dining plan question

[ebonyeyes]

Hi,
I am planning our first trip to the World for DH, DS (6) & myself. We've been chewing on the idea of purchasing the Dining Plan but don't know if it is worth it. We are staying in an AKV studio for 10 days. I know we don't have a full kitchen so no major meals in the room. We don't want to concentrate too much on using our meals each day but the savings soumnds good. Anyone out there use the DDP and what did you think.
Thanks, Nanette

 

[eliza61]

Hi,
I am planning our first trip to the World for DH, DS (6) & myself. We've been chewing on the idea of purchasing the Dining Plan but don't know if it is worth it. We are staying in an AKV studio for 10 days. I know we don't have a full kitchen so no major meals in the room. We don't want to concentrate too much on using our meals each day but the savings soumnds good. Anyone out there use the DDP and what did you think.
Thanks, Nanette

My family and I tried it once but didn't particularly like it.
Since we go during a little slower laughing: ) time than full summer or holidays we found that the ddp required us to "clock watch" a bit too much. We always had to make sure that we were at the right park for our adr's.

We do enjoy adult beverages with our large meal, especially if its dinner. Dh & I will have a beer or glass of wine so we use the DDE card which gives us a discount on the total bill.

There are days especially if we stay more than 7 days where we won't eat a big meal at all, so we ended up with a few TS credits left over.

Overall I think the DDP saved us ~$70.00. Not really enough for me to alter my touring style.

 

[mikeandkarla]

We have used it on every trip since 2004. It is a bargain with children between the ages of 3-9, at 9.99 day. At 10 years of age, it goes to about 39.99 a day. Not such a bargain anymore. We will continue to use it until our oldest turns 10. Make sure to make your ADR's far in advance to get the restaraunts you want. Good luck

 

[tgropp]

We use the dining plan since if I am on holidays, the last thing I want to do is cook. I would not want to do it for more than 7 days though.

 

[5forDiz]

I'd say give it try; especially that it is your family's first trip . You'll be able to try out a good variety of counter serve and table serve experiences and then can have your own point of reference for future trips as to whether your family really got value & enjoyment out of the plan.

So I'd say go for it especially if your son will enjoy doing some character meals (these can be pricey out of pocket). Although you will spend more time at table service meals I think the photo ops you will get at character meals is definitely worth it with kids and then you do not need to worry about tracking these characters down at the parks to get pictures.

And there's Hoop De Doo Review or Spirit of Aloha dinner shows or signature restaurants - these will take 2 table service credits per person but could be special & fun for your family

Look over menus at allears.net to get better idea of what's offered at both CS & TS locations. For table service often lunch menus are very similar or identical to dinner menu so you may find doing a late lunch is more convenient than trying to do TS in the evening but if you do Table Service meal in evening getting earliest seating possible will still leave you plenty of time to enjoy park after dinner.

 

[brandylouwho]

Our family has become rather anti-dining plan, but there are many people out there who swear by it and find it to be a savings to them. If I were you, I'd check out the menus here on wdwinfo.com and on allearsnet.com and think about where you might like to eat and what you might like to order. You should compare what you'd truly want to order to see if you save or not. (Don't compare the most expensive thing you could order, or don't count dessert if you aren't a dessert eater).

There does seem to be an attraction to having the meals prepaid (except for tip) and that's not a bad thing. Also the kids price for the DDP is great.

I can tell you why we don't like it:
1) we like appetizers and don't usually all need our own dessert (we skip it or share).
2) still having to pay for a tip on our own
3) eating at a TS everyday, counter service are fine for us. We have 2 little kids and waiting for food at a TS place is not always pleasant.
4) Feeling like we need to plan around our meals (because many ADRs are made months in advance). We'd rather plan a few special TS meals at 180 days and then wing it, eat at a CS or in the room. If we change our mind when paying cash it is no biggie, but when on the plan we feel like we have to keep the ADR so as not to waste credits, thereby losing the value/savings.

Honestly, Disney makes good money off of us being on the plan (whether it is from unused credits or keeping people in the parks/on property longer) or else they wouldn't offer it.

All that negativity aside, we may consider it again in the future for adults only trips. When a lot of "fine dining" may be part of the grand plan.

 

[jblrn2b]

If you are staying in a studio - I think that's what you said- you won't have a "full" kitchen - just a small fridge and I think a toaster so know that you won't be able to cook full meals.

We use the DDP but my kids are 8 and 14 and they love to eat TS meals/character meals - It works for us now. When my youngest was 2, he was a mover and we stopped going to restuarants for a while (with him) so I can see not going with little kids.

Have fun in your decision.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

We've done the regular dining plan w/adult children (twice) and the deluxe plan for just DH and myself earlier this year. We feel we get our money's worth, even though we have to pay the tip now. I think you should try it as long as you don't mind planning the times when you want you sit down meals.

 

[anonymousegirl]

The big thing is to get all your ADRs before buying the DDP. It has happened that someone buys the plan then discovers all the TS restaurants they wanted were booked and they ended up going somewhere they didn't want to eat just because it was already paid for.

Another option might be the Tables in Wonderland card (formerly Disney Dining Experience, or DDE). This is only available to Florida residents and Annual Pass holders. Since you are going for ten days, if one of you buys an AP, then you can buy the TiW card for $60 and it will save you 20% at many of the TS restaurants. It covers alcohol too and is good for up to 10 people at the same table.

 

[Dean]

Hi,
I am planning our first trip to the World for DH, DS (6) & myself. We've been chewing on the idea of purchasing the Dining Plan but don't know if it is worth it. We are staying in an AKV studio for 10 days. I know we don't have a full kitchen so no major meals in the room. We don't want to concentrate too much on using our meals each day but the savings soumnds good. Anyone out there use the DDP and what did you think.
Thanks, Nanette

Decide where you'll likely eat and get any reservations you'll need. Then look at the menus with your personal habits in mind and decide for yourself. For most it does not save money over what they would have spent on your own. Some options will return a better (or worse) value than others. As a rule the Signatures and cheapest sitdown places will give you the worse return, often less than you'd have for cash and almost always less than if you had the TIW (formerly DDE). The top end single ticket locations will give you the best value, esp if you tend (or want to try) the more expensive options.

 

[Renysmom]

I made all our ADR's first and then added up the cost of the meals (using an avr of $10 per person for CS) and did the math. For us on the upcoming trip, the DP will save us about $350. Last year it we would have lost money.

I think this is really the only way you can do it.

 

[Dean]

I made all our ADR's first and then added up the cost of the meals (using an avr of $10 per person for CS) and did the math. For us on the upcoming trip, the DP will save us about $350. Last year it we would have lost money.

I think this is really the only way you can do it.

But would make the same meal choices were you paying cash, most people wouldn't.

 

[florep1]

We have DP booked for our Christmas trip and ADRs booked and money set aside, but now, I'm having second thoughts. DH wants to go to Hard Rock for one meal, Emerils for another meal, and the kids want to try T-Rex, so I'm going back and forth about whether I need to cancel it or not. I guess we'll decide hopefully before the cancellation window closes.

 

[Renysmom]

But would make the same meal choices were you paying cash, most people wouldn't.

In our case yes because I never know if we are going to do the DP on a trip. It all depends on where we are staying and what we are doing. We also are pretty tame eaters so we are never really interested in any of the high end dinners, CA Grill doesn't even make our list LOL... So for us this works

 

[Dean]

We have DP booked for our Christmas trip and ADRs booked and money set aside, but now, I'm having second thoughts. DH wants to go to Hard Rock for one meal, Emerils for another meal, and the kids want to try T-Rex, so I'm going back and forth about whether I need to cancel it or not. I guess we'll decide hopefully before the cancellation window closes.

Unless you can eat up (pun intended) the extra credits at signatures or want to have 3 meals a day, it's unlikely you'll be able to get a value from the DDP with this plan.

In our case yes because I never know if we are going to do the DP on a trip. It all depends on where we are staying and what we are doing. We also are pretty tame eaters so we are never really interested in any of the high end dinners, CA Grill doesn't even make our list LOL... So for us this works

If one goes for the higher end meals at the single ticket locations and consistently would get desert and/or smoothies, you can generate a savings at least on paper. There are few meal combo's where one can show a savings at the Signature locations. IMO, I'd need to save at least 10% off what I'd spend otherwise including discounts to make it worthwhile to even consider. I also believe the plan, like buffets, encourages people to overeat. But it can be a great way to try new and more expensive items for a controlled price. Simply stated, anyone who contemplates the DDP should look at their situation and decide what's best for them. IMO, just to do it because one would know the cost upfront (as some do) is a poor reason to make the choice and if it's anywhere near break even including discounts, best to not tie yourself down to such a commitment. What if someone gets ill or you have to leave early due to an issue back home?

 

[DVCleslie]

We use the DDP for some trips, but only when we've got ADRs planned. Otherwise, we like the TiW card. The 20% discount is for food and adult beverages as well.

I would do as some other posts suggest- you can get a good idea of what you might save (or not) by just putting the numbers down on paper.

 

[ebonyeyes]

Ok, another question. Are Buffets considered table service? And it sounds like you need reservations for any meal that isn't a quick service outlet. Is this correct?
Nanette

 

[TDC Nala]

Buffets are table service.

As for whether you need reservations - it's a good idea. Whether you absolutely need them depends on certain variables like the time of year you're going, whether you want to choose specific popular restaurants, whether or not you prefer to eat at peak mealtimes, etc. If you want ANY character meals, it's best to book those ahead of time.

It's best to at least attempt to plan your meals. If you don't use the dining credits, they expire. You can't get them refunded if you don't use them.

I think that's what you said- you won't have a "full" kitchen - just a small fridge and I think a toaster so know that you won't be able to cook full meals.

You will also have a microwave in a studio. But you will not have an oven or a cooktop.

 

[ebonyeyes]

Buffets are table service.

As for whether you need reservations - it's a good idea. Whether you absolutely need them depends on certain variables like the time of year you're going, whether you want to choose specific popular restaurants, whether or not you prefer to eat at peak mealtimes, etc. If you want ANY character meals, it's best to book those ahead of time.

It's best to at least attempt to plan your meals. If you don't use the credits, they expire.



You will also have a microwave in a studio. But you will not have an oven or a cooktop.[/QUOte
Our trip is 8/9-8/18. I guess I am just having trouble trying to wrap my mind around making ADR this far in advance...We've never done this before...of course, we have only gone to DL not the WORLD. I guess too that we tend to have fun, fun, fun until we get hungry then we stop and eat. to DDP or not to DDP this is the question.

 

[TDC Nala]

I guess too that we tend to have fun, fun, fun until we get hungry then we stop and eat.

On the basic DDP (definitely on the deluxe), this may not be a good move, seeing as you have to use the table service credits or lose them. And they make up most of the value of the plan. Depending on the time of year you go and the restaurants you want, it's possible you may not be able to walk into any table service restaurants located inside theme parks - or you may have to wander all over the park until you find a table service restaurant with openings, and then wait for a table.

I was in Epcot back in October and the guest services had up a board showing restaurant availablity for the day. Only two restaurants - Marrakesh and Nine Dragons - had much availability. Several others were marked "limited availability" and most restaurants had none.

Can DVC members buy the new quick service plan? That could be a better fit for the way you tour the park - you wouldn't need reservations or have to make sure you got in table service dining.