Anyone NOT do the Dining Plan?

[kayeandjim00]

Like a previous poster we mostly do TS so it didn't turn out to be the best deal for us. I had priced our trip assuming we would but when we went down the list we decided we'd do better to just pay as we go. House of Blues is a must for us each trip so that would be OOP and we spend a day at Universal so that would be more OOP. We tend to do a buffet for breakfast then a TS for dinner so we would still end up paying and probably have CS left over since we rarely eat lunch there. For us it wasn't the best deal but I can see how it would be for others. I have to say once we decided not to I did feel a bit more relaxed about our dining choices and I will probably be more relaxed there instead of worrying that we aren't getting what we paid for because we haven't had lunch

 

[clydenora]

Boy, this thread has really grown since I last looked.

To one previous poster who responded to me personally, I did find out that the DP becomes available to DVC members in April; unfortunately for us, we check out on March 31st. Go figure.

As I mentioned, we were deciding on "OKW with no DP" or "CSR and DP," and our final conclusion was that what the DP would have cost for us (4 adults) plus what we save going with DVC, that should pretty much pay for our meals, eating where we want w/o pinching pennies. I do not plan to cook in at all, unless you count toast and coffee, maybe some sandwiches, as cooking. None of us are big breakfast eaters. This is my vacation and we are only staying 5 nights. Besides, where my family really wants to get the "best bang for our bucks" is at the parks...we spend as much time at the parks as we can w/out being totally out of control. (We take breaks to relax, etc....)

If we had gone with CSR, we were going to try the DP, because after researching and choosing the places we'd like to eat, I figured that at the very least, we'd break even, and we'd most likely save a little money. When I researched (looking at menus on allears), I wasn't trying to only go the the best/most expensive restaurants, nor was I always choosing the most expensive items. I looked at places we'd like to return to, such as Chef Mickey's and Pizza Planet at MGM (son #2's fave), and one or two new places we'd like to try, such as Marrakesh or Kona Cafe. And I priced what appealed to me the most, whether it was the most or least expensive.

It really is a very individual decision. Some will find it a good fit; others will not. And there are those who will use it wisely and those who will not. Not very different from anything else in this world, is it?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

We never do the dining plan. It's just too much food for us.

 

[Sammy]

I'm glad to hear there are others not doing the DP....I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me for not signing up!!! I've looked at it every different way and it just doesn't fit in with our usual eating habits while at WDW....we only eat at a few TS restaurants during the entire vacation, and don't usually order appetizers or dessert when we do.

Sammy

 

[Noleball]

I actually picked the restaurants based on reviews I have read on this site. Obviously, we picked three of the character breakfasts based on what our children like but the restaurants were picked based on what we read on this site. Then, we went to the menus and basically reviewed them for what we were likely to eat. I only looked at entrees and did not even look at the desserts or appetizers for the most part.

After adding those prices up and then considering what we would likely spend for counter service and snacks/drinks for the day, we came out a few hundred better. That is before taking tips into account which usually runs about 20% most of the time.

Also, I would rather have it all payed for in advance and not have to do the math while I order to see if we are in budget. I was raised not to waste food and I suspect that after 33 years, I will not start during my vacation. I would rather not have it before I order it and not eat it. This has been one of my biggest gripes about buffets is that too many people will waste too much food.

As far as the planning aspect of it. I have enjoyed it tremendously and do not see it as restricting or laborious. Planning meals and lurking on this board and listening to all of the opinions has been a blast and is getting me in a very Disney state of mind. When we started planning the trip, the DW was excited and giddy about the trip and I did not care either way. Since I found this board, I go to her every time I read and pass on information from you guys who visit more often than we do. Now, I am the giddy one and DW laughs at me for it.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I like to eat and I am looking forward to it.

 

[boomhauer]

I don't do it because it always seems somewhat complicated to me. Call me picky, but I don't like having "restrictions" and having to make decisions when it comes to my meals at Disney. I'm not a big souvenier person, so all the money I save is for food. Get what I want, when I want, without worring about what I've used on a point scale.

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

For us the dining plan would cost more money. Last year we had the DDE card, so we compared the cost of the DP versus what we spent last year. It was cheaper with the DDE card than it would have been with the plan. And our food costs last year included cocktails, which are extra with the DP and our breakfast. Because the way I see it, you only get two meals a day with the plan. So you still have one meal to pay for out of pocket.

There are 5 of us and the youngest is 11 and not a big eater. And the DP would cost us $200 a day. We usually have a light breakfast, TS lunch and a CS dinner. We generally have a drink and our entree. Sometimes the girls will get dessets. But usually we're full before dessert. So for us, I don't see it being worth it.

 

[we3disneygo]

were not getting the dining plan for the same reasons "boomhauer" stated with the exception of the shopping.....I will be shopping...

 

[skiwee1]

were not getting the dining plan for the same reasons "boomhauer" stated with the exception of the shopping.....I will be shopping...

I shop too! I do save with my DDE card though.

 

[DVCJEN]

We rarely, if ever, order an appetizer, entree and dessert at the same meal. It is just to much to eat at once! We are grazers I guess, it just isn't workable unless you do a lot of large meals.

 

[Grammyof2]

Well, it certainly was worth it when it was free.

We continued to eat the same as we always would and it still saved $$. I also have DDE card because we often have a drink with dinner or eat OOP meals not included. I am usually paying for everything (kids & grandkids) and I don't want anyone to feel pressure about cost. I am not sure that my adult children even know what is included on the plan since I am the planner.

I always tell them to get whatever they want, sometimes they get an appetizer and sometimes share a dessert or two between us. After this thread opened, I went back and checked reciepts for last 3 trips that we used dining.

The plan has always more than paid for itself when we had the crew. Even not ordering appetizers and desserts for all. In fact, not once did we order everything that was allowed. When there are 9 of us, we just don't need 9 appetizers and 9 desserts. We always had snack credits left and got Rice krispies treats for the kids to take home. CS usually was alot of grazing at different locations and we shared alot of meals. This is our normal routine not something new. We like to taste test around the world. I really like having the majority of the food paid for beforehand. That is just my preference.

That being said, next trip just me & DH, we aren't using dining. First we both have annual passes & DDE card. Just the two of us eat a little differently then when traveling with the crew. We visit the world alot. We are very lucky. If this was a once in a lifetime trip, I would without a doubt get dining and eat everything I could. Afterall , part of the magic is the food. Just look at all the food threads. Makes me really hungry.

 

[goodeats]

My Cons for the plan -
1) I Don't eat that much counter service. When I do eat counter service it's a turkey leg here or a pretzel there, not a full meal with entree, drink, and dessert

2) I prefer signature restaurants (with smaller portioned app, entree, and split dessert), which eats up a lot of credits

3) Some days I like to have a big table service breakfast to keep me full until a later nice table service dinner

4) Wouldn't be able to use AAA discount (I refuse to use a AAA travel agent as I've had bad experiences)

My Pros -
1) Would be able to pay ahead of time

2) I suppose I could use the counter service credit for breakfast

3) Being able to order without $$$ contraints (i.e. lobster at Narcossees)

Last trip I'm glad we did not use the plan. But my next trip will be during F&W festival. That might make it worth it (i.e. first night at 1 credit rest, next night munching around WS, next night at 2 credit rest). But will have to do the math when the time gets closer.

 

[skiwee1]

My Cons for the plan -
1) I Don't eat that much counter service. When I do eat counter service it's a turkey leg here or a pretzel there, not a full meal with entree, drink, and dessert

2) I prefer signature restaurants (with smaller portioned app, entree, and split dessert), which eats up a lot of credits

3) Some days I like to have a big table service breakfast to keep me full until a later nice table service dinner

4) Wouldn't be able to use AAA discount (I refuse to use a AAA travel agent as I've had bad experiences)

My Pros -
1) Would be able to pay ahead of time

2) I suppose I could use the counter service credit for breakfast

3) Being able to order without $$$ contraints (i.e. lobster at Narcossees)

Last trip I'm glad we did not use the plan. But my next trip will be during F&W festival. That might make it worth it (i.e. first night at 1 credit rest, next night munching around WS, next night at 2 credit rest). But will have to do the math when the time gets closer.

I'm not positive but I thought lobster was not allowed on the plan any more. When we ate at Le Cellier in December we all ordered filet with a lobster tail. The CM assumed we were on the dining plan and said it wasn't allowed. I had to set him straight that we were actually paying full price for our meal and it most certainly was included! LOL! Ouyr bill came to over $250 for 3 adults and one child!

 

[POLY1985]

We have never used it and don't intend to. We don't want to be forced to eat an appetizer and dessert Also we sometimes enjoy 2 sitdown meals per day just to relax and get out of the heat. I would rather go to a sitdown for lunch and order a salad just to relax and then go for a nice dinner late in the evening. I just don't believe it would be cost effective for us.

 

[ratfam]

We had originally decided not to purchase the plan even if it became available to DVC members, but now that it is available and we recalculated we changed our minds. Even paying adult dp prices for my dd10 it seems that we would end up paying out of pocket at least as much as we would for the dining plan but under the out of pocket scenario we wouldn't get to try as many restaurants and we would feel constrained by prices and wouldn't necessarily order our first choice. Based on our calculations this is true for us even though we are eating where we wanted to without considering "value" under the dp and even though we will not order everything we are entitled to under the plan if we don't want it. It was the inclusion of gratuity that made the biggest difference for us, plus the fact that meals at certain restaurants would cost more than the entire days' plan price. I am looking forward to trying some new ts restaurants, and we are planning not to tell the kids that they are entitled to dessert at cs or ice cream as a snack, we will skip some things and stick with water to avoid overdoing it. But I think I have spent WAAAAY too long thinking about it so I'm glad just to have made a decision.

 

[goodeats]

If you can not order lobster at Narcosses (a two credit restaurant known for its lobster), then I definitely wouldn't do the dining plan. I could see not allowing lobster at the one credit places, but at the two credit places is too restrictive. I'm not talking about adding a lobster tail on to a meal, but ordering an entree that includes it.

 

[pedro2112]

We have never used it and don't intend to. We don't want to be forced to eat an appetizer and dessert Also we sometimes enjoy 2 sitdown meals per day just to relax and get out of the heat. I would rather go to a sitdown for lunch and order a salad just to relax and then go for a nice dinner late in the evening. I just don't believe it would be cost effective for us.

Your situation is like ours. We like to do more than one TS a day, usually. We also don't like to eat an app and a dessert for every meal. However, we did use the plan last march and saved money. Instead of thinking that you must use one CS and ond TS each day, and that you have to order an app and dessert each day, you can just see if you eat the way you normally eat, will it save you money?

for example, we are going to be in WDW for 8 nights in May. So we will have 8 TS vouchers per person for TS meals. I did a calculation by counting the cost of the eight most expensive TS meals we are going to have when we are on our trip (remembering to add in tax and tip and not factoring in too many apps or desert). I then compared that number to the cost of the dining plan. You know what... the dining plan was cheaper! So we are eating exactly as how would have eaten without the plan, but it is costing us less. In addition, if we do decide to have a CS meal here and there, they are basically "free." Furthermore, we each have 8 snack vouchers apeice for bottles of water, or popcorn, etc.. that are "free."

I'm not suggesting that it will work for you. Especially if you eat at the less expensive TS places or do a lot of buffets. But if you like to eat at the better restaurants (Le Cellier, Chef's DeFrance, O'Hana's, etc..), then even with your normal eating habits you can save a lot of money.

 

[momto2girls]

We got the dining plan for free during our October 2005 trip. So, it obviously was a no-brainer for us. We won't have it for our trip next week because we got a fabulous room-only rate, so we aren't doing a package.

I'm not sure if we'll sign up for the dining plan next time or not. We DO eat TS every day (sometimes for more than one meal), but the dining plan is just soooo much food! Yes, I realize that we can choose not to order everything, but it all looks so good so we feel compelled to order it to "try it". As a result, we end up eating a lot more food than we typically would. I'm quite certain that these 10 lbs. that I need to lose are in part due to our October trip.

So, for us, we may skip the dining plan-- not to save money, but to avoid the calories!

 

[skiwee1]

Yes, I realize that we can choose not to order everything, but it all looks so good so we feel compelled to order it to "try it". As a result, we end up eating a lot more food than we typically would. I'm quite certain that these 10 lbs. that I need to lose are in part due to our October trip.

!

At least if you eat most everything you order it won't be such a waste. It just seems that there were so many instances where people were ordering just because they could, taking a "taste", and that's it. The food was tossed away.