Dining plan or not

[Dean]

Very interesting! I was going to do the dining plan for 2 adults and 1 4yo which would be $980 for 7 nights. We are planning on 5 TS meals for sure including CRT, AHB at Epcot, California Grill, BOG for lunch which I know is QS, H&V buffet and a couple others that I can't remember now. What do you all think? TIW card with the pre-funded gift card for $880 (balance after I pay the membership fee) or DDP plus??

It looks like you'll get a value of around $30-35 per credit for most of those TS options (a little more for Akershus). If you have a couple of more TS options, you may not have enough credits for every person every meal since the one's you have listed above use 6 TS credits. OF course you could always share a meal at CG to stretch them. Usually the signature's return a lower value except for the very high end options like lobster/surf&turf at Narcoosee's. Depending on your other choices and how you use both the snack credits and QS options, you will likely be right around break even with the DP or come out a little ahead due to the 4 y/o and the buffet costs. Just go through the menu's and see what you think your costs will be. Ultimately it likely depends on whether you could get another trip out of the TIW.

 

[pavicich]

We have used dining plan since the beginning (app and tip included). Yes, it isn't nearly the same value as it was back then, however we still use it. We actually now get the deluxe plan. Here is why- The way we use it, we do a character brunch and a sig dinner (mostly). Add in the 2 snacks and run the numbers including app's (which we want with dinner more than desert) and the numbers work. Especially if you enjoy some beer or wine at the dinner shows it becomes even more worth it since these are included. I purchased TIW for our NYE trip did not purchase a dining plan specifically to run the test for ourselves. We came out even. If I had included the snacks and mug the DDXP would have put us ahead. It completely depends on where you choose to eat. Many say eating 2 sit downs takes too much time. I would disagree as we don't spend that time waiting for characters (sans tink) since we do the character meals (when Anna and Elsa are added somewhere we will be all set- I refuse to wait that long!). For us, 2 meals a day isn't too much food. They are larger than a simple meal at home, but that isn't how we want to dine on vaca- personal preference. When we go to VGF for a week over spring break even though we have TIW we will purchase DDXP. When my daughter is older and over the meet and greets we will rerun the numbers again however until then it makes sense for us.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

We are actually excited about not being in the DDP for our trip this month. It will be our first time without the DDP in years. We are looking forward to not being held to a schedule (ADR's). We will eat what we want and when we want. I considered the TIW card, but I am turned off by the mandatory 18% tip. I am also not happy about TIW not being accepted at deluxe resort counter service locations. This would mean no discount in breakfast at our hotel.

 

[kshark1958]

I previously thought that we were going to go the way of TIW. Not so sure now because after looking at participating restaurants I see that the QS restaurants in the parks don't participate. We usually do QS for lunch then TS for dinner.

 

[nalajms]

We were on the deluxe plan for several years...then it got really hard to make reservations. It works when you do the one TS and one signature. If you can't get many signatures, we'd end up with unused credits because we really can't eat 3 TS a day with 1 or more buffet!

Now we will only get the deluxe if I have enough reservations to use up the credits. If I only have a few TS booked, we buy the basic plan and use TIW for the TS. The basic plan is just break even, but it's more convenient.

My 4oy's not a big eater. And for Signatures, we pay OOP for his meal rather than waste the 2 dining credits. Kids meals range from $8 to $15. I can use the credits to get him 2 chicken finger meals at Epcot that he likes better.

 

[dsneygirl]

We are TiW fans all the way. Haven't done the DDP since 07 or so. We love the flexibility. We do a lot of TS lunches and I like getting 2 apps, say soup and salad. We don't need 2 huge pops at every QS and don't miss the QS desserts at all.

Last trip we had 3 meals at AK QS and it is good there.

I also like a wine with dinner and save the 20%. The last 2 trips were 10 days and we ate very well including tips and alcohol for about $100/day. the plan would cost our family about $130 before tips and alcohol.

 

[kshark1958]

TIW doesn't have any QS locations in the parks but they do at the resorts. Wonder why that is. We definitely do TS for dinner but not to much at lunch while we are at the parks.

 

[patters3257]

one more thing I wanted to add..

Disney makes you buy DDP for EVERYONE in your party.. TIW is good up to 10 people!
With TIW I can split a meal between my two kids, or spilt my meal with my youngest..
So I can order as much or as little as I like..


My little one does not eat a lot and normally just picks off our plates. The next time we go back we would have to buy her a DDP all for herself! She would NEVER eat it all..
Such a waste of food and money.
The CM even let me order off the kids meal, since i was not that hungry and didn't want anything off the adult menu.
You can also order and app. As your meal with the TIW card, which I did one time as well.

So If your have people In Your party who don't eat a lot, or can be picky I think TIW is the place to go

We decided to buy a Tables in Wonderland Card this year and have used it on 3 trips so far instead of the DDP, and I dont think we will ever go back to the DDP. As someone else stated when you are on the DDP you feel like you have to eat like a pig to get your moneys worth, but with the TIW you can go in and just get an appetizer, or a smaller meal, plus 20% of adult beverages.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Based on our experience from several trips, yes, one can save 20% with the Quick Service Dining Plan.

However:

(1) Entitlements must be used for lunches and dinners because breakfast offerings are relatively inexpensive.

(2) You need to dine at locations with entree offerings that exceed $15.00. Contempo Cafe, for example, offers a lobster roll sandwich that is over $15.00.

(3) You need to select the most expensive side and beverage. Even if you really want the chocolate pudding, you have to opt for the gingerbread cupcake if it is $5.39.

(4) You need to select snack options that are $5 or more. Kabuki Cafe, at the Japan Pavilion, offers a seasonal chicken snack for $6.34.

(5) You need to accept the fact that you will likely be ordering a number of meals for price alone, not because you really want to eat them.

Sadly, I have an entire excel file devoted to Quick Service Dining locations and the combinations that result in a savings. It truly is not an enjoyable way to dine.

Jim 8O

 

[AlohaAnnie]

We decided to buy a Tables in Wonderland Card this year and have used it on 3 trips so far instead of the DDP, and I dont think we will ever go back to the DDP. As someone else stated when you are on the DDP you feel like you have to eat like a pig to get your moneys worth, but with the TIW you can go in and just get an appetizer, or a smaller meal, plus 20% of adult beverages.

Completely agree with anyone that says we will never go back to DDP. Tiw def fits our family. We enjoyed it using it for our 2 week trip in June 2013. We questioned why we didn't use it sooner for our other 7 trips especially after we became DVC in 2009. It really fit the way we eat much better.

.

 

[twinklebug]

Adding another shout out for the TIW card here. Love that 20% discount & I don't mind the tip being automatically added as I'd be tipping that anyway.

There is a web calculator I found recently, probably coded by a DIS member, that guesstimates what you'd spend on various meals by location, time and guest ages and then compares that cost, with tax and tips, to the cost of the various DDPs, also including tax and tips. The tool is not perfect, but I appreciate that it takes a lot of work away from my end.

http://www.distripplanner.com/

I have always run the numbers looking to see if we're missing out on anything by not taking the DDP, and the answer was a big fat "No", but this site confirms my calculations with much less effort.
TIW added on top of the Cash numbers is not exact since other elements are already figured in, but it gives a decent ballpark of additional savings when only the TIW applicable meals are entered.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

TIW doesn't have any QS locations in the parks but they do at the resorts. Wonder why that is. We definitely do TS for dinner but not to much at lunch while we are at the parks.

Not true..
You can use it at restaurant-sorus (spelling?) in AK.. But that's the only one I know of..

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Adding another shout out for the TIW card here. Love that 20% discount & I don't mind the tip being automatically added as I'd be tipping that anyway..

I also have to say the TIW stop DH and I fighting over how much tip. He was taught to tip 20% I was taught 15%. So 18% on the TIW works perfect for us!

I don't agree with this, but have seen reports of people doing this-

Some people on the DDP take that the paid for the DDP & divided the cost of the DDP over the amount of meals they eat & tip off that percentage.. So say the cost of the DDP was 1,000 (family of 4) and they have 5 TS, 5 QS.. So 1,000\10 = $100 a meal.. So at the TS they tip 18% of $100 no matter what the cost of the food they ordered..

I know Waiters don't like the DDP.. They get stiffed A Lot..
We saw a family of 8 on our last trip stiff our waiter. This was after they let their children make a mess, and complained that the princess were not coming fast enough..
The parents had a VERY loud convo, about leaving tip.. And agreed the DDP included tip.. I leaned over and told them it did not (wish I had never done that)
They looked right at me, then got up and walked away.

My DH felt so bad for the waiter we left extra tip, enough to cover that table..

 

[dsneygirl]

TIW doesn't have any QS locations in the parks but they do at the resorts. Wonder why that is. We definitely do TS for dinner but not to much at lunch while we are at the parks.

We did a lot of TS lunches the last couple trips and with TiW they weren't much more than a QS. About $40-$50 including tip. I find at lunch the restaurants are a lot less crowded and the service is usually super quick.

 

[twinklebug]

Not true..
You can use it at restaurant-sorus (spelling?) in AK.. But that's the only one I know of..

Last I checked, the TIW card can also be used at Artist's Palate at SSR and Flametree BBQ in AK.

 

[kshark1958]

Last I checked, the TIW card can also be used at Artist's Palate at SSR and Flametree BBQ in AK.

I stand corrected with Flame Tree BBQ and Restaurantosaurus. But Artists Pallette is in SSR and I was referring to the parks. I like dsneygirl post about TS at lunch. I may have to give that a try.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

I stand corrected with Flame Tree BBQ and Restaurantosaurus. But Artists Pallette is in SSR and I was referring to the parks. I like dsneygirl post about TS at lunch. I may have to give that a try.

I also also know the liberty tree at MK for lunch Will only run you $2-3 more.. We ordered burgers and fries and chicken fingers, so not sure in the other items.. But is was nice to sit down for a while, and not have it be so crazy like at starlight cafe..

I like the idea of having all our food brought to us, than having to go to three different "bays" so everyone can get what they want to eat,


Plus they were REALLY nice about letting us bring our stroller in (baby was sleeping)

 

[brandigregory]

If I am not a FL resident or an annual passholder can I still purchase the Tables in Wonderland pass? It seems like it will be way cheaper to buy that membership combined with my Visa card at times vs. dining plan. I googled it and it seems like maybe I don't qualify for the card? Thoughts?

 

[kshark1958]

If I am not a FL resident or an annual passholder can I still purchase the Tables in Wonderland pass? It seems like it will be way cheaper to buy that membership combined with my Visa card at times vs. dining plan. I googled it and it seems like maybe I don't qualify for the card? Thoughts?

You can also purchase it if you are a DVC member

 

[brandigregory]

Not that either, renting points this year. Sounds like I will be out of luck. Bummer!!