Dining Plan or Not when staying on points

[tink_n_pooh]

I'm just wondering how many of you DVC members have purchased the dining plan when staying on points. Did you think it was worth it? Would you do it again?

 

[CarolA]

Purchased it once.
I doubt I will do it again. I don't want to eat a sit down every day, I don't need that much food.

 

[wildernessDad]

We enjoy the DDP and have it added for our upcoming vacation. We are using two table service credits for the Brown Derby/Fantasmic package. DW loves the Brown Derby.

Some people love it, some don't. It is pretty much a matter of personal preference.

 

[MdmMim]

I tried it once, but for me, it was just too much food. I don't eat at TS restaurants everyday, and I like to be spontaneous. I don't like having to plan park time around an ADR. And dessert for lunch and dinner? Can't do it.

I like the DDE much better, much more flexible for my needs.

 

[Anthony1971]

I felt it was to much food as well also two of our guests got sick for a few days and were unable to eat so we eneded up not using some of the credits I did inquire and explian but it is not refundable however I was aware of this when we decided on it so it was no real suprise but important to consider.

 

[SwhJess]

Making a decision about the DDP may also depend upon what time of year you are going. For example, my DH and I love to go during F&WF...no way could we eat all of that food - snack, CS, TS AND get to sample our way around the country booths in EP. In fact, last Nov during F&WF, we ordered only one lunch entree when eating at an EP restaurant (in this case it was Le Cellier) so that we could still be hungry for snacking 'round the world for dinner

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have used it several times now. We like to do a sit down a day, and prefer the signatures, so we have learned to utilize the counter service meals and signatures in a way that suits us. When we have a signature planned, we rarely eat a CS meal. Since the signatures take two TS credits, we find a good CS place for our main meal on the off days where we don't have a signature booked. We have also used two TS credits for one meal and just paid using the DDE discount for the second meal. We find we always have counter service credits left over, but that's because we rarely eat CS, and when we do, it is something like Flame Tree or Sunshine Seasons, where it's more like a full meal. Even with not using it to it's fullest (we rarely do desserts), we still feel it is a good value. Now I'll temper that by saying that is the case when it is just the two of us. When we have had other guests with us and especially when the guests include children in the 10-13 age group, we have not felt it was a great value.

 

[poohmomof5]

We have used it several times now. We like to do a sit down a day, and prefer the signatures, so we have learned to utilize the counter service meals and signatures in a way that suits us. When we have a signature planned, we rarely eat a CS meal. Since the signatures take two TS credits, we find a good CS place for our main meal on the off days where we don't have a signature booked. We have also used two TS credits for one meal and just paid using the DDE discount for the second meal. We find we always have counter service credits left over, but that's because we rarely eat CS, and when we do, it is something like Flame Tree or Sunshine Seasons, where it's more like a full meal. Even with not using it to it's fullest (we rarely do desserts), we still feel it is a good value. Now I'll temper that by saying that is the case when it is just the two of us. When we have had other guests with us and especially when the guests include children in the 10-13 age group, we have not felt it was a great value.

This is a new struggle I am having. We just got back from a 10 day trip to San Francisco and Disneyland. My husband just couldn't get over how much it cost to feed all 7 of us (me, DH, DS15, DD13, DS12, DD9, and DD2. (We have been fairly spoiled in the last few years getting Free Dining Plan, doing the cruise or going to all inclusives in Mexico).

Well, we are going for an extended weekend (6 nights) at the end of September. We are new AKV DVC owners and I purchased an Annual Pass because of some other recent trips we will be doing. Do now I have to decide on DDE, DDP. I did some crunching and it seems to me that the DDP is kind of an easy cost to justify. Now, to clarify, we have done it on several different trips now so I am good at "working it" to our advantage. For example, we may pay cash for some of the Tweens meals and save our TS options for Signature meals etc. Also, the "dessert" we usually get is a grab n go item like chips or something that we will save for later. I LOVE the fact that the "snack" credits can be used for the F&W booths, WOW. Also, it is much easier on me if my DH doesn't have to see how much we are spending on each meal. I guess we like the fact that it is prepaid. We also may have the 3 older kids share 2 meals...there is plenty to go around!

On the flip side, we do usually have a glass or bottle of wine with our meals (how do you think we keep our sanity with all these kids ?) and we certainly do NOT eat everything on our plan, ie appetizers, AND desserts. So, maybe the DDe will work too. Thus, I tried doing a comparison of what I would eat one day at MGM and the cost of the DDP, vs the Savings on DDE, and it seems to me that the DDP wins out. But again, I don't have any experience with this. It is possible that I would do both? Ugh...I am such a planner and I am so excited to be going "home" and this is one thing I am hung up on!
Thanks for any advice!

Poohmom

 

[vwlvette]

For the price of the DDP you cannot go wrong, Keep in mind you don't have to eat everything that is in front of you or that you are entitled to with the plan. For us it keeps a cap on our spending, DW can spend more on buying stuff!!!!

 

[DVC Grammy]

We tried it on one of our split-stay vacations. For the two of us, it was way too much food, and when it is only us, we won't get it again.

HOWEVER...............if we are with some/all of our kids and their families, we will definitely suggest it for them! First of all, they're all big eaters (think "vacuums" ), and for families, it can be a great deal. The one downside to it is being sort of "locked in" to ADRs and the time-consuming TS's. With DVC, it's not too much of a problem since a DVCer is not usually doing Commando WDW (we all know we're coming back ), but for an infrequent guest, eating can use up a large chunk of vacation time, even if it saves money.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

Wont go without with Dining Plan, Dh and I love it! We love not worrying about how much a meal will cost, we love the different places we can try! Its economical for us. We used it the first time in Aug 2005 when it was free, we went again in Jan 2006 and didnt have it and we MISSED IT, it seemed we spent more on food, been back twice since then and going again in Dec all with the Dining Plan!!! Good luck with your decison

 

[Granny]

Some people love it, some don't. It is pretty much a matter of personal preference.

This could be written about 100 different topics on these boards, and again it fits here on this topic.

We eat off-site a few times since we have a car and it would never save us money, so not a good plan for us. For others, it's a great money-saver and as vwlvette said it can really help in budgeting for a trip.

 

[poohmomof5]

We tried it on one of our split-stay vacations. For the two of us, it was way too much food, and when it is only us, we won't get it again.

HOWEVER...............if we are with some/all of our kids and their families, we will definitely suggest it for them! First of all, they're all big eaters (think "vacuums" ), and for families, it can be a great deal. The one downside to it is being sort of "locked in" to ADRs and the time-consuming TS's. With DVC, it's not too much of a problem since a DVCer is not usually doing Commando WDW (we all know we're coming back ), but for an infrequent guest, eating can use up a large chunk of vacation time, even if it saves money.

Great point! We don't worry about wasting our time at table seating because we are luckily able to travel to WDW fairly frequently! I think the time commitment may be too much for a first timer...depending on what is important to them!

Poohmom

 

[wildernessDad]

This could be written about 100 different topics on these boards, and again it fits here on this topic.

We eat off-site a few times since we have a car and it would never save us money, so not a good plan for us. For others, it's a great money-saver and as vwlvette said it can really help in budgeting for a trip.

I am a master of the obvious.

 

[jvaleri1]

Does anyone have an experience with DVC & the premium dining? I only see reference to the DDP on the member site. Our VCG told us we could get the premium for $40/day. We're booking a large, adult family get together in January '08 and hoped to use it then. Any help you could offer would be appreciated.

DH & I used the old "Gold Key" plan back in '96 and it was great! This is MIL's first real trip and I want it to be extra special.

 

[DisneyBB]

We have never done it before, but we are going over Christmas and the first 3 nights are in AKV. So we thought it might be worth giving it a go. I have planned it this way.

Day 1 CS - early lunch
1 TS - Le Cellier - Dinner

Day 2 2 CS - MK
Day 3 1 TS Mama Melrose - fantasmic
Day 4 1 CS early breakfast/lunch
1 Dinner Coral Reef.

I have wanted to try these resturants, but they are very pricy so the DDP gives us the chance to try them at a discount. I could not do it for any longer than 3 days as the food is to much. We normally eat CS 1 a day and snacks later. Coming from the UK your portion sizes are huge compared to what we get here. I think it is better value to use them at sit down meals and not the buffets.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We like the DDP in December, because it's been the case that a TS credit can be used for the Candlelight Processional, and one can be used for the Fantasmic Package. The DDE card is not honored for either of those special case meals. So, when we go in December, we do both of them.

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

Does anyone have an experience with DVC & the premium dining? I only see reference to the DDP on the member site. Our VCG told us we could get the premium for $40/day. We're booking a large, adult family get together in January '08 and hoped to use it then. Any help you could offer would be appreciated.

DH & I used the old "Gold Key" plan back in '96 and it was great! This is MIL's first real trip and I want it to be extra special.

What your guide is talking about IS the DDP. It costs $39.95/person/day. Just call MS and tell them you need the DDP, and you payfor it when you arrive at the resort.

 

[JimMIA]

We've used DDP the last three trips and love it, but it depends on your family's normal WDW eating habits and composition of the group. We have 2 adults and one child, and we enjoy a sit-down meal or character meal each day.

You hear all sorts of wild exaggerations of how much money it "saves" over on the DDP board, but I don't pay any attention to those. I compare the cost of the DDP to what we would really spend without the DDP...not to the inflated menu costs people use to dramatize their savings. I find we usually actually save about $100 per 4-5 day trip.

However, if the rumored changes to DDP happen, that will tip the scales and we will no longer use it. The rumor is that the 18% gratuity on the TS meal will no longer be included after 1/1/2008 and the elimination of that will kill the cost savings for us. If we don't use DDP, we will rarely eat onsite -- probably just one character meal per trip, possibly a dinner at Le Cellier.

I also think the attractiveness of DDP depends somewhat on the length of your trip. We love it for our typical 4-5 day trip, but I'm sure we would not use it for 7+ days. We'd just get tired of eating standardized menus in Disney restaurants day after day.

 

[jvaleri1]

What your guide is talking about IS the DDP. It costs $39.95/person/day. Just call MS and tell them you need the DDP, and you payfor it when you arrive at the resort.

Appreciate your feedback but this gives only CS, TS & 1 - snack daily. He told me you got breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks which is the premium dining package for $39.95 instead of $69.95. I'm confused now. I spoke to him yesteday morning and he was supposed to send me an email with the info on this package but I haven't seen it yet. Now that I've seen the premium package is around $149 pp I'm a little worried.