Affordable Disney World Dining: Disney Dining Plans 101

Without a doubt, questions about the Disney Dining Plans seem to come up more frequently than any other question about meal planning at Disney World. It seems that Disney, in their efforts to provide flexibility and choices to their guests….has also provided a good deal of confusion. So I am going to take the next few weeks to discuss different aspects of the Disney Dining Plans, in the hopes of making things a bit clearer. 🙂

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!

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Disney Savings Round-Up for August 20, 2010

In This week’s Disney Savings Round-Up:

Disney announced some NEW promotions this week including an additional FREE Dining promotion for much of 2011. See below for details!

You can get some great savings from using Restaurant.com at selected Disney property restaurants! In addition, Expedia.com is still running summer sale that expires at the end of August. And be sure to also note the great sales at Hotels.com, and Travelocity for more ways to save money. PLUS the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are having a great promotion for the month of September as well!

Restaurant.com Promotions

Did you know that you can use Restaurant.com Gift Certificates to save up to 60% off on some meals at Walt Disney World? When you go to the Restaurant.com site and enter “Lake Buena Vista, FL” into the search field, you will find the following Disney property restaurants participating: Todd English’s bluezoo, House of Blues,  Garden Grove,   Kimonos,  Shula’s Steak House , and Il Mulino New York Trattoria.

Get 70% off Restaurant.com $25 Gift Certificates! Use code STEAK at checkout through 8/23/10.

You can also use Restaurant.com Gift Certificates for local restaurants or any place you happen to be traveling. We have used the certificates on a number of occasions: it’s easy and it is a great way to save money! This is a great chance to stock up for gifts, and get a few for yourself,  in addition to using some for your Disney vacation.

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Promotions

Book the beautiful Walt Disney World Dolphin, a 4-star Disney Resort, September 1 – 11 including Labor Day Weekend starting from only $99!
Rates from $109 September 16-21, and September 26-28. Rates from $149 September 22-25.

Book the beautiful Walt Disney World Swan, the Dolphin’s sister 4-star Disney Resort, September 1 – 11 including Labor Day Weekend starting from only $109! Rates from $119 September 16-21, and September 26-28. Rates from $169 September 22-25.

Must be booked by Sept. 3, 2010. Book online using rate code TZOO

DisneyStore.com Savings and Promotions

Halloween will be here before you know it! Find great discounts on your favorite Disney Costumes at Disney Outlet!

Don’t forget: Buying Disney items at home BEFORE your Disney trip is a great way to save money. :)

And you can save $50 when you become a Disney Rewards Visa Cardmember at DisneyStore.com

Expedia.com Special Promotions:

You can still save up to 40% on hotels with Expedia’s  Summer Sale – Expires 8/31/10

You may also want to take a look at the Family Getaways for special deals on  the top 10 family vacations of which, of course, the Orlando area is one! Save up to 40% on hotels! – Expires 8/21/10

Travelocity Special Promotions

You might also want to check out this promotion to see if it is a savings for you:  Find Top Secret Hotels in Orlando and save up to 45%.

Hotels.com Special Promotions

Summer Sale – Save up to 40% on hotels. Plus book 4+ nights at select hotels and get a free Flip™ camcorder! Use code FLIP5 at checkout.

Walt Disney World Savings and Promotions:

  • Book a Disney Vacation Package and Get FREE Dining!  NEW DATES ADDED Through 2011!!: Book a full price 3-night or longer vacation package for stays most nights 10/1/10 – 10/7/10, 10/22/10 – 10/28/10, 11/12/10 – 11/18/10, 11/27/10 -12/2/10, 12/10/10 – 12/21/10, 1/1/11 – 1/5/11, 1/9/11 – 1/13/11, 1/21/11 – 2/3/11, 2/11/11 – 2/17/11, 2/25/11 – 3/3/11, 5/27/11 – 6/2/11 and 8/19/11 – 9/29/11. Stay at a Value Resort and receive Free Quick Service Dining Plan. Receive Free Basic Dining when you stay at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. Minimum 3 night stay, with 2 day ticket.  You must book by December 20, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.

    • Summer/Early Fall Room Discounts: Stay August 15, 2010 through Oct. 2, 2010. Get a 30%-40% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book by 10/2. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
    • Fall/Winter Room Discounts: NEW DATES ADDED Through 2011!! Stay October 3, 2010 through November 23, 2010, November 27, 2010 through December 25, 2010, and January 1, 2011  through February 16, 2011. Get a 25%-40% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book  by November 21, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
    • Get a FREE Disney Gift Card for up to $500 when you book a full price vacation package, including hotel room and theme park tickets. Stay October 3, 2010 through November 23, 2010, November 27, 2010 through December 25, 2010, and January 1, 2011  through February 16, 2011. You must stay at least 5 consecutive hotel nights with at least a 2-day Base Ticket. Value resorts receive a $200 Disney Gift Card. Moderate resorts receive a $300 Disney Gift Card. Deluxe/Deluxe Villa resorts receive a $500 Disney Gift Card. You must book  by November 21, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.

    Hope you find some great Disney savings this week! 🙂

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    Who Wants Some Disney Giveaways?

    If there is one thing I love to do, it’s to go shopping. 🙂

    And going shopping while on vacation is even better. So it should not be a big surprise that I came home from Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort with a few souvenirs…..but the cool thing is that they are for you!!! 🙂 🙂

    So this is to let you know that next week, I am going to have a series of giveaways each day, Monday through Friday. One item each day. Now to make it fair, as I have Disney friends all over the internet, I am going to target different places each day for the giveaway:

    Monday, Wednesday, and Friday will be for fans of  my Facebook page.

    Tuesday will be a special Travel Tuesday blog post for readers here on The Affordable Mouse.

    And Thursday will be a special giveaway on Twitter.

    Now there is a “little” catch: to be eligible for each day’s giveaway, you will have to do something, like answer a question, provide a tip, share a favorite….something like that. No biggies, so no worries, it won’t be hard, I promise.

    Hopefully, just a lot of fun!!

    And if you want to increase your chances of winning, then before next week, go to Facebook and *Like* us, and go to Twitter and *Follow* us. 🙂

    Alrighty then! Get the word out, share with your friends, and we’ll have some fun and prizes happening next week on The Affordable Mouse!

    Photo courtesy of topsistasites.

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    Great Places to Eat That Are Out of the World (Disney World that is)

    There are a number of reasons why you might want to eat off Disney property: visiting attractions that are not Disney (yes, you might want to do that 🙂 ), price, convenience if you are staying off Disney property….all of these things just might have you looking for some great places to eat that are out of the (Disney) World.

    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”?

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    Disney Savings Round-Up for August 6, 2010

    In This week’s Disney Savings Round-Up:

    Disney’s FREE Dining promotion ends on August 14. Be sure to make your reservations now so you don’t miss out!

    Please make note of the promotion deadlines, as there won’t be a Round-Up next Friday due to vacation. Disney Savings Round-Up will return on August 20. 🙂

    You can get some great savings from using Restaurant.com at selected Disney property restaurants! In addition, Expedia.com is still running a special Disney sale that expires next week. And be sure to also note the great sales at DisneyStore.comHotels.com, and Travelocity for more ways to save money.

    Restaurant.com Promotions

    Did you know that you can use Restaurant.com Gift Certificates to save up to 60% off on some meals at Walt Disney World? When you go to the Restaurant.com site and enter “Lake Buena Vista, FL” into the search field, you will find the following Disney property restaurants participating: Todd English’s bluezoo, House of Blues,  Garden Grove,   Kimonos,  Shula’s Steak House , and Il Mulino New York Trattoria.

    You can also use Restaurant.com Gift Certificates for local restaurants or any place you happen to be traveling. We have used the certificates on a number of occasions: it’s easy and it is a great way to save money! This is a great chance to stock up for gifts, and get a few for yourself,  in addition to using some for your Disney vacation.

    DisneyStore.com Savings and Promotions

    FREE Shipping when you buy any Kids Clothes or Kids Accessories at DisneyStore.com with Promo Code: KIDSFREE.  Expires 8/10

    Don’t forget: Buying Disney items at home BEFORE your Disney trip is a great way to save money. :)

    And you can save $50 when you become a Disney Rewards Visa Cardmember at DisneyStore.com

    Expedia.com Special Promotions: Note the Disney promotion will expire next week.

    Expedia is running a Disney Spotlight where you can find great deals for your vacation, including resorts from $89! – Expires TOMORROW 8/7/10

    You may also want to take a look at the Family Getaways for special deals on  the top 10 family vacations of which, of course, the Orlando area is one! Save up to 40% on hotels! – Expires 8/21/10

    Travelocity Special Promotions

    You might also want to check out this promotion to see if it is a savings for you:  Find Top Secret Hotels in Orlando and save up to 45%.

    Hotels.com Special Promotions

    Orlando from $68 at hotels.com! Travel by August 31, 2010

    Summer Sale – Save up to 40% on hotels. Plus book 4+ nights at select hotels and get a free Flip™ camcorder! Use code FLIP5 at checkout.

    Walt Disney World Savings and Promotions: Note the FREE Dining Expires Aug. 14

    • Book a Disney Vacation Package and Get FREE Dining!  NEW DATES ADDED!!: Travel August 15 – October 7,  October 22-October 28, November 12-18, November 27 – December 2, and December 10-21.  Stay at a Value Resort and receive Free Quick Service Dining Plan. Receive Free Basic Dining when you stay at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. Minimum 3 night stay, with 2 day ticket.  You must book by August 14. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
    • Stay through August 14, 2010 Get a 15%-30% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book by 8/14. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
    • Stay August 15, 2010 through Oct. 2, 2010 Get a 30%-40% discount off regular room rates. You should know that some blackout dates do apply and that not all rates are available at all resorts. You must book by 10/2. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.
    • Kids Stay and Play for Free“: This special offer has been extended and is now valid for stays most nights May 2 – Oct. 2, 2010. Purchase a 4 night/5 day Magic Your Way vacation package (room and theme park tickets) and a child (age 3-9) stays in the room and gets a 5 day park pass for Free. This is basically providing free tickets for one child of this age…or two if there are two adults in the room…which can be a substantial savings! To receive the package deal, you must book by August 14, 2010. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com and click on “Special Offers”.

      Good luck getting some great Disney vacation savings this week!

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