Dining price question

RobinEJ

Mouseketeer
Joined
Apr 17, 2003
Messages
354
Hi, silly question but I can’t find the answer.. is the dining plan $94.28 plus tax per person per night or is that the total price with tax included per person per night? Trying to figure out if the math makes sense with our table meals… Thank you :)
 
Hi, silly question but I can’t find the answer.. is the dining plan $94.28 plus tax per person per night or is that the total price with tax included per person per night? Trying to figure out if the math makes sense with our table meals… Thank you :)
It is showing that it is more expensive for me.

QS per night after tax $59.14
TS per night after tax $97.79

Those are the adult prices per day for a trip in Jan of 2025.

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Can I ask a side question? Haven't used dining plan in about 10 years .

So you pay $95 for one TS, one QS, one snack, outside of that, you only need to think about a tip for TS, correct? So if you're eating at a $60 buffet, using 20% as tip, your total cost for the day would be $107 ? No other tax involved?
 
Can I ask a side question? Haven't used dining plan in about 10 years .

So you pay $95 for one TS, one QS, one snack, outside of that, you only need to think about a tip for TS, correct? So if you're eating at a $60 buffet, using 20% as tip, your total cost for the day would be $107 ? No other tax involved?
Correct it would be that in 2024 and in 2025 about $110 but remember that $12 tip you will need to bring with you as the full cost of the dining plan would have been paid before you go - tips.

I also haven't used the dining plan for a long time like 2011ish when they gave each individual their own App, Entree, Desert and a dedicated spot on a bench to sit since you couldn't move if you ate everything.

We usually pay out of pocket and use discounts like Disney Debit or Visa, AP & DVC.
This way we don't have to worry what is included and what is not.
Also allows us at non character/buffet meals to still order off the kids menu for DS who is very picky and even has to have that menu modified sometimes.
Character meals we still have to pay full price which kills me when DS eats half of a mickey waffle and a strip of bacon at Topolinos but at least we get some great photos.
 
Can I ask a side question? Haven't used dining plan in about 10 years .

So you pay $95 for one TS, one QS, one snack, outside of that, you only need to think about a tip for TS, correct? So if you're eating at a $60 buffet, using 20% as tip, your total cost for the day would be $107 ? No other tax involved?
Correct in that case. I find it works best if you’re only getting it for one or two days, especially at the beginning of your trip. For example, I had it for one day in May. I used the table service credit at Hollywood and Vine, which is $63 for the dinner buffet, and I got a $15 alcoholic beverage. so my tip was closer to $15. I redeemed a quick service meal at Pizzafari, And with the alcoholic beverage included, the cost of that meal would have been in the neighborhood of $26. I used my snack credit for some thing that was $6.50, and then had my mug to use for the entire trip which was eight days.

In this specific case, it worked out well for me.
 
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Can I ask a side question? Haven't used dining plan in about 10 years .

So you pay $95 for one TS, one QS, one snack, outside of that, you only need to think about a tip for TS, correct? So if you're eating at a $60 buffet, using 20% as tip, your total cost for the day would be $107 ? No other tax involved?
I think some buffets include a non-alcoholic beverage in the price, but not all of them do. Don’t forget to add the cost of drinks to your buffet. If you like to order alcohol, that can significantly increase the tax you pay at TS meals.
 
Correct it would be that in 2024 and in 2025 about $110 but remember that $12 tip you will need to bring with you as the full cost of the dining plan would have been paid before you go - tips.

I also haven't used the dining plan for a long time like 2011ish when they gave each individual their own App, Entree, Desert and a dedicated spot on a bench to sit since you couldn't move if you ate everything.

We usually pay out of pocket and use discounts like Disney Debit or Visa, AP & DVC.
This way we don't have to worry what is included and what is not.
Also allows us at non character/buffet meals to still order off the kids menu for DS who is very picky and even has to have that menu modified sometimes.
Character meals we still have to pay full price which kills me when DS eats half of a mickey waffle and a strip of bacon at Topolinos but at least we get some great photos.
I agree, we had it for week years ago, DH got sick, trying to make it work last few days, didn't work well.
Correct in that case. I find it works best if you’re only getting it for one or two days, especially at the beginning of your trip. For example, I had it for one day in May. I used the table service credit at Hollywood and Vine, which is $63 for the dinner buffet, and I got a $15 alcoholic beverage. so my tip was closer to $15. I redeemed a quick service meal at Pizzafari, And with the alcoholic beverage included, the cost of that meal would have been in the neighborhood of $26. I used my snap credit for some thing that was $6.50, and then had my mug to use for the entire trip which was eight days.

In this specific case, it worked out well for me.
Yup, we are planning just one night.
I think some buffets include a non-alcoholic beverage in the price, but not all of them do. Don’t forget to add the cost of drinks to your buffet. If you like to order alcohol, that can significantly increase the tax you pay at TS meals.
Generally don’t drink, once in very rare blue moon DH might drink a beer if offered. I think it’s all yucky.
But if it's included, he'll probably get something , if only to try a few sips.

When we eat out, we usually only get water anyway.
 
Generally don’t drink, once in very rare blue moon DH might drink a beer if offered. I think it’s all yucky.
But if it's included, he'll probably get something , if only to try a few sips.

When we eat out, we usually only get water anyway.
You can get a mocktail or milkshake though :)
 
Generally don’t drink, once in very rare blue moon DH might drink a beer if offered. I think it’s all yucky.
But if it's included, he'll probably get something , if only to try a few sips.

When we eat out, we usually only get water anyway.
Right. And I’m just saying, if you’re on the dining plan, you’ll more then likely order drinks since they are included for free as part of your plan, but you’ll still need to factor in a couple extra dollars for tip on the drinks.
 
Can I ask a side question? Haven't used dining plan in about 10 years .

So you pay $95 for one TS, one QS, one snack, outside of that, you only need to think about a tip for TS, correct? So if you're eating at a $60 buffet, using 20% as tip, your total cost for the day would be $107 ? No other tax involved?
That is correct, there’s just one extra detail.

The cash $60 buffet does not include alcohol drink. It’s the DDP TS credit that does, and it will be charged separately. If you order a $10 beer or $20 cocktail, that will be free but your gratuity will be on $60+ the drink cost. Ordering TS alcohol with the DDP generally means another ~$2 tip per drink, even when included with the credit.
 
That is correct, there’s just one extra detail.

The cash $60 buffet does not include alcohol drink. It’s the DDP TS credit that does, and it will be charged separately. If you order a $10 beer or $20 cocktail, that will be free but your gratuity will be on $60+ the drink cost. Ordering TS alcohol with the DDP generally means another ~$2 tip per drink, even when included with the credit.
So the total bill won't be presented as $70 something with tax (buffet plus beer)? You can tell how often I order alcohol or use dining plan.

But good to know. Since it's paid for with dining credit, we'd probably leave cash for tip.
 
What is the tax rate for the dining plan? 10%? Should it not be 6.5/7.5% which is the tax rate on food or am I missing something?
It appears around 10.43% but not sure why that rate is charged. It could account for alcohol though.

If so Disney pockets the extra tax for all of those 10 year olds that count as adults
 
So the total bill won't be presented as $70 something with tax (buffet plus beer)? You can tell how often I order alcohol or use dining plan.

But good to know. Since it's paid for with dining credit, we'd probably leave cash for tip.

Right. Like Hollywood and Vine buffet at HS is $63 per adult before tax. The DDP credit lets you add an alcohol beverage - that could be a $17 Long Island Ice Tea. So then your bill would be $80 for the food and drink (since they already charged tax for buying the dining plan then I can’t see them adding tax here), the automatic 18% gratuity would be $14 tip for ordering $80 of stuff with the 1 TS credit..
 
What is the tax rate for the dining plan? 10%? Should it not be 6.5/7.5% which is the tax rate on food or am I missing something?
I just had the dining plan last night for one night at Fort wilderness. Everything is listed as a separate line item in your folio for each person on the plan. One line for the item, one line for the Orange County tax.

Mug 4.03
Tex 0.26
Snack 5.50
Tax 0.36
2 QS meals 44.00
Tax 2.86

There is your $57.01
 
I just had the dining plan last night for one night at Fort wilderness. Everything is listed as a separate line item in your folio for each person on the plan. One line for the item, one line for the Orange County tax.

Mug 4.03
Tex 0.26
Snack 5.50
Tax 0.36
2 QS meals 44.00
Tax 2.86

There is your $57.01
Thanks this shows the 6.5% tax.

I'm going to assume the line item for Snacks and QS Meals will go up on multiple night stays and the mug would remain at that $4.03 price for 2024.

I have thought about getting the QS plan for 1 night on checkin night at a cheaper accommodation when getting in late and then moving the next day to my desired location.
This way I would have the mug for Length of Stay and could use the QS Meals the next day.
I could also take full advantage of the water park on my new check in day in 2025.

If I purchased the mug it would be $21.99 + $1.43 tax = $23.42
Taking that price for the mug out of the 2025 meal plan $59.14 - $23.42 = $35.72 for 2 QS Meals and 1 Snack Which I don't find to be a bad value especially factoring in that discounts can not be used for QS or most snacks.

Only thing is DS will be wasting lots of food if we can find something on the regular menu to eat.
 












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