Dining Plan thoughts and comments

pjupton

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 3, 2005
Messages
361
Our family is me & DH, both WDW veterans and twin boys who will be two in November. My plan was for DH and I to share our meals with the boys and limit the times we ordered separate items just for them. They are both typically good eaters and try a wide variety of foods. It turns out they were both sick during our trip and didn't eat much at all. They didn't eat at meals and they didn't really eat the snacks I brought that they consume in vast quantities at home.

TOTAL VALUE OF DINING PLAN FOR US= $887.74

If we had paid for the dining plan, it would have cost us $35/adult/night or $560. We did get the plan for free, but gave up an AAA discounted room to do so, so having the plan for "free" was more like a value of $450 instead of $560.

TOTAL COST OF EXTRAS AT TABLE SERVICE MEALS = I’M GUESSING AROUND $200.00

TOTAL COST OF ALCOHOL AT F&WF = $57.05 (this was spread over the course of 5 visits, FYI)

So, all in all, we spent about $250 on food and alcohol outside of the dining plan. If it had not been Food and Wine Festival, we would not have spent that much. We also might not have had SO MUCH FOOD because we were also sharing our meals with two children too young to have their own dining plan credits. Without Food and Wine Festival, we would likely have NOT used all the snack credits since we probably would not have gotten 16 units of ice cream, popcorn, and sodas.

If I were paying for the dining plan in the future, I think I'd try to plan one TS per day and stay at a resort where the CS breakfast was a good use of credits. I also think we'd split more meals than we did this week.

Also, I think I've changed my opinion about the menu options for kids. Our boys were so out of sorts both because they were sick and just because they were out of their routine. When they did eat, they ate mac & cheese or fries. It was definitely not healthy, but at that point, I just wanted to see them consume some calories, regardless of the source. Familiar foods offer comfort, especially to little bitty guys who don't really know what is going on or where they are. Of course, I don't feed them mac & cheese and fries all day every day at home, but it won't kill them for a week.
 
When we went in June, we did the same thing with our 2 yo twins. THey weren't sick, so they ate lots. It helped make it not seem like so much food to share with them. It was great! I wish we could swing another trip before they turn 3 but it doesn't look like it's in the cards.
 


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