Dining plan?

[Disneylover99]

The important distinction is you can say you like the DDP and that is an opinion. I am purely pointing out the fact the DDP is a horrible value and cannot save money. That is not an opinion. The absolute worse advice I see about the DDP is when someone says "do the math and figure out what is best for you". That is just plain stupid advice because math is not different for different people, math is the same no matter what universe you live in. If people are looking for advice about the DDP it's because they don't understand ridiculous rules and restrictions of the DDP. Using the DDP is not simple math and the bean counters who invented the DDP didn't use simple math either. If you want simple math then admit the DDP is nearly $70 a person a day for an adult. For that much you can order the most expensive entree in virtually every single 1 credit TS and QS restaurant in WDW plus 2 snacks and you would still have money left over if you paid OOP.

It is not a personal insult to anyone when I refute fake statements like "the DDP is great because I get to order whatever I want". Fact, The DDP has strict rules and severely limits what you can eat.

FWIW - My family eat like kings at Disney. We order whatever we want without regard for price including alcoholic drinks, salads, appetizers, and desserts at any restaurant including signature restaurants and character meals. Sometimes we even include tips on the bill and we charge it back to our room with our magic bands. We save 30%-50% off of our food budget just by not using the DDP. How is that possible you ask? We merely order what we want and don't pay for all of the waste caused by the DDP. It's not rocket science, it's beating the bean counters scam. All the DDP does is make you pay for things you don't want or need. That isn't my opinion, that is an economic fact and the underlying purpose if the DDP in the first place.

You are saying it is impossible to save money on the ddp. I disagree.

Do you even know the price of character buffets, especially around Christmas? Many dinner buffets cost between $50-$60 dollars. If that's the way someone likes to eat, the ddp will save you money. Add on 2 snacks, plus quick service meal, plus mug, and you are definitely well over the ddp cost of $70 per person per day.

 

[Traver Freeman]

Do you that in day to day restaurants? I've heard this sentiment expressed before and I've been curious.

We got the free dining plan once and it made a believer out of me. We purchased the dining plan the first time we ever used it when we were on our honeymoon. On that trip, I will tell you I literally bought the most expensive item on the menu to "get my money's worth" which ended up being like Steak at almost every restaurant. I was so tired of steak at the end of that trip.

However, when we got the free dining plan, I felt like I could freely order whatever I wanted and loved it. No thoughts of money at all, because I didn't pay for it! I tallied up our total cost of food had we paid for it and found that we would have spent about an extra $50-$100 to buy the plan over what we spent. So I just chalk that up to the "cost" of the service.

Would I gladly spend $100 to not worry about money during my trip? Yes. It's not for everyone. If you're trying to save money, you eat all QS the whole trip, or make sandwiches in the morning and take them in. There are budget ways to go. I go to Disney to eat. That's one of my main excitements. We love our daily TS restaurants and love to plan them. If I can take away the constant focus of price every time I order, I'll gladly do that. It's a vacation. I want to enjoy, not focus on how much I spend. In this way, I'd not hit with a huge bill at the end of the trip either! I know exactly how much the trip costs before I go. I only have to worry about tips at the end and I have gift cards to pay for that.

 

[Traver Freeman]

You are saying it is impossible to save money on the ddp. I disagree.

Do you even know the price of character buffets, especially around Christmas? Many dinner buffets cost between $50-$60 dollars. If that's the way someone likes to eat, the ddp will save you money. Add on 2 snacks, plus quick service meal, plus mug, and you are definitely well over the ddp cost of $70 per person per day.

Totally agree. We are doing lots of buffets this trip. They are far more expensive than any one plate you could order at a normal trip. Plus, it's not all about cost to me. As I mentioned in the post I just made, it's not about saving money for me. I realize I may not "break even" I'm paying for a service. A service that I enjoy.

 

[LaidBackDad]

You are saying it is impossible to save money on the ddp. I disagree.

Do you even know the price of character buffets, especially around Christmas? Many dinner buffets cost between $50-$60 dollars. If that's the way someone likes to eat, the ddp will save you money. Add on 2 snacks, plus quick service meal, plus mug, and you are definitely well over the ddp cost of $70 per person per day.

Are you trying to be intentionally deceptive? It's not an agree or disagree issue. You cannot save money on the DDP, that is a mathematical certainty. You are talking about a single meal, not the DDP. Plus, many character meals like breakfast are much less than that also. You realize with the DDP, if all you want for dinner is a chicken or pasta dish then you are paying the same price as steak or lobster or AYCTE meal? Or, are you admitting the only way to save money on the DDP is to eat at only the most expensive restaurants, during the most expensive time of year and eliminate all freedom of choice?

 

[Traver Freeman]

Are you trying to be intentionally deceptive? It's not an agree or disagree issue. You cannot save money on the DDP, that is a mathematical certainty. You are talking about a single meal, not the DDP. Plus, many character meals like breakfast are much less than that also. You realize with the DDP, if all you want for dinner is a chicken or pasta dish then you are paying the same price as steak or lobster or AYCTE meal? Or, are you admitting the only way to save money on the DDP is to eat at only the most expensive restaurants, during the most expensive time of year and eliminate all freedom of choice?

What if it's not about saving money? What if I just like the service? The Dining Plan isn't a bad idea, just depends how you use it.

 

[Disneylover99]

Are you trying to be intentionally deceptive? It's not an agree or disagree issue. You cannot save money on the DDP, that is a mathematical certainty. You are talking about a single meal, not the DDP. Plus, many character meals like breakfast are much less than that also. You realize with the DDP, if all you want for dinner is a chicken or pasta dish then you are paying the same price as steak or lobster or AYCTE meal? Or, are you admitting the only way to save money on the DDP is to eat at only the most expensive restaurants, during the most expensive time of year and eliminate all freedom of choice?

Intentionally deceptive? No, truly, I have no ulterior motives. Sorry if the word disagree is incorrect. So I will just say you are wrong.

We go over Christmas. We like dinner buffets. We are talking about several meals in a row, not one single meal. We go to buffets for the freedom of choice. A DDP can save you money. It's not complicated.

 

[IrishNYC]

The important distinction is you can say you like the DDP and that is an opinion. I am purely pointing out the fact the DDP is a horrible value and cannot save money. That is not an opinion. The absolute worse advice I see about the DDP is when someone says "do the math and figure out what is best for you". That is just plain stupid advice because math is not different for different people, math is the same no matter what universe you live in. If people are looking for advice about the DDP it's because they don't understand ridiculous rules and restrictions of the DDP. Using the DDP is not simple math and the bean counters who invented the DDP didn't use simple math either. If you want simple math then admit the DDP is nearly $70 a person a day for an adult. For that much you can order the most expensive entree in virtually every single 1 credit TS and QS restaurant in WDW plus 2 snacks and you would still have money left over if you paid OOP.

It is not a personal insult to anyone when I refute fake statements like "the DDP is great because I get to order whatever I want". Fact, The DDP has strict rules and severely limits what you can eat.

FWIW - My family eat like kings at Disney. We order whatever we want without regard for price including alcoholic drinks, salads, appetizers, and desserts at any restaurant including signature restaurants and character meals. Sometimes we even include tips on the bill and we charge it back to our room with our magic bands. We save 30%-50% off of our food budget just by not using the DDP. How is that possible you ask? We merely order what we want and don't pay for all of the waste caused by the DDP. It's not rocket science, it's beating the bean counters scam. All the DDP does is make you pay for things you don't want or need. That isn't my opinion, that is an economic fact and the underlying purpose if the DDP in the first place.

Are you trying to be intentionally deceptive? It's not an agree or disagree issue. You cannot save money on the DDP, that is a mathematical certainty. You are talking about a single meal, not the DDP. Plus, many character meals like breakfast are much less than that also. You realize with the DDP, if all you want for dinner is a chicken or pasta dish then you are paying the same price as steak or lobster or AYCTE meal? Or, are you admitting the only way to save money on the DDP is to eat at only the most expensive restaurants, during the most expensive time of year and eliminate all freedom of choice?

You. Are. Wrong. I've said it to you before, and I'll say it again, just because YOU don't like the DDP, does not mean that it is a horrible choice, or people can't save money on it. They can. Do you pay my bills? Do you buy my family's food at Disney? No, you do not. So I suggest that you rethink the lies you keep telling here.

 

[Figmentmommy]

The important distinction is you can say you like the DDP and that is an opinion. I am purely pointing out the fact the DDP is a horrible value and cannot save money. That is not an opinion. The absolute worse advice I see about the DDP is when someone says "do the math and figure out what is best for you". That is just plain stupid advice because math is not different for different people, math is the same no matter what universe you live in. If people are looking for advice about the DDP it's because they don't understand ridiculous rules and restrictions of the DDP. Using the DDP is not simple math and the bean counters who invented the DDP didn't use simple math either. If you want simple math then admit the DDP is nearly $70 a person a day for an adult. For that much you can order the most expensive entree in virtually every single 1 credit TS and QS restaurant in WDW plus 2 snacks and you would still have money left over if you paid OOP.

It is not a personal insult to anyone when I refute fake statements like "the DDP is great because I get to order whatever I want". Fact, The DDP has strict rules and severely limits what you can eat.

FWIW - My family eat like kings at Disney. We order whatever we want without regard for price including alcoholic drinks, salads, appetizers, and desserts at any restaurant including signature restaurants and character meals. Sometimes we even include tips on the bill and we charge it back to our room with our magic bands. We save 30%-50% off of our food budget just by not using the DDP. How is that possible you ask? We merely order what we want and don't pay for all of the waste caused by the DDP. It's not rocket science, it's beating the bean counters scam. All the DDP does is make you pay for things you don't want or need. That isn't my opinion, that is an economic fact and the underlying purpose if the DDP in the first place.

The math is not the same for everyone because not everyone eats the same way or orders the exact same thing. And what are these ridiculous rules and restrictions of the DDP that you continue to mention in your posts? The DDP guidelines are straightforward. If you know of some rules and restrictions that we don't all understand then share them.

 

[maxiesmom]

Maybe the dining plan never works cost-wise for LaidBackDad and his family, but it sure works for mine. Sometimes.

Again, LaidBackDad, you can only run the numbers for your family and how you all eat. You can't do the same for mine. I will let you know that I plan to the point that if I book a restaurant, I do know what I am going to order once I'm there. Le Ceiller, the fillet please. BOG steak too. I drink enough pop at the resort to more than pay for the mug. If the numbers don't add up and I would come out paying more, I don't get the plan.

Again, you can only make that sort of statement for your family. You have no idea how my family eats, how many snacks we eat, how much we use our mugs. Stop posting what may be a fact for your family as a fact for everyone else. It isn't.

Your claiming the dining plan cannot save money is as idiotic as me claiming every child should be stroller free at WDW by age 5. That may be true for my family, wouldn't make it true for yours.

 

[maxiesmom]

The math is not the same for everyone because not everyone eats the same way or orders the exact same thing. And what are these ridiculous rules and restrictions of the DDP that you continue to mention in your posts? The DDP guidelines are straightforward. If you know of some rules and restrictions that we don't all understand then share them.

I keep wondering how the plan severely limits what you can eat. He has claimed that on more than one thread. He is making it sound as if you get a different menu, or are told you can only order two items at a restaurant. None of which is true.

 

[Figmentmommy]

This has become way too exhausting. The same misinformation and twisting of threads happens across many of LaidBackDad's posts. Think it's about time this thread came to an end.

 

[IrishNYC]

The math is not the same for everyone because not everyone eats the same way or orders the exact same thing. And what are these ridiculous rules and restrictions of the DDP that you continue to mention in your posts? The DDP guidelines are straightforward. If you know of some rules and restrictions that we don't all understand then share them.

I keep wondering how the plan severely limits what you can eat. He has claimed that on more than one thread. He is making it sound as if you get a different menu, or are told you can only order two items at a restaurant. None of which is true.

There are no restrictions. There is one restaurant, Via Napoli, that will not let you share. Other than that there are no limitations.

 

[LaidBackDad]

The math is not the same for everyone because not everyone eats the same way or orders the exact same thing. And what are these ridiculous rules and restrictions of the DDP that you continue to mention in your posts? The DDP guidelines are straightforward. If you know of some rules and restrictions that we don't all understand then share them.

When someone pays OOP, they pay for whatever they want in whatever restaurant they choose. DDP rules say every person in the party must only order an entree and a drink at 1 TS and 1 QS a day plus you must use 2 snacks, no exceptions. If you break the rules you are left with too few or too many credits at the end of the trip and there is no refund. That is the definition of a straightforward scam and only the start of the ridiculous limitations. OOP has none of those issues and will always be cheaper than DDP.

It is not an issue of me liking the plan or not, my personal feeling on the subject are irrelevant. It has nothing to do with my family or anyone else's vacation style. The numbers don't lie, and the DDP cannot save money and is not worth it no matter what your families vacation style is. It is just foolishness to claim that someone has found a magical way to work the numbers so their family, and their family alone, have found a way to beat the system that the bean counters have carefully crafted for Disney's benefit. In real life it just doesn't work that way and it is wrong to suggest the DDP saves anyone money.

 

[LaidBackDad]

What if it's not about saving money? What if I just like the service? The Dining Plan isn't a bad idea, just depends how you use it.

The worst part about the plan is the rules, even when money isn't a consideration. The DDP tells you exactly what you must eat and where you must eat. The service is better if you pay OOP. If you receive substandard service and you are paying OOP, the cost of your meal could be refunded to you. With the DDP there are no refunds; even if the restaurant manager refunds the credit, you are still stuck with the credit at the end of you trip and your money is wasted. OOP can charge meals to magic band just like DDP. There is no actual advantage the DDP provides and it severely limits guest freedom of choice and that is not even considering how much more DDP cost.

 

[Dakota731]

What rules and restrictions on the dining plan? I agree it's not for everyone but here is one sample day for our trip and the DDP saved us money and we are a party of 8 so it really adds up! And most of our other days are very similar - I have done the math many times!

Animal Kingdom day
Breakfast (2 snack credits) Orange juice & pastry $7.58
Lunch - Yak & Yeti Café - cheeseburger & water $17.99
Dinner - Tusker House character meal $59.99
Total $85.56
DDP $69.96

Savings $15.60 a day x 8 people = $124.80 x 7 days = $873.60

So it's quite a savings for my family! Believe me, I'm a tightwad and if it wasn't saving my money, I wouldn't do it. There are people who may want to bring food from home or just eat fast food, but we like to eat a lot and try new restaurants so for us it works. Another reason I like the plan is when we eat out at home, I tell my kids to get the cheapest thing on the menu, but with the plan I can feel generous and say "get whatever you want plus dessert!" It makes for a fun vacation!

 

[Beer Me]

I could make it work on paper with expensive buffets and character meals but in reality it costs hundreds more than oop for me. We just don't eat that much.

 

[IrishNYC]

When someone pays OOP, they pay for whatever they want in whatever restaurant they choose. DDP rules say every person in the party must only order an entree and a drink at 1 TS and 1 QS a day plus you must use 2 snacks, no exceptions. IT DOES NOT SAY THIS ANYWHERE!!! If you break the rules you are left with too few or too many credits at the end of the trip and there is no refund. That is the definition of a straightforward scam and only the start of the ridiculous limitations. OOP has none of those issues and will always be cheaper than DDP.

It is not an issue of me liking the plan or not, my personal feeling on the subject are irrelevant. It has nothing to do with my family or anyone else's vacation style. The numbers don't lie, and the DDP cannot save money and is not worth it no matter what your families vacation style is. It is just foolishness to claim that someone has found a magical way to work the numbers so their family, and their family alone, have found a way to beat the system that the bean counters have carefully crafted for Disney's benefit. In real life it just doesn't work that way and it is wrong to suggest the DDP saves anyone money.

The worst part about the plan is the rules, even when money isn't a consideration. The DDP tells you exactly what you must eat and where you must eat. PLEASE LINK TO WHERE IN THE DDP RULES IT SAYS EXACTLY WHAT YOU MUST EAT AND WHERE YOU MUST EAT. PLEASE!

When you purchase the DDP you are purchasing 1 QS (entree, side, drink), 1 TS (entree, drink), and 2 snacks per day. If you are there for 7 days you can eat 7 QS in one day for all anyone cares. You can go to a TS and order your entree, drink, and an appetizer that you can pay OOP for if you wish. There is NOWHERE that dictates you, and I quote you, "must order only and entree and a drink" so stop repeating it. Just stop.

 

[LaidBackDad]

What rules and restrictions on the dining plan? I agree it's not for everyone but here is one sample day for our trip and the DDP saved us money and we are a party of 8 so it really adds up! And most of our other days are very similar - I have done the math many times!

Animal Kingdom day
Breakfast (2 snack credits) Orange juice & pastry $7.58
Lunch - Yak & Yeti Café - cheeseburger & water $17.99
Dinner - Tusker House character meal $59.99
Total $85.56
DDP $69.96

Savings $15.60 a day x 8 people = $124.80 x 7 days = $873.60

So it's quite a savings for my family! Believe me, I'm a tightwad and if it wasn't saving my money, I wouldn't do it. There are people who may want to bring food from home or just eat fast food, but we like to eat a lot and try new restaurants so for us it works. Another reason I like the plan is when we eat out at home, I tell my kids to get the cheapest thing on the menu, but with the plan I can feel generous and say "get whatever you want plus dessert!" It makes for a fun vacation!

Animal Kingdom day
Breakfast (2 snack credits) Orange juice & pastry $7.58
Lunch - Yak & Yeti Café - cheeseburger & water $17.99
Dinner - Tiffins - (Average priced meal at x2 credit TS) Duo of Lamb $41.00
Total $85.56
DDP $69.96

OOP saves $3.39 a day x 8 people = $27.12 x 7 days = $189.84

That's your scenario only using an average priced meal at a signature restaurant and it's still way cheaper. Are you trying to prove it's cheaper for someone eat at signature restaurants than character meals or did you only eat at AYCTE every night for dinner?

 

[Figmentmommy]

I could make it work on paper with expensive buffets and character meals but in reality it costs hundreds more than oop for me. We just don't eat that much.

Correct. For you and your's (but not everyone) it's not the right fit.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm thinking if you're getting poor service the plan isn't to blame. I've never had an issue.

BTW you must have missed being able to swap out soup for dessert.