My family will be heading to WDW for the second time next January. This will be the first time we actually stay onsite (POFQ). We decided to purchase the DDP for this trip also. My question, is there somewhere I can go to find info on how the DDP works with specific restaurants? I have read many posts about their experiences at Ohana, and would like to plan a meal there.

Here is the official Disney Dining Plan info - http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/08Dining.pdf

It has a list of all participating restaurants and tells if they are CS, TS, Character, Signature, etc. This helped me start picking out places to eat, since my upcoming trip is my second also, and the first that I've planned myself. I suggest that you keep reading what people have to say also. I find it very helpful! :)

I'm assuming you're doing the 'regular' dining plan. Here's a link to the brochure for 2009, since that's when you're going.

Regular dining plan: The additional cost is $39.99 per night per adult or junior (ages 10-17), $10.99 per night for children (ages 3-9).
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/2009Dining.pdf

One thing that concerns me with your post is that it doesn't sound like you've made your ADRs yet. You REALLY need to do that as soon as you can - like today or tomorrow!

In fact, this is on the first page of the document:
TIP: Due to the popularity of our Table Service restaurants, the restaurant and seating of your choice may be limited or may not be available. Please call 407-WDW-DINE to make reservations up to 180 days prior to your visit for the best options. Please note that due to the implementation of a new dining reservation system, the booking window could be shortened from the standard 180 days prior to
your visit policy.


Additionally, you will notice a decent difference in the restaurants listed between the 2008 plan (that steins linked to) and the 2009 plan. DON'T panic if your favorite isn't listed. Disney negotiates with the outside restaurant companies and it usually takes them a while to get it all straightened out. If one of the restaurants you choose is on the 2008 and not the 2009, you can take a risk that it will be on the 2009 by the time your trip and ADR actually roll around, but it is a risk. Personally, I think it's a pretty small risk, though.

Fellow Padders;

First trip to WDW Dec 22-26th. Me, hubby, 21 & 17 yr old sons.
I'm thinking of: Boma(spelling?) on our first night,(we are staying at AKL)
Artist Pointe for Christmas Eve. "Christmas at the fort" on Christmas Day.
Has anyone participated in the 'fort' experience? I thought it might be fun but
it may be too "goofy" for older boys???
Any and all suggestions are welcome. I'm trying to please, "hard-to-please"
teenager/adult boys!;)
Oh, one more question? Dining plan..has anyone purchased the deluxe with wine?
Thanks,
just realized, this should be a "new post"

My boys-15 and 20 at the time, loved Boma for dinner. Artist Pointe is the higher end(2TS) at WL, right? I've read good reviews on allears. If your family is comfortable with that atmosphere then it seems like a good choice. No personal experience though. As with no experience with "Christmas at FW"-what do they do that's "special"? Is audience participation expected? My sons and myself love that kinda thing. DH-absolutely NOT.

Planet Hollywood-loved by my teens. Liked the music, the television(both got on screen) and the atmosphere. Me? Not so much but it was ok.

Buffets? Characters? Surprisingly they liked the character breakfast at AK with Mickey-good food, I got great pix and they weren't "too" embarrassed by the whole thing. This was when it was at Donald's but it's moved to Tusker House now.

My boys-15 and 20 at the time, loved Boma for dinner. Artist Pointe is the higher end(2TS) at WL, right? I've read good reviews on allears. If your family is comfortable with that atmosphere then it seems like a good choice. No personal experience though. As with no experience with "Christmas at FW"-what do they do that's "special"? Is audience participation expected? My sons and myself love that kinda thing. DH-absolutely NOT.

Planet Hollywood-loved by my teens. Liked the music, the television(both got on screen) and the atmosphere. Me? Not so much but it was ok.

Buffets? Characters? Surprisingly they liked the character breakfast at AK with Mickey-good food, I got great pix and they weren't "too" embarrassed by the whole thing. This was when it was at Donald's but it's moved to Tusker House now.

Thank you for your suggestions.
The "Fort" Christmas is country western music with line dancing...thought it might mix-up our Christmas a little...now to get the
boys into line dancing!;)

Additionally, you will notice a decent difference in the restaurants listed between the 2008 plan (that steins linked to) and the 2009 plan. DON'T panic if your favorite isn't listed. Disney negotiates with the outside restaurant companies and it usually takes them a while to get it all straightened out. If one of the restaurants you choose is on the 2008 and not the 2009, you can take a risk that it will be on the 2009 by the time your trip and ADR actually roll around, but it is a risk. Personally, I think it's a pretty small risk, though.

Wow, I noticed that I had the 2008 plan, but it just didn't occur to me that there would be differences, lol. I noticed that the DTD selection is a lot smaller, which is kind of sad since I had planned to try out the Wolfgang PuckŪ Express for lunch one day. :(

Wow, I noticed that I had the 2008 plan, but it just didn't occur to me that there would be differences, lol. I noticed that the DTD selection is a lot smaller, which is kind of sad since I had planned to try out the Wolfgang PuckŪ Express for lunch one day. :(

But I think that's a timing thing-wait until late November to really cry over it!

(Which is another thing that makes 180 days out so hard to deal with!)

Regular dining plan: The additional cost is $39.99 per night per adult or junior (ages 10-17), $10.99 per night for children (ages 3-9).
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/2009Dining.pdf

Question about what a "night" is - does that mean it's tied to your hotel reservations and NOT to your park hopper? We have more hotel nights than we do park hopper days.

Adrienne

Question about what a "night" is - does that mean it's tied to your hotel reservations and NOT to your park hopper? We have more hotel nights than we do park hopper days.

Adrienne

That is correct - it's tied to your hotel reservation.

I notice the regular plan says 1 table 1 counter...can you use 2 counter in place of 1 table svc meal making one day a 3 counter day? Hope I explained correctly:geek:

oh yeah-so if I want a pretzel for snack I must buy the soda to go with it?

I notice the regular plan says 1 table 1 counter...can you use 2 counter in place of 1 table svc meal making one day a 3 counter day? Hope I explained correctly:geek:

oh yeah-so if I want a pretzel for snack I must buy the soda to go with it?

You can not swap 1 table for 2 counter. AT TIMES I've heard that they'll swap 1 table for 1 counter + a snack at the same time.

You don't have to buy anything when you use your credits, and if a pretzel is included as a snack (I have not studied the snack options while at WDW), you could use 2 snack credits to get a pretzel and a coke. But if you just want a pretzel (and it's a snack) than you can just get that.

Additionally, you will notice a decent difference in the restaurants listed between the 2008 plan (that steins linked to) and the 2009 plan. DON'T panic if your favorite isn't listed. Disney negotiates with the outside restaurant companies and it usually takes them a while to get it all straightened out. If one of the restaurants you choose is on the 2008 and not the 2009, you can take a risk that it will be on the 2009 by the time your trip and ADR actually roll around, but it is a risk. Personally, I think it's a pretty small risk, though.

So is now a good time to panic for my up coming trip in January? I booked at Yak & Yeti and San Angel last August hoping they would revise the list of participating restaurants, but so far, nothing has changed. Should I try making alternate ADRs or continue to hold my breath?

WOW! I even double checked by clicking through the WDW site to see if they made a new pdf with a new URL after updates, and they do not appear to have added those restaurants! (Although just being able to get to the same url through their site is not 'proof' that there isn't one you can get to some other way :rolleyes:)

If I had ADRs on the dining plan in January or February for restaurants that aren't listed on the 2009 plan, I would call the dining number and ask them if they have information about your choices actually being included on the plan. I'd probably reschedule something in January if they don't give you a 'good' response, but hold off for Feb unless I was going right around President's Day weekend.

Drince88's junior executive observation/prediction: If they weren't able to get the operating partners on board with participating in the dining plan, this might be a death knell for the dining plan. One of the things that helped the dining plan's popularity was the 'ease' of using it. If there's a huge list of Table Service restaurants that don't participate, it's going to get confusing, Disney will have some angry guests, ESPECIALLY when they can't get in to the 'participating' restaurants. (Though it will open up the non-participating restaurants for those of us who don't participate in the dining plans!)

I guess I'd better get on the phone. I really hope it is a case of just not updating the website. *fingers crossed*

So it only took me the better part of month to get around to calling... they really need a 24 hour number.

The first person I talked to did not fill me with a lot of confidence in her answers. When I told her I wanted to confirm if some restaurants were going to be on the dining plan for 2009 because they weren't yet listed on the website she started to tell me about the change to the reservation window. Maybe it's my Canadian accent. *sigh* After repeating my question she did check on Yak & Yeti and San Angel for me and said they were on the dining plan. When I asked if that meant that the web site just hadn't been updated she said, "okay." Not the yes I was hoping for.

After hanging up, I felt a need to call again and see if I got a better answer. Thankfully I got someone who understood exactly what I was asking about and she did explain that the negotiations do sometimes take a little while but that I shouldn't worry. She then said she'd try putting in reservations for the new year to see if her system would accept them on the dining plan and it went through. I felt much better.

So the moral of the story: Disney needs to update their website on a more timely basis. :)

The second moral is that not all customer service reps are created equal. Glad you found someone who could help you :)

So it only took me the better part of month to get around to calling... they really need a 24 hour number.

So the moral of the story: Disney needs to update their website on a more timely basis. :)

The second moral is that not all customer service reps are created equal.
Thanks so much for posting your update Piseag! We all appreciate it!

And I thought these morals were all great, so wanted to repeat them.

One of the rumors about the new reservation system they're putting in (even though the website still says 180 days for everything!) is that it will include the ability to make your own reservations via web. If they ever get it all the way up and running.