Is it worth it to pay the difference between the two? We already are getting the Dining Plan for free, but is it worth it to upgrade?

Our trip details:

September 7-17 - 10 nights
POFQ

Are planning on spending 2 days off site (but getting the 10 day hopper, so going to a park for dinner is no problem)

Already have reservations for Cinderella and Brown Derby (2 sitdowns)

Do like the fact that you get appetizer and dessert AND like the peace of mind of not running out of meals.

Drince, thoughts???? :):):)

First off, if you are going at a time with free dining, you will want to make your ADR's now, regardless of your decision to upgrade. You are within the 6 month window already.

Personally, its way too much food to really take advantage of. And eating like that (with the extras that it provides) for 10 days can really take a toll on a person. Personally I would forgo the upgrade and just pay out of pocket for the extra meals that you might want. You might come out ahead that way.

Made several of the ADRs for family and extended family.

Good point about the Dining Plans. That is why I seek the advice of the experts! :D

Do any restaurants give discounts for Disney Visa or AAA?

Do any restaurants give discounts for Disney Visa or AAA?
Not that I have ever experienced...

Deluxe Dining only really makes sense if you book a lot of 2 credit locations. You definitely won't take the time to eat three meals a day.

In September it will be still be hot and muggy, too hot to eat many big meals anyway. Last year we saved some snack credits and used them, together with splitting some counter service meals, to eat lighter meals around the parks for a couple of days.

No discounts for Disney VISA or AAA that I am aware of. I think Universal gives a AAA discount at some counter locations.

You'd only be able to do EITHER dining plan during your stay onsite. The plan is based on the number of nights at the hotel, NOT your ticket length.

I think most people (those with teenage boys in the 'eat you out of house and home' stage being the possible big exception) would not see the value of the deluxe plan. Just acknowledge that some times you're going to have extras that you'll want to pay for out of pocket.

To prefixes this, my brother wanted me to ask....

Is it possible to split the Deluxe Dining with the group? What he is thinking is switching passes/cards so that with some meals his family could use the extra meals and some meals my family could use the extra meals on the card. He has not figured out that there is only 3 of us (son in under 2) to the 4 of them. :rolleyes:

Are you going to be eating together? I guess there's no reason you couldn't put the whole meal on your room (both dining plan and then room charge/cash for the rest). Ethics aside, I would NOT let them go off elsewhere with my room key and admission media. It's all one card, and with the biometrics, they won't be able to get into a park with your key, and since they aren't on the same reservation, you won't be able to open each other's hotel room with your keys.

Is he planning on paying you for the dining plan for the days he would use it, or just let you 'pick up the whole tab' cause you're a nice sibling?

IMHO, If he wants the dining plan, he should add it to their package.

Thanks for the response. We will be eating several meals together, but I don't feel comfortable with doing what my brother was suggesting.

So instead of getting the Deluxe Dining Plan we have used the extra money to move over from the POFQ to the Wilderness so that we will all be at the same hotel (hopefully in different wings!!!) What my husband and I are doing are reviewing all of the restuarant menus and prices on a different website and deciding which of the 2 sit-down credit restaurants (Cinderella, Brown Derby, Safari Celebration) would be better paying out of pocket and saving that sit-down for a different meal. For example, Cinderella is 2 dining credits for a $36 meal, while Crystal Palace is 1 dining credit for a $28 meal.


This is like planning for a trip to Europe!!! Where is Rick Steves when you need him????
:D

\What my husband and I are doing are reviewing all of the restuarant menus and prices on a different website Just a note: MousePlanet updated almost all of the WDW Theme Park menus in February, 2008. You can either refer to the master list:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/misc.php?pg=wdw_dining

Or individual park listings:

Animal Kingdom: http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide.php?pg=BF0000

Hollywood Studios: http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide.php?pg=BE0000

Epcot: http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide.php?pg=BD0000

Magic Kingdom: http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide.php?pg=BC0000

Thanks! Just saw your response! I did not know these reviews were on this site. Great information!

Kristin