Are drinks included?

[Grmnshplvr]

I am trying to price out the dining plan versus paying for food as we go. Are drinks included with meals or should I figure an additional 2.50 per drink per meal? Also...since my oldest is 13 Disney considers her to be an adult, we plan on doing 3 all you can eat buffets, if I pay for it as I go wouldn't they still charge me for being an adult?

 

[Gracie09]

Nonalcoholic and nonspecialty drinks are included So soft drinks, juice, milk, coffee, tea And yes 10 and older is an adult for buffets

 

[thegrandone]

I am trying to price out the dining plan versus paying for food as we go. Are drinks included with meals or should I figure an additional 2.50 per drink per meal? Also...since my oldest is 13 Disney considers her to be an adult, we plan on doing 3 all you can eat buffets, if I pay for it as I go wouldn't they still charge me for being an adult?

Just a tip on stretching your dining plan...Ask for a to-go cup of whatever you're drinking at the buffet before you leave. They always set us up with tall cups to take out in the park. Not sure on the age/price for the cash option at the buffet.

 

[LovesTimone]

With the dinning plan drinks are included, soft drinks, tea, coffee and juice. Some places like Sci-Fi will let you get a milk shake as your drink. 13 is adult price.

 

[hsmamato2]

yeah,to maximize the dp, some places offer smoothies or milkshakes as a drink.... I never thought to ask for a to go cup at a buffet lol that's pretty good

 

[Grmnshplvr]

would have never thought about the to go cup! Thanks!

 

[POOHsie]

I am trying to price out the dining plan versus paying for food as we go. Are drinks included with meals or should I figure an additional 2.50 per drink per meal? Also...since my oldest is 13 Disney considers her to be an adult, we plan on doing 3 all you can eat buffets, if I pay for it as I go wouldn't they still charge me for being an adult?

I think Sci-Fi Dine-In, '50s Prime Time and Whispering Canyon offer milk shakes as DDP beverage. At Whispering Canyon you can get milk shake refills.

Remember, for your comparison of DDP vs OOP, Dining Plan includes 6.5% sales tax. Out-Of-Pocket, you have to add sales tax to your cost figures. For both ways of dining, you have to add Tip for TS meals.

 

[minushka72]

You will be charged for your 13 year old as an adult whether OOP or DDP.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Yes, drinks are included. We've never had a problem getting things like frozen coffees, smoothies, etc with the quick service meals either. The TS drinks seem more restricted because they come with a souvenir cup.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Nonalcoholic and nonspecialty drinks are included So soft drinks, juice, milk, coffee, tea And yes 10 and older is an adult for buffets

I re read this so just to clarify....with the DDP, you do get the drink included, but when you pay OOP, meals, even CS do not include drinks, except most kid meals. The CS means include the item and most of the time a side but not the drink. For example if the meal is a burger and fries for 8.99, the drink is the 2.50+ extra. DDP also does include a dessert. You can get the entree at CS without the side for a couple dollars less.

 

[abmitch01]

can someone post the sites that help you decide whether the dining plan is right for you? it calculates it for you what would be the best deal, DDP or OOP

 

[joannamet]

can someone post the sites that help you decide whether the dining plan is right for you? it calculates it for you what would be the best deal, DDP or OOP

Better to take some time and figure more specifically for your group. It might seem complicated at first but its really pretty simple and you'll get a good baseline food budget for your trip.

For example, I look at POR's CS breakfast offerings and estimate what we would most likely order there including drinks and tax and multiply by 8 days (no breakfast on arrival day). For CS lunches and dinners I do the same, multiplying by the number of meals for our 9 day trip. Since most CS restaurants have the same price range I can look at a couple of the places where we might eat and get an estimate. Don't forget drinks and tax.

For table service restaurants I look at the menu for each one where we have an ADR and make a guess about what we might order. Add drinks, tip and tax.

To compare OOP and DDP you also should consider if your family would actually buy snacks/drinks. (My family hardly ever buys snacks in the park. Last time we used DDP we had tons of snack credits left over so I don't add snacks in my OOP budget,)

Add up your estimates for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks/drinks and you'll have a reasonable estimate of your OOP and a fair comparison to DDP.

Remember that unless you get deluxe dining you only get 2 meals a day, not 3. So if you expect to eat 3 meals on any days during your trip you need to add that to the cost of the dining plan.

 

[pryncess527]

can someone post the sites that help you decide whether the dining plan is right for you? it calculates it for you what would be the best deal, DDP or OOP

I used this one:
http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0

it's a pretty complex spreadsheet. I looked over menus online and guessed what we might order each day to create an estimate.

 

[msmama]

If you look at the menus at allears, it tells you what is included. Most adult food does not come with drinks. But most kids meals do.

Your 13 year old will be charged as an adult for buffets (some have drinks included, not specialty drinks both OOP and DDP).

Your child does NOT only have to eat off the adult menu. Anyone can order kids meals at CS places (I often eat them, especially for breakfast) and pay the kids prices. Anyone can also order anything off the kids menu at TS restaurants (though sometimes they may have to pay more, but get more food).

GENERALLY, unless you are big eaters and have several TS meals scheduled (especially those worth 2 credits) the dining plan is not financially worth it. HOWEVER, if you are the kind of person that will nickel and dime yourself when it comes to eating (and not eat what you want because it's too expensive), then IMO it becomes worth it.

(More than you asked, but I know you've asked about the dining plan several times).

 

[abmitch01]

I keep going back and forth on this issue for the CS DP. I know it would be stupid to get it because DD is 15 and still eats kids meals. But then I read a thread and get tempted.

 

[Baptist]

I keep going back and forth on this issue for the CS DP. I know it would be stupid to get it because DD is 15 and still eats kids meals. But then I read a thread and get tempted.

Don't do it. If your 15 year old can eat a kids meal, you would be foolish to pay the adult DDP for her.

The DDP is only good if 1) you have kids 9 and under and will do character dining or 2) it's free!

I'm an accountant, so it's natural that I have tried to make the DDP make financial sense. It does not anymore for our family of 4 (DD 10 and DD 8).

It's a good debate.

 

[damiel]

Are drinks included with meals or should I figure an additional 2.50 per drink per meal?

Just a note that drinks are not $2.50. A small fountain soda is $2.99 and a large is $3.19.