Question Re: Dining Plan

[tpartcart]

Hi, Could someone share with me the answer to a question? I am a DVC member but we just purchased a travel trailer and will be camping at Ft. Wilderness in Aug. We are paying out of pocket because it is so reasonable and using points for a trip later in Oct. Can I get the dining plan at the DVC discount rate although I am not staying on points? I apologize if this question is already on the board somewhere and I missed it.

 

[BillPA]

I believe you must be on a points reservation to qualify. Have you looked into the TIW card? With 2 trip in the next 3-4 months it may pay for it self quickly.

 

[kniquy]

Can I get the dining plan at the DVC discount rate although I am not staying on points?

There is not a discounted DVC rate for the dining plan (wish there was). I believe that you could use the DVC card for a discount at some restaurants. As for whether or not you can get the dining plan while staying at Ft Wilderness - that part i do not know and maybe someone on the dining board might know that answer.

 

[Dean]

Hi, Could someone share with me the answer to a question? I am a DVC member but we just purchased a travel trailer and will be camping at Ft. Wilderness in Aug. We are paying out of pocket because it is so reasonable and using points for a trip later in Oct. Can I get the dining plan at the DVC discount rate although I am not staying on points? I apologize if this question is already on the board somewhere and I missed it.

No discount but you can get the dining plan if you meet the other qualifications applicable at the time. Also no free dining for DVC or Ft. Wilderness while camping.

 

[disneynutz]

You can also buy the TIW 20% dining discount card as a DVC owner.

Bill

 

[ScubaCat]

Last time we did the dining plan it was $72 for deluxe. Even if we wasted a few credits we'd come out ahead. At current pricing you're lucky if you break even.

TIW seems like the way to go, IMHO. I just ordered it for the first time and I think it'll actually end up saving us some money. (If I had my own choice I'd eat off property and shop at Publix, but that's not up to me!) I like the idea of eating what we want, when we want. Anything "prepaid" is use-it-or-lose-it, and is just one more thing to worry about.

 

[Matty B13]

For 2016, the Standard (or plus) Disney Dining Plan prices are per person per night. Child rates are for ages 3 to 9.
• Adults: $63.70
• Child: $22.85

For 2017, the Standard (or plus) Disney Dining Plan prices are per person per night. Child rates are for ages 3 to 9.
• Adults: $67.33
• Child: $24.22

So 2017 prices are going up quite a bit, 5.6%

 

[Kidanifan08]

For 2016, the Standard (or plus) Disney Dining Plan prices are per person per night. Child rates are for ages 3 to 9.
• Adults: $63.70
• Child: $22.85

For 2017, the Standard (or plus) Disney Dining Plan prices are per person per night. Child rates are for ages 3 to 9.
• Adults: $67.33
• Child: $24.22

So 2017 prices are going up quite a bit, 5.6%

Wow! When we first did the plan about 6-7 years ago, the adult price was under $40 and the kid price was around $18. Now that we have a 10 yo "Disney adult", we would be spending $202 per day for food! We just got back from 2 weeks of using TIW, and for the 3 of us, we rarely spent more than $100/day, other than a couple of table service meals that were closer to $150 (LeCellier, Crystal Palace). Plus, with the refillable popcorn, we only spent $1.50-3.00 per day on popcorn (after the initial $10 bucket investment), and an occasional $4 Mickey bar. I think we'll stick with TIW. Over the course of a year, we easily cover the cost of the card.

 

[Mish]

The dining plan is a little cheaper through DVC because when it went up a few months ago it didn't for DVC because they are contracted for one year for the price. I think it was 61.95 per day. I know i priced it for 6 Adults and on child for 10 days and it was $3300.00. I am just still trying to decide if it is worth it or not.

 

[disneynutz]

The DDP isn't designed to save anyone money, it's designed to make Disney more money. My guess is that millions of credits are forfeited each year or TS credits being used for a sandwich.

The only way to find out if any plan is worth it is to make a list of what you will eat where and compare the cost between the plans and the oop cost.

Bill

 

[Dean]

The DDP isn't designed to save anyone money, it's designed to make Disney more money. My guess is that millions of credits are forfeited each year or TS credits being used for a sandwich.

The only way to find out if any plan is worth it is to make a list of what you will eat where and compare the cost between the plans and the oop cost.

Bill

In part that's been true of all such programs, that and to shape behavior. It's like a candy bar. Make it bigger, raise the price then slowly make it smaller again, the boiled frog philosophy. It can be worth it for very specific situations but given the specialty nature of it and the risk involved since it's all or none and non refundable, most don't save with it and most don't get enough added value at the same cost. It's like finances in general, if you don't pay attention, the money just evaporates. I remember the program that replaced the food n fun card. Basically a prepaid debit card but with a 10% bonus. When you considered you were losing the 20% DDE and other discounts, it was a no brainer NO, NEVER.

 

[Matty B13]

The dining plan is a little cheaper through DVC because when it went up a few months ago it didn't for DVC because they are contracted for one year for the price. I think it was 61.95 per day. I know i priced it for 6 Adults and on child for 10 days and it was $3300.00. I am just still trying to decide if it is worth it or not.

Thanks for the info, if you have a 2017 trip planned are those rates still good?

 

[Matty B13]

The dining plan is a little cheaper through DVC because when it went up a few months ago it didn't for DVC because they are contracted for one year for the price. I think it was 61.95 per day. I know i priced it for 6 Adults and on child for 10 days and it was $3300.00. I am just still trying to decide if it is worth it or not.

Also, how do you add this to your reservation? Do you have to call, or can you do it online on the DVC website?

 

[Kidanifan08]

Thanks for the info, if you have a 2017 trip planned are those rates still good?

DVC will charge the 2017 rates for DDP purchased for a trip starting on or after 1/1/17. Now, if you arrived on 12/31/16, you would get the current DVC price.

Also, how do you add this to your reservation? Do you have to call, or can you do it online on the DVC website?

You can call MS to add to your reservation. You have until 48 hours prior to your arrival to add it, so you could keep your money until the week you arrive, if you want. I don't think you can do it online, although not sure about that.

 

[Matty B13]

Thanks for the info

 

[TechRavingMad]

Remember when figuring the cost to eat on the Dining plan vs cash (even with the TIW card) to figure in taxes to your cash cost (taxes are included in the Dining Plan). And remember that the dining plan doesn't include gratuity (but the TIW enforces an 18% gratuity).

Also note that the 2017 plan removes the desert from the QS meal (still receive desert with TS) and replaces it with a second snack (that's a good thing).

I second the others in saying take a look at the menus of the places and compare your costs. For us it still makes sense because we do a TS every night, and for us all but one are buffets (Tusker,Boma,Crystal Palace,Biergarten) and for us we average right at the cost of the plan ($70 adults / $38 kids before tax). We're 4 adults 1 kid.

We are considering not doing the Dining Plan this year and instead do TIW. But our math is still showing that with the $150 buy in the TIW and adding tax, it will actually cost more than it saves us. It's really close for us.

 

[Mish]

Thanks I am going to go back and do the calculations again, not sure if I added the tax to my totals. was thinking about getting table of wonderland too. figured what we saved would cover the tip cost.

 

[Dean]

Remember when figuring the cost to eat on the Dining plan vs cash (even with the TIW card) to figure in taxes to your cash cost (taxes are included in the Dining Plan). And remember that the dining plan doesn't include gratuity (but the TIW enforces an 18% gratuity).

Also note that the 2017 plan removes the desert from the QS meal (still receive desert with TS) and replaces it with a second snack (that's a good thing).

I second the others in saying take a look at the menus of the places and compare your costs. For us it still makes sense because we do a TS every night, and for us all but one are buffets (Tusker,Boma,Crystal Palace,Biergarten) and for us we average right at the cost of the plan ($70 adults / $38 kids before tax). We're 4 adults 1 kid.

We are considering not doing the Dining Plan this year and instead do TIW. But our math is still showing that with the $150 buy in the TIW and adding tax, it will actually cost more than it saves us. It's really close for us.

IMO the tip doesn't matter other than possibly a small difference for buffets or if you have an issue at a restaurant, the 18% is about the minimum one should do at TS otherwise. 18% is a little high IMO for buffet's, even for Disney. I don't include the tip on either sides for that reason. I don't think it's uncommon the TIW doesn't save enough to justify buying it. Remember you're not comparing to no discount necessarily since there are other discounts with AP, AAA, DVC and the Disney CC. Even restaurant.com for at times. I'd look at the TIW as if it saved 10 or 12 %, not 20%, because that's closer to reality for DVC members.

 

[supersnoop]

IMO the tip doesn't matter other than possibly a small difference for buffets or if you have an issue at a restaurant, the 18% is about the minimum one should do at TS otherwise. 18% is a little high IMO for buffet's, even for Disney. I don't include the tip on either sides for that reason. I don't think it's uncommon the TIW doesn't save enough to justify buying it. Remember you're not comparing to no discount necessarily since there are other discounts with AP, AAA, DVC and the Disney CC. Even restaurant.com for at times. I'd look at the TIW as if it saved 10 or 12 %, not 20%, because that's closer to reality for DVC members.

The TiW card is valid at three times as many restaurants as this othe discounts. Maybe four times as many. While everyone's restaurant choices will vary, I base the ROI as if it were a 15%-18% discount.

 

[Dean]

The TiW card is valid at three times as many restaurants as this othe discounts. Maybe four times as many. While everyone's restaurant choices will vary, I base the ROI as if it were a 15%-18% discount.

That's not completely accurate as I read it. Right at 1/3 of the ones that offer TIW don't offer any other discount if you look at the others in aggregate so it's not 3 times but 1/3 to 1/2 more depending on where you start from. And some of the others offer a discount that is not available at TIW, just over a dozen. Also some of the discounts are more than 10%, esp with DVC. Some limit which meals though. Obviously that assumes one has all other 4 options of DVC, AP, AAA & Disney Visa though there are only a couple that offer AAA &/or Visa and not the others. I'd suggest one look at what options they have and what their plans as well as considering that the TIW has a cost that's additional where the others do not normally have an additional cost. As a round number, 12% is likely best, 15% is OK if one considers the cost extra thus reducing the actual return.