WDW Dining 2010 Dining Plan brochures - Walt Disney Boards - Message Boards & Forum Discussing The Genius Of Walter Elias Disney!

**go2WDW** · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 12:02 PM

Just wanted to let you all know that the 2010 Dining Plan brochures have been released on the Disneyworld.com website, but I would caution you about one thing: many of the restaurants do not initially sign on as participants in the Dining Plan program. The contract they have to sign is not particularly profitable for them, so they resist at first. Later, as more and more restaurants sign on, the others follow suit.

So when you view these brochures, don't draw any conclusions about the Dining Plan having a reduced number of dining locations. Wait until later in the year and you'll see many others listed.

2010 Quick Service Dining Plan

2010 Dining Plan

2010 Deluxe Dining Plan

2010 Premium Dining Plan

2010 Platinum Dining Plan

2010 Wine and Dine Add-on

allysmommy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 04:30 PM

If I am checking in December 31, 2009 do I use the 2009 brochure? Or do I use both? There is one restaurant missing from my list of reservations.

**go2WDW** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allysmommy

If I am checking in December 31, 2009 do I use the 2009 brochure? Or do I use both? There is one restaurant missing from my list of reservations.

The top of the brochure says it is "valid for arrivals 1/1/10-12/31/10"...so I assume you would be able to use the 2009 brochure. That's an interesting question. Not much changed other than the price. Some of the restaurants don't initially sign on for the Dining Plan, but they eventually cave in and agree to participate. You could ask your travel agent to check on a particular restaurant's participation, or if you don't have a travel agent just PM me and I'll find out what I can.

**hms1016** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 07:39 AM

Here's my opinion of the dining plan. I have probably gotten it 5 different times including my trip last week. The original plan was the best when the appetizer and gratuity were included. In all my experiences the bottomline is it is too much food. There has never been a trip that on the last day we weren't scrambling to use our remaining credits. I don't know if it is the combination of the heat and constant on the go at wdw, but I usually can get by with 1 counter service and a snack or two a day. When we are on the meal plan it always feels like "oh it is time to eat again". Most of the times I am not even hungry. I can't imagine the deluxe dining plan. We even tried the counter service plan, although it is somewhat better, it still seems like a lot of food. Let's face it if I were not on the dining plan I would never get a dessert with the quick service. Also, with free dining people need to keep in mind that you are paying rack rate for the room. If you miss a meal or two you have lost the "value" of the meal plan.

MML · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 08:22 AM

I agree with Heather. It's too much food that's why I've never gotten the meal plan!
Honestly, do any of us really need that much food?

**go2WDW** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 12:54 PM

That's why it's nice that Disney makes everything an option. Your number of ticket days, Park Hopper, Water Park Fun & More, Dining Plan...you decide what fits your family's needs the best. For you two, the dining plan might not fit your schedule/needs, but many of our clients find that the sit-down meals force them to slow down and enjoy some family time that they otherwise wouldn't have gotten. It allows them to have a great meal while resting up for the next few hours of theme park adventures.

To each his own!

**WDWfanatic** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 08:46 PM

ABSOLUTELY! We liked the meal plan, it ended up being too much food, yes. However, I must point out, we were eating WAY BETTER food using the plan than if we were paying out of pocket for each meal. It made our meals better for us. We are usually trying to order cheap cheap cheap and we end up spending about $40 a day or more each anyways.
In the end we were trying to clean out the Quick Service Counter at the Resort for the drive home so we could use up all our snacks. We ended up with 1 counter service that went unused between the 2 of us.
Our first night there, we ate at the food court at the resort and our bill came to $80! One dinner, 2 people. I did order something on the menu marked "market price" but hey, I was on the dining plan and it was one of my options! That's really the only reason I did it. We enjoy to slow down periodically and take a break, have a meal.
Some people are on the go go go and would feel cheated out of their vacations if they stopped to eat as much as we do. Now, after experimenting with the dining plan once, we would feel cheated if we could not eat like royalty while we were on a Disney Vacation!

Willful · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:06 AM

Tammi I totally agree with you!! When we first started going to WDW we tried to do everything on the cheap. But as we tried the many great restaurants, we found that we enjoyed sitting down for a nice meal.

We tried the Deluxe meal plan for a long August trip....ugh. Big. Mistake! But it was a great experiment. lol We did try it again but on a trip we were switched resorts so we could do the deluxe for a few days then switch off of it. That worked out well because we could space out using the Deluxe credits longer.

**PolynesianMedic** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:27 AM

I have always used the meal plan, and didn't this last trip. I must say that I totally MISSED having the plan. It was a lot more to think about as far as cost for meals and such. With the plan, whether I ate everything I got or not, it was paid for. The other nice thing, is that ANY left over food that you "throw" away, goes to the local pig farmers in the area for the pigs feed, which of course fattens them up for Disney to buy back. It is a rather interesting circle of food they have there.

Now, Tim I am a little confused, and I am sure that you can fix that. What is the difference between the deluxe, premium and platinum dining plans. From what I can see they are all including 3 meals a day, and the resort mug, but I can see any other differences.

**go2WDW** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PolynesianMedic

Now, Tim I am a little confused, and I am sure that you can fix that. What is the difference between the deluxe, premium and platinum dining plans. From what I can see they are all including 3 meals a day, and the resort mug, but I can see any other differences.

You're right about the meal components--they are the same. With the Premium Package, you also get such things as unlimited use of the recreation activities (golf courses, guided fishing trips, water sports, horseback riding, etc.), preferred fireworks viewing location for Wishes and Illuminations, one admission per guest for La Nouba, a professional portrait session with a PhotoPass photographer, unlimited access to the park tours, and unlimited use of the children's activity centers at select resorts.

The Platinum Package includes all of this plus: pre-arrival itinerary planning, special seating for Fantasmic!, a fireworks cruise (either Illuminations or Wishes), a spa treatment, one Richard Petty ride-along experience per guest, a PhotoPass CD, turndown service, and additional dining locations such as Victoria and Albert's.

Hope this helps!

jhuff234 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 11:27 AM

I am happy that there are options for eating. I know what it is like going to Disney with a limited budget and getting small snipits here and there. But I am glad that there are a varity of good restaurants.