DINING PLAN or NO?

[njmom47]

We didn't do a dp when we were there last (not sure if it was offered for baseball tournament) but they way our family eats, I'm not sure it would've been worth it.
We ordered groceries and ate breakfast in the room (for those of us that eat breakfast). We also brought snacks/lunches/drinks to eat in the park and at the games. Not all of us are big eaters, nor did we seem to be on the same hunger schedule (dh works nights so he's all out of whack!). We ate at Tusker House for lunch one day and Beaches and Cream for dinner, but those were the only expensive meals we ate.
So..as pps have said, it really depends on your family's style of eating.

 

[maggs1035]

We have done the dining plan several times and at first I felt it was really good for us (it was much cheaper then, too). Then the last few times we have gone, we have done Tables in Wonderland, along with a room discount, and I like that MUCH better for the way we eat. I think it is a better value, too.

What is Tables in Wonderland?

 

[m86]

I've made a calculation, and we will save on NOT having the DDP - we don't eat that much (early lunch + dinner), and we like to have some wine with the dinner instead of dessert + the whole deal with making dinner reservations for the entire vacation makes me feel a bit sick (We are going for two weeks or more).

So, we will make a couple of reservations, the rest of the dinners will be done offsite, or by "walk-ups".

 

[Bell30012]

I like to do the dining plan because I get everything taken care of ahead of time. We are usually using AP or we are usually staying at DVC resorts. The dining plan was much better when it included the tip. Each dining plan has its own advantages. The QS plan is great because you don't need reservations. The standard plan gets you a TS and a CS per day plus a snack, pretty good without being overwhelming. The DxDP gives you enough credits to do things like CRT, HDDR and other things that cost two credits. Plus you get the appetizer and desert on the DxDP.

 

[pigletto]

I've run the numbers inside and out, backwards and forwards. What it basically boils down to for us is that if the dining plan is free, we can't beat it and stay in budget for values and mods.

If it's not free, then I would now prefer to use TIW and eat what I want and how I want.

So for this trip we'll get the DDP because it's free, but the next trip I'd rather use a great room discount and pay OOP.

 

[clutter]

I just pull our my excel spreadsheet from last August. Two of our biggest meals.

1) Via Napoli

Frutti Mare 29.00
spaghetti 21.00
chicken parmigian 26.00
frutti Mare 29.00
Calamari antipasta appertizer 14.00
2 sodas each (8*3) 24.00

Total $172.00 bucks.

lunch ran us another 25 bucks. so total for the day was 197.00 and this was pretty much our high end day.

The only other day we went over the 205/day ddp cost was when dh and I went to Yachtsman steak house for dinner. dinner for two ran us 118.00 bucks. I didn't include the cost of wine because I would have to pay for that on the ddp too. My sons didn't want fancy so they got pizza at the broadwalk pizza place.

I think Disney's price increases are geared to make the DDP more of a convenience than a savings. The illustrates it. If you add the tax (6%?), it comes to $182. Add the $25 for lunch (assuming it was after tax) and you get $207. About the cost of the DDP.

We like using the DDP. I tend to be cheap, so if I go out to eat I'm pretty cautious and will order less expensive entrees. With the DDP, I don't worry. While we used to break even on just the TS meals, I don't think that's the case anymore due to the price increases. But we'd probably still get it next trip because of the convenience.

 

[lucigo]

I think Disney's price increases are geared to make the DDP more of a convenience than a savings. The illustrates it. If you add the tax (6%?), it comes to $182. Add the $25 for lunch (assuming it was after tax) and you get $207. About the cost of the DDP.

We like using the DDP. I tend to be cheap, so if I go out to eat I'm pretty cautious and will order less expensive entrees. With the DDP, I don't worry. While we used to break even on just the TS meals, I don't think that's the case anymore due to the price increases. But we'd probably still get it next trip because of the convenience.

I feel the same way. I like an all inclusive, paid in advance vacation, and prefer not to have to worry about prices once we get there. I know we aren't saving money but it works for us.

 

[LovesTimone]

My vote goes for Dinning Plan hands down. We made the choice several years ago to go this route, and hands down we always come out ahead.
And for us knowing that everything is paid for upfront make DH happy, except for tips and adult beverages. Also your on vacation shouldn't that include a nice meal at the end of the day or a character breakfast to start the day. Make sure to use your snack credits wisely, Goofy's candy shop.


We prefer DDXDP, as we do enjoy fancy meals and character breakfast, even when its only the 2 of us... we still go to characters without kiddos SHHHHH!!! don't tell...