Dining plan savings

dznylvr · 11-23-2005

OK everyone, we just got back from our WDW trip using the dining plan. We are a family of 5, me-old, DH-older, DD 9, DS 6, DS 1-so we didn't purchase the dining plan for the youngest(you don't have to until they are 3 years old),he just ate off our plates. The plan cost us approximately $500 for 8 nights. Sounds pretty expensive,right? We are a group of big eaters-and we love to try new stuff,so we "did it up" on this trip. When we got home and added up all of our meal costs, without the dining plan, we would have spent approximately $1045!!
That is over 50% off!! We were so excited, I just had to share!!

**Dana** · 11-23-2005

That is awesome! You made out great. Thanks for reporting..

BuzzLightyear · 11-23-2005

Wow! Awsome savings.
We did the dining plan also, but didn't save quite that much.

**ddoll** · 11-23-2005

Oooh, I love to hear about someone making a big score like that. Good job!

iluvwdw · 11-23-2005

That's awesome! Since I will hopefully be renting points to stay at a DVC resort next December, I hope the dining plan will become available for me to buy. I will DEFINITELY get it, if I can!!!!! Seems like a great deal!!!!!

ingamba · 11-23-2005

Good for you. Way to save money!! I'm going to eat everything in sight with my dining plan in January and try to beat your record!

**mickey** · 11-24-2005

Wow, impressive. More than double the cost. Come on DVC, I have $1,100 sitting here waiting for to spend on the dining plan, give me a chance!

missy H · 11-24-2005

Wow that's great, we are going for 21 days and we have the dining plan it will be interesting to see what we save!

Princess Tessa · 11-24-2005

wooooah! Thats amazing! Gotta love Disney for setting up that dining program, thats awesome. if *sigh* I ever go to WDW I'll deffo use that, great plan!!!

Handicap18 · 11-24-2005

NICE!!! We're there next week and we plan on eating it up! Looking over the menu's we've already got a few pricey meal's picked out. We also are doing a bunch of buffet's so I'm guessing that our savings wont be near what yours was.

mrsmouse · 11-24-2005

Thank you for sharing your comments on the dining plan. We just booked our trip for 12 for December '06/January '07 and after our reservationist explained the whole program we ended up getting the dining plan. Sounds like we made the right choice. We have some big eaters.

Question: Are you limited in any way what you can eat on the menu at the sit down restaurants. For example, can you pick the $50 lobster tail rather than the $8 cheeseburger?

mickaholic4077 · 11-24-2005

Ask at each of the restaurants when you sit down to eat what,if anything,is off limits on the dining plan.

lustergirl · 11-24-2005

We just experienced the free dining plan this past September, gotta love DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!! We ate like kings and there really no limit as far as the menus go, the waiter/waitress will tell you what's available at the beginning of your meal. Next September we are going back but this time I am purchasing the dining plan when I make my ressie (would love that great deal again though, lol). I know we will make out like bandits because my family can eat.

Lisa

Bellearina · 11-25-2005

Hi We Are Going In Dec And Have The Dining Plan It Sounds Great And You Dont Need To Worry About The Cost Of Food In Your Spending Money, Which Means More For Me To Spend In The Disney Shops.

Prezcatz · 11-25-2005

We did the dining plan last April, and thought it was AWESOME!!! While my wife kept the reciepts and figured we only saved about $75, there were several other bonuses. First, the Character Meals counted as a Table Service, so we were able to take our DD to five CMs in 7 nights!!! Second, we got ALOT more food, because we wouldn't have ordered as much as was included w/ the meal plan (i.e. dessert w/ certain meals), so we never went hungry and actually had Counter Services meals and Snacks left over (even w/ our 2-yr old DD eating off our plates). Third, it was paid for ahead of time, so it was a HUGE weight off my mind. I didn't have to worry about the cost of the meal, which made for alot less stress during our vacation. We had great luck w/ the plan, just make sure you let your wait staff know early you are on the meal plan, and they will make sure you don't get something not included and don't end up paying more. It was also nice that the gratutity was included in the meal plan. Our next visit will probably be at a non-Disney owned resort, but it will be a very hard decision to make with the meal plan being a large factor to weigh.

11-23-2005	#1 (permalink)
dznylvr Mouse Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Where I'm at. Posts: 1,204	Dining plan savings OK everyone, we just got back from our WDW trip using the dining plan. We are a family of 5, me-old, DH-older, DD 9, DS 6, DS 1-so we didn't purchase the dining plan for the youngest(you don't have to until they are 3 years old),he just ate off our plates. The plan cost us approximately $500 for 8 nights. Sounds pretty expensive,right? We are a group of big eaters-and we love to try new stuff,so we "did it up" on this trip. When we got home and added up all of our meal costs, without the dining plan, we would have spent approximately $1045!! That is over 50% off!! We were so excited, I just had to share!!

11-23-2005	#2 (permalink)
Dana Super Mod/Packen' Kracken Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Joisey Posts: 22,668	Re: Dining plan savings That is awesome! You made out great. Thanks for reporting.. __________________ 82 off-site ~ 91 off-site ~ 97 ASMusic ~ 00 ASMovies 02 Wilderness Lodge ~ 04 Animal Kingdom Lodge 05 Animal Kingdom Lodge & Polynesian 05 Port Orleans French Quarter~06 Old Key West 07 Port Orleans French Quarter ~ 08 Old Key West~ My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 10 day WDW blowout bonanza! 635 days 19 hours 21 minutes

11-23-2005	#3 (permalink)
BuzzLightyear MB Cast Member ® Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Space Mountain Posts: 3,911	Re: Dining plan savings Wow! Awsome savings. We did the dining plan also, but didn't save quite that much. __________________ 86,92,96 Offsite * 2002 AKL * 2003 BCV * 2004 Contemporary * 2005 WL * 2006 BWV* 2008 CSR * My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Next trip to Disney World!! Just back 8/30. Next trip unsure...........

11-23-2005	#4 (permalink)
ddoll Your Friendly Singing Mod Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: RI Posts: 4,572	Re: Dining plan savings Oooh, I love to hear about someone making a big score like that. Good job! __________________ DVC, Disney Co Moderator • 3/96 Offsite • 9/98 Villa • 10/98 Dixie Landings • 8/00 Villa • 6/01 Disneyland, CA • 5/02 Villa • 6/03 Villa • 11/03 Wilderness Lodge • 8/04 PopCentury, Swan and Royal Pacific • 12/04 Swan • 8/05 Swan and Hard Rock Hotel • 11/05 Swan • 1/06 Swan • 9/06 Disneyland, CA• 12/06 Swan & HRH • 1/07 Swan • 10/07 Hard Rock Hotel • 12/07 Hard Rock and Swan • 1/08 Boardwalk• 10/08 Villa• 1/09 Swan My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Running my 4th WDW Half Marathon! 46 days 3 hours 21 minutes

11-23-2005	#5 (permalink)
iluvwdw Disney Dreaming Daily Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Floral Park Village (Long Island), NY Posts: 6,829	Re: Dining plan savings That's awesome! Since I will hopefully be renting points to stay at a DVC resort next December, I hope the dining plan will become available for me to buy. I will DEFINITELY get it, if I can!!!!! Seems like a great deal!!!!! __________________ Kim :) LIFE IS JUST BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE A DISNEY TRIP PLANNED! 1997 Double Tree ~ 1998 Vistana ~ 1999 April Vistana ~ 1999 July Vistana ~ 1999 Sept All Star Movies ~ 2000 Vistana ~ 2001 Vistana ~ 2002 Vistana ~ 2003 Aug Vistana ~ 2003 Dec All Star Sports, Polynesian & OKW ~ 2004 Feb Vistana ~ 2004 Dec Vistana ~ 2005 Vistana/All Star Music 2006 SSR and Vistana Villages ~ 2007 Sheraton Safari, Vistana, POP Century ~ 2008 Vistana Villages, Animal Kingdom Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Thanksgiving at Animal Kingdom Villas! It's a surprise for the kids! On a Thanksgiving Safari at AKV

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Dining plan savings

11-23-2005	#6 (permalink)
ingamba Disneyland Dreaming! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 2,176	Re: Dining plan savings Good for you. Way to save money!! I'm going to eat everything in sight with my dining plan in January and try to beat your record! __________________ Andrew Avatar: A magical night at the Happiest Place on Earth! OCT-JFK DEC-SEA DEC-ORD JAN-PVD FEB-SNA

11-24-2005	#7 (permalink)
mickey Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,229	Re: Dining plan savings Wow, impressive. More than double the cost. Come on DVC, I have $1,100 sitting here waiting for to spend on the dining plan, give me a chance! __________________ Frank Costanza: You can drop a grand in Disney World, like that. My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Disneyland, 2008 I am riding the Matterhorn

11-24-2005	#8 (permalink)
missy H MB's British Belle Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,638	Re: Dining plan savings Wow that's great, we are going for 21 days and we have the dining plan it will be interesting to see what we save! __________________ Missy H Avatar Our new home! Next Trip Jun 08 for 21 days June 1998 offsite April 1999 ALL STAR SPORTS Dec 1999 and April 2000 offsite March 2003 offsite June/July 2004 POP Christmas/New year 2005/06 POP CENTURY then AKL July 2006 POFQ Dec 2006 POP x´¨) x¸.•´ ¸.•´¨)xxxx¸.•¨) (¸.•´xxxxxx(¸.•`Kerry *´¨) Proud Member of Disney overplanner AnonyMouse

11-24-2005	#9 (permalink)
Princess Tessa Starting over Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Canada Posts: 1,989	Re: Dining plan savings wooooah! Thats amazing! Gotta love Disney for setting up that dining program, thats awesome. if sigh I ever go to WDW I'll deffo use that, great plan!!! __________________ Disneyland Trips 1989, 1994, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2004 (yes, twice, I'm obsessed okay?!) 2005, 2007 (I'm missing three trips but I don't remember what years) WDW Canadian Cast Member 2006 - 2007

11-24-2005	#10 (permalink)
Handicap18 Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Burlington, MA Posts: 42	Re: Dining plan savings NICE!!! We're there next week and we plan on eating it up! Looking over the menu's we've already got a few pricey meal's picked out. We also are doing a bunch of buffet's so I'm guessing that our savings wont be near what yours was. __________________ Kyle: Burlington, MA April 2001 All Star Movie Nov/Dec 2005 All Star Movie Latest Disney Trip Pictures Nov/Dec 2005

11-24-2005	#11 (permalink)
mrsmouse Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pennsville, NJ Posts: 161	Re: Dining plan savings Thank you for sharing your comments on the dining plan. We just booked our trip for 12 for December '06/January '07 and after our reservationist explained the whole program we ended up getting the dining plan. Sounds like we made the right choice. We have some big eaters. Question: Are you limited in any way what you can eat on the menu at the sit down restaurants. For example, can you pick the $50 lobster tail rather than the $8 cheeseburger? __________________ Mickey, Minnie, and Daisy Dec. 1999 - All Star Resorts Dec. 2000 - Caribbean Beach Dec. 2002 - Polynesian Dec. 2004 - Contemporary Dec. 2006 - Contemporary Dec. 2008 - Contemporary My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Gram's 13 Magical Gathering 5 days 8 hours 21 minutes

11-24-2005	#12 (permalink)
mickaholic4077 Currently in Timeout! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: 90 miles from The Mick!!!!! Posts: 6,193	Re: Dining plan savings Ask at each of the restaurants when you sit down to eat what,if anything,is off limits on the dining plan.

11-24-2005	#13 (permalink)
lustergirl Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 191	Re: Dining plan savings We just experienced the free dining plan this past September, gotta love DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!! We ate like kings and there really no limit as far as the menus go, the waiter/waitress will tell you what's available at the beginning of your meal. Next September we are going back but this time I am purchasing the dining plan when I make my ressie (would love that great deal again though, lol). I know we will make out like bandits because my family can eat. Lisa

11-25-2005	#14 (permalink)
Bellearina Mouseketeer Intern Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 11	Re: Dining plan savings Hi We Are Going In Dec And Have The Dining Plan It Sounds Great And You Dont Need To Worry About The Cost Of Food In Your Spending Money, Which Means More For Me To Spend In The Disney Shops. __________________

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11-25-2005	#15 (permalink)
Prezcatz Big Cheese Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abilene, Texas Posts: 690	Re: Dining plan savings We did the dining plan last April, and thought it was AWESOME!!! While my wife kept the reciepts and figured we only saved about $75, there were several other bonuses. First, the Character Meals counted as a Table Service, so we were able to take our DD to five CMs in 7 nights!!! Second, we got ALOT more food, because we wouldn't have ordered as much as was included w/ the meal plan (i.e. dessert w/ certain meals), so we never went hungry and actually had Counter Services meals and Snacks left over (even w/ our 2-yr old DD eating off our plates). Third, it was paid for ahead of time, so it was a HUGE weight off my mind. I didn't have to worry about the cost of the meal, which made for alot less stress during our vacation. We had great luck w/ the plan, just make sure you let your wait staff know early you are on the meal plan, and they will make sure you don't get something not included and don't end up paying more. It was also nice that the gratutity was included in the meal plan. Our next visit will probably be at a non-Disney owned resort, but it will be a very hard decision to make with the meal plan being a large factor to weigh. __________________ PREZCATZ PAUL ~ THE THREAD-KILLER!! 2000 - DISNEYLAND in October * 2005 - WDW ALL STAR MUSIC in April 2006 - WDW SHADES OF GREEN, MVMCP, and MOUSEFEST in December * 2008 - WDW CARRIBEAN BEACH in August 2008 - WDW OLD KEY WEST and MNSSHP in October * 2009 - WDW BOARDWALK VILLAS in June DVC Member since 04/08 My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Our next trip - SSR in June 2009! 189 days 9 hours 21 minutes