dining plan vs eating at rv

[Michelle GT]

I am planning on about 2 weeks at the fort in Dec and to save some $ am considering not doing the meal plan this time. We are a family of 5 and with the changes in the plan and 2 of my kids( 10 and 11) considered "adults" with the pricing I am thinking we might not do the plan this time. Anyone else feeling the same way? It would cost around $170/day plus gratuity for us to be on the plan.
I am worried that having most of our meals in the rv will be a downer since we usually do the meal plan. This would be our big trip/vacation for the year. Maybe a few well picked dinners out would make up for it. Any thoughts?

[becky1960]

We were just discussing this and decided that although we eat out at a lot of the Buffets and theamed resturants it was cheaper for us because we always have Breakfast in the Rv and we also eat offsite several times during our 10 day stay. We buy two cases of Juice at Sams and also water and mostly cereal and snacks. We also carrry sandwhich stuff just in case.
We will see you in Dec. I think we skip June this year, the first time in many, many years.

[djblu883]

I can see how you would want to skip the plan with 5 and 2 of them being "adults" but for me a vacation is not a vacation if I have to plan and prepare meals. I've only used the DP once and it was soooooooooooo nice to have it that I've told my friends/family if they want to join our group going in Dec. they will have to pay the extra cost. That just makes it a VACATION. When not on vacation I spend a LOT of time in this TT for work and cook...I'll enjoy the pampering the DP provides me lol!!!! (all adult trip plus one child anyway):hippie:

[JodyLynC]

There is a website which has the menus with prices posted at all of the restaurants in WDW. It is allearsnet.com (click on Dining)

We sat down and picked out the restaurants that we had ADRs for and the Counter Service meals we would most likely order from and added prices for allowed snacks. Then I compared those figures to the dining plan. Since we are getting a cabin, we are eating most breakfasts at fort. We also have 2 free nights in which we will cook at the cabin. (We are sticking with sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, etc.) Even after adding in the cost of the food that we will be purchasing to eat at the cabin, we are still saving a significant amount of $$ by not doing the dining plan this year.

My suggestion is to do the same and figure out which would be most cost effective for you.

Good Luck!

[ntsammy5]

Unless you plan on eating one big meal every day, we normally don't, the dining plan costs much more than buying stuff out of pocket. We normally eat at CS places 2 out of 3 days. Even if you don't cook at the RV, under that scenario, you'll spend less OOP than in getting the plan.

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Ive never thought about cooking while at Disney. That is the one campground my wife and I refuse to cook at lol. Other than light snacks. When our kids get older we might but as for now we are planning on going to the fort next summer and plan on the meal package. I wonder if you can talk to someone when booking to see if you can just get a few days of meal plan. That way you can be spoiled and only a few meals to cook.

[Rhonda]

There is a website which has the menus with prices posted at all of the restaurants in WDW. It is allearsnet.com (click on Dining)

We sat down and picked out the restaurants that we had ADRs for and the Counter Service meals we would most likely order from and added prices for allowed snacks. Then I compared those figures to the dining plan. Since we are getting a cabin, we are eating most breakfasts at fort. We also have 2 free nights in which we will cook at the cabin. (We are sticking with sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, etc.) Even after adding in the cost of the food that we will be purchasing to eat at the cabin, we are still saving a significant amount of $$ by not doing the dining plan this year.

My suggestion is to do the same and figure out which would be most cost effective for you.

Good Luck!


Don't forget - we have the menus and pricing right here in our Dining Database (http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm#disneydining) on the DIS! :goodvibes

[auntie]

Just Because you don't do the dining plan doesn't mean you can't eat in the Disney restaurants. You just may be at a point with your kids at 10, and 11 where the plan isn't worth it...and it's best to pay out of pocket. They may not be eating some $40.00 worth of food. I think people get spoiled when the kids are under 10 and you're paying the kids price. It's hard to resist..as you can't feed kids anywhere for all of $10.00 a day. Sort of like sticker shock..as the kids aren't getting the "little kids" price anymore. They do get to an age where it's debatable depending on your child,..whether it's worth it for you to do the plan or just pay out of pocket that year. I can tell you this..in a a couple of years..the $40.00 for the day will seem like a bargain again when you're feeding growing teenagers.;)
It's best to take a look at the menus...get a ballpark figure of what it would cost you if you paid out of pocket vs. the plan.

[PanFanAL]

We never do the dining plan. I spend all my time touring the parks, we stop for a few minutes to eat at a CS and go on. It just doesn't make sense to us. $40 a day is way more than we ever spend on food, and we eat in the parks. Usually a light breakfast at our room, or camper for our upcoming trip. I think we may cook out a couple of times also.

[Colson39]

As Florida residents we always use the Disney Dining Experience card, it's much more cost effecting than the Dining plan, but only if you get the discount that Florida residents get.

Plus whenever I look at the dining plan, I feel like somehow they're skimping you, but I know overall it's a really good deal.

As others have said, try to figure out how much you think you would spend, and if it seems worth it, go for it!

[ntsammy5]

Don't forget - we have the menus and pricing right here

Yeah, it's always amazed me that everyone puts the allears links up and never the Dis links.

[BigDaddyRog]

I agree...If you cant find it on DIS, it probably doesnt exist.

[disneyfan55]

This may be a stupid question, but is the free dining ever offered with campsites. I rather doubt it but I just would like to know. In reality the cost for a premium campsite is not that much less than the value resort and no housekeeping, towels, sheets etc. Thanks!

[Shannone1]

This may be a stupid question, but is the free dining ever offered with campsites. I rather doubt it but I just would like to know. In reality the cost for a premium campsite is not that much less than the value resort and no housekeeping, towels, sheets etc. Thanks!


No, it's not offered with the campsites.

[Rhonda]

This may be a stupid question, but is the free dining ever offered with campsites. I rather doubt it but I just would like to know. In reality the cost for a premium campsite is not that much less than the value resort and no housekeeping, towels, sheets etc. Thanks!

No, because they allow 10 people on a campsite! That would be a lot of free food! :goodvibes

[disneyfan55]

Thanks! I really didn't realize that so many were allowed to stay at one site.

[Michelle GT]

Thanks for all of the feedback. I should try to figure out where we would like to eat first. Maybe we should just do the meal plan for part of our stay or look into the discount card. We are in PA, so I believe one person in the party needs to have an annual pass in order to purchase the card. If we choose the dining plan it would probably cost us about $2000 for 10 days and that is such a large sum of money for food.
Does anyone know if you eat at a sit down restaurant if my 10 year old would have to eat off of the adult menu or could he order a childs size order? I don't mind ordering adult meals for my 11 yr old , but my 10 year old would probably only eat chicken fingers anyway.
Thanks,
Michelle

[Rhonda]

Thanks for all of the feedback. I should try to figure out where we would like to eat first. Maybe we should just do the meal plan for part of our stay or look into the discount card. We are in PA, so I believe one person in the party needs to have an annual pass in order to purchase the card. If we choose the dining plan it would probably cost us about $2000 for 10 days and that is such a large sum of money for food.
Does anyone know if you eat at a sit down restaurant if my 10 year old would have to eat off of the adult menu or could he order a childs size order? I don't mind ordering adult meals for my 11 yr old , but my 10 year old would probably only eat chicken fingers anyway.
Thanks,
Michelle

If you are on the Dining Plan, then the 10-year-old is considered an adult, and is supposed to eat from the adult menu. You might get a nice server, that will let him eat from child's menu, but he would still have to pay for an adult dining plan.

If you are paying out of pocket, I'm sure he can order from the kid's menu. Nobody will ask for ID. :)

[AuburnJen92]

No, because they allow 10 people on a campsite! That would be a lot of free food! :goodvibes

sometimes they take the fun out of things....:lmao:

[graciejane]

We have never tried the DP. We always plan a couple special meals, this trip it was breakfast at Chef Mickey's and of the course the HDDR. We pack for easy breakfasts and dinners that can be grilled quickly or crockpot it. I know for some people it would not be a vacation if they have to cook, but for us it is a more flexible way to go. ON nights we are back at the Fort and I don't want to cook, there is always the TE buffet :goodvibes

[auntie]

You know.. people go back and forth with this issue. It's such an individual choice. It really is what works well for your own family given the way you dine and the ages of those in your party at that particular time. Only you know that. In all the years we've been going to Disney..we've never done any type of dining plan. Did it last year for the first time..and loved it. :lovestruc That being said I'm feeding a 16 year old who is 6'3" tall.....and we do at least one table service meal each day. One look at the menu prices..and it just made sense, the $40.00 was a bargain.;) Plus..it was just fun. (okay..it doesn't take much to amuse us!:laughing: ) All that being said when my husband and I go to FW in August.. just the two of us..we don't plan to use the plan. We are hoping to purchase a couple of AP's(so as to use them for a trip next year also) along with a Dining Experience card. So..what works one trip..won't the next.
Also..I've read countless posts over on the dining board where it's just my impression, but parents are hit with a type of "sticker shock" reality when they reach that point where their little kids ...aren't so little anymore and the adult price kicks in. The get annoyed that there isn't a junior rate for eating. The kids are probably not eating as much as an adult..but let's face it ..by the time they're 10..they are eating more than a 3 year old. So the parents have had a good long run with the $10.00 price..and need some time to adjust to the increase. It may well mean that you don't do the plan and pay out of pocket for a couple of years..along with some quick meals in the camper. Then pick up again with the plan a couple of years later when the kids are older and you feel it's worth it again. If you're not using and AP or Dining Experience card, I do think it does come back around to being a decent family value..if you are scheduling at least one table service meal a day. Again..it's back to menu's to decide;)

[dtum]

I agree with GracieJane. We plan on eating one lunch at TE, breakfast at camper and a light meal at camper for the other days. spend much of our time at park and don't want to waste it sitting in a restaurant. Think we may make a trip to downtown disney and shop around and will probably stop and eat lunch over there also. We always take p'nut butter and jelly and lots of fruit if we need a snack when we get back from the park at night, but usually just go to bed because it's late. :cutie:

[auntie]

If you are paying out of pocket, I'm sure he can order from the kid's menu. Nobody will ask for ID. :)

When we paid out of pocket and my son was about 11/12..he was odering off the kids menu if nothing appealed to him on the adult menu..and we were never asked about his age. Granted that was four years ago..but still maybe a better option for the OP.

[des1954]

When we've gone to FtW for extended vacation (1 week or more)... I cook ahead and freeze a few meals (chili, pot roast, etc) and then heat things up in the microwave. I also have a few meals to grill (burgers or hot dogs - steaks) and we love to go to the food courts at any of the resorts that have said food courts for meals. (Don't forget your re-fillable mug!)

What we've done is this... eat light breakfast, go to a park til 1 or 2pm, come back to FtW & eat our "big" meal, go back to a park & eat a CS snack for dinner, close said park & then back to FtW. Of course, we always have to reserve one evening for the "Giddy-Up & Go Chicken Dinner" from T.E.!!:thumbsup2

If you plan ahead, you don't have to do a lot of cooking while at FtW!! It's easy on you & easier on the budget! If you use disposable cookware, plates, cups & flatware, it's even easier!!

[terri01p]

Love the dining plan but it's way to much money , I would rather cook at my tt or go off site...Checkers is your friend ;)

[des1954]

Checkers is your friend ;)

:rotfl2: :rotfl2:

My DH LOVES Checkers!!! I prefer 5 Guys Burgers & Fries - but they're not as conveniently located as Checkers, alas!!

[ntsammy5]

Lets not forget CiCis either! The grandsons love that place. So do I.

[des1954]

I often do these for a quick & filling breakfast...

Go to the freezer section at Wal-Mart & purchase

1 Bag of frozen egg patties (for lack of the real name) 18 count

1 Bag of Pre-cooked frozen pork sausage patties 18 count

English Muffins

American Cheese Slices

Directions: Split, toast and butter one english muffin. Wrap one sausage patty in a paper towel & place on microwavable plate & put one egg patty (unwrapped) next to sausage on same plate. Cook on high for 90 seconds or until heated; when egg & sausage have finished cooking, place on the toasted english muffin (remove the sausage from paper towel first - lol), top with cheese slice, pop back into microwave for about 10 seconds to melt the cheese & enjoy!!

I love to eat, and it shows!! http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_8_9.gif (http://*******************************************ZSzeb00 1_ZN)

These are far better & cheaper than McDonald's.

[Tent Camping Mom]

Only at the buffets will you need to pay adult prices for the 10 and 11 year olds. DS is now 12 and the past 2 years we were offered kid's menus at all our TS dinners. Once I even mentioned that he was already 10 but they said it's no problem.

I have to agree, with 4 adults, paying out of pocket is the way to go. I created a spreadsheet a couple of weeks ago for someone just to give an idea how the DDP doesn't work for 2 adults and 1 "Disney Adult." I also did a comparison for two adults and a 9 year old and in that case the DDP was better than Out-of-Pocket if you are doing a Dinner Character Meal every night.

Here's the link to my web server that has the spreadsheets (in Excel) and also some pages you can view if you don't have Excel.
http://home.mchsi.com/~stuffy2000/DDP/CompareDDP.htm

This is similar to the workbook I used when I was trying to decide if the DDP would work. Needless to say, Out-of-pocket worked better for us. I have plans on updating the spreadsheet so that more meals and more family members can use it to evaluate....that is if anyone is interested.

[Skyw]

I like to eat off Disney too. Unless it was free (like in Sep), I won't get it. Last year we went off site several times. We have a 4 year old, so didn't hit the parks all day. Having said that.......I have been to the parks without kids or with teenagers and it would be worth it for the dining plan. I was giving my DSD (step Daughter) and her cousin $30 a day each to spend on food. Not including breakfast. They rarely came back with any extra money.

[AlyLynn]

I am planning on about 2 weeks at the fort in Dec and to save some $ am considering not doing the meal plan this time. We are a family of 5 and with the changes in the plan and 2 of my kids( 10 and 11) considered "adults" with the pricing I am thinking we might not do the plan this time. Anyone else feeling the same way? It would cost around $170/day plus gratuity for us to be on the plan.
I am worried that having most of our meals in the rv will be a downer since we usually do the meal plan. This would be our big trip/vacation for the year. Maybe a few well picked dinners out would make up for it. Any thoughts?

I know how you feel--we are a family of 6. We are cutting back on our "dining out" in December because the prices are so high. Eating in the RV doesn't have to be a "downer", just well planned. We usually try to do a breakfast buffet out mid-morning, and a light snack/lunch, and then go back to the camper for dinner. (Dinner is usually in the crockpot or Bar-B-Que).
The kids are just so happy to be going this Christmas that I'm sure it will be fine!:goodvibes (We did this our last trip, and they were fine--They got to spend time at FW and relax for a while)

[mamaloya]

No one has yet mentioned the fact that the DDP no longer includes the tip. So, after dinner you still have to pay the 18% gratuity. We used to do the dining plan, but now that the tip is not included, we don't. We can do it cheaper out of pocket, but liked the convenience of it all paid up front. Disney took the convenience out of it.

You can still eat most of your meals out. We buy muffins and waffles and such to have in the camper while we get ready in the morning. We eat the other 2 meals out. The only time we cook at the camper is on our off days. We then throw some burgers on the grill. Really no cleanup that way and one of the guys do the cooking. The only thing I do would be to toss fries in the oven or just open a bag of chips. ;)

I guess what I am trying to say is that it doesn't have to be DDP or cooking. I also like that w/o the dining plan, we don't have to do ADRs everyday which gives us a lot more freedom.

[auntie]

I assumed the OP knew what the dining plan included. Also..you don't have to leave 18%..the tip is now left up to you. So if you don't think the service warrants an 18% tip..then you don't have to leave one. It's the Disney Dining Experience card that requires the 18% tips. Even with that..a good many people leave a 20% tip for good service, so they may feel they are saving by having that gratuity automatically added.
While the original Dining Plan has changed and does not include the appetizer or gratuity...it's still a pretty good option for some...you have to compare the out of pocket to what you'd pay for the plan.

[fortcampers]

We just did our first camping trip at FW and we only had lunch in the parks. My family aren't big breakfast eaters and we planned in advance to grill while we were there. I think we spent something like $100 at the Wal-Mart supercenter on food when we got down there and spent maybe $50 a day on lunch/snacks in the parks. We had 5 people---2 adults, a 6'0 tall 185 lb teenage boy, a 12 yr old and an 8 yr old. We spent 6 nights so we spent about $400 for food for those 6 nights/7 days. To me that is a lot cheaper than the food plan. If I had money burning a whole in my pocket, I might do the dining plan. Having the convenience of not having to come back to the camper while in the park is a big plus, but on the other hand, it gave us time to come back and kick back and relax. I swore this time we weren't going to go from sun-up to long past sun-down like we have done in the past. It was a much more enjoyable trip.

[Tent Camping Mom]

I assumed the OP knew what the dining plan included. Also..you don't have to leave 18%..the tip is now left up to you. So if you don't think the service warrants an 18% tip..then you don't have to leave one. It's the Disney Dining Experience card that requires the 18% tips. Even with that..a good many people leave a 20% tip for good service, so they may feel they are saving by having that gratuity automatically added.
While the original Dining Plan has changed and does not include the appetizer or gratuity...it's still a pretty good option for some...you have to compare the out of pocket to what you'd pay for the plan.

I agree. Although I used 15% as the standard in my spreadsheets because I was choosing the traditional tipping standards. 15% for standard service, 18% for good service, 20% for excellent service. Which at WDW, we have always gotten good service. I've yet to recieve standard service and only on DCL have I received excellent service. So really, our "Disney Standard" is 18%.

[LarryJ]

We did what was sort of the forerunner to the DDP a couple of times back in the 1980's where you got "tickets/coupons" for like one lunch and one dinner each day and it included appetizer, entree, and dessert. It also had no restrictions on things like lobster, etc. and was good, but we were in our 30's back then and do way could I eat even a single day on the DDP now. We pay OOP and now use the DDE which we really like. We usually only eat out about every 3 days at a Disney restaurant, but that is over a 30 to 45 day stay and eat all the other meals less a few CS, a Turkey Leg, or even a "baked potato" in Liberty Square at the trailer.

When the boy's were smaller we always did at least one character breakfast for them, but when they got into their teens we never have breakfast anywhere but in the trailer. As far a cooking in the trailer you just have to get some experience. DW learned a ton when from 1996 to 2006 we dry camped Thurs till Sun for Penn State home games and learned how to keep the preparation and dirty cooking pots down to almost nothing and the outside grill is your friend. I've even cooked a 5lb prime rib roast on it along with baked potatoes and squash and it was great:goodvibes Cornish hens are also great on the grill. The secret is prepared sauces packed flat in a ziploc bag or even a couple of meals for the first couple of days prepared frozen and then put in the frig to thaw like veggie soup, chili, etc.

Larry

[Michelle GT]

We were just discussing this and decided that although we eat out at a lot of the Buffets and theamed resturants it was cheaper for us because we always have Breakfast in the Rv and we also eat offsite several times during our 10 day stay. We buy two cases of Juice at Sams and also water and mostly cereal and snacks. We also carrry sandwhich stuff just in case.
We will see you in Dec. I think we skip June this year, the first time in many, many years.


I hope we see you there. I really want to go, but now I am considering waiting till next summer to go. As I look up some of the restaurants I want, it seems the ones I am interested in charge extra for the holidays. I wonder if it would be better to wait till the summer and stay longer. Christmas is great this year because we can go for 2 weeks and my kids would only be out of school for 2 or 3 days.
But waiting till next summer seems like a long time.

[Michelle GT]

oops,
I tried to copy what Becky1960 wrote, but I wasn't very successful.

[douglisa]

I am confused, one person said they do not allow ddp for campsites because they allow 10 people. When I was checking prices it gave me the option of getting ddp.:confused3 The site was during value season, we will be tenting. I assumed it was the cheapest site. So what is the price difference between the sites that allow ddp and the sites that do not? Thanks in advance.

[BigDaddyRog]

Actually, what was said and is true....they dont offer the FREE DDP to campsites......Disney offers free dining to resort guests to increase attendance during the down time(8/24-9/20, the begining of the new school year). But this offer doesnt apply to FW guests(except for cabins) because of the large amount of guest allowed on 1 site....Disney would lose a huge chunk o'change issuing free dining to 10ppl per site.

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I don't know about the Fort, but at other resorts you can check-out and check back in and only have ddp for part of your stay. You cannot use the plan on the days of your other reservation, but its a good strategy if you want to see characters or do some nice restaurants for part of your stay and do more Rv, CS, or off-site for the rest of your stay.

I would think the deal breaker would be whether or not you had to move your RV to split the reservation. That seems like too much of a pain.

[chief19spixi]

I don't know about the Fort, but at other resorts you can check-out and check back in and only have ddp for part of your stay. You cannot use the plan on the days of your other reservation, but its a good strategy if you want to see characters or do some nice restaurants for part of your stay and do more Rv, CS, or off-site for the rest of your stay.

I would think the deal breaker would be whether or not you had to move your RV to split the reservation. That seems like too much of a pain.


That would be nice but it does sound like its a pain.

We just came back from our 2 week trip and were on the dining plan! It was great for us and didn't mind tipping the 18% or 20% even though we only had 5 in our party! Trust me there were times when we put down 18% and were asked if we wanted to add more to make it 20% and I did the right and noble thing and said you could be greatful for the 18% or get 10% you choose!! LOL Needless to say they were shocked that I said it and walked away! I would have given them 20% but we saw them about 2 times and it was a buffet so what more could they ask for!

[auntie]

So...let me get his straight? You had waitstaff actually ask you if you wanted to leave 20%. Wasn't the idea of Disney removing the grautity that the customer can decide what amount they want to leave? Where as, previously the 18% was included. (note they didn't drop the price by 18%..when they removed the gratuity included, and the appetizer:rolleyes: )
Did they bring you a check with 18% figured in already, and ask if you wanted to leave more? Or was there no gratuity and when you added the 18 they asked if you wanted to leave 20%.:confused3

[Tent Camping Mom]

That would be nice but it does sound like its a pain.

Trust me there were times when we put down 18% and were asked if we wanted to add more to make it 20% and I did the right and noble thing and said you could be greatful for the 18% or get 10% you choose!!

:scared1: The wait staff actually asked you if you wanted to add more to make it 20 percent? :confused3

[dtum]

Talk about rude! I'd go to the 10% at that point. Tips are for survice not "on-demand"

[Us3]

I agree that I don't like to "cook" while on vacation....BUT, while at FW we *are* camping, and for us part of camping is grilling good food. We do not spend all day in the parks anymore and love to come back to the Fort to relax. Good food and drink is part of that. The DP just doesn't make sense for us and also its just more for me to keep track of if I have to plan every single meal and snack.

If staying at one of the other resorts...the DP might make better sense for us.

[BigDaddyRog]

Wow.......Ive NEVER been ASKED for a tip, even from the rudest waiters Ive encountered....Ive never stiffed a waiter either, even when service was horrible, but have left a single dollar with a "Rog-ified note" about how they might should have chosen a different career like TOILET SCRUBBER for their crappy attitude. I think I would have asked for the MGR on duty if I was asked to increase the tip amount, especially an 18% tip.....we usually do 20%, but 18 aint too shabby, not shabby enough to beg for more anyway!!!

[VACAMPER]

We had a party of nine last trip so our tip was automatically added. I don't mind tipping a good waiter/waitress but we had a waitress that we never saw after our drinks came, it was a buffet & had to ask another waitress for her to bring our check. That girl made a fortune for doing nothing. I don't think tips should be added in, they should be earned.

[chief19spixi]

I know it is as bad as it sounds! I charged 18% on my key to the world card as the tip .. she then came back and said she did not put in through cause she wanted to know if we would add more to make it 20%... we looked at her puzzled and then it clicked in how rude she was thats when I offered her 10% instead! There were only a couple that did the similar thing after that time but by then we were game and put cash down instead of using a key card!

[LarryJ]

I know it is as bad as it sounds! I charged 18% on my key to the world card as the tip .. she then came back and said she did not put in through cause she wanted to know if we would add more to make it 20%... we looked at her puzzled and then it clicked in how rude she was thats when I offered her 10% instead! There were only a couple that did the similar thing after that time but by then we were game and put cash down instead of using a key card!

What's really funny and I can't find my receipts, but IIRC some of the fixed price meals with entertainment that include tax and gratuity like the Spirit of Aloha, CRT (which also includes the cost of the picture) and I think the HDDR the gratuity is around 14%. With the DDE which includes an 18% gratuity for most meals (TE take out is eligible and doesn't require a gratuity), I don't add anything unless the service was beyond the call of duty.

Larry

[ntsammy5]

, and for us part of camping is grilling good food.

I agree! We sometimes remember trips by the food we ate or by what or how much we had to drink. :thumbsup2

[SurfinTX]

We are staying at the cabins next year and I don't know what the prices will be so we haven't decided on getting the dining plan yet. 2 cabins will hold our entire party but ours will be 2 children, 1 junior (13) and 3 adults.

The 13 is hit and miss on how much he will eat. He isn't really into the dining experiences and will enjoy more park time. The children will be going for the first time and I plan on 2 character meals for them with the adults tagging along. However, the older of the 2 eats like a bird and we will really have to plan around what she will be able to do.

It will be a close call on cost if we end up doing a meal every day in the cabins. Without app and gratuity the DDP really seems to be a decent deal for people with under 10 children or adults who plan out everything and will max out everything every day. For us, the kids will be fine with CS for the most part and we probably could just do a few of the character/TS meals out of pocket with only the people who really wanted to do it.

[dreaming4disney]

I just got an annual pass for our trip this December. I plan on getting the Disney Dinnig Experience discount card. We will have breakfast in the rv in the morning and one other meal during the day. Then we will eat out 1 meal either table service or sit down at the restaurants we really want to eat at. I am hoping this saves us some money, but I still want to feel like I am on vacation. I have 3 kids(11,10,8)and the dining plan is just too expensive for us this time with two of them considered adults.

[HappyCamper87]

I just got an annual pass for our trip this December. I plan on getting the Disney Dinnig Experience discount card. We will have breakfast in the rv in the morning and one other meal during the day. Then we will eat out 1 meal either table service or sit down at the restaurants we really want to eat at. I am hoping this saves us some money, but I still want to feel like I am on vacation. I have 3 kids(11,10,8)and the dining plan is just too expensive for us this time with two of them considered adults.

We are going in October and I have planned one TS a day most days and the rest of the time we will either eat at the fort - I'm just getting simple sandwich and/or salad meals together - or, if we don't feel like doing that, we will get a quick bite at a CS.

I think the DDP is great if you have tons of time to schedule and attend those meals but really I felt it would take away from our time at the Fort and one big meal a day is enough for me.

And, I cannot understand why so many people refer others on this site to another unofficial site's dining menus, more importantly why aren't us DIS folks scanning those menus and sending them here to be updated?

Someone start a petition to have each person promise to send at least one menu from their trip and these boards would be up to date as well. I'm going to try to gather as many as I can in October and then figure out how to use the scanner. :rotfl2:

[5stljayhawks]

My strategy : Work Extra magic hours and lunch/nap/dinner at the Camper

We buy park hopper passes. We eat (now 5.5, 2.5 and .5) breakfast at the camper, then try to hit the early magic hours. Head back for lunch nap then dinner, then go back to the park that is offering extra magic hours in the evenings. Sometimes we will eat in the park (brown bag) ride a few more rides, hang with the mouse, then go back for naps and dinner and back for extra mag evenings.

For instance, if I know we will be traveling to animal kingdom, the travel time back and forth does not justify, coming back to eat, so we will either pack our lunch or eat at the park. More times than not we pack lunch and get a snack at the park. I also usually plan a slow next day, with the kiddos missing naps one day, we make sure they nap the next..

[tinah159]

OK guys, here is my .02 I have flame suit on! I dont like the dining plan. I am going to Disney in October and we have to stay at the All-Star Sports. My sister and her family are meeting us for their vacation. Since we are staying in a hotel (gasp!) we are using the plan. They will only be here for 4 days and we really need to make the most of these days touring the parks. I really dont like having to make ADR's. It seems like we are planning our days around food. Darrell and I are used to having breakfast at the trailer and then going to the park. We have lunch and snacks at the park, then return to FW for dinner. I usually put something in the crock-pot in the morning, and by the time we get home, we have dinner waiting for us. With our October dining plan trip, I had to subscribe to Tour Guide Mike just to figure everything out!

[Disney_Angel]

OK guys, here is my .02 I have flame suit on! I dont like the dining plan. I am going to Disney in October and we have to stay at the All-Star Sports. My sister and her family are meeting us for their vacation. Since we are staying in a hotel (gasp!) we are using the plan. They will only be here for 4 days and we really need to make the most of these days touring the parks. I really dont like having to make ADR's. It seems like we are planning our days around food. Darrell and I are used to having breakfast at the trailer and then going to the park. We have lunch and snacks at the park, then return to FW for dinner. I usually put something in the crock-pot in the morning, and by the time we get home, we have dinner waiting for us. With our October dining plan trip, I had to subscribe to Tour Guide Mike just to figure everything out!

That sounds like a great idea....putting something in the crockpot and having it ready for when you come "home". :thumbsup2
OMGosh Jacksonville? I am a Yank with family in Yulee.

[donatalie]

OK guys, here is my .02 I have flame suit on! I dont like the dining plan. I am going to Disney in October and we have to stay at the All-Star Sports. My sister and her family are meeting us for their vacation. Since we are staying in a hotel (gasp!) we are using the plan. They will only be here for 4 days and we really need to make the most of these days touring the parks. I really dont like having to make ADR's. It seems like we are planning our days around food. Darrell and I are used to having breakfast at the trailer and then going to the park. We have lunch and snacks at the park, then return to FW for dinner. I usually put something in the crock-pot in the morning, and by the time we get home, we have dinner waiting for us. With our October dining plan trip, I had to subscribe to Tour Guide Mike just to figure everything out!

DH added the dining plan to our last trip as a "Mom gets a Vacation too" surprise. I was soooo excited about it. I picked my restaurants and made my ADRs. Then we spent our whole vacation on almost a minute by minute schedule to make sure we made it to our restaurants on time only to sit and wait to be called ( this isn't easy with two autistic kiddos in tow!). I thought DH was going to FLIP when we had to tell DD that we couldn't ride POTC because we had to get to CP for our ADR only to wait 45 minutes to be seated! DD was in tears, DS was getting very aggrivated (and aggressive) and we decided then and there that it was just NOT WORTH IT.

I guess everyone needs to decide for themselves what their priorities are while on vacation!

Thanks for listening!

[Murrlene]

My husband says that too me to, he feels he always has to be somewhere. It is always about trying to squeeze things around the meals. We are going in June/July next year and we have decided everyone can pick one meal out that they want and then we will eat at our campsite. We have 5 in our group we will be 11 days so that will give us five dinners out. We eat breakfast at our site, and it is hot then so we are gonna come back to swim so why not eat lunch too.

We have done the dinning plan the last 2 times we were there and I like it because I do not have to cook, and we have tried places that we would not normally have tried.

But this year with the increase $$ I have no problem saving the money. The crock pot and smoker will just get some extra use this time. Plus we are gonna still have a few meals out.

[dreaming4disney]

My husband says that too me to, he feels he always has to be somewhere. It is always about trying to squeeze things around the meals. We are going in June/July next year and we have decided everyone can pick one meal out that they want and then we will eat at our campsite. We have 5 in our group we will be 11 days so that will give us five dinners out. We eat breakfast at our site, and it is hot then so we are gonna come back to swim so why not eat lunch too.

We have done the dinning plan the last 2 times we were there and I like it because I do not have to cook, and we have tried places that we would not normally have tried.

But this year with the increase $$ I have no problem saving the money. The crock pot and smoker will just get some extra use this time. Plus we are gonna still have a few meals out.




What kind of smoker do you have and what do you cook in it? Is it easy to clean? I wish I had more easy to make and clean cooking ideas for the rv.

[Murrlene]

It is a Rival we got it for Christmas and finally just started using it. It can be used as a roaster and Smoker depends on what you want to do.

We have done pork roast in it and we have done Chicken. I think it is pretty easy to clean. It is sort of like cleaning a roaster. We are gonna try a Turkey hopefully this weekend, we will see. If it works that is what we will do. 2 chickens took 3 1/2 hours. So a big turkey will take double that time, I have to read the book. It is all trial and error.:goodvibes

[djblu883]

when I don't use the DDP I also use my crockpot...one of my favs is to inject a chicken with white wine, sprinkle it with rosemary and put on low....i'm trying an experimant in the next few weeks to see how this works...I'm going to inject a chicken, freeze it....later put it in the crockpot with a timer.....3 hours later let the chicken start cooking.....see if that buys a longer time away from home...8 hours(work/park time) on a chicken its a bit too long...I don't have time enough at lunch to get back to turn it off for work...and don't really like coming back after a 4 hour stint at the parks....hope it works!!!

[CCIntrigue]

For $170 a day we could eat lobster and filet every night and still save money!

My complaint about eating out is the amount of time it requires each day. I'd much rather throw something in the crock pot and return to the MH for dinner than spend 2 hours in a restaurant each evening.

[Murrlene]

i'm trying an experimant in the next few weeks to see how this works...I'm going to inject a chicken, freeze it....later put it in the crockpot with a timer.....3 hours later let the chicken start cooking.....see if that buys a longer time away from home...8 hours(work/park time) on a chicken its a bit too long...I don't have time enough at lunch to get back to turn it off for work...and don't really like coming back after a 4 hour stint at the parks....hope it works!!![/QUOTE]

Let me know how that works out I think it is a great Idea. We always try to pack enough stuff we can use the first half of the trip and then hit Walmart out there to restock, but my mission this time is to get as much as I can packed and only get what we really need out there. If I can freeze more things like that then I am ready to go.

[Murrlene]

My complaint about eating out is the amount of time it requires each day. I'd much rather throw something in the crock pot and return to the MH for dinner than spend 2 hours in a restaurant each evening.[/QUOTE]

You know I never thought of that. I always look at it like it is more of pain to come back, but your right you always have along time to eat at least this way everyone can cool down in the pool eat lunch and then head back.:flower3:

[iheartdisney]

I am in the pre-planning stage of my trip, and am considering the DDP. Also worth noting that this is my first time looking at Fort Wilderness.
We had free dining on our last trip, and it got me hooked! I loved having $200 in my pocket, and it lasted the entire week!
The only thing that has me doubting it this trip is that we will only be going to the parks 4 of the 7 days we are staying. And that as far as i can see Fort Wilderness does not have a quick-meal option.
Is the Wilderness Lodge close enough to pop over for a bite to eat?

[AuburnJen92]

Yeah, you can get on the boat or the bus. I just found that the DDP was just too much food. However, if that is for you, go for it.

[2goofycampers]

All of the lake resorts are just a boat or boat and monorail ride away. :thumbsup2

[ntsammy5]

Old threads never die..........

What Denise said. We have never done the DDP at FW but have done it a few times elsewhere. There is a lot of food, but it can be fun if you don't mind the whole trip being about food. Too bad they don't offer free dining at FW.

[YodaGirl]

As a general rule, we don't do that dining plan. It's just so much easier (not to mention cheaper) to eat at the camper. That being said, however, we're planning to do the DDP in Christmas 2012 due to the number and types of sit-down meals (HDDR and CRT).

[Siteseer]

We have been Disney people for many years. We have had the dining plan since it became available. we save about 40 % on eating out food. When we go to Disney we go for FUN not to cook and clean the RV. When the kids went with us we were too tired to cook and clean. Now the kids go on their own. Now we are just too plain lazy to cook and clean.

We may have coffee and a snack for breakfast but after that we want our food delivered to our table. After all what is being retired and going to WDW all about?

[Running_Bell]

We do not buy the dining plan... we do eat out once per day at the parks or other resorts... either counter or full service or just snack our way through the day. We break it up so that a few of those are breakfast buffets... and honestly on those days we eat so much... we don't want to eat a full meal again... we just snack and then eat something light once we are back at FW. On the days we do dinner out... we get up and cook out a nice big breakfast at the site.. it's fun. We aren't hungry again until our reservations which we make around 4ish... then we aren't hungry again for the rest of the night. The first few years we went... we found that we ate SO much and we just started feeling sick and full all the time,. We have found a balance for us.... we absolutely cannot eat 3 meals a day at Disney... it is just too much food. So by planning and alternating the times we eat out each day.... we save money and still get to enjoy all the special dishes we love at the parks and resorts. We also have found that we would rather spend the money on little special treats.... like Dole Whips, Beignets and French Press coffees.... than a full sit down meal too.