Walt Disney World - Sorting Through the 2008 Disney Dining Plan

Walt Disney World Guests, who are traveling in 2008, will have more choices than ever, with the 2008 Walt Disney World Magic Your Way Disney Dining Plans.  They have given their guests some new options.   Walt Disney World used to offer only one dining plan, with the other option being a  Magic Your Way Premium Package.  The Premium package has lots and lots of options, and most folks don’t want all of the extras that come with it. There was a definite need for a Disney Dining Plan that offered the ability to have more then one sit down meal per night of your stay.  Disney has provided that option, with their Deluxe Disney Dining Plan.  If you purchase a Disney Dining Plan, you will have another option presented to you, the Plus Wine Package.  This affords you one bottle of wine per room, per night of your stay.  Personally, I like the idea of that option.  A bottle of Beringer was a regular thing during our last stay at Villas Wilderness Lodge.

Disney did take the appetizer away from what is included with your sit down meal, with the 2008 Disney Dining plan.  The dessert is still included.  I think this is an error on their part, and they should have dropped the dessert instead, and kept the appetizer.  I’d rather save my sweet tooth for a cinnamon bun at The Main Street Bake Shop, In Disney’s Magic Kingdom or perhaps a delectable treat at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway at Epcot.  Maybe Disney will consider allowing guests to decide between the appetizer, and the dessert?  I’d like that option.

Honestly?  The Disney Dining Plan as it is now, for 2007, is a lot of food.  It is more then what I usually eat, and I believe there was a lot of food wasted, thrown away.  Did wait staff push folks to order the desserts, ‘just to taste it’, which, in turn, would increase the total cost of the meal, and would raise the automatic 18% gratuity?  Yes, I do believe they did.  I know that I experienced that everywhere we dined in May 2007.  I did purchase desserts to taste them, knowing I would not eat it all.  I believe Disney answered a need to stop the amount of food that was being wasted each day.  I think they have fine tuned their Disney Dining Plan, and I am happy with the changes.

So, the big question everyone is asking me is, “Is the 2008 Disney Dining Plan worth it?”  Here is what these plans will cost in 2008.

• Disney Dining Plan: one snack, one quick service meal, one sit down meal per night
  Adults (ages 10 & over) will be $37.99; children ages 3-9 will be $9.99
• Deluxe Dining Plan: three meals (counter service or sit down), one snack per night and refillable resort mug
  Price will be $69.99 for adults (ages 10 & over) and $19.99 for children ages 3-9
• Plus Wine Package: one bottle of wine, per room, per night
  For $39.99 per night, per room

You will have to be prepared to pay your gratuity when you dine, so that adds cost to the guest’s stay.  I think it is fair, though.  I believe we will see better service in the Wat Disney World Theme Park, and Resort, Restaurants, due to this change. 

If you always plan at least one sit down meal per night of your stay, adding the 2008 Disney Dining Plan to your Walt Disney World vacation package is worth it.  Yes, it will cost more then it did in 2007, but you are still getting a good deal. 

If you like to enjoy 2 or more sit down meals, per night of your stay, you will find adding the 2008 Deluxe Disney Dining Plan to your Walt Disney World vacation package is worth it.  Disney has enough options now to please everyone, and that is what counts. 

Creating magical memories, one vacation at a time!

Francine