Confusion! Dining Plan vs Deluxe Dining Plan for 2008 About This Page:

[kitkat]

I am trying hard to understand the differences between the dining plan and the deluxe dining plan for next year.

We have done the dining plan numerous times with the table service including an appetizer, entree and desert. However if I am reading it correctly the regular dining plan table service for 2008 does not include an appetizer.

Are there other major differences between the 2007 and 2008 dining plan? And what are the differences between the dining plan and the deluxe dining plan for 2008?

Is there a comparison someplace that will show me?

Thanks,
Kat

[Evil_Queen]

Ok...I was checking in 2008 you no longer get an appetizer with your TS meal. you also pay for tips. This was the first time I had used it and was very disappointed in the changes made from 2007.

I got a great comparison from my AAA office that my planner gave me last years and 2008.

Melanie

[Jookiba]

Yes, for 08 the "generic" dining plan has dropped the appetizer from the TS meals and tips are no longer included.

The new "deluxe" plan enables you to 3 meals a day and I believe 2 of them per day can be used as TS. Or however you use them you can use however-it enables you to more TS as well as the Signature Restaurants.

I would head to the official WDW website as it describes all the dining plans in detail as well as lists participating restaurants/eateries.

[jhoshowski]

With the deluxe plan, you are entitled to 3 meals a day - counter service or table service, in any combination. You can use two credits towards signature dining. Appetizer IS included with the deluxe plan, and you also get a refillable mug for the resort, and two snacks per day instead of one. There is some info here: Disney Dining - All about the dining plans at Walt Disney World

[snoozin]

I think the DDP is still a deal, if you plan carefully, even with having to pay the tip, and no appetizer. Even for us, tho, I think the Deluxe DDP is too much food... yikes!

[bradk]

yes, just to clarify, the DDxDP still uses credits, so signature restaurants are 2 credits per person (pizza delivery is just 2 credits). unlike the premium or platinum plans where it's simply 3 meals without a credit system.

so with the DDxDP, it's the equivalent of 3 dining credits and 2 snack credits per night per person

also with the DDxDP, each guest receives a refillable mug for their resort

[zoise]

Hey, I thought my Member Services guide told me that tips aren't included in either plan. Did I misunderstand??? That would be great if I did!!!

[bradk]

it's already mentioned a few times in this thread, tips are not included in 2008. but as it is, they've been raising the price of meals and i don't think the DDP went up, so it tends to even itself out

[SARH7]

My feeling is that the deluxe is way too much food.... Regular plan is great for us...even with the elimination of the appetizer. Plus, I know my bargain hunting self would feel the need to use as many of those credits as possible as TS to maximize my savings....Deluxe plan costs $70 a day!!!! (found that out from my wonderful AAA travel agent just this past Tues.) And obviously, the more time spent in TS restaurants means less time in the parks....

[Jookiba]

I would NEVER be able to eat three meals a day at WDW. The basic plan works just great for us. If I was to do the platinum or deluxe plan you would have to ROLL me out of there after a week! I could probably do it for a day, maybe 2-after that, I'd be sick!

Plus as others have said, paying all that $$ I would feel like I had to go from restaurant to restaurant to get my money's worth-taking valuable time away from touring the parks!

More power to those who like to do that-I'm just as happy with my 2 meals a day plus a snack!! If I would win the lottery I may try the platinum plan just once.....to try all those signature places without worry!

[CinderAbby]

As far as I know, these are the details:

DDP - 37.99 / 9.99 cost
1 snack / 1 cs / 1 ts per day
NO appetizers
NO gratuities except at dinner shows

Deluxe DDP - 69.99 / 19.99 cost
3 meals per day
2 snacks per day
Appetizers ARE included
NO Gratuities except at dinner shows
Refillable mug per person

For us, the deluxe plan is NOT worth the money. We don't use the mugs and we don't eat that much to warrant 3 meals a day. We can barely use the credits on the regular plan.

[bradk]

when you talk about meals, again, just to be clear, you're talking about credits. you can't eat at 3 signature locations per day for example (you would need 6 credits per person to do this). the DxDDP still uses credits, it just doesn't differentiate between TS and CS - as opposed to the premium and platinum plan which do not use credits.

and of course, as always, for both plans, it's really the equivalent of per night. it's not an allowance, all credits are pooled and available immediately upon checkin.

[Minniemouse27]

Originally Posted by bradk

when you talk about meals, again, just to be clear, you're talking about credits. you can't eat at 3 signature locations per day for example (you would need 6 credits per person to do this). the DxDDP still uses credits, it just doesn't differentiate between TS and CS - as opposed to the premium and platinum plan which do not use credits.

and of course, as always, for both plans, it's really the equivalent of per night. it's not an allowance, all credits are pooled and available immediately upon checkin.

Yup this is why I'm opting for the Deluxe over the regular dining plan for my ttip in July w/ my dd (her 7th bday trip). This way we can splurge and do some "signature" meals to celebrate her birthday w/o having to pay out of pocket for more meals.

Also, it is just the two of us so the extra $$ is a little easier to swallow!

[kv3291]

Just got back and did deluxe with the family. It was wonderful. We did do many signiture dining. This is the reason the plan was so wonderful. But, for everyone that says they want to splurge, remember that you still need to leave tip. One day our splurge meal at the Yachtsmen for 3 adults and 1 child was just over $340. So, even just leaving a tip that is $65+ you still need to budget for. The 1 downfall of this new plan is that the servers will not take your card until they have presented you with the bill in $$$'s. Down at the bottom of the bill they have 18% and 20% gratuity figured out. Then you give them the bill and your card...it is just troublesome and more time consuming to check out. I also do not like the fact that they only include amounts of 18% and 20% gratuity. While that is fine at the signiture dining and others, I do not like being pressured into leaving at least 18% at the buffets. But, that's just me. The other concern I heard from several other families that did deluxe dining and had charging privileges on their card. They did not fill the tip portion of the bill out before returning it to the server with their key cards. When the server returned with the bill for them to sign, then they left money for the tip at the table. Here, the server charged their room key with the tip and the family did not notice when they signed the bill. As always, pay close attention to the bill and keep track of your credits.

[delilah smith]

Ok. I’m sitting here think about this whole tipping thing. When you go out to eat for lunch or dinner, it does not matter, and the food is good and your server is good as well, you would tip well, right?
When you server does not to a good job, well then you would tip on the low side, right? Know matter what the restaurants tells you to tip, 15%, 18% and on and on, you are going to tip them on the services they give, not on what you are told to tip. I f the food is not good I don’t hold that against the server ,the server is not the chef. When I go out to eat I sit down and my server comes over, I start there tip at the high % point they have know where to go but down from their. What I’m trying to say is, bad service is bad service, and good is good, so why would you tip 18% for bad service? You would not do that at home? Would you? I’m all for tipping for good service but, I’m not going to let some place or restaurant tell me I have to tip 18% for bad service, that’s just not happing. Now with that being said I love WDW but, when it comes down to it, its all about the service.
Just something to think about that’s all.