Dining plan? Yes or no?

[D2S]

Is having a dining plan worth it?

Pros and cons?

Thanks!

 

[supersnoop]

Is having a dining plan worth it? Pros and cons? Thanks!

It depends. How many people? Ages? Desert with every meal? Drink soda?

 

[D2S]

We'll have 6 people. (3 kiddos, 1 baby). We don't drink soda. Desserts are a treat- so the girls will like that. I am really hoping to get some character dining so it will really be worth it.

 

[supersnoop]

3 kiddos, 1 baby

Ages?

 

[TDC Nala]

Are the kids under 10? If they all are and you want a character meal each day then it's worth it.

 

[D2S]

Yes, they are all under 10. I'm trying really hard to get several character meals!

Why does it help that they are under 10? Sorry if that is an obvious question- I am new to all things Disney!

Thanks!

 

[lizzi6692]

Yes, they are all under 10. I'm trying really hard to get several character meals! Why does it help that they are under 10? Sorry if that is an obvious question- I am new to all things Disney! Thanks!

10 and up is considered adults for dining plan pricing(for ticket pricing as well).

 

[supersnoop]

Yes, they are all under 10. I'm trying really hard to get several character meals!

Why does it help that they are under 10? Sorry if that is an obvious question- I am new to all things Disney!

Thanks!

The dining plan costs about $60 per day for anyone 10 and up, but only about $16 for children 3-9. Very rarely can an adult get $60 worth of value even from ordering the most expensive meals. But kids prices for even a single character meal can exceed the price for a full day of meals. So, the more kids you have and the more character meals you do, the more money you save. But once the kids hit 10, you'll lose money using the dining plan.

 

[quakechicago]

The dining plan costs about $60 per day for anyone 10 and up, but only about $16 for children 3-9. Very rarely can an adult get $60 worth of value even from ordering the most expensive meals. But kids prices for even a single character meal can exceed the price for a full day of meals. So, the more kids you have and the more character meals you do, the more money you save. But once the kids hit 10, you'll lose money using the dining plan.

Awesome, succinct breakdown!

 

[Polish Hammer]

Doesn't anyone know how to read through the 1000s of posts asking the same questions or using the SEARCH feature?

 

[kdillard0785]

Good to know!

 

[Steveromo]

I prefer to decline the Dining Plan unless it's offered free with a package. My family uses the Quick Service plan when offered. I found that we pay a bit more if all our meals are out of pocket than if we purchase the plan. But the plan limitations justify the slightly higher price. For example: The refillable mugs make the beverage option unnecessary when eating at the hotel. And my family likes to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, but the plan only offers 2 meals per day. So we pay for the 3rd meal. In the end, we use up all our meals and pay for additional meals, but always have too many snacks and beverages leftover!

 

[Amdisneymom]

Yes. Wouldn't go to disney without it

 

[Mikie]

The dining plan costs about $60 per day for anyone 10 and up, but only about $16 for children 3-9. Very rarely can an adult get $60 worth of value even from ordering the most expensive meals. But kids prices for even a single character meal can exceed the price for a full day of meals. So, the more kids you have and the more character meals you do, the more money you save. But once the kids hit 10, you'll lose money using the dining plan.

Also, I'm planning for a Multi-family group. Situations as above are the easiest to decide about. I have other sub-groups who are only adults and, after considering where we'll eat (buffets and characters a lot, which are the best use of TS credits) it's still questionable whether the dining plan is a financial "win", but it's not a definite loss and they REALLY like the pre-paid nature of it, so they're getting the plan. The avoidance of sticker /receipt shock and the feeling of splurging often on dessert (which we don't usually do outside of Desney) can be a consideration as well.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I prefer to decline the Dining Plan unless it's offered free with a package. My family uses the Quick Service plan when offered. I found that we pay a bit more if all our meals are out of pocket than if we purchase the plan. But the plan limitations justify the slightly higher price. For example: The refillable mugs make the beverage option unnecessary when eating at the hotel. And my family likes to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, but the plan only offers 2 meals per day. So we pay for the 3rd meal. In the end, we use up all our meals and pay for additional meals, but always have too many snacks and beverages leftover!

Have you tried using your snacks for breakfast? You can get pastries, muffins, fruit etc. We also look for shareable options, so we might get one of the big breakfast platters then some pastries and fruit and split it all and then just get a couple meals at lunch and use a couple snacks to grab things like breadsticks or fries and share it all. When you eat at the resort choose a bottled drink that you can carry into the parks later where your refillable mug can't be used. We always end up with some snacks leftover too but we have found that you can use the snacks to make meals more shareable.

 

[lllGurulll]

Doesn't anyone know how to read through the 1000s of posts asking the same questions or using the SEARCH feature?

There is another site that breaks the value of the DDP down very well but we can't mention it here I assume.

TP

 

[Mikie]

Doesn't anyone know how to read through the 1000s of posts asking the same questions or using the SEARCH feature?

As you say, there are 1000s of posts - pretty hard to wade through. And some of us are "search- challenged". Despite knowing how to use the feature, I seem to often get tons of irrelevant results or a mammoth thread that's too big to read through. Even though I know the answers are already out there somewhere, it's a help to a new poster to either post an answer provide the link to previous similar topics.

If it bugs you, no need to open the thread or post your advice.

 

[Polish Hammer]

Thanks Mikie, but there are tons of similar posts everywhere that don't take much time to find for those that are challenged. Instead we get the same topics clogging up the forum and pushing the relevant information out to the second page and beyond.

 

[Sandy321]

Thanks Mikie, but there are tons of similar posts everywhere that don't take much time to find for those that are challenged. Instead we get the same topics clogging up the forum and pushing the relevant information out to the second page and beyond.

Actually, in my opinion I think that's what the forum is for, I'm looking for the latest information from people that are just returning, not information years old...

and I have to say at times the search engine doesn't work...

as pp, if it bothers you, I'm sorry, but I do appreciate those that take the time to post and offer advice related to the subject... WDW has had so many changes its hard planning without help

 

[chelseabun76]

We are doing the DDP, and since the 3 of us going aren't huge breakfast people, we will be using our snack credits for muffins, etc., as our breakfast and then using one CS and one TS each day, I don't have any days planned with 2 TS meals just to cut down on when we HAVE to be somewhere at a certain time, between the one TS and the FP+ system that's enough of a schedule for me to deal with. lol