Dining Plan Help - Is It Really Worth It?

[ArRzrbk]

I am now working on the dining portion of our upcoming trip. It will be my husband and myself and our two young boys (age 7 and 9). We plan to do a little eating/cooking in our room each day, but we will certainly be eating a nice sit down meal at least once a day. In my mind, I see...

* Character Breakfast (1 - 2) to get us into the parks early
* Breakfast at our resort or in our room other days
* Small lunches out or lunches in the room
* Pizza in the room (1 night)
* Nice supper out most nights (table service)
* Character Meal (1 night, probably at BCV)

I figure we might buy a snack/drink when we are at the parks, but we will have some snacks/drinks in the room as well. My question is... Do you really save money with the dining plan, or is the cost the same as if you bought those meals yourself.

FYI...The basic plan will cost us $665.60 for the five nights, and the Deluxe will run us $1009.80. The boys are still young enough to get the lower price, but that still seems like a lot of money for food. I am hoping someone out there did the math (looked up entree and snack costs) and figured out whether this thing really saves you money, or are you just basically pre-paying. Thanks for your input on this.

 

[Mtnman44]

There are a lot of people that love it, like my wife, but I don't beleive it saves 90% of people much money if any.

What it does do is allow you to eat a lot of food that you normally would have never purchased or even wanted. If your children are under 10, I think it can save a family money. In either case, it is only really applicable if you plan to eat at disney for two meals a day anyway. If you plan to eat outside of disney or cook for yourself, then cost wise it is really much more expensive.

compared to eating at disney and paying cash, it really comes down to what you would order if you were paying for it out of pocket? Would you order dessert at lunch and dinner and get a snakc every day? Would you eat at buffets every night? If so, perhaps it is worth taking a look.

You said that the basic plan (is this the one that includes one table service and one counter service?) will cost you $133 per night. Then simply calculate what you would realistically spend if you were paying yourself each day. Would you eat at Disney Restaurants lunch and dinner? How much would you spend? It sounds like your normal plan includes mostly inexpensive, on your own meal plans, with an occasional Disney Restaurant. If that is what you want, then I say skip the dining plan.

Now, if you were for example of family of 5, all over 10 years old, then you are looking at somewhere around $220 per day for the dining plan. In this scenario, I think it really becomes iffy to say that the dining plan is a good idea. It only really pays for itself if every dinner is a very expensive character buffet or similar.

 

[dalt01]

if you are going to use all the cedits, table...counter and snack you will save about 20% assuming u use them at the more expensive restaurants.....in other words if you use them for lunch at Olivia's or dinner at the Plaza etc, etc you will not get your moneys worth....also i cannot come up with your number.........i get 609.80 during peak.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I say its worth it. We get the regular (there are 3 options) dining plan every trip. The plan is about $45 a day. Just an entree at many retraunts is $38. You do the math. Keep in mind alcohol and tip is additional. If you opt for the plan do your homework. many users do not know that each meal gives you a desert. We try to get our moneys worth on the counter service. A cheesburger platter at most CS is about $7.50. We get lunch specials at Wolfgang puck expreee for $15. Do your homework and stretch the plans value. Dont get a $1 apple for a snack (although it is healthier) get a cone at an ice cream stand. Use your head and get your moneies worth.

 

[dianeschlicht]

While I do think it makes a bit more sense for families with children still young enough to qualify as children in Disney's Dining eyes, we have not found the dining plans to be a savings for us.

We NEVER eat breakfast in the parks and Rarely to never eat at counter service places. That makes the DDP not a good deal for us.

For two trips we used the DDP and kept a good accounting. Then we did two trips without the DDP and did the same complete accounting. We found with the DDP we wasted a lot of counter service credits that went unused. When we added things up from the 4 trips, we spent $200-$250 MORE when we did the DDP than we did just paying out of pocket and using the TIW card (this was for 2 adults). Plus, without the plan we were able to eat in a manner that suited us better. Our usual dining is to have a nice breakfast in the villa and then one table service meal sometime between 12:00 and 6:00. Beyond that, we either had a light meal in the villa or a snack. We also found that if we did our table service meal about 2-3:00 the crowds for those places were pretty much non-existent. When we do one of the signatures, we try to eat as early as possible. That means we are really only doing 2 full meals a day. It really is the way we prefer to eat, but like I said, it might not work with youngsters.

 

[Sandisw]

With your young children, I think you are going to find that it pays in the end, especially since it sounds like you are doing at least 3 TS character meals (that typically end up being buffets).

For children, that is a great deal. Something else you can now consider with DVC is to do a segmented vacation and get the dining plan for only some of the nights and then spread the credits out between two days.

We are doing this in August. We are getting the DxDDP for the 1st night of 3 night BLT stay. We did this because it cost $78.99 for the adults and only $21.99 for the child. The meals that will be used will be CRT (2 credits) and 1900 Park Fare. The OOP cost for just these meals for the adults is around $81.00. So, we are paying a few dollars less to get 2 additional snacks and a refillable mug.

But, the TS meals we planned for the last two days were not expensive enough to continue on the plan so we will pay OOP for those. I am going to buy the TIW card as we will make out with that as well for those OOP days.

Good luck!

 

[Brian Noble]

I have never, not once, spent more eating what, when, and where I wanted than the appropriate dining plan costs. Often, that's because we don't get exactly the right number of meals in---we have one or two less than one TS meal per night, or we have one or two more, but not enough to justify the Deluxe plan.

This past summer, we did have just "the right" number of meals, but some of them were at less expensive places, we never order dessert at CS locations, often drink water instead of soda or tea for hydration, etc. In other words, I agree with ArRzrbk: the dining plans are an upsell for most of the people who buy them.

Now, if you buy it, and then order everything you are entitled to, then yes you are "saving" vs. the menu prices of what you ordered. I just am not convinced that most people really order that way. Worse, you give up some flexibility with the plan. For example, my youngest was 9 last summer, and always ordered adult CS meals. Can't do that on the plan. My wife sometimes made dinner out of a couple of appetizers. Can't do that on the plan. I will order an appetizer and entree rather than entree and dessert from time to time. Can't do that either. Miss a meal? Too bad, it's already paid for, no refunds.

 

[disneynutz]

The only way that the DDP makes sense for us is if we only get it for a few days during our stay. In the past we would split stay to take advantage of the DDP savings and to give ourselves the treat of dining in a Disney restaurant. Now the segmented reservations will accomplish the same thing without the hassle of changing resorts.

Bill

 

[thegib95]

We have used the Deluxe Dining plan and for us it was a great deal, we are all very crabby when we do not eat enough, and it was perfect our last trip.

We Dinners at:
Planet Hollywood
Teppan Edo
Chef Mickeyes
1900 Fare
Liberty Tree Tavern

We also dined and were entertained at the Hoop de Doo Revu

We had two breakfast ADRs
Tusker House
Cape May
The Rest were at Our food Court at POFQ

And Lunches we usually did a counter service.
All in all i think it was worth our money, it was so easy not having to deal with money besides Tips, and all in all a great experience.

The snacks, we used some and the rest we cashed out the last day in our gift shop for candy and things that counted as snack credits.

 

[rentayenta]

If you drink more than water (not including booze) and every person eats their own dessert with every TS and CS then yes, financially it might be worth it. For us it's too limiting and demands we order in a way we normally wouldn't. Ordering/eating to get the best value isn't fun to me.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you drink more than water (not including booze) and every person eats their own dessert with every TS and CS then yes, financially it might be worth it. For us it's too limiting and demands we order in a way we normally wouldn't. Ordering/eating to get the best value isn't fun to me.

Right on! We much prefer appetizers to desserts, but the DDP doesn't give you that option.

 

[CarolynMink]

I would recommending running the numbers.

Each family is different.

I have a 13 yr old DS, who is 5'10". We are eating at a buffet each day so, I can keep him fed. I do not know where he puts it. For heavens sake, he can eat a whole pizza him self. With the cost of most buffets over $35 it is a savings for us.

I would listen to others. It really matter on where and what you are eating if you will save.

 

[djo]

My husband is convinced that we could save money by paying out of pocket for our meals. But...my dil and I have the most fun planning our meals and making use of the dining plan that I can't (at least right now) even consider not having it.

 

[Dean]

I am now working on the dining portion of our upcoming trip. It will be my husband and myself and our two young boys (age 7 and 9). We plan to do a little eating/cooking in our room each day, but we will certainly be eating a nice sit down meal at least once a day. In my mind, I see...

* Character Breakfast (1 - 2) to get us into the parks early
* Breakfast at our resort or in our room other days
* Small lunches out or lunches in the room
* Pizza in the room (1 night)
* Nice supper out most nights (table service)
* Character Meal (1 night, probably at BCV)

I figure we might buy a snack/drink when we are at the parks, but we will have some snacks/drinks in the room as well. My question is... Do you really save money with the dining plan, or is the cost the same as if you bought those meals yourself.

FYI...The basic plan will cost us $665.60 for the five nights, and the Deluxe will run us $1009.80. The boys are still young enough to get the lower price, but that still seems like a lot of money for food. I am hoping someone out there did the math (looked up entree and snack costs) and figured out whether this thing really saves you money, or are you just basically pre-paying. Thanks for your input on this.

Everyone is different, you really do need to run the numbers for your restaurants. I think one of the specialty situations where it very often is fits your circumstance, that of a large % of the group being in the 3-9 group. You should make your dining reservations and look at your likely CS choices. Then look at the corresponding menus for each. IMO, you need a 10-20% savings to justify it OR a break even with some adventures that you'd really like to have such as (Surf & Turf). Remember if someone is ill and you have to lose a day, you may lose credits.

The DDP also is often a better value for those that arrive early and leave late so your timing may play a role as well. Here's our situation for next month. We've planned for more expensive 1 credit TS locations and entrees, we arrive early enough to use it for breakfast day 1 and leave late enough to use it for dinner on the last day. We will have one at child price out of 3 total. By using snack credits, sharing meals (between those paid for DDP) and paying OOP for the occasional cheaper entree, we'll make it last through all days and get 3 meals out of it.

Everyone's different, play with the numbers and menus and see how it might or might not work for you.

 

[otterpop]

I agree with all of the above, but one thing that has not been stated yet (and this may sound strange) is that your meals are paid for in advance, so when you do go to a character meal for dinner and see the prices, who cares; it's already paid for! It's kind of in a way like DVC...your hotel stay is already paid for.

Our first visit a few years back, we paid out of pocket and I just remember for each meal stressing and worrying about how much this is going to cost...for the last 3 years we have done the dining plan (and although it does save us money in our case), I don't have to worry about prices (I realize that I have already paid for it, but it just eases the stress about $$$).

Like previously stated, I think the DP's save you a lot of $$$ if you have kids, but not so much if it is just for adults.

 

[csmommy]

For us it is all about the relaxing. If our meals are paid for we can choose whatever restaurant we wish to go to, order whatever pleases us, & allow the kids to have their snack w/o pinching pennies. We find it does save us money b/c of the types of entres DD (12) & DS (16) order.

 

[Dean]

I agree with all of the above, but one thing that has not been stated yet (and this may sound strange) is that your meals are paid for in advance, so when you do go to a character meal for dinner and see the prices, who cares; it's already paid for! It's kind of in a way like DVC...your hotel stay is already paid for.

Our first visit a few years back, we paid out of pocket and I just remember for each meal stressing and worrying about how much this is going to cost...for the last 3 years we have done the dining plan (and although it does save us money in our case), I don't have to worry about prices (I realize that I have already paid for it, but it just eases the stress about $$$).

Like previously stated, I think the DP's save you a lot of $$$ if you have kids, but not so much if it is just for adults.

I'll use your post to make a point since it relates somewhat. That is, that there really are 2 issues. One is that of "saving money" and the other is that of value. IMO, any savings calculated should be based on what one spends because of the DP and what one would have spent without the dining plan. I'd put value in the arena of added benefits such as eating out more more or higher $$ meals than you would have gotten without the DDP.

 

[bumbershoot]

My husband is convinced that we could save money by paying out of pocket for our meals. But...my dil and I have the most fun planning our meals and making use of the dining plan that I can't (at least right now) even consider not having it.

Easy enough to figure out with your receipts.

 

[deedisneydream97]

I just looked over the new 2012 dining plans. Initially got very excited. Saw that the regular DDP went up $5.50/day (51.54/adult ;15.02/3-9) but included the refillable mug and appetizer with TS......but then my balloon was deflated because next to that notation about the appetizer was "for guests 3 - 9 only". What the heck.
So depending on when you are going, you may have to do more research. I also noticed that you planned on "doing a character dinner one night, probably at BCV". If you mean Beach Club Villas, as far as I know they don't do a character dinner. Unless something has changed. Cape May Cafe does a character breakfast, but their New England Clam Bake buffet at night does not do characters. We are doing a split stay in the fall...two nights at a BWV studio and we will do the DDP. Then five nights in a one bedroom at BLT with MK view. We will use our Tables in Wonderland for the balance of our vacay. I, too, don't like feeling obligated to order the most expensive thing on the menu to make sure I get the most for my money when on DDP. Sometimes I just want a nice pasta!

 

[TheViking]

On our two trips to Disney World so far (There is 5 of us) we have done the deluxe dining plan.

My reasoning is simply that it allows me to not worry about what or where we eat. I am not sure we save any money, but the peace of mind having it pre-paid makes all the difference in the world for me.

We'll do the same thing for our trip to BLT this december.