Am I going to regret NOT doing the Deluxe Dining Plan?

[pixiechick1977]

Hubby and I are going for an adult only trip in October and staying DVC at the Poly. We will be there for 3 nights/ 4 days- so a short trip!
I am going back and forth (and back and forth again and again!) about doing the Deluxe dining plan vs. Regular Dining plan. My hubby and I love food but hubby prefers quantity vs quality. We have also found that for us- being on some sort of dining plan helps us relax more as this is our time to splurge and like the pre-paid option that the DP gives us.

So with the food and wine I am worried that if we do the deluxe dining plan we will be too full for snacking around the world. Also the time that it takes for us to go and doing the signature restaurants especially with us only have 3 nights to explore the night time activities that Disney has to offer. I have some many places on my list of restaurants to go to (especially in Disney springs) so only have 3 dinners to choose from with the Regular dining plan doesn't seem like enough.

Suggestions or recommendations for short adult only trip? Thanks!

 

[OasterP]

I would say it depends how much you care to eat, but if I were going to hit up Food and Wine (which I LOVE) I wouldn't want to do Deluxe. Eating around the world is just too much fun, and it's a short trip like you said.
If you did want to go with the Signatures mainly, then it may still make sense for deluxe, but I still think it may cut into your food and wine enjoyment. I know we did the regular dining plan during F&W and I still didn't get to taste as much as I would have liked, but I'm not into huge meals on vacation typically.

Either way you decide it sounds like a fantastic trip!

 

[Faldred]

I think in this case, I'd just put the amount of the DxDP on a gift card and use it to buy food at the F&WF and at restaurants. Still book your ADRs, but then you have the freedom to eat lighter meals without worrying about not getting value.

 

[sharonabe]

Pretend you have no dining plan at all and then decide where and what you WANT to eat. Look at last year's F&W and determine how that will figure in to your eating as well. Then decide if a dining plan makes sense.

 

[Reuben Varzea]

Agree with some of the above posters. If your plan is adult only during F&W and you really plan on hitting kiosks, dining plan is likely silly. Put the money you'd use for the plan on a card to use during your trip!

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

Bear in mind, with snacks at Food and Wine, you may want to skip a Table Service that day anyway. You can use that credit plus another of your TS credits for a signature dining experience at a different point in the trip. So you can still do a signature on the standard dining plan. I wouldn't do the deluxe and I would consider going without a dining plan at all.

 

[sharonabe]

You can use that credit plus another of your TS credits for a signature dining experience at a different point in the trip. So you can still do a signature on the standard dining plan

While this is true, it is very difficult to meet the $80 you need to break even spending two regular DDP credits at a signature. You still only get entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink. It can be done, but some homework/research needs to be done.

 

[MommyinHonduras]

I like the prepaid gift card too, especially if you plan on drinking as that is not in the dining plan at all and adds up quick.

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

While this is true, it is very difficult to meet the $80 you need to break even spending two regular DDP credits at a signature. You still only get entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink. It can be done, but some homework/research needs to be done.

It's true that it's typically a bad value, but at least it's an option.

 

[GillianP1301]

Generally speaking, it's easier to get your money's worth on the deluxe plan than on the regular plan, assuming you want 2 or sometimes 3 TS meals a day. That's how we dine and love it. However, we use our meals as scheduled breaks over a 10 day vacation. If I were going on a short 3/4 day trip, then I would be less concerned with that and would likely not want to have as much of my time tied up with ADRs. Throw in that you are going during F&W and it's an adult only trip, then I think the flexibility of no plan is likely how I would do it. I would still book a few ADRs for my favourite spots, but just put the money aside that you would be putting towards the dining to cover it and on your F&W days, leave yourself ADR free so you can really enjoy the snacking around the world.

 

[TwinkleKS]

We almost always do the deluxe, but I only book two restaurants a day max. I have a spreadsheet and tally up how many credits we get for the trip, then book two credit meals - things like the dinner shows or other packages and signature restaurants. Of course for me it is more the paying ahead of time part versus any idea that I am saving money.

 

[Denise K W]

it all depends what you are waiting to use your credits for. My family and I personal just like the middle Dining Plan with one Quick Service meal/one table service and 2 snacks per day. It just all depends if you want to do alot of signature restaurants that have 2 dining credits or you want to do more than one table service per day that would be a great option. We only do the resturants that have one dining credits but that is our personal preference. I am sure if we did the ones that have 2 dining credits than we probably would do the deluxe.