Disney Dinning Plan

[banzai]

We're going to Orlando (WDW) on July 26 for a week and have started to consider the dinning plan. Except I can't find anything yet about how much the plan is or how to upgrade to it. We've already purchased our disney tickets through Undercovertourist.com.

Does anyone know how much the plan is per person per day and if we can upgrade our tickets once we get there?

Thanks.

 

[Talent312]

AFAIK, you can only purchase the dining plan as part of a vacation-package purchase from Disney. But I sugget that you call WDW Customer Services to ask if your tickets can be upgraded -- (407) 939-6244.

From www.mousesavers.com ...
The price of the regular Dining Plan has been reduced by $1 per person per night, meaning the 2008 plan costs $37.99/adult and $9.99/child per night. However, it no longer includes gratuities or appetizers (but tax is still included). This is effectively a 15%-20% decrease in value. However, the Dining Plan remains a good deal for many people.

A new Deluxe Dining Plan is available for $69.99/adult and $19.99/child per night. With this new plan, each guest receives 3 meals and 2 snacks per night . You can choose from table service or counter service for each meal (so if you can eat that much food, you might as well eat all table service meals). The table service meals include appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage. "Signature Restaurants" still count as 2 table service meals with this plan.You also receive a refillable mug per person, to be used at your resort.

A "Wine & Dine" Plan can be added on to any package that includes dining for $39.99 per night. This allows you to enjoy one bottle of wine per night from a selected list. Click here to see the brochure for this option.
....
For most people, the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining is the best value. To add the dining plan to a basic package in 2008, you pay only $37.99 per night per adult, $9.99 per night per child (ages 3-9). For that amount you'll get a full service meal, a counter service meal and a snack each day! That is a terrific value -- it is easy to get your money's worth.

The best part is that the dining plan is flexible, allowing you to swap a sit-down meal for a Character meal, or use two sit-down meals to attend a dinner show or eat at one of the higher-priced restaurants. You also have flexibility in when you use the meals. If you want to eat three of your sit-down meals in one day, you can.

The higher level packages are really luxurious, but for the average family they are also serious overkill. First of all, eating the included three full meals a day is just too much for most people. But if you're like me, you'll feel compelled to eat all those darn meals, because you're paying for them!

 

[Talent312]

[Duplicate.]

 

[Big Matt]

If you are staying in a DVC you don't need a travel package to buy the dining plan. You also don't need to go to any parks. You'll just be limited to dining at the resorts and Downtown Disney.

 

[vacationlover2]

Banzai,

We LOVE the dining plan. You need to call Disney owner services NOW to tell them you want to add the dining plan. You can't do it when you get there. It is awesome.

 

[Big Matt]

I completely agree if you are going to dine out for all your meals. You just need to be smart about how you pick and choose how to user your daily allottment of counter service, table service, snack, etc.

If you aren't going to eat out the whole time (especially dinner), then it starts getting iffy.

Staying in a studio in DVC makes this very attractive IMO.

Banzai,

We LOVE the dining plan. You need to call Disney owner services NOW to tell them you want to add the dining plan. You can't do it when you get there. It is awesome.

 

[elaine]

I would make sure I can get reservations 1st

you can make reservations without having the dining plan--when they ask you, just so you don't know yet. If you can't get reservations for when and where you want (and it will be VERY limited at this point), then I would not get the dining plan. You have to add by 48 hrs prior to reservations--and, as others have said, you have to be at DVC, or staying on a WDW package. you can add dining plan to room only reservation.

 

[janej]

I agree with Elaine. You should try to make a few reservations before you decide on the dinning plan. We are going to WDW in August using the free dinning offer. We made most of the reservations in April. We had trouble getting all we wanted at that time. We had a flight change last week and wanted to change on reservation on the arriving day. There is nothing open outside of the parks for dinning that day.

I thought it was just because we are going during free dining. But then I checked out a thread on disboard for reservation swapping. There are plenty of people looking for reservations outside of free dining time frame.

Good luck,

Jane