DDP versus Sharing Meals

[willgb09]

I'm trying to figure out if it would be more beneficial for our family to pay our meals out of pocket or to get the dining plan. I know for the buffet meals we'd have to pay for all our family members, but is it smarter to pay for adult meals for two kids to share versus paying for the kids' meals with the dining plan? The dining plan kids' meals don't seem worth it except for the character meals. Just for reference, my kids will be 11 (so Disney adult), 8, 7, 5, 3, and then a baby who we obviously won't need a plan for.

 

[Alesia]

You'll need to look at the menus, figure out what you're likely to eat, and do the math.

http://allears.net/dining/menu

We save hundreds by not doing the DDP.

 

[sharonabe]

Both TS and QS kid's meals come with a drink, so it may depend on that item alone if sharing or DDP will be best. For QS, the kid's meals would be better because most of them are $6, whereas a QS adult entree is $10-12. If they share, they either don't have a drink, drink water or you pay another $3 for one to share. You've just exceed the kid's price. For TS, most kid's TS meals are $10. There will be many places with entrees less than $20 to share, but you're back to the drink question which might put you over again.

 

[travelgirl06]

I would look at how many buffet/AYCTE meals you plan vs menu meals and what the kids might order. We have a 4YO and a 1YO and frequently have them shares kids meal at restaurants near home and will supplement with giving them some of our food or an appetizer if needed. We are not doing DDP because we found good savings on a room-only and it's not really how we eat (sometimes we want to do an appetizer and entree and split both vs. Two entrees, we're not big on soda and don't need dessert with each meal).

I will say not being on DDP has given me second thoughts about several of the AYCTE meals. Paying over $20 for my 4YO to eat at 'ohana seems excessive and at most we'll do one character meal because the prices are high and we aren't big buffet people - if you want lots of AYCTE or character meals with several kids DDP might make sense, but again you have to do the math.