Poor experience with Dining Plan?

mowgli's mom · 01-13-2007

Has anyone ever regretted using the dining plan?

It seems like its just another thing to keep track of, but if it saves us money. . .

**Dopey** · 01-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by mowgli's mom

Has anyone ever regretted using the dining plan?

It seems like its just another thing to keep track of, but if it saves us money. . .

Good question, I have been thinking that very subject over for the last few days.
We booked a trip for November with the dining plan and I am on the verge of cancelling that part of the trip.

**DisneyTeacher** · 01-13-2007

We have used the dining plan in May and it was so easy to keep track of everything and it may our trip so much easier. Every time you use it you will get a total of your credits left. Our only problem was my poor hubby got a stomach bug and didn't feel like eating for a few days so we wasted a few credits because he didn't eat much at all.

hanwill · 01-13-2007

The dining plan was very very easy to keep track of. You do not really have to hink about it. PLus, you can order anything and not have to think about how much you are spending...

jk8 · 01-13-2007

I am trying to decide about the same thing.

Does anyone know if you want an ice cream cone on main street if it counts as a snack? What about if you want to buy a Mickey Bar from a cart?

KarenT · 01-13-2007

We were on the dinning plan twice, once in September for free and we went again in december and paid for it. Both times it was a great experience.
If I had to pick anything negative it would be
1. really having to plan your ADRs especially during free dinning. We always plan ADRs for our favorite places, but would have liked a little more flexibility for other days/places.
2. We never used all of our snack credits until the last day. We were in the food court using up 10 or more snack credits.

Overall would I do it again-yes. The ease of having everything paid for was really nice. We tried some places we may not have tried before and they have become new favorites.

mowgli's mom · 01-13-2007

I am worried that we won't use that much table service credits b/c of time to go sit and will want to use more counter service, but then again, can't beat Planet Hollywood, etc.

Andrea · 01-13-2007

No regrets, and I'd do it again.

Keeping track of it is nothing. You just get your receipt back, glance at it to make sure it looks right, and that's it. It's not a hassle at all, and actually, makes me feel more vacation-y and worry-free. Food is expensive at WDW, that's just part of it, and having to take out your wallet and see those checks once or twice a day... I'm more aware of how much money is going out, and I feel more tense.

The only time I might not consider the dining plan is when my son is at the cusp of the age cut off. In his "tween" years, I suspect that the kids menu might not offer what he wants, but the adult menu will be far too much food. We'll see what happens. Until then: dining plan all the way!

**DisneyTeacher** · 01-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by jk8

I am trying to decide about the same thing.

Does anyone know if you want an ice cream cone on main street if it counts as a snack? What about if you want to buy a Mickey Bar from a cart?

I don't know about the ice cream cone on Main Street but I know you can get a Mickey Bar using a snack credit.

**cinderbella** · 01-13-2007

We have used it twice and the first trip I sort of regretted it only because it was SUCH a short trip (3 days, 2 in the parks) and I felt like we were eating ALL of the time. Our next trip over a week and we LOVED the plan!

Maria · 01-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by jk8

I am trying to decide about the same thing.

Does anyone know if you want an ice cream cone on main street if it counts as a snack? What about if you want to buy a Mickey Bar from a cart?

Yes you can!!! I think you can even get a double dip cone

We had ice cream cones for dinner one night cause we were so full from all the big meals.

Oh and you can also get a root beer float, that is what I had

mowgli's mom · 01-13-2007

I think I am leaning towards doing this -- do you need to reserve ahead of time or can you do this when you check in?

**DisneyTeacher** · 01-13-2007

I believe you have to book the dining plan at least 5 days before you arrive.

KiKi · 01-13-2007

I was just reading up on it today and DisneyTeacher is correct, you must book no later than 5 days before your arrival. All guests staying in the same room must be on the dining plan and you have to take it for the entire length of your stay.

I have the same concern about not wanting to spend all of that time at sit down dinners. I'm worried the kids will be restless and just want to get to the parks.

On the up side, I like the idea of trying some new restaurants.

Disneyfever · 01-13-2007

We were on the free dining plan last Sept. I thought it was great. We used many of the snack credits for drinks during the day.

We did have one problem. We ate at Tony's in the Magic Kingdom. I didn't realize it at the time, but they charged us for an extra table service meal. I found out when we used out last table service meal the next day and they charged me for one of our meals.
It took some time to get it straightened out. So, don't assume everything will be recorded correctly. After each table service meal, check your receipt and save it at least until your next meal. If I had saved my receipt from Tony's the problem could have been easily corrected.

01-13-2007	#1 (permalink)
mowgli's mom Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brewer, Maine Posts: 122	Poor experience with Dining Plan? Has anyone ever regretted using the dining plan? It seems like its just another thing to keep track of, but if it saves us money. . . __________________ 2007 ~ Pop Century 2004 ~ Caribbean Beach Resort 2000 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1999 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1997 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1993 ~ Caribbean Beach Resort 1992 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1989 ~ Polynesian 1987 ~ Polynesian

01-13-2007	#3 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,310	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? We have used the dining plan in May and it was so easy to keep track of everything and it may our trip so much easier. Every time you use it you will get a total of your credits left. Our only problem was my poor hubby got a stomach bug and didn't feel like eating for a few days so we wasted a few credits because he didn't eat much at all. __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 238 days 8 hours 51 minutes

01-13-2007	#4 (permalink)
hanwill Mouse Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Metro Atlanta Posts: 1,116	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? The dining plan was very very easy to keep track of. You do not really have to hink about it. PLus, you can order anything and not have to think about how much you are spending... __________________ HANWILL Countdown - not soon enough!June 2009

01-13-2007	#5 (permalink)
jk8 Disney Cruise Alumni Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: IN - the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room Posts: 2,546	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? I am trying to decide about the same thing. Does anyone know if you want an ice cream cone on main street if it counts as a snack? What about if you want to buy a Mickey Bar from a cart? __________________ Julie 2008 OKW - first DVC stay! 2008 WL and Disney Magic Western! 2007 POFQ 2006 Pop Century 2006 CR & 7 day Disney Magic Eastern!!! 2004 POP Century 2004 offsite My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 2010 Disney Magic Cruise 128 days 13 hours 47 minutes

01-13-2007	#6 (permalink)
KarenT Mouse Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, Il Posts: 1,025	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? We were on the dinning plan twice, once in September for free and we went again in december and paid for it. Both times it was a great experience. If I had to pick anything negative it would be 1. really having to plan your ADRs especially during free dinning. We always plan ADRs for our favorite places, but would have liked a little more flexibility for other days/places. 2. We never used all of our snack credits until the last day. We were in the food court using up 10 or more snack credits. Overall would I do it again-yes. The ease of having everything paid for was really nice. We tried some places we may not have tried before and they have become new favorites.

		MouseBuzz.com > Walt Disney World > WDW Restaurants
Poor experience with Dining Plan?

01-13-2007	#7 (permalink)
mowgli's mom Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brewer, Maine Posts: 122	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? I am worried that we won't use that much table service credits b/c of time to go sit and will want to use more counter service, but then again, can't beat Planet Hollywood, etc. __________________ 2007 ~ Pop Century 2004 ~ Caribbean Beach Resort 2000 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1999 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1997 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1993 ~ Caribbean Beach Resort 1992 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1989 ~ Polynesian 1987 ~ Polynesian

01-13-2007	#8 (permalink)
Andrea Dole Whip Apostate Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shasta in my heart Posts: 2,815	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? No regrets, and I'd do it again. Keeping track of it is nothing. You just get your receipt back, glance at it to make sure it looks right, and that's it. It's not a hassle at all, and actually, makes me feel more vacation-y and worry-free. Food is expensive at WDW, that's just part of it, and having to take out your wallet and see those checks once or twice a day... I'm more aware of how much money is going out, and I feel more tense. The only time I might not consider the dining plan is when my son is at the cusp of the age cut off. In his "tween" years, I suspect that the kids menu might not offer what he wants, but the adult menu will be far too much food. We'll see what happens. Until then: dining plan all the way! __________________ x´¨) x¸.•´ ¸.•´¨"...make sure you don't grow up stupid.¸.•´¨) (¸.•´xxxxxxxxxxxxIt's bad for the world."xxxxxxxxxxx ¸.•´ xxxxxxxxxxxxx--Tami Taylor, Friday Night Lightsxxxxxxxxxx(¸.•`* My Disney Countdown Counting down to: I have absolutely nothing to look forward too. :-(

01-13-2007	#10 (permalink)
cinderbella Crackhead Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: south carolina Posts: 7,226	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? We have used it twice and the first trip I sort of regretted it only because it was SUCH a short trip (3 days, 2 in the parks) and I felt like we were eating ALL of the time. Our next trip over a week and we LOVED the plan! __________________ WDW Restaurants and Resorts Moderator Bella I Deltaco. My Disney Countdown Counting down to: A baby is coming!!!! The baby is here..or at least it should be soon.

01-13-2007	#12 (permalink)
mowgli's mom Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brewer, Maine Posts: 122	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? I think I am leaning towards doing this -- do you need to reserve ahead of time or can you do this when you check in? __________________ 2007 ~ Pop Century 2004 ~ Caribbean Beach Resort 2000 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1999 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1997 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1993 ~ Caribbean Beach Resort 1992 ~ Dixie Landings Resort 1989 ~ Polynesian 1987 ~ Polynesian

01-13-2007	#13 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,310	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? I believe you have to book the dining plan at least 5 days before you arrive. __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 238 days 8 hours 51 minutes

01-13-2007	#14 (permalink)
KiKi Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 253	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? I was just reading up on it today and DisneyTeacher is correct, you must book no later than 5 days before your arrival. All guests staying in the same room must be on the dining plan and you have to take it for the entire length of your stay. I have the same concern about not wanting to spend all of that time at sit down dinners. I'm worried the kids will be restless and just want to get to the parks. On the up side, I like the idea of trying some new restaurants.

01-13-2007	#15 (permalink)
Disneyfever Big Cheese Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 784	Re: Poor experience with Dining Plan? We were on the free dining plan last Sept. I thought it was great. We used many of the snack credits for drinks during the day. We did have one problem. We ate at Tony's in the Magic Kingdom. I didn't realize it at the time, but they charged us for an extra table service meal. I found out when we used out last table service meal the next day and they charged me for one of our meals. It took some time to get it straightened out. So, don't assume everything will be recorded correctly. After each table service meal, check your receipt and save it at least until your next meal. If I had saved my receipt from Tony's the problem could have been easily corrected. __________________ x´¨) x¸.•´ ¸.•´¨)xxxx¸.•¨) (¸.•´xxxxxx(¸.•`xxx Judy *´¨) July 2000 - DL PP April 2001 - POFQ March 2002 - WDW offsite Oct 2004 - CR March 2005 - All Star Sports Nov 2005 - DL offsite Sept 2006 - Poly

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