Dinning Plan or Not????

[maktrk96]

We are doing the 3land/4sea package next Nov 09. Family of 7 (4 adults, 1 teenager, 2 little ones ages 11 & 9)... Do we add on the dinning plan or not??? Just not sure .. If we did is it well worth the money or not?????? Help please.

 

[TDC Nala]

You should note that 11 and 9 don't count as "little ones" on the dining plan. Your entire family would be purchasing adult credits.

 

[septbaby]

Take a look at the plans for 2009. If you want to do any TS meals (all character meals are TS) then seriously look at the plans. I'm not sure what you mean by well worth the money, but the plans will allow for pre paid meals, taxes are also paid and we had plenty to eat on the 2007 version (1 Snack, 1 TS, 1 Cs/night).

Once you decide the places you're likely to eat add up what you think you'll buy and compare that to the DP rate. The DP is a discount plan its isn't just some trick by Disney to get more money out of you. You will eat at WDW and getting the DP will save money. If you do a plan that included TS meals you need to make ADRs and actually make those meals. If you skip TS meals on those plans you have a greater chance of losing money.

I'm a big fan of the DP.

Just a clarification: if the 9yo is 10 when you start your trip they are a Disney Adult. At 9yo they're still a child and you pay child rates for them and they'll need to order off the child menus.

 

[DisneyTiger]

Ages 10 and up are considered adult. Ages 3-9 are only $9.99 a day. Here's how I decided, because I was too leary about it...


We are going for 8 nights this coming September. I added the cost of all of our character dining and table service meals (about 1 per day) and it was around $600! The dining plan for my family is $607. That is for ALL of our meals. It definitely saves you money. You just have to make sure to plan your meals and use all of our credits wisely. If character dining and table service aren't that big of a deal for you and you feel like you can get by eating counter service only, then the DP probably isn't for you. Just do the math. It really speaks for itself. That's my two cents! Have a great trip!

 

[janjandis]

NOT!! I added up everything on my March vacation and the dining plan was a very small savings. But that was with many desserts that we didn't need that got taken home and thrown away 2 days later. Also we probably never would have eaten that often without the dining plan. I love LOVED the dining plan before but since they took the tip and appetizer out, I will no longer get it.

 

[TDC Nala]

If character dining and table service aren't that big of a deal for you and you feel like you can get by eating counter service only, then the DP probably isn't for you. Just do the math. It really speaks for itself. That's my two cents! Have a great trip!

But...you are going in 2009. There is a new counter service only dining plan for 2009. If you eat a lot of counter service this plan might work.

The only way to tell is to plan out what your family would normally eat and see if any of the dining plans are a good fit.