Anyone skip food plan?

[lazydazy8]

We've been to WDW the past two years. Both trips we did the food plan. It was fabulous, but so gluttonous! I often felt uncomfortable b/c I over-ate, getting the MOST of my money. I love to eat, especially in the home of the home of The Mouse, but I think I need a break this year....

Thing is... now I feel like I might regret that decision. I find myself skimming the Disney Restaurant threads most. I know it will be a pain to have to take money out each night and budget how much we're spending. Just handing them the room card and not thinking about it is so handy.

I chose to omit the food plan from our itinerary this year, 1. because I just don't feel great when I eat that much (and I have no self control), 2. we've felt like we were on such a schedule, having to get to our ADR on time and missing out on some of the little things, 3. I'm curious to see if we'll save money, by only eating at our very favorite places.

Has anyone else been in my position? How did you feel about skipping the plan on trips after having been spoiled on the plan? Did you feel more relaxed? Did you find yourself saving any money or missing the desserts and extra snacks? I'm hoping that, with the exception of the buffets, that maybe my DD8 and I would share a meal... maybe I'd actually get an extra cocktail (which wouldn't have been included on the food plan anyhow!)

By the way, we are staying DVC, so I'll have a kitchen for breakfast and any snacks we'd want while enjoying the resort.

TIA!

 

[disneyfan55]

We've been to WDW the past two years. Both trips we did the food plan. It was fabulous, but so gluttonous! I often felt uncomfortable b/c I over-ate, getting the MOST of my money. I love to eat, especially in the home of the home of The Mouse, but I think I need a break this year....

Thing is... now I feel like I might regret that decision. I find myself skimming the Disney Restaurant threads most. I know it will be a pain to have to take money out each night and budget how much we're spending. Just handing them the room card and not thinking about it is so handy.

I chose to omit the food plan from our itinerary this year, 1. because I just don't feel great when I eat that much (and I have no self control), 2. we've felt like we were on such a schedule, having to get to our ADR on time and missing out on some of the little things, 3. I'm curious to see if we'll save money, by only eating at our very favorite places.

Has anyone else been in my position? How did you feel about skipping the plan on trips after having been spoiled on the plan? Did you feel more relaxed? Did you find yourself saving any money or missing the desserts and extra snacks? I'm hoping that, with the exception of the buffets, that maybe my DD8 and I would share a meal... maybe I'd actually get an extra cocktail (which wouldn't have been included on the food plan anyhow!)

By the way, we are staying DVC, so I'll have a kitchen for breakfast and any snacks we'd want while enjoying the resort.

TIA!

We did the DDP last year when it was free. It made our trip very structured in my view and there was way too much food. If we had to pay for it we wouldn't do it only if free. Now the tips and apptizers aren't included so that makes a difference as well in costs. We do have the DDE card now and that worked well for us.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We have decided not to do the dining plan this year, money and ages of kids a factor. It was really nice last year when it was free dining, but this year we are watching our money. I went to Debs and added up the few table service meals we want to eat and our CS. We will be saving money by not doing the dining plan, plus not being strapped to a TS each night. The only thing now, is I have Liberty Tree Tavern scheduled for our MNSSHP night. Not sure if I want to pay 140.00 for us to each there, that is the only one I am up in the air about. If not then we will probably eat at Pecos or Earl of Sandwich or Wolf Express..

 

[ntsammy5]

We've done it a few times, but haven't done it for the last three trips and won't do it for the next trip. We normally wouldn't eat like that we do a lot of CS meals and we like to eat at off site restaurants too. It takes too much planing and doesn't allow for spontaneity. It's just plain too much food. It's a good ting to do if eating is that important to you -- it normally isn't for us.

 

[lazydazy8]

We have decided not to do the dining plan this year, money and ages of kids a factor. It was really nice last year when it was free dining, but this year we are watching our money. I went to Debs and added up the few table service meals we want to eat and our CS. We will be saving money by not doing the dining plan, plus not being strapped to a TS each night. The only thing now, is I have Liberty Tree Tavern scheduled for our MNSSHP night. Not sure if I want to pay 140.00 for us to each there, that is the only one I am up in the air about. If not then we will probably eat at Pecos or Earl of Sandwich or Wolf Express..

We have Liberty Tree for us on our night of MNSSHP, too. I also booked O'hana, but now I am thinking that I can get that Poly atmosphere by eating some app's in the lounge and ordering a couple of my favorite drinks. My kids are 6 and 8 and do fine in a pub atmosphere, so I think they'll do well there, too. I also booked the Coral Reef, but that's my DD8's favorite place and it was her birthday request. I also booked Chef Mickey's. We'll be there 10 days, so I spaced them out.

I love the Wolfgang Puck Express, too. I just hope we don't have a huge line when we go......

I appreciate everyone's feedback. You're solidifying my decision that no FP is the way to go. We have AP's, but they'll expire just after we get back from this trip, so I didn't want to pay for the DDP card...

 

[Aimeedyan]

It honestly doesn't appeal to us at all now that the appetizer was taken out. I don't care to eat dessert each meal but I LOVE appetizers.

We'd rather pay OOP for appetizers and entrees that look good without any restrictions or having to worry about the added gratituty and such.

It comes out cheaper for us that way, honestly.

 

[ChelleinNC]

We tried the DDP in December. Overall we enjoyed it, and it made life easier since my Dad & Stepmom were joining us (helped avoid sticker shock for Dad )

We won't be doing it on this trip though. With the changes, it doesn't seem to be as good a value. DS11 is still at the point that he doesn't usually eat an "adult" serving (or "adult" food ) . We really don't eat much CS, and it was hard for us to use the CS credits last time. We also have the DDE card and find that works much better for us

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't think associating the structured piece of your concern with the dining plan is a good idea.

It's not the dining plan that is the piece that is the structure, it's the need for ADRs. If you want to eat at a table service, its hard to walk up to any restaurant and get seated when you're hungry. You'll be stuck with a lot of CS without making ADRs.

I think we're kind of an exception in some aspects, we use the dining plan more for planning purposes. We don't even look at prices and see how much we save/don't save. We eat what we want in terms of how much. If we don't want dessert we don't get it, we cannot finish dinner, we don't finish it. It's more about convenience basically.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

We are one of those families that would not do the DDP. Too much food, too much structure.

Especially for me, heat, lots of walking, and overeating make a bad combination.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We dont do the plan either..we have DDE and we did a 9 day trip 2 months ago for most days had 2 TS each day, I thought we were going to explode and we didnt have room for snacks and our fav lunches. Next time we do a 9 day stay (Oct) we are going to do 3 TS breakfasts and 3 TS dinners for the time we are there and CS the rest....I just dont like that heavy feeling that all that food gives you, although the food was soooo good!

 

[shellybaxter]

We use the DDE partly because we want to eat what we want, went we want it. If we want to just have an appetizer or share a meal for lunch, we can. If we want to have a full course meal at a signature restaurant with alcohol, we can. We find that DDE is a much better choice for us

 

[DisFlan]

We have the DDE card and prefer it to a food plan. We eat one or occassionally two TS a day and breakfast in our villa. Other than that, we tend to "graze" during the day - just a light snack here or there if we don't do a TS for lunch. The CS credits are pretty much wasted on us.

DisFlan

 

[DOES THE SHOE FIT]

We didn't do the DDP last time and we're not doing it again this time. You know how much the DDP will cost and its easy to look at the menu's and estimate what your family will each at each sit down meal each counter service meal and then compare. We did this, and because we have several ADR's that would cost 2 sit down meals on the DDP it was not worth it. I also know that if the dessert were built in, I would feel obligated to get it, but otherwise, I rarely order dessert after dinner. Would rather wait and if I'm still hungry, grab something later on. Just my 2 cents. I think you are right in giving it a go this year without it. Then you'll know yourself which you prefer.

 

[donac]

Friends did the dining plan and we did not. She seemed to spend all her time dealing with ADRs and always rushing to and from meals. The dh always complained about how full they were.

 

[ChelleinNC]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. You're solidifying my decision that no FP is the way to go. We have AP's, but they'll expire just after we get back from this trip, so I didn't want to pay for the DDP card...

Just wanted to make sure you realize that if you buy the DDE card, it's good for 1 year (sometimes 13 mths) from when you buy it, even if your AP's expire before then.

On our 10 day trip last June we "paid" for the DDE card in the first 3 days. We are family of 4, DH & I and DD14, DS11. We saved a lot of money on the rest of the trip. We then used the card again in December on things that we didn't use the DDP for (dinner at Brown Derby, drinks, and for DS to order kid meals and not use his adult DDP credits). Unfortunately our card expires today so we have to renew for our trip next week, but then we'll use it again in Nov/Dec

 

[TDC Nala]

I will not be using it again, but as a single who prefers signature restaurants I can do better without it.

And this is on its way to the dining plan board...

 

[a1tinkfans]

We've been to WDW the past two years. Both trips we did the food plan. It was fabulous, but so gluttonous! I often felt uncomfortable b/c I over-ate, getting the MOST of my money. I love to eat, especially in the home of the home of The Mouse, but I think I need a break this year....

Thing is... now I feel like I might regret that decision. I find myself skimming the Disney Restaurant threads most. I know it will be a pain to have to take money out each night and budget how much we're spending. Just handing them the room card and not thinking about it is so handy.

I chose to omit the food plan from our itinerary this year, 1. because I just don't feel great when I eat that much (and I have no self control), 2. we've felt like we were on such a schedule, having to get to our ADR on time and missing out on some of the little things, 3. I'm curious to see if we'll save money, by only eating at our very favorite places.

Has anyone else been in my position? How did you feel about skipping the plan on trips after having been spoiled on the plan? Did you feel more relaxed? Did you find yourself saving any money or missing the desserts and extra snacks? I'm hoping that, with the exception of the buffets, that maybe my DD8 and I would share a meal... maybe I'd actually get an extra cocktail (which wouldn't have been included on the food plan anyhow!)

By the way, we are staying DVC, so I'll have a kitchen for breakfast and any snacks we'd want while enjoying the resort.

TIA!

We have a SPLIT trip this upcoming August, FREE Dining 2nd half only. We decided that we'd skip food plan for first 4 days and just "go with the flow" THOUGH I still have NOT given up my reservations for that time period till I decide IF I want to use them (LeCellier for a dinner , Hollywood and Vine and some other favorites.) Will see if we go to all of them or cancel them as we go along. Had anticipated the food plan but recently decided to drop it as it became CRAZY with the SPLIT reservation and tickets and food, WAY TO MUCH for me to deal with, so, we may just do CS for those days ....(except maybe splurge for lecellier since my ds and I love it!, LOL)

 

[KoolAid]

We are planning a trip now and I even with the discount, I just cannot imagine we will recoup what we pay into it. We don't really schedule day to day what park we'll go to or what & when we'll eat. I'm sort of scared, after lurking here for awhile, that if we don't reserve everything ahead of time we won't get in anywhere.

 

[disneyfan55]

We are planning a trip now and I even with the discount, I just cannot imagine we will recoup what we pay into it. We don't really schedule day to day what park we'll go to or what & when we'll eat. I'm sort of scared, after lurking here for awhile, that if we don't reserve everything ahead of time we won't get in anywhere.

Since the advent of DDP it is much harder to get reservations to the TS restaurants. If there is really a TS you want I would make reservations.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We are planning a trip now and I even with the discount, I just cannot imagine we will recoup what we pay into it. We don't really schedule day to day what park we'll go to or what & when we'll eat. I'm sort of scared, after lurking here for awhile, that if we don't reserve everything ahead of time we won't get in anywhere.

Trying to find a last minute TS without reservations can be very disappointing.