Dining Plan?

[cann1214]

Hi we are thinking of adding the dining plan to our trip in Aug. We will be with our 3 1/2 year old daughter. She is very used to eating at restaurants, as we go often. However, we are looking at doing a lot of character meals (mostly breakfasts) so we do not feel so restricted in our day. Does it ususally pay if we eat mostly TS breakfasts? I've been trying to do the math (4 break. buffets, 1 lunch, and 3 diners) and it seem like a good deal, but so many people on here say it is not as good to eat cheaper meals on the plan. THoughts?

 

[Faldred]

In general, dinners are a better "value" than breakfast due to pricing. Likewise, for the same meal time, ala carte is usually better than a buffet or fixed-price menu (for adults; for children, it's the opposite), again from a "value" perspective.

Putting that aside, the "value" arguments can often drift too far into the realm of "getting the maximum $$$ value out of the plan"... the real question should be "are you getting enough value to make to plan cost-effective?"

If you've run the numbers and decide the plan makes sense for you financially and for the way you want to eat, then ignore the "value" arguments entirely.

 

[smiths02]

If you are going during August...are you not on free dining...

one thing that changes the equation for you is a child...breakfast buffets are a good use of a child's credit, just not as good for an adult

We are 4 adults (and a 2 year old) and we come out ahead doing 2 breakfast buffets, 1 not terribly expensive lunch (sci fi) and 4 dinner buffets...maybe LeCellier is the best value, but sorry with a 2 year old I would rather eat breakfast with Donald than an overpriced steak in a cellar (I can get a good $35 steak at numerous places around here, can't eat with Donald)

but just add the numbers...
For any given night you pay 90.97

So you eat a Tusker House breakfast one day
18.99+18.99+10.99=48.97=$52.15
3 snacks $3 each=$9
Counter Service at Flame Tree
kids meal $4.99
adult entree $9.49
adult entree $10.49
2 adult drinks $4.38
2 adult desserts $6.88
36.23+tax =$38.58

So your OOP would be $99.37...so you have saved money on this night (assuming you use all your credits)...granted this is only a 10% savings, which is much less than Disney advertises, but still something

AND your savings will be better on the other nights, so you are getting the value out of...yes, you could get more value, but you are more than breaking even (and days with dinners/lunches are even better)

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Couldn't you take advantage of Free Dining?

 

[5boyz]

Free Dining starts Aug 16 you should look into that!