2012 dining plan...I don't think so!

[supersuperwendy]

While I love WDW and my DVC membership, the whole food thing is getting pretty depressing. The food choices have narrowed, the quality is sometimes lacking, and the price of DDP and out of pocket have really risen. Our last trip was for 10 days, and we ate dinner off site several times because we were tired of paying such high prices. We usually ate lunches in the parks and it was around $50 for 2 adults and 3 children. Our dinner at Cape May Buffet was $175 dollars. Disney is pricing itself out of the average person's ability to pay no matter what the plan!

What places do you like offsite for lunch/dinner? We are driving down for the next two trips so we can finally go off site!

 

[supersuperwendy]

I just wish they would make TiW available to DVC members. Now that we're not renewing our AP's, our only discounts are minimal.

That would be great. After 2012 I don't think we'll have APs because the trips penciled in starting in 2013 are too far apart for APs to be practical.

I hope DVC reads our boards!

TiW for DVC!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We learned right after the first year DDP was offered that it wasn't a good match for us. We used it twice and then used the TIW card after that. Our savings with TIW over the DDP has always been significant. The first year of DDP is was a wash because we could choose between appetizer or dessert and tip was included. Once those two things changed, it made no sense at all for us. This year we will get the TIW card again in December and enjoy it for our other two trips next year as well. One of those trips will include another couple, so as long as we put everything on one tab, the TIW savings is significant for all.

 

[krw4994]

Please stop telling everyone how great the TIW card is. Disney has trolls on these boards and at this rate, they will figure out how to ruin one of the best things out there. So xsnay on the TIW!

Could you please explan what the TIW card is. thanks

 

[dgaston]

Tables In Wonderland (TIW) is a discount dining card available to AP holders and Florida Residents. You pay $75 and receive a 20% discount on food and even alcoholic beverages at participating restaurants (mostly table service, but also food courts at values, and Flame Tree in AK). 18% tip is automatically added, and card is good for up to 10 people.

 

[dianeschlicht]

What places do you like offsite for lunch/dinner? We are driving down for the next two trips so we can finally go off site!

One of our favorites is Bahama Breeze. There are actually two within fairly easy driving distance of Disney.

 

[karrit2000]

I've only done the dining plan a few times. Twice I was staying with a friend @ POP during "free" dining. The first time it was when everything was included & the second was when they eliminated the Appetizer but still covered the tip. My friend felt like she was forced to eat way too much food. I viewed it as an opportunity to try some places that I normally don't eat at. It was a bit much to me to do a sit down meal every day. So I decided that it wasn't something that would work for me most trips. Once I got it for one night when a friend & I had to switch accommodations @SSR so we figured if she paid for the Dining Plan for us for the one night & another meal or two it would cover her share of the room. Back in May I did QSDP for a few segments of my trip and in my opinion I would have been better off paying OOP since I don't normally get desserts when I eat CS. I tried to maximize the value by eating at the resort food courts where you have more choices but it was still way more food than I needed. Other than during F&W I don't think the savings is really there especially now that next year it will only include 1 snack per day.

As far as TIW even though I have one I have an issue with being required to pay for it on top of the high cost of the AP. I believe it should include all the CS locations also. At DL dining discounts at all eateries are included as a benefit of having an AP. The discount percentage varies according to the type of AP you purchase. I do not find the limited dining discounts they offer DVC members of any use to me as I normally do not eat a large meal at lunch time which most of those discounts are for.

 

[sherylcin]

My understanding was that Disney considered them the same age for the entire trip they were at day 1. So if one turns 10 during the trip, it should be the child's price as I understand it.

I know this to be true. One of my grandsons turned 3 in the middle of a two-week trip and I even called Disney to "fess up" to the birthday and ask how to handle it for ticket and meals (since 2-year-olds eat free). I was told if he's two coming in, they consider him two for the entire trip regardless of the birthday.

 

[supersuperwendy]

One of our favorites is Bahama Breeze. There are actually two within fairly easy driving distance of Disney.

I haven't been to a bahama breeze in years! I used to LOVE the coconut onion rings with the dipping sauces!

Thanks for the tip Diane!

 

[get_us_to_WDW]

My extended family always travels together and we like knowing that everything is paid for ahead of time, we can choose any restaurant (on the plan) and we don't need to look at the menu prices once we sit down to eat or "settle-up" at the end of each meal, etc. It always seemed that the DDP offered this benefit and also a discount on the food we were purchasing.

I just ran some numbers and based on our eating habts the discount has dwindled to almost nothing! So now it is simply "pre-paid food." And much more food than we would choose to eat on our own! I really may need to re-think DDP.

 

[karrit2000]

I've never been able to see much value for me except back in the early days with the appetizer & the tip included. Even for the QSDP other than the Mug being part of it for more than a few days it just doesn't end up saving me anything in the long run.

 

[hollis]

A lot of good info in this thread. I've never tried DDP. I like to eat somewhat healthy, and always have a car, so I always do a grocery trip on my way from MCO to WDW, stocking up on breakfast cereal and fruit, so at least I start the day with a healthy breakfast. My upcoming spring break trip I am doing with another family. They like to eat. So my friend is considering DDP. After reading this, I need to do some math and discuss with my friend more about DDP (not doing it, that is).

 

[MouseMomx2]

I just ran some numbers and based on our eating habts the discount has dwindled to almost nothing! So now it is simply "pre-paid food." And much more food than we would choose to eat on our own! I really may need to re-think DDP.

That's exactly the point for our family. While we may get minimal savings with DVC by ordering the most expensive things on the menu, we would never choose to eat that way without the plan. We much prefer to just pay out of pocket. We do get a TIW card, but even without it we'd come out ahead by ordering what we want and paying cash.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

We REALLY love the convenience of the DDP, but now that we have TIW I just can't see us ever going back. We will be staying for 8 nights in May 2012, and there is no way I'm going to add 51$ for each of us per night to our expense!

 

[Chellymouse]

We've been on TIW now for the past 2 years and happy to report we are reformed DDP. DDP has gone WAY down hill and is no longer a value. We are taking DH's family next summer and there is NO WAY our niece and nephew would eat $51 a day between the two of them, let alone each other.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I'm looking at the TiW list of restaurants. There are so many great choices!

Has anyone tried Portobello in DTD?

The menu sounds yummy and it would be nice to take the boat over from OKW.

 

[supersuperwendy]

Hhhhmmm I just looked over the DVC discounts too. I wonder what's the better choice? Pay the $75 and get 20% off a ton of places or get the 10/20% at some select locations without having to buy the card? I see some places that would work for us and they are mostly lunch which works great with the baby's schedule. 10% off at Yak n Yeti & Whispering Canyon lunches, 20% off Les Chefs De France lunch and 10% off dinner at Portobello? that's a reasonable deal I think. Or would you still go with the TiW for more choices?

I just looked at this chart...there's also many discounts for having the AP. I don't know what we should do!

http://allears.net/pl/disc_dining.pdf

 

[twinklebug]

Hhhhmmm I just looked over the DVC discounts too. I wonder what's the better choice? Pay the $75 and get 20% off a ton of places or get the 10/20% at some select locations without having to buy the card? I see some places that would work for us and they are mostly lunch which works great with the baby's schedule. 10% off at Yak n Yeti & Whispering Canyon lunches, 20% off Les Chefs De France lunch and 10% off dinner at Portobello? that's a reasonable deal I think. Or would you still go with the TiW for more choices?

I just looked at this chart...there's also many discounts for having the AP. I don't know what we should do!

http://allears.net/pl/disc_dining.pdf

If you'll be there over the holidays you should note the TIW card is blacked out for use on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

Assuming you'll have an AP and be returning to Disney before the TIW card expires (still 14 months?) I don't think you can loose with buying one. Just be sure you're getting the best discount at each place. Like I mentioned above, the TIW card may not be used on the holidays, but it's possible the AP or DVC discounts will still be accepted (I hope!)

 

[vacationclub]

I've never understood the value of DDP. Everytime they offer it, I do some quick math and realize I'd LOSE money. It seems to me DDP is for people who don't really keep track of what they eat or what it costs, and just figure they are getting some great deal. But they aren't (unless they normally consume thousands of calories per day.) Which is why Disney pushes it so hard...says what a great deal it is. They want you to buy it because without it you would actually be more prudent when it comes to eating. And if you miss even one or two meals (that are pre-paid with no refund) Disney makes money on your miscalculation. DDP, in my opinion, is the equivilent to the "extented warranty" they sell you at electronics stores. Mathmatically it's a better deal for them, not for you. They are simply locking you into buying a fixed amount of food, more than what many people would have bought to begin with. It's a money making scheme for Disney, but if people feel good using it, great.

Unfortuanately, free DDP has damaged the quality of Disney Dining overall.

 

[dansamy]

I use the QSDP on short trips. I find value in it because we would buy new mugs for each trip. We tend to stay in the parks pretty late, eating both lunch and dinner at park food prices.