2013 Dining Plan prices are here

[Mcert01]

From the posts on DIS, many people do not bother to consider the cost of the dining plan vs. paying out of pocket. They somehow equate paying in advance with saving money. I still haven't puzzled out that logic.

You may be right. However, in my case I have a spreadsheet which outlines the meals by restaurant, and the out of pocket expense I expect to have at each. I weigh this against the cost of the dining plan, and where we are staying in a hotel and not in our RV at FW, the dining plan cost has always made sense for us.

Everyone has a different situation, and what makes sense for some people won't for others. You have to do your own analysis and see what makes sense for you. For me, if the money is close we do the dining plan, if not, then we choose the better option from a cost stand point.

 

[Buckalew11]

From the posts on DIS, many people do not bother to consider the cost of the dining plan vs. paying out of pocket. They somehow equate paying in advance with saving money. I still haven't puzzled out that logic.

I totally agree. I'm always amazed and puzzled by it. I do the math and it never pays... plus you are locked in because you've paid --and hopefully have an ADR to make that pre-pay pay off in some way.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

My issue with the DDP has never been it's cost. Even with the rising prices I can see how it works for many! It's not designed with me in mind, so it doesn't work for me or my family! We do much better with the TIW card!

We drink, we love appetizers, we rarely eat dessert, we don't like big sit down lunch and dinners every day, we're thankfully past the character dining age, we dislike most buffets other than Boma, and enjoy eating off-site! THE DDP is too restrictive for how, what, where & when we eat on vacation, pricing doesn't have much to do with it!

 

[KrazeeK120]

My calculations were based on the poster's quick dining figures:

"Quick Dining
All Seasons
$37.58 per adult per night
$14.32 per child per night

2012 was $34.99 and $11.99 respectively"

So my math was correct.

For Plus Dining the poster listed the following "Peak and Holiday" removed for simplicity:

Plus Dining
Value and Regular Seasons
$55.59/adult
$17.16/child

2012 was $51.54/$16.02

This shows a rate increase of $4.05 per day per adult and $1.14 per child. For a family of 4 with 2 children over 10 days this amounts to $103.08. Again, Mickey bars at $3.50 each for 4 people over 10 days = $1.40.

The math will be different for everyone depending on everyone's own situation, and the value to each will be different. For instance, we did not get the dining plan last year because we stayed at FW in our RV and cooked many of our own meals.

However, staying in a hotel changes the equation for us and we do get the dining plan. Even if it costs slightly more (and it may or may not depending on your choice of restaurants and entrees), the value of not having to worry about prices, and knowing that meals are taken care of on arrival has value to our family.

To each his own, but while this is an increase, and that is never any fun, it certainly doesn't look like it will change the math much one way or another by a great deal.

But the poster you quoted was speaking about the deluxe dining plan, not the quick service plan.

For an adult, the deluxe dining plan IS $14.45 more per person, per day.

 

[Mcert01]

I totally agree. I'm always amazed and puzzled by it. I do the math and it never pays... plus you are locked in because you've paid --and hopefully have an ADR to make that pre-pay pay off in some way.

I'm not sure what is so puzzling.

For some people it makes sense, for others it doesn't. I think the mistake is assuming that because it doesn't make sense for one that nobody else can do the math and come to a different conclusion based on their wants / needs / situation.

I might say it never makes sense for us to stay at Wilderness Lodge because of the cost and the small amount of time we spend at the hotel. However, I wouldn't say that because it doesn't make sense for us that it cannot make sense for anyone else.

 

[Mcert01]

But the poster you quoted was speaking about the deluxe dining plan, not the quick service plan.

For an adult, the deluxe dining plan IS $14.45 more per person, per day.

Ahh, you are correct. However, in my case we never consider the deluxe, so I wouldn't even consider that option. In that case, no, the dining plan doesn't make sense for us. However, the plus dining still does, and still will even with the price increase.

 

[Mcert01]

My issue with the DDP has never been it's cost. Even with the rising prices I can see how it works for many! It's not designed with me in mind, so it doesn't work for me or my family! We do much better with the TIW card!

We drink, we love appetizers, we rarely eat dessert, we don't like big sit down lunch and dinners every day, we're thankfully past the character dining age, we dislike most buffets other than Boma, and enjoy eating off-site! THE DDP is too restrictive for how, what, where & when we eat on vacation, pricing doesn't have much to do with it!

Perfect example of why it works for some and not others. In your situation I would make the same choice.

 

[sharonabe]

My calculations were based on the poster's quick dining figures:

"Quick Dining
All Seasons
$37.58 per adult per night
$14.32 per child per night

2012 was $34.99 and $11.99 respectively"

So my math was correct.

For Plus Dining the poster listed the following "Peak and Holiday" removed for simplicity:

Plus Dining
Value and Regular Seasons
$55.59/adult
$17.16/child

2012 was $51.54/$16.02

This shows a rate increase of $4.05 per day per adult and $1.14 per child. For a family of 4 with 2 children over 10 days this amounts to $103.08. Again, Mickey bars at $3.50 each for 4 people over 10 days = $1.40.

The math will be different for everyone depending on everyone's own situation, and the value to each will be different. For instance, we did not get the dining plan last year because we stayed at FW in our RV and cooked many of our own meals.

However, staying in a hotel changes the equation for us and we do get the dining plan. Even if it costs slightly more (and it may or may not depending on your choice of restaurants and entrees), the value of not having to worry about prices, and knowing that meals are taken care of on arrival has value to our family.

To each his own, but while this is an increase, and that is never any fun, it certainly doesn't look like it will change the math much one way or another by a great deal.

The question remains, you will pay $103 MORE next year than you would this year. You're not getting anything extra for that $103 (not sure what the Mickey Bar cost has to do with it). So, will you still save money on the plan? Will you eat $103 more worth of food? If you go to the exact same restaurants next year that you do this year and order the exact same things, you've still paid $103 more than you do this year.

 

[Mcert01]

The question remains, you will pay $103 MORE next year than you would this year. You're not getting anything extra for that $103 (not sure what the Mickey Bar cost has to do with it). So, will you still save money on the plan? Will you eat $103 more worth of food? If you go to the exact same restaurants next year that you do this year and order the exact same things, you've still paid $103 more than you do this year.

The Mickey Bar cost was just meant to illustrate that it is a relatively minor cost increase in the grand scheme of things. An extra $100 at Disney is not all that significant over 10 days when compared against the cost of even a frugal trip.

The answer for next year is yes. However, the assumption that we will be eating at the same restaurants isn't accurate (though Sanaa and Kouzzina will be on the list again). My wife and I will be going without the kids in the fall (both in college now, mixed feelings about leaving them home ...). We plan to eat very well, and take advantage of the snack credits at the Food and Wine Festival.

Assuming there will likely be price increases on the menus to match or exceed the dining plan increase, I don't think this will tip the scales for us. However, I could be wrong. I will certainly do the math when we get closer and see what makes sense.

 

[havoc315]

To each his own, but while this is an increase, and that is never any fun, it certainly doesn't look like it will change the math much one way or another by a great deal.

2013 is not dramatically different than 2012.. But even 2012 was iffy. So if you were on the fence in 2012, the price increase is certainly big enough to jump to the other side of the fence.
And looking at the changes over several years, you see MASSIVE differences.

Just 5 or 6 years ago, the price was about $20 cheaper, included an appetizer and included tip.

From a financial standpoint, it is difficult to justify the dining plan any longer for most people, especially for adults. It can still be justified if you have children on the plan AND you plan on multiple character meals.

But looking at, for example, the adult plan..
Imagine an adult going during peak pricing -- $57 per day. Of note, regular TS restaurants do not increase the pricing during peak season. Only character meals see increased pricing.

So let's take 1 adult, at Magic Kingdom for the day.

I'm going to round prices up, knowing that prices may be slightly higher in 2013, but big differences are unlikely. I could minimize value by doing CS breakfast, TS at the Plaza... but I'm going to play fair. A very realistic day at Magic Kingdom, getting somewhat plus priced meals.

Lunch -- Cosmic Rays. Note, the expensive chicken & rib combo is no longer offered at lunch.
So let's get an Angus Bacon Cheeseburger for $10 (it's only $9.19 right now).
Dessert -- $4. Beverage $3. Total for the meal, $17. (will add tax at the end).

Dinner -- Tony's Town Square -- Seafood Diavolo - Linguini pasta with Clams, Mussels, Calamari, Shrimp, and fresh fish of the day in a spicy Tomato sauce $22.99 (the second most expensive item on the whole menu).
Beverage -- about $3. Dessert -- $6. (most of the desserts are 5-5.50)
Total for the meal -- About $30. Let's assume some further price increases and push it up to $32, just to be safe.

Snack -- Dole Whip Soft Serve - pineapple, vanilla, or orange $3.49. But let's up it to $4, to be safe.

So pre-tax, and assuming some pretty significant price increases -- Looking at $53.
With tax, that would be $56.45.

So -- Even with basically maximizing your credits -- Getting the most expensive possible CS meal, getting the second most expensive TS entree at the restaurant, using all your snacks and desserts -- And assuming some pretty significant price increases in 2013 -- You still lost 50 cents on the day!

Imagine you ordered the Chicken Parmigiana - Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast with Marinara sauce topped with Melted Mozzarella over Spaghetti $17.99 --- You would have lost $4-$5 on the day!

So is the price change significant? Well, if you go from saving $1-$2 per day, to losing $1-$2 per day -- That seems pretty significant to me.

 

[izzy]

My problem with the dining plans wasn't always so much the cost (although it is now!), but that it's just too much darn food to eat in one day. I don't want to order food at certain price point levels and get desserts that I wouldn't normally eat just to feel like I've gotten my money's worth out of the plan.

I can always tell the people on the DDP in the sit down restaurants because of the amount of uneaten food left on the table.

I really like a previous poster's suggestion of putting money on the gift card and treating that like your dining plan. That way you've "pre-paid" it, and everyone can get exactly what they want and it will probably be cheaper in the long run.

 

[Mcert01]

So is the price change significant? Well, if you go from saving $1-$2 per day, to losing $1-$2 per day -- That seems pretty significant to me.

You don't assume a menu price increase in your equation, so if you calculate that you may still save $1-$2 per day.

However, lets assume there is no menu increase. $1-$2 per day doesn't tip the scales for me. If it does for you, then by all means do not get the dining plan. However, for me, $1-$2 per day is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

Again, everyone needs to do the math for themselves and evaluate the value of the plan on their terms. I'm not advocating getting or passing on the plan, just that it has different value for different people. If it didn't nobody would buy it and it would have been discontinued long ago.

That said, has the pricing at Disney gone up significantly? Yes, and not just on food. Hotel prices, especially at the Deluxe resorts, are out of sight. The real question is whether or not the value of Disney still outweighs the cost of the trip? For me, the answer is definitely yes.

 

[Mcert01]

My problem with the dining plans wasn't always so much the cost (although it is now!), but that it's just too much darn food to eat in one day.

Very good point. Food coma's are common on the dining plan.

 

[brunette8706]

You don't assume a menu price increase in your equation, so if you calculate that you may still save $1-$2 per day.

However, lets assume there is no menu increase. $1-$2 per day doesn't tip the scales for me. If it does for you, then by all means do not get the dining plan. However, for me, $1-$2 per day is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

Again, everyone needs to do the math for themselves and evaluate the value of the plan on their terms. I'm not advocating getting or passing on the plan, just that it has different value for different people. If it didn't nobody would buy it and it would have been discontinued long ago.

That said, has the pricing at Disney gone up significantly? Yes, and not just on food. Hotel prices, especially at the Deluxe resorts, are out of sight. The real question is whether or not the value of Disney still outweighs the cost of the trip? For me, the answer is definitely yes.

*
Hi! I not trying to debate you, I'm just thinking things through. If the previous poster stated that you would spend approximately $53.99 Out of Pocket per person per day, I'm still not sure why you or others would buy the dining plan? Again, not trying to be a contrarian here. But if you bought the food out of pocket then you can eat whenever you want on your time schedule and are NOT FORCED to eat every day (a snack, or Table Service etc.). Personally, I find the other poster's logic very sound advice, for me. But thank goodness we do have the TIW card which does save us 20 percent. I know you did mention convenience but why not fill gift cards up with $$ and use that for your food and beverage? Just a thought.

Thanks!
Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

2013 is not dramatically different than 2012.. But even 2012 was iffy. So if you were on the fence in 2012, the price increase is certainly big enough to jump to the other side of the fence.
And looking at the changes over several years, you see MASSIVE differences.

Just 5 or 6 years ago, the price was about $20 cheaper, included an appetizer and included tip.

From a financial standpoint, it is difficult to justify the dining plan any longer for most people, especially for adults. It can still be justified if you have children on the plan AND you plan on multiple character meals.

But looking at, for example, the adult plan..
Imagine an adult going during peak pricing -- $57 per day. Of note, regular TS restaurants do not increase the pricing during peak season. Only character meals see increased pricing.

So let's take 1 adult, at Magic Kingdom for the day.

I'm going to round prices up, knowing that prices may be slightly higher in 2013, but big differences are unlikely. I could minimize value by doing CS breakfast, TS at the Plaza... but I'm going to play fair. A very realistic day at Magic Kingdom, getting somewhat plus priced meals.

Lunch -- Cosmic Rays. Note, the expensive chicken & rib combo is no longer offered at lunch.
So let's get an Angus Bacon Cheeseburger for $10 (it's only $9.19 right now).
Dessert -- $4. Beverage $3. Total for the meal, $17. (will add tax at the end).

Dinner -- Tony's Town Square -- Seafood Diavolo - Linguini pasta with Clams, Mussels, Calamari, Shrimp, and fresh fish of the day in a spicy Tomato sauce $22.99 (the second most expensive item on the whole menu).
Beverage -- about $3. Dessert -- $6. (most of the desserts are 5-5.50)
Total for the meal -- About $30. Let's assume some further price increases and push it up to $32, just to be safe.

Snack -- Dole Whip Soft Serve - pineapple, vanilla, or orange $3.49. But let's up it to $4, to be safe.

So pre-tax, and assuming some pretty significant price increases -- Looking at $53.
With tax, that would be $56.45.

So -- Even with basically maximizing your credits -- Getting the most expensive possible CS meal, getting the second most expensive TS entree at the restaurant, using all your snacks and desserts -- And assuming some pretty significant price increases in 2013 -- You still lost 50 cents on the day!

Imagine you ordered the Chicken Parmigiana - Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast with Marinara sauce topped with Melted Mozzarella over Spaghetti $17.99 --- You would have lost $4-$5 on the day!

So is the price change significant? Well, if you go from saving $1-$2 per day, to losing $1-$2 per day -- That seems pretty significant to me.

*
Hi! You make some valid points here! Good post! Brunette

 

[havoc315]

You don't assume a menu price increase in your equation, so if you calculate that you may still save $1-$2 per day.

I did assume price increases. A beverage is currently $2.89, I assumed $3. Desserts are currently $5 at Tony's, I assumed $6. The entree I cited is currently $23, but I added $2 extra to the meal cost, so I assumed a price increase to $25.
For the snack, I assumed a massive 10% increase in price. For the QS meal, I assumed the burger went up from $9.19 to $10, about a 9% increase.

So even with very significant price increases factored in, you lost $0.50.
Truthfully, I don't expect the price increases to be that significant -- So that loss of $0.50, under current pricing would be a loss of about $5-$6.

Come 2013 pricing, I suspect that loss would be somewhere in between... Losing between $1-$4.

So, it depends on the subjective value you play on the non-economic factors. Is it worth losing flexibility and losing $1-$4 per day, for the mental benefit of pre-payment? That's up to each individual.

 

[robinb]

For me, the DDP was minimal value in the first place, not counting the Free Dining promotion for my trip in Sept/Oct, it would have saved me roughly $20 over the length of the trip, (9 nights), so this does tip the scale in the opposite direction (9 x 2.53 > 20). Of course, for my solo trips, I don't consider DDP anyway since I prefer to dine differently.

The DxDDP hit is huge though. at ~$14 per night per person increase, this will shift many of the balance points (break-even, QS/TS ratios, how many can you skip) quite a bit further off their mark than they are now. Math will take some time to work out for those, but we'll see what we come up with.

For the credit costs, going back to Faldred's original calculations, we see the following (assuming all entitlements are the same):
2QS + 1S = 37.58
1TS + 1QS + 1S = 55.59
3Dx + 2S = 99.97

Using 3 for S (to symbolize an average of $3 for snack) we get

2QS = 34.58
1TS + 1QS = 52.59
3Dx = 93.97

QS = 17.29
Dx = 31.33

1TS + 1(17.29) = 52.59
TS = 35.30

So, in non-peak season, these are the rough estimated costs per credit per plan:
QSDP: 1 QS credit costs ~$17.29
DDP: 1 TS credit costs ~$35.30
DxDDP: 1 Dx credit costs ~$31.33

(*Cost per credit, at least in my world, is an estimation of how much the actual credit costs you when you buy the plan. There is no bearing on what you order, or how many credits you leave unused, since you still have them, they're just not used. Value per credit is where these things come into play. Again, at least in my world )

** ETA: I'm also going to go ahead and assume that the original numbers posted are correct. I'm sure they are, but when I was going to check via the formulas I used last year, I couldn't easily find a constant room to use to compare peak and non-peak across the different use cases I had created. As such, I gave up and didn't feel like doing it .

Thanks for the math .

There is NO WAY a CS credit is worth anything near $17.29 when used at a CS restaurant. Two years ago the Average CS price (Meal, Dessert, Drink & tax) was $14.25. For instance, in 2010 the average meal at Pecos Bills was $14.19. The current average today at Pecos Bills (using a menu from 6/2012) is $15.29. That's an increase in OOP pricing of 7.71%. Compare that with the increase in the QSDP from $31.99/$9.99 in 2010 to $37.58/$14.32 that's a 17.47% increase for adults and a whopping 44.45% increase for kids and that doesn't even count the loss of a snack between 2010 and 2013!

 

[Mcert01]

*
Hi! I not trying to debate you, I'm just thinking things through. If the previous poster stated that you would spend approximately $53.99 Out of Pocket per person per day, I'm still not sure why you or others would buy the dining plan? Again, not trying to be a contrarian here. But if you bought the food out of pocket then you can eat whenever you want on your time schedule and are NOT FORCED to eat every day (a snack, or Table Service etc.). Personally, I find the other poster's logic very sound advice, for me. But thank goodness we do have the TIW card which does save us 20 percent. I know you did mention convenience but why not fill gift cards up with $$ and use that for your food and beverage? Just a thought.

Thanks!
Brunette

Wish I could get the TIW card, but sadly we aren't Annual Pass Holders.

Anyway, there are always assumptions folks can make. For instance, I wouldn't eat at the restaurants the poster mentioned (Columbia Harbor House for me at MK). Even if I would, I may have lost a couple of dollars that day, but would the math would flip when I had the $29 NY Strip at Kona Cafe the next day.

For me the analysis I do is literally by restaurant location and the menu pricing at the time. I do make assumptions on what we are likely to order, but in doing these calculations it has always made sense to me when staying at one of the hotels. If the math is close I chose the dining plan just because of the flexibility onsite, and not worrying about the cost of anything once I am there.

 

[disneychristmasx3]

For me, the DDP was minimal value in the first place, not counting the Free Dining promotion for my trip in Sept/Oct, it would have saved me roughly $20 over the length of the trip, (9 nights), so this does tip the scale in the opposite direction (9 x 2.53 > 20). Of course, for my solo trips, I don't consider DDP anyway since I prefer to dine differently.

The DxDDP hit is huge though. at ~$14 per night per person increase, this will shift many of the balance points (break-even, QS/TS ratios, how many can you skip) quite a bit further off their mark than they are now. Math will take some time to work out for those, but we'll see what we come up with.

For the credit costs, going back to Faldred's original calculations, we see the following (assuming all entitlements are the same):
2QS + 1S = 37.58
1TS + 1QS + 1S = 55.59
3Dx + 2S = 99.97

Using 3 for S (to symbolize an average of $3 for snack) we get

2QS = 34.58
1TS + 1QS = 52.59
3Dx = 93.97

QS = 17.29
Dx = 31.33

1TS + 1(17.29) = 52.59
TS = 35.30

So, in non-peak season, these are the rough estimated costs per credit per plan:
QSDP: 1 QS credit costs ~$17.29
DDP: 1 TS credit costs ~$35.30
DxDDP: 1 Dx credit costs ~$31.33

(*Cost per credit, at least in my world, is an estimation of how much the actual credit costs you when you buy the plan. There is no bearing on what you order, or how many credits you leave unused, since you still have them, they're just not used. Value per credit is where these things come into play. Again, at least in my world )

** ETA: I'm also going to go ahead and assume that the original numbers posted are correct. I'm sure they are, but when I was going to check via the formulas I used last year, I couldn't easily find a constant room to use to compare peak and non-peak across the different use cases I had created. As such, I gave up and didn't feel like doing it .

I haven't seen this breakdown before, but I am fascinated that the DxDP credits come in so much lower than the DDP TS credits when the math is done, knowing that with the DxDP you also get an appetizer.

I guess Disney is actually counting on DxDP customers using up 2 credits at a signature restaurant, leaving credits behind unused, or using DxDP credits at QS locations. If they actually were able to handle 3 table service meals per day with appetizers and deserts then Disney make the least amount of money!!

 

[minnie mum]

I was pretty much done with the DDP after our last visit in 2011. Too much food and it wasn't fitting well with the way we prefer to dine. Now, with these new price increases I am totally done. Even free dining, unless there is no possibility of a room only discount.