DDP and non-soda drinkers

[mikana876]

Our family does not drink soda. Should we still do the DDP?

 

[butterfly71076]

You could always get iced tea, water, lemonade, or juice (if available) We get the DDP, and don't order alot of soda, I am mostly a water drinker, DS loves lemonade, and DH drinks iced tea.

 

[supersnoop]

Our family does not drink soda. Should we still do the DDP?

When you don't take advantage of all the entitlements, the value compared to the cost shifts dramatically. But the biggest factor is, what are the ages of your party? The more kids from 3 to 9, the more value you get from the dining plan.

 

[mikana876]

I really wanted to do the dining plan this time. I've researched it and did price comparisons and it looks like we'd barely break even. Plus I like the idea of having it be prepaid and of not worrying about cost while dining at WDW. But then when I found out that the included beverage is basically just soda, I was bummed. We just don't drink soda in my family. SS10 always chooses chocolate milk when we are out at restaurants and DS6 always chooses apple juice. From what I can tell, those aren't included? Or does it depend on the location? When I look at menus, it's hard to tell what's included as a beverage on the dining plan and what isn't. I don't want to be stuck drinking water at every meal or most meals because the choice is either water or soda.

 

[mikana876]

You could always get iced tea, water, lemonade, or juice (if available) We get the DDP, and don't order alot of soda, I am mostly a water drinker, DS loves lemonade, and DH drinks iced tea.

Is the iced tea with or without sugar? And do most locations have these options? For example flame tree BBQ in AK or Columbia Harbour House in MK?

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I always get unsweetened ice tea at TS restaurants, I never asked at CS.

 

[sharonabe]

I'm pretty sure you'll be okay at most QS places as the kid's meals for DD can sub juice or choc milk, so DS should be able to get his choc milk too. Most QS also have iced tea available, and it's probably bottled. As for TS, I know you can get unsweetened ice tea and choc milk just about everywhere, and I think apple juice would be available as well.

I did check Flame Tree and CHH and both of them had all three, but Flame Tree has not reopened from it's refurbishment, so things there could change, but not likely.

 

[FigmentFinder]

Is the iced tea with or without sugar? And do most locations have these options? For example flame tree BBQ in AK or Columbia Harbour House in MK?

Last year many places had both at QS. It's Gold Peak usually at counter service. You can also get bottled water at CS locations.

 

[mikana876]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[butterfly71076]

Is the iced tea with or without sugar? And do most locations have these options? For example flame tree BBQ in AK or Columbia Harbour House in MK?

While we have never been to those places, I would think most CS places, with a fountain, would have lemonade and iced tea. I have never had a problem getting it. Check out the menus of the places you are concerned about. I checked Flame Tree BBQ (on allears.net), and it has those choices:

Soft Drinks - Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Minute Maid Light Lemonade, Iced Tea (sweetened and unsweetened) $2.99 - $3.29

 

[mikana876]

We'll I've looked at the menus. But I'm wasn't sure which drinks are included. Since some places have a ton of specialty drinks or shakes.

 

[G719]

I know you can get a milk shake for your drink at whispering canyon, Sci fi, and 50s prime time.

 

[tinka-belle]

For the resort refillable mug there is no milk or juice, but there IS soda, tea, iced tea, coffee, lemonade, sometimes PowerAde or other drinks depending on the resort. Basically whatever is available from the self serve at your resort or pool bar.

For the CS or TS restaurants you would be OK for milk and juice, as well as sodas, lemonade, bottled waters (CS only), coffee, tea, iced tea, and at some locations the milkshakes or virgin slushie drinks too. Not limited to sodas for your meals.

 

[G719]

Also at the resort food court or counter service, if you use a QS credit, you can get a bottled beverage as part of the meal. They have bottles of juice and milk at most of those locations.

 

[FigmentFinder]

You can also get those fancy lemonades with the foam on top at sit down restaurants. I'm not a big sugary drink/soda fan, I mostly drink unsweetened iced tea. But those lemonades are real lemonade and yummy with a fancy foam on top.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Definitely not just soda. Most TS restaurants have a selection of non-alcoholic beverages available.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Also at the resort food court or counter service, if you use a QS credit, you can get a bottled beverage as part of the meal. They have bottles of juice and milk at most of those locations.

Yes! At POR they have a huge selection of various bottled beverages - 100% juices, milks, flavored milks, flavored teas, sparkling water, etc. When I asked the CM what counted as a beverage for the drink, she smiled enthusiastically and said, "Anything you want to drink!"

 

[jon18uk]

I really wanted to do the dining plan this time. I've researched it and did price comparisons and it looks like we'd barely break even. Plus I like the idea of having it be prepaid and of not worrying about cost while dining at WDW. But then when I found out that the included beverage is basically just soda, I was bummed. We just don't drink soda in my family. SS10 always chooses chocolate milk when we are out at restaurants and DS6 always chooses apple juice. From what I can tell, those aren't included? Or does it depend on the location? When I look at menus, it's hard to tell what's included as a beverage on the dining plan and what isn't. I don't want to be stuck drinking water at every meal or most meals because the choice is either water or soda.

At most Disney operated restaurants you can have almost any non-alcoholic beverage, as long as its not a souvenir glass etc. When using a counter service credit you can usually get bottled juice or milk too. We even had chocolate milk at Cinderellas Royal Table!

The non-Disney places (Wolfgang Puck, Rainforest Cafe etc) are usually more strict so you may only get soda.

 

[RedWolf95]

I wouldn't think sodas would make it or break the deal but there are a lot of factors like would you eat differently if not on the plan, etc.... Seen some good articles that compare going with or without Dining Plan.

 

[supersnoop]

I wouldn't think sodas would make it or break the deal but there are a lot of factors like would you eat differently if not on the plan, etc.... Seen some good articles that compare going with or without Dining Plan.

For the adult price, the $3 soda is often all that puts you over break-even.