Disney Dining Plan - Yes or No

[Mad-Jasper]

In October, we will be making or 6th trip since 2005. This trip, however, we decided to skip the DP, saving about $600 (2 adults, 1-8 yr old) over a 7 day trip.

The reason is not the money as much as we hate to be tied down to reservations and always tend to over eat. Aside from one evening at 1900 Park, we will eat at the resort dining area.

What are some of your thoughts concerning the DP?

[soccerchick]

To ME, it seems like a waste if you are truly planning to eat at the resort. Maybe if you are staying at GF it would be worth it. You also don't like being tied to reservations. why not just go CS then?

No one can tell you what to do. Plan your vacation the way that works for you, then make a decision about DP.

[caroline1851]

I chose to go with the ddp because even, for the most part, just eating cs meals and paying oop with a drink and snacks, it would 've cost almost as much as the ddp. This way, we can do some character meals and some other places that i would normally be too cheap to pay oop for. Also, i like the idea of it being pre-paid. I figured out for us where we wanted to eat and how much it would cost oop and we'll be saving about $200. For us, worth it.
If you don't think it's for you, then you're making the right decision not to do it.

[Kazzy1548]

I agree with Mad-Jasper. We tried the Dp last year and did not enjoy being tied down with reservations for table services. We really enjoy the freedom of going where we want to go when we fell like it. We are definately not a camando style family either. It was stressful planning every momnet of the day. You really have to plan by what your family needs are. Every family is different.....:hippie:

[MomofKatie]

We've crunched the numbers, and we end up saving $$ by just paying OOP. The way we eat, the DP just doesn't fit with our needs. DD doesn't like "kid food", so we ended up wasting most of her TS credits (we usually share 1 appetizer and 2 entrees between the 3 of us). We also aren't big on dessert, so we felt like we either wasted part of our TS credit, or we were trying to stuff ourselves. We also don't do many buffets, so we save $$ vs the DP that way.

We find that we tend to like having a TS meal once every other day while at WDW- one a day was too much. We budgeted about $85/day for the 3 of us for food our way. The DP would have cost us more ($86/day+ tip). Yes, we would have gotten a TS each day instead of every other day, but we were fine with that.

And now that DD is about to turn 10, the DP would be an even bigger waste. There's no way she could eat $38 worth of food each day!!

[moonpie85]

I'm a true beleiver in the DDP! However I guess it really depends on how much your family eats and what they like to eat. We eat alot and we eat expensive so the DDP saves us a ton!:cool1:

[czycropper]

We just got back and we were on the basic DDP while at Disney (we also went to Universal & their meal plan is another whole bone of contention). We had done the DDP when we went 4 years ago and absolutely loved it!

This is time we were not as happy with it. I guess it was that we didn't get the Deluxe DDP and it was hard for us picking out the CS meals since we're mostly TS type people. :lmao:

Also, I spoke with a couple of CM at the restaurants and they mentioned that it's a lot more paper work for them as well especially if there is a table with two/three families on the DDP and the adults have drinks or appetizers. This happened to us on our first night - we had three families with a total of 4 adults, 5 teens/tweens & one child - so three checks. The adults had wine & beer with dinner; one of the families had appetizers; another family had a smoothie (which is not included in the plan - it used to be included in the older plan). We ended up have about 6 sheets of paper for the table.

Having said that I will say that yes, we did save lots of money on the TS meals (we ate at Shutters-CBR; California Grill & Coral Reef) and basically broke even on the CS meals (CBR food court; El Pirata; Flame Tree) since we really didn't have desserts with the CS meals.

Also, we didn't use all of our snack credits since eveytime we went to one of the places they said that the machine was not working so we ended up paying for the water, Mickey ears, etc - that was very disappointing and it wasn't just at one park but at all of the parks.:confused3

We will probably not use the dining plan when we go back in a couple of years and just budget for the meals unless they change it.

[megdscott]

:goodvibes We have done trips with it and without it. Last week was our first trip with it. We loved it. I felt like I ate healthier while we were there. Instead of fast food constanlty, we ate real food. Neither hubby nor I ordered any alcoholic drinks or apps. When we got dessert we always split it with the kids since our dessert looked better than their's. The biggest expense was tipping at table service meals as the tip was always more than 20 dollars. We loved eating at EPCOT. Very YUMMY!!! We did not enjoy the Garden Grill-food was like that in a TV dinner, but the characters were great. We did end up with a few snack credits left.
Without DDP, we tend to buy a hotdog and split it between 4 of us, etc. So for us we will do the DDP for now on.

[Sleeping Becca]

We have done the DDP in the past but have decided not to use it for our upcoming trips.

1. DD turned 10, so she is considered an adult, so a huge chunk of the savings went out of the window.

2. We are appetizer people, and appetizers are no longer included.

3. The tip is no longer included.

4. We have AP's and the DDE card will save us just as much or more money than the DDP.

I still think the DDP can save folks money on their dining, just not as much as before.

For folks that don't eat at a lot of sit down restaurants on the their trips the DDP makes no sense.

If dining is a big part of your WDW vacation, then I think the DDP is workable, and could result in saving your family money. Just be smart about it and make sure your ADRs are good choices that will get the most of your dining credits.

If you aren't a big planner and will not make ADRs then, the DDP is not for you.

Caution: If you want to eat at a sit down restaurant at WDW, please make sure you get a reservation. The restaurants are very popular, esp since the advent of the dining plan. This is NOT an exaggeration, esp if you visit during the summer months or other busy periods. Even during "slower" times many restarants are full.

[ReneeA]

I think it depends on the family.

We do really well with it. If we didn't have the DDP, then we would typically eat 2 CS/food court meals a day (no dessert, just entrees and shared drinks), 1 or 2 TS meals during the week, and one snack per person per day I came up with a cost of about $85.00.

The DDP costs our family $94.00 per day. It makes sense for us to just purchase it because we are guaranteed a TS meal per day for about the same price. I made our ADRs a month or so ago and we are fairly flexible - if we decide we don't want to eat that then we'll call that morning and find out what is available.

[scoolover]

---no---

[pepe of ohio]

Do not like schedules or waiting around in a restaurant for 90 minutes. We're good to go, grab and eat people. The meals on property or huge and wife and I mostly share a meal, this way we get to try more places and aren't stuffed to the gills. We've never been dessert and appetizer people and from all our past 40 trips, I know what our food bill will run and the DDP won't save us a dime. We never know when we'll be hungry, know what we want and booking ADR's 2 months before leaving doesn't work. Some days we eat very little, CS does us fine, some nights we like a pizza from Crocketts Tavern and a pitcher of beer and if we run across someplace with something that catches our eye, we eat. DDP works for some but not for us.

[mizzouHHR]

It's a no for us also. We like to go on the fly without plans, or planning our entire trip around advance reservations. On the few places we eat, like character breakfast, we will make advance res., but other than that we just go with what sounds good at the time. Besides, we always go in may before memorial day, and it's not terribly busy during that time, and we eat at mostly CS. DDP just does not work for us.

[lustergirl]

I do the dining plan when it is the 4 of us, including my 2 teenage boys because hey they are teenagers and can eat you out of house and home. Because of our busy home lives we hardly get the chance to sit down and enjoy a meal together. Using the TS's on a good meal at disney is part of our vacation time together. Now I just experienced my first wonderful solo trip the first week of May and didn't utilize the DP because it was just me and I flew by the seat of my pants-. So long story short when all of the family goes We use the DP because it actually saves me money.

[Claire&TheBoys]

We only get it on the "free dining" promotion. Our kids love the character meals but I'm too cheap to pay for them OOP most of the time. Right now, the DDP is a good value for us because we have a 2-yr-old so he eats free at the buffets so we made the effort to go during free dining. We don't normally eat that way, but I like being able to choose from lots of fresh fruits and veggies for my kids and for them to have something besides chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers and hot dogs.

For quick trips, we don't bother with the DDP because we go with a faster pace.

[Teacher510]

The first year we got it in 2005 it saved us lots of $$ since we had already planned enough TS meals anyway, that adding it on was a great way to go. We used it this past December since it was the same "old" plan with tip and appetizer included but I don't think we will again with the new plan since I don't think that we'll be planning that many TS again. We're doing the Land/Sea in August and since there will be lots of included food onboard and we'll be wearing bathing suits:scared1: DD and I will probably share QS meals most of the time except for our breakfast at Ohana and dinner at Boma.

[boxer]

We have done the DDP in the past but have decided not to use it for our upcoming trips.

1. DD turned 10, so she is considered an adult, so a huge chunk of the savings went out of the window.

2. We are appetizer people, and appetizers are no longer included.

3. The tip is no longer included.

4. We have AP's and the DDE card will save us just as much or more money than the DDP.

I still think the DDP can save folks money on their dining, just not as much as before.

For folks that don't eat at a lot of sit down restaurants on the their trips the DDP makes no sense.

If dining is a big part of your WDW vacation, then I think the DDP is workable, and could result in saving your family money. Just be smart about it and make sure your ADRs are good choices that will get the most of your dining credits.

If you aren't a big planner and will not make ADRs then, the DDP is not for you.

Caution: If you want to eat at a sit down restaurant at WDW, please make sure you get a reservation. The restaurants are very popular, esp since the advent of the dining plan. This is NOT an exaggeration, esp if you visit during the summer months or other busy periods. Even during "slower" times many restarants are full.


Ok, I'm completely 'new' to the AP thing, but I never understand the contention that the DDE would end up being cheaper than the DDP? I'm not trying to be arrogant about it, but I would truly like someone to explain to me how it is cheaper (because I will get a DDE card for our next visit).

I have myself, wife, daughter (12), son (7) and son (1). Our average sit down buffet for our last trip was $130.00 (places like Coral Reef were closer to $200), not including the tip. So with DDE, that is savings of only around $26. Our average lunch bills were around $60, so again that is around a $12 savings. This doesn't include the snack credits available each day either.

If we had the DDE we wouldn't order desserts, BUT we probably would order appitizers, so that is a 'wash'.

[Sleeping Becca]

I did a cost benefit analysis of DDE vs DDP.

I made a list of our ADRs: CRT, Le Cellier, Boma, Chef Mickey's, California Grill, Crystal Palace, and I made a list of Counter Service Locations.

For each restaurant I priced out what we would order at each place and took a 2% discount (20% discount minus 18% automatic gratuity).. For counter service I priced out what we would order. For snacks I budgeted $4 per person per day. I also added the cost of the DDE card.

I compared that to the cost of the dining plan plus 18% gratuity, plus cost of the appetizers. Plus the meals we would have to pay OOP.

For a 6 night stay we would get 6 table service credits, two of our choices are signature restaurants, so we would have to pay OOP for CRT (not worth 2 credits).


For us, we came out ahead going with DDE, by $100. I did not include tax, I'm sure with tax, the margin would narrow but still come out slightly ahead with DDE. Add to that I got a huge room only discount that I would lose if I went with a package.

But our situation is unique to us and will not be the same for everyone. Go ahead and price it out for your family, you may be surprised.

If we did not have the DDE then the dining plan would look more attractive.

[DeblovesPoohbear]

Here's my 2 cents...
We used the DDP last year and loved it
So many times when we vacaion, especially at WDW, you find yourself trying to cut corners moneywise and we find ourselves eating lots of burgers,
hotdogs.
We found with the dining plan, we ate at really nice places, places
that would have cost us a ton of $$, and it really worked out well.

[boxer]

I did a cost benefit analysis of DDE vs DDP.

I made a list of our ADRs: CRT, Le Cellier, Boma, Chef Mickey's, California Grill, Crystal Palace, and I made a list of Counter Service Locations.

For each restaurant I priced out what we would order at each place and took a 2% discount (20% discount minus 18% automatic gratuity).. For counter service I priced out what we would order. For snacks I budgeted $4 per person per day. I also added the cost of the DDE card.

I compared that to the cost of the dining plan plus 18% gratuity, plus cost of the appetizers. Plus the meals we would have to pay OOP.

For a 6 night stay we would get 6 table service credits, two of our choices are signature restaurants, so we would have to pay OOP for CRT (not worth 2 credits).


For us, we came out ahead going with DDE, by $100. I did not include tax, I'm sure with tax, the margin would narrow but still come out slightly ahead with DDE. Add to that I got a huge room only discount that I would lose if I went with a package.

But our situation is unique to us and will not be the same for everyone. Go ahead and price it out for your family, you may be surprised.

If we did not have the DDE then the dining plan would look more attractive.


I just got my AP, but I think I STILL get the room discount even though I book the DDP? At least that was the way it was explained to me for our trip in May (I think we paid $180/night for WL with the AP discount).

Regardless, thanks for the explanation----it seems it will at least be a 'wash' between the DDE and DDP.

[Sleeping Becca]

My discount was a AAA room only discount, not an AP discount. Still, I was under the impression that you did not get to keep your AP discount and get a package. I thought all packages were rack rate.

[marmar]

We don't do DDP because we eat at the 2TS restaurants. It is just DH & myself in our 50's. We use our trips to WDW to relax and eating at the nicer restaurants is part of it. On our last trip we ate at three 2TS places out of our 5 days. The previous trip was 3 out of 4 days.

Le Cellier used to be our favorite restaurant. The first year the DDP started it was a 2TS. Now that it is 1TS it is difficult to get a ressie. THe quality has declined a bit from the olden (preDDP days).


Where do we eat?
Artist point
Brown Derby
Flying Fish
Jiko
Calif Grill
Yachtsman
Fulton Crab House

[boxer]

My discount was a AAA room only discount, not an AP discount. Still, I was under the impression that you did not get to keep your AP discount and get a package. I thought all packages were rack rate.


No, that just changed this year that AP discounts can add the DDP and still keep the room rate (although no discount on the DDP).

[Sleeping Becca]

No, that just changed this year that AP discounts can add the DDP and still keep the room rate (although no discount on the DDP).
That is good to know.

[le9397]

We enjoy going out to eat and our trip to Disney last year was no exception. We were there for free dining and enjoyed using the plan, not having to worry about cost once we got there. We are going in December and decided to do the deluxe this time. My DBF isn't much for dessert but we always get an appetizer. I think it will work well for us. We're looking forward to all the table service meals that are included.

[ptcbass]

Last time we went and got the DP was 3 years ago before the changes. We are disappointed in the gratuity not being included this time! We are going this year during the free DP period so it was a no brainer (Free food!). We did enjoy eating TS last time and didn't have trouble meeting the ADR's. I don't think I could meet all the reservation times with the deluxe plan though. That would have been too much to keep up with. We did eat good and I mean fillet, pork loin, etc. It was really nice being able to pick anything I wanted off the menu and not having to look at prices! We did get way more food than needed and this year they have cut out the appetizers so it is probably more of what we really would eat so no big deal. We added it up last time and saved aprox $500. But that is IF we would have bought all that food without being on the plan. Really probably would cost us about the same OOP for CS's as we paid for the plan. With the DP we got nicer food at the TS's than the CS's. The only way you will know if it is worth it for you is to look at the menu's posted on the internet and add it up. As far as having snack credits left over it was no problem for us. We just popped in Earl of Sandwich and used all our credits up and stored them (brownies and cookies) in our carry on bag and ate them for the rest of the week at home. No waist with us! I really liked experiencing the TS's that without the plan we couldn't have eat at (ex: CRT, Le Cellier, O'hana's, etc.). It really added that extra something to the whole experience. Also some complain about having to sit down at a meal for 60-90 minutes. I looked at it as a much needed air conditioned break cause we usually don't go back to the room mid-day for a break.
It is different for every family. Next time if they keep changing it and I have to pay for it I will have to really look at it to see if it would be good for us. I have never regretted having it in the past though. :cool1:
Oh also if you do choose the DP go ahead and make those ADR's! I just booked us for our September trip and several of the places were already booked up for when we wanted.

This time: Beirgarten, Chef Mickeys, Coral Reef, Whispering Canyon, Boma, San Angel Inn

[Sleeping Becca]

Deluxe dining plan includes appetizer and dessert.

[TiggerGuy67]

This is one of those subjects, like whether to stay in the park or out, that is just going to change from one person to the next. Personally, we would not go without DDP. We consider dining to be a big part of our vacation. We pick our ADR's and work our park plans around them. It's really not that difficult. I am a fly by the seat of my pants kind of guy and my DW is a planner. We've learned to compromise quite a bit so everyone is happy.

[Sleeping Becca]

If I have an AP, do I still have to buy 1 day park tickets to get the dining plan?

[delmar411]

If I have an AP, do I still have to buy 1 day park tickets to get the dining plan?

not anymore.

[jackie101]

not anymore.

I just called Disney & Triple A and they both told me you have to buy at least a 1 day pass for everyone in your party to get the dining plan

[Claire&TheBoys]

I just called Disney & Triple A and they both told me you have to buy at least a 1 day pass for everyone in your party to get the dining plan

As stated, Pssholders can book room + dining packages without tickets. This is a fairly new offering. You can even do it through the Passholder section of the website because I compared prices between our "free dining" package and a room+dining package with the current AP discount being offered for Aug/Sept.

AAA may not be aware of the changes, but Disney CMs should be. If you specifically asked if Passholders could book packages with dining but without tickets and were told no, the CM was mistaken.

[delmar411]

I just called Disney & Triple A and they both told me you have to buy at least a 1 day pass for everyone in your party to get the dining plan

They are mistaken. I know this because I hold an AP and had the dining plan, this year. ;)

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We've never done the DDP. DS12 and DD8 just don't eat enough to justify the cost plus DS12 has been considered an adult the last trip and this upcoming trip.

We don't usually book more than 2 TS although our upcoming trip has 3 TS with all of us and a 4th with just DD and I. We are trying more TS to see how it goes.

We didn't like to be tied down to eat TS either - we usually go, go, go and I'm trying to change that a bit.

I also don't like losing my room discounts - we usually go in June due to school so there's no free DDP then.

So that's all of our reasons why we don't have the DDP.

Maybe it would help you to list them if you know all of yours along with the prices of the places you'd eat, the room discount you would lose and the ticket discount you would lose if you buy them seperate.

Seeing the numbers might help you decide.

[jackie101]

As stated, Pssholders can book room + dining packages without tickets. This is a fairly new offering. You can even do it through the Passholder section of the website because I compared prices between our "free dining" package and a room+dining package with the current AP discount being offered for Aug/Sept.

AAA may not be aware of the changes, but Disney CMs should be. If you specifically asked if Passholders could book packages with dining but without tickets and were told no, the CM was mistaken.

I am not sure what a passholder is, I just asked if I could book the room and dining package and get my passes elsewhere???

[delmar411]

I am not sure what a passholder is, I just asked if I could book the room and dining package and get my passes elsewhere???

You have to hold an annual pass or AP voucher to book like that. You can't just buy any kind of tickets elsewhere. This is a 'perk' for annual passholders. So I'd assume they thought you meant you would buy park tickets elsewhere and weren't referring to AP's.

[jackie101]

You have to hold an annual pass or AP voucher to book like that. You can't just buy any kind of tickets elsewhere. This is a 'perk' for annual passholders. So I'd assume they thought you meant you would buy park tickets elsewhere and weren't referring to AP's.

Thanks and yes that is what I was wanting to do buy my passes elsewhere but with the making you buy a 1 day pass for everyone it isn't any cheaper so I will stick with the package.

[mmmears]

We skip the DDP, too. It's way too much food and focus on food rather than having fun! We just eat when and where we want to (usually not as much food as is covered on the plan). Using 2 TS credits for one meal didn't seem like a good value for us -- we got an AP with a hotel discount and then added the DDE card to it. We figured we saved money in the end.

[micki1]

We tried the ddp last Aug. I agree that we had meals at places I would usually not reserve because of the price and that part was a great experience. However, I also agree that the family got tired of having to be somewhere they didn't want to be because we had a reservation. Unfortunately for them I paid for it before I realized it was during the free time and it was hard to get reservations when and where we wanted to be. We also had 2 very big eaters and they thought it was too much food. Maybe they should have two packages, one with desserts and one without. We left a lot of desserts in the fridge and those were only the ones we didn't give away.

[vtwep]

the best thing to do with the dining plan (assuming you will plan some TS meals) is to do a draft of your daily schedule and pencil in all the TS meals you WANT to eat if you were NOT on the DDP. Once you have that down, THEN compare DDP pricing vs OOP pricing. Only then can you see if it's a good deal for you or not. We originally booked our package WITHOUT the plan as I didn't want to be tied to ADR's, etc, either. However, we started looking at the dinners we wanted (3 are TS), and the breakfasts (3 are TS), and then assumed the rest are CS. Based on our math, we'll save approx. $190 using the DDP...so for us, it's worth it (we saved $235 last year).

Anyway, there isn't just one answer to this - it relies solely on your own dining desires and scheduling.

Good luck!

[srwarden1928]

The Disney Dining Plan does NOT work for our family.

I could not imagine DW and I eating FOUR desserts between us EVERY day of a vacation. We might eat one between us in two days.

If they replaced the desserts with appetizers, it would be more attractive to us, but regardless its just TOO MUCH food.

I think its just a ploy to get more people into the TS places. We used to call THAT DAY to get dinner reservations, not SIX MONTHS in advance.

I realize that DDP works for some families and respect their use of it, especially when its free. I will not likely ever be able to go to free dining, but if I could I might sign up for it. I wont pay for all that food that we arent going to be able to eat.

[catho72]

DDP works for our family. To me, eating at different restaurants is a big part of the vacation. I get excited about making our ADR's at all the different restaurants. I love planning our meals and figuring our where our family would most enjoy eating. Even with my OCD vacation planning, I realize that the best laid plans sometimes can change and I will gladly cancel an ADR if it isn't going to work into our plans that day.

On the DDP, we are able to eat at restaurants that we wouldn't pay OOP. I feel less guilty about spending $60+ on breakfast for the 5 of us when we use DDP.

Bottom line is that it makes sense for some, not for others. You need to figure out, based on menus posted online, if your family would like to eat at several of the TS restaurants. If not, then don't purchase the DDP.

[hoosiergirl7]

We're trying the DDP for the 1st time this October. I've heard mixed reviews about it and decided to finally give it a try. Partly because we've really enjoyed the TS meals. When we went in April we most certainly would've saved money on the DDP since for the 3 of us (DS 4 included) many of our TS meals were in the $60-$90 range. Not including the CS meals & snacks we had also. We were spending well over $100/day for food.

I know gratuity is not included and neither is alcohol but I'm not much of a drinker and since we are driving we may just bring our own with us and have it back in the room after meals. Cheaper that way too. We'll probably bring things with us for breakfast too and definitely water and soda.

Now will it be that good of a choice when our children are above the 9 yr old cut off, probably not. But right now $10/day is a steal for his meals!

[ronandannette]

We've crunched the numbers, and we end up saving $$ by just paying OOP. The way we eat, the DP just doesn't fit with our needs. DD doesn't like "kid food", so we ended up wasting most of her TS credits (we usually share 1 appetizer and 2 entrees between the 3 of us). We also aren't big on dessert, so we felt like we either wasted part of our TS credit, or we were trying to stuff ourselves. We also don't do many buffets, so we save $$ vs the DP that way.

We find that we tend to like having a TS meal once every other day while at WDW- one a day was too much. We budgeted about $85/day for the 3 of us for food our way. The DP would have cost us more ($86/day+ tip). Yes, we would have gotten a TS each day instead of every other day, but we were fine with that.

And now that DD is about to turn 10, the DP would be an even bigger waste. There's no way she could eat $38 worth of food each day!!


Excellent information the way you've parsed it out. We were a party of 3 also, and had free DDP in Aug/06 (the old plan; it was better than the one now as it included desert and gratuity on TS). We actually did use all of our credits and paid for very little OOP except the odd bottle of water and cup of coffee (couldn't see using a snack credit on those). By our calculations we couldn't have done all that for less than about $200.00/CAD per day (considering that certain TS locations were VERY pricey).

Obviously, one really must consider what their needs will be before they jump on the DDP. This is made easier to do before hand by looking at the menus of each restaurant you're interested in. Have a great trip which ever way you go and BTW - the food at Disney is not all that fabulous no matter how you pay for it.

:wave2: Annette

[~Fisharefriends~]

we have never done the dinin plan and dont plan too, after looking into it it just isnt for us, we always have a car included in our package and like to eat offsite and explore a bit. also with 2 young children we cant say that they will want to do the ts we have planned 6mths before.

I think its suits some and not others, it really is a personal choice about whether it fits the needs odyour family.

[JSJR514]

In October, we will be making or 6th trip since 2005. This trip, however, we decided to skip the DP, saving about $600 (2 adults, 1-8 yr old) over a 7 day trip.

The reason is not the money as much as we hate to be tied down to reservations and always tend to over eat. Aside from one evening at 1900 Park, we will eat at the resort dining area.

What are some of your thoughts concerning the DP?

We just went in June, we chose not to do the ddp also. There are 4 of us, 2 boys, 15 & 11. We went with another couple, also with 2 boys, 12 & 9. The family that we went with are all big eaters, even the boys. The did get the ddp and they have over 25 snacks left (9 day trip), and there was one day when her youngest only having a cookie for dinner. I feel that there is to much food and paying up front is like throwing that money down the drain. When it is hot, you don't feel like eating that much anyway. We did do 5 ADR's (Boma's, Chef Mickey, Crystal Pal, Le Cellier & Sci-fi) and it worked out great. Most days we purchased 2 or 3 combo meals and we split them between the 4 of us. With the prices of everything so high, I would rather spend my money on other things at Disney then on over priced food.

[Disneydreamer5]

I am trying to decide too if I should go for DDP & stay Pop or try going without DDP and stay Moderate Resort this time around.
We went to Disney back in 2005, last, first & only trip there and we were on the plan. I like the idea also of having everything pre-paid and there are many places that we eat that there is no way we would be able to do paying opp, I also like the idea of planning with the kids where they want to try and knowing we don't have to shell out that extra cash while we are there.
With all that said there is 2 things that I didin't or don't {as they have changed the plan since 2005} they I don't like. Graduity is no longer included so I have to shell out 20% every night no matter what on the plan or not. We always tipped a little more then the plan gave in 05 but now we have to dish out the whole tip.
I can't see spending $38 per
day for my 14 & 10 year old to eat. It is way too much food for them, now ,y 15,16, & 18 year olds are another story but you can't just get it for half your party!
I also didn't like having to watch the clock all day everyday to make sure we made our Ressie everyday/night. It was a royal pain somedays and there were times when we weren't even hungry.
There are 7 of us total so there is no dout we save money on the plan but right now I am trying to see where we could afford to eat table service and it won't brake the bank so to speak. Last trip we stayed Value Moives and this time around DH would really like to stay Moderate but there is no way we can afford to pay for Moderate {need 2 rooms} and dinning.:scared1: That would be way out of the budget.
So if there are any large familes out there that have gone with the plan and without and can tell me which way worked best for them I could really use some feed back here.
Thanks all.:surfweb:

[ptcbass]

Well as we all can see it is a money saver for some and not for others. I do wish we could pick how many in the party wanted the dining plan but I can see where Disney would want to keep it simple and include everyone. For us it does save us money. We enjoy the TS's that cost so much that we normally wouldn't do. I also like not having to look at the prices on the menu and being able to pick anything I want. That is a nice perk. I don't understand why some lose their snack credits though. Before giving those up by not using them go somewhere like Earl of Sandwich and pick up brownies or cookies or something and take them home to eat later or give them to other family members or even a stranger but don't just not use them. We picked up about 7 of our credits before we headed home last time.

As far as staying in a Mod or Value that would be personal preference too. How important is it? How much time will you be spending there? With us we are not in the room much at all. We have stayed in mod's 2x and Pop last time. The rooms at the values are smaller but we didn't care. We were only in the room to sleep at night or for a quick stop before heading somewhere else so the value was really great! I love it that Disney offers rooms that cost around $85 a night. At the beach the dumps cost lots more than that. For us spending the money on the room would be a waist. I also think the grounds are just as nice and clean as the more expensive choices.

[larryz]

Although I'd love to be able to order (and eat) pretty much what I want off the menu, we generally don't eat that much per person to make it worthwhile. We certainly couldn't do it day after day for a week!

[ptcbass]

I completely understand! I can't image they have too many sign up for the deluxe dining with even more food.
I have to ask....What is that a picture of in your avatar?
:rotfl2:

[Sleeping Becca]

Looks like a peeled easter egg with a hidden mickey, from seeped dye.

[ptcbass]

:rotfl2:
Well it gave me a much needed laugh today!

[Disneydreamer5]

I couldn't care less either way about staying at Pop or a Moderate cause as I see it the DDP would serve us better then a moderate hotel especially because we are exactly the same as many of you. We sleep, shower, and change in the room and then we are off again. I mean we will only be booking for like 8 days at the most and we have park hoppers and water parks, well we plan too so really to be the moderates would be wasted on us.
My DH on the other hand said we have already done value lets try something new. What he doesn't get is that not all values are the same and I do think they are just as nice as the mods that we seen and visited.
Besides I plan to still be going to Disney when the kids are all grown and that is when I will spend the money to stay Delux cause then I will be in the room more and get my monies worth.:lovestruc
Now I just have to convince him about this.:laughing:

[esdras]

Because our kids are under 10 (8 and 4 for this trip) and we KNOW that they need a break, the DDP works well. The fact that we're going during Free Dining is also - admittedly - a pretty big incentive.

Anyway, being "tied" down to TS reservations means that we know we need to make it to an early lunch or dinner ressie - and eat lunch or dinner at a time that works out for the other meal.

This means we get to the park when it opens - eat an early lunch (by 11:30 - either CS or TS) and then leave the park to go back to the resort for a break. The lines and heat are getting to be the worst of the day at this point.

Then, early dinner, by 5pm - either TS or CS - and that means we're done dinner by 6:30 - allowing for a little more time back in the parks when the lines are shorter and the heat as eased off a little.

Essentially, while we are tied down, it prevents us from wearing ourselves out.

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this thread over to our restaurant board for you.

[bluwater]

Hmmmm...this is my question...

Why do people associate DDP with ADRs?

You can use DDP without ADRs. Is it that you do not want to eat at any TS places?

I visited during free dining last summer and walked up to many TS places...slight wait...but was seated in reasonable time.

I don't understand the ADR frenzy!!! ADRs are being pushed by Disney...but you do not have to buy into it. Go, relax ,eat, enjoy!

[esdras]

Hmmmm...this is my question...

Why do people associate DDP with ADRs?

You can use DDP without ADRs. Is it that you do not want to eat at any TS places?

I visited during free dining last summer and walked up to many TS places...slight wait...but was seated in reasonable time.

I don't understand the ADR frenzy!!! ADRs are being pushed by Disney...but you do not have to buy into it. Go, relax ,eat, enjoy!

I'll repeat my previous answer. Because my kids are 8 and 4. PLEASE, don't tell them that you can walk up to another restaurant without a ressie.

If they think that they have a choice while there, we'll never eat. It'll be a never ending, "but I don't wanna eat there, I wanna eat there instead" - and they likely won't agree either.

We've told them where we're eating on this trip - they got some input, but Mom and Dad got to pick a couple of TS meals too.

[Gymbomom]

WE had DDP for the first time on our last trip. WOW, talk about a worry free vacation. No more looking at prices or making the kids order water. We loved it. We have been to Disney many times and eating is a big part of the experience for us.

[newyorkhogs]

DP or not?
I was told if stay in disney properties and plan to get back for lunch, a rest, and dip in the pool that DP may not be best option. Agree ?

[newyorkhogs]

Someone mentioned if stay on disney property and plan on taking midday break, rest, swim, etc. that perhaps DP is not best option

Agree?

[newyorkhogs]

First timers...leaning toward no DP. Some say that if plan midday rest, swim break, etc, that DP can be avoided and $ saved.

[kbtennant]

We skip the DDP, too. Tried it twice, didn't like it at all. We just get the dining discount card that's available to annual pass holders-20% off meals.

[esdras]

Someone mentioned if stay on disney property and plan on taking midday break, rest, swim, etc. that perhaps DP is not best option

Agree?
No, not at all. It works really well.

Our day on DDP works like this.

Up by 7am

Finish breakfast (pay out of pocket) by 8:00am (We never book TS breakfasts - not worth it for us)

On a bus to the parks by 8:15am

Do rides and stuff until 11:00-11:30 am - then, eat lunch (CS or TS - whatever was planned for that day)

By 1:00pm, head back to the resort for a rest or swim.

Go back to the park at 4pm - eat dinner there (CS or TS - whatever was planned for that day)

By no later than 6-6:30pm, you'll be free to go back on the rides.

Here's the beauty of this. You eat BEFORE the lunch rush, and just as the lines are getting busy in the morning. You then leave in the early afternoon when lines are at their worst.

You come back at about 4pm, just when things are starting to slow down - BUT, since you had an early lunch, now have an early dinner. You then finish dinner BEFORE the usual dinner rush at 6pm - and right at that moment, as everyone is trying to eat - the lines suddenly get shorter again - just as you are ready to go back out there.

This is simply rule #1 of being at Disney and not going insane - be where everyone else isn't.

The final advantage to this - for any of the Table Service meals, if it's a popular restaurant and you are trying to get a reservation - you'll be amazed at how much easier it is to get a lunch reservation at 11:00 or 11:30 am as opposed to noon. And for dinner - it's also WAY easier to get a 4:30pm reservation than one at 6:00pm or 6:30pm.

[Teacher510]

Hmmmm...this is my question...

Why do people associate DDP with ADRs?

You can use DDP without ADRs. Is it that you do not want to eat at any TS places?

I visited during free dining last summer and walked up to many TS places...slight wait...but was seated in reasonable time.

I don't understand the ADR frenzy!!! ADRs are being pushed by Disney...but you do not have to buy into it. Go, relax ,eat, enjoy!

If you want to eat at a particular restaurant during your trip I would recommend an ADR. While you can certainly walk up and get in,at times, we once had an ADR around noon at Sci Fi Dine In and saw people turned away because there were no available tables until 9:30 PM! H&V also always has a wait even with an ADR. I would think that free dining time is less crowded than earlier in the summer(hence the free dining incentive) so it might be a little easier than the busier times. Even several years ago (before DDP) we were disappointed when we tried to get a breakfast time reserved at our resort.

[MomofKatie]

Hmmmm...this is my question...

Why do people associate DDP with ADRs?

You can use DDP without ADRs. Is it that you do not want to eat at any TS places?

I visited during free dining last summer and walked up to many TS places...slight wait...but was seated in reasonable time.

I don't understand the ADR frenzy!!! ADRs are being pushed by Disney...but you do not have to buy into it. Go, relax ,eat, enjoy!

My reasoning is this- I'd be really ticked if I paid for the DDP and then tried to get into the TS restaurants I wanted and was told they were booked.

What if I went during a busy time and couldn't get into any of the park TS places for days on end? I'd be out all that $$ spent on the DP.

I'm sure, if you go to the parks during value season, eat at off times, go to less popular places, or are willing to go wherever you can find a restaurant with an opening for you, the DDP without ADRs might be possible. But a vast majority aren't willing to chance it like that. Eating OOP, sure- if I can't get into a TS that day, no problem. I'll just head for the nearest CS. But if I had paid for a TS, and didn't get to use those credtis (and had to spend extra $$ OOP for more CS meals), I'd be quite upset.

[bytheblood]

I love the DP, it is a good value IMO. But for your situation, if you like CS food, you should stick with that and not be tied down to ressies.

[Beka'sMom]

I have debated back and forth for months, finally decided to add DDP to our upcoming trip. Did not get free dining because my room discount saved us more.
In past trips, We eat at TS restaurants every night, I did the calcualtions and will save around 28% VS OOP costs. **But that is with dessert which we would not normally order each day. Without it, will still save around 15-20%... since my DD is still 9 we are saving. Next year maybe not- but it is nice that it will be paid for prior to trip and can order anyhting off menu (excluding appetizers which I would trade in a minute for desserts!)
Have all my ADRs booked already, but I had made those even before I changed to the dining plan due to the free dining promo same timeframe.
*This is the first time trying DDP- I think we will love it!

[rentayenta]

I am currently debating doing the DDP. By adding it we'll be able to eat more TS than usual however it also forces us if that makes any sense.

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

We've done DDP 3x's-each time it's gotten more restrictive, but it still works for us MAINLY because we are bad budgeters and would spend all of our food money within the first two days of our trip then be SCREWED! We love eating at places we normally wouldn't be able to afford to (LOVE Cali Grill!). I also love planning so I planned my meals, added the price if not on the DDP and we basically would've come out even, except for the desserts would be a bonus! SO it's more of a pre-payment plan, but it's convenient for us. I LOVE to plan where we're eating, it makes it more stress free for us to know ahead of time where we are eating so there's no argument. And like a OP said, everyone can eat what they want without me worrying about pinching pennies and making everyone drink water. I love it and we'll do it again as long as it doens't get MUCH more restrictIve or expensive!!

[hoosiergirl7]

We are doing the DDP this time. We didn't do it in April and regret it as within the first 3 days spent over $300.00 on food. Granted that did include a meal at Narcoossee's for Dh's 40th birthday. Still, someone posted a spreadsheet to calculate meal costs. We've got 6 days worth of DDP and for the 6 TS meals and 2 CS that we've calculated thus far, for the 3 of us we're already saving over $100.

The DDP for the 3 of us costs $515(ish). Well worth it. We are driving and will have a small cooler with us so if need be we can use desserts as snacks and save snack credits for goodies to eat on the drive home. At least that's what I plan on doing with my snack credits. DH & DS can do what they want with theirs.

I don't enjoy doing CS meals the entire trip. There are too many good TS restaurants at Disney not to eat well. IMO. So for now the DDP is going to work in our favor.

[ptcbass]

We have done the DP in the past and loved it. Also I do want do comment on why the ADR's. I know Disney is pushing them but without them I wouldn't get to eat at my favorite TS's. I am going during the free dining period and still couldn't get 3 ADR's I wanted. I had to change the times around and have lunch instead of a dinner or breakfast but it all worked out. It is just a piece of mind knowing I have those ADR's. On our last trip several time I heard people getting turned away with the option to come back around 9:30pm for dinner. Also I am not so sure the crowds are down all that much during the free time cause I ask about the week we are going (1st week of Sept) and was told last year it was very busy. Oh well. Still going to Disney so YEAH!

[bellenbuzz]

And we don't feel having ADR's to be any problem. But, it is all a matter of personal preference. Being on vacation to me is also about taking advantage of wonderful, delicious meals that the beautiful Disney restaurants have to offer. The "dining" experience is such a pleasure to me!

The Dining Plan always pays for itself & more !! So we benefit by dining at places we normally wouldn't try.

Just enjoy for Magical Trip !!princess: :wizard: pirate:

[Tricia1972]

I vote no for the DDP.

We did both the DDP and OOP, and we much preferred the freedom of paying OOP.

I always hear "If you want to eat TS you need ADR's regardless of how you're paying".

Sure that's 100% true. The ADR's have nothing to do with DDP or OOP. However if you're paying OOP and you don't want to make an ADR for any reason. You just call and cancel. Easy peazy with no worries about when to reschedule this prepaid TS meal.

We personally saved $500+ not doing the DDP. (5-Adults 1-Child 1-Infant - 7 nights - March 2008).

While saving I LOVED feeling free to make my own call at the last minute. I had the safety net of an ADR every night we were there, but if we wanted to do something else - we did. If one person wasn't feeling well or wasn't hungry - who cares?

Personally, unless we saved a lot of money by doing the DDP, I wouldn't do it again.

[bluwater]

For everyone who plans their ADRs, do you plan your park visits for each day?

[Tricia1972]

For everyone who plans their ADRs, do you plan your park visits for each day?

Yes I do, I don't want to drive to MK for a reservation when I am at AK for the day.

[dreamin_disney]

first timer going to wdw. I was thinking of doing the DDP for me, DF and DD(9)
per day $85.97
9 nights $773.73 not including tips

-using the DDP i would eat at the better resturants and more expensive plates and a few character meals. Normally I'd never pay 20.00 for a basic buffet just to see character but it will maxize it on the plan. Plus i like the fact i can charge it on my Disney visa along with the package and have 6 months 0% to pay it off.


Doing the OOP:
I'm hoping to cut my cost in half to $386.86. Most of it will be counter services so that will save me on tips. Plus we will use whatever I earn on disney rewards for snacks (so far 39.00) plus i will save up for more snacks.
Do you think its possible if we eat at

-flametree (2 different days during trip) 2 Rib dinners, dd can get a kids meal
-pecos Bills (2 different days during trip)2 cheese burger meals and kids meal
-Comic Rays (2 different days during trip)( share the chicken/rib combo)
-Pop Breakfast ( simple breakfast 4-5 days per trip)
-Seasons porkchop meal , tai meal, kids meal
-Sandwich of Earl 2 sandwiches and one kid meal
- 2 indiv pizzas and petri fries
so we will do simple lunches/dinners

early in the trip we plan on trying whispering canyon all u can eat skillet
and kona cafe breakfast tonga toast and big ohana. If we like it we might eat there and xtra time.

Being a 1st timer and not knowing my way around with the bus system I feel i might lose lots of time trying to get to the resorts for dinner, breakfast. Hoping someone will do a wdw food on a budeget with photos

dying to see pork chop meal from the seasons(cant remember the entire name but its in epocot) place

[Claire&TheBoys]

first timer going to wdw. I was thinking of doing the DDP for me, DF and DD(9)
per day $85.97
9 nights $773.73 not including tips

-using the DDP i would eat at the better resturants and more expensive plates and a few character meals. Normally I'd never pay 20.00 for a basic buffet just to see character but it will maxize it on the plan. Plus i like the fact i can charge it on my Disney visa along with the package and have 6 months 0% to pay it off.


Doing the OOP:
I'm hoping to cut my cost in half to $386.86. Most of it will be counter services so that will save me on tips. Plus we will use whatever I earn on disney rewards for snacks (so far 39.00) plus i will save up for more snacks.
Do you think its possible if we eat at

-flametree (2 different days during trip) 2 Rib dinners, dd can get a kids meal
-pecos Bills (2 different days during trip)2 cheese burger meals and kids meal
-Comic Rays (2 different days during trip)( share the chicken/rib combo)
-Pop Breakfast ( simple breakfast 4-5 days per trip)
-Seasons porkchop meal , tai meal, kids meal
-Sandwich of Earl 2 sandwiches and one kid meal
- 2 indiv pizzas and petri fries
so we will do simple lunches/dinners

early in the trip we plan on trying whispering canyon all u can eat skillet
and kona cafe breakfast tonga toast and big ohana. If we like it we might eat there and xtra time.

Being a 1st timer and not knowing my way around with the bus system I feel i might lose lots of time trying to get to the resorts for dinner, breakfast. Hoping someone will do a wdw food on a budeget with photos

dying to see pork chop meal from the seasons(cant remember the entire name but its in epocot) place

While I think there's a happy medium between paying for the DDP for nearly $800 and eating all CS meals for $400, I don't think 3 people can eat on $50 per day. When my husband and I have been at WDW without our kids, our CS meals cost us ~$25. Breakfast at our resort food court was $15 each day. I think that if you eat CS every day for every meal and always order the cheapest thing on the menu, you will be sick to death of cheeseburgers and fries halfway through your trip.

Going to resorts for meals can be done easily using Disney transportation, but you have to be willing to wait. You will eat up park time doing so, no doubt, but over 9 days you should have enough time to see most everything you want to anyway.

If you want to keep your costs down, I'd recommend bringing breakfast foods in your suitcase so you can eat in your room. Or, you can place an order with one of the online grocers and have it delivered to your resort (gardengrocer.com, wegoshop.com are 2 widely used here on the DIS) and even get some bread and lunchmeat to make sandwiches for a meal here and there.

Oh, and I've had that pork chop at Sunshine Seasons and it's quite good! :goodvibes

[dreamin_disney]

I just sat down and made my list. I addes up everything total was 611.87 with tax and tips included.

I also included breakfast at
wc and Kona cafe
Dinner at
wc and planet Hollywood(i might change this one)

Most of the counter services i tried to choose a variety
burgers, chicken and ribs(df loves ribs), sanwiches,pizza, pasta plus a few desserts.

i think the dining plan was coming out to 773.73 not including tips which would be alot because we would pick higher prices food and other resorts.

Maybe if theres a good package deal with dining i might go for it. Being a 1st timer i just dont know what to expect.

[bkfree]

For everyone who plans their ADRs, do you plan your park visits for each day?
YES..........and NO.....................and YES.


1)The first thing I do is make our ADR reservations. The only one that is a must is the day that DHS has late hours and I want an early dinner ADR in that park so we can see Fantasmic and stay late.
All are dinner except for the day we fly home and that is always an early breakfast ressie at CP.

2) Then I print out the EMH hours and park hours and special event(parades, faireworks) hours for each park for the week we will be there.

3) The only EMH that we do are early and late at MK, early at Epcot and Late at DHS.

4)I plug those into my spreadsheet and then go from there.
Since we fly down and use Disney transporation exclusively, we can easily make it to where ever we eat from whatever park we are at.

5)Since we go for 8 days, there will be days I designate for a particular park and other days we wing it and we just do what and where we want. The more days you are there, the less exact planning you need. When we went for just 5 days, a precise plan was required.

Since the advent of the DDP and ADR's, we actually have much happier and less stressful trips to WDW. It is great magic for us to have a great Dinner ADR for each night , thus solving that issue before we even arrive.
Also, knowing where and when you are eating dinner, makes it easier to plan when and what in regard to lunch.

If it were just DH and I, I would not be as much as a planner.(OK, I probably would), but with kids it is so much simplier for all of us to have at least an outline plan in place.

[dreamin_disney]

While I think there's a happy medium between paying for the DDP for nearly $800 and eating all CS meals for $400, I don't think 3 people can eat on $50 per day. When my husband and I have been at WDW without our kids, our CS meals cost us ~$25. Breakfast at our resort food court was $15 each day. I think that if you eat CS every day for every meal and always order the cheapest thing on the menu, you will be sick to death of cheeseburgers and fries halfway through your trip.

Going to resorts for meals can be done easily using Disney transportation, but you have to be willing to wait. You will eat up park time doing so, no doubt, but over 9 days you should have enough time to see most everything you want to anyway.

If you want to keep your costs down, I'd recommend bringing breakfast foods in your suitcase so you can eat in your room. Or, you can place an order with one of the online grocers and have it delivered to your resort (gardengrocer.com, wegoshop.com are 2 widely used here on the DIS) and even get some bread and lunchmeat to make sandwiches for a meal here and there.

Oh, and I've had that pork chop at Sunshine Seasons and it's quite good! :goodvibes


well just rechecked my dining plan oop and i was missing 2-3 meals so it will cost about 100-150.00 more for ddp but we will get more snack and desserts and 6 months to pay off with disney visa. What to do? I'm going nuts because now if i go this route i need some table services.Hope wdw comes out with a package deal for nov.

[Claire&TheBoys]

well just rechecked my dining plan oop and i was missing 2-3 meals so it will cost about 100-150.00 more for ddp but we will get more snack and desserts and 6 months to pay off with disney visa. What to do? I'm going nuts because now if i go this route i need some table services.Hope wdw comes out with a package deal for nov.

Well, you can call now and get ADRs without having the DDP. You can also change to a package reservation with the DDP (add tickets) and if a code comes out later, you can call back and have the code applied and get back the difference.

Keep in mind that besides the snacks and desserts, the extra $150 also gets you more table-service meals. To me, that's better variety, better choices. When we go to the character dinners, my kids can have salad, fresh fruit and lots of veggie choices. With CS meals, they're getting grapes and fries and that's about it. It makes it worth it, in my opinion.

[dreamin_disney]

Well, you can call now and get ADRs without having the DDP. You can also change to a package reservation with the DDP (add tickets) and if a code comes out later, you can call back and have the code applied and get back the difference.

Keep in mind that besides the snacks and desserts, the extra $150 also gets you more table-service meals. To me, that's better variety, better choices. When we go to the character dinners, my kids can have salad, fresh fruit and lots of veggie choices. With CS meals, they're getting grapes and fries and that's about it. It makes it worth it, in my opinion.

I have no idea what to do. We went to a breakfast buffet near our home. I figured lets see how we feel afterwards. We didnt eat a whole lot but we were stuffed. I asked DF if they way he felt at the moment would he be ok walking around wdw. He said no it might be to much food and the two counter services meals per day might be ok or maybe even share a few. Not sure if ddp will just bee to much food. The option are better and i was leaning toward it. we would have to have most of our BIG ,eals at the end of the day about 8pm then head striaght to resort.

Here are some of the meals i'd pick if on the ddp are these really huge meals?
ohana breakfast and dinner
Kona cafe breakfast and dinner teryaki steak and the pomerg steak
Whispering canyon (i know alot of food) only for df and after parks
coral reef -steak portions look small watcha think?