Breaking Even on the Dining Plan - should we still get it?

[StaciaRae]

Hi! I've used the calculator and it appears like we will just break even on the dining plan. I'm wondering if I should still get it? I like the idea of it being paid for already but I don't want to be bothered with keeping track of credits. If you were going to break even on the dining plan, would you still get it?

 

[Haygar2]

We love it. For us it works. Did you factor in snacks, too? Sometimes we just get bottles of water. I know they say it's not a good use of a snack credit, but it gets hot and I hate spending $3.50 on a bottle of water. It's not difficult keeping track of credits. Unless you go to a signature restaurant, it's one credit per person per meal.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We generally break even, but for me it is worth it because I just really like the "all inclusive" feel it gives the vacation. Even if I had cash in envelopes with the exact cost of the dining plan, I know I still wouldn't always order what I wanted because of the cost and I would for sure go into cardiac arrest at the total bill for the fixed price meals.

 

[senadler]

We will actually end up saving a little on the dining plan, but it is also allowing us to add a couple of 2 credit meals that we would not do at all if we did have the plan. I also do not cringe when my 10 year old orders a steak instead of chicken nuggets when I know he probably would like the nuggets better. The dining plan is a great way for our disney adult kids to try things they don't normally order at home.

 

[ericstac]

If it's a true break even then I would do the plan, just make sure it's real...

One thing I don't like is a dessert with my meal. I prefer just having my meal then grabbing a tastier treat somewhere else..

 

[Sparrow624]

We do it every time we break even or come out ahead with our calculations. Just for the ease of doing it.

 

[Harambe]

We do not use the dining plan because we usually have a code for a cheaper resort room, and sometimes you have to pay rack rate for the room in order to get the free dining plan (we need a lot of room and usually try for a 2BR, so paying rack rate compared to a 40% off deal makes "free" dining expensive! LOL!). The 2BR's come with a kitchen and we have breakfast at "home".

Also, we can barely commit to a handful of ADRs each trip, and have had to cancel a meal or two because the family just doesn't want to eat that much (not me, man, I could just go from one restaurant to the next!). For meals, we always start out by using our Disney Visa Rewards Dollars, and that can cover meals for us about half way through the stay!

 

[ALittleWhistle]

Yes, we would definitely get it. I would be much tighter with my money if I didn't (probably wouldn't get snacks OOP). A lot of times we use the snack credits to get muffins, pastries, etc. to eat for breakfast on the go. Might not be the healthiest option, but my goodness, with all the walking, combined with the fact that all Disney food is sprinkled with magic calorie-negating dust (I'm SURE I read that somewhere ), I don't worry about it too much. And it's convenient for budgeting purposes, too.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

If you've looked at menus and thought about what you'd like and still break even, I'd do it. Tracking meals is no big deal at all. Your balance prints out at the bottom of your receipt each time anyway.

Just for myself, I know if I didn't have the plan, I'd start worrying about what I'm ordering in each restaurant. I really want the filet mignon, but it's twice as much as the chicken! I'll just go with the chicken. I'm sure it will be fine. With the dining plan, I'm getting the filet!!!

 

[5kidsmommy]

We haven't done it before but will on our next trip. With teenagers I don't want to worry about telling them what they can or can't eat. We are going with the quick service plan and will pay for one table service in addition to having breakfast in the room. I just think it will be more vacation-y knowing that food is taken care of.

 

[lovndisney12]

Big yes! We love the dining plan because it takes the stress out of what people are ordering. There is no concern how much the meal will cost. And if someone now wants to order an expensive item, no worries! Keeping track of the credits is very easy. Our TS meals are already scheduled ahead of time and then we know we have a CS and snack each day.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I wouldn't do it. I like a little more flexibility with our dining than the plan allows (ordering two apps instead of an entree, skipping dessert and getting a cappuccino, etc.), plus I always get worried someone is going to get sick or not want to eat much and we will end up paying for credits that we won't use.

 

[Barbanellie]

Actually, I may be in the minority, but I wouldn't get the plan, even if I broke even. I like the flexibility of not trying to "maximize the credits". For a lot of people, it is more relaxing not feeling the pressure to purchase what is less expensive when paying out of pocket. For me it's not feeling I need to choose the expensive meal, so that I don't "lose money". And the freedom of not having a dessert if I don't want one, or choosing to share an app with my husband instead of a dessert, etc. And if I'm not hungry, just getting QS, or a snack. This is a personal position, though, but you asked

 

[5kidsmommy]

Actually, I may be in the minority, but I wouldn't get the plan, even if I broke even. I like the flexibility of not trying to "maximize the credits". For a lot of people, it is more relaxing not feeling the pressure to purchase what is less expensive when paying out of pocket. For me it's not feeling I need to choose the expensive meal, so that I don't "lose money". And the freedom of not having a dessert if I don't want one, or choosing to share an app with my husband instead of a dessert, etc. And if I'm not hungry, just getting QS, or a snack. This is a personal position, though, but you asked

If it was just me and my husband or maybe just one of the kids this is how I would be but with a bunch of teenagers I just like the idea of not having to do any work and just saying "kids you get one snack and two meals a day." Honestly I don't even care about breaking even at this point, I just want a relaxed vacation.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Yes. Always add a hundred to your oop estimate for the convenience of DDP. It's worth it and you will not feel guilty ordering lobster at Narc.

 

[btk2333]

No- why would you give up the flexibility of being able to eat what you want when you want and not worry about how many credits you have left if you're just breaking even?

 

[loves to dive]

Another no. We got it for years before they even added the "free dining" but we have found it doesn't fit us any more. We always get an app. and more often than not we don't want a dessert. As others have said, I like the freedom of deciding what I want and not worrying about fitting to a plan. We've found trying to get all those TS meals doesn't always fit us, there are some days we just like to snack around Epcot. A typical day for me is usually a child's meal for bfast, a child's QS meal for lunch and at a TS an App and a salad or soup for supper and maybe a dessert later on. I rarely snack in between meals and even the child's QS meals are sometimes too much food and I end of throwing away the fruit after carrying it around all day. I don't eat this way to save money, I just don't like a bunch of heavy meals when I'm so active during the day, it tends to make me sluggish and feeling sick.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We never have had the dining plan. Much prefer TIW card. But we always get liquor and wine with dinner and TIW covers that at a discount. We can never See how to justify the plan given thr amount of food you need to eat. We rarely eat snacks. We eat breakfast in room, cereal and milk and eggs, etc., lunch out, usually at pool because we don't go to parks very much anymore and then we go out to signature restaurants most nights. We usually get an appetizer each, maybe an entree to share and maybe a dessert to share...or maybe not. We are more into enjoying the ambiance of the places, having a drink or two and just relaxing rather than the food. If we have our kids, they usually share an entree or get an appetizer as an entree. I know people seem to really like the dining plan but it just seems too confining to me plus we would always feel like we need to eat more than we want.

 

[sharonabe]

I voted "no" because in the long run, we would not eat all the desserts (we are 4 Disney adults), and even with the new rule of subbing other things for the dessert, it's still more food than we would normally eat. One DS doesn't drink anything but water, so that's another entitlement that would go to waste.

 

[FrozenDuck]

If it's truly a break-even, I would go with whichever is closest to your typical vacation style.

Do you prefer an all-inclusive (higher end resorts, cruises, etc.) trip? If so, go with the dining plan. It's nice to be able to order whatever you want, try new things, and not worry about the price.

If you're money conscious when traveling, pay OOP. Odds are you'll end up saving slightly, because you'll order what sounds best at the moment (which may not be the most expensive meal), and you probably aren't eating at the more costly character meals (or if so, you are going for breakfast instead), so you'll save money instead of trying to maximize value.

Keeping track of credits isn't difficult. Assuming regular DDP - you'll still end up making reservations for table service, and you schedule X reservations to match the number of credits. For quick-service, one meal per day in credits. If you like 3 meals/day, you can use your snack credit to cover a light breakfast (or a soup for lunch), you can split breakfast & lunch with a significant other, or pay OOP for breakfast each day. Every time you use your magic band for a meal, the receipt will tell you how many of each credit you have remaining.