Dining package or not?

[mommy1212]

Do you recommend the dining package or not? I will be traveling w/ my husband, DD-6, DS-3 and my parents in summer 2006. We aren't sure what to do w/ the dining package...my children usually split a kids meal...and really don't enjoy sit down meals...so am i further ahead to just skip the package or should I purchase the dining package? Any suggestions?

 

[bicker]

The value of dining packages it typically the convenience they afford you. So how much do you value convenience?

 

[landmark]

What I did was add up how much we typically ate in a day. My kids are 13 and 7 so they don't typically share meals. For us the dining will run $115 per day. We typically have one TS per day anyway. So the dining plan offered us a discount since a typical TS lunch for us was around $70+ and a dinner TS $90+. We average around $35 at CS so if we had only planned on eating CS for all meals then the dining plan would not have been worth the expense. So I say determine the places you will likely eat. If they are all CS and you will most likely have the children be sharing then the dining plan isn't a bargain for you. If, however, you plan on eating at several character meals etc then the dining plan can be a good choice and a savings.

 

[Frantasmic]

It will depend on your children...and your parents. Will your parents be happy with more counter service meals than sit down meals?

If it were just your family going and you share many meals and your children don't enjoy sit down meals much, I'd not recommend the dining plan.

However, you can use your table service credits for a wide variety of character buffets, so that might afford you the opportunity to try those with the dining plan.

Four adults and 2 children under 9 would be about $175 a day on the dining plan (approx 2006 prices if I remember right).

 

[pooch]

I've been going back and forth on this, too. Dining plan will cost us (2 adults two older kids) $152 per day. We love TS restaurants and will do one every day (can't do the burgers & fries route for the whole vacation!) Even though I expect that either DH & I or DD & I will split our CS meal each day, we will use the extra CS credits for breakfast. I think the plan will work for us. And I won't have to look at prices at the TS restaurants! My impression is, you gotta do them TS or Character meals to make the plan worth it, but if you do, it's a great deal!

Good luck

Pooch

 

[riaesq]

If it's the cost savings you are thinking about, then you also need to take into consideration whether you will be losing any discounts on a room, and whether or not you actually need tickets (ie, if you have an AP, have the DDE card, etc). If that's the case, your overall savings could be minimal. There are a few people who seem to feel that the plan kind of "cramped their style".

 

[Luv4Disney]

DBF and I don't do the dining plan. We found it restricting and we didn't want to worry about figuring out credits and whatnot. We plan about $100 a day average for the two of us. But we do a lot of TS's. Somedays we may go over a little, and somedays we stay way under. So, our average a day is pretty much just to make sure we have enough money. We do, however have the DDE card, which provides a 20% discount at about 90% of the places we eat. That alone has made a big difference. If the kids share a meal, I can't imagine them each having their own plan. The dining plan just confuses me!

 

[ceecee]

DH didn't like the fact that we had to be at a certain place to eat every day. If you don't enjoy table serves you would probably be ahead not to get the dining plan. Especially if your kids don't eat much yet.

 

[TiggerDaisy]

My husband and I thought that it was a great deal. When I was booking the trip, I located the information about the dining plan and he thought that it was a great deal. Also, we had planned on eating most of our meals in WDW during our trip so to get one TS and CS meal per day plus one snack is awesome. Luckily, all of the restaurants that we wanted were on the dining plan and worth 1 TS credit. I am very excited about the Dining Plan and I cannot wait until we get down there this week! Only four more days until we leave!!!!

 

[Tissa]

Do you recommend the dining package or not? my children usually split a kids meal...and really don't enjoy sit down meals... ?

Then I would say NO for the reasons you just listed.

 

[LeesyUD]

If you would normally eat on Disney Property and like to do some sitdown meals I think it is a Great value....if you do not want to do a sitdown every night for dinner you can use 2 TS for a character meal or a signature restaurant and you don't have to do it just dinner, use it for brakfast or lunch..my bf and I just got back and used 2 to go to California Grill and it was great...the bill would have been $150 for both of use so it was worth it for use. Le Cellier which is 1 TS was great and the bill would have been $120 for both. Plus I think it is convenient to not have to worry about the money and the CMs are very helpful when it comes to what is included and we had wonderful service in all the restaurants we ate at. If you think you would do at least 1 CS and 1 TS a day then go for it. Dinners range usually from 25-50 a person....sometimes hire and sometimes a little lower. Counter Servie will usually run you at least 10-15 per person. If you figure $30/person/day for TS and $10/person/day for CS you will be saving money because it already includes 15% tip (though we left a little extra) and you get the snacks we which mainly used for drinks and the food and wine festival...but that alone saved us about $20. As you can tell I loved the dining plan! I got it for free but I thought it was agreat value and convenient and I will definitely pay for the plan when I go back!

 

[brooker]

We had the dining booked and paid for with all the adr's confirmed. But after we looked at it, this being our first trip we just didn't want to be tied down to a particular restaurant at a particular time of day. We don't think we will save any money, but we felt we could get enough of a variety of CS meals to get us through a week at WDW. I have read that in some cases people are waiting for nearly 2 hours to be completely finished a TS meal. By the way we are travelling with a picky 7 yr old boy.

 

[Nikki_Mouse]

We are not big eaters. Do not eat breakfast- late lunch, sometimes only dinner. Kids are 4 and 7 and picky. We received the dining plan for free in September. It was the best ecperience for us. A lot of food indeed! How else can you try the restaurants you otherwise would not? Even my husband, who is not a big eater, said that it was a great deal and we would never do Disney without it. The choices that you have outwiegh the questioning of the plan. We did a character breakfast/dinner everyday and did not have to worry about paying for it.
We also have been thinking about DVC- our biggest holdout is that you cannot receive the dining plan as a DVC member.
So really consider the options before saying no- it is well worth the money!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I'd say the age of your children might be a problem with the dining plan if they don't like waiting in restaurants. Even though you have an ADR, depending on the time of year you travel, you may still have to wait awhile before you are even seated. Also, how will your kids react if you have to leave an attraction so you can make it to your ADR on time? Maybe you would be better off asking the grandparents to watch the kids a night or two while you and DH have a nice leisurely meal.

We decided not to get the dining plan because our 12 and 10 year olds would have to pay the adult price for the plan and would not even come close to eating the amount of food the plan allows. Also, they really don't have the desire to go to character meals anymore.

Good luck with your decision.