Dining plan cost effective?

[mybabesuz]

Thanks everyone for your detailed replies! I think I'm more undecided than I was before!! When we do the "regular" DDP we end up scheduling are trip around eating and it can sometimes complicate our schedule a little. But...for $10 more a day...gah! I'm going to have to do some serious number crunching. Good thing I have 9 months left to figure it out!

Just don't forget that you only get ONE snack and you don't get the refillable mug with the regular DP...
So you are trading 1 CS meal, 1 Snack, and the MUG plus $10 for 1 TS meal...

 

[jeankeri]

Last time we did the DP was when it still included appetizer and tip, and even if it hadn't changed, I would not do it again. There was always something on the menu that my boys wanted, or a snack at the food carts, that was not included. Mind you, these were not items that were priced much higher, just not included. Halfway through our trip I paid OOP for snacks and we used the credits to buy bags of candy to bring home for friends.

 

[crisi]

Those who split meals between your DH and yourself, how does that work? Because my DH would definitely not be happy to share more than a taste with me. Do your spouses not have big appetites all the time, or is it the Florida heat that knocks it down a bit?

For us, the regular dining plan is the only one I think makes $en$e because for only $10/more p/p per/day you can have character meals or other TS meals. That alone seems to be a better value, because with small kids, we're always doing a bunch of character meals. Plus, we buy tons of Dt Pepsi to stash in our fridge, so the LAST thing we need are mugs...

I have come at this conundrum 112 different ways, trying to do w/o the DDP, and it always comes back to within $40 either way. And paying OOP at TS/CS restaurants means ordering water sometimes and most times no dessert in order to be competitive with the DDP. So, we tip the scales (no pun intended) toward using the DDP when we go, we just wait for a big discount on the room or we can't afford the trip. Well, we can "afford" it, we just choose not to part with that much $$$.....

My husband is not necessarily a big eater, and yes, the heat does seem to knock it down a bit. He's a pretty big guy, but we keep portion sizes at home within guidelines (we regularly feed four people a meal off a pound of meat). I'm a firm believer in most Americans eat way too much and it is bad for us. Our bodies have adjusted to a world of plenty - but not in healthful ways. Eating slightly less than what you need to be satisfied is better for you. So, frankly, he isn't used to getting his own steak at home.

At Disney, we generally get our own meals, but not always. We generally eat one table service meal each day, a couple at signature places. We usually split appetizers and desserts going out to dinner.

 

[twanner]

Just don't forget that you only get ONE snack and you don't get the refillable mug with the regular DP...
So you are trading 1 CS meal, 1 Snack, and the MUG plus $10 for 1 TS meal...

That's a good point. I should add up the total potential cost of those CS meals, snacks and 3 mugs and see what it amounts to. That would give me an idea of how much money I'll have to spend OOP for sit-down meals if we do decide on the counter-service plan only.

 

[extremesoccermom]

Personally, I was looking at for myself and my DD14. We are going in March. I really don't think it is worth it. I have an AP so I bought the Tables in Wonderland card last Oct. We will get a discount at POP (where we are staying) and at AK CS. Plus we usually split big CS meals like salad and pizza, 1/2 chicken meals, ribs and chicken meals or the 2 entree meal at the Land. All we do is ask for and extra plate and sometimes buy and extra side. We can do 3 CS meals for less than $59.98 a day.

 

[delmar411]

Just don't forget that you only get ONE snack and you don't get the refillable mug with the regular DP...
So you are trading 1 CS meal, 1 Snack, and the MUG plus $10 for 1 TS meal...

plus tip!

 

[twanner]

plus tip!

Oh yes, the dreaded tip!

Which, BTW is usually 20% for us, lest I be flamed!

 

[michael's mom]

we did the DDP in 07 before they excluded the app/tip. I thought it was great but we had sooooo many snacks left that we ended up filling up our carry-on for the flight home. Now, we really didn't need all of that food at dinner. I thought an app/entree/desert per person was a little much and we never finished any of it but it was nice to sample a few things. And, it was nice to not have to think about dinner. We always threw a few extra bucks on the table to bring the servers tip to 20% but it was never much.

Before the DDP we used to just eat CS meals with a few character meals built in and some offsite places like Olive Garden, but never a sit down every day.

Now, we have planned the DDP for our trip in 2 1/2 months but we are using this trip as a way to decide whether we think it's worth it. How much money will we be spending a day OOP for tips vs. the cost of the plan. For us, eating at sit downs was a way to eat somewhat healthier (sans but buttery mashed potatoes and chocolatey dessert ). Basically, a grilled chicken dinner with some fresh steamed vegetables was always a nice break from the burgers/fries at the CS.

$40 was not a lot to ask when you consider that CS will run you $15/meal and that at a sit-down you could easily spend $25/person at a TS if you pick the right places...and, if you do Character meals you will do better. We definitely got more than we paid for...but did we need that much food...probably not.

I probably haven't helped at all, but I'll say that we will be doing a lot of math and I'll check back after our vacation to let you know how it went.