Dining Plan or No Dining Plan?

[AnnDLMFT]

This is my very first post here!

We are planning on going to WDW October 25-October 30 this year.

One of the books I have has nothing but AWFUL, TERRIBLE things about the Dining Plans.

I'm sure this has already been answered a zillion times but what are your thoughts about DP's??

We will be with my parents and our 2 kiddos (ages 5.5 and almost 3)!

Thanks for your feedback?

 

[ccgirl]

This is my very first post here!

We are planning on going to WDW October 25-October 30 this year.

One of the books I have has nothing but AWFUL, TERRIBLE things about the Dining Plans.

I'm sure this has already been answered a zillion times but what are your thoughts about DP's??

We will be with my parents and our 2 kiddos (ages 5.5 and almost 3)!

Thanks for your feedback?

About the dining plans or dining establishments? Dining plans are not for everyone. Depends on how your family eats. Check out the menus on allears.net to get prices. Add up what your family would eat in a normal day. If it is less than the cost of the DDP then it would not make the most financial sense to get the dining plan. If, however, the amount you would eat is greater than the cost of the DDP then it would make sense to get the DDP.

As to the dining establishments. It's like anything else. There are good and there are bad. Read some of the threads on here about restaurants.

Hope that helps.

WELCOME TO THE DIS, by the way.

 

[Sheaboys]

We had the dining plan in 2005, when we were a family of 5 (2 adults and 3 kids 7,5 and 3). We are using it again in August, but now we are a family of 7 (2 adults, 3 disney adults and 2 kids ages 14, 12, 10, 6, and 3).

We do the Regular Dining Plan, which is 1 counter service, 1 table service, 1 snack and a refillable mug for everyone.

I looked at the menus of where we wanted to eat, check prices, etc. I like the idea of having a table service meal for supper every night, since that is how we eat at home. I like being able to sit down and be served. I checked out counter service meals every where.

In 2005, we were able to share quite a few counter service meals and dh would use the saved credits for a full counter service meal for breakfast, sometimes we could get 2 a day. WE plan to do the same this time, share a few counter service meals since they are pretty big. Then have extra credits for breakfast at the resort.

We go during FREE Dining as well, because that works out best for our family size and the way we eat, then a room discount.

Just do your research.. We love the dining plan, but it is not for everyone, some like just counter service meals because you are not tied to a reservation. But I like being able to be served and cleaned up after and not just a hamburg, hotdog, chicken finger, or fried type meal 2x a day every day of vacation.

 

[6elginfans]

I am not sure how you could go to WDW and not get the dining plan, especially if you are staying on Property. You have to eat WDW food anyway. What I like the most is that everything is paid for upfront. (except for tipping at table service meals.)

Also many of the character meals are on the plan. I talk to people all the time that don't know about the DP and have spent $200 on food by day 2. It costs our family of 5 $800 for 7 nights, which we have never had to pay because we go during free dining.

Bottom line is when I am on vacation I want to forget about everything. Having the meals included, helps with that.

 

[Mariep26]

We went in March and did not do the DP because DH had gastric bypass surgery in August and the amount of food that he eats is greatly diminished (he eats less than my kids most of the time) so I was not sure if the DP was going to be a $$ saver for us. In retrospect, it probably would have saved us some $$. We are going back in December and are absolutely doing the DP, we are booked on the regular dining plan. I agree with pp that it does depend on your family size, eating habits etc.. If it is offered up for free, I would definitely go for it though!

 

[disfan4life1]

We used to never get the dining plan..we would always grab a burger/fries or chicken strips/fries..then we had the free dining plan..just did the quick service since we were staying at POP..being able to eat bbq ribs/chicken was a big difference plus dessert included..never had so much chocolate cake before..last time we went we stayed at Coronado Springs and had free meal plan so we were able to try out the sit down meals..enjoyed them but kids are so picky there are only a few places that they would actually enjoy a meal. but, anyways, I cant imagine ever going back and not having at least the quick service meal plan. I love not having to worry about how much money we are spending on food..this past October we spent only 3night and 2 days there and the total costs of all meals before using the meal plan was almost $800 for 5 of us...We had 1 character breakfast, 1 lunch at 50's prime time, and 1 dinner at Crystal Palace. As mentioned above check out the menus and prices and decide which is more beneficial to you financially..

 

[cluvsdisney]

It really depends on how you prefer to eat while you are vacation. Do you want to be tied to ADRs if you get the regular dining plan? Do you like desserts & snacks? Lots of them?

For us, it doesn't pay. The cost of the plan is much more then what we spend on food OOP. We don't have a table service dinner every day which is really the only way to break even on the regular dining plan. We do not want to be limited to only counter service with the QSDP or pay even more to go to a table service here or there. We won't eat all the desserts that are included with the plan. We like salads & appetizers which are not included on the plan. We don't go to character meals.

Having said that...we are 2 adults no kids. Based on the ages of your children, you would probably save money if you plan to do some character meals. There is no charge for your youngest to go to the buffets/all you can eat/family style establishments. The price for your 5.5 year old is (I believe) less then the price of the meal plan. So the cost of the plan for all of you will likely provide a savings.

As suggested, it's best to look over menus and figure out where/what you think you will eat and then decide.