Dining plan or OOP?

[CDM612]

Hi all! I am new to the forums, but not new to Disney. I have been quite a few times but never with a DDP. This is the first time we are taking our kids (8 and 3) and I am unsure of whether to get a dining plan or not. I have heard from people it's completely not worth it, then I have heard people who won't go without one. So I am at a loss and even after days of research I am still confused! I have already booked our reservations, so here is what I have planned:
Day 1 - Check in, supper at Planet Hollywood
Day 2 - Breakfast at Crystal Palace, QS lunch, QS supper (MNSSHP)
Day 3 - Breakfast at Tusker House, QS lunch, Chef Mickey supper
Day 4 - Breakfast at Chef Mickey, Supper at Be Our Guest (Universal for lunch)
Day 5 - Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine, QS lunch, supper at TREX
Day 6 - Check out, room service more than likely

So it's 2 adults and 2 children, the adults would more than likely choose more expensive menu options such as steak, seafood, etc. I was looking at the delux dining plan for the flexibility between meal choices and thinking that's our best bet but not sure for the cost if it's worth it. When do the meal credits expire? Midnight on day 5 or midnight on the day we check out? Like, could we use them up on day 6 if we have anything left after we check out?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[aaarcher86]

Credits expire midnight on your check out day.

You need to calculate the cost of the dining plan via the sticky at the top of this board, and calculate the cost of your meals via the menus available (I like allears.net) and compare.

We enjoy the DXDP but at full price it would cost more than our meals, so it's not worth it at that point. We usually do a TS breakfast and dinner with a QS lunch, so so etching similar to what you've got listed.

 

[CDM612]

Thank you! I will start off doing that. Are appetizers, soups, salads, dessert, etc. included in the ddp or is it just entree and drink? If I am asking stupid questions, feel free to direct me to where I need to read because even though I have read until my eyes are crossed I am still unsure. I swear I am making this out to be more complicated than it is!

 

[aaarcher86]

Thank you! I will start off doing that. Are appetizers, soups, salads, dessert, etc. included in the ddp or is it just entree and drink? If I am asking stupid questions, feel free to direct me to where I need to read because even though I have read until my eyes are crossed I am still unsure. I swear I am making this out to be more complicated than it is!

The deluxe plan would give you an app, entree, drink, and dessert for each meal (not breakfast). The regular plan would be just an entree, drink, and dessert. So it depends on the plan.

Most of the places you listed are buffets, so it'd be the buffet and a drink.

 

[GillianP1301]

Based on your meal plan and the fact that you have two Disney kids (under 9 years old) with that many character meals, I think the regular DDP would be good for you as far as money savings. You could always do the calculation based on online menus to make sure.

 

[sharonabe]

One of the difficulties with what you have planned is you have 8 TS meals, but you only have 5 TS credits. You'll have to pay OOP for some of those along with your possible room service on departure day. And you're only using 4 of your 5 QS meals, so you'll lose the value of one of those.

I'm a little concerned about your Day 4. With Chef Mickey and BoG as bookend meals, you're not going to have much time at Universal.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

I agree with the above poster. You will have very little time at Universal. You will lose at least an hour for travel time, at least we did from POR, and unless you have a real late ADR, you will be crunched for time.

 

[CDM612]

Thanks for the input. I stuck BOG there because they were booked for the other nights. I had originally planned on doing dinner there early on the night we go to MNSSHP but it's booked. Our reservation that night is at 7:30 I think, breakfast at 7:30 that morning. We have shuttle transfer from the Contemporary to Universal but I didn't know how long it took. I don't plan on being there all day, anyway with my 3 year old needing to nap midday.

With the deluxe plan, though, aren't the credits between table service and counter service indistinguishable? So it shouldn't matter how many of each I use if the credits are cumulative?

 

[chmasy]

Try using distripplanner.com to help calculate.

 

[CDM612]

Try using distripplanner.com to help calculate.

Thank you!

 

[aaarcher86]

Thanks for the input. I stuck BOG there because they were booked for the other nights. I had originally planned on doing dinner there early on the night we go to MNSSHP but it's booked. Our reservation that night is at 7:30 I think, breakfast at 7:30 that morning. We have shuttle transfer from the Contemporary to Universal but I didn't know how long it took. I don't plan on being there all day, anyway with my 3 year old needing to nap midday.

With the deluxe plan, though, aren't the credits between table service and counter service indistinguishable? So it shouldn't matter how many of each I use if the credits are cumulative?

They are, but you use value as a QS meal.

 

[lauradis]

i wouldnt keep all meals at disney unless its fast counter service and enjoy random food at universal