[gingles]

Since we are now doing the dining plan, I am curious about your actual experiences.

Only a couple of Downtown Disney restaurants are listed as having menu exclusions for the plan. Is that really true, can you order any entree on the menu at all the other restaurants (and any appetizer). Some of of them are very expensive, like the $54 lobster at Narcoosie's and the 20 oz prime rib at Le Cellier. No exceptions?

Also, on the snacks, how liberal are they? Is it strictly limited to the ones pictured on the brochure?

Thanks.

[BuzzLightyear]

The dining plan worked out great for us, we saved hundreds, and were able to have a nice sit down once a day.

We did do LeCellier and my older DS had the 20oz steak, no problem.We never had any exceptions on anything at anytime.

As far as snacks, we never ventured out on things other than popcorn, water or ice cream bars, so I have no idea if there are other things you could get.

Yes there are very few places at DTD, but Earl of Sandwich is on there, and you have got to try this place if you never have!

Also, we did a Fantasmic dinner package at Mama Melrose, which was not suppose to be included, but they let us use out dining plan there also.

I am hoping that this dining plan stays in place for our next trip. It was fantastic!!!

[cinderbella]

I have mixed feelings on the dining plan. We used it for a short 2 day trip...we found that it wasn't worth it......The HUGE meals..and I mean HUGE...the counter serivce and ALL those snacks...lets just say we had a lot left over...
I think the snacks are pretty liberal...we had popcorn, sodas, ice cream etc...I know none of the 'fancy' snacks are on there ( turkey leg, dole whip, root beer floats etc.) usually just whatever they are selling at the little kiosk...

[gingles]

Originally Posted by BuzzLightyear

The dining plan worked out great for us, we saved hundreds, and were able to have a nice sit down once a day.

We did do LeCellier and my older DS had the 20oz steak, no problem.We never had any exceptions on anything at anytime.

As far as snacks, we never ventured out on things other than popcorn, water or ice cream bars, so I have no idea if there are other things you could get.

Yes there are very few places at DTD, but Earl of Sandwich is on there, and you have got to try this place if you never have!

Also, we did a Fantasmic dinner package at Mama Melrose, which was not suppose to be included, but they let us use out dining plan there also.

I am hoping that this dining plan stays in place for our next trip. It was fantastic!!!

Thanks. I was wondering about Fantasmic, we wanted to do the dinner package but didn't know if we could use the DP for it.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by gingles

Thanks. I was wondering about Fantasmic, we wanted to do the dinner package but didn't know if we could use the DP for it.

From what I have heard it's hit and miss on using the DDE discount or MYW on a Fantasmic package. I think the official word is no but some servers will let you use it.

[gingles]

Originally Posted by cinderbella

I have mixed feelings on the dining plan. We used it for a short 2 day trip...we found that it wasn't worth it......The HUGE meals..and I mean HUGE...the counter serivce and ALL those snacks...lets just say we had a lot left over

I can understand your experience. Possibly two days was not long enough to tell, but also the plan is not for light eaters.

touringplans.com has a good discussion of who might and might not benefit from the plan and strategies for getting the most out of it.

We really wanted to try a lot of table service restaurants this trip and we've always been limited to a couple because of the high cost (easy to spend over $200 on one sit-down for four), so I'm seeing this as the ideal time to try the plan. I do think all of us (except our DD#2 the high school swimmer) may have to hit our diets as soon as we return.

[BuzzLightyear]

Yes, please note I was told that I could NOT use the dining plan for the Fantasmic package when I booked it, but was able to.

And YES! It is waaayyyyy too much food !! Imagine an all you can eat buffett, plus and appetiser and a desert!!

The first few days it was tough to eat that much, and I hate to waste food, but our bellies streched out by the 3rd or 4th day on the plan LOL

Fir a simple explanation on our savings: What we paid for the plan paid for all of our "table" meals. All of our "counter" and "snacks" were a bonus.

[gingles]

Originally Posted by BuzzLightyear

Fir a simple explanation on our savings: What we paid for the plan paid for all of our "table" meals. All of our "counter" and "snacks" were a bonus.

That's the way I figured it. Just eat a "table meal" that's $30-35 or more (very easy to do) and your snacks and CS meals are free that day. I've been looking a allears menus, and except for the buffet/family stye restaurants, just about every other table service rest. will be $45-$75 per person!

This will help to ease the pain from my switching to the package from my AP discount trip at WL.

[Erin]

Gingles do you have APs?

I thought you couldn't use the dining plan if you were an Aper.

[gingles]

You may have missed my "major change of plans" thread. Due to DD#1 moving back from Chicago and not having a job yet we downscaled our trip from AP discounts at WL and just got a package at CBR. Same amount of days but one week later (July 17). I had to turn our trip-for-three price into one for four since DD#1 may not have enought time to save enough cash.

So I've been cramming to learn how to best use the MYW dining.

[cinderbella]

We tried to use the MYW dining plan with the Fantasmic Package but we were told we were not able too