Ask Magically Speaking

In each issue we like to answer questions from you. What are your questions? Are you wondering about a certain attraction? Are you curious about a resort or cruise? Do you have some nagging little trivia question that you are just dying to know the answer to? If so, please send them to us. We have a great team of Disney experts and sleuths that would love to answer your questions! If you have a question, send it to us at magicallyspeaking@themouseforless.com.

Ask Magically Speaking is a regular feature in the Magically Speaking newsletter. The following Ask Magically Speaking was published in the April 9, 2007 issue
of Magically Speaking ISSN: 1556-3863

Q. I am looking for information about the Disney Meal Plan. Options, costs, etc. Where or how can I get this info? Thanks. (Submitted by Brian M.)

A. Hi, Brian. The Disney Dining Plan (DDP) offers the ability to purchase dining credits at a flat rate which can be applied to your family's meals during your stay. It requires either purchasing a package (resort stay + tickets) or staying at a DVC resort as a member or a guest of a member. When you purchase the DDP, it must be purchased for every guest in your room for every night of your resort stay, regardless of the number of days on your tickets. For adults, the current cost is $38.99 per adult (ages 10+) per night and $10.99 per child (ages 3-9) per night. What you get is the equivalent of one Table (or Full) Service (TS) credit, one Counter (or Quick) Service (CS) credit and one Snack credit (good for most any food item under $4) per person per night. So a family of five consisting of two parents, an 11 year old, a six year old and a two year old staying for five nights will end up with a total of 15 Adult TS credits, 15 Adult CS credits, five Child TS credits, five CS credits and 20 Snack credits (as snacks are not enforced by age). All of these credits are pooled together and immediately available to your family upon check-in as part of your Key to the World resort ID. Any unused credits will expire at midnight of the day of your check-out.

At table service locations, each credit entitles you to an appetizer, a soft drink, an entree and a dessert. Drinks containing alcohol are never covered under the plan and can be purchased and paid for separately out of pocket. Some of the fancier restaurants are designed Signature Restaurants and require two TS credits per person to dine. Dinner shows and Cinderella's Royal Table are also two TS credits. Contrary to popular belief, other character dining is only one TS credit per meal and Epcot has no two TS credit dining venues. In addition, you can also use your credits for the Fantasmic Dining Package (one TS credit for Mama Melrose and Hollywood & Vine, but two for Brown Derby as it is a Signature Restaurant) and one TS Credit can be used to purchase the Candlelight Processional Package during the holiday season (this was true in 2006- we'll see if it remains so in 2007). Interestingly enough, drinks are included at buffets when using the DDP - otherwise they're an additional cost to the buffet price.

At counter service locations, each credit entitles you to an entree, a side, a soft drink and a dessert.

With careful planning, the DDP can save your family a lot of money. Also, while it's always important to make your Advanced Dining Reservations for table service locations, it's especially important when you're on the DDP so you don't end up losing unused credits.

For a list of participating restaurants and the number of credits required to dine there, see Disney's Official List of Participating Restaurants.

Q. I have read that if you stay at a Disney Resort that you can either get in earlier or stay later at certain theme parks, depending on the schedule, than normal guests. Are all of the rides open to resort guests at this time or is it just for certain areas of the parks? How do they identify that you are staying at a resort? Does this apply if you are staying at a timeshare Disney Resort, such as the Disney Beach Villas? (Submitted by Alicia H.)

A. Hi, Alicia. It's true! They're called Extra Magic Hours (EMH) and they allow guests staying on site at the Disney Resorts (including DVC properties) as well as Shades of Green, Swan, Dolphin, and Hilton DTD resorts to either enter the park one hour before it opens to the general public or hang out for an additional three hours after close on selected days. Usually each park has one morning and evening EMH per week (on different days), although in busier seasons, it could be more! When you check-in, part of your package will contain a sheet with park hours for the current week, denoting which parks have EMH (remember, evening EMH is for three hours after the listed close time - so if the MK closes at 12 a.m., that means it's open to resort guests until 3 a.m.!).

In order to participate in EMH, each guest must show their Key to the World Resort ID. For evening EMH, resort guests must even obtain a wristband (either at the turnstile when entering or one of several locations throughout the park about two hours prior to EMH start). During morning EMH, the only guests in the park are those who have presented their ticket and resort ID to enter; during evening EMH, no guest will be allowed to visit attractions without a wristband (yes, Cast Members will check.)

As for what's open during morning and evening EMHs at each park, it does vary. Not all attractions, shops and dining locations remain open during these times. At Epcot, the attractions in Future World that are open for EMH continue to operate for the same hours that those in World Showcase do. Parks may also have special things going on for guests with wristbands as well, such as the Playhouse Disney Live Dance Party held during evening EMH at MGM where guests can dance with their favorite Playhouse Disney stars to a live DJ.