Cooking in a 2BR VS. Dining Plan?

[purplepeg]

I was wanting some advice. We are doing our first trip as DVC members (yeah) in August and tossing around the idea of cooking as opposed to getting the dining plan. We have always done the dining plan but last time we just found we were eating dessert twice a day, because you can, and it really wasn't healthy. We did it, of course, because we had paid for it I'm wondering if we would be better off having breakfast at home and we always come back to the resort for lunch and a break, so to have lunch at home, and then we are only paying for groceries and dinners, and probably a few snacks around too. Please weigh in with what you have done and how well it worked. BTW we have 2 kids they will be 9 and almost 5 at the time and 3 adults and one 16 y/o in our travelling party staying in a 2br.
Thanks in advance

 

[allshookup]

We have done the DDP & we've done basically what you plan on doing...bought groceries & only ate one TS meal per day & we much prefer to NOT buy the DDP. We found we spent too much time making the most of the DDP instead of just enjoying a relaxing vacation. Plus if we order dessert, we tend to share it anyway because we're so full after eating our meals. We also have the TIW card so we end up saving more money by not using the DDP.

 

[Brian Noble]

We always have a full breakfast in the unit before heading out. We normally have lunch in the parks, but typically do not order dessert---more often than not, lunch is pretty light. Dinner might be in the park, at a resort or DTD restaurant, or in the unit (maybe Giordanos, maybe whip something up ourselves.)

So, we probably only have 1-3 meals in the unit beyond breakfast, but even so, the Dining Plan is rarely a good fit for us.

We also always spend less out of pocket on food than the dining plan would cost, just ordering what and when we want---in part because we don't quite eat one TS per day, and several are at less expensive locations.

 

[Donna M]

Eventhough we bought into DVC and a lot of points at that, I don't like to spend all that money on the DDP for a week. Plus there is planning to be sure you're where you need to be if a reservation was made.

I like the idea of eating breakfast in the room and then either eating out for the other meals or just making something easy and quick.

I paid for the convience of a kitchen and I don't mind using it alittle.

 

[jamaka66]

We did a week in a 2 bedroom with a 3 year old and our routine was breakfast in the room, to the parks back to the room for lunch/nap/swim and then dinner out. It worked out great for us. Had Garden Grocer deliver the food, got breakfast sandwiches for the men, eggs, toast, oatmeal, cereal for breakfast and then hot dogs and sandwich fixings for lunch, we were in the room anyway and it was so easy. We would do a character dinner or just a sit-down and get waited on meal for dinner. The kitchen at the hotel is great. When we go back in May we will do the same again.

 

[dblr]

We just got back we drove down so what we did was, at home we cooked a couple of meals like meatballs and sausage in sauce and also cooked meat for tacos. So very little prep time there, to heat we took our crockpot and put the sauce and meat on when we left for the day so was hot when we returned just had to cook pasta. The taco meat was just heated up in the micro. If your flying this won't work but I'm sure other people might try or already do things like this. Any other meal ideas, we are always looking on ways to give the mouse less of our money.

 

[mikesmom]

We have always been much happier cooking. Generally travel alone or with a couple of teenagers. Full breakfast in the room. We make a grocery stop and get plenty of fruit, ice cream, deli meats, chips,frozen pizza and salad fixings. I pre-make deli style sandwiches, wrap tightly for the boys to grab and go. We might have just a couple of TS meals during a trip - one ALWAYS at Boma and maybe one other. Otherwise it's quick snacks, heavily supplemented from our fridge. Particularly in the summer months it's just too hot to eat all those meals on the Dining Plan.

 

[DisneyOrBust2006]

We recently returned from our first non-DDP trip in several years. We ordered ahead with WeGoShop and had the food delivered w/i hours of our arrival. We provisioned (amply) for full, hot breakfasts and dinners. We ate lunches in the parks/resorts and scheduled just 3 TS meals over a ten-night stay. Several observations:

(1) Meals in the room worked great for us; WeGoShop was a pleasure to deal with and we had great, well balanced meals to complement the park fare.
(2) Returning to the room set up a nice break in the day. Note that we were at VWL, so an after-dinner return to the MK was convenient.
(3) Didn't miss the logistics of the every-night-at-a-Disney-restaurant drill.
(3) We were surprised how quickly $$ for the TS dinners added up; very easy to spend $120+ (for 2 adults/2 children) for OK, but not great, food.

BOTTOM LINE: We'll continue to skip DDP in the future and pay cash for a few select TS meals that we really enjoy. That said, given the pricing, if we really wanted a TS dinner every night or wanted lots of character meals, we'd probably stick with the DDP package.

 

[bobbiwoz]

When we stay in a two bedroom, it's most likely 4 adults and 3 children, and we've been happy with buying groceries and not doing the dining plan. We average 2 TS meals during a 5 night trip for all of us, and 1 for each couple while the other babysits. We're getting better, but still, we buy too much food!!!!

Bobbi

 

[southtexasmom]

We have always cooked breakfast in our room, we eat lunch in parks and supper somewhere in Orlando. We also have drinks and snacks in our room. We only eat one or two character meals per trip, my kids are very picky eaters so this works well for us. Not sure if we save any money but everyone has a full tummy which makes for a happy trip.

 

[lundve]

The couple of times we have tried to buy food we always end up with things left over and need to throw it out if we are flying. I HATE to waste food. I know his is not quite what the original question was but how do you all combat that?

 

[allshookup]

The couple of times we have tried to buy food we always end up with things left over and need to throw it out if we are flying. I HATE to waste food. I know his is not quite what the original question was but how do you all combat that?

We've just learned to cut way back on what we buy, because we used to end up throwing stuff out. After some trial & error, we've got it down to a science & since we usually just eat breakfast in the room unless we are hanging around the resort, we tend to buy stuff for coffee, bagels & donuts. Along with that we buy a couple of cans of soup, pre-made chicken wings/nuggets, chips & drinks & we've got just enough to get us through the week.

 

[purplepeg]

Oh my word! Thank you for so many comments and advice. I am worried about buying too much food and we're doing at split stay so we will be ordering groceries twice. Who do you prefer, garden grocer or wegoshop? I think the plan is to still do a table service meal once a day but if we feel too tired or need a break at least we don't have to feel we're missing out because we didn't pay for the dining plan. So toast, cereal, bagels for bfast, sandwiches, salad for lunches, any other bfast, lunch ideas?
I love the DIS, you guys are great

 

[jennilynn510]

its probably just me BUT i dont go on vacation to cook...its DDP all the way for our crew

 

[purplepeg]

I honestly didn't think I would cook either. I'm all about being pampered on vacation but it seems like such a waste to have a kitchen and not use it. My feeling is it will be bfast and lunch so not alot of prep there.

 

[LadyKay]

its probably just me BUT i dont go on vacation to cook...its DDP all the way for our crew

I second that motion!!!

 

[HayGan]

We are doing a split stay in June. We plan on having breakfast in the room most days and then having several dinners in the room as well. The meals we plan will be simple (I'm not big on cooking on vacation either.) From what I understand, bell services will transfer you food to your new resort as well. I don't plan having them transfer any perishible goods but I certainly plan on boxing up our dry goods and moved over for us as well.

I really like the freedom that having the kitchen is going to give us on vacation. While we loved the DDP (especially prior to the changes), we got to the point where we felt confined to always having our schedule dictated by our ADRs. Now we will be able go where we want when we want. No more worrying about using all those credits. We will plan an ADR or two at our favorite places. If we want to eat out, we will call dining and see what is available or go off-site!

 

[Crisgw]

its probably just me BUT i dont go on vacation to cook...its DDP all the way for our crew

Us too! We're doing 2bms next week and in September and doing DDP each time! The boys love their character meals

 

[Topo Bella]

Although I love to cook and my parents (both chefs) always come with us on our Disney vacations ... we go DDP all the way! The bottom line for us is that we love to try different restaurants and we enjoy the time we spend at the restaurants. If you are a "foodie" and enjoy going out to dinner, then you should consider the DDP. If going out to eat isn't your thing ... then cooking back at the villa is also a good plan.

 

[Fatalbie]

We took my parents down with our two kids, DD 4 and ds 6mos. We stayed in a two bedroom at SSR and did the dining plan. This is the third trip for me with the DDP.
My observation- as the group gets bigger the DDP seems to be less appealing. Everyone has a different schedule and energy level, yet all need to be on or off the plan. While it is possible to have separate ressies, you really never know how tired you will be so far in advance and logistics for the Disney transportation can really be a drag. There were several days that our ressie caused inability for kids and adults to relax and enjoy some down time. We had to catch a bus to get to the ressis.
We ordered, over ordered, with we go shop, great experience, for some basics in the room. Every day of the trip we realized how much easier it was to come back to the room to relax and how easy it would have been for most of the days to do a quick meal in the room. Dont get me wrong, I like the dining plan because I like to eat.

Bottom line
Adults only for DW and I-DDP all the way.
With the Kids-probably do a grocery order and have significantly greater flexibility in the days plans. Do a couple OOP TS at the favorites,

DDP is great but really dictates the days schedule. Just my $.02
Jim