Dining Plan vs. No Dining Plan.. Help!

[minniegirl19]

Hi everyone. Im new to posting but have been reading posts for a few years. My family is going to Disney in August and we don't know whether to do the Dining Plan or not. We have never done it because we always felt we would end up paying more in the end. There are 4 adults so the normal plan will cost around $1764. This trip were there for 7 nights. We have reservations for Ohana (dinner), Via Napoli (Dinner), 50s prime time (dinner), Chef Mickeys (dinner), Tusker House (breakfast) and Crystal Palace (breakfast). Do you think we would be saving money by doing the plan or not doing the plan. We've tried to calculate it but I thought I would ask from people's experiences too. Thanks!

 

[MrInfinity]

Hi everyone. Im new to posting but have been reading posts for a few years. My family is going to Disney in August and we don't know whether to do the Dining Plan or not. We have never done it because we always felt we would end up paying more in the end. There are 4 adults so the normal plan will cost around $1764. This trip were there for 7 nights. We have reservations for Ohana (dinner), Via Napoli (Dinner), 50s prime time (dinner), Chef Mickeys (dinner), Tusker House (breakfast) and Crystal Palace (breakfast). Do you think we would be saving money by doing the plan or not doing the plan. We've tried to calculate it but I thought I would ask from people's experiences too. Thanks!

Hi Minnie,
I only see 6 restaurants there. Do you have a 7th? If not, then the DDP is definitely not good if you wouldn't use all 7 points.

If you have the 7th point, I think you'll about break even on the DDP. Generally speaking, the DDP is good if you have a lot of character meals and buffets (which you do, 4 of your 6) but also benefits you more if you have kids in your party (which you don't). Without doing a spreadsheet I'd say these two will put you about at the break even point, but I think you'll be a little better off paying out of pocket.

Also you have to figure in if you would otherwise buy 4 resort mugs ($18ea)... as they are included in the DDP.

So where is your 7th?
-mike

 

[minniegirl19]

Hi Minnie,
I only see 6 restaurants there. Do you have a 7th? If not, then the DDP is definitely not good if you wouldn't use all 7 points.

If you have the 7th point, I think you'll about break even on the DDP. Generally speaking, the DDP is good if you have a lot of character meals and buffets (which you do, 4 of your 6) but also benefits you more if you have kids in your party (which you don't). Without doing a spreadsheet I'd say these two will put you about at the break even point, but I think you'll be a little better off paying out of pocket.

Also you have to figure in if you would otherwise buy 4 resort mugs ($18ea)... as they are included in the DDP.

So where is your 7th?
-mike

Thanks for the response mike,

We will definitely be getting the resort mugs. As for the 7th point it would probably depend on our flight times the day we leave. We haven't booked our flights but the cheapest flight as of now gets in at 7pm and leaves at 9am so we wouldn't have time for the 7th point. If we found a late flight on the last day we would do the whispering canyon since were staying at the lodge. The first night no matter when we get in were planning on going to earl of sandwich so we wouldn't use it then! Ive tried calculating it in a spreadsheet as far as going looking up exact prices for everything including what we would probably eat for lunch too and I still can't figure out if we would be paying more less or even so i figured id ask on here!

 

[MrInfinity]

Here ya go. I calculate you're about $109 better off out of pocket, and even then only if your 7th meal is an expensive one. Mainly cuz you have a have a couple less expensive ones also. You can spot them here... Clearly Ohana and Chef Mickeys are the best value.

(I picked random entrees on the more expensive side, and splitting 2 sodas and 2 desserts where applicable)

 

[sharonabe]

The other variable is how you want to eat. Will all four of you want your own dessert at Via Napoli and 50s or are you okay with sharing a couple desserts? Do you drink soda/tea/coffee or water? Do you want desserts with every QS? Also, Via Napoli is one place where sharing is a pretty good deal OOP. The four of you could probably share the Mezzo pizza, a couple apps and desserts for less than $100.

Your four buffets are right at $145 for one adult. The 7 night price for one adult is $440. That's $300 you ALL need to spend at the other two TS and your QS.

 

[minniegirl19]

Here ya go. I calculate you're about $109 better off out of pocket, and even then only if your 7th meal is an expensive one. Mainly cuz you have a have a couple less expensive ones also. You can spot them here... Clearly Ohana and Chef Mickeys are the best value.

(I picked random entrees on the more expensive side, and splitting 2 sodas and 2 desserts where applicable)

Thank you so much for this!

 

[minniegirl19]

The other variable is how you want to eat. Will all four of you want your own dessert at Via Napoli and 50s or are you okay with sharing a couple desserts? Do you drink soda/tea/coffee or water? Do you want desserts with every QS? Also, Via Napoli is one place where sharing is a pretty good deal OOP. The four of you could probably share the Mezzo pizza, a couple apps and desserts for less than $100.

Your four buffets are right at $145 for one adult. The 7 night price for one adult is $440. That's $300 you ALL need to spend at the other two TS and your QS.

Thank you for your response! we normally drink a combination of coffee soda and water on the trip. We ate at Via Napoli last year and ordered the big pizza and an appetizer so I was thinking about that saving us money again this year too rather then using the dining plan. As for desserts we only get them sometimes an occasional sundae at a restaurant or we just wait to get ice cream or a mickey bar later on in the night. We have never gotten desserts at QS locations well maybe a few times but rarely because we don't want to pay the extra for it. If we did have the dining plan I think we would eat it just because its there.