. I know that makes us sound like pigs, but we're not fat or anything, we just absolutely love to eat! I was brought up with vacation = large quantities of excellent food, and I don't intend to ingest a single burger or chicken nugget during our trip.

So it's DxDDP for us and I am SO excited. We're doing almost all signatures for dinner (except Le Cellier, which I adore) and doing Victoria & Albert's, too! I have made most of our breakfast ADRs at the Kona for 7:35, so they hopefully won't cut into our park time.

I'm just glad we won't have to be eating a lot of counter service. I don't like having to search around for a place to eat - makes me feel embarrassed, like a kid in a middle school cafeteria.

 

[ilovediznee]

PurpleTurtle,
Since I was the originator of this thread, I thought I would respond. Yes, if you have the Deluxe Plan, the kids get an appetizer - usually celery and carrots sticks, salad or chicken noodle soup. At Chefs de France in Epcot, another option is a cheese stuffed phyllo.

I have also asked if there are any other options such as fruit, etc.


Diane

 

[danielle.st]

PurpleTurtle,
Since I was the originator of this thread, I thought I would respond. Yes, if you have the Deluxe Plan, the kids get an appetizer - usually celery and carrots sticks, salad or chicken noodle soup. At Chefs de France in Epcot, another option is a cheese stuffed phyllo.

I have also asked if there are any other options such as fruit, etc.


Diane

And also, since the adults have appetizers, they can share them That sharing of appetizers makes the lack of kids food choices a bit less frustrating for my kids.

 

[ilovediznee]

WOW, I love the responses I've received. One thing that I do is a spreadsheet listing all my information and then I visit allears.net and figure out "approximately" how much our meal will be and the tip. For our December trip, I will actually make an envelope for each place and put the cash in it. That way is it separate from my other money and don't get mixed up.

I have a spreadsheet I use and would be glad to send it to anyone who wants it. Please send me an email to: dianedisney@hotmail.com and I would be glad to forward it to you.

Keep the ideas and comments coming!!!!

I LOVE THE DELUXE PLAN!!!!!

 

[persimmondeb]

I'm glad to know that the DxDP has so many fans! We seriously considered it this trip, and probably would have if they hadn't come out with the gift card promotion (we're going QSDP, since we don't mind CS and we felt we needed the mug and those two snacks, and I'm figuring the card will cover 5 or 6 TS meals). Our first trip we had the regular plan, and it was not enough food, and DS was only 11 then! Next trip I think we're deluxe!

I'm a little concerned that we'll get tired of CS, but we're all adult credits, and we're willing to seek out some of the better choices, like WPE and Sunshine Seasons, which we all love, and I can use the gift card for tea at GF, which is not on the dining plan.

 

[jbmgsdmom]

WOW, I love the responses I've received. One thing that I do is a spreadsheet listing all my information and then I visit allears.net and figure out "approximately" how much our meal will be and the tip. For our December trip, I will actually make an envelope for each place and put the cash in it. That way is it separate from my other money and don't get mixed up.

I have a spreadsheet I use and would be glad to send it to anyone who wants it. Please send me an email to: dianedisney@hotmail.com and I would be glad to forward it to you.

Keep the ideas and comments coming!!!!

I LOVE THE DELUXE PLAN!!!!!

What a great idea!!! We are taking our very first WDW in Oct and I have gone over and over the menus but with our family of 5 one of which is 13 and eats more than me , when I priced out the cost if we shared items, it was still more economical for us to do the DxDP. I love the idea of the tip envelope though because I can factor that into our monthly budgets now and it won't come all at once! I love this board.

Thanks for starting this topic! I was questioning our decision because of some of the other post but now feel more secure in my decision!

 

[zebsterama]

WE LOVE DELUXE DINING!!



















..... no really we do!

Cheers,
Zebsterama

 

[Splat25]

For me, food is really a major part of vacation.

Absolutely dead on for us hoverpumpkin!!!!

We really like the Dining plan and enjoy planning out where we want to try next many months in advance. For some that doesn't work, but for us it works very well. It offers us a break from the parks where we get to sit and recharge. It also regulates out meal times which can be important for younger kids. We literally saved hundred of dollars last trip as we went to Narcoosee's and several character dining restaurants - including some that opened before park hours . It is expensive and you need to plan ahead to make sure you are getting the value you seek from it. But, for those who love food and consider that part of a good vacation, the deluxe dining plan is a great deal.

 

[Phoenixblue]

WOW, I love the responses I've received. One thing that I do is a spreadsheet listing all my information and then I visit allears.net and figure out "approximately" how much our meal will be and the tip. For our December trip, I will actually make an envelope for each place and put the cash in it. That way is it separate from my other money and don't get mixed up.

I have a spreadsheet I use and would be glad to send it to anyone who wants it. Please send me an email to: dianedisney@hotmail.com and I would be glad to forward it to you.

Keep the ideas and comments coming!!!!

I LOVE THE DELUXE PLAN!!!!!

My family loves the Deluxe plan and I have a spreadsheet too! I am already planing out what dining we want for our trip in October. We are all foodies and much prefer TS over CS - so much more variety and healthier as well. Also, we usually get Character breakfasts before the park opens and are heading out into the park just as it opens, so we already have a head start as we are "in" already.

By lunch time we all need a break, and enjoy a tasty meal, in air conditioned seating where everything is brought to the table for us, so we get to relax and people watch.

Funny....we get DXDP and I always have to plan and plot to ensure that we don't run out of credits. We definitely don't have a problem using them!

We eat 3 meals a day and can't stand counter service.

Most of our dinners are at signature dining restaurants, and we typically always eat at both CRT and Brown Derby once a trip for breakfast or lunch when we are in those parks, which take up 2 credits.

In addition, I always stretch the plan into an extra day, ensuring that we are covered both the day of check-in, the duration of our stay, and the day of check-out. (So even though we pay for 7 days on the DXDP, I always ensure I get 8 days out of it.)

So my problem is always ensuring that we have enough credits!

Oh yea ... I take months of plotting to make sure we get to eat at all the signature places we want to try and still fit in everywhere else as well.

Deluxe Dining Plan all the way!

 

[vhartwell]

My family and I are doing the dining plan for the first time this year. We LOVE to eat and Disney's food is AWESOME!!! We have 21 dining reservations for this June and we CAN'T wait!!!!!

Food is a major part of a vacation in my book!

 

[kerstfan1]

im so gladthat i booked thhe deluxe plan im going to need surgery on my foot and i dont expect to be back to 100% by august so i can book some extra table services to give my foot some rest

 

[MrsLS]

We loved the plan last year & are doing it again this trip. We don't eat 3 sit down meals a day. We are going to a lot of signature restaurants, mostly 1 a day and like appetizers especially at night. We saved over $400 last time, we did leave over some food, especially desserts but it was worth it. & we like to buy water bottles in the park and having 2 snack credits a day was great, we also went to the goofy candy store & brought home treats for home.

 

[A MK Family]

I am so glad I found this! I was beginning to question whether my logic in getting the dxdp. We did it last year and loved that there were 3 meals a day whatever type we wanted (TS/CS or even Room Service). And since I was using snack to my milk and food for my 1 yr old we quickly went through all our snacks.

This year I have planned more wisely (I hope). We have 2 days with 3 TS but there are 5/6 hrs apart so I think we should be good.

For me the best part has been having it prepaid and being able to try new restaurants. I have loved planning my ADRs this trip.

I am also found that doing the DDP I got really sick of the CS and I hated struggling to find a table with small kids whose patience was wearing thin.

Another thing I have loved is doing a variety of Character dining so that I can avoid some of the long park lines for Character greetings. We LOVE the characters but would much rather spend time waiting for rides or shows.

Thanks for the reassurance!