Originally Posted By dzy76 I want to try it next time I go. I also like paying for as much up front as possible. I love the sit down meals. It is so relaxing to take your time and enjoy the atmosphere and food of different places each night. I think it would work for us.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb If you get the DP, make sure you can park hop, you don't want to be stuck going to a park you've done to death because that's where you're having dinner.
Originally Posted By dzy76 True Deb. Besides, hopping to another park just to have dinner is the whole idea, right? Like Epcot. My gosh there are alot of good places to eat there.
Originally Posted By jodiefra Good point - we always get the park-hopper because we like to go back to the resort at mid-day and then decide where to go at night; I never thought about the connection between the meal plan and the hopper, but it makes total sense.
Originally Posted By 1DisneyNutt I feel just the opposite about park hopping. There are so many good places to eat at each park and also resorts that to me it is a waste of my precious park time to be travelling to other parks just to eat. To me the extra cost of the park hopper and the time lost travelling to and fro is just not worth it. I just enjoy going to one park per day, enjoying nice relaxing meals instead of getting stressed out with getting to another park in time for a ressie. On Magic Kingdom days we are going to Narcoosees and Ohanas which both have monorail access which is so easy. Looking forward to trying the DDP this trip.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ I've got my reservations, but if I'm in a different park and don't want to hop for dinner, I just won't go. I'll pick up something where I am.
Originally Posted By dzy76 I can see your point disneynutt. I have thought about doing just that next time. But I did enjoy going to one place during the morning, back to the hotel in the afternoon then hitting another park for the evening. I guess I can see it both ways.
Originally Posted By jodiefra I see both sides as well - for me it's just about having more options, especially with two kids. We like to arrive at park opening wherever we're going, and most days we head to the pool in the afternoon then back for dinner (hopefully in a cooler, refreshed state, and usually with different shoes!). If the kids are dying to see something at a different park or if there's a show that's not on every night, we like to have the option. One example was when the fireworks at MK were rained out and we hadn't planned on spending another day there but we hopped over to see the fireworks the next night.
Originally Posted By 1DisneyNutt I can see the other side also especially if you are travelling with kids but this trip it is just going to be me and my mom (who is 70) so I cant see us doing much hopping anywhere LOL but the older I get the less hopping I like to do also. LOL
Originally Posted By marc66 We have used it 3 times so far and will use it the next time. We ate at places we probably wouldn't if we weren't on the plan. Boma for two adults and a child came out to almost $90.
Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey I love the dining plan...I think its fun to look over menus and make dining reservations ahead of time...I make an itinerary with the hours of the park, when they have EMH and our dining reservations with the confirmation numbers. We haven't park hopped the past two trips and it has been just fine. It would be nice to be able to go to a different park, but it adds $200 to the package so I haven't been able to justify the cost to myself. I often make reservations at one of the hotels on the monorail stop and that gives us a chance to leave the park for awhile and relax, have dinner, then return after a bit more refreshed. Or we leave and relax at hotel and clean up then go to dinner reservation and return to park. I love having the meals paid for in advance and with small children being able to go to all the character buffets makes the meal plan totally worth it!
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun It all depends on how much you eat and what you would normally spend on food. We have a hard time justifying the cost as we are not big eaters.....all depends on your family.
Originally Posted By leowis1 I went to Disney last Dec using the meal plan and am planning on going back next Oct. I will not use the meal plan this time. I wish the cost of the meal plan was 100% inclusive. But its not! You have to pay an 18%-20% tip on top of that. It adds up fast. Being a cheap wad, I resent having to pay a 20% tip for a buffet service. Am I not serving myself???? HELLOOO...B U F F E T! You serve yourself. The meal plan is a trap. You know that every meal is paid for, so you search for the most expensive places to eat. And chose the most expensive dishes because you want to get the most value of your dollar. But that tip meter is running away.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ 18%-20% isn't too high to tip. That's standard in our area. Anyone know if Florida is one of those states, like Texas, where servers earn under the minimum wage and are expected to make up the difference in tips? Considering the price of my package the parkhopper/dining plan portion works out to $27/day per person, it's a bargain!
Originally Posted By grlweatswchpstx I'm a CM so tip is always added on after the discount is given, and I have to admit, I've never had a service that deserved less than the 18 or 20% automatically charged so I have no problem paying it, esp. because they have to do so much work and I've heard people tend to short them a lot as well. One girl I had at Port Orleans had served a group earlier who left her $2.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Isn't it true that you don't have to leave the 20% even though it's on the bill? All of that is negotiable, right?
Originally Posted By tinkerbellfly I think its negotiable. I think the 20% is a guideline. If you feel your service was lousy - why would you leave 20%?
Originally Posted By Labuda My $.02 is that the couple of times I've dined with a CM and used their discount, we didn't even discuss whether or not the 20% tip added was negotiable. *shrug*
