Adding Dining Option?

[tapatia]

I am planning a birthday present/surprise 6 day/5 night trip to Disney World for DD (7 yrs. old) in June, staying at a moderate resort. Am a single mom using tax refund to do this - budget is a big concern! Been debating adding the dining option at $45/day combined for both of us. A friend said to forget it and just split meals w/DD to save $$ - esp. since we would still have to buy one meal/day. Then, I heard that meals for one adult/day run about $15/lunch, $35/dinner, so I thought maybe it might be worth it after all. Been doing some online research and finding that the cost of food/drink is considerable (cost of character breakfasts alone gave me hives! ). I just can't decide which is more cost-effective. DD eats like a horse some days, others hardly at all, so her appetite is hard to gauge. Any advice would be SO appreciated - never been to Disney before and don't know what to expect, can't get reliable accurate info on ACTUAL meal prices anywhere!
TY seasoned Disney-goers!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Go to the menu section of Debbie's board. It has the latest menus from all WDW eateries, including table service, buffet, quick service and food carts, and the prices for everything.

Just remember to add in tips (at least at the table service and buffet, as well as 6.5% sales tax.

 

[Mickeycrazie]

imho, I'd go with the dining plan. Meals/snacks can get pricy when you add in tax and tip.

 

[Savin4Disney]

From one single mom to another. Go with the dining plan. This way you can do more Character meals and your DD will love it.

I have a 13 year old boy. Who probably will eat his food and part of mine. LOL! So I know I am getting my $$$$ worth!

 

[Schweet]

And ALL tips and tax are included when you have the dining plan! We're not big eaters so we're going to figure out the cost difference, what we'd eat from the menus, and if we'd really eat a sit down meal every day. We'll eventually figure it out.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

When it comes to budgeting for your trip, the dining plan can answer the question of "how much money do I bring?". But, I'm still not convinced that it is any kind of bargain. Keep in mind that the room and tickets for your trip will be at Disney's higher prices.

That means a moderate room in June will go for $149/night plus tax (rack rate). If codes come out for the general public, you could see that same room going for as little as $99/night. Ultimately, that $45/night more for the dining addon may actually cost you $100/night more than booking a room-only with a code. Suddenly the dining option is not such a great bargain.

If you have not booked a package yet -wait. Codes for the late part of April until July 4 could come out in the next couple of weeks. When (if) they do, you will have a better idea of what the bottom line will be for both a package and booking room + tickets and paying for dining separately.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I say go with the dining plan. I'm also a single mom, my son's 13. I love having as much as the trip prepaid as possible. By using the plan, we'll get to try out restaurants I'll never enter if I had to pay cash.

If codes come out during your time, you'll most likely be able to use the dining plan and the codes together. Several DISers have posted that they've been able add the dining plan to their email and postcard codes.

Last week I spoke to a CRO CM that told me the new codes will have a room only option as well as a package option.

 

[eeyore45]

I have no idea, but I have saved a link posted from these boards from the UG that is excellent reading...

http://www.touringplans.com/MYWDining.html

Somewhere on the site is also a handy dandy paper type calculator, it was simple in that you marked off how many meals you had, then every time you used something, you crossed off a meal/snack...

hope this helps!!

 

[Savin4Disney]

I hope the packages come out with a deal. I would like the 7 day for 5 or something. Of course it will depend on how much it will cost me flight wise. Since I already booked them.

but this is our first trip and I am learning a lot. And if I don't save money on my trip (in disney). I have found other ways to save money on the trip.

For Example:
buying my air when I did. As of today I saved almost $50.00
I saved 140 on luggage that I bought today.


I look at this as a live and learn trip yet while still saving along the way. And as soon as I get this trip paid off. Then I start saving for the 2007 land/sea I am planning on doing. Plus going to CA in 2006 for a weekend at DL with my buddy.

 

[tapatia]

If codes come out during your time, you'll most likely be able to use the dining plan and the codes together. Several DISers have posted that they've been able add the dining plan to their email and postcard codes.

Last week I spoke to a CRO CM that told me the new codes will have a room only option as well as a package option.

I keep hearing about these codes - how do I get on mailing lists for email/postcard codes? Or do I need to just keep checking the Disney web site?