Anyone NOT on the dining plan?

[01Sweetpea]

As of right now, we are not using the DDP for our Thanksgiving trip. My 2 11yos are charged as adults, but would NEVER eat that much food. In fact when DH & I go out usually we split an appy & a dessert, we never each order one. I think it is just to much food for our family.

I ran all the numbers, printed off all the menus for the places we have ADRs, had multiple excel spreadsheets going, and each and every time, DDP just didn't make sense for us.

Now, if they come out with FREE dining for our Thanksgiving trip....THEN I'll take it.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am an AP holder and DVC member so I'm not booking any packages.

DVC will let me purchase the dining plan. I have a couple of DVC trips upcoming. One of them is a week long and there's no way I want the dining plan for a week, it's way too much food. I'm trying it on a four-night trip in September. My friend and I have ADRS. We're going to California Grill, so our four TS credits are getting us three dinners and that's quite enough.

The cost of the meals doesn't bother me, I can eat where I want. I'm really just trying the plan to see how it works.

 

[westjones]

We aren't doing it because our 12 year old twin DDs would pay adult prices and they barely eat anything. DH and I don't even need that much food. If we went for an adults only trip we might try it, but I can't imagine paying that amount for my kids.

DJ

 

[simzac]

We are not doing the dining plan. In our past three trips, we have never spent per day what the DDP charges, so I see no reason to do so our next trip.

 

[DaisyD]

We are not doing the dining plan. In our past three trips, we have never spent per day what the DDP charges, so I see no reason to do so our next trip.

We probably spend twice as much per day as the DDP but still perfer it that way. We usually eat at a lot of 2 credit meals anyway and we also eat two counter service a day. We would already be OOP most of the time just for those two things. While the DDP is much cheaper for us it is still too inconvenient.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

One reason we decided not to get the dining plan is that it doesn't really suit the way we eat. We prefer frequent small meals and snacks to large meals. At WDW, we eat a mix of counter service meals, favorite snacks, and a few table service meals that we select more for fun (theming, characters) than for food. We eat lightly at the table service meals, never ordering appetizers or desserts and sometimes sharing meals.

Another reason we didn't get the dining plan is that we save more money by getting an AP and room discounts than we would by paying rack rate with the dining plan.

We just got back and this was exactly like us! The room discount from the AP was better than the meal plan, and we were free to eat where we wanted -- We ate a couple of TS meals but for the most part, lots of snacks and CS. We didn't even go DDE as it didn't suit our style either.

 

[ADisneygirl]

We're not on that plan. We are Florida residents and AP holders so those both offer good room discounts to override the use of the plan. Also I wouldn't like having to keep track of how many credits a meal is, or what snack I can have, etc. I like to relax and do minimal thinking while on vacation. The hardest decisions I want to be making are what ride I want to go on next!

 

[Katems]

Interesting! I'm a total convert...I won't book a trip without it now. I can see how it wouldn't suit those who like to eat outside the World, or who don't like any sit downs, but for those who say it's too complicated or too hard to keep track of credits, it's NOT! If you're going for seven days and you've eaten at three table service restaurants already, you know you have four left! It's easy! It's also not limiting except for a few snacks, and those are so cheap anyway, that it shouldn't matter. Use your snack credits on bottled water and pay out of pocket for the snacks not covered if you wish. Now, I DO admit it's a royal pain trying to figure out where you'll be each day so you can make ADRs, but most people make ADRs regardless of the dining program. Funny, many here have said they don't like it because it causes them to think too much or work too hard....I feel the exact opposite. I don't have to think at all when on the plan! Love it!

 

[Aimeedyan]

We are only doing it because it's free. Otherwise, it's not a good value for us because we get a great discount on hotel and free admission, plus dining discounts. The value can not top those values - which we have to sacrifice in order to get it.

If we could get it AND those other discounts we'd do it in a heartbeat; I think it's a great value and concept.

 

[Paul in CT]

Our DDE doesn't expire until the end of June, so my DW and I will be using it for our June trip. We like the "signature" restaurants that each require two credits and we also enjoy wine with dinner. The DDE works better for us.

 

[katedrew94]

We don't wing it but we're not on the DDP either. We tend to sit down for lunch since it's the hottest part of the day and we use the DDE card, plus we don't tend to eat 3 courses at a meal, so it doesn't make sense for us.

 

[beckasher]

We didn't use it last yr. and are not using it this yr. We find it way cheaper to book our room only with a AAA discount then buy our tix thru a discount broker. This is so much cheaper than with a package deal through Disney. Our dining always consists of LLT, Garden Grill, CP, H&V, 50's Prime, & Boma. For the most part they are all fixed priced meals and we know just what we will be paying ahead of time. Our breakfasts are done in the food court. So with all this we save hundreds not buying a Disney package. With a package deal we would be paying way more for the room and way more for the tix. Now if we chose different places to eat then it might work out differently for us but we have our favorites. I carry alittle note book with our ADR's and don't find it a problem getting to dinner on time. We like to park hop and enjoy the cool buses. I love knowing where I'm going to eat and not having to worry about lines to get in or if I will even be able to. I am a plan freak and I actually enjoy hunting for best bargins when traveling.

 

[we3disneygo]

we already had our tickets bought and the trip planned when this free deal came out, we are not doing the dining plan. don't want to spend all of our time eating, going to eat,etc. !

 

[sassy2]

I seem to be the only one not on the plan....anyone else just wings it??

DS16 and I are not using the plan either. We are winging it also.







35 Days to GO!

 

[maxaroni]

We weren't going to go with the dining plan but free dining came out. We had to crunch numbers, as we gave up the AAA discount. However, we still felt we'd come out ahead and if we did not do the dining, we would have eaten dinner at more CS restaurants. This way, we get the chance to sit down, relax and be cool. We did the free dining last year and thought it was wonderful, our issue was more the time it takes to sit down and have a meal.

 

[kendzee94]

We tried the free dining last year. We felt too tied down to what park we had our ADR's at. Also, we found that it was too much food for us, and forced to eat when you weren't hungry. The last day, we ended up buying things for the strangers in line behind us because we had too many snacks and meals left!! Don't get me wrong, we ate at great restaurants: Whispering Canyon 2X, ohanas, chef mickeys, mama melrose, donald's breakfasosaurus, and United Kingdom at EPCOT, and had great food. We had a LOT of food, in fact, too much food (don't even try to see how much weight you can gain)!! Disney suckers you in to the free dining to get you to try places you normally won't go to so next trip you have to go back to at least one or two of those sit down restaurants! We have opted not to do it this year and will be staying at the Dolphin instead to eliminate the temptation of it again.

 

[disneynewbee]

I would be on the dining plan in a minute if we were going when it was free but since we are going in Dec it just doesn't work out as a deal for us. We have a 12yo who would be charged as an adult but not eat like one and we tend to enjoy the cheaper restaurants like whispering canyon and sci fi. I keep trying to go over the numbers with what we would order being on and off the plan and it just doesn't seem to work out in our favor.

 

[nightowlky]

Well, after having read this thread, I think I'll just swing some cheap hotel rates (like from Priceline or something) and just keep an eye on food purchases (probably will bring some things along, mostly breakfast/snack items)

 

[PaulaSB12]

I think you have to work out the budget you are spending on food before deciding whether its worth it. I am doing the ddp because

a its free
b I am going solo and trying to share meals is not possible
c I want to try some of the resteraunts this time as I stayed of premises last time and was always worried about missing the last bus back to i drive. This year I can stay till the parks close (wasn't going to spend that much getting a taxi back!!!!!!)

Its not a case of ddp plan good no ddp bad its what is good for you, its your holiday enjoy it how you want not how other people think you should.

ps Katedrew 92 what are the names of you cats they are adorable, though the ginger tabby looks cross. Mine are , the tabby is Queenie the black and white is Socks and the black one is Tippy because she has a small white tip on the end of her tail.

 

[SandraVB79]

Since I stayed off-site, the DP was not an option, but in the end, I don't regret it.

I ate a couple of times CS, and the 3 times I went to a TS restaurant, I didn't take the "full meal" (i.e. appetizer, entree and dessert). Well, at Coral Reef I had the fixed price menu. But still, I could never eat 3 courses!

I also liked the "I eat what I want when I want it" approach, and the fact that I didn't have to think about what snacks are included and which aren't (I only had dole whips and funnel cakes as snacks, which weren't included at the time)

It also made sure I didn't gain too much weight, and could still fit in my clothes!