Dining Plan Not a Good Option - Why?

[*NikkiBell*]

I've read around here that getting the dining plan while at DLR is just not worth it. Could someone explain to me why? I'm a bit lost here.

 

[plutorules]

From what I can understand is that people think it's not a good value for their money because if a snack is $3, and you have a $5 voucher, you don't get change. Something like that. And the like, if your counter service is $18, the vouchers are only for $15 so you'll have to pay the difference.

I bought one for our upcoming trip. I just like knowing my meals are for the most part taken care of. If I have to add some cash, well OK. If I buy my $3 Mickey bars and use it for $5 popcorn, well most likely my kids are going to want that anyways too. Don't kids always want that stuff anyways?

Oh well... off my soap box.
Shawn in AK

 

[PinkBudgie]

If you don't save money and you may even loose money, there is no reason to tie up your money ahead of time. If you actually saved money, I could see the trade off would be to pre-pay. But that isn't the case here. Often DH and I will split a meal and sometimes just have a snack for a meal. I don't think we would eat all the vouchers anyway.

 

[LavenderPeach]

If you don't save money and you may even loose money, there is no reason to tie up your money ahead of time. If you actually saved money, I could see the trade off would be to pre-pay. But that isn't the case here. Often DH and I will split a meal and sometimes just have a snack for a meal. I don't think we would eat all the vouchers anyway.

Well, you're not supposed to eat the vouchers!

And I agree, I don't think the vouchers are a good deal.

 

[oc_tony]

We like to "pre-pay" our meals, too, but not with vouchers or dining plans. We put a little money toward a Disney gift card each week or month leading up to our WDW trips. This would work for a DL trip too, as they are accepted at so many DLR locations. It gives you the freedom to spend when/where you like, but not carry around loads of cash or put it on a credit card and get the bill later.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I "pre pay" for food and snacks at DLR by purchasing Disney gift cards and character meal vouchers.

 

[disneychrista]

Like other have said you are not saving any money on the vouchers unless every meal you get is equal to the value of the voucher. And even then savings is minimal. If you meal cost more you pay the difference. If it is less, you are out the difference.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We found using the vouchers a pain....you stand at the register trying to figure out how close you can come to the total owed, so you don't lose a ton of money on the vouchers. You need to pick the higher priced character meal to get what you actually paid for. (not sure which one that is, I believe they've changed which of those meals you can use it for). The snack vouchers never worked out for what we were getting and at that time, they only took cash for the difference (which we didn't carry).
Last trip we bought Disney gift cards & it was such a breeze at checkout. The receipt will also show you the balance you still have available.
****Easy Peasy****

 

[skiingfast]

Looking at the Disneyland website the info looks different from what is posted. From what is posted in this thread it looks like you pay say $50 and they give you vouchers for dollar amounts adding upto $50.

But the DL website shows you getting vouchers for different meals plus a general voucher for a dollar amount.

It's not as cheap or comprehensive as the WDW dining plan. But still, like at WDW you could price out your meals and see if you would be able to save.

 

[DLR29]

Looking at the Disneyland website the info looks different from what is posted. From what is posted in this thread it looks like you pay say $50 and they give you vouchers for dollar amounts adding upto $50.

But the DL website shows you getting vouchers for different meals plus a general voucher for a dollar amount.

It's not as cheap or comprehensive as the WDW dining plan. But still, like at WDW you could price out your meals and see if you would be able to save.

Not quite. I was recently looking at a AAA brochure and it was explaining the DLR dining plan. You pay exactly the amount in vouchers that you get. I think for 3 days or something it's $110 or something. Of that 110 you get a couple snacks, a character breakfast and then some vouchers for $. The only possible way to not lose money is to use the vouchers to their full potential (so buying snacks that only cost $5 exactly), which isn't gonna work all of the time.

Say you want a Dole Whip that costs $2.79. You use a "snack" voucher for $5 but since you don't get change, you lose $2.21. That extra money can build up quickly and all of a sudden you are down money. If you want to buy something that is $5.50 with a snack voucher, then you will get $5 credit, but have to pay OOP some extra, which kinda defeats the purpose of a dining plan.

Plus, DLR has a much more limited amount of restaurants. You cannot use these vouchers at places at DTD which is where a good 1/3 of the sit down places are.

Just go with the Disney gift cards if you want to prepay your meals. You'll be sure that you won't be losing money, and you can use them pretty much anywhere at the whole resort.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Well, you're not supposed to eat the vouchers!

Ohhhh, is that the problem?

 

[eeyorelvr09]

Thanks everyone. I'm actually going to DLR with*NikkiBell* and was contemplating the dining plan. I think I'm gonna take the advice and start putting $ on a gift card.

 

[rmom]

I don't do it for one reason only - we eat less on vacation then at home. It would be a waste of money for us. Three of use could live on one person's dining plan.

have a great trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't do it for one reason only - we eat less on vacation then at home. It would be a waste of money for us. Three of use could live on one person's dining plan.

have a great trip.

The ONE good thing about the DLR plan vs the WDW plan is that you can go for, say, 6 nights, but only get, for example, 2 days worth of dining plan. The vouchers can then be used through your trip.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I'm glad the DDP at WDW doesn't work the same way as the one at DLR. Why would anyone pay $50 to get $50 in vouchers knowing that they may not use all the $$ the are entitled to on each voucher? The unused portion just goes into Disney's pockets. Now if they offered you say a discount if you used the vouchers like 10-20% that would make more sense. Something along the lines of the restaurant.com certificates.

I agree, go with the consensus and buy Disney GC if you want to have it all paid for in advance.

Speaking of restaurant.com-they have a $25 certificate for HoB in DTD for only $4 (60% off $10) If you wait there should be a new code coming out for 80% off. So the certificate will only cost $2 for which you will get $25 worth of food (must total $35 to use certificate). For only $12 (or $14) you will get $35 worth of food.

 

[rmom]

The ONE good thing about the DLR plan vs the WDW plan is that you can go for, say, 6 nights, but only get, for example, 2 days worth of dining plan. The vouchers can then be used through your trip.

Thanks! I did not know this. I thought it was the same as WDW.