Anti-Dining Plan

[Gonzjj]

ugh....we are so over making ADRs and running around to try and make them. Though we loved most of our dining experiences in the world, the fact that ADRs dictate our day or park we attend is exhausting. For the first time in years we are doing without the Dining Plan and seeing how this goes.....what do you think is this a mistake??

 

[JimmyV]

Not sure why you view the Dining Plan and ADRs as being linked. Not being on a Plan does not mean that you shouldn't make ADRs. We never do a Dining Plan........and we always make ADRs. The least efficient use of my time is waiting around in a holding area hoping to be seated as a walk-up. So every, and I mean every TS meal is reserved in advance. And I don't criss-cross anywhere. I figure out which park I want to be at on a given day, and plan accordingly, not the other way around. Don't pick the restaurant first and then have that dictate your park plans. Do the opposite. Pick the park and then find a place you want to eat in or near that park. If my plans change, I cancel my ADR and try for a different one at the last minute. And above all else, I eat most of my dinners at restaurants that are not on the Dining Plan, and are much easier to get into. That way, I don't have to figure out which park I am going to be in 180+10 days out.

So to conclude, do I think you are making a mistake by not getting a Plan? Not at all. Do I think it is a mistake to not have any ADRs? Yes, if you want to have TS meals. No, if you are happy with counter service and/or long waits and odd meal times.

 

[MrsLS]

I'm not on the dining plan and I still make my ADRs, especially for the restaurants that I want to eat at. We don't feel tied down or feel as if we are running around trying to get to them. I guess how we plan our days & nights on vacation it isn't like that for us.

 

[CSchex]

The only thing I have to add to the above review, is that most of the restaurants on Disney property are now included on the dining plan. Many restaurants were added in 2012.

I second the opinion that IF you want table service meals, you still need to get ADR's, dining plan or not!

 

[Brook1099]

We are not doing the DDP this year, we are using TIW though. I did book a LeCellier and Tusker House because it is our families favorite and would not want to chance a walk up. And two new restauraunts to us I want to try Via Napoli and Liberty Tree for lunch, and Fly Fishing Cafe. We stay in Orlando for two weeks, so I am planning a lot of walk ups to the a few places like Trex, Ragland Road, Captains Grille and who knows where else I will try to see what is available while we r there. I also enjoy alot of CS like Flame Tree, Cosmic Rays, Wolfgang Puck Express, and Earl of Sandwich. Also there for F&W Festival, which is meals in them selves.

I am very excited not to have everyday booked and going with the flow alot.
I would consider booking a few if you have must do's but other than that go for the freedom. There is always somewhere to eat in all the World.

 

[dvcHammer]

Going without any ADR's is the very best way (for us) to go.

Years ago we stopped planning our day around where we are going to eat. We go to the park we feel like going to that morning and we eat when we are hungry. We do the same with long lines. There are few things in life I will wait an hour in line to see.

We have never gone hungry and discovered great places to eat. We're doing it again the last week of September.

 

[sephorachick]

ugh....we are so over making ADRs and running around to try and make them. Though we loved most of our dining experiences in the world, the fact that ADRs dictate our day or park we attend is exhausting. For the first time in years we are doing without the Dining Plan and seeing how this goes.....what do you think is this a mistake??

We never do the dining plan & just make reservations wherever we want.

 

[goofyintoronto]

ugh....we are so over making ADRs and running around to try and make them. Though we loved most of our dining experiences in the world, the fact that ADRs dictate our day or park we attend is exhausting. For the first time in years we are doing without the Dining Plan and seeing how this goes.....what do you think is this a mistake??

Not sure why you view the Dining Plan and ADRs as being linked. Not being on a Plan does not mean that you shouldn't make ADRs. We never do a Dining Plan........and we always make ADRs. The least efficient use of my time is waiting around in a holding area hoping to be seated as a walk-up. So every, and I mean every TS meal is reserved in advance. And I don't criss-cross anywhere. I figure out which park I want to be at on a given day, and plan accordingly, not the other way around. Don't pick the restaurant first and then have that dictate your park plans. Do the opposite. Pick the park and then find a place you want to eat in or near that park. If my plans change, I cancel my ADR and try for a different one at the last minute. And above all else, I eat most of my dinners at restaurants that are not on the Dining Plan, and are much easier to get into. That way, I don't have to figure out which park I am going to be in 180+10 days out.

So to conclude, do I think you are making a mistake by not getting a Plan? Not at all. Do I think it is a mistake to not have any ADRs? Yes, if you want to have TS meals. No, if you are happy with counter service and/or long waits and odd meal times.

I agree with this. If you want to eat TS, (without the DP), and you plan on walking up without ADRs, be prepared for disappointment, particularly during busy/peak times. Just because youre paying OOP it doesnt mean you shouldnt make ADRs. If you want to eat at TS places, its recommend that you make an ADR no matter if your on the DP or paying OOP.

Sounds like eating CS meals might work best for your family. Good luck!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Going without any ADR's is the very best way (for us) to go.

Years ago we stopped planning our day around where we are going to eat. We go to the park we feel like going to that morning and we eat when we are hungry. We do the same with long lines. There are few things in life I will wait an hour in line to see.

We have never gone hungry and discovered great places to eat. We're doing it again the last week of September.

I've walked up to many restaurants (without ADRs) and got lucky. Mind you, its just the two of us....and often we'd inquire during off-peak-times (ie: 3pm). So its definitely possible.

 

[JimmyV]

The only thing I have to add to the above review, is that most of the restaurants on Disney property are now included on the dining plan. Many restaurants were added in 2012.

Fair point. The number of non-included restaurants is dwindling. But since we often stay at a Boardwalk/Epcot area resort, we are very likely to dine at The Swan/Dolphin restaurants which are far better and infinitely easier to get into than other similarly priced restaurants.

 

[mrjef]

Do whatever makes you feel more comfortable. If the thought of a dinner reservation is making you stress out, then don’t make them. For our family, we like schedules. Therefore we feel more at ease knowing that we will not waste time waiting for a table to get a TS meal. We are starting to think that in the future we will not to the dinning plan, but will still make ADRs, but not as many. My advice is to pick a plan that will allow you to maximize your enjoyment of WDW and your vacation.

 

[Mousemommy1]

ugh....we are so over making ADRs and running around to try and make them. Though we loved most of our dining experiences in the world, the fact that ADRs dictate our day or park we attend is exhausting. For the first time in years we are doing without the Dining Plan and seeing how this goes.....what do you think is this a mistake??

I could have written this post.

We have decided not to do the DDP for our next trip in April. We have done 3trips in the past 2.5 years and have done the DDP each time. We have two young girls who really enjoyed the character meals...but now that they have done them all, (and DH and I have eaten at most of the WDW restaurants at least once), we are kind of over it. The DDP is so much food
And, so much gets wasted by my family because it's just not how we eat. However, I will say that even up until last month when we used the DDP, we got our value out of it despite not using 12 QS Credits because we did alot of character and signature meals, and had we paid OOP, it would have been more than the cost of the DDP.

That being said, we too, have come to a point where we don't want to be planning our day around ADR's. There were so many times last month, where we wanted to pick up a FP for a ride, but couldn't because the return times were during our ADR time.

We are looking forward to April's trip, and we have set a 3 ADR limit for ourselves for the 9 day stay (one has to be Be Our Guest). It will be nice not to have our day dictated by when we eat. And also, it will be fun to explore more of the QS and snack options around Disney, because we won't be so stuffed from all of those TS meals!

 

[North of Mouse]

ugh....we are so over making ADRs and running around to try and make them. Though we loved most of our dining experiences in the world, the fact that ADRs dictate our day or park we attend is exhausting. For the first time in years we are doing without the Dining Plan and seeing how this goes.....what do you think is this a mistake??

We have never, and don't ever plan to get the DDP - we do the math every trip and always come out better OOP.

But, we do make just our "must do" ADR's (usually 3-4) for our 10 day trips and "wing it" the rest of the time. We too, do not want to be tied down to certain parks/places at any given time. We are park hoppers and love the freedom.

That said, we have never not been able to find and enjoy food when we're ready - doesn't have to be TS (or just burgers )

It's only a mistake if you feel slighted. Everyone has their own likes/dislikes. Some people plan every meal and love it, some, like us, would be driven nuts with that schedule

 

[MaxsDad]

Not sure why you view the Dining Plan and ADRs as being linked. Not being on a Plan does not mean that you shouldn't make ADRs. W

I think the link comes from the idea that if you pay for the DDP then you have to use it. So you feel like you have to make reservations at all these different places and end up running around like the OP said. That is how I felt the one time we used the DDP that included TS meals, and one of the reasons we switched to the CS DDP and just paid for a couple of TS OOP. Now we don't even do either plan, we each pick 1 TS meal for our trip that we want to do and that is it, so I make 3 ADRs, and eat CS, or in our room (being a dvc member helps), or offsite the rest of the time. But I do agree, not being on the plan doesn't mean you shouldn't make ADRs

 

[Starshine]

DH and I never do the dining plan either. We're not big on desserts (I know, *GASP*) and appetizers are a big deal for us. We also like a beer or cocktail with our meals. In light of all that, TiW is the way we go now. However, we make a list of our "we'll be really disappointed if we dont get to eat there" restaurants, and we always make at least one or two ADR's.

 

[Hollymom1229]

We haven't done the Dining Plan for the last few trips and have been fine. TIW has been working for us as we often get an app and an entree and split it between us, drink adult beverages, sometimes just have appetizers, often don't have dessert, sometimes do two TS in a day, basically we eat in a way that is non-conducive to the DP. This trip we only have 3 ADRs for 10 days, and we figure that each day once we figure out where we are going we will call Disney dining and see what's available and make day of ADRs. This is going to be much more of a free form trip than past ones. It can be done.

 

[rwdavis2]

We've made one ADR (CA Grill) for our week in November and that may be it. I don't go to WDW for the food. Besides I doubt if more than 2 or 3 places would hold a candle to the places we have here at home. From the reviews I've read most places can range from great to not so great. Why overpay on a hit or miss meal? The number of meals they have to prepare just make it an iffy proposition.

 

[disneychic2]

DH and I do the reg dining plan every trip. As a pp said, we pick the parks we want to be in first and then decide where to eat in or near that park. It's not stressful in the least for us. We get park hoppers and therefore, we are not tied to a specific park anyway. It works for us. Everyone has to figure out what works best for them. Sounds like CS will work best for you and your family. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[Gonzjj]

Glad to hear that many have found success when not doing the DP. Some friends and family sya that they have gotten lucky during PEAK times getting a table as a walk up.....we shall see

 

[crabbygal902]

We've done the DDP for the past several trips and really enjoyed it. With the price increases, it has become less and less of a good value and it is finally to the point where it is no longer cost effective for us. We will not be using it on our next vacation. I continue to book some ADRs, but it is nice not to have to worry about getting the most for our DDP dollar and planning every single day around ADRs. I am also looking forward to eating at Landscapes of Flavor at AoA, perhaps several times, since I don't have to worry about having leftover or not enough credits.

We will put the amount that we would've spent on the DDP on a gift card and use it at the restaurants. I want to see if I'm right about the numbers.

I also plan to use the Disney Mobile Magic App on my iPhone to make same-day ADRs for whatever we are in the mood for. I've booked ADRs for the few places we really want to eat (Biergarten, 'Ohana, Brown Derby.) For the rest we're flexible, so it should work okay for us.