Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids » ddp

Basic WDW info: Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth it?

Hedy — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:32:41 +0000

Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it? What if you’re a vegetarian? I started my lifestyle of adult trips in 2005, and was intrigued by the Disney Dining Plan (DDP). I really liked the concept of already paying for my meals ahead of time. However, I ended up using an AAA room discount, and as such could not enroll in the DDP. For my trip in 2007, my mother was joining me for only a few days, and I didn’t want to pay for her DDP for the whole time. In 2008, my brother and DSIL belonged to Tables in Wonderland (TiW), so I used their discount when we went to eat.

Vegetarian option at 'Ohana-it was good!

Which brings me to my last trip. The awesome group of people I was meeting had decided on ‘Ohana for dinner one night. (Or as I sarcastically referred to it, “Meat on a stick-yay,” ) I also was planning on doing a character breakfast at the Crystal Palace, as well as hitting my beloved Boma. As such, I was going to be spending pretty much the equivalent of one night of the DDP on these meals, I finally hopped on the Free Dining train.

See, while Disney World is the BEST place to vacation as a vegetarian, the DDP isn’t quite the bargain for us herbivores that it is for you carnivores. Let’s take Le Cellier as an example (updated as of March 5, 2011 now that it is a signature dining establishment). I could get the Warm Spring Vegetable, Mushroom and Goat Cheese Quiche for $27.00, with a Chocolate Moose ($5.99). On the DDP, you can order fun non-alcoholic drinks, so I’ll throw off my total by $4.29. So my food total is $37.28. You, being a carnivore, go with the salt-crusted prime rib ($40.00), with the Moose for dessert ($5.99), plus a fun drink ($4.29). Your total is $50.28-so you hit close to part of you DDP there, while I did not

. Purely as an act of anecdata, my mother loved the salmon there in 2007, but there is no way in heck she’d pay $44 for it.

Lunch at Sanaa

That said, when I paid my package for my free dining trip off, I was done paying for my vacation except for tips and souvenirs. I’m neither for nor against the DDP including the tip. I’d definitely look at getting the dining plan again, even as a vegetarian. I used up all my TS credits and snack credits-I had a counter service left over which I used to get food for the flight home.

Disney Discount: Room and Package Discounts (including free Dining) Now into 2011!

Hedy — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:01:47 +0000

New discounts were released today for Walt Disney World package and room-only reservations. The really exciting part is that they go into 2011, with free dining going well into 2011. The three discounts are are a room-only discount, a Disney Gift Card offer, and Free dining.

The room-only discount codes which were released today are good from 10/3/10-11/23/10, 11/27/10-12/25/10 and 1/1/11-2/16/11. The discounts are:
* Save 25% at Disney Value Resorts and Animal Kingdom Lodge
* Save 30% at Disney Moderate Resorts and Grand Floridian Resort
* Save 40% at the remaining Disney Deluxe Resorts
* Save 40% at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

The thing I find most noteworthy is that rather than just breaking down by hotel category, as Disney hotel discounts often do, the discounts name specific hotels as being eligible for a certain discount. If you’re looking to book these discounts, the codes are CM5 or AK9 for 2010 stays, and MM2 for 2011 stays. (Thanks, Mousesavers!)

The free gift card offer is good for dates from 10/3/10 – 11/23/10, 11/27/10 – 12/25/10 and 1/1/11 – 2/16/11. These require a Disney World Vacation package with a stay of at least five nights. The free giftcard levels are:

*Value resorts $200 Disney Gift Card

*Moderate resorts $300 Disney Gift Card

*Deluxe/Deluxe Villa resorts $500 Disney Gift Card

These packages must be booked by 11/21/10, and the codes are BM9 for Value resorts; PM8 for Moderate resorts; or IL7 for Deluxe/Deluxe Villa resorts. (Thanks, Mousesavers!)

The most news-worthy announcement out of today’s discounts has to be free dining. This free dining promotion is good for the dates of 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 with a four-night vacation package. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Disney put a discount code over one year in advance. Much like this year’s free dining, guests staying at a Value Resort can get the Quick Service Dining plan, or upgrade to the standard Disney Dining Plan (DDP) for $10 per guest per night. Guests staying at a Moderate or Deluxe resort will automatically get the regular DDP. They, as well as guests staying at a Value resort, may upgrade to the Deluxe Dining plan. This offer must be booked by 12/20/2010; the codes are HJ2 for Value resort stay with Quick Service Dining; JL6 for Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villas. (Thanks Mousesavers)

Disney Discount: Free Dining has been extended for certain dates though December 2010

Hedy — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:54:17 +0000

First of all, check it out, I was featured on the Dismarks Carnival! w00t!

Disney’s Free Dining promotion has been extended for the dates: Oct. 22 – Oct. 28, 2010, Nov. 12 – Nov. 18, 2010, Nov. 27 – Dec. 2, 2010 and Dec. 10 – Dec. 21, 2010. It must be booked by August 14, and you must stay at least three nights. As it is a promotion based on a package, you will need to buy at least a one-day park hopper. As with the previous Free Dining promotion, the Disney Dining Plan which you get will be tiered depending on which Walt Disney World Resort level at which you stay. See The Mouse for Less for more details.

Disney Discount: Save on your room-only reservation from 8/15-9/30

Hedy — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:39:33 +0000

From August 15 to September 30, 2010, vacationers at Walt Disney World can save on their room-only reservations using the code ID6.

* Save 30% at Disney Value Resorts
* Save 30% at Disney Moderate Resorts
* Save 40% at Disney Deluxe Resorts
* Save 40% at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts
You are able to add the dining plan to these offers.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably observed that these dates are nearly concurrent with the free dining offer.

Just for fun, I ran the numbers for a seven night, eight day trip starting on August 15. I’d be a solo adult with an eight day parkhopper, using the regular DDP.

If I were to stay at a value, free dining would run me $1,050.16
Using this code, it would be $1,072.71

If I were to stay at a moderate, free dining would be $1,504.85.
The code would make the amount $1,439.99.
So either way, it wouldn’t be a tremendous difference on which plan you chose.

(Thanks Couponing to Disney for the info)

Disney Discount-Free Dining is back for everyone

Hedy — Mon, 03 May 2010 05:00:16 +0000

Edited May 3-Free Dining is open to everyone as of today, May 3, 2010. Use code TF5
Perhaps the most awaited of all Disney package promotions, “Free dining” is back. Of course, nothing in life is free, so here are the nitty gritty bits:

In order to book a free dining package, you must have a Disney Visa. Word on the street is that everyone will be able to book it on May 3. At the moment, it’s for the dates of August 15, 2010, to October 2, 2010 for a stay of three consecutive nights, with a two day park ticket. You must book by August 15, 2010, to get this offer.

The package is tiered according to what level of hotel you book. (For what it’s worth, these are the same provisions which were offered when Free Dining was extended for fall of 2009.). If you book at a Value Resort, you will get the Quick Service Dining Plan. If you wish to upgrade to the regular Disney Dining Plan (DDP) , you will need to pay $10 per adult per day. If you book at a Moderate or Deluxe resort, you will get the usual Disney Dining Plan. You will have the option of upgrading to the Deluxe Dining Plan at all these resort levels for $30 per adult per day. The codes to use when booking these packages are QD4 for Value Resort stay with Quick Service Dining and EF5 for Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villas Resort stay with regular Dining Plan (Thanks Mousesavers for this info). Alternately, you can contact your travel agent.

I did free dining on my October 2009 trip. Free Dining can be incredibly convenient, especially if you are planning on doing a few buffets or prix-fixe meals. However, the savings may be less than what you would get with an AAA or code discount. Also, if you don’t have Advance Dining Reservations (ADR’s) yet, you may have difficulty getting them for your trip.

Are you booking Free Dining?

I’m quoted in a post on the Mint.com blog…

Hedy — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:07:56 +0000

About my thoughts on being a vegetarian on the Disney Dining Plan. The article is here, if you don’t mind, I’d love to have my regular readers check it out! Thanks!

Welcome, Mint.com readers

Hedy — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 01:57:56 +0000

Welcome to Walt Disney World-It’s not Just for Kids! Feel free to browse around, but I would like to point you to a few featured posts on this blog:

If you’re interested in learning more about the Disney Dining Plan (DDP)m check out my post about it.

Should saving money on a Disney vacation be more your alley, check out these posts. There’s a few great food-related discounts at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Alternately, check out my page on Easy Ways to Earn Extra [Disney] Money.

For my usual readers, please see that I am quoted in “Prepay your vacation meals? The skinny on dining plans.” Please show them some love-thanks!