[lvbug]

Now that I'm back from my trip I am fully prepared to stand behind my choice to use the discovery magic plan.

I heard a lot of cons of using this plan before I left for vacation, I was a little weary about my choice, but I am going to say I saved money. Before I show you how, let me say that this plan is not for everyone. People with young children in their room and people who do not typically enjoy eating at table service restaurants (or big meals) and people visitng other parks should NOT go on this plan. If typically, while on vacation, you go out to nice restaurants and do water sports, then this plan will save you $$.

*****I hope this makes sense*********

Heres how it works, at the start of your trip you are alotted 2 wishes per person per day (plus length of stay passes and 2 pins). Wishes can be used for food (including tip and tax), merchandise, water sports, spa, etc.. Hubby and I were staying 7 days, so that is 28 wishes total to share between us. Now, others that went with us got room only reservations and they paid $1548 for the week (this was with a AP discount)I will use this amount in the math below.

$3150 total for what I paid, 1 week BC tax & tip included
-$1600 cost of room
--------------------------------
$1550 this remaining balance is what I consider what I paid for 2 LOS passes and 28 wishes

-$600 (cost of 2 LOS passes less disney club discount)
------------------------------------
$950 which is what I believe I paid for 28 wishes

$950/28 = $33.92 per wish

So as long as the average spending per wish was $33.92 I saved money.

I definitely spent this or more per wish and did more than I would have been able to do if I was paying cash. But, there is a catch... some restaurants at WDW have caught on to the fact that 15% tip is automatically figured into the price. So to boost their tip, they try to force on you the most expensive of everything--bottled water, instead of tap, the dessert medley instead of just one. This was extremely noticeable at SPOODLES! My remedy, don't tell them till the end of the meal. That said...

We used our wishes for
Ca Grill Dinner 4 wishes
flying fish dinner (twice) 8 wishes
water mice 2 wishes
golf 1 wish
spoodles 2 wishes
liberty tree tavern 2 wishes
rainforest cafe 2 wishes
marrakesh 2 wishes
cape may cafe 1 wishes

total for everything $1018

Bottom line -- I saved $68.24 on meals/sports that I would have done even if I was paying cash.

Hope this helped anyone that, like me, wasn't too sure about the discovery magic plan.

[trishb]

lvbug..I agree with you on this one!! For years, we have gone with the Discovery or Deluxe Magic plans and evey time we have saved money! The biggest plus is that you don't have to worry about money on your vacation. This is the best part for me!! :D

No more worrying about how much we are spending. Should we get dessert? The appetizer looks good, but can we afford it? Gee, those boats look like fun...bu they are so expensive!! Whatever amount I spend for the plan, I try to exceed its worth. Should we get dessert, yes! Take the boats out everyday! Go fishing! Eat at Spoodles everyday for breakfast, instead of the bakery! (that is the best part about the deluxe plan, everything is included) Plus, no out of pocket expenses except souvenirs! I can budget my trip down to the dollar!:) No better way to enjoy DW!

[lvbug]

I am so glad there is someone else out there that thinks so too!

[mickey]

lvbug, great post! Very nice job outlining your arguement. Personally, if it is just me and Minnie, I think we would like to do something like this. If we are with our kids, I just can't see it making sense for us. Two of them are considered adults, but they still eat like kids. We would be paying $33 for Macaroni and Cheese all week.