Dining Plan or Not???

[kltigger]

Since there's just going to be us two (adults) on this trip and we're camping (7 nights) what are the pros and cons for adding the dining plan.

I understand that the dining plan is for the length of stay and we are only going to do 3-4 day at parks. I'd like to eat once at The Crystal Palace for b'fast buffet and at least two sit-down dinners (Epcot & ?)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Okay, I know I can answer this one correctly.
Everyone on these boards has their own beliefs if the plan is worth the trouble and money.
I however am one who will tell you,"YEAH BABY ! Go for it !!"
I like the dine plan personally.

 

[liv luvs disney]

The dining plan is not cheap, but if you're planning on eating most of your meals "out", then you would be better off to purchase it. We enjoy the DP too, but in an effort to save money, we opted to eat all but 2 of our meals in the camper on our last trip, so we didn't purchase it. With it being just the 2 of you, I would definitely spring for it, of course this is just my opinion. There are tons of nice restaurants in the resorts to eat at so you don't have to be at a park to get good food. (Since some think there is not good food to be had at WDW, I'll rephrase that to say that you don't have to be at a park to make use of the DP.) Also, it is highly recommeded to have advance dining reservations so if you're not a planner, it might be troublesome. Like Frank, I don't have a problem with the DP.

ETA: With just 6 posts, looks like you're new to the boards, so WELCOME!!

 

[mnsprk]

Okay, I know I can answer this one correctly.
Everyone on these boards has their own beliefs if the plan is worth the trouble and money.
I however am one who will tell you,"YEAH BABY ! Go for it !!"
I like the dine plan personally.

We like it!

 

[BradyBz12]

We've done it with and without, although the last time we did it was before they changed the DDP (eliminating app and tip)

I think the dining plan can be great depending on how you like to eat on vacation.

If you're going to use it to the max and really get your money's worth (we sure did, and then some). In our case it allowed us to try out lots of restaurants at WDW that we never would have if we'd had to pay out of pocket. We kept track, and many days we had TS meals that easily would have cost us $150-$200 just for that meal alone. Pretty good deal when you're paying about $80/day for the plan.

My own feeling is that if you're not going to use it that way - i.e., you've got picky eaters in your group or just aren't into trying new stuff - it might not be quite as worth it. Although if you're traveling with kids and plan to do some character meals, that could make it worth it right there.

We found that we had MORE than enough food - to the point that the camper fridge was filled with desserts and we had enough QS credits left on the last day to buy lunch for all our friends.

Ultimately we gave up the DDP when the the appetizer/tip were no longer included - and also because we shuffled our budget around to be able to afford an extra week's stay. But that said, we're actually considering doing it again this year - just got to crunch the numbers to see if it will work for us.

My suggestion would be to check out the menus (AllEars and the DIS both have great info) and rough out how you think you'd eat and what it would cost you for an average day and do the math.

Oh, one more consideration. Time. Eating a TS meal every day at WDW will eat up quite a bit of park time and require some planning to get all your ADRs lined up. Your call as to how important that may or may not be.

 

[k4dcf]

Ok let me be the dissenter. We were just at the fort and spent about 2/3 of the time in the parks. I personally do not like to plan my vacation around my meals and with the DP you almost have to to get the full value out of it. Also I can eat far cheaper by cooking (yes we cook on vacation) in the MH and still enjoy a few meals in the parks. After overhearing conversations like "I am sorry sir that is not on the plan" or "I know the parade is starting but we have to get to dinner to avoid missing our resse" As for me I want to eat what I want, where I want, when I want, and not be locked into some plan.

 

[BradyBz12]

All good points k4dcf, and all those things played into why we dropped the DDP a few years ago.

By cooking more we were able to save enough on the food budget to afford adding a week to our stay a couple of years ago and at this point we have a really laid back approach to touring/parks and don't really like being locked into meals at particular time.

When we went in November free dining was being offered so I figured that even though we weren't doing DDP, I'd better make some ADRs just in case. For 3 weeks I think I made a dozen ADRs... and we cancelled at least half of them once we got there.

The last year we did DDP we felt like we HAD to eat all these meals and make sure we got every last penny out of the plan. And frankly, while we love to eat out, it started to feel like a chore.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Ok let me be the dissenter. We were just at the fort and spent about 2/3 of the time in the parks. I personally do not like to plan my vacation around my meals and with the DP you almost have to to get the full value out of it. Also I can eat far cheaper by cooking (yes we cook on vacation) in the MH and still enjoy a few meals in the parks. After overhearing conversations like "I am sorry sir that is not on the plan" or "I know the parade is starting but we have to get to dinner to avoid missing our resse" As for me I want to eat what I want, where I want, when I want, and not be locked into some plan.

We have been doing the dine plan since 1991,,and I will say that the first time we used it, it took us a little to figure out.
We hear folk say all the time, "it takes up our time", "we have to schedule around eating",etc...we have NEVER had any of those problems,,ever.
I don't see how folk cant figure out how to work to the plan to suit them, its really not that hard.

But like I say, each to his own,,it works for us,

 

[CampingBandit]

We've done it with and without, although the last time we did it was before they changed the DDP (eliminating app and tip)

I think the dining plan can be great depending on how you like to eat on vacation.

If you're going to use it to the max and really get your money's worth (we sure did, and then some). In our case it allowed us to try out lots of restaurants at WDW that we never would have if we'd had to pay out of pocket. We kept track, and many days we had TS meals that easily would have cost us $150-$200 just for that meal alone. Pretty good deal when you're paying about $80/day for the plan.

My own feeling is that if you're not going to use it that way - i.e., you've got picky eaters in your group or just aren't into trying new stuff - it might not be quite as worth it. Although if you're traveling with kids and plan to do some character meals, that could make it worth it right there.

We found that we had MORE than enough food - to the point that the camper fridge was filled with desserts and we had enough QS credits left on the last day to buy lunch for all our friends.

Ultimately we gave up the DDP when the the appetizer/tip were no longer included - and also because we shuffled our budget around to be able to afford an extra week's stay. But that said, we're actually considering doing it again this year - just got to crunch the numbers to see if it will work for us.

My suggestion would be to check out the menus (AllEars and the DIS both have great info) and rough out how you think you'd eat and what it would cost you for an average day and do the math.

Oh, one more consideration. Time. Eating a TS meal every day at WDW will eat up quite a bit of park time and require some planning to get all your ADRs lined up. Your call as to how important that may or may not be.

Excellent advice

If you don't mind planning an itinerary and making the ADRs, it sounds like the plan would work for you....we tried many restaurants we wouldn't otherwise if it were not for being on the plan. So if fine dining is an integral part of your Disney vacation then go for it - it would be worth it.

Have a great time!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Disney Dining Plan - Disney's brilliant marketing plan which brainwashes people into spending unusually large amounts of time planning where they will eat at what time in order to spend large amounts of money for poor quality food. America - what a country.

 

[clkelley]

For few time or first time visitors, I dont' think the dining plan is good. As you say, all those table service meals take a lot of planning, and a lot of time.

We won't buy the DDP, but when the resorts offer it for free, we generally do get it about every other year.

However, we plan that trip around the meals. We are (almost) empty nesters, so don't have to worry about the kids, and we've been to the parks so many times, that it's more about enjoying the atmosphere and the friends that we meet up with.

So while, we may only hit 1 or 2 attractions per day, we enjoy just relaxing and enjoying our meals.

 

[kltigger]

Thanks! When do the resorts offer the DDP for free?

 

[clkelley]

Thanks! When do the resorts offer the DDP for free?

Generally in August/September with the booking window opening in April. However, I stress that the CAMPSITES are not eligible, just the hotel resorts and the CABINS.

You can buy the DDP for the CAMPSITES, but no free dining plan.

 

[djbogue]

What is the cost of the dining plan?

 

[2goofycampers]

Dining plan info

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/benefits/disney-dining-plan/

 

[wak648]

Depends on how you want to eat. My family usually enjoys a nice sit down meal once a day during the trip instead of just eating fast food for the whole vacation. When I was planning our next trip I priced it with out the DDP, and while on paper it was cheaper, it would cost us more in the long run once Ic added up the cheapest meal at all the restaurants we ate at during the last trip. Once I added that cost along with the cost of 1 counter service meal a day, it was much more expensive than a trip with the DDP added.