$900 worth of food in seven days???

[jennifer293]

We paid 560.00 for 7 nights adn our food would have cost over 1200. We ate a TS every single night ( a dinner show one of those nights).

 

[npm1]

I just wanted to make a few comments on the dining plans and peoples ideas. We used the dining plan for 4 nights/5day trip the last 5 days of november. Me, wife,and 5 year old daughter.
I think the dining plan is worth the money if, you plan your meals well, only eat "big" 2 times a day, and pick the right rest.'s to get the max value for your meals.
We ate dinner at Teppanyaki, and spoodles 2x, and had a character breakfast at beach club. the dinners avg. 120 + tip, which meant the char breakfast, and the lunches at AK, Columbia house, flame tree, plus the snacks were all above what we paid.
I tried to keep exact track of what the value was and it was well into the 700 range for the $320 it cost us.
I dont think we would do it again ( but dont bet on it) since it was a ton of food, and if we were paying for it out of pocket, i would almost never get dessert and stuff with lunch. We also wouldnt get 3 app's, 3 desserts with dinner etc... we came home pretty stuffed.

My last observation is that almost anyone on here doing all this planning and looking into all the deals etc... (ie saving $10 a night on a room) would be smart enough to figure out how to maximize the value of the DDP, while having the best World experience they want. There are enough places to max your DDP, that it wont slow your trip down all that much.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

This is what I did to figure it out. We have 4 "adults"--even though two of them will be 11 and 14 for our trip--and one child, age 8.
I looked at the Le Cellier menu. If we each got the cheapest appetizer, entree, and dessert on the menu, plus the kid's meal for DS, it would cost us about $126. The meal plan costs us $160 a day roughly. So add on the 5 snacks (15) and the counter service, and there you are.
I will definately be keeping track, but we are going to give it a try. I plan on taking the suggestion of getting fruit for our counter service dessert and putting it in the fridge of the room for breakfast, and taking some pop-tarts or something, and getting by on these two huge meals a day.
Robin M.

 

[PrincessNED]

I don't think you have to judge the Dining plan simply on economics. Though with beverages and gratuities included I cannot see how it cannot be a deal as long as you use your TS allocations.

Other factors we considered for our May 06 trip (10 nights) were:

being on the plan "forces" you to arrange some table service meals which benefit us by breaking up the day with at least an hour to hour and a half of sitting down and relaxing. IE Commando proofing the Vacation and letting everyone recharge their batteries

prepaid means less stress - we like all inclusive or close to it for our vacations - the dining plan is the closest thing to all inclusive ( yes I know there is a premium plan - but look at the price !) The only unknown factor is my DW's and DD's spending at DTD.

Dining is entertainment too - experiencing the restaurants will be a Joy and while I know other complain you get too much food with the apps , entre, and dessert YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FINISH EVERYTHING ON YOUR PLATE. Try new stuff -

reservations at the various resort restaurants guarantees we will do some resort hopping/exploration

TS meals are far healthier than CS meals - I by no means am a health nut but I do appreciate well cooked food and Prepaying for the plan I then have assurances of at least some vegetables other than Fries during the day

Character meals / planning - Honestly if I didn't have the dining plan there is no way I would have planned out a general itinerary ( what park what day etc) and no way I would have done as many Character meals ( 5 planned including CRT). I'm a procrastinator the DP forced me off my lazy butt


Just my thinking on the subject regarding other things to consider - Really there is no right or wrong answer to the question. It all depends on your situation and preferences.

 

[Rootskate]

Funny thing, AAA quoted me more for some reason than WDW. No idea why?

I bet AAA tacked on insurance to your package price.
We booked a package through AAA which includes the Dining Plan and it was $275.00 less then the Disney package price.

 

[bicker]

I did the math. We're six people: myself, DW52, DB35, DS-i-L35, DN6 and DN1.5. I did up a spreadsheet, guessing (which was great fun) what each person would eat at each TS restaurant and CS eatery, added tax and tip. Our plans include two signature restaurants, and we're doing TS for lunch twice out of six times.

The result was that we'd save $15 plus the cost of all our snacks using the dining plan.

 

[GailT]

There is only one thing that justifies me always getting the meal plan, not how much i can save money wise but how easy it is not to have to bring cash with me , I know, that isnt the right way but I still do it.

 

[bicker]

I wouldn't bring cash with me, whether I was using the dining plan or not. :

 

[Marseeya]

I bet AAA tacked on insurance to your package price.
We booked a package through AAA which includes the Dining Plan and it was $275.00 less then the Disney package price.

I did some pricing as well, and even with the insurance, my AAA package was well over $300 less than the price I was quoted through Disney.

Oh, and I don't think the Disney website adds tax until the end, right? AAA has the tax added too.

 

[Marseeya]

I did the math. We're six people: myself, DW52, DB35, DS-i-L35, DN6 and DN1.5. I did up a spreadsheet, guessing (which was great fun) what each person would eat at each TS restaurant and CS eatery, added tax and tip. Our plans include two signature restaurants, and we're doing TS for lunch twice out of six times.

The result was that we'd save $15 plus the cost of all our snacks using the dining plan.

$15 total???

Wow, we saved something like $90 on just one meal when we figured it out.

But then, I gained 10 pounds by the time we got home.

 

[bicker]

Actually, I just redid the math, and it was $23 total, plus the cost of all snacks, which I didn't factor into my cash estimate.

Dinner at Whispering Canyon $158.60
Dinner at Garden Grill $130.15
Lunch at Brown Derby $135.15
Dinner at Artist Point $201.99 (includes DVC discount)
Lunch at Chefs de France $104.86
Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern $130.15
Then, six CS meals $381.12

For a total of $1242.20.

Dining Plan would have been $984, but, we'd have to pay for two TS meals OOP (because two of our TS meals are signature restaurants) so that adds $235 = $1219.

Hmmm... actually, I just realized that we could pay for one Signature TS meal OOP, and that would pay for the two non-Signature TS meals... so let me re-do the math again. That actually would save $100, so my total savings with Dining Plan would have been $123.

That's still not the $263 that our admission would have cost extra if I had gotten one AP instead of the admission tickets we purchased (in order to qualify for the Dining Plan).

 

[indigoxtreme]

I keep figuring out this DP thing. It looks very good. But with the discounts thru AAA and my job, if I switch and get a package to get the meal plan it will be an additional $900.

With AAA you are supposed to be able to add the dining plan and keep your discount. Have you checked with them about adding it to your trip? Unless this has changed for 2006, it was available in 2005. I am sure someone will correct me on this

 

[mickeyfan2]

I keep figuring out this DP thing. It looks very good. But with the discounts thru AAA and my job, if I switch and get a package to get the meal plan it will be an additional $900. I already have 3 character meals booked that comes close to $300 but I just don't think we will spend another $600 in food to justify getting plan.

If these are all the sit down meals you have planned, then I would think you would be better off not getting the DP.

 

[turnlisa]

You do get the discount with AAA if you book the dining package. We saved 15% off the room and booked the dining plan. For us, I usually book one sit-down a day -- sometimes 2 if they are spaced far apart (i.e., early breakfast, later dinner). We like to go to the nicer places (my DS's favorite restaurant last trip was Brown Derby) so for us the plan makes sense. I like to make ADR's for the simple reason that I know that there is going to be somewhere I will have a seat for dinner. I am really curious to see how much we save with the plan. Right now we are paying $630 for the week for the 4 of us. I know that we easily spend more than that on food during a trip. I usually budget about $800 or more. Like everyone said, I think it depends on the way you tour.

 

[robinb]

We like to eat at table service restaurants. We "spent" over $1100 on two adults and 2 6-year olds over SIX days in August. Here is a review: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=898679 .

The real question you need to ask: "Will we spent $128 per day on food?" Considering that you already have 3 character meals scheduled for 5 people, the answer may be "yes". Plus, your 14 year old eats as an adult. I think, at the worst, you will break even.

BTW: You have a very cute baby! She's a cutie .

 

[pooch]

trying to figure out whether I was saving $$ with DP or not. I agree w/princessNED, there are other considerations when contemplating the DP.

For me, it's not having to be the "Menu Nazi". On our previous trips, I always argued about what everyone wanted to order. "Too expensive!! You won't eat all that!!!" This time, I don't care. Order what you want. We aren't going to be concerned about maxing out the plan. I don't care whether we eat everything we order. If its convenient to take a doggy bag, we will. If not, oh well.

I will make ADR's based on where I think we will be on any given day. If they work, great, if not, we'll adjust. We love Table Service restaurants and will do one every day. I plan to split our 4 CS credit each day between breakfast and lunch (2 & 2 or 1 & 3 or 3 & 1 depending on our appetites each day) sharing those, so by dinner, we should be hungry enough for a TS each.
If not, we'll have some extra credits and I loved the posts that talked about surprising a stranger by paying for their meal. What a wonderful way to spread our good fortune with others!!

Vacations are to relieve stress!!!

Pooch

 

[HollyJoy]

It depends on what kind of meals that you are planning on having. If you are only going to do those 3 table services, and plan to eat counter for the rest, then the dining plan may not be for you. For us, however, I chose the dining plann for 7 days because we wanted to do more sit down meals and explore other restaurants. On our last trip (7 days as well), we only booked 2 table service meals, and the rest we did out of pocket (mainly counter service).. let me tell you, we probably spent close to $700 just in meals, snacks, and drinks (NOT including breakfast, which we ate in our room).

 

[Anewman]

Actually, I just redid the math, and it was $23 total, plus the cost of all snacks, which I didn't factor into my cash estimate.

Dinner at Whispering Canyon $158.60
Dinner at Garden Grill $130.15
Lunch at Brown Derby $135.15
Dinner at Artist Point $201.99 (includes DVC discount)
Lunch at Chefs de France $104.86
Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern $130.15
Then, six CS meals $381.12

For a total of $1242.20.


That's still not the $263 that our admission would have cost extra if I had gotten one AP instead of the admission tickets we purchased (in order to qualify for the Dining Plan).

Interesting cuz we are a party of 4 and some(most) of our meals cost more than that, but all 4 of us are considered adults. No we would not have ordered 4 apps and desserts without the plan, but the reason is MONEY not lack of desire to do it.

Also I notice you need to buy tickets to qualify for the dining plan but you also mention the DVC discount, which will not require a ticket purchase to qualify for the plan. Is the trip b4 April 1st?

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

Our family of five are all good eaters. But the only way I could ever justify buying the DP is if my husband was with us. I would really only consider it then.

I still think I can easily plan a much cheaper trip doing everything ala carte.......tickets, room and dining all seperate.

$900 is about total what I spent on our last trip!!!! (Two people for a week using leftover park tickets and FF free airfare). And we ate VERY WELL!! I miss those food vouchers!

 

[bicker]

Interesting cuz we are a party of 4 and some(most) of our meals cost more than that, but all 4 of us are considered adults.

We're 6: me, DW52, DB35, DS-i-L35, DN6 and DN1.5. I was rather meticulous about adding up real numbers right off the posted menus, adding 8.5% tax and 20% gratuity to the TS meals. To be fair, though, only one of us drinks any significant amount of alcohol, and then, only beer.

Also I notice you need to buy tickets to qualify for the dining plan but you also mention the DVC discount, which will not require a ticket purchase to qualify for the plan. Is the trip b4 April 1st?

Next week!