Changes are underway for the 2012 Disney Dining Plan, as 10
Downtown Disney Area restaurants are added to the list of Table Service
Restaurants that accept the Disney Dining Plan.
Just recently announced, Bongos Cuban Café, House of Blues,
Cap’n Jack’s Restaurant, Planet Hollywood, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant,
Wolfgang Puck Café, Paradiso 37, Portobello, Rainforest Café, and T-REX Café have
all been added to an extensive list of Table Service restaurants accepting the
Disney Dining Plan. The biggies for us, at least, are Rainforest Café—including
the location at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and T-REX Café—click here to read about dining at T-REX Café.
Another change to the Disney Dining Plan for 2012, is that
all plans now include a refillable mug.
Previously, only the Quick Service Plan and Deluxe Dining Plan included
the mug that can be refilled with soda, tea, water, and coffee at the food
court in a Walt Disney World Resort.
And, one of the biggest changes, not specifically to the
Disney Dining Plan, but to the Advanced Dining Reservation or ADR system is the
credit card guarantee that charges a per person no show fee if the ADR is not
cancelled 24 hours prior to the reservation.
This went into effect towards the end of October 2011. We made our ADR’s in September for our
upcoming trip in March and missed this change in the policy. The reasons behind this change are several,
but specifically—no more multiple ADR’s for the same time for the same
traveling party (the “I don’t know where we will be so I’ll make several ADR’s
for the same time and we will pick which one when the time comes” type). If people are doing this, they are going to
have multiple per person cancellation fees added to their bill.
There are definitely mixed feelings about the Disney Dining
Plan and they are mostly at either end of the love it/hate it spectrum with
very few in the middle. We LOVE it and
haven’t visited Walt Disney World without it.
The Disney Dining Plan gives me peace of mind when it comes to planning
and paying for meals while we are on vacation.
We have eaten at restaurants we would not have normally chosen due to
price because we have used the Disney Dining Plan. And, it doesn’t hurt that out of 8 trips to
the World, we have had Free Dining for 5 of those trips. Alas, free dining is not available for our
upcoming trip. But, I am excited about
the refillable mugs!
Deciding if the Disney Dining Plan is for you and your
family may be a difficult decision. The
Advanced Dining Reservation or ADR policy will affect anyone who makes
reservations to dine at a Table Service restaurant whether or not they are
using the Disney Dining Plan. Now, there’s
just a bit more homework or planning that goes into preparing for your Walt
Disney World vacation. But isn’t that
half the fun?
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