Dining plan tax?

[teacup princess]

Does the dining plan cost ($58.66 per adult for 2014) include tax, or is there tax added on top of that? I'm trying to price out OOP vs DDP. I'm adding tax to the OOP prices listed on AllEars but not to the DDP of $58.66/adult/day. Is that the correct way to do that? I cannot make the OOP much cheaper vs the DDP, even with sharing a couple meals, drinking water, eating less expensive items, and less desserts? Am I doing this wrong?

 

[sharonabe]

Sounds like you're doing it right, but with all your excluding, I find your math hard to believe. Tax is included on the DDP, so the $58.66 is the total. Tax on OOP is 6.5%.

I know I can do THREE meals/day including at least one TS (sometimes 2), higher priced snacks that aren't on the DDP, and even buffets for less than the $58.66. Can you give us some examples.

 

[POOHsie]

Here's how I break down the DDP daily charge of $58.66.

DDP Credit ($58.66) Cost Breakdown:
TS Total $41.66 - Entree Value $28.66, Non-Alc Bev $3.00, Dessert $10.00
CS Total $17.00 - Entree Value $10.00, Non-Alc Bev $3.00, Dessert $4.00

Using this as a guideline, you can look at TS entree options and pick one considerably less than $28.66, also you can skip a dessert or split one.

CS meals can be easier to control costs. My best tip for you is to order an entree-only, a la carte. If you don't order the plate with the sides, you'll save yourself about $2. Disney menus don't show a la carte pricing, but believe me, it's available. If there's 2 of you, have one order the full plate, and split the sides. CS is a good place to skip dessert. Save $ for a great snack like the cookie-ice cream sandwich at Plaza Ice Cream on Main St.

 

[atinkerella]

I did my calculations today. Overall cost for OOP and DDP is roughly about the same for us. But DDP gives us the refillable mug, which is not in our OOP price.

Although the plan will technically saves us a little money we will still do OPP. It is more flexible that way. We can order appetizers and skip dessert. It's also possible in reality OPP will cost us less.

 

[sharonabe]

Here's how I break down the DDP daily charge of $58.66.

DDP Credit ($58.66) Cost Breakdown:
TS Total $41.66 - Entree Value $28.66, Non-Alc Bev $3.00, Dessert $10.00
CS Total $17.00 - Entree Value $10.00, Non-Alc Bev $3.00, Dessert $4.00

Using this as a guideline, you can look at TS entree options and pick one considerably less than $28.66, also you can skip a dessert or split one.

CS meals can be easier to control costs. My best tip for you is to order an entree-only, a la carte. If you don't order the plate with the sides, you'll save yourself about $2. Disney menus don't show a la carte pricing, but believe me, it's available. If there's 2 of you, have one order the full plate, and split the sides. CS is a good place to skip dessert. Save $ for a great snack like the cookie-ice cream sandwich at Plaza Ice Cream on Main St.

What about the snack portion of the DDP? Do you just consider that your freebie?

If you take $4 out for a snack, that brings your TS value down to $37.66. I think your CS value is right on the money for an average. Yes, there are places where you can get an almost $15 entrée on CS, but you have to do the research and plan those in.

As the other PP said, there is also the refillable mug, but that's difficult to factor in to a value equation. We rarely use them, so it's a free souvenir for us.

 

[POOHsie]

What about the snack portion of the DDP? Do you just consider that your freebie?

If you take $4 out for a snack, that brings your TS value down to $37.66. I think your CS value is right on the money for an average. Yes, there are places where you can get an almost $15 entrée on CS, but you have to do the research and plan those in.

As the other PP said, there is also the refillable mug, but that's difficult to factor in to a value equation. We rarely use them, so it's a free souvenir for us.

You're right. I forgot the $4 snack. Thanks for the correction. How would you break down TS? $2 less for entree & dessert? I also don't count the refillable mug because the product isn't "worth" much when you're paying for a beverage with your TS and CS meals.

 

[sharonabe]

I don't break it down that far, but yes, the average dessert is probably closer to $8, so the other $2 could go on the entrée. There are some drinks that are more than $3, but that's probably a good average.

 

[Huff]

For us (2ppl) 8 nights dining = $925 including tax.

Stay, Play, Dine plan is $300 less than current room only discount + $925 for staying at POP.

 

[disneybliss2]

Does the dining plan cost ($58.66 per adult for 2014) include tax, or is there tax added on top of that? I'm trying to price out OOP vs DDP. I'm adding tax to the OOP prices listed on AllEars but not to the DDP of $58.66/adult/day. Is that the correct way to do that? I cannot make the OOP much cheaper vs the DDP, even with sharing a couple meals, drinking water, eating less expensive items, and less desserts? Am I doing this wrong?

I did exactly what you did--got the exact prices off allears, priced out the specific places we would eat at and plugged in what we would order (sometimes sharing, no desserts at most meals, less snacks, less expensive items, etc.). I added the tax to the OOP items as well. My daughter is 11 now, so we'll be charged an extra adult fee for her. I thought this would be the time to pay OOP because it wouldn't be cost effective because of the added price and sometimes she could get away with ordering a kid's meal OOP. With a side-by-side comparison of all meals, snacks, etc. I was shocked to find the dining plan was $20 cheaper, plus I didn't account for getting the resort mugs. On top of the dining plan being a little cheaper, no one had to share if they didn't want to, my girls are used to getting the extra desserts while we're at Disney (done the dining plan in the past), and we could feel free to order the more expensive items and not skimp---plus it was still cheaper. I was really surprised. In years past, it did save us even more, but that's when she was only charged a child's fee. Still, I was glad I did a side-by-side comparison of exactly what we'd order to find out for us what was a better deal instead of assuming.

 

[scanmom]

on these boards think that the dining plan would cost more, but in reality, sometimes it is a better value. It depends on your family's dining style. If you check allearsnet.com and price it out, you can figure what's best for your family. For us, the dining plan is usually the better value. We have used the regular plan and the quick service plan several times and have always come out ahead. I keep the receipts and count it all up after the trip. I'd love to try the deluxe plan, but it's so expensive, I am thinking of trying it when it's only hubby and me, and we can try for free dining and just upgrade!