O'MalleytheAlleyCat
01-21-2016, 11:10 AM
I am a DVC member and our family typically heads to WDW twice each year. No matter how many times I've tried to add things up, the dining plan has never made sense for us (myself, DH and usually two young adult children). In about 10 days, just DH and I are heading down for a 4 day trip as a surprise for his birthday. I'm thinking this just might be the time to try the dining plan to see if it would really work for us. I have table service reservations at 6 restaurants, including 2 that would be signature dining on the plan (using 2 credits). If we got the deluxe dining plan, it would give us each 9 meals and 6 snacks for our 3 night stay, and we'd use those meal credits with the reservations I have, with one additional credit to use as we need it. We are not big breakfast eaters so maybe we could use our snack credits there. I have also booked the dessert party at DS for one night (I didn't even know they HAD Star Wars fireworks there now!) so that's an additional cost. My questions for those who have used the dining plan in the past:
1. It looks like with the deluxe plan you can order an appetizer, entree and dessert for each table service meal, yes? However, information I found for the signature restaurants indicated only an entree and dessert....is that correct?
2. We also have TIW card, giving a 20% discount many places, including all the reservations I have. I usually figure this covers our gratuity, making the price of the meal, the actual cost of the food. However, we'd still have to pay tax on those meals, but the tax is included with the dining plan, yes? So....tip included but paying 6.5% tax on TIW meals and paying a 20% gratuity on the dining plan meals.
3. My husband is a big soda drinker and won't hardly walk around the park without a bottle of Coke in his hand. It seems silly to use snack credits on something like that. When we buy those and use our Magic Bands to pay, do we need to say each time to the cashier that we do NOT want to use our dining plan credits, but instead want the item charged to our room?
I'm sure I'm over thinking much of this...that's the way I am! :blush: There has been so much written about the dining plans and there is lots of information out there, but maybe I'd just like some personal comments about what might have worked or not worked for some of you previously.
If you'd like to know, our current reservations (focusing mostly on places we've never eaten or haven't been to in a long time) are:
Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch)
Citricos (dinner)
Le Cellier (lunch)
Tusker House (lunch)
Paradiso 39 (dinner)
Via Napoli (lunch)
We also definitely plan to visit Ghirardelli's in Disney Springs for some sundaes and I'm guessing my husband will consume a few beers along the way. I'll be looking for a cupcake or two with lots of frosting!!
Thanks in advance, Disney friends! :mickey::thumbsup:
1. It looks like with the deluxe plan you can order an appetizer, entree and dessert for each table service meal, yes? However, information I found for the signature restaurants indicated only an entree and dessert....is that correct?
2. We also have TIW card, giving a 20% discount many places, including all the reservations I have. I usually figure this covers our gratuity, making the price of the meal, the actual cost of the food. However, we'd still have to pay tax on those meals, but the tax is included with the dining plan, yes? So....tip included but paying 6.5% tax on TIW meals and paying a 20% gratuity on the dining plan meals.
3. My husband is a big soda drinker and won't hardly walk around the park without a bottle of Coke in his hand. It seems silly to use snack credits on something like that. When we buy those and use our Magic Bands to pay, do we need to say each time to the cashier that we do NOT want to use our dining plan credits, but instead want the item charged to our room?
I'm sure I'm over thinking much of this...that's the way I am! :blush: There has been so much written about the dining plans and there is lots of information out there, but maybe I'd just like some personal comments about what might have worked or not worked for some of you previously.
If you'd like to know, our current reservations (focusing mostly on places we've never eaten or haven't been to in a long time) are:
Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch)
Citricos (dinner)
Le Cellier (lunch)
Tusker House (lunch)
Paradiso 39 (dinner)
Via Napoli (lunch)
We also definitely plan to visit Ghirardelli's in Disney Springs for some sundaes and I'm guessing my husband will consume a few beers along the way. I'll be looking for a cupcake or two with lots of frosting!!
Thanks in advance, Disney friends! :mickey::thumbsup: