A Halloween Adventure in Autism (11/12) New Thread Begun on TR Board!

[DisMomAmy]

Sounds like a good plan to me! We are doing the standard dining plan (1TS, 1CS & 1 snack) and I'm a bit worried about all those sit down meals. However, since this on-site stay is experimental and may not happen again, we decided to go for it and check out some new restaurants. At one point after making ADRs I considered the QSDP (briefly) but had gotten attached to my ADRs. I'm really looking forward to the new restaurants!


But if you've been there/done that and you don't need all the snacks, you are probably better off to pay OOP as you go.

I wish you could split up your package and do a combo of QSDP and the standard plan. I'd love to have 3 or 4 TS meals spread through the week with 2 QS meals on the other 3 or 4 days. Wouldn't that be nice?

 

[maroo]

Without AR, seems like you don't need the Dining Plan.

Too much food for you guys....you are eating some in the room and can guy cheap snacks since you are going DVC...

Just plan the few characters meals and do the rest on the fly...



Do you guys ever share counter service meals to save more money?



On a related note...do you think...if they offer "free" dining that it will be this new Quick Service Dining Plan instead of the regular? Just thought about that...

 

[preschoolmom]

We're not doing the dining plan for our next trip. When I looked at all the restaurants we didn't try on our first trip, and took our favorites into account - there simply weren't 5 restaurants I really wanted to eat at...

We decided we'd rather not be obligated to those ADRs for most of our park days. We're going to do two ADRs on our 5.5 day trip

Oh, and the quick service didn't work for us - because we would have had way too many CS credits left if we ate two TS meals.

I actually found the regular DP to be too much food, and too much time out of the parks.

I hope we don't miss the snack credits but I'm fairly certain I won't miss the, "We have 20 minutes until our ADR at LTT, not enough time to ride something, so what do we do?" Instead of just riding until we're hungry - then grabbing something. Not to mention my horribly picky eaters... We can share a lot of CS meals based on how little my kiddos eat!

 

[mom2mek]

Not a whole lot of advice from me as I have never done the dining plan (we did use the TIW card, formerly the DDE card, for our October trip and that was a big savings since it includes 20% off alcohol in addition to food) HOWEVER, I wanted to add that I did just hear that they are bringing back the characters to Liberty Tree. It hasn't been officially announced, but here is the link: (about 1/2 down the page)

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2009/03/12/disney-food.aspx

Good luck with your decision. The QS plan sounds reasonable, with a few cool TS options paid OOP.

Sara

 

[irish dancer]

We've done both with and without DDP and are going non-DDP this June for a couple of reasons. It is A LOT of food, the gratuity is no longer included so you have to add that into the cost and now that our oldest DD is an "adult" according to Disney it just isn't cost effective. We're much more of a CS type family anyway. We've got 2 ADRs for restaurants we've never done (Plaza and Biergarten) and one dinner for DH and I at Boma while the kids go to Simba's Clubhouse. We're actually going to try and use our DVC kitchen a couple of times for easy meals like spaghetti, chicken nuggets & mac-n cheese, etc. Plus we always eat breakfast in the villa and bring water with us to the parks.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Well Bill is like AR when it comes to TS dinners, he wants a sit down, relax, get away from the crowds dinner. I would like to just do the quick service and go, go, go, but I get vetoed .

 

[carissanboys]

This is our first time doing the Dining Plan. The main reason I went with it is because I sat down and added up how much the TS meals I was planning would cost. Once I figured that out it seemed like a good idea to just go with the DP since it would be about the same money as those few TS meals.

I am concerned about too much food. We RARELY get dessert at restaurants. We're always too full. I've told Chuck that just because we CAN get dessert, doesn't mean we HAVE to. It will be interesting to see how it works for us,

 

[Charleston Princess]

Reading through your musings on the Dining Plan, it sounds like you could easily do without it -- especially since you have a kitchen in the villa and only want to do a couple of character breakfasts. We always do the dining plan because it is just easier for me to budget that way, and we do like sitting down and eating a TS meal everyday. However, if you just plan on eating quickly, etc., I would forego the dining plan and enjoy the freedom of eating when and where you want.

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

I really enjoyed your previous report so I am signing up for this one! Only 15 more days until you can make your reservations!

A question for you: Do you have a link to the first report you did? The link in your signature goes to some obscure thread about an undescribed pin.

 

[jess98ac]

We did the dining plan when it was just DH and me in 07, and LOVED it. We loved being able to have a nice dinner every night, and it was one of the things that helped me convince him to go. However, neither of us are big dessert people and most nights only got it because it was paid for. We do love appetizers though, so it was nice to have those included. Now, without apps or tips, it's not really worth it to us. We're staying in a 2 bdrm villa at OKW when go in December, so we've already decided not to bother with the dining plan. We plan to have breakfast in the room, and possibly even a couple lunches and/or dinners. DD will only be 19 mos when we go, so we'll be in the room a lot, and my parents and sister will be with us, so there will be other people to help with the cooking!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Hi! We also love doing the dining plan. I am struggling with picking our a couple for our trip, but i think I've got it. For now anyway.

Your plans sound great to me.

 

[KathyRN137]

Thanks for weighing in on the dining plan question! I guess the plans work for some families and not for others because half of you seem to be doing the plan and the other half are "winging" it! Thanks for all your advice and input....

OhioDisneyLover: It's true; you do feel obligated to eat those desserts and snacks once they're paid for! Not helpful if you are trying to be good!

DisMomAmy: A split package would be perfect! The best of both worlds!

maroo: We haven't split any CS meals lately, although sometimes I wish the kids could still order from the kids' menu... Disney considers them both as adults!

preschoolmom: I think that's what Ed likes about having fewer ADRs... the flexibility! I've learned that I can't overschedule him or he'll rebel!

mom2mek: Good! I thought taking those characters away from LTT was a dumb idea! Their Goofy was the best! Thanks for posting the link!

irishdancer: Yes, DVC does make a difference. Sometimes I feel guilty that I'm not using the kitchen enough and should try to cook more of our meals. Then I snap out of it!!

mrsksomeday: Bill does love him some good eatin'!!

carissaanboys: It is a lot of food, but your boys are still able to get kids meals, so you should be okay. Now that mine have to order from the adult menu; it can get to be too much (and too expensive.) We can usually get away with ordering CS kids meals when they are not on the DP; no one really checks...

Charleston Princess: I'm not so much thinking budget (I know, Bad Mommy!), I'm thinking more of quality of life, so to speak. The DP kind of cramps our style!

Dreamer & Wisher: Welcome Aboard! Thanks for helping me fix my link!

wdwmomof3: The DP certainly has it's Pro's; it worked for us in the past, I'm just not so sure we want it now!

jess98ac: ooohh! 2BR at OKW! Great memories for us; you're going to love it!!


Thanks again, everyone, for listening to my musings...

Kathy

 

[All7OfUs]

Sounds like you've really thought through all the angles of DDP vs. OOP! Good for you! Seems like you're kind of leaning towards no plan and eating as you'd like! It certainly seems like more freedom that way. With the DVC, it seems like it's easy to bring snacks and even do a bigger breakfast before heading out, that'll be nice!

I hadn't thought of the scenario that Maroo pointed out---- free dining only being the QSDP in the future. What a brilliant, but bummer-for-us, marketing scheme.

 

[mousescrapper]

I know I already gave you my 2 -cents...but you are right w/ the villa kitchen and the space for food/meals...you guys may be best to pay oop for food.

As in your airport situation cost or convienence?

If you "know" OOP is right over a DDP. then go w/ that. But if you want to compare you can always price it out over your stay of how much you'd spend OOP vs the DDP

 

[All7OfUs]

HI Kathy,

Off to Dubai tomorrow! A new adventure for us- Hooray!

Wanted to wish you a happy couple of weeks, and will check back in when we get back. Hope all that planning brings good things sprinkled with pixie dust!

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We did the dining plan once (back when apetizers and tips were included) and it just didn't work out that well for us. We wound up with too many desserts, a scramble to try and use the final TS credit on the morning of our departure (we decided to skip a TS dinner one night and just get pizza and let the kids swim) and 4 snack credits that we just never used.

Last trip, I had a TS scheduled for most nights, but we did end up cancelling two of them b/c we just didn't feel like leaving VWL ... we opted for Roaring Forks one night and pizza another night.

Next month, I have 5 TS meals scheduled. CRT and Chef Mickey's are "must do's", but the other 3 can be cancelled if we change our plans. I prefer the flexibility of this method.

 

[KathyRN137]

An Added Ticker (Sort-of!)


Well, I guess I had nothing better to do when I got home from work today, so I went ahead and made a countdown ticker to mark time until I can call for our DVC reservation! I just really wish I knew where we will be staying!


All7ofUs: Seems like everything is getting downsized lately, even free dining! BTW, please pardon my ignorance, but where exactly is Dubai? I thought it was in the Middle East...is that a popular vacation spot now, or am I missing something??

eyeheartgoofy: Yes, I think that on paper the DP seems cost-effective, but in practicality it isn't... especially now that no appies or tips are included! Oh well!

mousescrapper: I may just go with the convenience factor! You won't believe this, but I barely make out a written budget for our WDW trips... I just sort of guestimate what things will cost and hope for the best! (Will someone please help Julie up from the floor, I think I just heard a thud...)


Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

An Added Ticker (Sort-of!)


Well, I guess I had nothing better to do when I got home from work today, so I went ahead and made a countdown ticker to mark time until I can call for our DVC reservation! I just really wish I knew where we will be staying!

Only 11 days!!!!!

mousescrapper: I may just go with the convenience factor! You won't believe this, but I barely make out a written budget for our WDW trips... I just sort of guestimate what things will cost and hope for the best! (Will someone please help Julie up from the floor, I think I just heard a thud...)

 

[Hedy]

Good luck awaiting DVC ressie day!

 

[maroo]

All7ofUs: Seems like everything is getting downsized lately, even free dining! BTW, please pardon my ignorance, but where exactly is Dubai? I thought it was in the Middle East...is that a popular vacation spot now, or am I missing something??

Kathy

I am going to answer for her, because she is already gone!

Dubai is in the Middle East...All7ofUs live in Kazakhastan. I think it takes a while to get to Dubai, even for them...but they do live in the Middle East, so it isn't as far of a trek as it would be for us, I guess!