dining plan JUST to have it already paid for?

[robndani]

Hi! We've done the dining plan once and I calculated (much to the annoyance of my family) that we actually paid $100 more for the DP than if we paid OOP.

That being said, we are going for a week in January and considering getting the DP again. I did some calculations and it looks like we are just about breaking even, but it could go either way.

I'm thinking of getting it for no other reason than knowing it's already paid for (I'd use my checking card).

Plus, even though it comes with a dessert, we usually opt for fruit and actually eat better than we do without the DP, because then we order apps, meals and sometimes dessert for the kids (and DH) and fruit for me.

If we have left over snack credits (like we did last time) we will just buy some treats to take home.

Do you think it's worth it just to have it paid for?

 

[pad406]

Personally yes, it can swing either way but I like the 'comfort' of not worrying about the price of things the kids want. Especially now as they eat like the proverbial horse

 

[saraschoening]

I am going to WDW for the first time in May 2015 and I am getting the dining plan. We are NOT big eaters and probably won't break even but I do love the all inclusive feel to it. Also, if I don't get the dining plan I know that I will be looking over the menu and I will opt for the cheaper choice and I won't get a drink etc.. with the dining plan I can just order what I want, even if it is the most expensive option and it won't matter.

 

[GillianP1301]

I'd put myself in the camp of liking the fact that it's prepaid. We usually save a little bit with it, but it's nominal, so savings is definitely not the driver.

It's not just the prepaid aspect of it, but I find I will try a lot of different restaurants and foods with it. For some reason I get more adventurous with the dining plan. I guess there is something psychological there, because there really is no logical reason why I couldn't eat the same OOP or with DDP, especially since I'm not a penny counter, especially on vacation.

Whatever the reasons, I like it and have DxDP set up for my upcoming trip as well.

 

[GregShiner]

I'd put myself in the camp of liking the fact that it's prepaid. We usually save a little bit with it, but it's nominal, so savings is definitely not the driver.

It's not just the prepaid aspect of it, but I find I will try a lot of different restaurants and foods with it. For some reason I get more adventurous with the dining plan. I guess there is something psychological there, because there really is no logical reason why I couldn't eat the same OOP or with DDP, especially since I'm not a penny counter, especially on vacation.

Whatever the reasons, I like it and have DxDP set up for my upcoming trip as well.

Unless you are a BIG eater savings will never be a driver. I do think it is nice to feel free to eat whatever you like. Without a dining plan I do always go for cheaper things, eat less and save leftovers when I can.

Really just depends on what you are going for. If saving money is a big goal for you IMO DDP is not the way to go.

 

[Mikie]

I traveled with extended family made up of 4 sub-groups. We all got the regular dining plan. My family with several kids, lots of character dining, saved money on it (and knew ahead that we would). Single adult knew she would roughly break even just like you and loved the prepaid nature, easy magic band swiping, guilt-free ordering. Two other sub-groups paid way more for DDP and one said they wished they hadn't done it, the other said "you tried to tell us, but it was worth it to me just not to think about it and not do any calculating".

Myself and sister would definitely get it even if just breaking even - we eat roughly like the plan dictates anyway and enjoy the decadence of getting dessert so much on vacation!

 

[denneg]

Unless you are a BIG eater savings will never be a driver. I do think it is nice to feel free to eat whatever you like. Without a dining plan I do always go for cheaper things, eat less and save leftovers when I can.

I totally agree. If I were not on the dining plan, I would spend my vacation looking at prices, ordering something small and snacking in the room - especially if I were in a Villa with a kitchen. We do the DDP primarily because it is all paid for, we tend to do expensive character meals or eat at more expensive spots, and we feel like we either break even or maybe slightly ahead. But we don't do it for savings, just peace of mind and a little more enjoyment because we aren't thinking dollar signs the whole time.

 

[bbak3030]

Yes, I'm definitely in that club. We have had the DDP twice now. It was very nice not to have to worry about paying once there. I'm aware that it doesn't save money, but it's nice not to worry about it. And I can order whatever I want!
We really like having the plan.
And as far as desserts with the quick service, I ask for grapes and save them for later.

 

[MillauFr]

I'm thinking of getting it for no other reason than knowing it's already paid for (I'd use my checking card).

Makes sense to me. I fact it is the only reason people give for buying the dining plan that DOES make sense.

 

[Misha72683]

My calculations show that we will likely break even, but I think we will still go for the DDP because I like the idea of not having to worry about it and having it be prepaid. If it would be substantial difference, I might pay OOP, but it looks like it will work out to about $30 difference for 4 of us and I can handle that.

 

[cluvsdisney]

For me, it wouldn't be worth paying more just to have it paid in advance. I would consider putting the cost of the dining plan in an envelope or non-disney gift card and use that to pay for meals but to knowingly pay more for something...nope can't do it.

 

[sookie]

Disney OOP prices are so inflated. I don't go without a dining plan. We usually exceed and get good value out of it.

 

[tporter4]

I am another one in the camp of doing it just so I don't have to worry over costs. And I did deluxe so I can feel "all-inclusive". I love food (!) and we're a meal-focused family so I don't want to fret at all over costs and so forth.

 

[MikeTaylor]

DW and I always get a dining plan, usually QSP since there are a lot of good choices if you know where they are at (flat bread at Pinocchio Village Haus, BOG at Lunch, Columbia Harbor House for seafood, Flametree BBQ, Yak & Yeti QS, there are more examples-HS is probably the worst...maybe Fairfax Fare and ABC Commissary). Since it saves you time at checkout and if you know where to maximize your credits, you shouldn't feel like you're missing out, and you just can't beat a Dole Whip in Adventureland or Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD as a snack.

We've planned out our rezzies early for our DDP next year, which is what you have to do. I can understand why people are hesitant to get it since the combination of that process and MM+ have made it harder to go to a park and just wing it. Times, they are a changing. We're not really park-hoppers, but I can understand where the frustration comes from.

One issue I've noticed about using the DDP that doesn't come up with QSP necessarily, is that you have to consider geographical layout when/if park hopping. Say you've got a reservation at Chef Mickey's in the CR and you (or part of your party) are in AK or BB... all of that time traveling there is "wasted" and you (/they) may not make it there on time! Think about a plan where you're going to MK that day, when a monorail ride or a quick walk can get you there without worrying about time constraints.

 

[jcjen519]

For our family I wouldn't if I didn't think we'd save a little. We usually get the deluxe dining plan which works out well for us because we like to do a signature each night.

for my parents, my mom likes to do the dining plan because my dad would be the type to look at prices and she would rather not deal with that. so even if she spends a bit more she doesn't mind.

its also great when one person is paying for several people to go and they want to cover meals but won't always be together. (grandparents taking their kids and grandkids)

 

[niffer5150]

i don't know if i'd do wdw without dining being prepaid. no, we don't save money on the dining plan but it seems to be the line between being able to enjoy the vacation or someone being so fixated on money that it ruins the entire trip. for some reason, prepaying it makes it ok.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I would never get the dining plan, just because it is already paid for.

I would only get it if it saved money.

And for our family it does.

Yes, I have calculated it out. I've added taxes, tips (if TS), and we come out ahead. It can happen. It just depends on your family.

Oh, and we aren't BIG eaters.

 

[MrInfinity]

i don't know if i'd do wdw without dining being prepaid. no, we don't save money on the dining plan but it seems to be the line between being able to enjoy the vacation or someone being so fixated on money that it ruins the entire trip. for some reason, prepaying it makes it ok.

Yep this is not a trivial deal.

While the folks out here on the dis might say "oh but I'll just buy gift cards at a discount and use those to pay for meals", the rest of the world does not think like that. I don't know anyone outside this group that actually does that. For most, it is the typical "We're going to Disney World, buy hotel, buy tickets, go!". Then you get there and it's sticker shock left and right.

Every single meal runs you $20-$40 per person. The inclination is to get a little tighter, and not get that soda, not get that dessert, when you're ON VACATION precisely the time you should be enjoying these things.

The meal plan is a genius way in which Disney can sell overpriced food in a way that disconnects ppl from the fact that they're spending so much on the food. By selling it as a feature that once you own, you must spend or lose (hello DVC), people have no problem at all getting whatever they want on the menu. Soda included? Yeah! Soda's all around!

It is peace of mind, and it gets wrapped up in your pre-purchase price, again disconnecting it from what it really is, and then requiring you to pay for it in advance.

Ask people to set aside money for food? They won't do it. But require them to prepay for their package, now they'll pay their bill. Then they show up and their food is paid for. Even tho they can see things are expensive, it just makes the whole experience more pleasant to think you're simply paying with points that you already own. $40 steak? Nu-uh! 1 point. Bam. I'll take it. And bring me the soda and dessert too. People love it. It's easy, it's fun, it's vacationing without having to consider every little cost along the way.

Is it the most efficient spend? No of course not it's designed to get you to spend a little more than you would otherwise. But it sells because it is really popular for the non-monetary reasons.

 

[angierae]

Our last trip we were only there for a couple of days (Sunday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon) so I decided I wouldn't do DDP.

I ended up canceling a meal my daughter wanted to go to (Teppan Edo) because I just couldn't justify how much it was going to cost us. The trip before that we had free dining, the trip before that my MIL paid for.

I will do DDP next trip, with or without free dining, because once I get there all I can think about is how I could spend that $100 on something else, or save it, or whatever, rather than going to a nice meal we're looking forward to.

If I paid for it with my package, it's spent and gone.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

I like the idea of having it paid for and then just telling the kids, you have so many credits. The big thing I had to remind DH and other adult planners. There is still gratuity to pay. Past years, gratuity was included in the plan but over the years, it is an add on to your trip.

Be sure to add that 18% on when you do your comparisons.