Disney World Quick Tips – Signature Restaurants And Maximizing The Dining Plan

We are huge fans of the Signature restaurants at Walt Disney World. The free dining offer available for at least the first 9 months of 2011 (with some blackouts) is an opportunity to take advantage of these restaurants at an absolutely minimal cost.

You can upgrade the free dining offer from the Disney Dining Plan to the Deluxe Dining Plan for $33 per adult per day. That may seem like a lot but let’s look at the differences between the plans:

DELUXE PLAN –

Three Table Service Credits per night for each person

Two Snack Credits per night for each person

One complimentary Refillable Mug per person

Table Service meals include Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage

STANDARD PLAN–

One Table Service Credit per person per night

One Quick Service Credit per person per night

One Snack Credit per night per person

Complimentary Refillable Mug not included

Table Service meals include Entree, Dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage (Kids 3-9 get appetizer also)

Even on the surface, $33/day is a bargain if you enjoy food. When you start to look a bit deeper you can see that if you use the plan wisely and take advantage of the Signature Restaurants (two Table Service Credits per meal) the extra money you spend is an unbeatable value.

Here are some options to consider:

1. Eat breakfast Out Of Pocket and use the extra Table Service (TS) credit at one of the Signature Restaurants.
2. Use a TS credit for breakfast and use snack credits for a quick meal in the parks and the extra TS credit for a Signature Restaurant.
3. You can do the above interchangeably or any other way you like since the credits are yours to use as you please. You can even use TS credits for a Quick Service meal if you choose.

Upgrading is also useful if you plan on attending any of the Dinner Shows. They are also 2 TS meals and the only real restriction is at the Hoop De Doo Review where you can only use the credits for Category 2 or 3 seating except at the 9:30 PM show where they can be used for Category 1 seating. One more thing to remember about the dinner shows, these are the only Dining Plan meals where gratuities are included.

If you truly enjoy fine dining and exceptional food I encourage you to consider the ideas presented here. As I mentioned, upgrading Free Dining to Deluxe Dining is an opportunity to try meals at restaurants you might not ordinarily consider. Because it’s Disney, things are always subject to change so you might want to take advantage of this while you can. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

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