Dining Plan Worth It?

[jrt1176]

I'm sure the DDP is worth it to some people.

I only saw 1 or 2 of the restaurants we are eating at on WDW property for dinner on the plan.

But, I was thinking about getting one of the smaller plans and just use it for snacks and breakfasts/lunches?

Then again, I'm not sure how many sit downs we will eat during the day, because dinner will be our big meal and we will most likely pick and share until then.

I doubt I save any money. But, I was more curious in seeing how the DDP would work and see if I liked it than I was about saving money.

It seems like the savings would be minimal, especially since the restaurants we will be eating at are not on it, etc.

I guess the plan is popular because you can have it paid off before you go?

 

[misslissa]

What restaurants are not on it that you are interested in?

A few years ago, Hubby and I had a long weekend trip. We ate in some sit down restaurants (no more than one per day) and we shared all of our meals, even some quick service ones. We still ended up spending $250 for that trip on food. Considering the value of the basic dining plan, I think it is well worth it because it is prepaid and they offer more than enough food, you are never short, or hungry...

We also took a trip two years ago and brought two teenage boys that weren't our own... they also didn't go hungry one bit and we had snacks left over at the end!

Considering the approximate cost/value, I personally find it outstanding!

 

[jrt1176]

What restaurants are not on it that you are interested in?

I only briefly looked at it. But, I dont believe places like Shula's, Blue Zoo, Il Mulino, etc. Basically, some of the nicer restaurants that are in hotels.

I think Bistro de Paris is on the plan.

We will probably eat in the park one night in MK, so that will be on the list.

I doubt we go outside of WDW to eat this trip with my 3 y/o niece. Usually, we eat at some nice places outside of the parks.

I just dont think it would work for us since we would mostly be just using it for the day time. What do you think?

 

[misslissa]

I only briefly looked at it. But, I dont believe places like Shula's, Blue Zoo, Il Mulino, etc. Basically, some of the nicer restaurants that are in hotels.

I think Bistro de Paris is on the plan.

We will probably eat in the park one night in MK, so that will be on the list.

I doubt we go outside of WDW to eat this trip with my 3 y/o niece. Usually, we eat at some nice places outside of the parks.

I just dont think it would work for us since we would mostly be just using it for the day time. What do you think?

Wow... I haven't even considered those places before since they are at the Dolphin/Swan which aren't really run by Disney anymore as far as I know... They are run by independent companies (mind you, a few of the DTD and Epcot ones are too). However, have you looked at some of the nicer ones inside the parks or deluxe Disney resorts? They are part of the plan...

We had California Grill and my coworker can't stop raving about the new Italian place in Epcot. Personally, all my favourites are in the Polynesian as well! And, are all part of the plan.

I guess it depends where you finalize your eating options... based on that, decide on the plan. Sometimes, fancier dinners with the plan take up two table service credits too, which would give you a chance to go and pay out of pocket at a place that isn't on the plan!

 

[Elmo888]

I'm sure the DDP is worth it to some people.

I only saw 1 or 2 of the restaurants we are eating at on WDW property for dinner on the plan.

But, I was thinking about getting one of the smaller plans and just use it for snacks and breakfasts/lunches?

Then again, I'm not sure how many sit downs we will eat during the day, because dinner will be our big meal and we will most likely pick and share until then.

I doubt I save any money. But, I was more curious in seeing how the DDP would work and see if I liked it than I was about saving money.

It seems like the savings would be minimal, especially since the restaurants we will be eating at are not on it, etc.

I guess the plan is popular because you can have it paid off before you go?

It just depends on your family's habits and tastes. If none of the restaurant that you want to try are on the DDP, then the DDP probably isn't for you. If you don't want to eat one sit down meal per day, then the classic DDP probably isn't for you.

If the DDP fits your vacation lifestyle (if that makes sense), I found it best to pick your restaurants, approximate the cost (look at menus at allears.net), and crunch the numbers, including CS and snacks. Compare that to the cost of DDP, and you will see if it will save $$.

I find that it saves money if you have kids 3-9 and you are doing a number of buffets/set price meals (not all necessarily). The kids DDP is less than the cost of those buffets (and that doesn't include CS or snacks).

 

[Jen'sgirls]

This will be our first trip and I have been researching a little the quick service dining plan at first it seemed okay but since then I have found out the if you have kids from 3-9. They are stuck ordering from the kids menu which by the way isn't much
alot seems to be macaroni, chicken nuggets ,grilled cheese and peanut and Jam sandwiches. I wish they were able to eat what they chose.Hotdog or a hamburger or whatever.I'm really struggling with this issue.

 

[PictureJumpr]

I have to agree, if the desired restaurants list for the OP is nothing but the places in the dolhin/swan hotels, then the DDP isn't going to be a good fit for their family.

But to the pp who is struggling with the QS DDP issue, we had a 4-yr-old with us last trip who never got any of those things, and he ordered meals all over WDW. He had a chicken leg with mashed potatoes meal at Epcot, a hamburger meal and a pizza meal at MK, an egg roll meal at AK, and at the resort he had mickey spaghetti one time and a turkey wrap another time. All of these were from the kids' CS menus.

It is true that they are limited to two or three choices in many cases, but these are locations that have limited adult menus, too.

Actually, for CS, the kids get more varied choices than they do with many TS places.

I'm not trying to 'sell' anyone on the QS DDP, but if you find it to be a good value for your family and the only 'con' you have with it is the menu variety for kids, I just wanted you to know that it is really not bad.