Dining Plan...Is it worth it?

[TravelingJen24]

I was wondering what other DVCer's opinions are on the matter. With having a kitchen and a few young ones going with us, I'm not sure if it would be the right strategy. It forces you to go out and eat, but on the other hand it would be nice to come home and have one bill instead of a million credit card charges ( we always charge for disney points). I can't decide. We will be there in November in a 2-bedroom at VWL. Are their restraunts any good?

 

[lovinthemouse]

We used the dining plan last year when we went. There was just the 3 of us. me, DH and DD 9. It is a lot of food. I feel the value is good for what all you get and the cost of eating out all your meals. If, however, you utilize your villa kitchen, then it is not worth it. We were not part of DVC when we had it. Now that we are a part of DVC we are going to try it without dining plan. It really boils down to your families needs. Good Luck and Have a good trip.

 

[ReneeQ]

It forces you to go out and eat, but on the other hand it would be nice to come home and have one bill instead of a million credit card charges ( we always charge for disney points).

We also charge all our meals to get the Disney Visa points. BUT we leave our credit card imprint at the front desk at check in, then charge all meals to our room. You'll get a print out of all your charges at the end of your stay, BUT will have just ONE charge for the entire amount on your Visa Bill.

 

[DebbieB]

It also depends on the ages of the children. If they are 10 or over, you have to pay adult price ($37.99 per night), they may not eat that much worth of food. If they are 3 to 9, it's only $10.99.

 

[Boston5602]

It also depends on the ages of the children. If they are 10 or over, you have to pay adult price ($37.99 per night), they may not eat that much worth of food. If they are 3 to 9, it's only $10.99.

Thats what determined for me to not buy it this time , my 10 year old only eats off kids menu still and its not worth it this time , although I do like the plan alot.

 

[bicker]

I actually took the time to add it all up, and found that we'd actually save $515 on the dining plan next February:

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCosts.htm

Now that assumes we'd have ordered appetizers and desserts at every meal, so I redid the computation assuming NO appetizers and NO desserts, and we'd still save $142.

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCostsNoAppyNoDessert.htm

 

[vascubaguy]

I haven't used the DP with DVC yet as it wasn't available during my last trip, so instead we got the DDE. However, we do enjoy the DP and the ease of not having to worry about how much you are spending on food.

I think it is very reasonable unless you are staying for an extended amount of time. I'm going to have to run some figures for our next 2 trips to see if we'd be better off continuing to use the DDE or get the DP. Once I do those comparisons, I'll post my findings... (I have to factor in alcoholic beverages, and the fact that we typcially split a meal for lunch and don't get that many snacks, etc)...

Oh, one thing I was wondering about the DVC DP.... I know it applies to everyone on the ressie for the length of the stay, but what if you just don't list the kids on the ressie? I mean if it were 2 adults and 2 kids and you knew that one of your kids wouldn't eat enough to justify the DP for them, you could simply put the 2 adults and the 1 child on the ressie and you would only have to get the DP for those 3... I mean to stay at DVC we don't have our park tickets linked to our room keys so not everyone has to be on there...

 

[BCV23]

Are their restraunts any good?

Do you mean at WL or WDW in general? In general, there are some truly excellent restaurants at WDW and many more that are very good.

At WL, Artist Point is very good to excellent for dinner. There is a very casual "action" restaurant called Whispering Canyon Cafe I think. We've never tried that one nor the counter service spot but there are lots of DIS members who love it.

If you will eat at least table service meal and one counter service meal per night of your stay, I think it can be excellent value considering that tax and tip are included in the price. For those kids in that 10-12 range who still prefer children's menus, maybe not so much as others have stated. But on the other hand, maybe they will spread their wings at WDW.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Is there a website that lists all the restaurants included? I would not have considered the DP at all, until you mentioned that tax and tip are included. You're sure about that? Giving a 15-20% tip just about broke me last time we were there! Can you charge the DP to your Visa before you go?

 

[BCV23]

Is there a website that lists all the restaurants included? I would not have considered the DP at all, until you mentioned that tax and tip are included. You're sure about that? Giving a 15-20% tip just about broke me last time we were there! Can you charge the DP to your Visa before you go?

As sure as I can be without having done this variation of the plan myself. We used to do the Gold one over the years and tax and tip were included. Everything I've seen so far says it is on this plan as well.

There is a whole sub board under the Restaurants forum devoted to the DDP. There is a FAQ at the top of it that lists restaurants as well as the info on tax and tip. Happy planning.

 

[DebbieB]

I haven't used the DP with DVC yet as it wasn't available during my last trip, so instead we got the DDE. However, we do enjoy the DP and the ease of not having to worry about how much you are spending on food.

I think it is very reasonable unless you are staying for an extended amount of time. I'm going to have to run some figures for our next 2 trips to see if we'd be better off continuing to use the DDE or get the DP. Once I do those comparisons, I'll post my findings... (I have to factor in alcoholic beverages, and the fact that we typcially split a meal for lunch and don't get that many snacks, etc)...

Oh, one thing I was wondering about the DVC DP.... I know it applies to everyone on the ressie for the length of the stay, but what if you just don't list the kids on the ressie? I mean if it were 2 adults and 2 kids and you knew that one of your kids wouldn't eat enough to justify the DP for them, you could simply put the 2 adults and the 1 child on the ressie and you would only have to get the DP for those 3... I mean to stay at DVC we don't have our park tickets linked to our room keys so not everyone has to be on there...

Besides the honesty issues, you would not get a key for them to use for EMH. They are scanning each key now for EMH bracelets.

 

[bicker]

Yes, tax and tip is included in the dining plan.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Thanks, bicker! I found the info on the DP, and was amazed that it included so much! I think it really is a good value for $37.95 per adult! The tip was so expensive the last time we were there, and this takes care of it for you!

 

[BCV23]

Thanks, bicker! I found the info on the DP, and was amazed that it included so much! I think it really is a good value for $37.95 per adult! The tip was so expensive the last time we were there, and this takes care of it for you!

What am I, chopped liver???

 

[bicker]

C'mon, BCV23... give yourself some credit. You're paté!

 

[BCV23]

C'mon, BCV23... give yourself some credit. You're paté!

Aww, shucks! Thanks, bicker.

 

[slp87]

We just returned in March and obviously the DDP wasn't available to us, but I kept track of all of our expenses, including every Mickey bar and rice krispie treat. Just a little background info, my DD is 11 and doesn't eat much, so we definitely would save money by not doing the DDP. I think the total was almost $200. Over our 10 days we ate 7 table service meals and that was plenty. Even DH and I who eat a decent amount, couldn't consume all the food and although it would seem like we were "saving" money, it would actually be that we would waste food. We just don't eat enough, DDP isn't for us, but I would definitely crunch the numbers and think about where you would like to eat. With younger kids it might be worth it.

 

[vascubaguy]

Besides the honesty issues, you would not get a key for them to use for EMH. They are scanning each key now for EMH bracelets.

Ah, very true... didn't think about that aspect. And they were definately scanning each card, we went up in a group and I told the CM that the 3 of us were all together, he said they had to scan each card... fortunately everyone had their card with them.

 

[vascubaguy]

Is there a website that lists all the restaurants included? I would not have considered the DP at all, until you mentioned that tax and tip are included. You're sure about that? Giving a 15-20% tip just about broke me last time we were there! Can you charge the DP to your Visa before you go?

The way it works with DVC is that you add it to your reservation, but you don't pay for it until you check-in.

 

[Doug7856]

We are going to WDW for three nights in May. I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to try the dining plan. We've made reservations for Coral Reef, Wolfgang Puck’s and Chef Mickey's for dinner. We are in a studio, so no kitchen and it is just a short get-a-way so we don't want to worry about planning meals anyway.

We don't usually get an appetizer and IF we get a dessert, we usually share one, so I expect to have more food than we would normally eat.

We have a four year old, so this plan will allow us to do a character meal. It drives me crazy that they charge so much for a character meal for a child who hardly eats. In the past we've skipped the character meal for this reason.

I think this option is nice. It make the vacation more “cruise like” in that it is more inclusive and has less individual expenses. I’m not sure that makes it a better value dollar wise, but it does make planning easier and keeps a “lid” on meal costs.