View Full Version : Dining Package - What are 2 credits?
HTanner
02-01-2006, 09:01 AM
HI All-
Just wondering if those who have used the dining plan can tell me what some of the restaurants are that require two table credits or how I can find that info out? We're starting to plan out our PSs for our September trip (yeah, I know, we're a little early...), and we're on the plan, so we want to figure out how many meals we might have to pay for... LOL!!
Thanks, everyone!
Here is one http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/packages06a.htm I also think they are on disney's web site. I remember finding a clearner looking one I printed out and I think that was from Disney's site. Since you are not going until September, continually double check because they do make changes. I would strongly recommend the meal plan. With a family of four and two kids we definately saved money.
Drince88
02-01-2006, 09:20 AM
I found it on the WDW site, too: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/tickets/packageDetail?id=PackageDetailMYWDiningPkg06Page --- and then click on the 'selected restaurants'
HTanner
02-01-2006, 09:33 AM
Thanks, guys!
Yes, I am really sold on the meal plan. My kids are (going to be) nearly 3 and 1 1/2. So, they are free to eat, but we would always end up buying them a side dish here or there, anyhow. With the meal plan costing $70 a day for the two of us adults, we are feeding our whole family! $70 a day to eat? Get out of here! I'm sure we will buy some food here or there, but man, that is going to be nice.
The other nice thing - not caring how much the entree I want to order will cost and just ordering what sounds good.
Was writing and posting this before your last post but mostly still relavent.
Not sure how many in your party, but even with 1 - 2 credit meal the Hoop Dee Doo, we did not have any out of pocket expenses for meals at WDW. It was a very nice surprise. We went 7 nights 8 days (got there late morning first day [lunch and dinner] and left early evening last day breakfast and lunch). We used 3 sit-down credits for character meals, 2 for the Hoop Dee Doo and 2 for other meals. The kicker for us was in the counter meals. We never had to use four at any meal. Since the entrée could be a combo meal or entrée plus desert, plus drink, we could always split meals. Desert meant anything except another entrée or combo meal or whole pizza or something big like that. So with getting sides instead of deserts and combo meals we could eat for 3 counter meals and even 2 counter meals many times; thus, allowing us plenty of counter meals for the whole trip. We did spend one day at Sea World, but ate only lunch there and ate dinner and breakfast at WDW that day.
We went last spring so the one change I have notice is that a desert does not come with breakfast anymore but it appears to be the same in all other ways. Another thing for us last spring and I am not sure if this was a mistake since the program was pretty new but the counter meals were for the entire party and not distinguishable between adults and kids even though we paid for 2 adults $35/day and 2 kids $10/day. Thus out of the 28 counter meals we had for our trip I estimate we used 20 of them for regular meals and only got about 8 kid’s meals. The kid’s meal criteria was strict for the sit down meals but not for the counter meals. The cast members also went out of your way to maximize what we got. At Cosmic Rays, we were going to get two combo meals –ribs for me and chicken for my wife and the cast member at the register switched us to the rib & chicken combo meal for 1 counter meal that feed us both. I planned on 3 out of pocket meals and was able to use that money for shopping instead. You may want to plan some money on the side just in case, but if it works the way it did last spring, you won’t need it.
One other thing, the snacks save you money also, you just have to use them. We used most for drinks but just about every stand had at least one snack that was covered.
HTanner
02-01-2006, 09:59 AM
Thanks FMTX.
We're lucky in that both of our kids are not into having "kids" meals yet. The baby will just be starting into being free to try different foods (i.e., she'll be over one, so we can finally let her have dairy and juice and things like that!), and the toddler is picky, but likes the basics - fruit, veggies, rice, bread, peanut butter. Usually, we just get an extra plate and share with him. So, we imagine we'll do that on our trip - and with so much food, that will be EASY! Now, there will probably be a few occassions where one of them just really wants their own thing - like my son who adores mac o' cheese for pretty much every meal - and, on those occassions, we'll probably just order them a separate meal.
I can't believe how great the meal plan sounds! I used to budget $100 a day for just my husband and I! Now, we're going to eat at nicer places and spend less than my previous budget! Its alright by me.
My thought is that Disney is going to try to go cashless for the majority of the in the park stuff. If you think about it, it makes life a little easier. They already do charging back to the room, now the dining plan. It makes things easier for the guests. From a business perspective, it solves two problems - if people have paid for a meal in advance, they will eat it - which keeps the dining dollars in Disney's pocket. And, with less cash flowing through the pipeline inside the parks, they have less chances of dollars coming up missing. I hate to say it, but even at Disney, I'm sure they have employees with sticky fingers.
Mickeymac
02-02-2006, 03:42 AM
Above all, it keeps Guests in the parks. Now THAT is a sure winner in their book! :D
LeslieM
02-02-2006, 04:14 AM
I think the Dining Plan, Disney Dining Experience, and Disney Magical Express are all being aimed at keeping those $$$ on property. Can't wait to see what they come up with next!
Mark Goldhaber
02-02-2006, 06:22 PM
I think the Dining Plan, Disney Dining Experience, and Disney Magical Express are all being aimed at keeping those $$$ on property. Can't wait to see what they come up with next!
Gee, sounds like a story that I've been working on.... ;)
LeslieM
02-03-2006, 04:56 AM
Gee, sounds like a story that I've been working on.... ;)
You big tease, you! :p
MaddieMouse
02-03-2006, 06:50 AM
"We're starting to plan out our PSs for our September trip (yeah, I know, we're a little early...), "
No, you're not early. I'm already planning our trip for December! Have fun! And we are definitely doing the meal plan again---totally the way to go. Make sure to call early to book reservations if you're going to do character meals, especially Cinderella's Castle, that one books up very early. There's a list somewhere of how soon in advance you could call to make reservations, does anyone know where to find it?
Mark Goldhaber
02-03-2006, 08:32 AM
You big tease, you! :p
Since there are a number of stories that I'm working on, I have no idea of when it's actually going to happen. But the concept, several key points, and a clever title have all been selected. ;) :p
LeslieM
02-03-2006, 08:47 AM
Being creatively challenged, I always like a clever title the best.
Take advantage of the 46 hours of advertising during The Game on Sunday and do some writing, will ya?! We have, after all, decided to let you sleep on alternating nights, so you should be ready to let those creative juices flow! ;) :p :D
Back on topic for HTanner -- what is this thing you call planning a little early? No such thing, in my book, as that's half the fun. The dining plan will give you a lot of food for your money. Do a search on this forum on the plan and you'll get lots and lots of info.
HTanner
02-03-2006, 09:21 AM
LeslieM-
I am so with you. But, everyone in the non-Disney loving world looks at me like I'm odd for planning a vacation starting, oh, two years in advance! I guess its a normal gut reaction for me to say, yes, a little early... LOL!!
Nope, my brother and I started planning this trip about a year and a half ago. LOL! We did a small DL trip, just to get our fix. But, it wasn't enough. Soon we realized it had been several years since our last WDW trip (2002). Now, that can't be!
I don't think we'll do the princesses. Thankfully, my kids are too little to NEED to do character meals. Besides, my son loves just about EVERY Disney character. So, it wouldn't matter to him which ones we see! LOL!!
So far, we all know one thing: We're eating at Canada (Le Cellier). LOL!! Never had a bad meal there. Other than that, we know we want to try a new Epcot restaurant, but keep fighting over which one. I want Rose and Crown, my brother wants Alfredo, and my husband wants Coral Reef.
Any suggestions? We've done San Angel and Marakkesh. Both great, but we want to try something new.
LeslieM
02-03-2006, 10:07 AM
So far, we all know one thing: We're eating at Canada (Le Cellier). LOL!! Never had a bad meal there. Other than that, we know we want to try a new Epcot restaurant, but keep fighting over which one. I want Rose and Crown, my brother wants Alfredo, and my husband wants Coral Reef.
Any suggestions? We've done San Angel and Marakkesh. Both great, but we want to try something new.
I don't know that you said how many days you were going for - the beauty of the plan, IMO, is you could try all three! (Rose and Crown, Alfredo's, and Coral Reef) It depends on how many out-of-Epcot restaurants that you're trying and which two-credit experiences you're planning on.
We tried Alfredo's for the first time in Dec. (for lunch) and it was so good that we went back another day! Since there were three of us on the plan, we tried appetizers we normally wouldn't and got 3 desserts, which we normally never do. We tried one appetizer at one lunch that cost as two appetizers and one dessert at the other lunch with the same setup. (I'm not sure if I'm explaining that quite clearly) Going for lunch, we certainly didn't have to eat the rest of the day and we had the balance of the day to waddle it off.
Rose and Crown is still on my wanna try list (since I never get past the fish and chips stand) and, to be honest, Coral Reef has never made that list (sorry, guess I'm not going with your husband ;) )
Just ignore those non-Disney people and repeat after me ... I'm a Walt Disney World planner and proud of it!
Since there are a number of stories that I'm working on, I have no idea of when it's actually going to happen. But the concept, several key points, and a clever title have all been selected. ;) :p
I will be looking forward to reading them. Disney already has set their hook in me with that meal plan. One of the things we liked so much about WDW was staying on property the whole time and the meal plan helps save you a little money while doing it. Plus Disney gets all the dollars up front while keeping you on property. Now we just need Disney to buy Sea World and we would never have to leave the property.
HTanner
02-03-2006, 10:32 AM
I don't know that you said how many days you were going for - the beauty of the plan, IMO, is you could try all three! (Rose and Crown, Alfredo's, and Coral Reef) It depends on how many out-of-Epcot restaurants that you're trying and which two-credit experiences you're planning on.
Rose and Crown is still on my wanna try list (since I never get past the fish and chips stand) and, to be honest, Coral Reef has never made that list (sorry, guess I'm not going with your husband ;) )
Just ignore those non-Disney people and repeat after me ... I'm a Walt Disney World planner and proud of it!
Well, we're going for 9 days, but the first and last day are strictly travel days (we're coming from San Francisco, and its a 6 hour flight!). We'll spend 2 days in Epcot and usually do mostly sit-downs in Epcot. We can never get away from Canada. I suppose we could try all three - oh, I forgot, my brother also wants to try Norway!!! LOL!!
My personal thoughts - I would go with LeCellier, Alfredo, and Rose and Crown. I'm a little hesitant to do Akershus - not because I don't think I will enjoy it - but, my mother is a pretty picky eater. She is a recovering Vegan (which means she couldn't stand not eating meat anymore, so now she eats Turkey and Chicken and occassionally salmon). Its hard to find places with a good mix of items that we'll all eat. On the other end of the spectrum is my brother who really detests fish and pretty much all vegetables. Makes it kind of hard to plan restaurants! My mother gets tired of all tofu or all pasta meals (seems like every vegetarian dish in the world last time we were there was pasta or tofu!).
However, I can't say enough about Le Cellier - last time we were there, they specially prepared some raviolis for my mom - she said they were to die for. And she wouldn't let me have a bite! LOL!!
My husband could care less about the food at Coral Reef. He thinks it would be neat to eat near the aquarium. I tried to get him to sit near the fish tank at home, but somehow it lost its ambvience.
My wanna try list is too big to fit in one trip. I think, this time, I will try to get my hubby and kids to Beaches and Cream and the Cape May Buffet. These are two I have always wanted to try.
Drince88
02-03-2006, 11:52 AM
Don't forget that Norway is all Princess, all the time - and they keep altering the menu! I don't 'do' character meals, so I think that just threw that restaurant totally off my list (not that it was very high, anyway) :fez:
HTanner
02-03-2006, 11:57 AM
Don't forget that Norway is all Princess, all the time - and they keep altering the menu! I don't 'do' character meals, so I think that just threw that restaurant totally off my list (not that it was very high, anyway) :fez:
I don't mind some character meals. But, yes, Akershus changing to all character meals definitely took it off my list. Part of the reason I like Epcot restaurants so much is that they were different from anything else you could eat in the other parks. Its been a long time since my family was able to travel in Europe and outside the country, and it was a nice reminder of "home."
LeslieM
02-03-2006, 12:17 PM
We always hit LeCellier as it's a favorite of mine and my daughter's (an iffy filet, last time, notwithstanding). I am so Not a vegetarian, that it really rings my bell.
You mentioned Cape May Buffet, which may be a good choice for your group. It's got loads of seafood (great salmon) plus roast beast and lots of veggie options (best broccolini I've had, ever). Everybody, no matter their preferences, could find lots of choices. Good kids' selections, too.
What two table credit choices are you considering?
HTanner
02-03-2006, 02:00 PM
We always hit LeCellier as it's a favorite of mine and my daughter's (an iffy filet, last time, notwithstanding). I am so Not a vegetarian, that it really rings my bell.
You mentioned Cape May Buffet, which may be a good choice for your group. It's got loads of seafood (great salmon) plus roast beast and lots of veggie options (best broccolini I've had, ever). Everybody, no matter their preferences, could find lots of choices. Good kids' selections, too.
What two table credit choices are you considering?
Thanks for the advice on Cape May. Only thing I knew about their buffet was the seafood - which I just adore, but was turning my mom and brother off. If I can sell them on the other items, then maybe.... I think it would be a great choice!
Not sure which two table credits we'll do. So far, the only one we've talked about is Artist Point - which we all agreed was great (and since we're staying at WL, convenient) - - but, we've also discussed the fact that with two little ones, we may just skip it. I like CRT in MK, but we'd do it for dinner - we might bring the kids to that. BUt, again, we could skip it. ;)
My mom wants to do Brown Derby again, too. I didn't go to BD with them last time, so I'd love to try it.
We'd probably only do one 2 credit restaurant, though. We have too many table service places we love (who wants to eat fast food at WDW?! ) ;) So, we'll probably do a table service every night and do the fast food for lunch.
angelkk
02-04-2006, 12:00 PM
Wow, sounds like Dining plan is a wonderful offer for the ones staying onsite. Are there any restrictions from ordering entree? I saw from allearsnet.com that the price really vareis from $19 - $30 (even more). Any surcharge?
No restrictions on entrees. The only thing our entire trip we found not covered is a whole pizza at our food court. Any entrée you can get including table service restaurants.