affordable disney dining

Tuesday Disney Tip: The REAL Cost of Free Dining

Brenda Affordable Disney Vacations, Disney Vacation Planning, Saving Money at Disney World, Saving Money on Food, Tuesday Disney Tips , , , 0 Comment

Here is our party of 10 enjoying free Thanksgiving dinner!

When Disney’s Free Dining offer came out last week, I couldn’t wait to book the special.  This will be the third year my family will be enjoying the free dining plan. If you have decided that free dining is the best deal for you as well, take note of these budgeting tips.

My daddy always said, “nothing is free.” Although it is hard to believe, the free dining plan is just that. The first time we took advantage of this program, I was very skeptical about what the meals would entail. Would we have to choose between two entrees, neither of which we liked? Would we get the entrée free, but have to pay for the sides? The answer is no! On the free dining plan, you will receive wonderful menu items with sides, desserts and drinks – and all for free. Read more

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Affordable Disney Dining: Getting the Most Value for Your Meals

Nancy Disney Dining Plans, Saving Money on Food , , , 1 Comment

Continuing this series on affordable Disney dining, I wanted to talk today about some ways to get the most for your money when eating, whether with the Dining Plan or paying cash. There are some good deals on food if you plan your meals a bit…

  • Magic Kingdom: There are several choices here for making the most of your dining dollars, places where you can eat for less than $6 (sometimes significantly less). Main Street Bake Shop offers a variety of baked goods as well as breakfast items like quiche or fruit. We have enjoyed the hot dogs with cole slaw and fries at Casey’s Corner, and one of my personal favorites is Columbia Harbor House for their clam chowder or vegetarian chili. For many folks, splitting meals is the best choice for both the wallet and the waistline, and if you wish to do this too, you will want to check out Cosmic Ray’s for their half rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes and vegetables for less than $10.
  • Epcot: Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavilion is probably our family’s personal favorite for the variety of types of food for both breakfast as well as lunch/dinner. You will also find a half rotisserie chicken with two sides as an option here. We also have found some good, economical choices in World Showcase, several for less than $5. Consider croissants, quiches, or fruit/cheese in France, or egg rolls in China.
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: An affordable breakfast is easy (and yummy!) at Starring Rolls Bakery where there are tons of miniature baked goods for under $2. Some great options for lunch or dinner include Toluca Legs for a chili dog, Rosie’s All-American Café for soup of the day (a nice change of pace!), Catalina Eddie’s and Toy Story Pizza Planet for (what else?) pizza………any of which will be less than $6.
  • Animal Kingdom: For those who love being able to split meals, look for the half smoked chicken platter at Flame Tree Barbecue for under $10. Other economical food options include Pizzafari’s cheesy break sticks, fruit/cheese at Harambe Fruit Market, egg rolls and fried rice at Anandupur Local Food Café, and the delicious muffins or sweet rolls at Kusafiri: the fruit/cheese plate will be less than $6, and the rest will be less than $4.

You may also want to consider the fruit stands that are in the parks: each has at least one (Magic Kingdom actually has 3). In addition to finding a healthy selection of apples, bananas and oranges, you may also find items like carrots, melons, grapes, strawberries or even yogurt and fruit salad. The best thing is that everything is less than $4, with many of the items being about $1. You can’t beat that value!  🙂

Getting the Most Value from the Dining Plans

What if you are on the Disney Dining Plan? Consider the following tips to make the most of those Dining Plan credits:

  • All of the meal credits for everyone in your party are grouped together, so all credits belong to everyone. This means that you can really use whatever meal credits you want, whenever you want during your trip. It gives you flexibility and options for making the meals work for your family (especially helpful for little ones who may not be hungry when/where everyone else is.)
  • Don’t want the drink that comes with your Quick Service meal? Get a bottle of water to go, and save your snack credit for something else.
  • Likewise, since you will receive dessert with both lunch and dinner, get those to go for a snack later on, and use snack credits for healthy items like fruit, yogurt, or muffins that can be breakfast the next day.
  • Share, share, share. The Dining Plans are a lot of food. Stretch your dollars and avoid over-eating by sharing quick service meals: you may be able to stretch those credits to cover two meals a day!

In addition to all of these tips, I recently asked my Blog readers for their suggestions, and got some wonderful ones!

  • By Kristy: Well, the dining plan can be a great deal, depending on your family. But, especially at CS meals, many can be shared. We will get a couple meals to share for an early lunch and then if we feel hungry a couple meals later for an early dinner and a couple later to keep us going through the parks. That way no one is really full at any time. Our favorites to share are at places like Cosmic Ray’s. The ribs and chicken is plenty for 2 and getting the fresh veggies which are not only tasty, but good for you is great! It would spread your $ for sure and again, no one wants to be too full when you are riding rides.
  • By Amy: My big dining tip is to eat at the expensive dining places for lunch at the latest time possible. That way you can enjoy the delicious food and experience the atmosphere of the dining spots and not have to pay the dinner prices. Our other way to save money is to split meals at counter service places. Our favorite is the rib platter at Flame Tree BBQ.
  • By Teresa: For adults, it’s easy to stock up on items for breakfast and snacks to supplement one meal splurge during the day. Noon meals are cheaper than supper-time dining. Bringing a collapsible cooler or requesting a fridge in your room will help keep items cold. With kids, it’s harder to do so if you can get a deal with the free meal plan that’s your best bet.
  • By Becky: My tip is to order breakfast and snack items from Garden Grocer to be delivered the day you arrive. It’s convenient to eat in your room and much cheaper than the food court.
  • By Dawn: My tip is to bring breakfast items and snack items from home. Eat at the table service places at lunch time since the price will be cheaper than at supper time. Free dining plans are also the best.
  • By Whitney: Don’t think that you have to eat THREE meals a day. Eat a filling breakfast (definitely include a protein!), take ‘brought from home’ snacks to munch on at the park, and then eat a very late lunch/early dinner. What we do is schedule our Character dining either really late (like Breakfast at 10:45 or 11:00) or really early (like a lunch at 11:30) and just skip the other meal.
  • By Christina: I generally try to bring healthy snacks and meals from home. Granola, cereal bars, dried fruit, etc. You can also buy fresh fruit in the parks to add to it. The nice restaurants generally are less crowded and cost less at lunch time, then for dinner, try counter service. One of my favorite dinner items is a turkey leg that you can buy at the Magic Kingdom and the other parks. It’s not expensive, and it’s PLENTY to eat!
  • By DeAnna: If we have access to an in-room fridge, we take advantage of it. One of the best things I’ve found for breakfast are seedless grapes. They’re wonderfully refreshing, they give you a healthy fill-up, without feeling weighted down and miserable like some bigger breakfasts tend to do at times, AND they are kid friendly. You can give them grapes and no need to worry about them staining their clothes before they even make it to the park. Also, if you’re running behind (if you have a “schedule” like us!), they’re a great on-the-go breakfast to take with you on the bus/monorail.
  • By Tammy: I hate wasting money on park food!! We do cereal/donuts/coffee cake in the mornings. I pack sandwiches and snacks. We usually do one character dining and other dinner nights include things we can share ~ like pizza

So there you have it: a few ideas to help you make the most of your meal budget at Disney World. If you have any additional suggestions, please share in the comments below, on our Facebook page or Tweet about it. 🙂

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Affordable Disney Dining: Tables in Wonderland and Other Discounts

Nancy Saving Money on Food , , , , , 3 Comments

The past several blog posts have been devoted to explaining the variations of the Disney Dining Plan. For many folks, free or not, the Dining Plan is the best way to save money on their meal budget. But what if you have determined that none of the Disney Dining Plans are right for your family: are there any other ways to save money on meals at Disney World?

The short answer is, yes. The long answer (as often happens when discussing saving money at Disney World) is that it depends. *What* it all depends on, is the subject of today’s post. 🙂 Let’s take a look at the other discount options.

Tables in Wonderland

Probably the most popular dining discount program that Disney offers, after the Dining Plan, is the Tables in Wonderland program. Offered only to Florida residents and Annual Passholders, it provides guests with a 20% discount on food, beverages, and alcohol at most table-service restaurants throughout the Disney World parks and resort hotels. So if you do not have a Florida resident pass or Annual pass, you are not eligible. But if this DOES apply to you, then you may want to consider this program. Here is an overview of the specifics of this program:

  • Cost for a Tables in Wonderland membership is $100 per year for Florida residents and $75 for Annual and Seasonal Passholders.
  • The benefit is valid for a party of up to 10 people. Only one discount card can be used per table. The member must be present and must present the card when ordering.
  • The membership card is not accepted on holidays, including Mothers Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
  • In addition to the 20% discount on food and beverages, membership includes benefits such as complimentary resort/hotel parking (including valet parking) and reimbursement for theme park parking when dining in a theme park restaurant, invitations to special member-only events, free admission to Atlantic Dance Hall on the BoardWalk  and more.
  • An 18% gratuity will be added to all transactions at table service restaurants and lounges, regardless of party size. 20% gratuity will be added at Victoria & Albert’s.
  • Purchasing a Tables in Wonderland membership is easy: simply call (407) 566-5858, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, or visit any of the Disney World Guest Services locations or call. Proof of eligibility is required.

So, if you are eligible, will the Tables in Wonderland program be a savings for you? And will it be MORE of a savings than the Disney Dining Plan? To answer this, you are going to have to get your calculator out and do a little math. Sorry.

First, consider the cost of membership to see if you will use it enough to save more than the cost of the membership. Second, look at the restaurants that accept the Tables in Wonderland program: you can find a full list of all of the current restaurants over at the Disney Food Blog. While there are a lot of restaurants that participate, are the ones that you are interested in on the list? Third, are you traveling on any of the excluded holidays? If so, then consider carefully, because there is no savings on those days. Lastly, if it were me, I would do some sample estimates of meal costs, using the 20% Tables in Wonderland discount PLUS the cost of the membership, and compare to the cost per day that the Dining Plan will cost me. Which is cheaper? The answer won’t be the same for everyone!

I do want to say we have not used this program, so I asked for some thoughts over on our Facebook page. Here are a couple of the responses I received:

From Rebecca: I used to have one, but not any longer. The cost of the card exceeds the savings for a single person. It may be beneficial to a family who dines on table service frequently

From Angela: I have had the tables in Wonderland card in the past. A few years ago you had to spend around $300 a year in food to pay for the card. So anything over that is cost effective. Drawbacks are that any sitdown you get an automatic 18% tip added to the bill and it is only good at hotel CS if there is no sit down restaurant at that hotel.

My thoughts about this program are that it probably benefits local and/or frequent guests the most: those for whom the Dining Plan is not available. It also may be worth a look for a family who is interested in one or two table service meals per trip, but not the full table service/day offering of the Dining Plan. Do the math though to make sure your savings will be greater than the cost of the membership for you.

Annual Pass, DVC, and Other Discounts

Additionally, there are a few other ways to get *some* discounts on Disney World dining….if you are eligible. Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members, and AAA members all receive discounts to some Walt Disney World restaurants, typically 10% although a few restaurants do offer 20% discounts. The thing to keep in mind is that the list of restaurants offering discounts for these promotions is quite a bit smaller than the Tables in Wonderland list, so you really need to check the websites or promotion list that you received to see what is available, and if it will really be a savings for your circumstances.

Other potential discounts on Disney restaurants may be available through the Entertainment Book, coupons found in Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World 2010 guidebook, and Restaurant.com which offers gift certificates for up to 60% off for the following Disney World restaurants: Todd English’s bluezoo, House of Blues,  Garden Grove,   Kimonos,  Shula’s Steak House, and Il Mulino New York Trattoria. (When you go to the Restaurant.com site and enter “Lake Buena Vista, FL” into the search field, you will find the Disney property restaurants that participate.) I do want to say that I have personally used Restaurant.com locally on a number of occasions and am becoming a huge fan: often gift certificates can be purchased for up to 80% off which is a HUGE savings if you are interested in eating at any of the above restaurants.

So there you have it: how you *may* be able to receive discounts on your Disney dining, without the Dining Plan. Now, I would love to hear your experiences with some of these Disney discount dining programs. What has worked for you? What tips can you share? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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Affordable Disney World Dining: The Deluxe, Premium, Platinum and Wine Dining Plans

Nancy Disney Dining Plans, Saving Money on Food , , , 1 Comment

Always ready to offer a variety of options to their guests, Disney has Dining Plans to fit many different needs. Today’s post will discuss the higher priced options: the Deluxe, Premium, and Platinum Dining Plans, and the Wine and Dine Plan. Offering more food than the Basic or Quick Service Dining Plans, these plans are all the same from the dining aspect: the difference in each is in the “extras” that are included with the Premium and Platinum Plans.

One thing to consider as you look at all that is offered in each plan, is that they are not cheap. Having said that, can they be a good value for you? The answer to that truly lies in your plans for your Disney vacation. For example, many folks wish to try a number of Signature or Dining Show experiences: for those families, the Deluxe Plan may be the most affordable way for you to do this. What about tours, recreation, and some of the other “extras” that are included in a couple of these plans? If want to try some of these activities, then do the math to see if one of these plans are less expensive than paying out of pocket for each.

So, what is the difference, what is included, and how much do they cost?

What Food Do You Get With the Deluxe, Premium, and Platinum Plans?

With each of these plans, every guest in your room receives three meals, all of which can be chosen from either Disney World table-service or quick-service restaurants. These 3 meal credits/day for each person in your room can be used in any of the following ways:

  • Table-service meal or buffet
    • Breakfast: includes entrée, juice and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet
    • Lunch and Dinner: includes appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage OR full buffet
  • 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).

In addition, each person in your room enjoys:

  • Two Snacks chosen from hundreds of snack options throughout the parks and resorts. 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.
  • One refillable resort drink mug. With this mug you get unlimited drink refills at any RESORT HOTEL only.

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.

Additional Things You Should Know

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 (note that gratuity IS included here)
  • One room service meal, including entrée, dessert or juice, plus non-alcoholic beverage
  • One Pizza Delivery – 1 pizza, 2 non-alcoholic beverages, 2 desserts

As mentioned in Disney Dining Plans 101, you must purchase any of these Dining Plans as an add-on to a Magic Your Way Vacation Package at Walt Disney World. This means you’ll be staying at a Disney owned-and-operated resort, and will have purchased at least a one-day ticket for everyone staying in your room. (The exception being Annual Passholders or Disney Vacation Club Members who may add a Dining Plan on to their room only reservation.) And everyone in the room must be on the same plan, for the entire vacation.

Gratuity is not included for table-service meals on the Disney Dining Plan, unless noted otherwise. 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

Children ages 3-9 must choose from a children’s menu, if one is available.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, making Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) is strongly recommended at all table service restaurants, character meals, and dining experience restaurants throughout the year….and at certain times of year (peak season, holidays, Free Dining) it is vital. No one wants to pay to eat at table service restaurants and then be unable to do so because they are all full.

What Will These Plans Cost?

The cost of the 2010 Deluxe Dining Plan is: $71.99/adult per night; $20.99/child (ages 3-9) per night

You can download the 2010 Deluxe Dining Plan brochure here.

You can download the 2011 Deluxe Dining Plan brochure here.

The cost of the 2010 Premium Dining Plan is: $164/adult per night; $114/ child (ages 3-9) per night

You can download the 2010 Premium Dining Plan brochure here.

You can download the 2011 Premium Dining Plan brochure here.

The cost of the 2010 Platinum Dining Plan is: $220/adult per night; $155/ child (ages 3-9) per night

You can download the 2010 Platinum Dining Plan brochure here.

You can download the 2011 Platinum Dining Plan brochure here.

What Else Do You Get With the Premium Dining Plan?

As mentioned above, the main difference between these plans are the “extras” that you receive. With the Premium Plan, in addition to all the food noted on the Deluxe Plan, you also receive:

  • Unlimited use of selected recreation, including golf, guided fishing excursions, water sports etc.
  • Admission to Cirque du Soleil show, La Nouba.
  • Portrait session and print package from Disney’s PhotoPass Professional Portraits service
  • Unlimited admission to Disney’s Children’s Activity Centers
  • Unlimited Admission to a number of Theme Park tours, including the popular Keys to the Kingdom, Simply Segway Experience, and more
  • Admission to Grand Gathering Experiences, if you have eight or more in your party.
  • Access to Preferred Viewing Areas for Wishes and Illuminations (some restrictions apply)

What Else Do You Get With the Platinum Dining Plan?

With the Platinum Plan, in addition to the food of the Deluxe Plan, you receive everything in the Premium package PLUS things like:

  • Pre-arrival planning service
  • Specialty fireworks cruise
  • Reserved seating at Fantasmic!
  • Selected spa treatment per guest (age restrictions apply)
  • Additional dining options, such as Victoria & Albert’s restaurant, room service, and more.

But Wait, There’s More!

Last, but to a wine-lover, definitely not least, there is one last plan: the Wine and Dine Plan Add-On. This Plan can be added on to any package that includes dining for an extra charge per night. In the 2010 Wine & Dine Plan you will receive one wine selection for $39.99 per night per room. For details and a list of restaurants available on this plan:

You can download the 2010 Wine and Dine Plan brochure here
You can download the 2011 Wine and Dine Plan brochure here

So there you have it: Five Disney Dining Plans. Next week, we’ll start exploring if any of them make sense, from a cost perspective, for your family.

(*Photo courtesy of Disney Dining Plan brochure)

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Affordable Disney World Dining: the Basic Dining Plan

Nancy Disney Dining Plans, Saving Money on Food , , , , 0 Comment

Perhaps the most popular of the Disney Dining Plans is the basic or standard plan. As with all of the Dining Plans, this is an add-on to a Magic Your Way package, or as an added purchase to your room reservation for DVC members or Annual Passholders. And as with all of the Dining Plans as well, this may….or may not….be a good choice for your family. For the family with young children who are reluctant to sit for long meals, or for those who don’t want to take the time for table service meals, this is a plan that may not be right for you. But for those of you who, like our family, enjoy the chance to sit down each evening for a nice dinner, or wish to do several Character Meals, then the Basic Dining Plan may very well be a money saver for you. I know it has, undeniably, been for us.

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.

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