Is the Disney Magic Dining Plan worth the cost?

Question

And which restaurant(s) would you choose.

Answer 1

Yes, it's worth it. I read somewhere that with the dining plan, you're paying less than $40 per person, per day. Which is a good deal, considering my boyfriend and I had a dinner at Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian which cost over $120. Tax and tip is included in the dining plan. They give you certain amount of tickets... if you were staying five days each person would get about 15 "tickets" or "coupons" to spend on meals. Some places, like nice, sit-down restaurants, you have to pay two "coupons" per person." Other than that, most places you only need one per person. We stayed 9 days and at the end of our trip we still had 12 "coupons" left (we didn't eat breakfast many of the days because we were lazy in the morning.)

Two of my favorite restaurants that I will ALWAYS go to when I visit WDW are Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian Resort and the Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Resort (where we stay.) Narcoossee's serves the best food in the best atmosphere and has the best service. Awesome seafood and steaks, as well as desserts. At night, during the Magic Kingdom fireworks, they dim the lights and they have the music live from the Park piped into the restaurant. It was very romantic. And our server, Tom, was just too great. The Kona Cafe serves these really yummy wok-seared duck potstickers. They are so good. And I like the open restaurant, dessert bar, and it was the first restaurant my boyfriend and I ate at on our first trip there together, so it has special meaning. I also love Tony's Town Square at the Magic Kingdom. The food was phenomenal... chicken florentine soup, seafood pasta, and Tiramisu... and the bread they serve before they bring out the appetizers was delicious. The restaurant's beautiful, themed to the movie Lady and the Tramp.

Answer 2

I used to work at a restaurant there and from experince I can tell you that if you use it right it is totally worth it. You can get a lot of food with it so if you have a small child it will probably go to waste.
You get snacks, a counter service meal (fast food), and a full service meal. I recommend Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT as the counter service because it has the best and most expensive food in Disney World. Make sure to get reservations to the restaurant you want. The hotel can do this or you can call (407)WDW-DINE. A cast member in your resort or working in a resaurant can explain the plan to you. It can get pretty complicated.

Answer 3

Ask yourself how much you eat? The meal plan is quite costly if you don't eat that much. We just got back from Disney and 4 of us spent around 50 to 60 TOTAL a day on food. With the meal plan, you are spending around that per person. Plus, you will need to take the time out to eat at all the appropriate times. We don't like to waste our time at Disney sitting in a restaurant. We like to ride rides. It all depends on what you want to do at Disney.

Answer 4

Cinderella's Royal table is great using area, being interior the fort and each thing. if you're desirous to eat there, i'd bypass for dinner. That way, you get more suitable on your money, rather of breakfast. I have always felt style of rushed in there, it really is busy and they attempt to speed people via. i don't recognize it somewhat is is properly well worth the cost as a lot as a pair different eating places, even if it remains thrilling to eat interior the fort and issues. so a techniques as signature eating eating places, it in basic terms relies upon. they're a lot nicer and the nutrition is giant, even if that is going to reduce down the food you are able to get. once you've the eating plan, you are able to make it via the week elementary with the food you get. in case you do signature food you'll ultimately run out of issues and characteristic to pay. perhaps one or 2 may be superb, yet more suitable than that i imagine you does unlike as a lot. yet in case you do use 2 factors, attempt to eat for dinner, in basic terms because that is the more suitable extreme priced meal of the day. so a techniques as which signature food to eat, i'm not somewhat particular which parks you're watching, or lodges. Any of the signature restuarants are going to be large, so in basic terms seek for the meals that pastime you the most. the position to eat in EPCOT. EPCOT has a number of my well known restuartaunts. It does style of remember on the nutrition you're wanting/like. For me, my favorites are Bistro de Paris,Les cooks de France, Coral Reef eating position, Le Cellier Steakhouse, San Angel inn and Teppanyaki. i am hoping this solutions your questions. Have a large time!

Answer 5

Definitely worth the cost. Example, costs like $35.oo per day.

Lunch -counter service meal (burger & fries combo w/dessert) $12
Snack- ice cream bar $3.00
Dinner- table service (say Le Cellier at Epcot) $52.00

dinner alone made up for the price! plus you can use it for character meals (usually about $27.00 each) Good plan!

By the way, the plan also takes care of tax & gratuity.

Answer 6

I really think that it is worth it. It will still save you a lot of money. Every trip I have taken to Disney since this plan was released had the dining plan on it, if not the premium or platinum plan, it's a great deal. I believe Disney says most guests save an average of 40% off of their dining. The key thing to remember is that the tip is include. Consider that at 18%-20% of your meal and the savings start to add up.

Most restaraunts are included in the plan, it changes all the time, so its a good idea to watch what is and isn't included as well as how many meal points it will use, one or two. But for the most part a lot are included As far as what you can order, you will be able to order way more than you can eat. It's amazing. Each restaraunt at Disney is a little different as far as what you can order, so my travel agent has always told me to just ask when I get there. The waiter will tell you what you can all order.

Any time you eat at a table service meal, not counter service, you should book it in advance.Especially if you plan to go during one of the peak, and sometimes regular seasons. You may wait in line a long time otherwise, or you may not be able to get in. As far as what parks on what day, look for the ones that will be open the longest during the days you are there. That is what I always do. This way you can go t the park all day and get the most out of the day. Otherwise, you can just plan to go to the parks on any day and schedule your dining around it. But I wouldn't go to more than one park per day. If you have a meal in one park, but spend the day in another park, you will spend most of your time traveling between parks and not get to do as much.

The dining plan is great. It's the least expensive plan I have been able to get from Disney for dining in a long time. Of course the premium and platinum plans include a lot more and are definitely worth the upgrade. But if you are on a budget the dining plan is still great. One of Disney's great benefits for their guests. You will be able to eat a restaraunt that are really nice, and most likely places you wouldn't eat at if you have to pay full price.

My recommendation would be to find a good website that has the information for the plan on it. Find a site that really outlines the plan, what you get, what you can eat, where, etc. If you are planning this on your own it will be the most useful way to go! If you can, look for a Disney specialist to help you with your trip. I think it is because of my travel agent that the dining plan is such a great deal for me. She helps me plan my dining and in some cases my days (although not so much anymore since I pretty much know how the plan works and have used it 20+ since it originally came out. But she still was able to help me learn the plan to get the most out of it) I've read a lot of people that didn't think it was worth it or it wasn't really a savings, and immediately from reading over their plans I could see where they had went a little off course and lost out. Their are a lot of little secrets to help you plan the dining that will make you get the most out of it, which is why I find a travel agent very useful.

So in short, I think the plan is worth it. I wouldn't even question it if you have children under 9, in this case it is an amazing bargain. Even if you have adults only, it is still a great deal. You will get so much food you won't know what to do with it. Plan wisely and you will do great. If you plan to dine onsite while at Disney, consider the least expensive meal, a very basic meal to run you about $10 per person. That can show you how quickly the plan can save you. These are just burgers, fries and a drink at a counterservice, if you want something a little nicer you are looking for at least $20 per person. There are restaurants in the plan that you could spend well over the cost per day in one meal. Look for nicer places to eat, and try to avoid character meals. You will save a little, but not nearly as much. Places like Le Celliers, O'hanas, etc. are all great places to eat. Talk to your travel agent, or look at some sites and you will find lots of info.

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

I think it depends on your budget and the type of food your family enjoy and your family appetite. My son does not eat alot and he is a picky eater my daugther is on breastmilk and babyfood so it would be a total waste of my time. However, for you your circumstances may be totally different. So think about your family and budget then make your decision good luck.