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

[sters]

If it's free or an upgrade from free, sounds like a good deal. We paid for the dining plan a couple of years ago and I hated it. I'm one of those people who was more worried about maximizing the value of the plan (am I getting my money's worth or, better still, coming out ahead?!) that I didnt' really enjoy the dining experience. Since I had to pay taxes and tip anyway, it didn't offer "paid in advance" convenience either. I'd rather just pay as I go. now if was for free... then that's a different story! My three kids are now "adults" under the plan and couldn't eat all that was offered on a regular dining plan. I can't imagine throwing in appetizers, too!

 

[tinacaplan]

I think it depends on your individual needs. My DH and I are going down for an anniversary trip (in SIXTEEN DAYS!!!) and we have ADR's at several signature restaurants. Neither of us are big on breakfast (plus we want to take advantage of all the evening EMHs), so getting an early lunch and a late dinner at a signature will work out really well for us. I added up what dinner at say, Cali Grill, would cost OOP and, yup, its totally worth it! I also have to say having it paid for in advance is a big plus for us. I'm not concerned with coming out ahead, I just want to break even and I'm confident we will.

 

[Symans3honeybees]

We love the Deluxe plan and have been doing this plan for a few years already(paid for the plan) We usually eat an early lunch then a late dinner while doing this plan. We found that by booking the package for one less night of your total stay to be more economical, since we have all these TS credits to work with. Last summer, we did a 7 nights stay in WDW(6 nites w/Deluxe), we had a TS lunch everyday, 4 signature dinners and 3 one TS dinners. Gotta have those appetizers!!

 

[pigletforever]

We are doing the Deluxe plan in December. I went back and forth several times on what to do. But in the end I decided Deluxe was the best way to put my mind at ease.

My plan is to have character meals some mornings and do counter service for lunch those days or have a quick breakfast and then lunch at a sit down place like Sci Fi or Prime time. Then do dinner about 730 or so. Planning on several 2TS meals for dinner. I have been playing already with restaurants and credits and still can't use them all. But I want this to be a very special trip for all of us and I don't like to worry about $$ so it is nice that it is all prepaid and everyone can get what they want.

 

[seadd67]

I could not have agreed with the OP any more,love to eat I am so happy there Is othres out there that feel the that way to. Yes you do not have to eat everything!!,you eat what you can! thats what our thinking Is,but the chance to try sio many diffrent places really Is someting to look forward to!

 

[kandemom]

My family and I are foodies. My kids like dining out and so do we. Last year we did the regular and we were left wanting more food So this year well be going deluxe and cant wait. Well be able to have a nice breakfast and lunch and dinner!

Now to wait the 10 months or so

 

[sherabby]

I'm considering upgrading to the Deluxe plan for our August trip. We are going to do 5 days at Disney and 2 at the Nick Hotel with one day spent at Disney with our free volunteer ticket.

I want to try some different things this trip and definately want to do the HDDR for two credits. What other 2 credit meals could we consider.....with a 9 year old son who cannot eat fish....seafood is out. I also want to book CRT and just not eat three meals on those days with the 2 credit meals.

Would you consider the Poly Spirit of Aloha with a 9 year old boy. He doesn't like fire so this might not be a good one?

How about the Mickey backyard bbq?

 

[dmoore718]

I wish I could do the dining plan this time. We had the QS plan last January It paid for us to do it because we only had to pay for 1 daughter who was 3. The other was 2 and so they shared all the meals. We also had the $200 gift card that we used for character meals. Next year, they will be 5 and 4 and they eat very little, it doesn't pay for us because they still share a meal. I will miss it though. I'm hoping that they do the gift card deal again next year so we can use that for meals. $500 for a moderate resort is plenty to feed my family. Plus we will get to bring our baby, who will be 18 months for her first visit.

 

[JackieKD]

DH and I always do the deluxe plan. I like the table service places better, and we love to do the character meals. With all of the walking we do, we need the extra food to keep going!

 

[aceys_h0ney]

If they extend the 30% off offer through June we will upgrade to the deluxe plan with the savings. I am really excited but not going to get my hopes up too much incase they don't offer something in June. However for us with 4 kids we hear all the time, I am tired, I am hungry so this plan seems great for us. Several breaks in the AC throughout the day and enough food to keep everyone satisfied. We also really want to try a lot of the restuarants and this seems to be a great way to do that. When we had to pick only 7 places it was hard narrowing them down. Also we are loading up the character meals so we don't have to wait in the parks to meet and greet. Anyway all this rambling to say I am onboard for the deluxe plan!

 

[tiredsigh]

Since I had to pay taxes and tip anyway, it didn't offer "paid in advance" convenience either.

Taxes?! Taxes are included. You just pay the tip.


OP, we did DxDP 1 year ago and LOVED it. My then 18 month old had the opportunity to rest a little. I found that none of us were irritable because we sat down for an hour or so. It was perfect. This trip, the first question DH and DD (11) asked was, "Are we doing the dining plan again?" We're all hooked!

As a family, we eat 3 meals a day. I try to include all the character meals the kids want (mostly breakfast). My 11 year old gets to help pick out some of the meals like Teppan Edo, Tony's, etc.

We don't waste much time, since we do the first ADR for the day for breakfast. If it's in a park, we are in the park before rope drop. We like to leave the parks for dinner some nights and come back for the fireworks. I also hate having to hunt down a place to sit and find food at one CS place that covers everyone. I also plan out which parks we are doing way in advance and eat in the parks a lot.

DS will be 34 months old during our next trip. We do some buffets since our youngest can eat at no charge. The extra snacks are definitely used up when sharing with an extra person

 

[Mom2Elliot]

I was having second thoughts about doing the deluxe plan, so I made up yet another list of where we would eat on the regular plan and what we would have to pay OOP. After struggling to come up with CS choices we could all tolerate (definitely not enjoy!) it came to a measly $75 difference between the plans! I would much rather spend the $75 and not be forced to eat those CS places I don't really want!

 

[scanne]

I enjoyed the DxDP last summer. I would (and hopefully will) do it again. But this trip we're staying concierge, so no dining plan. But I loved it!

 

[disneyjunkie]

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!!!!!

I just emailed you.

Yesterday my BF asked me to book an end of summer trip for just the two of us. He has never been to WDW, to the planning is in my hands. He loves to eat. So do I, but I can't hold a candle to him.

The dining plan is a must do for this trip. My son and I did the dining plan when it first came out in 2005. It was great, but there is no way that plan will work for me now.

I'm considering upgrading to the Deluxe plan for our August trip. We are going to do 5 days at Disney and 2 at the Nick Hotel with one day spent at Disney with our free volunteer ticket.

I want to try some different things this trip and definately want to do the HDDR for two credits. What other 2 credit meals could we consider.....with a 9 year old son who cannot eat fish....seafood is out. I also want to book CRT and just not eat three meals on those days with the 2 credit meals.

Would you consider the Poly Spirit of Aloha with a 9 year old boy. He doesn't like fire so this might not be a good one?

How about the Mickey backyard bbq?

I forgot all about HDDR!!!

I haven't been to WDW in 5 years. I need to get over to Deb's site and check out menus. I need to check out the food porn threads as well.

 

[MSLRAC]

I'm glad to hear such postive things about the deluxe plan! When we were first booking, all I seemed to see where threads talking about how it was too much food and wasted too much times. We opted for it anyway and in a few short days, we'll see how it goes but I fully expect for us to love it!

 

[LovesTimone]

We are doing the DXDDP for the 1st time this spring. I chose this plan because this is a multi-family vacation. And there are several big guys going and 1-17 year old boy that can eat you out of house and home Also we are Foodies
We figured out the cost of what we would order if on the plan then, I added it up and the plan for us is the way to go.
Enjoy your vacation.

 

[tink&stitchsmom]

We absolutely love the deluxe dining plan. We have one it the last 2 years now and I can't imagine staying at a WDW without it.

 

[emmabemmainc]

I would feel like I was missing out if I didn't do the deluxe plan! We did it last year and we're doing it again this year. I love the flexibility you get--and the more signature restaurants, the better!

 

[WDmommyof4]

I first bought the deluxe plan two years ago and now I could not imagine limiting myself to a few TS meals on the regular plan. My oldest two are 9 and 8 now and they love it too. I asked them this trip if they wanted to do sit down restaurant meals or eat at the quick places and they quickly chose TS restaurants. They love to help pic their favorites out and we enjoy the set quite family time away from the park crowds.

We usually only do two meals a day and a few signature meals throughout the trip, so it really isn't too much food and they can have ice cream or other snacks whenever they want, which is something they never get at home.

I added up what it would cost to get the TIW card and share meals, eliminate appies or desserts and cut out a few TS places for our upcoming trip and we would still save money with the deluxe plan even with skimping on everything. I never understand when people bash the plan, but to each his own.

 

[Jaylin]

Hi guys, I'm so glad I found this thread! We are going to try the DxDDP for our trip this summer. Last time we did the DDP and ended up paying quite a bit out of pocket. We do all the character Breakfasts, plus the Castle, plus Hoopty doo revue and Mickey's BBQ....those credits disappear very quickly on the DDP.

I do have a question thought for those of you with kids. From what I'm reading, they don't separate the children's credits from the adult's credits correct. It's just one big pot of credits? There is 2adults, 2kids and my 2y/o (who turns 3 the day we leave) We're there for 10nights, so we'll have 120 credits showing? My 2y/o eats better than my other 2 kids, and we're not able to buy a plan for her.....at a table service meal, if we ever needed to, would we be able to get 3 kids meals at one time even though there is only 2 kids on the plan? If the "pot" is not separated would they know? I'm not trying to cheat the system, I would by her a plan if I could, I'm just figuring we will probably have a few credits left over and wonder if I could use them up.