Dining help please?

[cbeehler3]

We are DVC members and have been for a very long time. We were always in a good way financially and were able to afford the Dining Plan. We have had a bad turn this year financially and are trying our darndest to be able to have our already planned trip in June. We save our points and do a 10 day trip every third year.
So this year we are driving as opposed to flying (from DC) we aren't going into the parks as many days. No park hopping. You get the picture.
But what we are really having trouble with is our love and habit of eating at the restaurants. We have four kids from 16-2. We do eat breakfast in our unit the majority of the days.
So how do you all do meals when you are in the parks all day?
Do you pack lunches? Go back for dinner? Any ideas on how to make it happen?
We are saving cash like crazy to be able to pay for the plan. But just in case we can't do it, I would love some practical advice. I am willing to do the leg work but my other half is digging his heals in big time.
Any help would be so appreciated!!
(oh and I will be packing groceries from Aldi's since we are driving..so no expensive groceries from down there.)
Thanks guys!!
Christie

 

[vicki_c]

Well my family doesn't do this, but I have a number of friends that pack their lunches into the parks most days. Just take a small soft sided cooler bag and take some sandwiches with you - you can store the bag in a locker while you tour. Or plan on counter service lunches and dinners back at the room.

We have never bought the dining plan so it's no great hardship to me to go without that.

 

[tzuhouse]

We always do the CP for breakfast on the first morning at the MK and the rest of the breakfasts are cereal in the room before we leave. For the most part, we bring in sandwiches, goldfish, baby carrots, etc. for snacking. Fruit gets a bit heavy in the backpack so if we pack fruit for everyone, we make sure that's the first snack to go. We carry water bottles with filters with us and refill them throughout the day at fountains and such.

Mary

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We stopped buying the DDP when our oldest turned 10, too expensive for what they were eating. Have you thought of segmenting your reservation to have the Dining Plan for 1/2 of your stay. Maybe in the middle of the trip, that way it will cost 1/2 the price and you get to enjoy some of those sit down meals you like. We are doing one day of deluxe DP, that way we get 3 table credits we can use over two days. I have 3 sit down meals in those two days. Our other 2 sit downs we will pay OOP, and eat counter service and meals in our room.

 

[rutgers1]

First question ---- What type of park tickets are you getting? If I recall, a 10 day trip is right around the cut-off for annual passes being a better deal. And if you get the AP's, you can get the Tables in Wonderland card, which will give you a nice discount on your meals.

I have worked out the dining plan under every scenario through the years, and for my family the only way it makes sense is if you eat at the more expensive restaurants allowed by the plan --- and if you eat at those places for dinner. For example, compared to paying out of pocket, eating a dinner at the Biergarten while on the dining plan is a great deal.

So, with that said, here is what I'd do:
1) If it works out and makes financial sense, I'd use your DVC discount to get annual passes to the park.
2) I'd then get a Tables in Wonderland card. I think it costs $75 and you get a 20% discount (basically covers your tips).
3) From there, I'd eat more counter service meals and in-room meals than normal, and I'd make sure that my more expensive table service meals are for lunch. The difference between a lunch and dinner at the Biergarten is around $9/person, while the difference at the Liberty Tree Tavern can be around $15/person. On top of that, by having your table service meal for lunch, you are less likely to want a beer or glass of wine (which adds up).

Although I absolutely love to eat my table service meals at dinner, we are going to switch it around for a chunk of our summer trip. Financially, it is so much better.

 

[rutgers1]

We stopped buying the DDP when our oldest turned 10, too expensive for what they were eating. Have you thought of segmenting your reservation to have the Dining Plan for 1/2 of your stay. Maybe in the middle of the trip, that way it will cost 1/2 the price and you get to enjoy some of those sit down meals you like. We are doing one day of deluxe DP, that way we get 3 table credits we can use over two days. I have 3 sit down meals in those two days. Our other 2 sit downs we will pay OOP, and eat counter service and meals in our room.

Is that possible? I was under the impression that you had to get the dining plan for your length of stay, unless you worked it so that you were splitting your stay under two reservations. Without separate reservations, I am nearly certain you can't segment the dining plan.

 

[ddoconnell]

We always eat breakfast in the room now...one of the perks of a DVC villa! Usually do CS for lunch so we can control the cost and then dinner in the villa. If it is hot out, you can do the larger sit down meal in the villa at lunch and carry some sandwiches or hit CS for dinner. We also, take snacks into the parks with us to cut down on that expense. But we do plan for at least one treat a day...a favorite restaurant, snack, or even a ride or show.

Hope you have a magical time!

 

[Mike]

Since you will have a car, consider doing some dinners offsite. It is incredible how much money you will save and I think the food quality is better in some cases.

We eat breakfast in the villas and then head out to a park right around opening before it gets crowded. We can get so much done for the first few hours because the lines are minimal. We will typically stay in the park until about 1:00. Sometimes we will grab counter service, someimes just a snack and then light lunch back at the villa.

We head back for an afternoon break. The kids and DW usually head to the pool for a bit. I will do some laundry and check in to work on the laptop. We then head out to a local restaurant and return to the parks for the evening nice and refreshed.

There are so many places to go that are all very close. On the restaurant board there is a thread about local restaurants. We will do some chains (we love Olive Garden) and some local places (absolutely love Orlando Ale House .. great food and very reasonably priced).

 

[vicki_c]

Is that possible? I was under the impression that you had to get the dining plan for your length of stay, unless you worked it so that you were splitting your stay under two reservations. Without separate reservations, I am nearly certain you can't segment the dining plan.

For DVC only, they will now segment your one reservation into parts so you can buy the DDP for some days but not others. Your credits are still only good for the days you have the DDP though (so you can't buy DDP for 3 days and spread the credits out over 7 or anything like that). It is one reservation though and you don't have to switch rooms or have separate reservations. Again - DVC only, no one else can do this.

 

[Sandisw]

We found that doing a TS for lunch works out best for us. We eat a light breakfast--muffin, bagel, yogurt, etc.

We then plan our lunch around 11:30 - 12:00 pm. This allows us to get away with a light dinner or snacks the rest of the day--well, at least it does for a few of us, especially me.

And, the TS lunch is less expensive than the TS dinner so it saves in terms of cost, especially since some of the dining locations give an AP or DVC discount on lunch during the week.

Good luck!

 

[Chellymouse]

First question ---- What type of park tickets are you getting? If I recall, a 10 day trip is right around the cut-off for annual passes being a better deal. And if you get the AP's, you can get the Tables in Wonderland card, which will give you a nice discount on your meals.

I have worked out the dining plan under every scenario through the years, and for my family the only way it makes sense is if you eat at the more expensive restaurants allowed by the plan --- and if you eat at those places for dinner. For example, compared to paying out of pocket, eating a dinner at the Biergarten while on the dining plan is a great deal.

So, with that said, here is what I'd do:
1) If it works out and makes financial sense, I'd use your DVC discount to get annual passes to the park.
2) I'd then get a Tables in Wonderland card. I think it costs $75 and you get a 20% discount (basically covers your tips).
3) From there, I'd eat more counter service meals and in-room meals than normal, and I'd make sure that my more expensive table service meals are for lunch. The difference between a lunch and dinner at the Biergarten is around $9/person, while the difference at the Liberty Tree Tavern can be around $15/person. On top of that, by having your table service meal for lunch, you are less likely to want a beer or glass of wine (which adds up).

Although I absolutely love to eat my table service meals at dinner, we are going to switch it around for a chunk of our summer trip. Financially, it is so much better.

Also, AP will allow you to park hop and AP holders also receive a 10% discount on just about every store in WDW. So you may gather even more savings. We have TIW and it's been worth it's cost in gold! We saved quite a bit with our TIW card last trip and will be using it again in 47 days! Eating breakfast in your villa and packing lunches for the park will save quite a bit of $$, then if you use your TIW card for TS meals at dinner, it should save quite a bit for you!

 

[Deb & Bill]

TS Breakfasts are a lot cheaper than TS dinners. And lunches are in between. If you really want a TS dinner, book a very late lunch at a buffet and you will more than likely get both offerings. For example we like Crystal Palace every now and then. So we book lunch at around 2:30. They change out the offerings to the dinner offerings at 3PM. So we wind up getting both.

Or use your kitchen more than you have before. We'll be doing that a lot on our trip in June since we are bringing 9 non-family member teens along with us for a post-graduation trip. We're springing for breakfast at Chef Mickey's one morning for all 12 of us. But the rest of the time Bill & I will be TS dining on our own at a few locations. And stocking the refrigerator for the kids.

 

[WDWFERN]

Since 10 days would be a long time to add the plan for, and since it sounds as though you may have a few favorite restaurants, I would agree that asking MS about segmenting your reservation and adding the dining plan to only part would possibly be the best of both worlds. That way you could pick a couple must do ADRs and enjoy those, and then maybe eat in the villa more often on the other days. I know for our next trip, I am really going to consider segmenting our DVC reservation so that we can do this and I think it is a neat perk we have now.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

My $.02....When we last stayed, we also were watching pennies (there was a potential layoff looming...which thankfully did not occur). We had breakfast in our rooms each day, we packed snacks (granola bars, breakfast bars, etc.) and water into the park, and then we ate a late lunch at our favorite spots. When we went back to the room we had cheese, crackers, nuts, and appetizers that we could pop into the oven. We then noshed on that and did our evenings poolside or at community hall...chilling out. Our 2 exceptions were Raglan Road and Rose and Crown (Illuminations viewing). And you know what, no one felt deprived or like they were missing out...after all it's Disney World.

 

[DebbieB]

We usually eat in the room and have a late lunch as our main table service meal. Lunches are cheaper than dinners and easier to get a reservation. Then get a counter service later.

 

[sweetdana]

Eat breakfast in the room, toast n jelly, pop tarts, oatmeal, cereal, Bagel and creamcheese, ect. Don't leave without eating. Everyone must have there own water bottle and fill it up all day.

Bring a good snack at 11, (granola bars, pop tarts, goldfish, fruit leather, apples, oranges, ect). If you have to have pop, bring it with you and just get ice at the park. Then head back to the room and have a late lunch at 1.

Low costs very good, dinners ready after a long day at the park.. Crock pot, pack one. Start right after breakfast and it will be ready for you when your back. (8 hours max) Chili, pot roast, bean soup ect. You could even have it made the night before and keep in fridge, then just plug in.

If you are having a couple non park days.. just cook what you'de cook at home.

If driving was possible and I was on a tough budget, the parks wouldn't be a requirment. (I wouldn't stay at BLT or BC, prolly SSR) go to DTD, and go to a sing along at WL for fun instead. Watch wishes from Poly pool, and watch movies on the beach, and marshmellow roast ect. Enjoy the pool, drive to vero beach a day or 2. There are tons of free things there. Costs for food, wouldn't be an issue either, if staying in a 1 bedroom, just cook like I do at home with no extra costs. Actually with 1 day of dining you can get free mugs for the whole party and have free pop and coffee.

I do not know if I agree with the AP idea, seems if things are tough say a 4 day WP pass will be much less for 8 days worth of parks then an AP. I think it is much less to shorter park tickers. I would seriously consider adding the WP and more feature for a WP every other day for not much more. (54$ a ticket)