Dining plan or not???

[gracie1]

I have a trip planned for October for 11 nights. I am hoping that the disboards can give me advice!!!!

This will be my first time to disney world with just me and my mom. I have been going over dining plans for months now and I am starting to go crazy!! I just really don't know what to do.

What may come to a shock to most of you, I don't plan on going back to disney as there is so much more traveling that I want to do. So my question lies here:

Should I not do the dining plan since it is my first time at disney and just do cs so I can run the parks??
I have been really interested in the deluxe dining plan but not sure if you feel it would be a waste of my time since this will be the one and only trip to disney. I kinda feel that it would be nice to have the 3 sit down meals a day just to recoup and rest (and I think my mom will need the rest as well)!!
Please give me your advice!!

 

[caroline1851]

go with the basic ddp....you can't go wrong. You can have a nice sit down meal each day but you're not wasting all of your park time eating. IT's enough food and a great price!

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Many people that do the delux dining plan come back and say it was too much food and they spent too much time getting from one ADR to another. They were still full from the previous meal and then it was time for another meal.

I like to have a sit-down dinner at the parks - it's a nice way to relax in the late afternoon and enjoy a meal, then go have some more fun after dinner. So the regular dining plan works pretty well for us.

But if you don't think you'd care for very many sit-down dinners - you may just want to do counter-service most of the time, that's OK too. I don't know how many days you are planning - maybe you want a couple of sit-down meals, but not one every day? If that's the case, I would pay OOP.

Just think about how you and your mom would like to structure your days! I think you will have a wonderful time!

 

[gracie1]

Thanks for the advice. After reading the menu's on allears.net I could eat at every restaurant there!! lol. I love breakfast buffets, but can deal without it. I guess I am just looking at our recent trip to universal and seaworld. We went from Monday through Saturday we only spent $250 on food. I am thinking the prices are comparable to WDW counter service.
I was just wondering if I am missing out on anything with the table service restaurants. I love either!! I think that's why it's so hard for me to decide.

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree with the PP who said that it depends on how long you're going to Disney. There is a lot to see at all of the parks, resorts, and DTD, which takes quite a bit of time. You can really rest and relax at some of the better CS locations (especially if you eat at off times)

Also, depending on when in October you're going, it can still be really HOT (I've gone twice in early October - very hot and humid each time) and when I am really hot I want to eat much lighter than a full TS sit down of my own, and we can often split an entree and feel plenty full.

I guess I'd shy away from a plan if I were you, but wouldn't count it out altogether. There are circumstances that it could work for you.

 

[VegasMike21]

DDP works for some and doesn't for others. It all depends on what you prefer to eat while at the parks. If you just want to eat CS meals throughout your visit, it's not for you. If you like to mix CS and TS meals then most likely this plan is for you. Just depends on you.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks everyone. We are going October 26th-November 6th. 11 nights. I think I may just make a few dining reservations for places I definately want to try. Other than that, just wing it and eat when were hungry.
Like PP said, if it is really hot I wouldn't want all that food.
Thanks so much for the opinions and advice!

 

[Hootch]

two facts, 1) you're going for 11 nights and 2) you will probably not be going back for some time if ever, I would suggest the base dining plan as well. Eleven (or 12) days are quite a few and you will be able to see a lot of WDW in that time. A daily sit down meal will be a nice break each day to recharge your batteries.

The deluxe dining plan can be great if you are a regular. It offers three TS credits per night stayed. That translates into three sit down meals, which can be a lot of time not touring, or one regular TS (1 TS credit) and one signature TS (2 TS per credit) per night stayed. (Obviously there are a lot of mixes in between.) The latter is what I would do if on the deluxe plan. The issue for you is that the signature restaurants usually take more time for dining which takes you away from the touring. (CRT is an exception here.)

With 11 nights you should have plenty of time to tour and enjoy some down time during the day for a meal. If you're there during the Food and Wine event, it's my understanding from these boards that snack credits can be used for some of the items offered at the booths.

 

[gracie1]

Thank you so much for your advice everyone. It is really appreciated
I have decided against doing the dining plan altogether. I am going to pick some "must have" restaurants and made adr's for them. One is going to be Shula's (which isn't even on the dining plan anyways!) I am also going to do 2 or 3 breakfasts and maybe 2 dinners. Otherwise were going to wing it and just eat CS.
Your help is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks so much

I am sure I will be on here more with some more questions that I may come up with. I have been researching for over a year now to completely understand everything. Thank goodness!

 

[Mnemonic]

Thanks everyone. We are going October 26th-November 6th. 11 nights. I think I may just make a few dining reservations for places I definately want to try. Other than that, just wing it and eat when were hungry.
Like PP said, if it is really hot I wouldn't want all that food.
Thanks so much for the opinions and advice!

Weather that time of year in Florida is not really that hot. Think of the DDp as turning Disney into an all-inclusive resort. You don't have to carry your wallet or keys - everything has been paid for in advance. It helps keep us sane... AND disciplined.

One of the tricks at Disney is staying hydrated. The "snacks" on the DDP make it easier to get a large bottle of SmartWater or Vitamin Water without cringing at the $3.00 tab.

Enjoy your trip, whichever way you go. 13 days... wow.

 

[Flossbolna]

I think you made a good decision in not getting the plan. I personally prefer the flexibility of not being on the plan. If I don't feel like a huge dinner I can always cancel my ADR and just get CS (or even just a snack) without wasting a TS credit. Also I like ordering just an appetizer and dessert or share an entree.

I know it is great for some, but it is not really for everyone!

 

[winterman]

I have decided against doing the dining plan altogether. I am going to pick some "must have" restaurants and made adr's for them. One is going to be Shula's (which isn't even on the dining plan anyways!) I am also going to do 2 or 3 breakfasts and maybe 2 dinners. Otherwise were going to wing it and just eat CS.

I think that is a great plan. On our trip last year we did not get a DDP. It can be very restictive. I often order an appetizer and a salad instead of an entree. You don't have that option on the DDP. Also, you have 'paid' for desserts at every meal. What if you're not a dessert eater?

Our next trip will be during FD and we will be getting it but only for half of our stay. We're doing a split stay and the second half we'll be on our own for dining. (Although we will still make some ADRs for this time.)

 

[Melody L]

I think you made a good decision in not getting the plan. I personally prefer the flexibility of not being on the plan. If I don't feel like a huge dinner I can always cancel my ADR and just get CS (or even just a snack) without wasting a TS credit. Also I like ordering just an appetizer and dessert or share an entree.

I know it is great for some, but it is not really for everyone!

I think that is a great plan. On our trip last year we did not get a DDP. It can be very restictive. I often order an appetizer and a salad instead of an entree. You don't have that option on the DDP. Also, you have 'paid' for desserts at every meal. What if you're not a dessert eater?

Our next trip will be during FD and we will be getting it but only for half of our stay. We're doing a split stay and the second half we'll be on our own for dining. (Although we will still make some ADRs for this time.)

I think I am going to cancel our DDP as well.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

One possibility is to split your 11 days into 2 bookings of5 and 6 days and get ddp with one of the bookings. If you did the six days with ddp, you'd basically have 7 days to use 6 TS. I'm thinking of doing this with dxddp for 4 days and offsite for 3.

 

[tiggerunner]

My 22 year old daughter and I just got back without a dining plan and it worked out well for us. We had a few special ADRs and since it wasn't busy got a few when we needed to at the last minute. We also had some quick meals and we even commented on how fun it was to just watch the people walk by and relax when need be. We also had some alcoholic drinks which are not on the plan anyway.
For a nice meal that is more adult you may want to try Jiko and Bluezoo. Pricier, but nice.