Disney Dinning Plan Your Thoughts?

[Amy]

they did not give you a reciept BEFORE they added the DP? that was how the bill was presented every time last feb...

Nope, the only receipt you receive lists the price of everything as $0.00. It was that way for us back last December as well.

It was like that for us last February as well Amy, maybe it is different for the full dining plan as opposed to Quick Service.

You might be right - kind of like when you get a bill at the restaurant and then another slip when you pay with your credit card.

[JimB]

I think the "structured" feeling has really come about over the years due to the drastic increase in on property food service useage and resulting reservation requirements by onsite guests rather than the existence of the Dining Plans. Of course, I'm pretty sure that the increase in onsite dining was certainly one of the original intents. I remember when the Dining Plan was first started and the basic plan included 1 table service, 1 counter service and one snack per person per day. The table service included an appetizer, desert AND gratuity!!! It also included a length of stay unlimited refill resort drink cup or mug. The plan ran a little under $40/day and there were several free Dining Plan offers at various times during the year. That was a fantastic bargain!! No plan today could compare to the savings those plans afforded but if you don't do things like using a counter service credit for a $7 personal pizza you do save some money. Hey when the plan if free you can't avoid saving money right?

[Amy]

they did not give you a reciept BEFORE they added the DP? that was how the bill was presented every time last feb...

Nope, the only receipt you receive lists the price of everything as $0.00. It was that way for us back last December as well.

It was like that for us last February as well Amy, maybe it is different for the full dining plan as opposed to Quick Service.

You might be right - kind of like when you get a bill at the restaurant and then another slip when you pay with your credit card.

Two places gave us a regular receipt with prices listed as well as the receipt for the dining plan that had all the prices listed as $0.00. Both were at Downtown Disney ~ Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck Express. Not sure if that is because they are separate entities operating on Disney property or what?
As for the RFID equipped mugs, my "length of stay" mug actually expired one day before we left. That was sort of a pain. The one cm at our hotel food court did give me a regular cup so I could get a beverage with my breakfast, but another cm at lunch was pretty rude and would not let me have a beverage. She also didn't let me have something else far more important at lunch, but that will be in my trip report...grrrr.

[Wyntuck]

we did the dining plan (one n) and it was a great deal for a family of 5. Our kids were never hungry and therefore, the "when can we eat" refrain was not uttered at all the entire trip!

[dstrawn9889]

and we ended up carrying about 50 pounds of snacks home... needed to, two snacks/card/day? INCONCIEVABLE!

Deluxe Dining Plan (three table or counter/day 2 snacks/day, and the mug...

breakfast @ hotel, used refillable mug for brekky, got a Desani with the meal for the park...
lunch in park... rolled away from table
Dinner?---blech, back in hotel buffet just before closing... only snack we used DDP for was the whips

YOU NEVER WANT FOR FOOD THOUGH!!!

[Amy]

and we ended up carrying about 50 pounds of snacks home... needed to, two snacks/card/day? INCONCIEVABLE!

Deluxe Dining Plan (three table or counter/day 2 snacks/day, and the mug...

breakfast @ hotel, used refillable mug for brekky, got a Desani with the meal for the park...
lunch in park... rolled away from table
Dinner?---blech, back in hotel buffet just before closing... only snack we used DDP for was the whips

YOU NEVER WANT FOR FOOD THOUGH!!!

Agreed on this - the meals are so big that F1gment and I generally shared. We kept our eyes open toward the last few days for people paying with cash so we could buy their meals, but most people seemed to have the dining plan. F1gment kindly let me use a majority of our remaining snacks to buy Disney candy and treats for my students' Christmas goody bags!

[Belle1082]

Anyone know anything about any dining plan restrictions?? We have reservations for Narccoossee's which I know is 2 table service points - but we are wondering if you can still order anything off of the menu at no extra charge. ie: the lobster! Also - is lobster available at Coral Reef? They say on the website that they do have it but it isn't listed on the menu. I would love to go there for lobster again, as the first time I went there with my dad, we had lobster - it was my first time eating a really 'fancy' meal!

[Amy]

Anyone know anything about any dining plan restrictions?? We have reservations for Narccoossee's which I know is 2 table service points - but we are wondering if you can still order anything off of the menu at no extra charge. ie: the lobster! Also - is lobster available at Coral Reef? They say on the website that they do have it but it isn't listed on the menu. I would love to go there for lobster again, as the first time I went there with my dad, we had lobster - it was my first time eating a really 'fancy' meal!

I would guess the lobster would be included ~ especially since it costs 2 table service credits now! Best thing is probably to ask before you order, then you won't be surprised...

[Belle1082]

I sure hope it is included. lol I can always give them a call, but I figured I would ask to see if anyone has come across this stuff.

I'm quite excited to have the free dining plan and see how it works for us and how we vacation in DW. I know we will use all of it, but just wondering how much extra money we would spend on other snacks, drinks, etc. We'll see! Only 27 days until we find out! lol

[dstrawn9889]

the short answer--- YES

longer answer.... http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/ ... dinner.pdf

all the way down at the bottom of the pdf menu...

[Amy]

I sure hope it is included. lol I can always give them a call, but I figured I would ask to see if anyone has come across this stuff.

I'm quite excited to have the free dining plan and see how it works for us and how we vacation in DW. I know we will use all of it, but just wondering how much extra money we would spend on other snacks, drinks, etc. We'll see! Only 27 days until we find out! lol

I would be willing to bet you won't spend much if anything on snacks. You'll be stuffed from your free meals! Drinks are another matter. I don't know that they are included in the meal plan, at least not adult beverages...but I don't know since we've never had the table service plan...maybe you can get an adult beverage?!

[Belle1082]

I sure hope it is included. lol I can always give them a call, but I figured I would ask to see if anyone has come across this stuff.

I'm quite excited to have the free dining plan and see how it works for us and how we vacation in DW. I know we will use all of it, but just wondering how much extra money we would spend on other snacks, drinks, etc. We'll see! Only 27 days until we find out! lol

I would be willing to bet you won't spend much if anything on snacks. You'll be stuffed from your free meals! Drinks are another matter. I don't know that they are included in the meal plan, at least not adult beverages...but I don't know since we've never had the table service plan...maybe you can get an adult beverage?!

Yeah - that is what I am thinking. We will probably spend a chunk of money on *good* coffee and drinks with nice meals. I know alcohol is not included in any of the dining plans and I know we are looking forward to having some good beers and wines with our nice meals.
I am all about that Maine Lobster - so I can't wait!
It has also been a challenge to find where all the good coffee is - but we have our places at each park where we know it won't be that instant coffee crap! With all of the park time, getting up early and staying out late, some good coffee is a necessity for our trips!

[cy1229]

Yeah - that is what I am thinking. We will probably spend a chunk of money on *good* coffee and drinks with nice meals. I know alcohol is not included in any of the dining plans and I know we are looking forward to having some good beers and wines with our nice meals.
I am all about that Maine Lobster - so I can't wait!
It has also been a challenge to find where all the good coffee is - but we have our places at each park where we know it won't be that instant coffee crap! With all of the park time, getting up early and staying out late, some good coffee is a necessity for our trips!

I would love it if you'd share the "good" coffee locations. We'll be traveling in a big group on my parents' DVC points and eating breakfast together in our condo, but it's always nice to know where we can get a good cuppa joe when necessary!

[Amy]

Yeah - that is what I am thinking. We will probably spend a chunk of money on *good* coffee and drinks with nice meals. I know alcohol is not included in any of the dining plans and I know we are looking forward to having some good beers and wines with our nice meals.
I am all about that Maine Lobster - so I can't wait!
It has also been a challenge to find where all the good coffee is - but we have our places at each park where we know it won't be that instant coffee crap! With all of the park time, getting up early and staying out late, some good coffee is a necessity for our trips!

I would love it if you'd share the "good" coffee locations. We'll be traveling in a big group on my parents' DVC points and eating breakfast together in our condo, but it's always nice to know where we can get a good cuppa joe when necessary!

Hmmm, F1gment liked the coffee that came out of the machine at the food court. Actually I don't think I heard her complain about any of the coffee she had on the trip. Of course she's not a fan of Starbucks or anything, so maybe she doesn't have very high coffee standards I'm not a coffee drinker myself so I'm not any help on finding "good" coffee

[Belle1082]

Yeah - that is what I am thinking. We will probably spend a chunk of money on *good* coffee and drinks with nice meals. I know alcohol is not included in any of the dining plans and I know we are looking forward to having some good beers and wines with our nice meals.
I am all about that Maine Lobster - so I can't wait!
It has also been a challenge to find where all the good coffee is - but we have our places at each park where we know it won't be that instant coffee crap! With all of the park time, getting up early and staying out late, some good coffee is a necessity for our trips!

I would love it if you'd share the "good" coffee locations. We'll be traveling in a big group on my parents' DVC points and eating breakfast together in our condo, but it's always nice to know where we can get a good cuppa joe when necessary!

Like I said - coffee is a very important part of our trips, as we wake up early and stay up late! Most everywhere on disney property you can get instant coffee called Nescafe. Not really coffee by my standards. lol
We have our certain spots at each park where we can get REAL coffee. Here is a link to a site that has all of the places on the property that serve real coffee - http://allears.net/din/coffee.htm
A favorite of mine is Kusafiri in Animal Kingdom and the Writers Stop at Hollywood Studios - where they also have the famous Carrot Cake Cookies.

Nothing beats a good cup of coffee to start your morning in DW!