2009 Dining Plan Poll and Comments About This Page:

[WDWfan]

With the changes to the Dining Plans for 2009 I am starting a new Poll. Please only vote once you've taken a trip in 2009 - whether you've used the plans or not. Also be sure to add a post regarding your experience - including how many people were in your party and their ages. Those posts really help other travellers make their own decision as to whether to use any of the plans or not.

Thanks for your input!

[Pax]

Woo, first post! ^_^

We used the Deluxe plan this year ... our first time using a dining plan (the last time I was at WDW, there was no such thing as a dining plan). And, sadly, we found it to be just a bit too much food.

We rarely ever had more than just the entree-and-side, even at most of our table service meals ... let alone appetisers and desserts. We also finished with about two unused meal credits apiece ...!

Likely we won't be heading back to WDW sooner than 4-6 years from now - we just aren't financially able to go more often than that. But we've already resolved that, for our next trip, we'll be scaling back to the Basic Dining Plan, or whatever the equivalent is then.

We especially found that making two Table Service reservations for the same day was a BIG mistake - even if they were as far apart as possible (Breakfast and Dinner); we ended up not being hungry enough for more than a light snack come lunchtime, if we ate at ALL.

The refillable mugs were also of questionable value, as we were not close to the drink stations (we were in Building #9, one of the 80's buildings, at Pop Century), AND, every meal we got in the food court CAME with a drink, anyway.

(Speaking of the distance to the refil station - I'd love to see a drink refil station in every building ... right in the T-junction, perhaps, in the Values. If you had to use your KttW card to dispense the drinks ... well, they could record "infinite drink credits" for those that bought the souvenir mug, and make everyone else pay normal costs for a 12oz soda. Then at least, the refillable mugs would ALWAYS be useful, no matter how far you were from the food court / restaurant of yoru resort.)

Anyway ... yes, we've changed our tune, and even "big eaters" like us feel that the Deluxe plan is just too much food. Not to a degree where we feel we didn't get our dollars' worth, but ... too much, nonetheless.

[stefffe]

we arent going until christmas (hopefully) but i am leaning toward the QS....although if i can wrangle a pin code like i did this year for free dining at christmas.....then we will definatly do the regular dining plan.

we shall see.....

[Jajajuna]

I keep hoping they will institute a 1 table service meal a day only plan. That would be the right fit for us in general. Quick service is cheap anyway, and we hate feeling obligated to eat a lot of food just because it's included. We really only have the stamina (and digestive capabilities) to enjoy one really great sit down meal a day anyway.

[Pax]

That still sounds like the Basic Dinign Plan would fit you reasonably well, Jajajuna. One Table credit and one Quick credit ...

[Chipmunks725]

Ok... So I haven't used it this year yet... (Next trip we are doing is in November). But my husband and I used it on our honeymoon last year after much debate, actually changed to it the week before we left! It ended up being a godsend since a lot of places we went were table service. We happen to enjoy sitting down through a nice meal without worrying about finding a place to sit like with the QS meals. For us it rocked. So when I booked our vacation for my birthday I chose it again! Yes it was a lot of food and we didn't always get the offered appetizers... it worked out wonderfully.

That's my two cents

[WeRDisneyFanatics]

Great idea for a poll! I look forward to casting my vote when we get back from our April trip We'll be on the basic dining plan.

We've done the basic ddp twice before and liked it. If I could make one wish list change to it, it would be this--have the quick service meal include entree (or combo meal) and a drink but no dessert, then instead give 2 snack credits a day instead of just one. I don't always want dessert with both my CS and TS meal, so it'd be great to be able to get a snack at some other point in the day.

[Joanne929]

We're using the DDP (basic) in April and I'll let you know how it goes!

We had it in December 2003 and it worked out really well. At the time, tax and gratuity and an appetizer were included and 2 of my 3 kids were still 'kids'. This time, no appetizer (which is ok with me really), and all of my kids are considered 'adults' (DD is 10 and still eats mostly chicken and fries when we go out!) and I have to remember to save for Tax and Tip before we get there.
I do like knowing it's already paid for though!

[DoraDoug]

We used the quick service dining plan and we absolutely it! We are a family of 4, two adults and two children under 9. We were there for 6 nights, arriving very late the first night so we only used 1 credit each that evening.
It was a great choice for our family because we enjoy eating at some of the more expensive counter service places, ie. Wolfgang Puck express, Tangeriene Cafe. We are not hot dog and hamburger type of eaters. If this is your type of food, then the quick service plan may not be for you. We got the least bang for the buck when we ate at Earl of Sandwich (which I do love by the way) because their meals are very reasonable anyway and they don't really offer any type of combo meal on the menu.
This plan also includes dessert with each meal and to be honest, we just don't eat that much dessert. We ended up getting things that were well packaged and could travel well and now they are in my fridge/pantry. I have a couple of brownies and a couple of chocolate cakes left. When I factored how much the dessert cost and took that off the total price of the meal, we still came out ahead of what we actually spent.
This plan also includes the resort refillable mug and it was the exact same mug design as last year. I don't know if they are trying to sell through the old before unveiling a new design. We really did not use the mug very often, only in the mornings for our coffee, which we made in the room. The drink station at Goods to go at Old Key West was just not convenient for us to swing by very often and they didn't have the hot chocolate machine like at Saratoga Springs, so we didn't have much use for that. However, the mugs we had at home were looking shabby so we were able to replace them. Yippee!
You get 2 snack credits for each person each day and we ended up with 22 unused credits on the last day. I went to the confectionary at MK and used some on cookies and fudge and the rest were used at the general store at Old Key West on cokes, candy bars, and chips for the drive home.
Each meal I wrote the meal total on the bottom of the receipt and I added them up each evening. We averaged $115 each day (including snacks) and the quick service plan was $78 a day, so we saved approx. $200 this trip on food.
We will definitely be using this plan again.

[chezp]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the quick service plan. It's great to hear feedback about Disney's latest dining plan.

[WDWfan]

Dora - Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the QSDP. I know your comments will help many PPers make up their minds on whether the plan will work for them.

[stonewall]

I will go stand in the corner after posting this because I know it is supposed to be about this year, but I just can't resist. The last two trips were at opposite ends of the spectrum, one was the Deluxe Plan, which then had the 3 sit down meals/day with everything included- which left me stuffed and feeling like I spent 10 days seeing nothing but the inside of restaurants and the next trip I thought, well, whatever....we'll just pay-as-we-go,not a good idea at all. WDW tends to bring out the latent accountant tendencies in me, so I can usually tell you how much I am spending per minute- the mere thought of a $5 bagel at breakfast can ruin my entire day, so knowing how much I'm spending on food and paying it in advance eases my mind- so I am hoping that the Basic Plan will still be around in the fall!

[Natazu]

We used the Deluxe Plan ten days in December. There were three adults and one infant. We were very happy with the way it worked. Instead of forcing three TS meals a day, we had a snack in the morning, then a sit-down lunch and Signature dinner. Using the plan in this manner, we were able to have California Grill twice, Citricos, Narcoossee's, Artist Point, jiko, Flying Fish twice, Brown Derby, and the Luau.... that was just dinners. I ran the numbers once we got home using the receipts. Assuming the things we probably wouldn't have ordered if it wasn't included, we still saved over $1000. We didn't have any problem enjoying an App, Entree, and Dessert twice a day, even my mom who normally eats like a bird.

[Natazu]

Originally Posted by DoraDoug

You get 2 snack credits for each person each day and we ended up with 22 unused credits on the last day. I went to the confectionary at MK and used some on cookies and fudge and the rest were used at the general store at Old Key West on cokes, candy bars, and chips for the drive home.

We had a bunch of snacks left last month too and did the same thing. It was like going on a free shopping spree. We got all we wanted and then got cookies and cupcakes for the family that waited behind us in line while we picked. What a blast.

[dworldluver]

We used basic plan in November 5 adults. We had the issue with the snacks at the end too but snacks from WDW for the grandkids were good when we got home. Fudge at confectionary we will try next time.

January trip DH and I were celebrating early anniversary and did deluxe plan. LOVED IT!!!! Even with paying 20% (more than that for a couple of meals) for tips we still saved over $250 for the 3 nights we were there. Besides that we received a certificate for a complimentary picture frame ($25) from Crystal Palace breakfast and cards from The Wave and Artist Pointe restaurants. Oh, and the complimentary champagne from the Wave.

We too used the snack for breakfast and 2 table services at Artist Pointe. We were also offered an option to go back to receive our dessert later (which I was told you can request from any of the restaurants) I found in general there were small apps and desert options that could be used and I didn't always finish my entree. The first night dinner I brought back part of the entry and the entire dessert because we had reserved early and I tend to stay up late so it was a 1am snack.

We plan to use the deluxe plan for Lindsey's coming of age women's getaway in March but will use the basic in sept. when all 18 of us go as most of the grandchildren do not eat a lot at home. If we can book the two rooms as two different reservations though we may do one room as deluxe.

We have done visits in the past without the dining plan but decided in 07 that it really is not worth the hassle of carrying the money, or putting on debit card (as we don't carry regular credit cards) and figuring out what you are spending and how much you have to scrimp or spend the rest of the time. But it is fun to go into a restaurant and be able to look at the menu and try something you wouldn't necessarily do because of price. I especially liked this part because Buffalo short ribs were terrific at Artist Pointe and I know I would not have tried that if we weren't on the plan.