Dining plan?s

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We haven't done the DDP since 2009 when it was considerably cheaper. We usually have a TIW card, but that won't be the case next trip since we don't plan on getting Annual passes.

So I started doing some math to see if the DDP would be a good value for us, me, my DH, and DD. DD is 9, but will be turning 10 three days into our trip. My first question is would I be able to buy a child's DDP for her? If not then I already know that the DDP would not be a good purchase for us.

But after doing some research I'm trying to figure out if it's a good value for anyone. Looking at AllEars menus, some of the most expensive one credit meals, like Ohana, Chef Mickey's, or Teppan Edo are about $40 a person including drink and dessert. That would leave another $20 per day per adult left for a quick service meal and a snack. It appears that most quick service meals are around $10 plus $3 for a drink. I know that I also get a dessert with those meals but I hesitate to count it in my figuring since we usually didn't eat them or get them the last time we did the DDP. So that leaves $7 a day for the snack. Wouldn't I just be breaking about even?

Please correct me if my calculations are wrong. I know part of the appeal of the DDP is convenience of having prepaid meals, but I wouldn't want to do it unless I thought I would get my money's worth.

Thanks-

 

[supersnoop]

First of all, the child's age only matters for the first day of your trip. If she turns 10 while you're there, she still counts as a child for tickets and the dining plan.

You are correct with your calculations. Adults rarely save any money using the dining plan. Most, if not all, of the savings comes through the children's price. Accounting for the one child, desserts, and the resort mug, you might come out ahead with the dining plan, but it will be close.

 

[smiths02]

First of all, the child's age only matters for the first day of your trip. If she turns 10 while you're there, she still counts as a child for tickets and the dining plan.

You are correct with your calculations. Adults rarely save any money using the dining plan. Most, if not all, of the savings comes through the children's price. Accounting for the one child, desserts, and the resort mug, you might come out ahead with the dining plan, but it will be close.

You also have to assume that you want each person in your party wants one TS, one CS, and one snack per night.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The way you plan on using it, you can probably end up breaking even, possibly saving a small amount depending on what you "spend" on the TS meals (you have a child who will be considered under 10 which helps with that). But you won't save much if you are in effect going to give up the adult's desserts you are prepaying for.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I appreciate the responses because I thought maybe I was missing something.

For a child at $19 a day you're right there is some savings but I wouldn't think it would be more than $10 a day.

The only dessert I mentioned we wouldn't get would be at CS places. Love dessert at TS places.

I will do some more figuring knowing that my DD will get the child's price, but its looking like we should just pay as we eat.

 

[davedmaine]

I appreciate the responses because I thought maybe I was missing something. For a child at $19 a day you're right there is some savings but I wouldn't think it would be more than $10 a day. The only dessert I mentioned we wouldn't get would be at CS places. Love dessert at TS places. I will do some more figuring knowing that my DD will get the child's price, but its looking like we should just pay as we eat.

The dining plan will not save anyone money

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Well, most of your TS places are family style or buffet (Teppan Edo isn't) so you would not be adding on the dessert, you'd get the dessert included anyway if you ate there. So yes, you're only giving up CS dessert basically. But the DDP works best as a money-saver if every component included with it is used, including the CS desserts. One can possibly "save more money" by selecting more expensive entrees, snacks, drinks and desserts too.

 

[supersnoop]

The dining plan will not save anyone money

Yes, it will if you have kids.

The Disney website used to have a page that advertise the dining plans as:
- Counter Service Plan: Save up to 10%
- Regular Plan: Save up to 15%
- Deluxe Plan: Save up to 25%

You have to work really hard; order the expensive items, always drink soda, and always eat desert, to get close to the "up to" savings.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The dining plan will not save anyone money

Depends how one eats/plans.
Contempo Cafe:
Grilled salmon $11.99
Fresh fruit cup $3.79
Soda $2.39
Lunch total $18.17
The Wave:
Herb-crusted beef tenderloin $32.99
Cheese flight dessert $15.49
Coffee $2.39
Dinner total $47.88
Contempo Cafe:
Cheesecake $3.99

Total $70.04 before 6.5% tax or daily portion of mug.
Costof dining plan $60.64 per night.

 

[Mikie]

The dining plan will not save anyone money

I suppose it didn't save me money compared to the way I'd "cheap out" on my dining choices if I had no plan. However, having more than 1 child on the plan, drinking soft drinks, and eating the desserts, and choosing lots of character meals which are pricey 1-credit places, we definitely save money using the dining plan for a specific list of restaurants vs paying OOP for that same list. (it helps that one daughter is 9, son is 7 and kids' meals are a little small for them depending how hungry they are that moment, so they help finish our adult meals)

The way we eat, we'd about break even on adults - would save a little if we paid OOP and didn't order dessert at CS, which is the only one we'd skip. We save so much on the kids, though, that it more than makes up for the potential overpayment on the adults.