Each year, Disney adjusts the wildly popular Disney Dining Plan to include different food options and restaurants, and 2012 is no exception. Even if you are familiar with the plan and have used it before, you should review the current offerings to be sure your favorite locations are included.
The Disney Dining Plan allows you to save money on one of the most expensive aspects of your vacation–your meals. By purchasing the plan, you can pay for your meals in advance, and most people ind they save money by paying up front. The plan is also occasionally offered for free, usually as part of the fall vacation season.
Changes for 2012 include:
New restaurants have been added to the plan. For the first time, the Rainforest Cafe, TRex, the House of Blues and Bistro de Paris have been included. Dining locations at the newest Disney resort, the Art of Animation, have also been included.
The Quick Service Dining Plan has been altered–the plan originally included two snacks per person per day, for 2012, the allotment is one snack per person per day.
The Wine and Dine Plan has been discontinued this year.
The regular, or Plus Dining Plan now includes a free Disney resort mug per person; the mug entitles you to free beverage refills at your resort during your stay. Beverages include coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks, milk and juice.
The Deluxe Dining Plan now has different prices, depending on the time of year, so expect to save money during the value season–and to pay more on holidays and during the busy season.
Tips are no longer included, so when you dine at a table service location, expect to tip your server out of pocket. This is a 2011 change, but many guests were not aware of it; it is better to know you need to tip in advance than to find out once you get your dining check!
There are plenty of ways you can save money on your Orlando vacation — even before you arrive in Florida. Saving money on your biggest ticket items, including accommodations, food and theme park tickets will help you trim your vacation budget without missing out on any fun.
Accommodations: Where you stay has a big impact on your vacation budget. Consider all of your options, including resorts and rental homes to see what features are most important to you. You may find that one category or another serves your needs well at a price you can afford.
Schedule: Plan your trip for the off-season and save big on your room and on packages. Off season for an Orlando vacation usually means fall or winter travel. Visiting in the off season has additional perks as well–you’ll see fewer crowds and spend less time waiting in line.
Package Deals: No matter when you visit, look for packages that offer a resort room with theme park tickets. While a package won’t always be a bargain, they are worth exploring as you plan your trip.
Budget Dining: You can still enjoy some of the area’s best restaurants when you travel on a budget. Choose lunch over dinner and you’ll enjoy the same menu at a reduced rate when you visit a table service dining location. Book a vacation home or condo and you’ll be able to cook up meals for the whole family in a fully equipped kitchen.
Save on Souvenirs: Picking up a memento or two of your trip is a good idea; blowing your budget on mouse ears isn’t. Select inexpensive but meaningful souvenirs, particularly for kids. Pressed pennies at Disney World can be had for just 51 cents each, and are fun to make — and character autographs are free. Be creative, set a souvenir budget for each family member, and stick to it to avoid over-spending on your vacation.
For the tourists who want to add more to their Disney dining experience, there’s a new table made just for them at Disney’s Flying Fish Cafe. Park visitors can get an up-close view of their food preparation and interact with a world-class chef at “Chef’s counter”, Sunday through Thursday, seating is offered at 5:45 pm and 8:15 pm.
Chef Tim Keating is often asked to create a personalized meal for his patrons, and with his past experience in-mind, Keating created this interactive experience available to everyone. The Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner allows up to six guests to sit at the granite counter overlooking the on-stage kitchen where they will be able to see their meals being created. This experience includes five courses, paired with wine by sommelier Keith Gimbel. Keating says there will be a “new spin on menu items.” Guests will also have the opportunity to interact with the restaurant’s chefs.
Before you make plans to eat with chef Keating, be sure to check your budget. A seat at the Chef’s Counter will cost you $135, $85 without wine pairings. Reservations are recommended.
If you have room in your wallet and your stomach after your meal at Fish Factory, head over to the Tomorrowland Terrace Wishes Dessert Party has returned to Walt Disney Word. Guests are encouraged to book advance reservations for the Dessert party, which includes top of the line treats and prime seats to enjoy during the nightly fireworks spectacular show. a prime viewing location for the popular “Wishes” fireworks spectacular.
Don’t forget to make your Orlando hotel reservations today if you are planning on visiting this year. We have great deals on quite few properties.
Just because you’re on a Disney World vacation doesn’t mean you have eat unhealthy. Regardless of which resort or theme park you visit, there are healthy foods available at a variety of restaurants. For example, Animal Kingdom has a kiosk that serves fresh fruit, organic tea and other snacks with high nutritional value. Animal Kingdom’s best restaurants for healthy eating include: Harambe Fruit Marketwhich serves fresh fruits & juices, the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakeryhas a fruit cup w/ yogurt, McDonald’s , Restaurantosaurus serves amandarin chicken salad and veggie burgers, you can get a chicken caesar salad at Pizzafari, and diabetics can get a fruit smoothie with no added sugar at Tamu Tamu Refreshments. Of all of Disney’s parks, EPCOT is the easiest place to find healthy alternatives to the typical restaurant menu items at most theme parks.
With its wide variety of internationally-themed restaurants, EPCOT’s highly trained chefs will adjust meals for tourists on a gluten-free or dairy-free diet, as long as you tell the waitress of your dietary requirements when you place your order. If you’re traveling to Disney’s Magic Kingdom your best bet is to find a kiosk that sells fresh fruit or stop by Auntie Gravities in Tomorrow land, where you can order fruit smoothies. Another healthy stop in Tommorowland is the Noodle Station, which serves a vegetable noodle bowl with tofu, Teriyaki chicken and caesar salad.
Other healthy alternatives at Disney World include the Hummus Sandwich with tomato & broccoli slaw, Garden Galley Salad, Clam Chowder, and Vegetarian Chili, all served at Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square. Should you venture to one of Disney’s waterparks, Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach, you can find healthy snacks at several concession stands. At Blizzard Beach, look for Lottawatta lounge, the Warming Hut or Avalunch, which serve chicken wraps and turkey wraps.
At Typhoon Lagoon, head to Leaning Palms for a Chicken Wrap, Mediterranean Tuna Salad, Caesar Salad, Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, fruit cup & Fruit Yogurt.
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