did you do free dinning what did you save

[Richard Bruvofetc]

The way I look at it as to what I saved, is not how much my total bill for all the food we ate compared to the price we paid for the DDP.

When we went to Disney Movies in 2001 our total food bill for the 2 weeks came to £1250 (Me DW and DD - DD age 8 and didn't eat much).

In 2003 we stayed on I Drive. Ate at the Ponderosa a few times and other restaurants. Our food bill for the two weeks came to just under £950 (DD still didn't eat much)

This year, with the DDP, our total food bill came to £924. So taking into account inflation we saved money on the previous occasions (we also ate very well, in fact too well. Our TS bills alone came to £870).

 

[paulh]

I dread to think how much weight I would put on,

Suprisingly i only put on 1/2 stone,DW wont tell me how much she put on
Paulh

 

[Laurafoster]

We were just looking at the menu and prices and trying to figure out what it would take to come up with the numbers you gave, as a matter of curiosity, since they seemed rather high. Our numbers and yours don't match.

No big deal. I was just asking out of curiosity.

Dont forget that the prices also do not reflect the tax - so you have to add another 6.5% for that plus 18% tip!

 

[cleo]

Yes, thank you. I know how tipping and tax work.

Just an observation, not meant to ruffle anyone's feathers. Back to what you were doing.

 

[paulh]

Dont forget that the prices also do not reflect the tax - so you have to add another 6.5% for that plus 18% tip!

That would makeit $270.00 but i dont want to confuse cleo
Paulh

 

[Laurafoster]

That would makeit $270.00 but i dont want to confuse cleo
Paulh

Sorry no i meant the prices on the menus online!

 

[cleo]

I'm not confused in the slightest, Paul (though seeing $40 tip in one place and $45 in another threw me for a moment), and you certainly have nothing to 'prove' to me. It's quite alright with me if you saved $3000, and I think I've indicated several times it sounds like you got a good deal.

It's obviously pushing your buttons, seeing as how you keep doing things 'for my benefit', which certainly isn't necessary. You saved a lot of money and I'm happy for you. I questioned your numbers because they are different from mine (and yes, I understand about tipping. I'm an American, dontcha know). In the grand scheme of things, is this really something to get worked up over?

I'll step back now and let you post another jab if it makes you feel better. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what I came up with, it only matters that you feel you got an excellent deal, which, after all, is the whole point of the Dining Plan.

 

[Boss Hogg]

I say good job Paul. My initial thoughts were $3k - that's a lot of cash and we eat in some nice places when we're at WDW (most offsite admittedly), but when you break it down I guess for 4 it doesn't add up to much per day.

My money saving tip is, stay off-site! That way you don't have to pay to eat in a restaurant 3 times a day (somewhat off topic I know).

BTW Susan, I'm always intrigued by your sig, are you a Well behaved woman, or, are you making history

 

[UKDEB]

We love eating out. In fact, I'd say it's the single biggest pleasure we get from our trips. We eat at some pretty fancy (read expensive ) places both onsite and off, but $3000 still seems like a lot of money. At the end of the day, if you've convinced yourself that you've saved that much money, then you're going to be happy. Goodness knows I trick myself with the same kind of thinking in all sorts of areas of my life. If you've managed to avail yourselves of free dining, the amount in question is almost a red herring. The fact is you will have saved (let's see - paying something compared with paying nothing - ah, yes, I see a saving ). From everything I've read, it's pretty safe to say you wouldn't have spent that much if it wasn't free. That's why no-one can get into any WDW restaurants during the free dining period. People are eating at WDW restaurants way more because they're not paying.

 

[UKDEB]

Starters
Spinach and Five Cheese Dip $10.95
Asian Style Vegetable Spring Rolls $9.95
2 x Barbeque Chicken Quesadilla $21.90
Entree
3 x Grilled Angus Filet Mignon $104.85
WOOD-FIRED PIZZAS Pepperoni $12.95
desserts
Creme Brulee Sampler $7.50
2 x Key Lime Pie (one to go) $13.90
New York Style White Chocolate Cheesecake $7.50
Drinks
4 x diet cokes $18.00
3 x coffes $15.00
Add total and add the $18% tip

Had to do the above as it looked that you disbelived me
Paulh

We could maybe eat this much food 2 or 3 times in one sitting during a 2 week trip. With the free dining, I can't help wondering how much food is being thrown away. It has to be encouraging people to order food they won't eat.

 

[paulh]

we ate at quite a few 2TS places so it was`nt disney every night.We only eat what we could eat(we gave sil 12 CS meals we dident eat).
We got it free on the offer so we had to buy 2 base tickets for 4 people(had to book 2 lots of 7 nights)that cost $400, room cost $1500 for 2 weeks
With that we got the free dinning
Would we pay for it in the future Yes
Would we do free dinning again yes
As we have been going for a long time now we have found that the food is part of our holiday so eating in fine places makes it better
Boss hogg sorry but we wouldnt stay ofsite as we like the comfort,luxuryand saftey of a disney resort
Deb we never ordered more than we could eat it was at o hanas that made us look like gluttens when you saw the food left
Paulh

 

[UKDEB]

Me again.

Dh has just pointed out that we have been on two cruises (one Disney, one non-Disney), both with 'free' food. Both times we have disembarked not wanting to ever eat another restaurant meal. Our last cruise was in April this year and we had such good intentions, but with so many great restaurants to try in such a short space of time, they soon went out of the window. It really is no different to the free dining plan. Had we been paying for that food on the cruises, we would not have eaten nearly so much.

So, the point I'm trying to make is that, with the free dining plan, you save what you would have spent ordinarily, not the amount your receipts suggest. It's just human nature to over-indulge because you can.

 

[paulh]

Deb we would normaly spend $2100 on food over 2 weeks for the 4 of us.
we have done cruises and know what you mean
Paulh

 

[UKDEB]

$1900 for accommodation, tickets and dining for a family of four is a good deal, whatever way you look at it.

Having done both, I can't agree with the onsite/offiste argument, though. There is a limit to the degree of luxury available onsite, whereas offsite, the sky's the limit. We'll continue with the onsite elements of our trips for the convenience. Luxury? Don't see it myself.

 

[Miffy2003]

We saved about $1600 over a ten night stay, but it is absolutely fair to say that we would not have spent $1600 if we were not on the plan

This was for 2 adults and 2 children.

We could have got more money spent, but I couldn't eat a CS (with dessert) and then a three course meal as well every day so often I passed on the dessert for both CS & TS.

I also think something went wrong with our card as I'm absolutely certain we ended up with about 50% more snacks than we should have

I think we would have spent under $1100 if we were not on Free Dining (though we had a DDE still in date from our last holiday which would have saved some more).

One of the things I did like about the Dining Plan was the snacks I often used these for water (though I know it's not the best use of them financially, it made something free that I would otherwise have spent $10 a day on). It was just nice to go up to a cart and not have to hand over a note

 

[Boss Hogg]

Fair play mate if Disney make the plan available make the most of it I say. $1900 for accomodation and tickets for 4 doesn't sound to shabby (assume that's 14 day hopper tickets for 4?).

Boss hogg sorry but we wouldnt stay ofsite as we like the comfort,luxuryand saftey of a disney resort

Not sure I am with you on parts of this especially the comfort and luxury. I've stayed in a few Disney resorts and I'm not sure that any are luxurious, would personally say that the Ritz Carlton is luxurious and for luxury and comfort there are always private villas, like the last one we stayed in - villa.

All that having been said, each to their own

 

[Boss Hogg]

We could have got more money spent, but I couldn't eat a CS (with dessert) and then a three course meal as well every day so often I passed on the dessert for both CS & TS.

Dumb question time, what is CS and TS?

 

[paulh]

whith the offer next year we will be doing 3 weeks disney,2 weeks pop on Free ddp and 1 week SSR DVCon our point.We will be using ME both wayThe way i look at it if disney want to pay for my food then i can stay longer.
Staying onsite means we dont have to have a car,also when we stay at SSr we will get a taxi to priemiun outlets for shopping and we can walk to the crossroads.Have worked out that 3 weeks would cost no more than £4000 all in food travel and park entry for 4 (dont forget were in dvc)
Paulh

 

[paulh]

Boss hog luxury means not having to drive for over half an hour then get on boat to MK and when you are at pool you know the lifeguards are watching the pool at all times.
OK this time we stayed at pop but you are treated the same at disney from a value to a delux and we have stayed at all
We have never looked at room size as a priority the room is only to sleep in
Paulh

 

[UKDEB]

Deb we would normaly spend $2100 on food over 2 weeks for the 4 of us

Well, that's still a very worthwhile saving.