Originally Posted By jodiefra I'd love to hear your opinions about the dining plan -- is it worth it? Is it convenient? I have two boys (ages 7 & 11) and we'll be staying at POFQ in early December. I read the info on WDW's site, but I still have a few questions. Does each person get some sort of card? or are there individual vouchers? and can you use them whenever (like if we wanted two snacks at one time, or two "counter service" meals in one day but not the next, etc.)? Thanks for your feedback!
Originally Posted By Labuda Your meals are attached to your room keys - and, yep - you can use two counter services in one day, and no sit-down meals. Basically if you have 5 nights, you get 5 sit-downs, 5 counter service, and 5 snacks per person for the trip. You can use two count service meals one day and nothing else, or if you're really hungry, three sit-down meals in a single day!
Originally Posted By Labuda Oh, and whatever's left over expires at the end of the day you check out.
Originally Posted By jodiefra Thanks, Labuda! Do you think it's worth it? I did the calculations and it seems like a pretty good deal, but I wondered if there was a down side (besides coming up with the money ahead of time). ??
Originally Posted By Labuda No down side that I'm aware of! Used it for FREE last year (YAY!!!!!) and this year, happily bought it for our November trip!
Originally Posted By Chelledun It is a good deal, and we loved the flexibility. One thing though, how many days are you going to be there? We loved it for our four night trip, but we agreed we might get tired of eating so much if we were staying for, say, a week. The other down side is that it does require significant advance planning, but it always does when you want to eat at Disney counter service restaurants.
Originally Posted By Labuda Not always - it really depends on the time of year you go. I've had times where we changed our dining ressies less than a week out, and were still able to get the time we wanted. The joys of going at a slow time of year!
Originally Posted By NJFIREGUY The meal Plan is awsome...The only way it wouldnt be a good deal is if you dont plan on using the table service. If you just wanted to do the "Fast Food" all the time you would probably do better paying out of pocket. I'll be a POFQ the first week of december too...its not real busy but im still gonna make my reservations pretty far in advance..(last year same time i couldnt get into LE Cellier 4 weeks ahead)
Originally Posted By LacyBelle DH & I are looking forward to using the Dining plan for the first time during our November trip. We're going to use it as an opportunity to eat at sit down restaurants that we ordinarily wouldn't get to.
Originally Posted By Labuda Exactly what DH & I used it for last year, Lacy! And what we'll be doing again this year, but with a bit of a change, in that we plan to repeat Alfredo's & we'll be visiting Teppanyaki on it. mmmmm Teppanyaki!
Originally Posted By Chelledun ^^We tried some new place too. I probably wouldn't have picked out Chefs de France otherwise, but really loved it!
Originally Posted By jodiefra Great ideas LP'ers -- sounds like I need to buy the plan. We do like to use table service restaurants, especially at Epcot (my DH is Norwegian so we usually start there...). Is it true that we can trade two table service meals for a fancier place? We may have to go back to the Living Seas again... Also, someone was mentioning reservations earlier -- we were there in August (2004) and didn't have any trouble getting reservations for our favorite spots even that week, as long as we were willing to be a little flexible on days and times...of course we didn't try Le Cellier this trip... but we did go to the Polynesian (twice! the breakfast was so good we went back two days later for dinner!), Norway, Living Seas, and Fulton's with only three days' notice. Too bad my trip's months away--I'm getting excited just talking about it!
Originally Posted By Labuda " Is it true that we can trade two table service meals for a fancier place?" Yes, some of the table service places do take 2 sit-down meals instead of one - Jiko, California Grill, Flying Fish Cafe, Hoop Dee Doo, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, Citricos, Narcoosee's, Spirit of Aloha, Artist Point, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Cinderella Castle, and Hollywood Brown Derby.
Originally Posted By mouse of the south This will be our first time to use the dinning plan. The past three trips, we have always planned a sit down meal at night. We usually spent about 120.00 - 140.00 per meal for 3 adults and 1 child. This year we are taking our 3 nieces with us for 10 days - the dining plan is a must this trip.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd Can you add the dining plan to a room only reservation or do you have to buy a package?
Originally Posted By Labuda Yo8u have to buy a package, BUT you can do like my DH & I did last year - downgrade the ticket on the package to a one-day, one park pass.
Originally Posted By mouse of the south We have 10 day reservation and 7 days passes, we need a rest and laundry day. The dining plan does cover the full 10 days not just the 7 park days. That gives you the chance to experience food at the nicer resorts without taking too much time out of your park days.
