Disney World (Orlando, FL) Complaint - Food package very expensive - food package

Posted by Dryad on 2010-05-17:

I was wondering how their food package works.

I think I'll just stick with what I usually do - stay in a suite close by that has a full kitchen and free shuttle service.

Posted by lilyaya on 2010-05-17:

That's too bad that the package is limited. But good for you for letting another family try and use it instead of just letting it go to waste

Posted by Justice-4-All2 on 2010-05-17:

Good review! I've frequented Disneyland, Universal Studios, etc...in California, and we always buy our own food. I have heard quite often how these all-day food packages are a rip-off. There are only certain areas of the park that they can be used, certain meals, etc...overall just very selective and more so...restrictive. The only thing I would recommend is the refill beverages. Those are actually worth it!

Posted by Slimjim on 2010-05-17:

Good review. We tend to go down there a lot and while I never looked into this deal, it looks like I will consciously pass on the option anytime in the future.

Posted by clutzycook on 2010-05-17:

Good review. I've always thought that plans like that sounded too good to be true. Whenever my family and I would go to a theme park, we would either pack our food and eat it in the parking lot come lunchtime, go back to the hotel and eat there, or go get fast food outside of the park. I'll Echo yaya's compliment in giving your unused tickets to another family. Very nice!

Posted by Venice09 on 2010-05-17:

Great information. It sounds like the food package is not the way to go, for all the reasons you stated. I'm sure the other family appreciated the free meals. That was very generous of you. And I love that you incorporated a compliment into your complaint. It makes your complaint more real in my book!

Posted by Ryan84 on 2010-05-25:

My wife and I are frequent visitors to Disney World and we had never purchased the food package until our last trip. Sorry your experience was so bad but my wife and I found it to be a good deal. We purchased the package that allows 1 sit down and 1 quick service. We were able to afford to eat at restaurants that we normally would not have been able to afford, like Le Cellier, and the Coral Reef. We Are going back in a few weeks and purchased the plan again. You mention that not many food places were in your plan. I don't really understand that, because almost every restaurant in every park, and most hotels are in the meal plan.

Posted by BEJ on 2010-05-25:

Are there different types of the meal plan available? Different price plans offering different restaurants?

Posted by Ryan84 on 2010-05-25:

BEJ, there are different levels of the plan, for different prices, but all participating restaurants accept the plan no matter what level it is. The meal plan is accepted at every restaurant owned by Disney. Which excludes the restaurants in Downtown Disney except for Planet Hollywood. The only places in the parks that dont accept the plan are some of the small food carts. But aside from that the meal plan is valid at every Disney restaurant.

Posted by Backlash2 on 2010-06-28:

My son his wife and 2 kids went last year and had the food plan they loved it and said it saved them a lot of money and they would definately get it again.

Posted by afhsscott on 2010-09-17:

You are crazy! The "Dining Plan" was one of our favorite things about our last Disney World trip. You can use it almost anywhere. We had fun eating just anywhere and ordering whatever. My kids loved it too. I would HIGHLY recommend the "Dining Plan" to anyone. We are going back in December and got the Dining Plan for free. Always check for that, they offer it alot.

Posted by Dr Valentin Pashtenko on 2012-03-06:

I am sorry that you did not feel that the plan was a wise investment. Being a Florida local with 3 children, a wife, and at least one or two others with our party when we go, I end up paying for 6-7 people for 3 meals plus snacks and soft drinks. At minimum, the cost is $500/day. When the kids have a week off from school, I end up spending $10K for rooms and $3.5K for food and drinks for average meals - add another $3K/week for when we (frequently) feel the need to be pampered (4 star service ). As you can see, the costs can get high rather quickly.

In short, I usually get the meal plan for my 3 sons and then let then run, explore, snack and drink at will. They are savvy enough (ages 7, 7 and 10) to know what the plans allow and what they need to do - especially at the Fort Wilderness Resort where they are usually up and out for breakfast at 6:00 AM. It is a "credit card for kids" if you are well off financially, otherwise, it is a good investment for a family on a budget.

At other times, when we dine together at the finest the resorts have to offer, such as Boma, Sanaa or Citrico's, or at the Chef's Table, we specifically go there to escape the crowds. As such, we like the fact that reservations are few and the costs are high.

The plan is not for everyone, nor is it meant to be. However, there are times and places when it can be used to add to the avarage family's enjoyment or to give children a sense of personal responsibility as well as the freedom to explore on their own.