Dining Plan - value question

[imsayin]

Here is the situation: I am going to WDW in December for 6 nights (Me, DH, DD11, DS8) with DSis family (Her, DH, DS15, DD12, DS8, DD5). I am considering getting the dining plan for my family only and using the credits for all of us. I think if I used the plan for my family only, it would be too much food, but could be a good value for a few meals for 10. My question, for those of you who have used the plan, is this a good idea? Will I get my moneys worth?

 

[huey578]

Where can I use snack and counter service credits in Downtown Disney?

 

[msmayor]

It is a lot of food on the plan. Whether credits for 4 will stretch enough to feed 10 is another story.

I see one of your children is between 3-9, which means that in TS spots other than buffets he will be required to order off the children's menu...smaller portions, and in some restaurants the appetizer for a child is just a salad or fruit/veggie plate.

Sharing credits at any of the buffet restaurants will not work at all...anyone eating at the buffets has to use a credit. Lets say you are there 5 nights...you'll get 20 TS credits (5 nights X 4 people in your family). One buffet meal burns through half of your credits.

You will probably get some value, but IMHO you'll also end up spending money out of pocket as well because I don't think you'll end up with enough food to satisfy everyone.

 

[jann1033]

if the resies are seperate you could do that but everyone on one ressie has toeither have the plan or not have the plan.
i don't think you could split all meals though and neither of you have to pay anymore. if that is what you are thinking...not that it wouldn't be allowed, just you might not have enough food at every place nor could you split any all you can eats ...( ie the skillets or buffets)

 

[imsayin]

You will probably get some value, but IMHO you'll also end up spending money out of pocket as well because I don't think you'll end up with enough food to satisfy everyone.

I realize we'll still have to pay out of pocket. I was just thinking we could save on some meal costs. For my family of 4, we would never do table service every night or the appetizer & dessert with every meal. So, I am trying to figure out if the plan is worth it for some meals.

 

[dizplanner]

I think the best answer is to look at the allearsnet.com menus and decide on a couple of meals that you would like to use the credits on. For example, you decide you want to go to Kona Cafe and you plan to use 6 TS credits. You can supplement it with paying out of pocket for a couple of kids meals and a entree or two if needed. Add up the cost of 6 apps, 6 entrees and 6 desserts. Do the same for other meals. Then estimate your costs for counter service meals. See how that compares to the dining plan cost. As mentioned, your plan would work for ala carte restaurants best.

I suspect it would save you some money, but you would have to compare to see based on what you plan to order.

 

[rifamtrav]

Since your sister's family includes 2 children under 10, you might consider having her get the meal plan (again, this only works if your hotel reservation is separate from hers and you're getting MYW park tickets as a package) instead of you getting the plan. That would give 6 sets of meals and for two of those you only pay $10 each. That would probably cover almost all of the food you will need. Also, the comment above about buffets is true - all of you need to pay for it, but since there are 3 kids under 10 their cost for a buffet is much less (usually 10-14 dollars compared to $24 or more for the adult) so you could pay out of pocket there and save those TS meals for other times.
We found that even the CS meals were big enough to share. Often we were ordering 2 cs meals for 5 of us, (me, dh and girls 10,10,12-not big eaters). In retrospect I probably should have done 3 for 5 of us sometimes, no one was ever hungry but they could have eaten a little more. Our ts meals were always dinner and those were huge. We did share those, either 4 or 5 TS meals between 6 of us (includes my DB) and we always had way too much food.

 

[CA Disney Fans]

Where can I use snack and counter service credits in Downtown Disney?

Snacks
Earl of Sandwich, FoodQuest, Missing Link

Counter Service
Earl of Sandwich, FoodQuest, McDonald's, Missing Link, Wolfgag Puck Express - Marketplace

 

[ceecee]

McDonalds is on the dining plan???

 

[huey578]

Snacks
Earl of Sandwich, FoodQuest, Missing Link

Counter Service
Earl of Sandwich, FoodQuest, McDonald's, Missing Link, Wolfgag Puck Express - Marketplace

Thanks CA!

 

[CA Disney Fans]

McDonalds is on the dining plan???

According to the pamphlet that we received in late August, they are.

 

[scrapperjill]

IMO...the dinning plan seems like a good value...even for a family of four. IF your planning on using the table credits. Think about your eating habits and consider...would you normally spend at least $35 per day per person (adult) ..or would it be less. I'm sure you COULD spend less...by eating more at CS and snack carts...but even if you planed on eating at one Table service a day...it would pay for itself...

Stretching it to feed 10 people I don't think is realistic....maybe 8...MAYBE.

I also don't see how if you paid for the meal plan and let others eat on it...how it would be a good value for you...For those who are eating for free on your meals sure...but for you...I don't see the value. Plus like another poster mentioned I think you'd find everyone ordering more in the long run to make sure there was enough for everyone.

 

[have2getaway]

"Sharing credits at any of the buffet restaurants will not work at all...anyone eating at the buffets has to use a credit. Lets say you are there 5 nights...you'll get 20 TS credits (5 nights X 4 people in your family). One buffet meal burns through half of your credits."

Couldn't you just pay for that person's buffet oop & use less TS credits that way?

 

[imsayin]

Stretching it to feed 10 people I don't think is realistic....maybe 8...MAYBE.

We would also incur OOP for other meals, just thought of using the plan for a few of our meals.

I also don't see how if you paid for the meal plan and let others eat on it...how it would be a good value for you...

We would be sharing the cost, based on meals used. (I'm not that generous )