Dining Plan was "worth" it, but just barely for 3 adults

[Lovetherodent]

two of whom really aren't big eaters at all. I added up what we spent on food, and we certainly didn't lose money. We didn't order the most expensive items on the menus, we burned 2 credits each on CRT, and we didn't use all our snack credits.

Would we eat differently if not on the plan? Probably. We'd share desserts, but then we'd have more snacks. I think it'd be a wash.

Add in the convenience of the plan and not coming home to a big MasterCard bill, and I'd have to say I'd still recommend the plan.

 

[supersnoop]

Can you provide some more specifics? Burning two credits at CRT really cuts into the value. I'd like to see how the numbers worked out for you.

 

[Lovetherodent]

I made a spreadsheet. TS meals were Ohana, CRT, and Marakesh. For CS we did gasparilla Grill twice, yak and yeti, sunshine seasons. What kind of breakdown do you want to see?

 

[sharonabe]

My question would be what you did for the meals not covered? With four nights, there should be some meals paid OOP.

 

[Lovetherodent]

Ok, gotcha. Day 1: traveling. We grabbed a hot dog at the airport before we got on the plane (kind of a weird late breakfast). Didn't eat again until dinner at Ohana at 9:30. We were really hungry. Used 3 TS that day. (Disney DP total: 121.38)

Day 2: breakfast of stuff we brought with us (oldest child has celiac's). Lunch yak and yet (3 Cs). Dinner at gasparilla (3 Cs). (Disney DP total: 110.84)

Day 3: used 1 snack credit for a sticky bun and then had more GF stuff we brought with us, 3 more snack credits mid morning at HS (2 cupcakes at starring rolls and frozen banana on a stick for the GF kid) lunch at gasparilla (3 CS), dinner at CRT (6 TS) (Disney DP total: 285.04)

Day 4: used 2 snack credits at breakfast for sticky bun and yogurt parfait (GF kid still eating chex we bought from home), lunch at sunshine seasons (3 CS), dinner at Marakesh (3 TS). We had 6 snack credits left, so we sampled around the world showcase and had ice cream. (Disney DP total: 210.08)

Day 5: early flight. Could have used remaining snack credits for breakfast, but we still chose to sleep until the last minute and used them all up the night before.

We paid OOP for milk for the GF cereal, one Starbucks stop (should've used snack credits here as we didn't need to sample around the showcase), and one tea smoothie that wasn't included on the plan.

Really, had we needed another meal because of a later flight, I think we could've easily used those extra snack credits to cover that and had breakfast that we brought.

So, cost of the DP was 727.68. Benefits were 727.34 + the refillable resort cups. DDP didn't save us any money, but it didn't cost either.

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you for the break down. You all did well and essentially got a free souvenir (the resort cup) to boot.

 

[supersnoop]

So, cost of the DP was 727.68. Benefits were 727.34 + the refillable resort cups. DDP didn't save us any money, but it didn't cost either.

Wow, that is close! It just goes to show how important each piece is. One missed desert, drink, or snack and you end up upside down.

 

[Lovetherodent]

I do have one that never orders any sort of a drink in a restaurant. She likes water, not a bottle, but a glass of ice water. Didn't uncle the refillable mugs in the total because if we didn't have the plan we probably wouldn't have purchased 3 as i'm the only pop drinker.

I think even if upside down by a little the convenience would be worth it to me. No sure at what point I'd stop paying for convenience.

 

[Mikie]

Thanks for the breakdown! It is a little surprising and inspires me to do a little calculating before our next trip. As my kids become disney adults, I assumed we'd outgrow the benefits of the plan. However, my sister travels with us and really likes the plan - and everyone in one room has to either get it or not, together. We may still be able to appease her & get the plan if it's a break even proposition!

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks for the breakdown! It is a little surprising and inspires me to do a little calculating before our next trip. As my kids become disney adults, I assumed we'd outgrow the benefits of the plan. However, my sister travels with us and really likes the plan - and everyone in one room has to either get it or not, together. We may still be able to appease her & get the plan if it's a break even proposition!

It can still be a break even or save proposition, but you have to do your homework and make sure you are eating at/ordering some of the most expensive of the entrees, AND you must use all your entitlements. Drinks and desserts at every meal for every person.

 

[Lovetherodent]

I disagree. My oldest had a real fondness for the $9.99 Gluten Free chicken strips. We did a lot of $2.50 bottles of Dasani at counter service (and the one kid doesn't order drinks at TS). Plus, we did a 2 credit TS at CRT, which is less expensive than 2 separate TSs. You really don't have to order the most expensive items to break even. I didn't expect to save money, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that I broke even. I expected to be upside down, but was willing to pay some for the convenience.

 

[cariann77]

I ran the calculator for us and it came out to be saving us about $75. Not much. In reality, we'd save money by not doing the dining plan because we'd never order dessert with lunch and dinner daily if paying OOP. As much as it doesn't really make sense financially, I enjoy not having to worry about the prices when ordering and having it paid for before go. For me, knowing that it's already paid for takes a little bit of the edge off when they drop that $200 check on the table.

 

[dbramer]

We are travelling for the first time with three Disney adults...my DS is now an adult in their eyes. We are doing a lot of character breakfasts for my daughter's first trip/birthday and eating TS every meal (DxDP). According to our ADR's on the calculator, we are coming up saving over 700 versus OOP. We are definitely not theme park commandos so enjoy our time sitting as a family eating our meals...something we don't get to do too often do to demanding schedules at home. The calculator had us saving almost 800, but we will need to eat OOP for two meals, due to doing both CRT and HDDR. So I excluded that from the calculations. We only get down there every four - five years, so we make it a special trip and being able to sit down and eat without looking at prices is part of the allure...the savings are just icing on the cake....

 

[Hoosier Dad]

We are travelling for the first time with three Disney adults...my DS is now an adult in their eyes. We are doing a lot of character breakfasts for my daughter's first trip/birthday and eating TS every meal (DxDP). According to our ADR's on the calculator, we are coming up saving over 700 versus OOP. We are definitely not theme park commandos so enjoy our time sitting as a family eating our meals...something we don't get to do too often do to demanding schedules at home. The calculator had us saving almost 800, but we will need to eat OOP for two meals, due to doing both CRT and HDDR. So I excluded that from the calculations. We only get down there every four - five years, so we make it a special trip and being able to sit down and eat without looking at prices is part of the allure...the savings are just icing on the cake....

I upgraded to the deluxe for our first trip and to be honest, I think it was too much. I'm a big eater but there were many times I was not hungry but I had an ADR that had to be fulfilled. On the positive side, the TS meals are a lot more relaxing and if you're going for several days you won't feel so worn out by the end of the trip.

If you tend to eat the more expensive entrees, you'll see that you are saving more than the calculator estimates. I'm not sure but it seems to take the average entree price so if you tend to order steak and seafood instead of pasta, you'll save even more. The calculator was right on or up to about 20% lower than many of my actual receipts. The calculator was never high.

With 2 snack credits a day, you'll probably end up with a lot extra at the end. Watch for and purchase snacks you can take home otherwise you'll likely end up towards the end of your week with a large cache of credits. Use the snack credits to cover your extra meals. On the deluxe plan, there's no reason to have to pay for any food out of pocket.

 

[tasha99]

That pretty much worked for you! I would do it if we cut it that close as well, because I do like the idea of prepaying. I'm the payer on our vacations, and it does choke me up a bit when I see the bills. DDP doesn't even come close to working for us because we're 3 adults who drink mostly wine, water, or beer and eat appetizers (maybe share 2) and for dessert would only share 1 or 2, and not likely at lunch.

Thank you for the break down. You all did well and essentially got a free souvenir (the resort cup) to boot.

This quote made me laugh out loud. I have wondered for a long time why anyone would pay $15 or so per person for a refillable cup. We bring a few 2 liters, a few cases of bottled water, and a box of wine and just keep it in the room--no walking for refills required. Duh---It's for the cup, not the drink! I finally get it!

 

[dbramer]

I upgraded to the deluxe for our first trip and to be honest, I think it was too much. I'm a big eater but there were many times I was not hungry but I had an ADR that had to be fulfilled. On the positive side, the TS meals are a lot more relaxing and if you're going for several days you won't feel so worn out by the end of the trip.

If you tend to eat the more expensive entrees, you'll see that you are saving more than the calculator estimates. I'm not sure but it seems to take the average entree price so if you tend to order steak and seafood instead of pasta, you'll save even more. The calculator was right on or up to about 20% lower than many of my actual receipts. The calculator was never high.

With 2 snack credits a day, you'll probably end up with a lot extra at the end. Watch for and purchase snacks you can take home otherwise you'll likely end up towards the end of your week with a large cache of credits. Use the snack credits to cover your extra meals. On the deluxe plan, there's no reason to have to pay for any food out of pocket.

Last time we went we had a ball at Goofy's Candy Shop using all the snack credits..lol

Make great vacation gifts, though

We plan to really relax and take our time doing things. I know it's a lot of food, but we will also be using more calories than we are used to...

 

[DisneyHardin]

That's about how it works out for us too. Not much of a savings, but not a loss.

 

[Nancyg56]

I disagree. My oldest had a real fondness for the $9.99 Gluten Free chicken strips. We did a lot of $2.50 bottles of Dasani at counter service (and the one kid doesn't order drinks at TS). Plus, we did a 2 credit TS at CRT, which is less expensive than 2 separate TSs. You really don't have to order the most expensive items to break even. I didn't expect to save money, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that I broke even. I expected to be upside down, but was willing to pay some for the convenience.

My DD always tracks our dining spending and we always save on the DDP. WOuld we all order dessert? I don't know. But with that said, we usually do, so

I ran the calculator for us and it came out to be saving us about $75. Not much. In reality, we'd save money by not doing the dining plan because we'd never order dessert with lunch and dinner daily if paying OOP. As much as it doesn't really make sense financially, I enjoy not having to worry about the prices when ordering and having it paid for before go. For me, knowing that it's already paid for takes a little bit of the edge off when they drop that $200 check on the table.

 

[lauradis]

That's about how it works out for us too. Not much of a savings, but not a loss.

the difference is most people will order differently when they get a bill at the end of the meal.

Just like buffet people will waste more food and eat more too. when they have pre paid for something.

But call me crazy I still love the Deluxe dinning plan, even if we lose money.

 

[Nancyg56]

My DD always tracks our dining spending and we always save on the DDP. WOuld we all order dessert? I don't know. But with that said, we usually do, so

I am having a problem typing!!LOL!

ANyway, we generally order dessert at dinner, and so i figure we would if paying OPP> WE may not at lunch, bt we enjoy it. WE like the refillable mug and buy it every trip except when we stay CL, so it is part of our spending as well. Te DDp is nto the no brainer it used to be, but fo my family it pays off or breaks even. WE did price the DxDDP, and it was just too expensive to justify for us.