Dining plans, how much would your food have cost you?

[Brian Noble]

This past July, our total pre-tip food bill over a seven night stay (7 sit downs, 7 CS meals, and 10-11 snacks per person) was almost $100 less than the dining plan would have cost for seven nights. We also ordered in ways that the plan wouldn't've covered---adult meals for my son from time to time, a glass of beer here and there, two apps instead of an entree for my wife once in a while, etc. Had our trip not been subject to the Seasonal upcharge, the dining plan would have broken even.

 

[vllygrrl]

We've been working through this debate here...and it came down to the way we like to tour. DH treats a vacation to WDW much the same as he does a cruise. He likes to order whatever he wants on a menu, without worrying about cost. Since the introduction of the dining plan, we have not done a trip without it. We share CS credits for breakfast and lunch, and then have a nice dinner. We always end up with a ton of snack credits, but we visit a candy store and bring home nice treats. We will be trying the deluxe plan for our 10th anniversary trip, eating at a signature restaurant every night. Our totals have always exceeded what we spent on the plan by at least $400. Without the plan, we would eat differently....and regret it. It adds a lot to our trip to know that the meals are already taken care of.

We are bringing my parents and sister with us on our trip next summer, during a free dining period. Initially we booked a room at AKL, but quickly realized that 5 adults and 1 child would be arguing over where to eat. We decided to move to a cabin at Fort Wilderness, and upgrade to the deluxe plan againg. This will allow my son his choice of eating at the castle, a visit to the Hoop de Doo, and some spectacular dinners to fill in. We'll use our credits to eat breakfast and have an early dinner, or an early lunch and a later dinner. In August, the breaks from the heat will be welcome and needed.

Is it too much food? Of COURSE it is! That said, we LIKE to try as many things as possible, and we like to be a bit pampered...it's part of the vacation experience for us.

 

[rentayenta]

But we almost certainly wouldn't have ordered the same things, or done the same restaurants, if we were paying for each individually OOP.

Bingo!



When adding up the DDP numbers you most certainly would save if you were to order the exact same food but do people really eat dessert twice a day? I know we don't and does each family order dessert when you go out to dinner? There is NO WAY my family would ever order 5 desserts during a meal.

 

[Ella's Mom]

we are saving money using the regular DDP, but I think it is because we have 2 younger kiddos (6 & 3), and we're doing a lot of character meals or fixed price meals like Ohana. The kids plan only costs $11.99/day and many of the meals have a fixed price close to $20 for them. So we "Profit" on the kids.

if it was just DH and I, I think it would be more of a toss-up, given the way that we eat (he loves dessert but I don't. works out ok with the kids as they'll eat my dessert)

I definitely think you profit on the kids. Next trip, my kids will be 6 and 3 so we are considering the DDP. My husband and I alone would definitely not profit on the trip. If it's going to be a toss-up, I'd rather pay OOP.

 

[Ella's Mom]

I read about a great idea on here not too long ago. Our next trip is a split stay so we might do DDP for the first few days and then try this out the remaining six days.

Add up what the dining plan would cost your family to purchase. Instead of purchasing the dining plan, put that money on a gift card. Use the gift card to purchase all meals/drinks/snacks on your trip. See how long the money lasts or doesn't last. I think my family would definitely have money left over. Like many PP have said, we don't need all those desserts. At dinner, I'd rather order a beer than a milkshake.