dining plan or not

[moemt]

Traveling in July 3 adults and 3 boys 9,8,3. Unsure about dining plan or not.

We currently have ADR at Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, Boma, Ohana, Biergarten, Teppan EDO, Whispering canyon, and Mama Melrose (Fantasmic plan). All for dinner.

We are not sure if the dining plan is a good deal or not. Used the calculator someone mentioned and it shows we could save some(2-300) but we may not eat as many snacks and likely wouldn't eat dessert every meal.

Several in the group would just as likely have water as any other drink especially with QS. Also the kids are not always big eaters so our plan at QS is to only order 4-5 meals and share food even if not on the plan with the idea we can order more if needed or get a snack later.

We plan to eat breakfast in the room generally and will pack some snacks/drinks in the parks regardless.

Does any one have a good feel for doing one or the other.

I did DP one trip in 2012 and didn't once 2012( arrived late mon and left early sat so would have required 2 TS one day) and my thought is this trip it could be a wash. We are not glued to some of the ADR so could change from buffet to menu to reduce number of meals ordered. I do suspect that the buffets and character meals would make the kids side be ahead easily.

 

[bratgirl]

Looking at your ADR I would go with the dining plan. If you are going to split your QS at lunch, you can also do the same using QS for breakfast. That would use up your QS. Being that you are going in July can use snack for water, ice cream, or something cool in the park. Also can pack some to take home with you

 

[sharonabe]

Traveling in July 3 adults and 3 boys 9,8,3. Unsure about dining plan or not.

We currently have ADR at Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, Boma, Ohana, Biergarten, Teppan EDO, Whispering canyon, and Mama Melrose (Fantasmic plan). All for dinner.

We are not sure if the dining plan is a good deal or not. Used the calculator someone mentioned and it shows we could save some(2-300) but we may not eat as many snacks and likely wouldn't eat dessert every meal.

Several in the group would just as likely have water as any other drink especially with QS. Also the kids are not always big eaters so our plan at QS is to only order 4-5 meals and share food even if not on the plan with the idea we can order more if needed or get a snack later.

We plan to eat breakfast in the room generally and will pack some snacks/drinks in the parks regardless.

Does any one have a good feel for doing one or the other.

I did DP one trip in 2012 and didn't once 2012( arrived late mon and left early sat so would have required 2 TS one day) and my thought is this trip it could be a wash. We are not glued to some of the ADR so could change from buffet to menu to reduce number of meals ordered. I do suspect that the buffets and character meals would make the kids side be ahead easily.

With your family make up and all the buffets, you'll probably do better with DDP. The days you do your buffet, the three kids' QS and snack are essentially free. That's about $36 per day you're saving. The adults are also ahead on those days by at least $2.50 each (Chef Mickey is more like $7.50 each).

Like PP said, use some of the QS for breakfasts to share as well as lunch and you'll have plenty of food and probably spend less than you would OOP. Get bottled water instead of soda with your meals and stay hydrated.

 

[mulan1123]

You can use your snack credits for bottled water in the parks.

I used up some of the snack credits for candy (PEZ) and cookies to bring home with me.

 

[wiigirl]

Looking at your ADR I would go with the dining plan. If you are going to split your QS at lunch, you can also do the same using QS for breakfast. That would use up your QS. Being that you are going in July can use snack for water, ice cream, or something cool in the park. Also can pack some to take home with you

 

[TDC Nala]

You have three kids under 10, six fixed price restaurants and one Fantasmic package. I don't often recommend the dining plan for the purposes of saving money, but you are exactly the sort of party that can save money using it.

You can share the QS. Just make sure you use them all. Order bottled water.

 

[davedmaine]

Are you all in one room?

 

[moemt]

2 rooms. Me and 1 child listed in one and 2a2c in the other although who sleeps where who knows. Hoping to get connecting rooms.

 

[jmkrat]

The main reason I get the Dining Plan is because I like having everything paid for before we go. It may have saved us a little because we chose some of the more expensive places to go. As far as the Snack Credits go, my kid's had a ball using them up on the last day buying candy so it worked out. I'm also using it for this trip.

 

[fabulousfive]

I would definitely do the dining plan! Plus you always eat more while there because you're so active and work up an appetite. We love having everything taken care of and being able to grab a snack or a bottled water at no extra expense. Plus, as avid water drinkers, we were surprised how much we loved the refillable mugs for coffee and tea and then got bottled waters with all our other counter service meals. Dining plan is so worth it and we wouldn't not do it! Enjoy! Plus, I agree with a PP that with the fixed meals you have planned, the other snack and meal and mug is pretty much free.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I am the same way this is our first year to go without the dining plan I think I will save my family money because there is only 2 of us. Since you have 3 kids so you have a whole family going I would recommend the dining plan. Eating at those buffet can get really expensive. With you family I would say try the dining plan

 

[AllyinWonderland]

Looking at the reservations you have, I would absolutely go with the dining plan. You have mostly buffets and family style which are fixed prices and include dessert so even if some people in your party don't eat much or you don't want to order dessert, it wouldn't save you money at those. Your family could probably get away with splitting QS meals for lunch which would open up a couple credits for breakfast if you don't want to eat in your room every morning.