[bribren]

Ok I dug out some dining plan receipts from last year, to compare the new and old plans.

2 People:

26.25 at Pecos Bills
104.11 at Le cellier
8 for 2 snacks.

Thats 138.36 for 2 people - 80 adult plan cost for a net savings of $58. Great deal.

New plan, add the 18% tip, and the appetizers (19) and you will have a net savings of about $20. Not bad.

But that virtually disappears on the 137.81 Artist point bill with 24.80 Tip and 20 in appetizers, with the 2 credit cost.

In Summary:
I guess the plan is a savings if you didn't use it for the extra appetizers. However, the savings diminish if used on a buffet or a breakfast. You could actually end up paying more, when you include the tip. Im bumming this morning, and am totally readjusting my Jan 08 plans.

ANyone else have receipts to share?

[mickaholic4077]

If I was staying rack rate in 2008,I would go for the deluxe plan,because I know that I could max out the value of the plan with 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. I can spend more time eating because I don't have to see everything each trip like most of you have to.

[woohoo]

I would not do the deluxe plan in this family - eating 3 sitdown meals with a 3 year old , 5 year old, 11 year old and a 15 year old will NOT GO WELL!!!

Im actually feeling better all in all since this would just force me not to use any sitdown meals and save a lot more $$ by just eating counter service and snacks when hungry- and perhaps getting groceries delivered instead.

Good thing the kids love pb&j

[gingles]

Found this in an old post from Summer 05'. I figure there's over $250 worth of gratuities and $225 worth of appetizers in there.

Kind of cuts the savings by nearly 75%.

Re: Disney Meal Plan Adventure

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, here's the skinny:

The meal plan cost us $1120 for eight days (party of four). Here''s what we spent.

Snacks--$64 (low estimate at $2 per snack)

CS Meals--$395

Table Service (excluding alcohol)

Liberty Tree--$140

Chefs de France--$190

Rose and Crown Pub--$150

50's Primetime--$140

Whispering Canyon--$167

LeCellier--$236

California Grill--$291

This totals $1773 in meal costs for a savings of $653 in eight days!!!

[tenrsingr]

I think we might need to rethink the Dining Plan for our April 08 trip...

[Caseys Corner]

Without the Dinning plan we wouldnt be eating as much. Table service 3-4 times no appetizer or deserts or less of them.

[dturano547]

I think they should offer several different DDP options. Have several at different prices, especially tailored towards the number of people in your party.

I know some find it confusing but not me or my fellow MBers...They could have it geared for large families who may want to chose one sit down a day with more snacks... or more meals and no snacks.

Just spit balling here but they should offer more options. To me the deluxe is a lot of food. For me I would prefer the plan now with maybe a an extra fee for some alcohol options. Either with dinner or some kind of bracelet for DTD.

I dont know it just seems like if they are going to make some changes they should offer more options...Some peope want more while otheres want less.

[Soundgod]

An option for the signature restaurants is to do the higher priced meal on plan with appetizer and dessert, both to be split, and pay the less expensive meal out of pocket. This way you've saved two credits so you can have another sit down meal on plan that will be more cost effective.
We've done earlier versions of the deluxe plans and they get nuts. You're eating three sitdowns and trying to max them all out. You've also got access to tours, usually including DiveQuest and Dolphins in Depth. You have unlimited use of watercraft, including wave runners and parasailing at the Contemporary. And don't forget you've got tickets to la Nouba too.
But if you can swing it, and it works for you, it's the way to do it, the deluxe vacation plan that is.

[alandjen]

It's interesting how the DDP has sort of created a certain expection about how much food to expect on a WDW vacation.

Personally, I always thought the DDP was a great value for the amount of food they offered. But honestly I'd have to admit that, all things being equal, I probably wouldn't order that much if it wasn't already paid for under the plan.

I mean that I probably wouldn't do a sit-down meal most nights, and might even get by with a snack for lunch if we'd had a big breakfast that day. Or get by with a snack for dinner if we'd had a big lunch, etc.

I'll have to process the new DDP and see if still makes sense for us, but my gut reaction is that it might not. Well, if the DDP drops in popularity, maybe it'll be easier to get reservations again!

[iluvwdw]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

An option for the signature restaurants is to do the higher priced meal on plan with appetizer and dessert, both to be split, and pay the less expensive meal out of pocket. This way you've saved two credits so you can have another sit down meal on plan that will be more cost effective.
We've done earlier versions of the deluxe plans and they get nuts. You're eating three sitdowns and trying to max them all out. You've also got access to tours, usually including DiveQuest and Dolphins in Depth. You have unlimited use of watercraft, including wave runners and parasailing at the Contemporary. And don't forget you've got tickets to la Nouba too.
But if you can swing it, and it works for you, it's the way to do it, the deluxe vacation plan that is.

The Magic Your Way Plus Deluxe Dining only includes 3 meals per day (sit down OR TS...and they include the appetizer, too! Just no tip...) and 2 snacks per day. No extras...those are included in The Magic Your Way Premium Package.

[Soundgod]

According to the WDW site, there is only MYW plus dining, MYW Premium, which is what I was describing and previously called Gold Plan or Deluxe Magic Plan, and MYW platinum, which is analogous to what was called "The Grand Plan" or "The Platinum Plan" prior to the MYW packages in 2005.
Magic Your Way plus Deluxe Dining is new for 2008 and not yet available and is something I have wanted since they introduced MYW.