Just Back From A Week Without The Dining Plan. Won't Do It Again!

[mickeystoontown]

For the past two years, we have purchased the basic dining plan. It was so relaxing to sit down to a nice meal every evening. This past trip was a spur of the moment, budget, week long trip. So, we didn't purchase the dining plan.

I have never been so tired of eating burgers, chicken strips and pizza in my entire life! We did throw in a salad or deli sandwich here and there but, my goodness, different foods are hard to come by when you are in a semi-rush.

We are WDW veterans and our trips are usually ten days. With a week long trip, we were more rushed to try and take in as much as we could while there.

Needless to say, I've booked the dining plan for next year's trip. By the way, it wasn't the new counter service plan.

[PKWallaby]

I agree completely!!

We also did a last minute, no DDP trip earlier this year. I did not think we had enough time to get ADRs, so we went DDPless. What a mistake! Even though some people don't like the constraints of scheduling reservations and "planning" your day around meals, I think we need that to help us organize our time. Too often during our last trip we went too long without eating, then had to wait in lines for a CS meal while everyone got cranky from hunger. While some may like the spontaneity of eating "on the fly", I know from here on out we will be doing at least the basic DDP. That way at least one meal per day is scheduled ahead of time. Sure I can do this without purchasing the DDP, but I know from experience it saves us money.

Thumbs up to DDP:thumbsup2 :thumbsup2

[mickeystoontown]

I guess because we have gone so many times, we can now take it easy in the evenings. I try to schedule our ADRs for around 7:30 or so. That way, we have time to eat a leisurely meal and still watch the night time entertainment.

[mickeyfan1]

But you can make ADRs with out beiong on the plan. Even last minute trips can be planned some in advance.

[nbodyhome]

But you can make ADRs with out beiong on the plan. Even last minute trips can be planned some in advance.

I agree - one can make ADR's and eat at table service without the DDP. I'd never personally pay for the DDP, I'm happy to do it once more for free (though it's not as valuable since it doesn't include tips/appetizer this year).

[mickeystoontown]

But you can make ADRs with out beiong on the plan. Even last minute trips can be planned some in advance.


We did eat at the Rose & Crown which I really didn't care for. I tried to get ADRs for several other restaurants and none were available. As I said, this was a budget trip too.

[Ctsplaysinrain]

I guess it depends on your party. But, we are "on the fly type" This summer -last week of July- first few days of Aug.my kids and I did an unplanned 7 day trip to WDW. We even changed hotels every 2 days because we wanted to.. We stayed 2 days POP, 2 days POR, 2 days Beach Club Conc, 1 night Contemp. ( we made all the reservations except for Beach Club the day we wanted to switch) It was myself and 2 kids- ages 11 and 12. We ate as much as we wanted and we're even able to get Chef Mickey's for dinner one night and another day we got Sci-fi ( calling in the am) I realized how much MORE money we would have spent with the dining plan.and how FULL we would have been.Most days we spent under 75.00 for food.. We did have a few snacks with us but not many.

[Cookie Princess]

We enjoy the DDP because it encourages us to have more sit down meals each day and relax a little more. We are not huge fans of counter service food. Even DS would rather eat a steak dinner vs chicken nuggets.

[lustergirl]

We have always enjoyed the dining plan as well but truthfully 5 or 6 nights of a sitdown meal is way too much for us. We are staying next year at the Poly Club Level where we will get snacks and appetizers throughout the day so I am not purchasing either of the dining plans.

[TwingleMum]

We are WDW vets and we never use the DDP. We get DDE and use the 20% discount and eat where and how we want. We've cost out both and DDE just makes more $$ sense for our family.

[patsal]

We found using the DDE we could eat at TS for about $20.00 more than CS (family of four all over 10). We did very little CS (maybe 3 times) over our 14 day summer vacation and still spent less than we would have on DDP. I even ended up cancelling three ADR's because we wanted other things and had no trouble making changes while onsite. Even on a budget, Trails End, the Plaza, Brown Derby and Spoodles, Sci Fi, Kona and LLT lunch to name a few, can all be budget on time and $$.

[mickeystoontown]

Before we started purchasing the dining plan, we were the fly by the seat of our pants family. We would eat just anywhere we were close to at the time. I might plan a sit down meal during our stay.

But, we tried the dining plan and loved it. I actually like knowing at the end of the day there will be a nice air conditioned restaurant just waiting for me. Like I said before, I make all our table service meals dinner time meals and I make them for 7:30 p.m. or later.

For our family, it's a nice way to sit and talk about what we did that day and rest up before the night time entertainment.

[gigi1313]

we are totally DDP people... and i think i'd be lost and miserable w/out it too! LOL! last year we went w/extended family and did some 2credit stuff so we were "forced" to eat more CS than usual (we typically go OOP for an extra TS or 2 and have leftover CS when we leave for home) and we were not happy on so many levels... the rushed feeling, the cramming around the only available table at mealtime (i know, i know, eat at off times!) w/not enough chairs, the carrying trays and spilling drinks, and not everyone having their food at the same time, the lack of choices, the outdoor tables, etc...

in fact, it was so unenjoyable that we went for the DxDDP for this year and are already having so much fun anticipating our meals, reading menus, tweaking our touring plans, etc... can't wait!

[snykymom]

I've made ADRs for each day of our stay, and we're not on the DDP. I want a sit-down meal each day, and I have one. I don't worry about what to do if I want two appetizers and a dessert rather than an entree, or whether something costs 2 credits rather than 1. I eat when I want, where I want. I'm convinced that I will save money without the DDP; I'll let you know.

[mickeystoontown]

I just wanted to add in that we are totally not "foodies". We don't go on vacation to eat. We go to see and do everything we can. I know some people who go on vacation and talk non-stop about what they ate. That is definitely not us. But, after a long day of park touring, I do like a good meal.

[JohnnyB2]

We normally make ADR's for every other days dinner,so no DDP.But we have started to use the DDE which works great for us.:thumbsup2 :cool1: :cool1:

[Bell30012]

My first year on the DDP was an accident... The code that I used included it. I didn't even realize I had it until we were checking in. So we had no ADRs scheduled. A very pretty cast member sat us down and went over all the details of how it worked. Then she gave me the phone number for Disney Dining and promised to help "work her magic" if I couldn't get anywhere to eat.

Now we didn't try for CRT or anything like that but we easily got Akershus, Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern and Breakfastosaurus. We actually called in the ADR for Crystal Palace from inside of the Magic Kingdom.

[musclemouse]

We didn't add a DDP to our package because I thought maybe it would be a waste of money since our DS(4) doesn't eat much why bother wasting that money and food! BUT since I've heard that sharing is a no-no we may have to buy him a plate anyway. Sooo...does anyone know (sorry I haven't looked it up since I just really thought of this when I saw this thread) if you can add the DDP onto a already purchased package?

[PEANUT1]

yes you can add it after you book...and the DDP for a 4 year old is only 10.99 a day which is really worth it in my opinion.

[RACHELSMOM1]

I understand completely - since the DDP we no longer go and go without eating, and then everyone would be so ill and cranky. The DDP and the ADRs and the planning make our trips so much more enjoyable. I too used to get so tired of the CS meals. They were all the same!!! We now do the deluxe dp because we just hate the whole CS experience. Yes, you can make ADRs without the ddp, but paying it forward and having all the meals and theme park visits planned all make the ddp a nice addition (more like a requirement for our WDW trips) and we won't go without it.

[luckytobeme88]

We love having the Dining plan; especially the deluxe version. Can't never go without having some type of dining plan because we will still eat mostly TS dinner and snack throughout the day anyway.

[sunshine43]

What is DDE?

robin

[time4Mickey]

We went our first year without the dining plan. It was awful. My husband LOVES to eat. He was so unbearable by the end of the trip. He didn't want to pay the prices for a sit down dinner but was so unhappy with the cs. We have used the dining plan since. We are much more of an appetizer family so the changes made us decide to get the deluxe plan for our next trip. We are doing a split stay so will have the dining plan for 4 of the 7 nights but can stretch in across 5 days. For me, I don't want to be there and feel like I shouldn't have the desert or whatever due to the cost. I like having it all paid for in advance.

[scotas]

You shouldn't let the lack of ADR's be a reason not to get the dining plan. Our last trip we had the dining plan and only used it for 1 ADR. We still managed sit down meals for all but one day of our trip, we just relied on eating at off times. It was a bit of a struggle at some places, easier at others. Hollywood and Vine, for example, was only a 10 minute wait for a table of four. Of course we went right as everyone was leaving to see Fantasmic (which I seen sooo many times already.)

[vicki_c]

But you can make ADRs with out beiong on the plan. Even last minute trips can be planned some in advance.

That's what I was going to say -- we never do the dining plan and probably never will, but we don't eat counter service the entire time we're there. We schedule a few table service meals. Even on short notice, if you're flexible with your choices, you can still do a few sit downs.

[vicki_c]

What is DDE?

robin

Disney Dining Experience - it's a card you can purchase only if you have an AP or are a Florida resident. Gives a 20% discount at a lot of table service places and a few counter service locations.

We prefer that over purchasing the dining plan, but it's not available to everyone, as stated above.

[mickeystoontown]

That's what I was going to say -- we never do the dining plan and probably never will, but we don't eat counter service the entire time we're there. We schedule a few table service meals. Even on short notice, if you're flexible with your choices, you can still do a few sit downs.

I tried to make ADRs before we left home. Because we were short on time, I tried to schedule ADRs for the same park we would be in on that particular day. The castmember I talked to was so very nice. She tried all of the theme park restaurants and the only thing she could find was Rose & Crown. I took that ADR.

When we checked in, the Concierge desk tried to help us too. The only openings (2 to be exact) they had were at restaurants I knew my son wouldn't like. As a matter of fact, my husband and I wouldn't have liked the cuisine either.

She told me that every resort was sold out the week we were going. Therefore, last minute ADRs were slim to none.