astronomical food cost

[twooley2]

so I finally had some time to look at the menus for our upcoming trip and the prices and even called Disney dining to get the buffet cost. wow is all I can say after spending 3700.00 on the deluxe dining plan for 6 persons counted as adults. an additional 750.00 in tips. I am not so sure the dining plan is saving us a lot. I figured the cash price of meals to be 3521.00 without tips and add the snacks if we spend each one at a maximum of 4.00 a snack to be 192.00 and add on the extra cs we have to spend equaling 5 extra ones. If we can down 5 more meals after 2 sit downs each day. Although the basic plan is not enough. Imagine their science to this. Oh I for got our refillable mugs that we wont be at the resort enough to use. Tell me why I went this route again

 

[PrincessTiffany]

so I finally had some time to look at the menus for our upcoming trip and the prices and even called Disney dining to get the buffet cost. wow is all I can say after spending 3700.00 on the deluxe dining plan for 6 persons counted as adults. an additional 750.00 in tips. I am not so sure the dining plan is saving us a lot. I figured the cash price of meals to be 3521.00 without tips and add the snacks if we spend each one at a maximum of 4.00 a snack to be 192.00 and add on the extra cs we have to spend equaling 5 extra ones. If we can down 5 more meals after 2 sit downs each day. Although the basic plan is not enough. Imagine their science to this. Oh I for got our refillable mugs that we wont be at the resort enough to use. Tell me why I went this route again

We find the Deluxe plan to be a waste of time and money - especially traveling with kids. Most people, unless you are doing a majority of 2 credit meals will not get a "value" with the Deluxe plan. We much prefer the Basic Plan with 1 TS, 1 CS and 1 Snack per day.

 

[Jestocost]

so I finally had some time to look at the menus for our upcoming trip and the prices and even called Disney dining to get the buffet cost. wow is all I can say after spending 3700.00 on the deluxe dining plan for 6 persons counted as adults. an additional 750.00 in tips. I am not so sure the dining plan is saving us a lot. I figured the cash price of meals to be 3521.00 without tips and add the snacks if we spend each one at a maximum of 4.00 a snack to be 192.00 and add on the extra cs we have to spend equaling 5 extra ones. If we can down 5 more meals after 2 sit downs each day. Although the basic plan is not enough. Imagine their science to this. Oh I for got our refillable mugs that we wont be at the resort enough to use. Tell me why I went this route again

Yep. I went back after one of our trips and added up our actual food costs, then compared it to what the DDP would have cost and we definitely saved money going OOP. Now that we have TIW, the advantage for us really tips to dining OOP. The only time I ever have done the DDP is when my choice was a rack rate room without dining or a rack rate room with free dining; in other words, a no brainer.

Whether the DDP is a good value really depends on where, what and how much you eat (and drink).

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

I agree. We did deluxe a month ago. When I checked my receipts (minus snacks) we lost about $200 bucks, so with snack we broke even. We did a character reakfast each morning and a 2 credit dinner...shows, CRT, signiture dinning. It was a great experience, but I dont think we will do it again.

I am planning our trip now for the Marathon. We will be doing the regular dining plan. If you like more expensive places (Boma, Akerhaus, Ohana dinner, Le Cellier lunch), you can save a couple bucks a day.

Our favorite way to save money on dining is the tables in wonderland card. You do have to be a annual passholder, but if you have a large group it can save you a fortune! Six of us went a year ago. We did about two sit downs a day. It cost $75 to by the card and we saved that much after two days (20% off all food and drinks). Over the next five days, we saved about another $300.

Try the math! Only one person in your party has to upgrade to an annual pass to buy the card. It was worth it for us! It may be the answer for you, cancel the dinning plan and get a tables card.

 

[whacked]

the "free" dining makes sense to us if it's available, as it's a savings even though you pay more for a room, as there is four of us (two adults, and two kids that count as adults for meals).

The plan on it's own is convenient, but generally not a break even for us.

We're actually going CS free dining this trip as the kids decided that they'd rather not be tied to a TS every night. While we like TS, prearranging all the meals is a hassle, and it seems like we're never where in the right place at the right time for our next TS, and need to jet across parks to get there.

The TS plans also means a lot of evenings in either Epcot or resorts, and not in MK, or HS. We like MK and HS in the eve's, but not the TS at either.

With the savings of the "free" CS dining we can get TS OOP if we want it, but we're not tied to it.

If it wasn't free, we would not (and don't) buy the dining plan.

 

[forbinsgirl]

Interesting post. We are doing the deluxe dining plan this November. we went through and added up costs and felt we would save some money, not a ton, but some. We also liked the convenience of it. Also we like that we have many table service meals to sit down and take a break. If we weren't doing deluxe we felt like we would be less likely to splurge on the table services.

 

[bytheblood]

We find the Deluxe plan to be a waste of time and money - especially traveling with kids. Most people, unless you are doing a majority of 2 credit meals will not get a "value" with the Deluxe plan. We much prefer the Basic Plan with 1 TS, 1 CS and 1 Snack per day.

That is a logical post.


We do not do the DDP anymore since becoming owners, but in the past, we found the DDP to be a huge waste of money.

 

[si-am]

I always find it funny that so many people say the dining plan is convenient... but every time I'm at WDW, people are wandering aimlessly around food courts all confused about snack credits.

 

[3pletprincesses]

After paying for tips last month we still end up with something like $400 saving. that being said, we were 2 adults with 3 kids and did lots of character meals and signature meals. we loved it and hope to continue doing that way for as long as it works for us.

I agree about the snack credits being sometimes annoying to find LOL

 

[twooley2]

Interesting post. We are doing the deluxe dining plan this November. we went through and added up costs and felt we would save some money, not a ton, but some. We also liked the convenience of it. Also we like that we have many table service meals to sit down and take a break. If we weren't doing deluxe we felt like we would be less likely to splurge on the table services.

This is where we are at in our final figures once we add the dinner show and one signature Cinderella meal. We also are DVC owners so there is a bit of a break there but really seems that 4000+ for for 8 days is crazy to absorb in our minds. Thats not even considering other cost.

 

[twooley2]

Interesting post. We are doing the deluxe dining plan this November. we went through and added up costs and felt we would save some money, not a ton, but some. We also liked the convenience of it. Also we like that we have many table service meals to sit down and take a break. If we weren't doing deluxe we felt like we would be less likely to splurge on the table services.

This is where we are at in our final figures once we add the dinner show and one signature Cinderella meal. We also are DVC owners so there is a bit of a break there but really seems that 4000+ for for 8 days is crazy to absorb in our minds.

 

[Tiger926]

We find the Deluxe plan to be a waste of time and money - especially traveling with kids. Most people, unless you are doing a majority of 2 credit meals will not get a "value" with the Deluxe plan. We much prefer the Basic Plan with 1 TS, 1 CS and 1 Snack per day.

Nope, totally disagree. In fact, the DxDP allows for the most amount of savings of any of the plans, especially if you travel during peak season. If you eat just 1 character meal per day, and then eat 2 other TS meals, you will more than make your money back. But, the biggest savings is with kids between 3-9 years old. The cost of 1 character meal during peak season, is more than the cost of the actual dining plan, and you still have 2 more TS meals, 2 snacks and a refillable mug to use. Remember, you also get appetizers with the DxDP too. Not sure if you've checked peak season buffet prices lately, but character dinners are close to $50.00/adult with tax and tip included!

Will totally disagree about Signatures as well. They are a waste of 2 credits as far as we are concerned, and not a good way to spend DxDP credits, IMHO.

We find the regular DP to not be much of a savings at all, as well as the Quick Serve plan.

Perhaps you find it a waste of money as you have lots of children to take into restaurants, which eats up a lot of time, or maybe they don't eat as much, but with respect to finances, the DxDP is a pretty good savings for most families, especially with younger kids and character meals.

The problem with the DxDP comes in terms of the total cost of it. When you multiple that by 7, 10 or 13 nights, like our summer vacations are always are, you have astronomical figures for food. The $4000.00 total mentioned by the OP is literally like 7 months of groceries for us!!! Yikes! BTDT though, and we won't do it again, as the total cost for long vacations is crazy!

Tiger

 

[Hooked On The Mouse]

It just depends on where and what you like to eat. We don't find we enjoy cs meals much, but we do want to do the dinner shows, some signatures, and lots of character meals. We actually went through menus and added up the cost of what we would want to order, and the dxdp saves us some money.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

we save a ton on the dxddp. its nice to have everything paid before you go (except tips). we don't tour commando and enjoy a sit down lunch, and signature dinners. we also are appetizer and "try something new" people so this gives us a chance to order something different which i may not have done had i paid out of pocket. it was nice if we wanted a bottle of water to use a snack credit because we had lots--it didn't feel like we were wasting them. it works for us, but it isn't for everyone.

 

[forbinsgirl]

I will say that we are 2 adults 2 children so our 7 day dxdp is something like $1415 VS. $4000. That does give me definite sticker shock. At the end of the day, we compared QSDP, DDP, and DxDP with uber cheap all out of pocket, regular out of pocket and matching what we would eat with DxDP. Obviously quick servicand regualr dinning are less expensive, but we are foodies and don't want counter services all week. The real convenience in my mind of the meal plan is that it is paid for already and that is already set in terms of budget (except tips of course)

 

[maggiew]

Why are you paying for 5 CS meals OOP? I can't imagine that you will have to do that on the DxDDP. Most people say it is way too much food since appetizers are included too!

Maggie

 

[nrpofp]

We saved over 800 dollars with the dxdp over 10 days. I think you really need to eat at signature restaurants for dinner and 1 ts lunches to really save money and maximize the plan. If you eat a lot of cs your not getting your value out of it.

 

[nrpofp]

Nope, totally disagree. In fact, the DxDP allows for the most amount of savings of any of the plans, especially if you travel during peak season. If you eat just 1 character meal per day, and then eat 2 other TS meals, you will more than make your money back. But, the biggest savings is with kids between 3-9 years old. The cost of 1 character meal during peak season, is more than the cost of the actual dining plan, and you still have 2 more TS meals, 2 snacks and a refillable mug to use. Remember, you also get appetizers with the DxDP too. Not sure if you've checked peak season buffet prices lately, but character dinners are close to $50.00/adult with tax and tip included!

Will totally disagree about Signatures as well. They are a waste of 2 credits as far as we are concerned, and not a good way to spend DxDP credits, IMHO.

We find the regular DP to not be much of a savings at all, as well as the Quick Serve plan.

Perhaps you find it a waste of money as you have lots of children to take into restaurants, which eats up a lot of time, or maybe they don't eat as much, but with respect to finances, the DxDP is a pretty good savings for most families, especially with younger kids and character meals.

The problem with the DxDP comes in terms of the total cost of it. When you multiple that by 7, 10 or 13 nights, like our summer vacations are always are, you have astronomical figures for food. The $4000.00 total mentioned by the OP is literally like 7 months of groceries for us!!! Yikes! BTDT though, and we won't do it again, as the total cost for long vacations is crazy!

Tiger

Well I have to disagree with you. Our signature dinners were about the total cost of the plan. Our other meals were basically free after that. Most people cannot eat 3 meals a day. The signatures restaurants have better food also.

 

[jakeybake]

We love to dine at WDW, it is one of our favorite things to do, but I just can't imagine eating a CS meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day!

Breakfast and dinner I could imagine but not all 3. And I realize you can roll them into a dinner show or signature dining but I don't think my family wants to eat at the Yachtsman Steakhouse or Narcooses each night.

J

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't think the deluxe plan really saves that much money unless you eat everything that's included, (which is a ton of food unless you do signature meals every day to use up credits.) I actually think all the dining plans are just break even cost-wise, unless you eat steak every night, though I do like having everything paid for in advance.