Meal Plan Comparison Question .

[SilverCrab]

I would like to know if any of you have ever done a comparison cost from any of your Disney trips , of paying as you go for meals vs using one of the meal plans offered. All of my past trips have been pay as you go or using my room charge card / key . I've always thought the plans were more for convenience, than saving that much money. I was just curious if Disney took an average cost of their meals, snacks, etc. and charged accordingly or do you think they give a set percentage discount on their meals, etc.

What do you think the actual savings would be on: lets say $100.00 tab, spending cash, personal credit / debit card or Disney issued room charge / key , compared to using a meal plan card / key

If anyone knows of an answer or a thread that addresses this issue, please post for me.

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Ronnie from VA

[goofy4tink]

As an AP holder, I always have a Tables in Wonderland dining card, which saves me 20% off most TS meals. I pretty much know how much my dining is going to cost me before I leave home...I know what we tend to order at each restaurant, so can figure it all out.

There have been several times that I have sat down and compared what I would spend paying OOP vs using the DDP. It's usually pretty close for me...especially when I figure in that 20% savings...I tend to think of that as my tip. If it's within $30-50, I usually go with the DDP..it's a matter of convenience for me.
You just have to be careful and brutally honest as to how you plan your meal costs. You may think that you won't want that Mickey bar, so you don't include it each day...but once you get there, you see everyone with a Mickey bar so you have to have one too!!! That's where those snack credits come in handy. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples not apples to oranges.

[Nancy for Disney]

There is a Dinning Plan sub-forum under the restaurant forum. There are tons of threads that have discussed this issue. It probably won't be too long before the moderator moves this thread there.

In answer to your question it depends on how much you eat and what kind of food you like. If you never eat desserts then in my opinion the DDP is not for you. I did an spread sheet with what I would actually eat and it would have saved my about $20 to pay OOP however I would be counting every penny on my trip. I thought I would have a more relaxed trip with DDP plus get a chance to sample desserts that I normally wouldn't. I also knew that there would be a chance that I would eat more than what I had estimated and I have been on DDP before and know that that will be plenty of food for our trip. Also If you prefer to go with the flow rather than having to worry about being places at a certain time then DDP is also not for you. Hope this helps. Happy planning.

[amzking]

You didn't mention the ages of your kids, but I have an 8 year old DD and an 11 year old DS, and I know once DD turns 10 we will have to pay adult pricing for her and the dining plan will no longer be the value it is now for us. She eats very little and it would not be worth it for us to pay $42 per day for two meals and a snack.

We personally like to eat TS on vacation once a day, and I am a planner, so it is a good value for us. I think its a great deal for adults-only trips. I did a spreadsheet on it a year or two ago and found that comparing DDP versus TIW (including the cost of TIW) the DDP was a slightly better value, but once we did the DDP it became even more of a value because I could pick out whatever I wanted without regard to cost.

[danny1649]

Moved your post here to our Restaurants Board where the experts on this board can help you with great information. Danny