I've never used the DDP before, but my boyfriend and I love food and figured we would definitely get our money's worth.

To get this right, we get one snack, one counter service and one sit-down (non-deluxe restaurant) a day, right? And for the sit-down each person on the plan gets an appetizer, entree and desert (tip not included)? Does anything on the menu go for these, or is it limited to specific items?

Would you suggest booking these restaurants on a non-Extra Magic Hours night? I dislike crowds and try to avoid those nights anyway... My trip will be the last week of May, and I was wondering if anyone has a schedule for EMHs for that week (Are they even out yet?).

Sorry for all the questions, but I know you all are practically experts. :D

Hello DS...
For the basic plan you are correct with the exception that the plan no longer includes an appetizer. You can still use the plan at pretty much all TS places, as far as I can tell, but there are a couple of places that do take 2 credits. (CRT and the Yachtsman Steakhouse I believe are examples of 2 credit places.)

Pretty much anything on the menu is fair game. Alcohol and some specialty drinks are not included. If in doubt, feel free to ask your server.

I think someone around here has a link to the actual plan details for 08. (Ill try to find it during my next call. :) )

As for ADR's if you are going this coming May, start making your ADR's now regardless of where you are dining. In short - ADR's are pretty much required for any TS restaurant.

Here (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/calendarHome?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage&date=20080101)is a calender that has the hours of operations as well as EMH info.

Hope that helps.

Unfortunately, being a college student, I wont be able to make my reservations for my trip until next month (when I get some extra money). Can I still make my reservations now?

Oh, and thank you very much, GusMan!

You are welcome...
Yes, you can make your reservations now. Just have them associate the ADR's with your phone number.

Thank you very much! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

2008 Dinning Plan (http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/08Dining.pdf) site.
Basic Info:
$37.95 ages 10 & up, $9.99 ages 4-9
With the Disney Dining Plan you can choose snacks and meals at select restaurants throughout Walt Disney World® Resort including some that feature Disney Character Dining! Best of all, you can relax knowing many of your meals are paid for in advance.
For each night of your package, each Guest in your party enjoys:

1 Table-service Meal
1 adult table-service meal includes 1 entrée and 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only), 1 juice (breakfast only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or 1 full buffet. 1 child table-service meal includes 1 appetizer, 1 entrée, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or 1 full buffet. Children ages 3-9 must order from a Children's Menu where available.
1 Quick-service Meal
1 quick-service meal includes 1 entrée or 1 complete Combo Meal, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only) or 1 juice (breakfast only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage. Children ages 3-9 are limited to the Children's Menu (if one is available) at quick-service restaurants.
1 Snack
1 snack includes one of the following: frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single serving box), single serving grab bag of chips, single piece of whole fruit, 20-oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani water, medium fountain soft drink or juice, 12-oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea.

For the kids table service meal it says that it includes an appetizer but the adult meal does not. Do they have appetizers on the kids menu? Or can you order an adult appetizer and just share it with your kids?

Also, if you aren't staying on-site can you still book 180 days in advance for your whole stay or only 180 days from the current day?

Also, if you aren't staying on-site can you still book 180 days in advance for your whole stay or only 180 days from the current day?
You can still book 180 days in advance but only from the current day.

Is that true about the snacks? Are they limited now? I loved being able to mix it up and buy my sourballs at the end!

Is that true about the snacks? Are they limited now? I loved being able to mix it up and buy my sourballs at the end!My take on the snacks is when in doubt - ask. You might be surprised as to what some CM's will include as snacks.

You can still book 180 days in advance but only from the current day.

This was really a pain for me on my last trip a month ago. I wanted to book the ADR's at the 180 point, as I wanted some of the more popular places that I haven't been able to get into in recent past. But since I was waiting for AP discounts to come out before booking my room, which don't usually come out till 2 or 3 months out, I had to do the day by day booking of dining, calling first thing every day for a week! I guess I could have booked any old room and then changed it later to the AP discount, but then Disney has some of my money for much longer than they needed it. . .

For the kids table service meal it says that it includes an appetizer but the adult meal does not. Do they have appetizers on the kids menu? Or can you order an adult appetizer and just share it with your kids?



It's not an appitizer like you would find on the adult menu. Usually it is either a kids sized soup or salad or celery/carrots and dip.

Thank you for all your help everyone! I made my reservations yesterday, kept my fingers crossed because I was under the impression everything would be filled;I ended up getting everything I wanted! I've been to Sci-Fi in the past(I hate the food, but I think my boyfriend [a Disney newbie] will really appreciate the theming). I thought I would share my week with you all since you all have been so helpful:

Sunday Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
Monday San Angel Inn
Tuesday Boma
Wednesday Wolfgang Puck's
Thursday Coral Reef
Friday Tony's Town Square
Saturday 50's Prime Time Cafe

Great line-up!

I had read somewhere that you might be able to swap out dessert for an appetizer. I would love to do this when I go, buy one appetizer to share and 2 desserts for the three of us and share. Any truth to this?

SteveKNJ, I tried exactly what you were hoping for and had no luck. We just went January 1-8 and they had all kinds of problems with the new DDP. We asked if we could sub apps for desserts at the first two or three restaurants and no luck at all. Maybe once they get the new plan going smoothly they will loosen up a bit. Every night without exception we were there they couldn't even cash us out (they couldn't find TS credits for us) and the tip thing is really uncomfortable for the waitstaff. I don't think they wanted to add any other confusion by swapping things out. They followed the plan by the book. Maybe someone else that didn't check in on the first day of the plan can give us all better news. :D

Saturday 50's Prime Time Cafe
Personally, and somewhat off topic, I would like to hear about your experience at PT when you return. We have tried it a few times and it got progressively worse with the last visit being horrible with ultra-poor service and so-so food.

I know that if a child is under 3, then they get in the World for free. I have also found the prices for the Dining Plan for adults (10 & up) and a child (4 to 9 years). My question is this, what about dinking for those who are 3yrs and under? Is there not a dining plan for them (granted, I know they don't eat much)? Do we just pay out of pocket for them? Or, will they be allowed to eat off mine, my husband, or my 6 year old's plate? Just trying to plan accordingly and just have not found any info on this. Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks.

My question is this, what about dinking for those who are 3yrs and under?

I don't know about the rest of the adults in this forum, but I would NEVER let my child under 3 years old dink!








Sorry, some time you just gotta swing at 'em . . .

From the 2008 Brochure:

The Disney Dining Plan is unavailable
for Guests under the age of 3,
but they may share from an adult
plate at no charge or purchase a
meal from the menu. Guests ages 3-
9 must order from a children’s menu
where available.


Click here for the 2008 Dinning Brochure (http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/08Dining.pdf)

Under the Disney Dining Plan, all of the counter service meals are lumped together (at least as of late January). So if you have 2 adults and 2 kids staying for 5 nights, you get 20 counter service meals. We were concerned because the kids counter service meals didn't include Mickey Waffles, Pizza, or anything else our kids would eat, but the cashiers didn't force our children to order from kids menus.

Under the Disney Dining Plan, all of the counter service meals are lumped together (at least as of late January). So if you have 2 adults and 2 kids staying for 5 nights, you get 20 counter service meals. We were concerned because the kids counter service meals didn't include Mickey Waffles, Pizza, or anything else our kids would eat, but the cashiers didn't force our children to order from kids menus.

This is good news and is how it worked in 2007 & 2005. All the counter service meals are pooled together unlike the table service meals where adult and kid meals are strickly kept separate. This historically allowed us to get 2 adult meals (usually combos) and one kids meal per meal which was plenty of food for the four of us allowing us to make the CS meals cover our entire trip.