Advice on dining plan vs DVC discount

[mickeytai]

Alright, we had regular DP in our last two trips. We like it but always wonder if we needed all the food since we ended up having food left on the plates. We joined the DVC in April and realized that we can actually get 10% off in general to restaurants/CS in WDW. My son is 6 and my daughter is 4. Both myself and my daughter are not big eaters and we usually can share a meal when we go out to restaurant.

Say we need an appetizer, 2 entrees and I kids meal per meal, would I save more money using the dvc discount? I know the entree price might varies, but I think I read somewhere that the DP allows you to save about 15%, which is not a big different compares to the DVC discount we already have.

What do you think? I appreciate any of your inputs.

Mickeytai

 

[GoofItUp]

The places that give a DVC discount are pretty limited. I wouldn't count on that very much.

However, we gave up using a dining plan a few vacations back and have come out ahead. From the description of what your family needs, I would suspect you would come out ahead, also, just paying as you go.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think the DP helps when you have children and go to Character Meals because their meal plan usually cost less than just that meal. In October, we have a treehouse for 3 nights with our DGC's family, and there are 3 children. We have 2 character meals. Once DDiL finds out if she can be there all 3 nights, I'll add the DP to that stay. It will be the first time we'll have the plan with the family.

Many DVC discounts are only at lunch.

The DP doesn't include appetizers for adults, so we usually don't get it, but we do have the TIW card.

 

[Sandisw]

Check the list of discounts. Most are for lunch during the week. This year, we are getting the TIW card because we have an AP and that will save in the long run.

However, we are also doing one night of the DxDDP through a segmented reservation so that we can do two meals that are a bit more expensive.

But, I do think that in most cases, the dining plan works in terms of budgeting and knowing what your food costs will be. But, for us, it was more food than we needed and decided to not get it for most of the nights.

 

[mouseaider]

We also tried the DDP and thought it was way too much food.

This past January we bought our first AP and we also bought our first TIW card and used it a lot during our eight day trip for five. So much we already have seen a savings. I think the break even point is $375 and we blew it out of the water.

We will use it again in October for eight days for two of us and also in January again for five of us. So we are really saving money on our dining by using the TIW card. Got to love 20% discounts.

 

[ssawka]

I think the DP helps when you have children and go to Character Meals because their meal plan usually cost less than just that meal. In October, we have a treehouse for 3 nights with our DGC's family, and there are 3 children. We have 2 character meals. Once DDiL finds out if she can be there all 3 nights, I'll add the DP to that stay. It will be the first time we'll have the plan with the family.

Many DVC discounts are only at lunch.

The DP doesn't include appetizers for adults, so we usually don't get it, but we do have the TIW card.

It also helps for convenience when bringing others with you. For example, we are bringing my parents in October. We have offered to pay for accommodations as well as food. DDP is by far the most convenient way to do that. We may not save $, but we won't have to worry about paying the bill at the end of the vacation.

 

[Brian Noble]

OP: as mentioned, the DVC discounts tend to be at less popular restaurants, and/or for meals that are not as busy.

Likewise, DDP is really now about convenience rather than savings for the average family. Sure, you probably save money vs. menu price for the things you order on the plan, but you probably don't save money vs. what you'd order if left to your own devices. I know we never spend more just eating what, when, and where we want than the appropriate Plan would cost.

However, there is a third option. If you anticipate coming at least once a year, and have a little flexibility about when, arrange your second trip to end just less than one year after your first begins. That way, the DVC AP discount becomes a very attractive option, as it covers your admission for both trips for less than you would spend on two MYW tickets. Even better, you can buy a Tables in Wonderland card which gives you a 20% discount off the food/drink bill at eligible restaurants. If you eat even just 3-4 eligible meals per trip (nearly all TS restaurants in the parks and Disney resorts, a few more in DTD and the Swolphin), you'll be in the black in no time. What's more, the Tables discount applies to booze, and that can add up very quickly.

 

[Chuck S]

It would seem that if two people share a meal, which is not allowed on the dining plans, that sharing would always save over the cost of a dining plan, with or without any additional discount.

 

[Brian Noble]

if two people share a meal, which is not allowed on the dining plans

It's not?

You can't pay for meals for non-Plan guests with Plan credits. For that reason, you probably can't share a Plan-purchased meal with a non-Plan guest, though I'd guess that servers probably allow it routinely. But, if two guests are both on the (same) Plan, I was under the impression that splitting an entree would be fine at any a la carte location.

Again, not a Plan user, so I could be entirely wrong...

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip)...... Even better, you can buy a Tables in Wonderland card which gives you a 20% discount off the food/drink bill at eligible restaurants. If you eat even just 3-4 eligible meals per trip (nearly all TS restaurants in the parks and Disney resorts, a few more in DTD and the Swolphin), you'll be in the black in no time. What's more, the Tables discount applies to booze, and that can add up very quickly.

DVC members get a 20% discount at the Swan/Dolphin restaurants by showing their membership card (BL&D), so no need for a TiW card there.

Just mentioning that so that DVC members don't include any S/D meals in the TiW cost/benefit analysis.

To be fair, I do not know if the 20% DVC S/D discount includes alcoholic drinks.

 

[DVCconvert]

I do not know if the 20% DVC S/D discount includes alcoholic drinks.

I don't believe that it does.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Fulton's is one restaurant that we often use the DVC discount. They have a different percent discount for lunch and dinner. We've often just walked up for lunch. We really like their food.

Bobbi

 

[Alexander]

It would seem that if two people share a meal, which is not allowed on the dining plans, that sharing would always save over the cost of a dining plan, with or without any additional discount.

I think sharing a meal is allowed as long as all members of the party are on the dining plan. There is nothing stopping my family of 4 from ordering only 3 meals at a restaurant as long as all 4 of us are on the plan. I couldn't however take my parents out to eat with us and pay for their meals with our credits. I think sharing food is fine, you just can't share dining credits.

 

[DebbieB]

Alright, we had regular DP in our last two trips. We like it but always wonder if we needed all the food since we ended up having food left on the plates. We joined the DVC in April and realized that we can actually get 10% off in general to restaurants/CS in WDW. My son is 6 and my daughter is 4. Both myself and my daughter are not big eaters and we usually can share a meal when we go out to restaurant.

Say we need an appetizer, 2 entrees and I kids meal per meal, would I save more money using the dvc discount? I know the entree price might varies, but I think I read somewhere that the DP allows you to save about 15%, which is not a big different compares to the DVC discount we already have.

What do you think? I appreciate any of your inputs.

Mickeytai

I think you are thinking about Disneyland. DVC members get 10% off pretty much everywhere at DL. At WDW, it's limited locations and times.

 

[Dean]

Alright, we had regular DP in our last two trips. We like it but always wonder if we needed all the food since we ended up having food left on the plates. We joined the DVC in April and realized that we can actually get 10% off in general to restaurants/CS in WDW. My son is 6 and my daughter is 4. Both myself and my daughter are not big eaters and we usually can share a meal when we go out to restaurant.

Say we need an appetizer, 2 entrees and I kids meal per meal, would I save more money using the dvc discount? I know the entree price might varies, but I think I read somewhere that the DP allows you to save about 15%, which is not a big different compares to the DVC discount we already have.

What do you think? I appreciate any of your inputs.

Mickeytai

You need to look through the restaurants, discounts and menu's to decide what works best for you. Don't forget about the pass discounts as well. Don't think so much as to how much is left but rather what the costs are with or without it. If it's fairly close in your situation compared to sharing, etc, I'd do it. The reason I think the Disney Dining Plan will work for you is that you have 2 kids that fall into the kids pricing. Even if the one is a light weight from an eating standpoint, you've still got the snack credits, breakfast options and the like. You could also consider using up extra credits by getting 3 meals some days and/or at signatures. Also plan to arrive early and leave late on arrival and check out so you have an extra day to use them. I doubt the TIW card will be a savings when you consider you have to buy it but for some it is if ETOH, very expensive meals, larger groups or you get more days out of it that most people do. Everyone's situation is different so you can look to see what fits you best.

Don't forget you can segment a reservation and thus get the DDP for only part of your stay. Also, you can share meals, just not with those who are sans DDP.