dining plan ??help i can't decide

[hrmom26]

ok my question is for people with kids and who like me are on a budget is the dining plan good ? i was reading another post where the person was asking about eating in the food court and what was covered. what was concidered a main meal and what was considered a snack. sometimes with kids ( or at least mine) the things they want to eat may not be considered a main meal but a snack. like a PB&J sandwitch, is that considered a snack or main meal my son would live on pb&j if i let him. will i end up spending more . i can see me using up all are snacks and drinks on the plan but end up spending cash for most everything else. when we went in 2004 we didn't eat in a lot of sit down dinners just the character dinner. most was the food court or quick food on the go. i know eating fast food isn't health but we never do it at home and when were on vacation i just figure if its what they want why not. so what does everyone think is this plan for me?:veryconfu

 

[Laura]

The plan is only beneficial if you would normally do a sit down meal every day. If you would not normally do this you will not save money with this plan.

 

[Kadee]

I think it is definitely worth it! We added the dining plan for our upcoming trip in Dec. I can not wait! This gives you the chance to have a very nice dinner every night without having to pay $160 bucks for it. BTW, $160 is what ONE of our meals at CRT would have cost us, but we were on the old silver plan. My advice would be to eat a counter service lunch in the parks, sit down meal for dinner in the parks, and eat a food court breakfast if you want and pay for the breakfast. Take advantage of the dining package. Eat places that you normally wouldn't eat (for whatever reason) We would never eat at CRT or some of the others because of the price without the dining plan. At $35/day/adult (and this includes tax & tip), it is well worth it. You could spend this just going to the counter service places twice a day. If you are worried about your kids not liking what is offered, they have a very kid-friendly childrens menu: Chicken, Mac&Cheese, hot dog, etc..... Even the buffets have these items available. And for kids, the price is only $10/day/child. If you want, use your snacks for part of the breakfast. That may save you even more money. Also, you could just bring a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly and make your own PB&J's! I've done that before.

 

[tigsmom]

The meal plans have never worked out for us. We usually have only one big meal a day and then just snacks as we wander around the parks. We will get a snack in the evening too. For some reason we just don't eat that much when we are there. My kids (now 16 & 10) have always been picky eaters and would just pick at a meal and would rather have a quick sandwich and a drink.

You know your family best. Review the particulars and see if you would use them. If not, then save the money. :wave:

 

[New2WDW]

I guess the toughest part of the to figure out is what can you really get at the resort Food courts and places like that for your kids? That is still fuzzy from what I have read in other posts! But....my questions to you hrmom26 are

1) when you went on your last trip how much did you spend on food per day?
2) how many adults and kids (3-9) are going?
3) how many character dinners would you LIKE to go to?

My reason is if your family adds up to less than the amount you spent on your last trip you could use the TS meals for CS locations, or use TS at Character meals, and also if you did go to a TS restaurant you get an apetizer and desert where you are bound to find something you kids would want and you get to sit down and rest in a nice restaurant while you eat.

Finally, look up the menus of different restaurants at Deb's site and see what your kids might eat and see if that makes it worth it to you!

If it was not for this FREE dining plan coming up in October my family would have to wait a lot longer to go back! It is saving us over $600. We are definitely on a budget and we like the restaurants on this plan anyway so it works for us!

 

[Yellow Shoes]

Finally, look up the menus of different restaurants at Deb's site and see what your kids might eat and see if that makes it worth it to you!

This is always good advice, but especially when using the dining plan.

I was able to narrow down our restaurant choices after I looked at a few menus and realized that some of them had nothing my kids would eat.

This is also a good way to maximize the value of your dining plan meals.

 

[JPVonDrake]

Just to clairify...

Table Service Entitlements can not be used at Counter Service locations. The registers have no way of ringing this up correctly.

Character Dining: (Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner)
One (1) Table Service meal per person will be redeemed

Signature Restaurants or Dinner Shows: (all serve Dinner only)
Two (2) Table Service meals per person will be redeemed

Snack entitlements include only the following:
Frozen Ice-Cream Novelty, Popsicle or Fruit Bar
Popcorn Scoop (single serving box)
Single Piece of Whole Fruit
Single serving Grab bag of Frito-Lay's Chips
20 oz. Bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani Water
Medium Fountain Soft Drink

Other Food Court items, including most items in the grab and go areas are not included in the Disney Dinning Plan.

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

 

[AEfx]

Table Service Entitlements can not be used at Counter Service locations. The registers have no way of ringing this up correctly.

Ouch. A couple of other websites have that listed as a feature. Although I don't see myself having occasion to do that, it's good to know.

Signature Restaurants or Dinner Shows: (all serve Dinner only)
Two (2) Table Service meals per person will be redeemed

JP, when you have a sec, can you tell us just what the current offical list of signatures is? I have an offical Disney booklet, several websites, and anticdotal information from different boards and even besides Le Cellier there are questions.

Thanks, as always! We really are lucky to have you here!

AEfx

 

[tigsmom]

Just to clairify...


Snack entitlements include only the following:
Frozen Ice-Cream Novelty, Popsicle or Fruit Bar
Popcorn Scoop (single serving box)
Single Piece of Whole Fruit
Single serving Grab bag of Frito-Lay's Chips
20 oz. Bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani Water
Medium Fountain Soft Drink

Other Food Court items, including most items in the grab and go areas are not included in the Disney Dinning Plan.

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

Those snacks would not help us too much and Grab & Go are what we usually use during the day.

 

[Shanandty]

can you tell us just what the current offical list of signatures is? I have an offical Disney booklet, several websites, and anticdotal information from different boards and even besides Le Cellier there are questions.

On the Disney website it has Le Cellier listed as on the plan and only taking 1 sit down meal off.... it doesn't count as 2

We are using it for our trip in July... we're not too worried about "saving" money, we just like to prepay as much as we can... I think we'll have LOTS to eat, and there are a LOT of choices...

 

[AEfx]

can you tell us just what the current offical list of signatures is? I have an offical Disney booklet, several websites, and anticdotal information from different boards and even besides Le Cellier there are questions.

On the Disney website it has Le Cellier listed as on the plan and only taking 1 sit down meal off.... it doesn't count as 2

I didn't realize Disney kept an updated list on the site. I'll be checking it out (I've never had much interest in the dining plan as an AP holder until it was free, LOL).

As to Le Cellier, yes, JP pointed that out in another thread. It was 2 credits until April when it changed. The confusion is coming from something posted at Mousesavers and a few other sites saying as of this week it was back to 2 (not simply an outdated listing, but specificly saying as of June if was back to 2 credits).

While we can rely on the Disney website for now, unfortunately they have changed before and may change again - I won't plan on anything for sure until I am checked in at my resort and given the final list applicable at the time I visit, just to be safe.

AEfx

 

[JPVonDrake]

The offical list can be seen at Official Disney Dining Plan Brochure

The current Signature Locations include:

Jiko's - Animal Kingdom Lodge
Flying Fish Cafe - Boardwalk Inn
California Grill - Contemporary Resort
Citricos - Grand Floridian Resort
Narcoossee's - Grand Floridian Resort
Artist Point - Wilderness Lodge
Yachtsman Steakhouse - Yacht Club Resort
Coral Reef Restaurant - Epcot
Hollywood Brown Derby - Disney-MGM Studios (Fantasmic Package not included)

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
Spirit of Aloha
Mickey's Back Yard BBQ

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

 

[suzie_q183]

We used the Dining Service plan when we went last month and it worked out good for us. The two pieces of advice I have is one the portions are huge, you will leave a lot of food behind. We actually took our deserts to go the two nights we ate at Epcot. The second piece is if you use the the Dining Plan make priority reservations ahead because may have problems getting into the table service restraunts and may not be able to use all of the table service options up.

 

[AEfx]

Hollywood Brown Derby - Disney-MGM Studios (Fantasmic Package not included)

Thanks JP. Just downloaded the new one. I had that PDF, but it was an older one.

I'm surprised about the Brown Derby still being two. I'll just plan on paying for that one - it's my favorite! - but the prices are on par with Le Cellier and I actually think dollar for dollar you can spend more at Le Cellier. Perhaps because it's the nicest restaurant in MGM, and the label of "signature" is important?

Sorry, such things fascinate me...I analyze too much.

AEfx

 

[lawyergirl77]

Thanks JP. Just downloaded the new one. I had that PDF, but it was an older one.

I'm surprised about the Brown Derby still being two. I'll just plan on paying for that one - it's my favorite! - but the prices are on par with Le Cellier and I actually think dollar for dollar you can spend more at Le Cellier. Perhaps because it's the nicest restaurant in MGM, and the label of "signature" is important?

Sorry, such things fascinate me...I analyze too much.

AEfx

I dunno, AEfx, I was pretty surprised when Brown Derby was only one "wish" on the old Silver Plan... When I saw that it had now been bumped up to two TS options, I said "Ah, rats, they finally caught on!"

Dollar for dollar, when we went there (5 foodies) we got way more per wish than we had anywhere else (well, except for Portobello's but I remain convinced that our server screwed up and only took one wish each off our packages when she should have taken two).

But then again, I can't say I'm that overwhelmed by Le Cellier, so I may be dismissing it too quickly... *ducks the flying beer bottles from LC fans*

 

[hrmom26]

The second piece is if you use the the Dining Plan make priority reservations ahead because may have problems getting into the table service restraunts and may not be able to use all of the table service options up.

i also have a concern with the dinning plan just for that reason i don't want to over plan my vacation i would like to leave as many days as i can un-planed so we can go to whatever park we want to the day we want to. but can you still get into the table service restraunts as a walk in? keeping in mine i will have two young kids who probably will not want to wait forever for a table? the more i learn about this dinning plan the more i think it might not be for me if they still have it as free with a package as they do now when i book my vacation i will use it but i don't think i will pay for it i'm not sure i will read the menus and look into it some more though thanks so much for everyones thoughts and ideas.

 

[AEfx]

I dunno, AEfx, I was pretty surprised when Brown Derby was only one "wish" on the old Silver Plan... When I saw that it had now been bumped up to two TS options, I said "Ah, rats, they finally caught on!"

Dollar for dollar, when we went there (5 foodies) we got way more per wish than we had anywhere else (well, except for Portobello's but I remain convinced that our server screwed up and only took one wish each off our packages when she should have taken two).

But then again, I can't say I'm that overwhelmed by Le Cellier, so I may be dismissing it too quickly... *ducks the flying beer bottles from LC fans*

Oh, it's a deal either way, especially with the FREE dining plan, but this is what I mean :

Brown Derby - Most Expensive Appetizer : $8.49 (crab cake) (you can't get the $13 for two cobb)

Le Cellier - Most Expensive Appetizer : $10.99 (kebobs OR scallops)

Brown Derby - Most Expensive Entree : $27.99

Le Cellier - Most Expensive Entree : $36.99, 2nd most expensive $27.99

Brown Derby - Most Expensive Dessert : $8.29

Le Cellier - Most Expensive Dessert : $7.99 (there is a $12.99 cheese plate which I assume isn't included)

Even if they eliminate the $36.99 entree at Le Cellier as part of the plan (quite probable) I still think you can spend more there than at the Derby. Now, I'm not talking quality or anything like that, just dollar amount.

That said, I do enjoy both - but actually prefer the filet more at Brown Derby than Le Cellier. It was a nicer, thicker cut of meat and was cooked even more perfectly. That's why I think it may have to do more with prestiege than actually dollar amount. Just a curiousity I have.

I'll be eating at both next trip - they are two of my three favorite sit-downs (with the Plaza) - either way. With the DDE discount, I'll make out either way.

AEfx

 

[New2WDW]

i also have a concern with the dinning plan just for that reason i don't want to over plan my vacation i would like to leave as many days as i can un-planed so we can go to whatever park we want to the day we want to. but can you still get into the table service restraunts as a walk in? keeping in mine i will have two young kids who probably will not want to wait forever for a table? the more i learn about this dinning plan the more i think it might not be for me if they still have it as free with a package as they do now when i book my vacation i will use it but i don't think i will pay for it i'm not sure i will read the menus and look into it some more though thanks so much for everyones thoughts and ideas.

As you head out each day to a park either set up a priority seating from your resort or go to the restaurant early and set it up for later that day. (it does depend on the season and if you want to go to a specific character dinner, etc. then you will have to plan ahead.)

 

[New2WDW]

Table Service Entitlements can not be used at Counter Service locations. The registers have no way of ringing this up correctly.

I had heard the opposite! Sorry for the earlier incorrect post about using a TS at a CS location! But, thanks for the calification JPVonDrake!

 

[lawyergirl77]

God, AEfx, every single time I see those prices for Le Cellier, I think to myself: "Oh, isn't that cute? They put the prices down in Canadian dollars..." :hammer: