So, having said all that, what exactly do you get on the Basic Dining Plan? This plan provides for each person in your room the following items:

• One table-service meal or buffet
  • Breakfast: includes entrée, juice and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet, and tax
  • Lunch and Dinner: includes appetizer (for kids 3-9 ONLY), entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet, and tax
  • Gratuity is no longer included for table-service meals on the Disney Dining Plan. An 18 percent gratuity will be added automatically for parties of 6 or more; a gratuity may also be added for items not included in the Dining Plan, such as alcoholic beverages
• One counter service (counter service or “fast food”) per night. Choose one entrée/combo meal, one single non-alcoholic beverage, and either dessert (lunch/dinner) or juice (breakfast).
• One snack There are a large number of snack items throughout the Walt Disney World resort theme parks and hotels. What is available as a snack item is easily identified on the menu at all snack shops and counter service restaurants by the DDP snack item logo. Examples of the kinds of things you can get for a snack credit are ice cream (including Dole Whips and Mickey bars!), fruit, popcorn, chips, muffins, baked items, as well as a number of hot and cold drink items. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have found that more items ARE snack credits on the DDP than not, but when in doubt, just ask the castmember at the register.

You can read more information about the various table service meals at Disney World here.

And you can read more about the counter service meal choices and snack choices at Disney World here.

What Does the Basic Dining Plan Cost?

In 2010, the Basic Dining Plan prices depend on the time of year:

• Adults (ages 10 and up) $41.99 and Children (ages 3-9) $11.99
  • Cost is per person per night for the following dates: 1/01/10 – 2/11/10, 4/11/10 – 6/03/10, 8/15/10 -12/16/10
• Adults $46.99 and Children $12.99
  • Cost is per person per night for the following dates: 2/12/10 – 4/10/10, 6/04/10 – 8/14/10, 12/17/10 – 12/31/10

You can download the 2010 Basic Dining Plan brochure here.

You can download the 2011 Basic Dining Plan brochure here.

As previously in Disney Dining Plan 101, everyone in the room must be on the same package. In addition, there is no charge for children under 3: they may share an adult meal, or you may pay separately for them. Children ages 3-9 must order from a kid’s menu when available. All dining credits must be used by midnight the last day of your stay, otherwise they expire.

Tips for Using the Basic Dining Plan

Table service credits can be used for any sit-down restaurant, character meal, buffet or dinner show. Note however, that the following locations/experiences will cost you two TS credits:

• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Any of  the Signature Dining Experiences
• Any of the  Disney Dinner Shows – You can reserve Category 2 or 3 seating at either show, or Category 1 seating at the 9:30 pm Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (gratuity that gratuity IS included here)

Probably the single most important tip to using the Basic Dining Plan is to make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs). It is strongly recommended at all table service restaurants, character meals, and dining experience restaurants throughout the year….but at certain times of year (peak season, holidays, Free Dining) it is imperative: during these times, it is highly unlikely that you will have your choice of restaurants and/or times. In fact, it is quite possible you will have virtually no choices if you wait and try to do a walk up. Paying to eat at table service restaurants…and then not being able to do so is certainly not how anyone wants to spend their money at Disney World, or anyplace else for that matter.

As mentioned previously, only you can decide if the Basic Dining Plan is the right choice for your family. Consider the ages of your children, everyone’s eating habits, likes/dislikes, and then decide if the cost is worth it for you. It’s not a savings for everyone, but for many, like with our family, it unquestionably is.

• 2 Quick Service Meals (counter service or “fast food”) per night. Choose one entrée/combo meal, one single non-alcoholic beverage, and either dessert (lunch/dinner) or juice (breakfast).
• 2 Snacks per night. There are a large number of snack items throughout the Walt Disney World resort theme parks and hotels. What is available as a snack item is easily identified on the menu at all snack shops and counter service restaurants by the DDP snack item logo. Examples of the kinds of things you can get for a snack credit are ice cream (including Dole Whips and Mickey bars!), fruit, popcorn, chips, muffins, baked items, as well as a number of hot and cold drink items. It has been my experience that more items ARE snack credits on the DDP than not, but when in doubt, just ask the castmember at the register.
• One refillable resort drink mug. With this mug you get unlimited drink refills at any RESORT HOTEL only.

You can read more information about counter service meal choices and snack choices at Disney World here.

What Does the Quick Service Dining Plan Cost?

The Quick Service Dining Plan prices for 2010 are: Adults $31.99 per person per night; children 3-9 are $9.99 per person per night. This fee is added on to the cost for the Magic Your Way package (if not already included), or to the room cost for Annual Passholders or Disney Vacation Club members.

You can download the 2010 Quick-Service Dining Plan brochure here.

You can download the 2011 Quick-Service Dining Plan brochure here.

As already mentioned in Disney Dining Plan 101, everyone in the room must be on the same package. In addition, there is no charge for children under 3: they may share an adult meal, or you may pay separately for them. Children ages 3-9 must order from a kid’s menu when available. All dining credits must be used by midnight the last day of your stay, otherwise they expire.

Tips for Using the Quick Service Dining Plan

It’s important to realize that while each person has the above noted credits for each night, you are by no means REQUIRED to use them that way. In other words, if on one day you want to have 3 counter service meals, and the next day just have 1 counter service meal and 4 snacks each, you can. You can also, of course, supplement the food options in the Quick Service Dining Plan with other meals/food that you pay out of pocket for (say you want to eat at a table service meal one night). Just be careful and think about this first, as a lot of supplemental meals can make this not such an affordable choice.

You can also feel free to be creative, and consider sharing meals, as you will find that it is a lot of food for many folks. Consider also getting dessert to go, or getting fresh fruit or a muffin as a healthy snack for later, or for breakfast the next day.

And if you find you have leftover snack credits, use them for non-perishable treats like Mickey Krispie treats that you can take home with you…or to snack on during your journey home.

What Exactly IS the Disney Dining Plan?

Actually, the Disney Dining Plan is several different plans that allow you to pre-pay for most if not all of your food. In doing this, you (and everyone in your room) receive “credits” for a various number of table service meals, quick service meals, and/or snacks, depending on the Plan that you choose. Done with the eating habits of your family in mind, choosing to use a Dining Plan *can* save you a good amount of money on your meals.

How Do I Purchase a Disney Dining Plan?

You basically have two options for buying a Dining Plan:

1. You add it on to a Disney Vacation Package (or buy a package that has a Dining Plan already included in the cost) that includes accommodations and park tickets for at least one day for each person in the party.
2. If you are a Disney Vacation Club member or Annual Passholder, you may purchase a Dining Plan without purchasing tickets, by adding it to your room reservation or contacting DVC Member Services.

So in other words, you have to stay at a Disney owned/operated hotel. (And this is one very important reason why, when trying to make your Disney vacation as affordable as possible, you don’t immediately assume that staying off property will be cheaper. When you factor in the potential savings that you may get with one of the Dining Plans, it often *is* cheaper to stay with Disney.)

How Do the Dining Plans Work?

As already mentioned, depending on which Plan you choose, you and each person in your party will receive varying numbers of credits towards table service and counter service meals, and snacks. What exactly you get for each credit can vary somewhat, but roughly, with table service meals you get an entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink. With counter service, it’s an entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink. Snack credits can be used on hundreds of different types of items throughout property, and are identified on menus by the DDP snack symbol.

You can also usually use table service Dining Plan credits at buffets, signature dining (2 credits/person in most cases), as well as dining shows, and dinner packages.

So, once you get to Disney World and are ready to start eating, the process is very simple and works very smoothly. Your party’s total credits for each type are noted in your account: when you get ready to pay for your meal, the number of credits used are deducted from your account by swiping your Key to the World Card, and you get a receipt noting how many of each type of credit you have remaining.

So other than gratuity for table service meals (and any additional items you may order that are not included in your plan), you pay nothing, as it’s all pre-paid.

What Are the Different Disney Dining Plans?

There are a number of Dining Plans available for a wide range of costs as well, so no matter your budget and/or your eating preferences, you are likely to find a plan that works well for your family. Briefly, the most popular choices are:

• The Quick Service Plan is least expensive and provides for 2 quick service meals, and 2 snacks per person/per night, as well as 1 resort-refillable drink mug per person/per visit.
• The Basic Dining Plan provides 1 table service meal, 1 counter service meal and 1 snack per person/per night.
• The Deluxe Dining Plan offers 3 meals per person/per night at either counter service or table service restaurants, 2 snacks per person/per night, and 1 refillable drink mug per person.
• There are also Premium, Platinum, and Wine and Dine Plans.

I will go into detail on each of these plans including costs in the next few weeks.

Is There Anything Else to Know About the Disney Dining Plans?

One of the major complaints about the Dining Plans is that it is a LOT of food. For this reason, it’s really important to think about the eating habits of your family, to determine if any of the plans are a good fit for you. Buying a Dining Plan and then throwing out half the food because you can’t eat it all is not a good value.

Likewise, you will want to consider how you eat and if your habits actually match the credits that Disney dining has allotted to each person each day: while many people love the convenience of having it already paid for, if you find that you are constantly buying additional food beyond what is on your plan, then again, it’s not really going to be a savings for you.

Finally, keep in mind that when you purchase a Dining Plan, everyone in the room must have the same package/ticket options. You cannot purchase a Dining Plan for children under the age of 3, but kids under 3 can eat from an adult meal, or you can pay out of pocket for them if you wish. Likewise, children ages 3-9 will be on the kids Dining Plan and must order from the children’s menu where available.

So there you have your first Disney Dining Plan lesson. Next week, we’ll start discussing the individual types of plans available, to help you decide which, if any, is right for you!

Fortunately, you will have thousands of choices, as the Orlando area is, of course, a major tourist destination, offering locations for most major chain restaurants, as well as many, many “local” options as well. So no matter what you and your family like, or where you are, chances are you will have a number of choices.

Saving money is also likely, as prices, even in restaurants that rival Disney’s top dining choices, will still be lower than Disney’s. So eating off property, if you want to do so, can help you reduce your food budget.

Things to Keep in Mind

Eating at non-Disney restaurants will require transportation to get to them. If you are staying off property, you may very well already have access to a car, so that won’t be a problem. But if you don’t have a car, you will still find a number of great choices right in Downtown Disney….just a short Disney bus ride away.

The other thing to think about is that you can save a bit more by using the discounts offered by Restaurant.com or the Entertainment book. I also always recommend becoming a Facebook “fan” of any local places where discount coupons may be offered exclusively for those on Facebook: we have been very successful in getting some surprise discounts this way. Also, if you are staying in a non-Disney hotel, ask at the front desk about coupons for local restaurants as well.

Popular Choices to Consider

While you clearly will have many choices, Disney fans all over the internet have their favorites. Here are a few:

• Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney is the choice of many. Hot sandwiches and salads are large, and prices are reasonable. They also have some great options for breakfast sandwiches if it is convenient to where you are staying.
• Panera Bread is a personal favorite of ours for reasonable prices and freshly made (and delicious) soups and salads.
• Sweet Tomatoes is within walking distance of several of the Downtown Disney hotels, and offers a salad bar and all-you-can-eat buffet with lots of choices for a reasonable price.
• Ghiradelli for some delicious…and affordably priced…..ice cream options. (Check for a coupon on the bottom of your receipt for a discount on your next visit.)

In addition to these popular choices, I recently asked for some recommendations on our Facebook page and on Twitter. Here are a few of our readers’ favorites:

• Chris: I used to love Sonny’s BBQ when I lived in Tallahassee and I usually try to go there when I’m in Orlando.
• Emily: Chipotles and Earl of Sandwich
• Kristin: Chevy’s!!!! Very kid friendly!!
• Tammy: Bahama Breeze   Sit outside, with the fresh Florida air…There is one on I drive, and one on Vineland Avenue in Lake Buena Vista (that’s the one I go to). I don’t often eat outside of the world, but when I do, this is the place – food is really fresh, and the atmosphere puts me right in the islands. (ed. Note: Bahama Breeze is quite popular and does not take reservations, but you can “call ahead” to put your name on the seating list.
• Amy reiterates: Use Restaurant.com for several DTD restaurants, as well as others nearby.
• And from Twitter, @disneynine: The Olive Garden most definately! And any of the all you can eat buffets, Ponderosa a personal favorite. Also TGIFriday!

Thanks to our readers for their recommendations! Now I would love to hear what your favorite places are to eat that are “out of the World”?

Today’s post then, is going to explore some of the dining entertainment….in all it’s forms….that you can experience at Walt Disney World. (Warning: VERY long post because there is a LOT of information!   So get comfy……)

Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue

Does your family love corny jokes, singing, dancing, and a grand assortment of all kinds of “down home” cooking? If so, then the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is for you. This is one of Disney’s longest running, and most popular shows, held at the Pioneer Hall in the Wilderness Campgrounds. Two hours of food and a country western show provide a great evening that is perfect for the entire family.

What You Need to Know About the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue

If you are interested in attending this dinner show, you must book it in advance, preferably when reservations open at the 180 day mark, as it frequently sells out during peak seasons. Payment in full is required at the time of booking, however it can be refunded if you cancel within 48 hours of the show.

Pricing is in 3 Categories, ranging from $52.99/$26.99 for adults/children ages 3-9 with seating on the sides in the balcony (Category 3) up to $61.99/$31.99 for first floor center seating (Category 1). Please note that wheelchair accessible seating is only available in Category 1.

You may use Dining Plan credits for Categories 2 and 3, and for Category 1 seating at the 9:30 p.m. show. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is 2 Table Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan.

Families that have done this show absolutely love it, with some fans of The Affordable Mouse Facebook page saying that it is a must-see on every trip! For a great review of the food and show, I recommend this post from The Disney Food Blog.

Mickey’s Backyard BBQ Dinner Show

Not as well-known, but just as much fun is this show, also held at the Wilderness Campgrounds, in the open air, covered pavilion. This is an all you can eat dance party with Mickey, Minnie, and Friends at a country-western style picnic. While this show is held seasonally, if you love line-dancing and BBQ, you will love this show.

What You Need to Know About Mickey’s Backyard BBQ

As with the Hoop-Dee-Doo, full payment is required at the time of booking, and again, you will receive a full refund with cancellation within 48 hours. Cost is $50.99 ages 10 and up, $20.99 ages 3-9.

You may use Dining Plan credits: Mickey’s Backyard BBQ uses 2 Table Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan.

Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show

This dinner show, held at Disney’s Polynesian resort, provides a luau-type, all you can eat feast, featuring barbecue pork ribs, roasted chicken, and a host of other delicious food and drink. With a high energy show that will transport you to Polynesia, this is one of Disney’s most popular shows, and often sells out during peak season.

What You Need to Know About the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show

If you are interested in attending this dinner show, you must book it in advance, preferably when reservations open at the 180 day mark. Payment in full is required at the time of booking, however it can be refunded if you cancel within 48 hours of the show.

Pricing is in 3 Categories, ranging from $52.99/$26.99 for adults/children ages 3-9 with seating on the far sides on the main floor or most of the upper level (Category 3) up to $61.99/$31.99 for lower level, front/center seating (Category 1).

You may use Dining Plan credits if you wish: this show, as with the others, uses 2 Table Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan.

Dine With an Imagineer

Not a show…but highly entertaining, is this opportunity to dine with a Disney Imagineer, and learn just what it is like to dream up all that Disney magic.  You have the option, for this dining experience, to choose lunch or dinner. No matter which you choose, seating is limited to either 8 or 10 guests, plus an Imagineer.

What You Need to Know About Dining With an Imagineer

Lunch with an Imagineer is offered at 11:30 a.m. on select weekdays, in a private room at the Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Cost is $60.99 per guest, plus tax and gratuity. Dinner with an Imagineer is offered at 5:30 p.m. on select dates at the Flying Fish at the Boardwalk. Cost is $85 plus tax and gratuity. Prepayment is required at the time of booking, and you may cancel up to 48 hours in advance to receive a full refund.

Perfectly Princess Tea Party

For the ultimate magical experience for your little girl, you and she can share a special tea party with Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. This dining event offers a variety of princess-appropriate activities and entertainment, including some special “favors” for the princesses (and princes if they desire) who attend:  a My Disney Girl collectable doll (or bear for the gentlemen), tiaras or crowns, and other royal tokens. There is also, of course, an elegant and delicious tea party for all who attend.

What You Need to Know About the Perfectly Princess Tea Party

Basically, what you need to know about this experience is that it is not cheap: all that royal attention comes at a cost. The price to reserve this party for your little princess is $250 for one adult and child ages 3-11. Additional adult guests over age 12 are $100 and an additional child is $150. Prices include gratuity but not tax. Prepayment is required when you book, but full refunds are available for cancellations within 72 hours.

Now there are several dining “experiences” that are not as much about a dinner “show” as much as they are about making it convenient for guests to be guaranteed a great seat at popular Disney World entertainment, and have a great meal as well….

Fantasmic! Dining Experience

Fantasmic! is one of Disney World’s most popular shows, and the wait to get into see this show can be very long. To allow guests to experience shorter wait times, knowing that there is a reserved seating area waiting for them, Disney created the Fantasmic! Dinner Package. With this package, you pay for a table-service meal at one of 3 Hollywood Studios restaurants, and you get preferred seating for Fantasmic! as a bonus. Now, instead of waiting an hour or more to get in, you can walk in 45 minutes before the show and have a guaranteed seat, in a reserved section. (Note that this reserved section is to the far right of the theater, so if you would prefer to sit elsewhere, then you may want to bypass this package.

What You Need to Know About the Fantasmic! Dining Experience

Your cost will vary, depending on which restaurant you choose. For Hollywood and Vine, the cost is $26.99 adult/$11.99 child ages 3-9, for an all you can eat buffet. At Mama Melrose, you will pay a fixed price of $32.99/$13.99. And at the Brown Derby, you may order from the a la carte menu.

While you do not have to pay for the package when you book, there is a credit card reserve, and your card will be charged $10 if you cancel under 48 hours.

You may use Dining Plan credits for the Fantasmic! Dining Experience. Hollywood and Vine and Mama Melrose will cost you one Table Service credit and the Brown Derby, as a Signature dining location, is two Table Services credits.

Is it necessary to book this package? No, you can choose to wait in line, and as previously noted, that line can be quite long during peak seasons. For a shorter wait, and reduced stress if you want to make sure you get in to see Fantasmic!, this dinner package may be worth it.

Candlelight Processional Dinner Package

Similar in concept to the Fantasmic! Dining Experience, this dinner package is designed to provide a meal and reserved seating for Epcot’s extremely popular Candlelight Processional show. This narration of the Christmas story runs nightly from November 26 through December 30, 2010. In years past, there have been three performances each night, at 5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 pm, with each show running about 40 minutes.

Like seeing Fantasmic, you don’t HAVE to have the dinner package to get in to see this concert….however not having it will mean that you will wait in line for at LEAST 45-60 minutes prior to the show, and hope that there are still seats available by the time you get to the front of the line. During the peak of the holidays, there are not likely to be many…or any…seats available after the Dinner Package people have taken their reserved seats.

With the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package, you remove the stress, or worrying about getting a seat (although you will still need to get in line prior, but you are guaranteed a seat), you have a sit-down meal at one of Epcot’s great restaurants, and you also receive access to a preferred viewing area for Illuminations.

What You Need to Know About the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package

At this writing, details had not yet been released about pricing for the 2010 packages, but if it is similar to the 2009 version, it should look something like this:

You schedule your Candlelight Processional Dining Package meal for before the performance you will attend.  So if you will attend the 5 p.m. performance, you will do the Lunch Package. For the 6:45 show, you will schedule a Dinner Package for dinner between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., and for the 8:00 performances, your Dinner Package will be for dinner between 5:00-6:00 pm.

Pricing in 2009 was in 3 tiers, based on the restaurants you chose:

• Tier 1 – Biergarten (lunch or dinner), Garden Grill (dinner only)
  Cost is $32.99 lunch/$44.99 dinner for adults, and $17.99/$22.99 for kids
• Tier 2 – Marrakesh, Nine Dragons, Rose and Crown, San Angel Inn
  Cost is $38.99 /$44.99 for adults and $12.99/$14.99 for kids
• Tier 3 – Chefs De France, Coral Reef, Le Cellier, Teppan Edo, Tokyo Dining, Tutto Italia
  Cost is $51.99 lunch/$58.99 dinner (6:45 show) or $60.99 dinner (8:15 show) for adults and $13.99 lunch/$15.99 dinner for kids.

Package meals in the past included appetizer, entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage.

You can use the Dining Plan to book the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package. In 2009, this package cost 2 Table Service credits.

Fireworks Dessert Party

Not a show exactly, the Fireworks Dessert Party is a relatively new offering at the Magic Kingdom that provides guests the chance to experience a dessert buffet, while also enjoying the nightly fireworks display. A reserved viewing area for the fireworks, combined with a delicious offering of desserts has made this a popular dining experience. Originally offered for a limited time, it has now been extended through December 29, 2010.

What You Need to Know About the Fireworks Dessert Party

Cost for this event ranges from regular pricing of $21.99 for adults and $11.99 for children ages 3-9, to peak period cost of $25.99/$13.99.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

Since this post is in danger of turning into a novel, I will only give a brief mention today to the granddaddy of Disney dining experiences, the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, as no discussion of dining events at Walt Disney World is complete without mentioning this fall extravaganza of foodie fun.

This year, the Food and Wine Festival will be offered October 1 – November 14, and while the only admission to the festival is your Epcot park pass, if you plan to try the food offerings at the various booths, you should plan on each item, being between $3 – $8 each for a tapas-sized portion. There are definitely ways to budget for this, and still manage to taste a lot: you can read about our family’s experiences at last year’s Food and Wine Festival here, for some strategies that you may find helpful.

In addition, many of the extra, ticketed events have been announced, and sales have started. You can read much more about the Food and Wine Festival, at the home of all things related to Disney food fun, The Disney Food Blog.

And for more information on Disney World Dining Shows and Experiences, visit Disneyworld.com and click “Dinner Shows” and “Dining Events”.

When it comes to food choices in the Quick Service category, there are literally hundreds of places to eat. Over two hundred in fact, between the parks, resorts, and Downtown Disney. And if you add in the many, many more places where you can just grab a quick snack and keep on going….well there are a lot more than that. In other words…..you name it when it comes to food…and Disney has probably got it somewhere.

Quick Service meals are also known as “counter service” meals, and are of course, those meals where you get in and out quickly. You’re at a theme park for heaven’s sake: there are rides to ride and shows to see! Quick Service meals make it easy for you to get in and out, and Disney, being Disney, is pretty good for the most part, at making the process of eating….well…..quickly, pretty smooth.

So what kind of food is available as Quick Service….and what is it going to cost you?

While many QS places are lunch only, there are some (most, but not all, at the resorts) that also offer breakfast items. Nearly all offer a variety of foods beyond the basic entrees that are featured, with sides, desserts, fruit in some cases, and of course drinks available as well. Here you will also find kid’s meals, and happily Disney lately now offers healthy options for little ones (and parents who are *trying* to minimize the junk, fat, and sweets), with fruit and veggies instead of fries and dessert.

One of the nicest surprises for many folks who are visiting Disney for the first time, is just how much of a variety of food choices there are for QS meals. Yes, you can still get that theme park staple of burger, fries, and a soda…but you also can get many QS food options from countries all around the world, in addition to wraps, salads, “noodles”, turkey legs, sandwiches, chili, rotisserie chicken, soups…and a whole lot more. In fact, there is probably as much variety at Disney World in the QS food category, as there is in the Table Service category.

As to cost, there is again, a variety, but you can expect most QS adult entrees to be between $5-$7 each, but typically under $10. Not cheap, but the portions are also large, so it is very easy to make one entrée serve two people…or at least one adult and one child.

And what about Snacks?

When it comes to snack items, you will find these pretty much everywhere. Many “snacks” are located at the QS places, and if you are on a Disney Dining Plan, you will find all snacks identified with the DDP snack designation. In addition, there are snacks at many little counter areas and carts all around the parks. Some snacks, like packaged chips, pretzels, and candy are available in shops (if you are trying to use DDP snack credits, always ask if you are not sure, as this does change). And again, you’ll find a lot of choices! Breakfast snacks include bagels, croissants, muffins, and breakfast sandwiches …and increasingly, fruit and yogurt.

Snacks for the rest of the day? Well, you name it and it is probably in Disney World somewhere! In fact, there are some really incredible snack options available, with many folks having some strong opinions as to the “best” snack available! In fact, entire articles have been written to describe some of these fantastic snacks, so if you want to really have an idea of specific items that you just HAVE to try, check out these blog posts:

• Chip and Co: Disney Food Snacks shares great snack ideas (as well as other great foods too)
• Disney Food Blog: “You Won’t Believe This!” Snack Series (mouthwatering, so don’t read these at lunch or dinner time!)

As to cost for snacks? These can really add up if you are not careful. Here is where a food budget can easily be blown, even if you are on one of the Dining Plans because you buy stuff on a whim because it just “looks so darn good!” In general, you will find snack prices to vary widely from a dollar or so, up to $4-$5 each. (Tip: If you are using the Dining Plan, and think you will consume more snacks than your daily allotment of Snack Credits….save the Credits for more expensive items, and pay cash for cheaper things like fruit etc.)

What is available back at the resorts?

At the resorts, you will find a wide variety of Quick Service and snack options as well. At the Value and Moderate resorts there are food courts, while Deluxe properties don’t typically have food courts, but instead have snack shops or counters where you can get a QS meal or purchase snacks. Because these are in the resorts, most have a decent selection of breakfast items, and some are open 24 hours (always check though, as we have tried to get “late night” snacks a few times and missed out because they were closed).

One of the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to QS meals or snacks is that being creative can provide you with some delicious food…and possibly save you some money as well….so try some new things, share large portions, watch for healthy choices, and use those Dining Plan credits wisely,

Our favorite Quick Service and Snack locations…

In case you are wondering, here are some of our family’s favorite places for a Quick Service meal, as well as some yummy Snacks:

• Magic Kingdom: Columbia Harbour House for lots of *different options* like soup and chili (and be sure to check out the upper level for a quieter place to eat)
• Epcot – Future World: Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion for practically everything! There are tons of great options, and here you will find many of the healthier choices in Disney as well. Great place for breakfast too.
• Epcot – World Showcase: Nearly every country in Epcot has great QS options. It’s a fun way for kids to *try new things* without the expense of a Table Service meal. (We especially like the lovely garden behind Japan, for a peaceful, un-themepark-like place to eat.)
• Hollywood Studios – Rosies All American Café has a nice variety of food.
• Hollywood Studios – Starring Rolls Bakery for….well everything!
• Animal Kingdom – Flame Tree Barbecue for the smoked chicken: easily large enough for two people!

And if you would like more suggestions on great Quick Service or snack options, be sure to check out these great posts from the Disney Food Blog:

• Best Disney World Counter-Service Restaurants
• 5 Best Quick Service Dining Credit Values
• 5 Best Uses for Disney Dining Plan Snack Credits
• “The Best Thing I Ever Ate in Disney!”: Snacks and Drinks
• Tips for Where and How to Eat Healthy in Disney World

We are pleased that this post is part of the Disney Blog Carnival. Be sure to head on over there to see more great Disney-related posts and articles from some of the internet’s most interesting and talented bloggers!

Late last week I finally finished 3 new worksheets for you and uploaded them to the site. If you haven’t yet seen them, you can find links to all 3 on the Planning Worksheets page.

While there is a quick overview of each on that page, I wanted to take today’s post to elaborate just a bit and provide a tutorial that will hopefully help you to use them. But first, a few things for you to know…

First, they were all created as Excel worksheets, so if you have Excel installed on your computer, they should open up just fine. Each link goes directly to the worksheet: simply save each one into a folder on your computer so you can find it later! If you don’t have Excel, no worries because you can download the free program Open Office, that allows you to create documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and more that are all fully compatible with Microsoft Office. And again, it’s free! If you are going to use Open Office, once the program is downloaded, you should be able to open the worksheets in one of two ways:

1. Click on each worksheet and it will open automatically in Open Office (you may need to “tell” it what program to use to do this) or
2. Open Open Office and click on the spreadsheet icon. Once that opens, go to the file menu in the upper left corner, click “open” and select which worksheet you want to use…and it should open automatically.

OK, worksheets open: here’s the second thing you will want to know. Each sheet has cells where you can input your own information, while the rest of the sheet you cannot edit. Sorry, but since I created the sheets, I didn’t want changes to them going all over cyberspace…but still having my name on them. Hope you understand. The important thing here though, is that the things you need to edit for your own use, you can.

The last thing to know is what you do with them once you are finished. Basically, if you have saved your edited version, then when you get ready to leave on your vacation, you can print out what you want to take with you. Even better, smartphones and blackberries make it easy to have an electronic version with you stored in your phone! Just send it to your phone, save it so you can pull it up when needed, and voila, your vacation details in the palm of your hand. I do love technology sometimes……

Now let’s take a look at each sheet.

ADR Information Sheet

First there is the ADR Information Sheet: On this sheet, the Column Headings and top row with examples of how to fill it out (in red) you cannot edit. The rest of the sheet you can. So as you plan your Advanced Dining Reservations, use this little sheet to have all the information for each ADR together, in one place. I have found this truly important to have, in case I need to doublecheck, or change an ADR. I also like to make sure that I have noted when the ADR was made and who I spoke to (in case there is a problem). This sheet will also help you keep track of Disney Dining Plan table service credits, and/or how much you need to budget to eat there, as well as if there is a credit card hold for the restaurant.

Vacation Itinerary

The Vacation Itinerary is a formal version of what I have used on every Disney vacation (or every vacation for that matter) that I have ever taken. (In it’s earliest forms, it was hand written in a small notebook that came with me everywhere on our vacation.) I really like to have all my details for each day, all in one place, so I can at a glance, know who/what/where/when/why we are doing anything. This includes budget: I have found the absolute best way to make sure we don’t go over budget on a vacation, is to know how much I have to spend each day, and on what. That’s how much we take with us, the rest stays back in the safe at the room.

So the Vacation Itinerary basically has one sheet per day. You start with your Arrival Day, which has your travel information, hotel reservations/location, as well as a section for estimated expenses for the day. The left hand column you cannot edit, everything under Information/Numbers and Notes you can.

Next come Vacation Days. I made a number of these so you can have one for each day (if you need more days, then just open it a second time). Here you can enter as much information for each day of your Disney vacation as you like. I know many people get involved with touring plans, etc. We have never been quite so formal: Basically I like to know park hours, what is most important for us to see (so we make sure we get to it), any shows or parades if it matters, as well as ADR information. Take the ADR info from the ADR Information Sheet and plug it in here so you have it http://theaffordablemouse.com/wp-admin/post-new.phpwith you. And again, an estimated budget for the day.

And then lastly is the Departure Day, which is fairly similar to Arrival Day.

Disney Vacation Budget Plan Sheet

The Disney World Vacation Budget Plan basically covers (hopefully!) just about anything you would conceivably spend money on. There are sections labeled “other” for things not listed. The Budget Plan covers Transportation, Accommodations, Tickets, Entertainment, Meals, and Miscellaneous expenses. For every category except Meals, you edit “Column D” by inputting your estimated expenses, and the spreadsheet will subtotal each section for you, and provide you with a total for that entire category:

In the Meals category, you will figure your cost per day (Column B) enter then number of days (Column C), and then Column D will give you the total. There is an area to compute this using the Dining Plan or paying by cash. Important Note: The Cost per adult/day or Cost per child/day for the Dining Plan will be changed to reflect the number of people. You will note the TOTAL amount per day for ALL adults and for ALL children.

At the very bottom of the sheet, the subtotals for each category will be totaled for a complete Disney vacation budget.

So there you have it. Hopefully this tutorial will help you to make the most of these Disney planning worksheets. If you have any questions, please ask in the comments, or send me an email at nancy@theaffordablemouse.com.

Happy planning!

Character Dining 411

There are currently 11 restaurants that offer Character Dining at one or more meal throughout the day, and most are located in the Disney resorts. With a variety of food options ranging from breakfast, to afternoon tea, to dinner buffets there is something to please just about everyone. And there is also a range of character options as well, which is extremely important to consider when planning a character meal with your children.

In fact, there are several things you should consider about your children before reserving a character meal:

1. How does your child feel about character interaction in general? Many children are in love with the “idea” of eating with a princess, but when faced with the actual princess in person, they become shy, uncomfortable, or worse, terrified. Consider your child’s comfort level before booking.
2. What they like to eat may be somewhat secondary though, as many children are just so excited at the prospect of meeting the character of their dreams, that they don’t eat a bite. This happened with our daughter at Cinderella’s Royal Table for breakfast when she was 7: she ended up standing the entire time waiting breathlessly for the next princess to arrive, and never ate more than a bite. While there may be no way of knowing how your child will handle this in advance, I would also not make the menu the main criteria in choosing where to have a character meal.
3. I would however, consider the time of day when booking. If your child is typically not an early morning person, don’t book an early breakfast, as he/she just won’t enjoy it. Likewise, if your toddler typically crashes in the early afternoon, don’t schedule lunch just when his/her nap typically is starting. Even if they are awake, they are not likely to be feeling especially magical.

Perhaps most importantly, yes you need to book an ADR for a character meal, no matter what time of year you are going. And for Cinderella’s Royal Table or Chef Mickey’s, be prepared to be reserving online at 6 a.m. at the (currently official) 180 days prior to your trip. (Read this post for more information about making ADRs in advance.)

As to what it will cost you, Character Dining costs are comparable to those for a Casual restaurant, typically in the $10-$20 per adult entrée. The thing that is a bit different though, is that many if not most of these experiences are buffets (and some are quite good!) that offer many more choices for children who are particular about what they eat (if they aren’t too excited to eat). In addition, as an all-you-care-to-eat buffet, they are a good value if you have family members that enjoy eating.

Is it worth the money to eat at a Character Dining experience? If you love visiting Disney World, and enjoy having fun with the characters, then yes it is worth it, without a doubt.

You can learn more about the Character Meal dining choices at the Disney World website. For more detailed information about Walt Disney World restaurant experiences, including reviews, menu information, pictures and more, I always recommend a visit to The Disney Food Blog.

So let’s get started with talking about Disney World’s sit-down restaurants…or as Disney likes to refer to them, the Table Service restaurants.

There are over 50 Table Service restaurants at Walt Disney World, with dining experiences ranging from casual and perfect for family fun to an elegant evening that would be appreciated by any gourmet. And with food representing nearly every type of cuisine you can think of, there is pretty much something for everyone.

Within the Table Service category, Disney further divides this group into 3 “experiences”:

1. Fine or Signature Dining
2. Casual Dining (Not to be confused with Quick Service which is basically counter food…and a subject for a different blog post )
3. Character Meals (Our topic for next week )

Fine/Signature Dining

Signature Dining is the best Walt Disney World has to offer…and that best is pretty darn good. It comes at a price though, with entrees for this tier typically being well over $20, usually more like $30+. Still, if you are looking for gourmet offerings, served in an elegant atmosphere where you may actually forget you are at a theme park, then you may want to check out one or two of these exceptional restaurants.

Be prepared to spend a good deal of money for a signature dining experience. Using Table Service credits from the Disney Dining Plan may make it a bit easier to justify, but be advised that most Signature restaurants will require 2 Table Service credits, so plan accordingly. Even so, we have found that we are typically paying less per person for one of these restaurants by using Dining Plan credits than if we were paying out of pocket.

Now are they worth the money? If you enjoy fine food, wine, and atmosphere, and don’t mind spending several hours on a meal while at Disney World, absolutely yes!

Casual Dining

The vast majority of Disney World Table Service restaurants fall into this category, and there are many to choose from. Whether you wish to eat at the resorts, theme parks, or Downtown Disney you are likely to find a casual restaurant that serves the type of cuisine you are interested in. While the biggest concentration of Casual/Table Service restaurants is at World Showcase in Epcot, you will also find some great choices at both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. And keep in mind that a number of the resorts have very nice restaurants but may not get the traffic that the theme park restaurants get which is kind of nice. And Downtown Disney also offers some excellent choices: a number of these restaurants are not owned by Disney however, so be cautious when booking here if you plan to use the Dining Plan and make sure your choice is on the Dining Plan list.

While these are also table service restaurants, they typically will be more “child friendly” than the Signature Dining restaurants. A bit larger, a bit noisier, service is also usually going to move the meal along quicker, since these restaurants are generally pretty busy. Keep in mind as well that the popularity of many of the Casual restaurants can make getting reservations quite challenging at times of the year…particularly those that are located in the theme parks.

The cost of an entrée at these restaurants will typically range between $10-$20, so while less expensive than a Fine Dining restaurant, you could still find yourself with a bill in the vicinity of $80 for two adults. This should be a consideration if you wish to eat dinner at more than one Casual restaurant, because again, buying the Disney Dining Plan will probably save you money.

Is it worth the money to eat at a Casual restaurant? I think that answer really depends on the individual family. Know your family’s likes and dislikes, and what everyone has the patience for, before you decide. Many families with small children who may not want to sit for a longish meal, or may not like the food choices find that Quick Service meals are best for them.

But….if you like to sit down and relax over a nice meal each day, and your family enjoys new food experiences…then by all means, plans for some Casual restaurants to be part of your Disney World dining.

You can learn more about the Table Service dining choices at the Disney World website. For more detailed information about Walt Disney World restaurant experiences, including reviews, menu information, pictures and more, I always recommend a visit to The Disney Food Blog.

Here are the main things that you told me you wanted help with, in descending order:

1. Disney Dining. There are many questions about Disney restaurants, cost of meals, what to budget for food, using the Dining Plan and even just needing more ideas for saving money on food. I agree: this can be an especially frustrating area of Disney planning, especially so because it is such a large part of any Disney vacation budget.
2. Planning spreadsheets. You are looking for ways to keep your planning organized, as well as tools that will help you budget. And a number of you are looking for something small and simple that keeps track of everything, which you can bring to the parks with you.
3. Accommodations. Another big expense on a Disney vacation, many of you want more in-depth information about your options.
4. What is the most affordable way for me? There are a number of you that want assistance trying to figure out the most affordable way to get to Disney World. There are so many options to choose from, you worry that you might not be picking the one that will save you the most money.

Well, your wish is my command. I am happy to help and am really looking forward to being able to provide you with the information you need to save money at Disney World. In fact, I can’t wait to get started.

However, I won’t be able to do it all at once! So, my plan is tackle each item, one at a time, in the following ways:

1. Disney World Dining information will be shared weekly in my Monday blog posts, starting next week. For at least the next couple of months, I will discuss a number of different aspects of saving money on your food. I recognize however, that blog posts won’t necessarily dig deep enough into all the details, so at the same time, I will be creating a Disney World Dining Guide. This Guide will use the posts as a base, but will be far more involved. Some of you won’t need this much detail, but for those of you that do, it will be available for you.
2. Planning spreadsheets are being created as we speak! Since I am a planner by nature and live by my spreadsheets, I will basically be formalizing something for you that I am already using. And I will happily make these available to you for FREE, once I am done…which will hopefully be by the end of July.
3. Accommodations will be discussed, starting in a few months, once I finish the dining. While many of you need help with where to stay, more of you need help with dining, so that is where I am starting.:)
4. What is the most affordable option? This one is kind of tough, because it is so individual! Everyone’s situation is different, so the right thing for one person is not necessarily the right thing for another. At the same time, I also recognize that it can be overwhelming and at times confusing to know the best way to plan for your family. And having someone to just point you in the right direction can be a huge help.

That was one of the reasons I designed the survey, so that I can be sure to be addressing YOUR needs, and answering YOUR questions. However, my worry is that I can’t write everything fast enough to help you in your Disney vacation planning, especially if you are visiting Disney World in the near future.

But….I have an idea, and I am wondering if you might be interested…

Would it be helpful to have someone to just talk to personally about your Disney vacation, to ask questions and get suggestions about the best way to save money at Disney World? One-on-one time to figure it all out?

If so, then let me know! I want to be able to help you out, so I am going to try something out to see if there is a need. If you want someone to personally help you with your planning, email me at nancy@theaffordablemouse.com and I’ll set up a 30 minute Disney vacation planning call with you. Just the two of us, to talk over your questions, and hopefully help you figure out the best way for you to plan an affordable Disney vacation. Kind of like a talking, personalized Disney vacation guidebook.

Now there is one thing: while I would love to be able to do this for free, unfortunately I just can’t.   However, the cost will be minimal, I promise. (After all, I want to help you *save money*!)  So if this is something you are interested in, let me know, and we can chat more.

(Please keep in mind that I am not a travel agent: this does not involve me booking anything for you, nor would I be selling you on any specific type of vacation. This is merely personal assistance in Disney vacation planning that I am offering, if you need it. We’ll talk about it, I’ll help you decide what is best for you, and then you’ll do the rest.)

This is just a trial for now. I’ll see what kind of interest there is, what additional help you need, and we’ll go from there.

In the meantime, watch for your FREE planning tools and spreadsheets in the near future, and the beginning of the Disney Dining posts coming next week!

Oh, and one more thing: let me know what you think, and if I am on the right track for what you need. Either leave a comment, post on Facebook, or feel free to send me an email. Thanks and as always….have a magical day!