Dining plan

[DisneyBunny]

Good point. I'm stronlgy leaning towards going that route at this time, although we still have plenty of time to think about it.

Has anyone ever tried using one of their snack allotments at that bakery in Norway? They have some pretty delicious desserts there and I was hoping that those would count towards snacks.

On our last trip, I noticed that most of the pastries and desserts in Norway were included, but the open-faced sandwiches were not. The general rule is anything under $4 counts as a snack, but it really can be a case-by-case basis. Some places might not have expanded their snack offerings yet.

 

[sbkline]

Thanks for all the info, everyone. It is very helpful.

One more question, though. Can two counter service meals be traded for one table service meal?

 

[DisneyBunny]

Thanks for all the info, everyone. It is very helpful.

One more question, though. Can two counter service meals be traded for one table service meal?

Nope. I think trading down is allowed - trading one table service credit for one counter service, but I think you have to have used your entire allotment of counter service credits first. If this is wrong, I'm sure JP or someone else will set you straight, but that's the last I've heard.

 

[JimboJones123]

On our last trip, I noticed that most of the pastries and desserts in Norway were included, but the open-faced sandwiches were not. The general rule is anything under $4 counts as a snack, but it really can be a case-by-case basis. Some places might not have expanded their snack offerings yet.

REALLY how about frenchie pastries?

 

[sbkline]

Nope. I think trading down is allowed - trading one table service credit for one counter service, but I think you have to have used your entire allotment of counter service credits first. If this is wrong, I'm sure JP or someone else will set you straight, but that's the last I've heard.

Drat!:dazzle: I was making a list of all the table service eateries I would like to try and my list is longer than the amount of alotments I get. I was really hoping I could trade up. I figure I'll make a list of ones I want to try and have my wife make a list of the ones she wants...but without seeing my list, so as not to be influenced. Then, we will compare lists and any restaraunts that show up on each list will make it onto the final list, and then each of us will pick a certain amount of ones we want to try.

 

[DisneyBunny]

REALLY how about frenchie pastries?

Several things in the Boulangerie counted as snacks, just not the pricey things like the cheese plate... The expanded snack offerings are wonderful, and it's liberating to not be confined to just bottles of soda or ice cream bars. I had my first Dole Whip as a snack! :slurp:

 

[JPVonDrake]

Nope. I think trading down is allowed - trading one table service credit for one counter service, but I think you have to have used your entire allotment of counter service credits first. If this is wrong, I'm sure JP or someone else will set you straight, but that's the last I've heard.

This is correct.

If you don't get to use all of your table service entitlements at table service locations, once you have depleted all of your counter service entitlements you will be allowed to use your extra table service entitlements at counter service locations if you choose. Each table service entitlement would then count the same as 1 counter service entitlement.

:sohappy:

 

[sbkline]

Does anyone have a link to the menu for Boma and Garden Grill? They both seem to be missing from the list of menus in the link on the top of this forum.

 

[Kaertos]

We used the "Magical Wishes" plan the last time we went to WDW, and it worked very similar to the dining plan. It was great. Simply put, paying for meals and what to order becomes part of the expierience, not something you have to pay for. We tried a ton of places that would normally have been too expensive or not what we usually go for becuase we were on the plan.

In fact, the only reason that we are not on the Dining Plan for our trip in a couple of weeks (6-18 to 6-22) is that all, and I do mean all, of the moderate and value resorts were booked, so we are staying in one of the "Hotel Blvd" hotels.

 

[yazmin182]

Here are the menus:

Boma Menu:
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_bomadin.htm

Garden Grill Menu:
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_gg.htm
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_bomadin.htm

 

[sbkline]

Here are the menus:

Boma Menu:
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_bomadin.htm

Garden Grill Menu:
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menu_gg.htm

Thank you. :sohappy:

 

[papaf]

We loved the dining plan. We ate at places we would have never had eaten at. This was part of our vacation budget. My brother in law summed it up for us. He said," I enjoyed Disney but I didn't enjoy the food." Needless to say they didn't have the dining plan and we did. The food was great. They ate fast food and split portions every day. We ate at LeCellier, Holloywood and Vine, Tony's,Ohana's and Hoop de Doo. WE spent approximately $100.00 more than they did and we ate at great places.

 

[shoppingnut]

We loved the dining plan. We ate at places we would have never had eaten at. This was part of our vacation budget. My brother in law summed it up for us. He said," I enjoyed Disney but I didn't enjoy the food." Needless to say they didn't have the dining plan and we did. The food was great. They ate fast food and split portions every day. We ate at LeCellier, Holloywood and Vine, Tony's,Ohana's and Hoop de Doo. WE spent approximately $100.00 more than they did and we ate at great places.

Every time you hear someone say the food is awful at WDW, you can bet that they ate almost exclusively at fast food places. I think the dining plan is great and you get to eat what you want and don't have to look at prices on the menu, it's like being on a cruise.

 

[DDuck1974]

I really liked the ease of use of the dining plan, and the fact that I never had to think about the cost of anything on the menu. My only recommendation for anyone on the dining plan is to use your table service meals at dinner, otherwise, I think you only break about even.

Example: DW and I ate breakfast at Donald's Breakfastosaurus one day. The total would have been about $49, a counter service meal at Cosmic Ray's was $22, and our two snacks (Mickey Premium Bars) would have been $5 -- total was 76, and the dining plan cost us $76 for the day. Had we been paying in cash, we probably would not have gotten the dessert at Cosmic Ray's and it might have actually been cheaper. But when we had dinner at Chef's de France, that alone more than covered the cost of one day on the plan.

But be prepared to eat, a lot! I was shocked how much food you really eat when you are eating appetizers and desserts at every meal.

 

[masterv]

I have a question about the Dining Plan. My wife and I are season pass holders. Can we still purchase a dining plan even if we aren't staying at a Disney Resort?

 

[MouseearsDeb]

I have a question about the Dining Plan. My wife and I are season pass holders. Can we still purchase a dining plan even if we aren't staying at a Disney Resort?

I know for the free dining plan, you have to stay at a Disney resort 3-10 days and each person must purchase at least a one day ticket. I believe I've read on one of these threads, maybe even this one, that you might be able to apply the cost of the ticket to your ap. There's also another option available to AP holder's, maybe Dining experience? Not sure on the name, but I'm sure if you look through a few of the dining threads, especially related to the free dining you will find questions like yours already answered.

 

[shoppingnut]

I have a question about the Dining Plan. My wife and I are season pass holders. Can we still purchase a dining plan even if we aren't staying at a Disney Resort?

You must stay at a disney resort to get the dining plan. You can buy the Disney Dining Experience card which entitles you to 20% off sitdown restaurants meals (including liquor), some food courts (AS, Pop, POR, POFQ) and AK (since there are no sit downs there). I have the card and in one trip it paid for itself.

 

[JPVonDrake]

I have a question about the Dining Plan. My wife and I are season pass holders. Can we still purchase a dining plan even if we aren't staying at a Disney Resort?

Again, let me clairfy that the Disney Dinning Plan cannot be purchased separately but can only be purchased as part of the Magic Your Way Plus Dine Vacation Package or a Disney Vacation Club Reservation booked with DVC points.

The Magic Your Way Plus Dine Vacation Package includes a stay at a Disney owned and operated resort, a Magic Your Way Ticket of your choice, and the Disney Dining Plan for the length of your stay. Everyone in the room must choose the same package and MYW ticket length and options.

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

 

[Tiggerfanatic]

Dining Plan Decision Made!!

I am SO-O-O glad I found this site - My daughter and I are staying at Caribbean Beach in November, and have been kicking the Dining Plan upgrade around for a couple weeks. After realizing that I already have dining reservations for 4 of the 6 days we'll be at the Park (Mama Melroses/ Fantasmic dinner package,character breakfast at the AK, character lunch in Norway, and Plant Hollywood) , and reading all these posts, I can see the advantages of purchasing the Plan. I'll be at my travel agent's tomorrow with money in hand!!! Thanks everyone.....

 

[sbkline]

I have another question on the dining plan. Since checkout time is 11 AM, do all meals have to be used by that time and be forfeited once you officially check out? Or do you have until midnight of your checkout date to use them?

For instance, say I check out Sunday at 11 AM. Can I still use one of my dining plan allotments at noon?