Disney Dining Plan
Article written by: Soozicue
The Disney Dining Plan (DDP) is offered by Walt Disney World (WDW) for any guest staying in a WDW resort hotel and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members staying in a DVC resort on points.
Who can purchase this plan?
Currently, the Dining Plan is only open to UK visitors who book directly with Disney and selected travel companies - many do not offer the DDP. Please check before booking if you want to make use of it.
The Dining Plan can only be purchased if:
1) You purchase a complete package at a Disney resort, for example, you book a room and park tickets for your whole party with at least one day’s park admission. The number of days for the Dining Plan must equal the number of nights you are staying at the resort. It is not related to the number of day’s park admission you have. For example, you may be staying for 10 nights but only have 7 day park tickets - the DDP will cover you for all 10 nights.
If you only wish to book the DDP for half of your stay, for example 7 out of 14 nights, you can do this by making two separate bookings. These can be run alongside each other, so you do not have to move rooms for example. Ask your travel company or agent.
2) Disney Vacation Club members staying in DVC resort on points must purchase the plan for everyone in their party. No purchase of park tickets is necessary. The number of nights on the plan again will equal the number of nights of your stay. It is recommended that you book this plan in advance of your stay and pay for it upon checking in.
Note:
The following resorts do not take part in the DDP - The Swan, The Dolphin, Shades of Green and the Downtown Disney resorts that are not Disney owned or operated on Hotel Plaza Boulevard.
How does it work?
For each night of your stay, the Disney Dining Plan allows you to have:
•
One table-service meal, any time of day including breakfast - this consists of:
Juice (breakfast)
Entrée/Main Course
Dessert (lunch and dinner)
Non-alcoholic drink
OR One full buffet.
•
One counter/quick service meal, consisting of:
Entrée
Dessert (lunch and dinner)
Non-alcoholic drink
OR Combo meal plus one dessert and one non-alcoholic drink
•
One snack, most items under $4 are considered to be a snack. Eligible items are indicated on the menu or with labels (mainly in resort snack bars). These are also available at snack carts throughout the parks.
The list includes, but is not exhaustive; frozen ice cream, single popcorn scoop, single piece of whole fruit, 20oz bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or water, Medium fountain soda drink, 12oz coffee, hot chocolate or tea, single serving pre-packed milk or juice.
Alcoholic drinks must be paid for by the diner.
Guests aged 3-9 must order from children’s menu where available
Gratuity (Tip) are not included.
Character Dining, Signature Restaurants and Dinner Shows
• The DDP can be used for Character Dining and the Signature (more expensive) Restaurants. One table service credit is generally needed for Character meals, there are exceptions, for example: Cinderella’s Royal Table requires you to use two (2) table service credits
• Two (2) table service credits are necessary for the Signature restaurants and your meal consists of an appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic drink. Some participating Signature restaurants reserve the right to either exclude or charge for the more expensive entrées.
• Dinner Shows: Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ and the Spirit of Aloha Show can be booked on the DDP and are two (2) table service credits.
In-Room Dining
• The DDP can be used for In-Room dining.
• Two (2) table service credits are needed and the meal includes:
Juice (breakfast)
Appetizer (lunch and dinner)
Entrée
Dessert (lunch and dinner)
Non-alcoholic drink
Single portion servings only and does not include hospitality platters, amenities and merchandise.
Special Events
The DDP can be used for some, but not necessarily all special events in WDW. For example:
•
Fantasmic Dining Experience: if you dine at Hollywood and Vine or Mama Melrose -you will use one table service credit. The Hollywood Brown Derby requires two credits.
•
Candlelight Processional Dinner Package: this could be purchased during the Christmas period.
•
Food and Wine Festival: during the festival, the snack credits could be used to purchase the samples at the food booths around world Showcase. The DDP could not be used for events such as Party for the Senses and Food and Wine Pairings.
Grand Gatherings (from 2007)
If you have a party of 8 or more and are doing the DDP you can redeem credits for:
• International Dinner and Illuminations Dessert Reception - a buffet dinner including story telling for the children, followed by a VIP viewing of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot.
• Safari Celebration Dinner - a VIP journey across the savannah, followed by a family style, African influenced feast and entertainment in Animal Kingdom.
•
Good Morning Gathering - a Character breakfast in the Magic Kingdom filled with surprises, followed by reserved seating at Philharmagic.
All of the above require two (2) of your table service credits per person in the party.
Number of meals in the Plan and How do I use it?
So, going by the above, each member of your party is credited with 3 credits per day. A party of 4 therefore will receive 12 per day. Staying for 7 nights, this will equal 84 credits.
These credits can be used in any order throughout your stay, until the total is reached.
For example: you can use 4 quick service meals one day and the next 2 quick service, 2 snacks and 4 table service meals.
Simply present your Key to the World card to the server prior to ordering, so that they know to charge the meals to the plan. This will save time at checking out.
How do I keep track?
Meal credits used will be tracked to your package reservation electronically. Each time you have a meal or snack from your Dining Plan, you will be given a receipt showing your remaining balance for that part of your plan e.g. quick service meals left.
If you need any help with checking your balance of credits, you can check at any time with your hotel front desk.
What is not included?
• Pizza delivery
• In-room mini bars
• Souvenir or refillable mugs
• Glow cubes
• Merchandise and Photo Imaging.
How much is it ?
2006 prices: Adults (age 10 and up) per night of stay - $37.99 (approx. £19)
Children (3-9) per night of stay - $10.99 (approx. £6)
Children under 3 do not need to purchase the plan. These can share from an adult’s plate. If you order from the menu for a child under three, you will be charged the menu price. This also applies to buffet and “all you care to eat” restaurants.
What restaurants are included?
There are over 100 participating venues in Disney Resorts and parks, these can change yearly as some restaurants are omitted and other added.
For up to date information and a list of current available restaurants visit:
DISNEY OFFICIAL SITE for 2007
DISNEY OFFICIAL SITE for 2008
The list of venues is halfway down first page and is a pdf file.
The information changes annually, check the left hand menu for the next year’s package details.
Unused credits
All unused credits expire at midnight on your check out date. They are not refundable.
Tips and Tricks
• you can use your dining credits on the DDP to pay for a guest’s dinner, so if friends or family are joining you for one meal you can make use of this if you wish.
• the portions are often very large, so for example 4 adults could share 2 counter/quick service meals reserving some for another meal if required.
• fresh fruit can be taken instead of a dessert at the quick service meals. So if you do not require a dessert ask for an apple or banana to have as a snack at another time.
• if you do not want a drink at your counter service meal, you can ask for a bottle of water to go.
• any leftover snack credits can be used to purchase items to take home.
Any drawbacks?
• there is a lot of food included on the DDP and if you like to eat a lot and do not mind taking time away from the parks, then it is a good deal. If you are a light or fussy eater or you prefer counter service meals and/or buffets, then the DDP is probably not for you.
• Annual Passholders will probably find that the Disney Dining Experience card, which gives you a percentage reduction on restaurant bills, but is available to AP holders only and would be a better deal. To get the DDP they would need to purchase a package including rooms and tickets that they do not need.
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