[rshenry]

Has anyone purchased the DL Meal plan?? Is is worth it? Please pass on your experiences.

Robin

[Dana]

If it's the same set-up as WDW's plan, then it's defaintely worth it if you eat at least one table service and one counter service a day.

[rshenry]

I wish Disneyland dining was like WDW. This much I know, that it is vouchers, but I don't know much more....

[daisyd]

Unless it has changed since last time I looked at it a few months ago, the only benefit would be paying in advance for your meals. It consists of vouchers for a certain $ amount $5, $10 and $25 denominations, I believe, and there is no savings at all, you pay face value for them.

[twist1980]

I haven't done the DLR dining plan because it doesn't really save you any money. You basically get vouchers in dollar amounts and a certain number for character meals. However, if you are on a tight budget, it is a great way to have something else paid for before you go.

One downside to the vouchers are that you can't get change. So if you use a $5 voucher for a $3 bottle of water, you are out $2. So unless you are wanting to pre-pay everything, I wouldn't recommend the dining plan at DLR.

[Dana]

Just vouchers really? WOW! Shame they don't have the same kind of plan that WDW has...that's a decent deal for anyone who likes to eat at the table places. The vouchers aren't completely horrible. You can pay for your trip in full in advance and only worry about spending money...not bad. WDW had them before and I paid for a bunch of meals that way. It was nice being able to know the meals were covered before I got down there.

[The Goof Father]

The "no change" thing alone stopped me from doing the dining plan...

Not too mention that my family often does use some creative eating options for some meals...

[Experiment6-2-6]

Originally Posted by The Goof Father

The "no change" thing alone stopped me from doing the dining plan...

That is a shame there is no "change". When I first saw this thread, I suspected I could do the same as all them WDW experts and try to learn from their experiences. I guess I'm happier without having to feel the pain.

Originally Posted by The Goof Father

Not too mention that my family often does use some creative eating options for some meals...

I suspect my heir apparent and I willl exceed your creative eating options this month!

[Soundgod]

No change doesn't matter. There was never any meal, with the exception of "One character breakfast" that I didn't have to add money out of pocket. Disneyland's dining plan is perhaps the stupidest, most inconvinient thing I've ever seen. Before you leave your room for meals, you play the game of counting up vouchers, trying to predict how much the meal will be, and still falling short. And every time you ask Disney Travel CMs or CMs why they can't do it like WDW, they get defensive, they act insulted, and tell you that "This is Disneyland, we were here first. Orlando always gets everything first now. Nobody cares about us."

[Experiment6-2-6]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

And every time you ask Disney Travel CMs or CMs why they can't do it like WDW, they get defensive, they act insulted, and tell you that "This is Disneyland, we were here first. Orlando always gets everything first now. Nobody cares about us."

You've actaully had someone say that to you?

[emamasa]

has it changed at all?

i was playing around, getting price info in case we "think" about DL for our next trip in 2009) - and you can add the meal plan i think it was called on to the package. i tried to find more info about that meal plan, and found nothing!

[nbodyhome]

I wouldn't get the vouchers, they aren't worth it. And Walt Disney World and Disneyland are completely separate. The cancellation/change polices are different on packages, the packages themselves are different. You can add Universal to Disneylands packages. I am not sure if Disneyland even has enough sit-down restaurants to sell WDW style dining packages for.

Denise

[Robin12265]

The four plan options are as follows (all prices are 2007):

Donald's Plan, 3 days of Disney Dining
Adult vouchers ($92.05 per adult):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
2 - $10.00 Vouchers
1 - $15.00 Voucher

Child vouchers ($69.65 per child aged 3 - 9):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Breakfast in the Park
4 - $5.00 vouchers
2 - $10.00 vouchers

Goofy's Plan, 4 days of Disney Dining
Adult vouchers ($134.33 per adult):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Lunch
1 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
2 - $10.00 Vouchers
2 - $15.00 Vouchers

Child vouchers ($97.03 per child aged 3 - 9):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Lunch
1 - Breakfast in the Park
4 - $5.00 vouchers
3 - $10.00 vouchers

Minnie's Plan, 5 days of Disney Dining
Adult vouchers ($185.25 per adult):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Dinner
2 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
4 - $10.00 Vouchers
2 - $15.00 Vouchers

Child vouchers ($126.88 per child aged 3 - 9):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Dinner
2 - Breakfast in the Park
5 - $5.00 Vouchers
3 - $10.00 Vouchers
1 - $15.00 Voucher

Mickey's Plan, 6 days of Disney Dining
Adult vouchers ($215.59 per adult):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Lunch
1 - Character Dinner
2 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
4 - $10.00 Vouchers
3 - $15.00 Vouchers

Child vouchers ($152.22 per child aged 3 - 9):
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Character Lunch
1 - Character Dinner
2 - Breakfast in the Park
5 - $5.00 Vouchers
4 - $10.00 Vouchers
1 - $15.00 Voucher

People who have used the above plans do recommend that if you do decide to purchase the Disney Dining Plan, buy one for less than your total stay at the Disney Resort. For example, if you are going to be there for 5 days, the recommendation is to get the plan for 3 or 4 days. Since the vouchers are not good at Downtown Disney, you also need to consider where you plan on eating before purchasing one of the Dining Plans. If you will strictly be eating at Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure, or eating at many character meals, this may be a good plan for you. Do keep in mind the breakfast coupons though, which must be used for breakfast, only at Disneyland, and at a pre-selected restaurant.

[emamasa]

Robin - Thank you so much - that is exactly what i was looking for!!

[boilerjeff]

Originally Posted by rshenry

Has anyone purchased the DL Meal plan?? Is is worth it? Please pass on your experiences.

Robin

We have purchased a couple of books and they all say that it is worth it. I think the savings is around 30%. We have purchased meal plans for our visit at the end of the month. I will be able to better report on this after our visit!