Dining Plan May 19 - May 25 - Definitely Worth it!

[susan0326]

We used the Dining Plan for the first time this past May and I knew that we saved a good bit. I finally got the numbers put back in my spreadsheet and I was pretty close on my pre-trip estimation of saving $355. We actually saved $330!

We stayed 6 nights with 2 adults and 2 kids under 10 so we paid $540 for the Dining Plan and got 24 Table Service meals, Counter Service meals, and Snacks. The actual value (what we would've paid) for the meals and snacks we used was $870.05. We also spent an additional $159.72 on some counter breakfast items, drinks (mostly water), and the kids' meals on some of the sitdown meals.

We would totally do this again! Sure, we wouldn't have eaten desserts with every meal. However, it kept us very full until the next meal and we didn't spend time in line getting those once or twice-a-day (yikes!) ice creams like we have in past visits. We really didn't snack much at all and ended up bringing 9 Mickey Rice Krispy treats home for souvenirs as I had mentioned in my blog post.

It really wasn't hard planning for the Dining Plan. I've seen where people don't like to plan their meals ahead of time. We are used to going at peak season (Spring Break) so I'm used to planning our sit down meals and it was not inconvenient whatsoever. Every restaurant that we wanted to eat at was on the Dining Plan and every CM we encountered (including the counter service an snacks!) knew exactly what to do with the Dining Plan on our cards. We got no erroneous room charges as I feared! WTG Disney! We also had some great CMs who've figured out the system and added stuff to our tab to give us (extra bottled water and glowing ice cubes!) -- I'm sure to get more tip from the extra stuff. Also, we did tip extra quite a few times when the CMs went out of their way for us!

My dh liked not having to figure out how much extra to take for food. It was all pre-paid and very convenient. I told him we would need around $200 for the out-of-pocket food and I came in slightly under budget.

Here are more details on where we ate:

OoP = Out of Pocket
TS = Table Service
CS = Counter Service
S = Snack

Thursday - May 19
Hoop Dee Doo - 9:30 (8 TS - $151.30)

Friday - May 20
CRT - 10:05 am (2 TS for adults $53.85 - OoP for kids - $30 deposit)
Pecos Bill (4 CS Approx $40)
Pop Century (4 CS Approx $40)
4 Mickey Ice Creams (4 S $10)

Saturday - May 21
Donalds Breakastosaurus - 8:30 am (2 TS for adults $43.72 - OoP for kids $21.28)
Pizzafari (4 CS Approx 45)
'Ohanas - 8:30 pm (2 TS for adults $49.98 - OoP for kids $28.41)
Soda (1 S $2.00)

Sunday - May 22
Pop Tarts in room
50 'sPrimetime - 11:00 am (2 TS for adults $73.29 - OoP for kids $17.43)
H&V - 6:30 pm - 4 TS (CM added waters to go - bill was $95!)

Monday - May 23
Pop Century (OoP $12.94)
Electric Umbrella (4 CS $46.32)
Liberty Tree Tavern - 5:15 pm (4 TS $82.57)
2 Lemonade Slushes (OoP $7.01)
Popcorn (1 S $2.50)
Water (2 S $2.00)
Soda (1 S $2.00)

Tue - May 24
Pop Century (OoP - $16.87)
Earl of Sandwich (4 CS $38.88)
Pop Century (4 CS $49.06)
4 Sodas (4 S $8.00)
1 beverage & 1 Rice Krispy (2 S $7.83)

Tue - May 25
Pop Century (OoP $25.78)
6 Rice Krispy Treats (6 S $17.06)
2 Rice Krispy Treats (2 S $5.68)
1 Soda (1 S $2.00)

Let me know if you have any questions or want more details.

We would do it again in a heartbeat!

Hope this helps someone,
Susan

 

[natalielongstaff]

thanks
your experiance sounds just like i expect our september trip to be....we decided to eat like kings and enjoy meals we otherwise would not have had

 

[disneyfor3]

Where were you able to get the glowing ice cube drinks included? Thanks.

 

[susan0326]

Where were you able to get the glowing ice cube drinks included? Thanks.

At 50's Primetime, we told the waitress up front that we would use the DP for us and we'd pay out of pocket for the kids' meals. They ordered from the kids menu and they also ordered Mickey's Be-Bop Specialty Drinks ($5.99 per drink) with the glowing ice cubes. When we got the bill, the CM has put those drinks on our DP bill and the kid's bill came up to $12.43 or so. Needless to say, I tipped her extra for that. I LOL'd later on when I looked at the receipt. She had added gratuity already to the kid's meals. One had PB&J and the other had chicken nuggets. Both come with a drink for $4.99 which is very reasonable.

The CMs must be getting wise to what they can add on the Dining Plan. They will probably tighten this up when they realize how some CMs are padding things. Don't get me wrong, I was impressed with the extra goodies. However, I didn't ask for anything extra and I don't know the CM's motives were as customer-driven as they were tip-driven.

I will add that the CM at 'Ohanas wasn't as nice as some of these other CM's. She was adamant that the dinner didn't include dessert (which it doesn't) and that even with the Dining Plan we didn't get one. I didn't think that was right and didn't argue with her because I don't know if we could've eaten a dessert after that feast! It would be interesting to know if anyone else got a dessert included at 'Ohana on the DP.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need any further details.

Susan