2014 Premium Dining Package

[GoBlueLacheta]

I've yet to utilize the Dining Plan simply because it is usually just two of us, and we only eat a handful of dinners out and the value wasn't there, but for this next time we are utilizing the premium dining package in hopes of experiencing a lot of new things.

Has anyone utilized this package before and have any suggestions about going about planning for it?

It appears that you have to be extremely meticulous with your planning in order to achieve the full value of the package, we are planners and dont mind it but are unsure where to start. We are a few days away from the 180 day window.

Thanks.

[clarkee]

I will start by saying we have never used the premium dining plan but always get the standard dining plan when we go each year. I hope I still have something valuable to impart.

There are many people who believe that you can eat cheaper without the plan and this is true. There are others who feel that if you plan it out very carefully and stick to several rules (like not eating at any 2 credit restaurants) you will come out ahead. Value for money means something totally different to us.

We love to get the dining plan when we go because we love not having to think about setting vacation money aside to pay for dinner. We love taking time out of the day to get everybody together and relax for a sit down meal. We love that this is all arranged before we go so that is why we feel we are getting value for the money.

That being said, we also love trying new places and revisiting the restaurants we love. This is why we keep getting the dining plan. If we ever splurged on the premium dining plan I would use it to try all those experiences we can't fit into our seven day (1 table service a day) trip. I would eat at lots of 2 credit places. I would eat breakfast out sometimes. I would take the kids to even more character places.

My advice is, don't worry about how to get the most out of the dining plan dollar wise. Instead think about how you would enjoy it most. Eat at the California Grill for 2 credits, eat at Cinderella's Castle for 2 credits, have the fantasmic dinner package. Do whatever you have wanted to do and haven't and then you will feel great about getting the most out of the experience.

Just one girl's opinion. Hope you have a blast!

[DizneyRox]

Some friends of mine just reported back to me they saved close to $600 by not going with the Deluxe Dining Plan on their last trip and just paid OOP. I had been telling them that for years and they finally listened.

My advice to you would be cancel the dining plan...

[MargaretMessler]

Value versus convenience, that's the story here.

If value (without having to meticulously plan every minute of your trip) is your priority, do not get the DDP.

If convenienve is your priority, by all means go with it.

For myself, no matter how I have looked at it, it's a break even proposition at best so I do not get it. We have it in September only because it is free.

On the other hand, if you would be one to go for several 2 credit dinners or you have kids who would go for tons of character experience meals, it might be worth it.

[Tink1]

My husband loved the Bass Fishing on Bay Lake, my sons loved the golf and watermice. I love the tours. We all like La Nouba.

Keys to the Kingdom and the Steam Train Tour are both fantastic and a must for any Disneyphile. The The UnDISCOVERed Future World Tour and Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour I have not done but would love to.

I guess my first plan of action for a premium would be to spreadsheet the schedule of when the activities are available and go from there.

While the food is a big part of plan, I can work that around the other stuff.

Nanc

[faberj]

We did the deluxe dining plan in 2008 and we liked it. We wanted to try a lot of signature dining. It was nice but it was a lot of time spent at meals as the signature dining takes longer. That being said we still enjoyed it and tried a lot of things we wouldn't normally have tried.

[GoBlueLacheta]

Thanks for all of your suggestions so far. I appreciate the response. It's all about new things which is what we are trying to do. It's a splurge vacation any way as it is likely our last trip before a child. We just want to be able to get the most out of it and the DDP and this plan's other offerings are definitely new territory.

[GoBlueLacheta]

My husband loved the Bass Fishing on Bay Lake, my sons loved the golf and watermice. I love the tours. We all like La Nouba.

Keys to the Kingdom and the Steam Train Tour are both fantastic and a must for any Disneyphile. The The UnDISCOVERed Future World Tour and Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour I have not done but would love to.

I guess my first plan of action for a premium would be to spreadsheet the schedule of when the activities are available and go from there.

While the food is a big part of plan, I can work that around the other stuff.

Nanc

Thanks Nanci. I have been working with Karen over at Magical Journeys, and she has been great so far.

[tomatoe pie]

we always use the dining plan because of the convenience with the children going in different direction. that prevents them from needing so much cash in their pockets.

we have used the deluxe plan and loved it. i did have a couple of meals left one time and took a friend to dinner to take care of that.

we are using the deluxe plan on the next trip because we have friends coming with us and some like to have a sit-down breakfast and diner. we also love the signature restaurants.

[GoBlueLacheta]

It has been hectic getting all the reservations, but everything is working out fairly well on the planning end at least. I guess Yachtsman and California Grill have yet to open their ADR's for the new year. So we are just waiting on those.