Deluxe Dining Plan opinions?

[maryloubsw]

Hi all, I want to get some feedback on the Deluxe Dining Plan. We paid OOP for a lot of meals last time we went (in February), namely the Cinderella's Royal Table, two signature (Cali Grill and Jiko) and a couple breakfasts. Do you get THREE table service meals per day? And if you've used it, did you feel like it was a waste? I like the idea of having everything prepaid but I don't want to waste a couple hundred dollars and feel like I have to overeat to get my money's worth Last time we were at DW we spent $1100 on food (that includes what we paid for our dining plan, and tips). So it would be about $900 for the DxDP for my husband, me and our 5 year old daughter.

 

[BCV23]

It is three credits per night. That truly does make a difference if you can arrive early enough in the first day and leave late enough in the final day to spread out the credits. Dinner shows and signature restaurants as well as CRT all use two credits.

Every time I've kept track, we've saved more using the deluxe plan that we would if we were only to have used our TiW card. Still it is a lot of food. I like it best for a short stay at the beginning or end of another resort stay. Best of all is a short one sandwiched in between two longer stays.

 

[WDWFERN]

We have used the DxDP the last 2 trips and really liked it. We generally would use the 3 points by having either breakfast OR lunch and then dinner at a signature restaurant. I do think it would take a lot of time to have 3 sit down meals in a day, but we found the above to work really well for our group.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am no fan of the dining plan but here is what the deluxe plan entails.

Per night of your resort reservation (not per day) you will receive, per person age 3 or over:

Three meal credits. (These are not TS credits. They are useable interchangably at either TS or CS restaurants).

Two snack credits.

One resort refillable mug.

Here is what you are entitled to.

CS meal: One entree or combo meal, one dessert (substitute juice for breakfast), one non-alcoholic beverage.

TS meal: One appetizer, one entree, and one dessert (at breakfast, an appetizer is not included and juice is substituted for dessert) plus one non-alcoholic beverage, or one full buffet plus non-alcoholic beverage.

You possibly could, if you have enough credits per night of your reservation to cover the meals you select, use the meal credits for three table service meals per day. Remember when doing your planning that signature restaurants and dinner shows cost 2 credits per meal. You would have to plan so the number of credits you receive (you get them in a lump sum when you check in and have until midnight after you check out to use all of them) cover all the meals you want to have.

 

[mopee3]

In the 5 trips we have taken since we joined DVC we have always used the Deluxe Dining Plan. That said we usually stay 9-14 days and after 10 days the food being sooooooo.. rich, well it gets to be something we don't look forward to.

I have taken receipts and compared them to what I would have paid if I used the TIW card and even with wine/adult beverages DDDP always comes out ahead. Not always by a bunch but always ahead. I have a TIW card and we use it to get valet parking, oh wait that's another thread!
We typically eat a 1 credit sit down breakfast and a 2 credit dinner, whether it's a dinner show (Hoop Dee Do) or restaurant. I love the plan but I wish they offered a 2 sit down credit meal plan because there are lots of 1 credit sit down places to eat. If we eat at 3 sit down places a day, we have done this, well I would need a wheelbarrow to carry me around. This fall we are going for 12 days, staying at 3 resorts and the dinning plan will be 8 days Deluxe and 4 regular plan.

We love having the dinning plans all made as it gives us a planned break with no decisions to make except what to eat at the restaurant we have already booked.


Moe

 

[jstarcze]

Personally I think it's too much food and believe me I like to eat. You said the last time you went it cost $1100(meals and tips), but with the DDDP it would be only $900ish. Does the $900 include tips? Because assuming that you would eat about the same as the last trip $900 plus tips on $1100 (less 18% for the tips in this number) the cost looks the same to me. If you're going to feel obligated to get your "moneys worth" I think you'll feel that you are overeating. Just my opinion.

 

[maryloubsw]

Personally I think it's too much food and believe me I like to eat. You said the last time you went it cost $1100(meals and tips), but with the DDDP it would be only $900ish. Does the $900 include tips? Because assuming that you would eat about the same as the last trip $900 plus tips on $1100 (less 18% for the tips in this number) the cost looks the same to me. If you're going to feel obligated to get your "moneys worth" I think you'll feel that you are overeating. Just my opinion.

Well last time I felt like I reduced where I wanted to eat because I didn't want to pay OOP for all these meals. I ended up just eating cereal in the room, etc. We are making this trip sort of a relax, hang out at the pool, eat vacation LOL. So, I probably would not do this EVERY time but since August is a hot month, I won't do as much park time so I could visit all the nice signature restaurants at the resorts. It sounds like it wouldbe OK for this trip, but probably would be a waste for a trip where I am running around to all the parks and don't want to waste time at a sitdown breakfast, etc Thanks all

 

[Dean]

Hi all, I want to get some feedback on the Deluxe Dining Plan. We paid OOP for a lot of meals last time we went (in February), namely the Cinderella's Royal Table, two signature (Cali Grill and Jiko) and a couple breakfasts. Do you get THREE table service meals per day? And if you've used it, did you feel like it was a waste? I like the idea of having everything prepaid but I don't want to waste a couple hundred dollars and feel like I have to overeat to get my money's worth Last time we were at DW we spent $1100 on food (that includes what we paid for our dining plan, and tips). So it would be about $900 for the DxDP for my husband, me and our 5 year old daughter.

The DDP can be a savings or not depending on your style, restaurant choices, etc. However, often when people do the comparison they compare to what they would have spent on those items and that is often not reality. Often one would not have gotten the same entree, dessert, and drink options if paying OOP. The DDP may give you the chance to try other things for a controlled amount though but I would not count that as savings but rather I would count it as added value. As a rule, the type locations you mentioned (require 2 credits per meal) are not a good value on the DDP. I'd suggest you take those locations and review the info on both the regular and Deluxe plan. I think you'll find that the TIW card will be a better value than either for the type of places you've listed. Of the 2 plans, you're likely better off with the basic DDP than the Deluxe plan even if you plan to eat out 3 meals most days but look at your situation.

The ways got get the best dollar value from the DDP are to use them for the more expensive single credit TS options getting the more expensive meals and desserts and when possible, using the drink option for specialty drinks like shakes. For those plans with CS options, the difference can be even greater ranging from $20 meals at Pepper Market and Cosmic Rays to $7 meals for a hot dog or $10 for a burger meal. Same with snacks, you can use them for $2 for a soda or $4 for a smoothie.

When I get the DDP I do so making sure it is a savings to me of at least 20% over other options based on what we would have ordered OOP, anything I get above that in more expensive meals or desserts is gravy. The other issue with the DDP is that it encourages you to overeat at times though less now without the appy (basic plan). We also look at other components of the trip to decide whether to get the plan. We make reservations first to see if the locations are a good value. We make sure we are arriving early and not leaving early so we can get at least 2 meals out of the plan on the day of arrival and a min of 1 (preferably 2) on the day of departure. We try to use it for shorter stays. Often we'll use it for 2 TS options in a given day (1 lunch/1 dinner) and share a meal paying extra for a soup or salad each. We may use only 1 CS credit for the 2 of us getting a fruit or salad using a snack credit. Snack credits otherwise go to smoothies, Mickey bars, Danish and specialty snacks. IF we have left over credits we try to make sure they are CS and/or snack credits only. We then use them for a meal to go for travel home and desserts/drinks to take with us (we drive). You can generally use 1 CS meal at the resorts and get 3 snack items (drink, cookie, dessert). We don't drive ourselves crazy over these issues but do take a good look at the overall benefit of the plan for a given trip and if not clearly a benefit, we pass. The other risk to getting a DDP option is if people are ill and you lose a day or more, you have already paid for those options.

 

[msvlg]

Last year my husband and I took my two grandchildren to WDW and we went with the Deluxe plan. We thought it was too much food and too much time that revolved around ADRs. At that time I said never again. That being said ten of us are going in April and I changed my mind and went with the deluxe plan again because I wanted everything paid, the refillable mugs and I didn't want to worry about meals. I booked a breakfast every morning and a dinner each night. I also booked a few two credit meals such as CRT, Mickey's BYBBQ and Yachtsmen Steakhouse. If it was just the four of us I would have gone with the regular plan. Good Luck!

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards

 

[TDC Nala]

Does the $900 include tips?

Tips are not included on any dining plan, with very few exceptions (the price of CRT and the dinner shows includes tips, as does in-room dining and pizza delivery).

 

[kittycat9]

Yes - it's worth it for us. We're doing some very creative things this time by taking advantage of both club level and deluxe dining to maximize signature dining and specialty dinner shows/character events for the kids. We're also coming in early, and leaving late on our 9d/8n trip - so it allows us more flexibility in how we intend on using our dining credits for meals such as lunch and dinner (and utilizing club level for breakfast). We only have 3 breakfasts planned at this time (Kona, Tusker & Chef Mickey's) - though were still in the planning stages. But in exchange we'll be eating at Narcoosee's, California Grill, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, Jiko - and I know there was something else on my list, but my spreadsheet is on the other computer. We can also wonder over to resorts and have table service for lunch, which is a nice way to see other hotels and take pictures.

 

[gilsan]

We loved DxDp last year and we are doing it again this year.

We usually planned 2 meals a day A breakfast with characters/early lunch and a signature dinner at night. Most breakfasts were buffets. We ate what we wanted and didn't pig out just because we could and then at dinner you get 3 courses, but after walking all day we were hungry. We didn't always finish our deserts but it was nice to have desert on vacation and not worry about the extra cost.

It was also nice to have the snack credits. When my daughter wanted a treat we got it for her. It was nice to not have to say no because we new she would only eat half. We also used snack credits for drinks. I know it is not the best use of credits but it is better than hoarding and then not using them.

It also looks like you are staying at a deluxe, so you can also use your credits for room service if you don't feel like going out, making it easier not to waste/not use credits.

We are staying at GF this time and I think it will be very nice to be so close to all those restaurants plus in room dining.

 

[maryloubsw]

The DDP can be a savings or not depending on your style, restaurant choices, etc. However, often when people do the comparison they compare to what they would have spent on those items and that is often not reality. Often one would not have gotten the same entree, dessert, and drink options if paying OOP. The DDP may give you the chance to try other things for a controlled amount though but I would not count that as savings but rather I would count it as added value. As a rule, the type locations you mentioned (require 2 credits per meal) are not a good value on the DDP. I'd suggest you take those locations and review the info on both the regular and Deluxe plan. I think you'll find that the TIW card will be a better value than either for the type of places you've listed. Of the 2 plans, you're likely better off with the basic DDP than the Deluxe plan even if you plan to eat out 3 meals most days but look at your situation.

The ways got get the best dollar value from the DDP are to use them for the more expensive single credit TS options getting the more expensive meals and desserts and when possible, using the drink option for specialty drinks like shakes. For those plans with CS options, the difference can be even greater ranging from $20 meals at Pepper Market and Cosmic Rays to $7 meals for a hot dog or $10 for a burger meal. Same with snacks, you can use them for $2 for a soda or $4 for a smoothie.

When I get the DDP I do so making sure it is a savings to me of at least 20% over other options based on what we would have ordered OOP, anything I get above that in more expensive meals or desserts is gravy. The other issue with the DDP is that it encourages you to overeat at times though less now without the appy (basic plan). We also look at other components of the trip to decide whether to get the plan. We make reservations first to see if the locations are a good value. We make sure we are arriving early and not leaving early so we can get at least 2 meals out of the plan on the day of arrival and a min of 1 (preferably 2) on the day of departure. We try to use it for shorter stays. Often we'll use it for 2 TS options in a given day (1 lunch/1 dinner) and share a meal paying extra for a soup or salad each. We may use only 1 CS credit for the 2 of us getting a fruit or salad using a snack credit. Snack credits otherwise go to smoothies, Mickey bars, Danish and specialty snacks. IF we have left over credits we try to make sure they are CS and/or snack credits only. We then use them for a meal to go for travel home and desserts/drinks to take with us (we drive). You can generally use 1 CS meal at the resorts and get 3 snack items (drink, cookie, dessert). We don't drive ourselves crazy over these issues but do take a good look at the overall benefit of the plan for a given trip and if not clearly a benefit, we pass. The other risk to getting a DDP option is if people are ill and you lose a day or more, you have already paid for those options.

I'm not necessarily thinking it will SAVE me money, but if I'm spending the same amount, I'd rather it be convienent. I am not an AP holder or FL resident so can I even get TIW???

 

[mb_uh]

The dxdp is not the cheapest way to eat. So it really depends on what kind of meals you want to eat and what your normal eating style is. You mentioned wanting to do character meals and signature restaurants which can all be very high.

I can be really cheap but we want the full disney overload experience so I spent a lot of time running the numbers.

The plan is 72 dollars but with mug I value that at 2 dolars a day. Snacks are worth 4 in my opionion which leaves you with 66 for 3 meals for adults or 22 per credit. The cheapest character breakfast is like 19 before tax so you might lose 2 dollars on that credit, some character breakfasts are 30 so you come out ahead 8 or 9 dollars. For a child the plan is 21 minus 2 for the mug and 4 for snacks that is 15 dollars or 5 dollars per credit. Buffets for kids are at least 11 dollars so this credit leaves at 6 ahead or as a family you break even on the cheapest character breakfast.

If you follow up with a signature restaurants which may not be the best value for the plan but still should put you ahead. Your 2 credits are worth 44 combined. Even a cheap soup or salad costs 8 dollars which leaves 36. A beverage is about 2.50 leaving you 33.50. The cheapest entree is about 30 leaving 3.50 for dessert and tax. Given the high tax rate it be at least 4 dollars so you are ahead .50 without dessert. For a child 2 credits are 10 dollars. Appetizers for kids 2.50, cheapest entree is 7.50 so dessert and tax are free.

Basically if you would actually order anything except the cheapest items you will come ahead even skipping 1 course. Figure that places like Le cellier cost almost as much for 1 credit and dinner at CRT or a dinner show which inlude beer or wne and tip are almost 60 for adults and 35 for kids your breakfast was free. Even using credit for an occasional cs meal you would save money and for me the big perk is that you can splurge and get the lobster at Narcoosses or a cheese plate when paying oop you might have spent the exact same money but had the chicken and a simple salad and skipped dessert. I see that as the big value of the plan that the prepaid concept lets you choose what you want.

What too many people get hung up on is getting everything they are entitled to. If you run the numbers and can figure out that worst case scenario is that broke even then there is no reason to order anything you do not want and if you want to try something a little extra you can.

Enjoy your vacation.

 

[Dean]

I'm not necessarily thinking it will SAVE me money, but if I'm spending the same amount, I'd rather it be convienent. I am not an AP holder or FL resident so can I even get TIW???

That's why you need to look at your situation. To be honest, I think it is generally significantly more than they would have spent without the plan for many people. I also don't see convenience in the plan because you have to give a card either way but with the DDP you have to make sure you use it or you lose value where if you're paying OOP and you decide for a CS meal instead of a TS you haven't lost anything. The only other potential benefit is the prepaid budgeting issue which I feel is overrated and there are other ways to do that without being forced into the DDP as a budgeting tool. I think there are times when it does make sense and times when it doesn't but I feel that often people make assumptions that are not accurate and that they assign savings when they really are not there.

I'm not like my sister who may stop on a trip for lunch with a drink at a fast food restaurant then stop at that same chain to refill the drink along the way. Or a similar Disney analogy, get the double meat burger and an extra bun and make 2 burgers. I don't mind spending money for value assuming I have it.

 

[TDC Nala]

You do still have to pay tips on the dining plan. So you have to carry around something to pay them with anyway. Unless you're on the quick service plan.

Most "convenience" I see people assign to the dining plan is that they don't have to look at the menu prices when ordering, and if they want they can order the most expensive item on the menu without batting an eyelash or getting into a fight with the spouse or whoever about "how much this is costing us" or telling the kids "We're not paying for that, get something else." That has some merit at least psychologically, but I don't really pay that much attention to the menu prices anyway, I just order what I want. (Of course, I am not paying for anyone other than me, and I don't order meat most of the time, I'm just not a meat fan - and fish/chicken/veggie dishes seem to cost less anyway)

 

[2Tiggies]

Most "convenience" I see people assign to the dining plan is that they don't have to look at the menu prices when ordering, and if they want they can order the most expensive item on the menu without batting an eyelash or getting into a fight with the spouse or whoever about "how much this is costing us" or telling the kids "We're not paying for that, get something else."

The flip side of the coin is that often people who have debated long and hard about paying for a dining plan end up checking the menu anyhow and take aboard the burden of adding up and making sure they are spending enough. If you are doing this as a challenge and enjoy it, seeing how far ahead you can come out, then great. But if you are purely wanting convenience AND economy, I dunno so much ..... To me it is the same hassle with a different flavor

I think the various dining plans genuinely work out really well for a large number of guests with little or no effort on their part. The trick is assessing your habits, estimating likely costs and finding the right one for you.

 

[Dean]

Most "convenience" I see people assign to the dining plan is that they don't have to look at the menu prices when ordering, and if they want they can order the most expensive item on the menu without batting an eyelash or getting into a fight with the spouse or whoever about "how much this is costing us" or telling the kids "We're not paying for that, get something else." That has some merit at least psychologically, but I don't really pay that much attention to the menu prices anyway, I just order what I want. (Of course, I am not paying for anyone other than me, and I don't order meat most of the time, I'm just not a meat fan - and fish/chicken/veggie dishes seem to cost less anyway)

Your situation is much like ours and we are often at the less expensive options. I think the other side of the convenience issue is that many people don't want to be tied to dining and dining reservations nearly as much as you need to be to truly get a value out of the basic DDP or the Dx plan. As for arguments at a meal, dysfunctional families will continue to be dysfunctional.

If I'm going to do the DDP, I am certainly going to get a value from it as I have in the past. But we don't mind our days revolving around the meals, I actually quite enjoy it. The other situation we really haven't touched on nearly as much on this thread as other similar ones is the ages of the kids. Kids who are 9 or less but eat more like teens can really add value to the DDP options compared to costs OOP.

 

[seadd67]

We are doing a mixiture of both the DDP and going OOP.We oirgnialy resve the DxDDP. But I changed It to the DDP because some of the places we wanted to book,they did not accept the DDP and we where not going to change our places for the DDP. For the value we will still come out just ahead,and hay even If you are saving a few bucks its worth It. But really I think It just comes down to what you like and feel most compertable with. Hay you have to eat,hoe you do It Is really up to you,go all out or hit the CS places through out the parks, your not going to go wrong eather way.