Chew on This
Free dining. Walt Disney World’s announcement came in April: It was extending its popular Magic Your Way Free Dining Program to everyone, in addition to Disney Visa cardholders. The 2007 edition of this promotion is to runs from late August through late September. With the expansion, many people are asking questions like , “How does it work?”, “Is it worth it?”, or “How can I make good use of it?”
The announcement spawned questions on more than just the Free Dining Program. All of a sudden, there was renewed interest in the Disney Dining Plan.
With that and other aspects of the cost of certain dining options offered in Walt Disney World, it seems appropriate just before the big summer vacation period to take a closer look at all these options and discuss the pros and cons of each one.
As you read my rant, keep in mind that only you know what’s best for you and your family. That means sitting back, weighing the options, and saying either “Yeah that works for me!” or “No! I don’t think that’s for us.”
Disney Dining Plan
First, let’s look at the Disney Dining Plan. For 2007 the cost of the plan is $38.99 per night per person ages 10 and up, and $10.99 per night for children ages 3-9. For that price, everyone on the plan receives one table service meal, one counter service meal, and one snack per day.
This plan is available only when you book a Magic Your Way vacation package, which requires a stay at a Disney-owned resort and at least a 1-day base Magic Your Way ticket, with everyone in your reservation to having the same type ticket.
Walt Disney World vacation packages do not include discounts on rooms. You will be paying full rack rates, so keep this in mind when weighing the idea of whether or not the Disney Dining Plan is for you.
Budgeting a trip is a little more complicated for Annual Passholders. If you are an Annual Passholder and want the Disney Dining Plan, again you cannot receive a discount on your room. At best you can forego an extended Magic Your Way ticket and just purchase a 1-day base ticket and use your Annual Passport for admission.
Alternatively, Annual Passholders can forego the Disney Dining Plan and opt for an Annual Passholder’s room discount and perhaps use Disney Dining Experience Card (20% off) to save on table-service meals.
It’s your choice, but as you can see, you really have to look at the details and see what works best for you.
If you intend to partake in of the Disney Dining Plan, I hope you know your Walt Disney World vacation habits well enough to make full use of this plan.
It is difficult enough for anyone visiting Walt Disney World for the first time to get a handle on how to best to tour the parks or travel around the resort, much less decide on what restaurants to visit and where they are located. Adding another learning curve, like even identifying what restaurants offer table service versus quick service and all of a sudden the word “vacation” seems like an inappropriate word here.
For this reason, I do not recommend the Disney Dining Plan to first-time visitors. Although the plan may work out just fine for you, it may also add too much to the vacation “plate” for some.
One way to improve your experience is to assemble your itinerary well in advance of your trip, and make all your Advanced Dining Reservations before you arrive.
Let’s say you are going during the first week in September and plan on being in Epcot one evening to watch Illuminations. If so make an Advanced Dining Reservation for dinner at a World Showcase restaurant as soon as possible.
Plan your meals wisely. Consider spreading your meals out. My suggestion is not to have a big sit-down breakfast the morning after a sit-down meal the night before unless it’s a late breakfast. You can also have some quick-service meals to save on both cost as well as time.
Finally, when on the plan try not to let it influence your dining habits too much. Continue to visit your favorite restaurants and maybe try one or two new ones, but most of all, use the plan to fit your dining needs.
Free Dining
Free Dining works like the Disney Dining Plan, except that it’s free. Everything else is the same. You must book a Magic Your Way vacation package, pay full rack rates, and of course, purchase admission.
If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World anytime between August and October, pay attention as to whether or not Free Dining will be offered during that time so that you can time your vacation to the promotion.
The obvious reason is that you may want to partake of the promotion. Regardless, there is a secondary reason: Free Dining causes Walt Disney World restaurants to fill up. If you go to Walt Disney World during the Free Dining promotion, there is a 95 percent chance that you will not be able to walk up to any restaurant and expect to get seated.
Also, if you visit Walt Disney World during a Free Dining period, you are pretty much locked into your Advanced Dining Reservations, removing any flexibility you may want in regards to your dining plans. There is little or no chance that you will be able to make a change while you are there.
If you prefer to have a structured dining itinerary, then Free Dining is for you.
Fantasmic Dinner Package
While we are sort of on the subject, I need to point out one dining option that everyone should beware of: The Fantasmic Dinner Package. I have used this package many times in the past but recent changes have caused me to think about using it again.
The package allowed me the luxury of not having to get in line for Fantasmic 90 minutes ahead of time without any additional cost. All it called for was for everyone in my visiting party to order an entree at the restaurant I had selected to book for the package. The cost was simply the cost of the meal. Not anymore.
Starting this spring, the package changed. The big change is in the cost. We are now looking at fixed prices for this package, and you must use your credit card as a guarantee.
The three participating restaurants are Hollywood and Vine, Mama Melrose, and The Brown Derby. The prices are:
- Hollywood and Vine – $23.99 ($11.99 for children).
- Mama Melrose – $28.99 ($10.99 for children).
- The Brown Derby – (I believe) $43.99 ($10.99 for children).
It’s not worth it. Sure you have your choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert, but I’m not sold on this just yet. Honestly, I can do very well on my own thank you and still get a good seat at Fantasmic.
So what do you do? Take in as much information as you can regarding these plans and put some thought into them. Do they work for you? If so then jump right in. If not, then figure out what does work best for you and enjoy your vacation.
What looks like a good deal on the surface may not be so good after all.
Dining at Walt Disney World can be expensive, so it’s good to look at options. However you need to look at them very carefully because you don’t want to remember the cost during your vacation you want to…
…Remember the Magic.
Next Time
It’s a small world after all, but when it comes to small fry at Walt Disney World, when is the best age to make your first visit? We’ll talk about it next time.
Class dismissed.
