What is the difference between the dining plan and the deluxe dining plan?

[Nightsbane]

We weren't going to get a dining plan at all because I don't like feeling restricted, but since I received a free pin I might as well use it. The question I have is what the difference is between the dining plan and deluxe dining plan, and whether or not it is worth paying for the upgrade?

 

[DisneyJoe]

Dining plan - 1 table service, 1 counter service, 1 snack per person per night

Deluxe Dining plan - 3 meals per person per night (you chose counter service or table service), 2 snacks per person per night, 1 refillable mug per person per stay; table service meal includes appetizer (not included in regular dining plan)

Neither plan includes gratuity.

 

[Mukta]

The question I have is what the difference is between the dining plan and deluxe dining plan, and whether or not it is worth paying for the upgrade?

The regular dining plan includes one counter service meal, one sit down meal and one snack a day.
The deluxe dining plan includes 3 meals a day, 2 snacks and a refillable mug.
It is worth paying for the upgrade if you want to eat 3 large meals a day. For the bigger eater it is a great deal. You have to be willing to spend some time eating in sit down restaurants.

 

[Monty]

From JPVonDrake's thread:

Disney’s Magic Your Way plus Dine Package

Less then $40 per adult (ages 10+) $11 per child (age 3-9) per night above the cost of the Magic Your Way Package.

Accommodations for 1-14 nights at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Resort

Magic Your Way Ticket with your choice of length and options

WDTC Package Exclusives

1 Table Service Meal per Guest, per night
Meal includes: Entrée, Desert, and non-alcoholic Beverage OR full buffet and non-alcoholic beverage, gratuity not included

1 Quick Service Meal per Guest, per night
Meal includes: Entrée or entrée combo, Dessert, and non-alcoholic Beverage

1 Snack per Guest per night



Disney’s Magic Your Way Plus Deluxe Dining Package

Less then $70 per adult (ages 10+) $20 per child (age 3-9) per night above the cost of the Magic Your Way Package.

Accommodations for 1-14 nights at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Resort

Magic Your Way Ticket with your choice of length and options

WDTC Package Exclusives

Refillable drink mug per person (refillable only at the resort in which you are staying and for current visit only)

3 Meal Entitlements per guest per night at either Table Service and/or Quick Service Locations
(meal includes: Appetizer, Entrée, Desert, and non-alcoholic Beverage)
(gratuity not included)

2 Snacks per Guest per night



Disney’s Magic Your Way Premium Package

Less then $150 per adult (ages 10+) $105 per child (age 3-9) per night above the cost of the Magic Your Way Package.

Accommodations for 1-14 nights at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Resort

Magic Your Way Ticket with your choice of length and options

WDTC Package Exclusives

Unlimited use of select recreation activities

Admission to Cirque du Soleil show, La Nouba (one per person, category 2)

Private Golf Lesson (one per adult)

Preferred Fireworks viewing for Wishes at the Magic Kingdom

Preferred Fireworks viewing for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot

Unlimited admission to Disney Children’s Activity Centers

Unlimited access to selected Theme Park Tours

Refillable drink mug per person (refillable only at the resort in which you are staying and for current visit only)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks per person, per night
(meal includes: Appetizer, Entrée, Desert, non-alcoholic Beverage)
(gratuity not included)

Included in Premium Dine Plan:
All Signature Dining locations
All Dinner Shows (Category 2 or 3)
All Disney Character Dining
Private In-Room Dining
Pizza Delivery
Grand Gatherings Experiences (restrictions apply)



Disney’s Magic Your Way Platinum Package

Less then $200 per adult (ages 10+) $140 per child (age 3-9) per night above the cost of the Magic Your Way Package.

Accommodations for 1-14 nights at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Deluxe Resort or select Deluxe Villa Resorts

Magic Your Way Ticket with your choice of length and options

WDTC Exclusives

Personalized pre-arrival itinerary planning

Disney’s PhotoPass Photo CD

Evening Turndown Service

Unlimited use of select recreation activities

Private Golf Lesson

Admission to Cirque du Soleil show, La Nouba (one per person, category 1)

Preferred Fireworks viewing for Wishes at the Magic Kingdom

Preferred Fireworks viewing for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot

Reserved seating at Fantasmic! at the Disney-MGM Studios

One selected Spa Treatment (per person age 10+)

Dazzling Fireworks Cruise (one cruise per room)

Unlimited admission to Disney Children’s Activity Centers

Private in-room child care (restrictions apply)

Unlimited access to selected Theme Park Tours

Refillable drink mug per person (refillable only at the resort in which you are staying and for current visit only)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks per person, per night
(each meal includes: Appetizer, Entrée, Desert, and non-alcoholic Beverage)
(gratuity not included)

Included in Platinum dine plan:
All Signature Dining locations
All Dinner Shows (Category 2 or 3)
All Disney Character Dining
Private In-Room Dining
Victoria and Aberts’ Restaurant
Pizza Delivery
Grand Gatherings Experiences (restrictions apply)



Magic Your Way Plus Wine and Dine

Less then $40 per night per room above the cost of the Magic Your Way Plus Dine, the Magic Your Way Deluxe Dine, the Magic Your Way Premium, or the Magic Your Way Platinum Packages.

Enjoy a delicious bottle of wine with your dinner each evening, or if you prefer, you can pick up your bottle of wine at specified merchandise locations and enjoy it in your room! Your bottle of wine will be chosen by you from seasonal selections and served, of course, to your “over age 21” guests.

To choose a wine from a Table Service Location, you must dine at that location. Select wines at Signature Restaurants will count as 2 wine entitlements. If you do not finish your wine with dinner, your server will re-cork and seal your wine to enable you to bring it back to your room.

 

[Nightsbane]

thanks, the thing I do not understand about the 3 meals thing, is how it seperates from sit down or counter service? Do you still have to use two tickets for most of the premium sit down places? If so does it just take two of your available 3, leaving one for lunch? This remaining one can ALSO be a sit down place with appetizer as well?

thanks for the clarification.

 

[DisneyJoe]

thanks, the thing I do not understand about the 3 meals thing, is how it separates from sit down or counter service? Do you still have to use two tickets for most of the premium sit down places? If so does it just take two of your available 3, leaving one for lunch? This remaining one can ALSO be a sit down place with appetizer as well?

You have 3 meals per person per night.

If you are there 3 nights, you have 9 meals to use.

They can all be 1 credit table service meals.
They can all be counter service meals.
They can be a mix of table service, counter service, and 2 credit Signature meals.

You can use all 9 credits on the first day if you so choose, and if you can eat that much.

The choice is yours how they are used.

 

[Nightsbane]

Ok, so the deluxe dining basically adds the ability to eat at a 2 ticket signature restaurant each night, and appetizers for any meals, and an extra snack.

Does that pretty much sum it up?

 

[DisneyJoe]

Ok, so the deluxe dining basically adds the ability to eat at a 2 ticket signature restaurant each night, and appetizers for any meals, and an extra snack.

Appetizer for table service meals - yes.
Extra snack - yes.
2 credit signature restaurant - yes, that's your choice, if you want to use it that way.

Just remember, credits are calculated based on the number of nights of your stay - not days.

 

[Nightsbane]

I guess my last question would be if you guys think it's worth it? I had planned to skip it until getting the free pin. I liked the idea better of ordering what I wanted, when I wanted it.

Now after hearing the details it doesn't seem too bad. There really isn't much else that would be ordered besides an entree, appetizer, and dessert. We are making ADR's for every night anyway at signature places.

I guess my only other concern would be if there were entree restrictions, as in are there certain things you cannot order such as the steaks ect...and is that appetizer one for the table, or one for each person per night?

thanks again!

 

[DisneyJoe]

is that appetizer one for the table, or one for each person per night?

PER PERSON!

On my December 2005 trip, only my brother had the dining plan, with a family of 5 (2, adults, 1 teen girl and 2 under 10), they EACH got an appetizer and shared with the rest of the group...

If there are any menu restrictions, they are few and far between.

 

[Mukta]

I guess my last question would be if you guys think it's worth it? I had planned to skip it until getting the free pin. I liked the idea better of ordering what I wanted, when I wanted it.

I guess my only other concern would be if there were entree restrictions, as in are there certain things you cannot order such as the steaks ect...and is that appetizer one for the table, or one for each person per night?

thanks again!

The deluxe isn't worth it for me. I can't eat an appetizer, entree and dessert. I also don't want to spend that much time away from the rides everyday.
If you are a big eater and don't mind the time away, deluxe is worth it. I think the regular plan is a great place to start (since it is free) and is a great balance of time.

 

[RiversideBunny]

...what the difference is between the dining plan and deluxe dining plan....?

About 5,000 calories per day.
:drevil:

 

[WDWmazprty]

About 5,000 calories per day.
:drevil:

:lol: *RIMSHOT*

 

[Nightsbane]

alright then, all I need to know for sure if there are any menu restrictions from anyone who is positive on this. I would have to shell out and then be told I can't have the steak...

 

[Mukta]

You can have steak on either plan. Neither of them restrict entrees in that manner.

 

[Nightsbane]

What about places like California Grill where there is a first course and a main course, any idea on how that figures in?

Thanks again so much for answering all of these questions.

 

[Monty]

What about places like California Grill where there is a first course and a main course, any idea on how that figures in?

Thanks again so much for answering all of these questions.

First course = appetizer
Main course = entrée

 

[Rob562]

As others have said, there are almost no restrictions on what you can order from the menu. Dining Plan Guests order off the same menu as cash-paying Guests. If something is listed as an entree, you can order it.

The only restriction that I know of are a couple of places that offer "add on" items, like adding a lobster tail to your entree for $xx more. Those are not included as part of your meal (but they'll gladly let you pay out-of-pocket for those items if you want them).


As for my own view of the Deluxe DDP, I did a whole spreadsheet last year. I was comparing DDP vs. Deluxe DDP vs. the Tables in Wonderland discount card (formerly Disney Dining Experience).

My results (based on how my friends and I would eat on the Plan), were that DDP beat out TiW only if the DDP was free.

And that if you upgraded the DDP to Deluxe, and then doubled-up credits to eat at a Signature restaurant almost every night, ate at a mix of Counter and Table Service for lunches, and used snack credits for breakfast items, it was an even-money upgrade. Meaning for the extra money paid into upgrading the Plan, we'd get back almost exactly the same value in additional food (appetizers, snacks, refillable mug). There were no real money savings involved in the upgrade.

-Rob