Disney Dining or Deluxe?

[have2getaway]

It never occurred to me to even consider the deluxe plan, but after looking at some menu prices, I'm trying to decide if the regular dining is enough for a family of 5 (2 Adults, 3 children). Our family loces desserts. Are desserts part of the deluxe plan? Are appetizers? Salads? I'm just worried everything will be all "a la carte" and all we will end up with on the regular plan is an entrée. Just wondering if anyone can comment on both plans and which works better for them? I don't want to end up paying so much out-of-pocket that we should've just paid for the deluxe plan in the first place. DH is not good at saying "no" to the boys, especially when it concerns food and treats so I'm trying to consider this in our decision.

 

[got15]

We have done both DxDP and DDP. We love both. With the DxDP we usually do a TS character breakfast and a 2 point TS Dinner. We have found that 3 TS in one day are too much for us- plus snacks. You do get an app, main course,and desert. Each person- so 5 deserts, 5 apps, 5 mains. We have "made out" on the DxDP- but that was by mostly going to Character meals and also Signature Rest. In the end we did have lots of snack credits leftover which we used to buy treats to take with us from Main Street Confectionary (this wasn't a waste for us- because we were heading to the beach after and it was a way to enjoy Disney a little while longer). Honestly, this last trip we did the DDP and we enjoyed it, I will say the driver for the switch was that we were staying CL at the Poly. I felt that we did get our value. If I really wanted an appz with dinner- we would pay OOP for it. We didn't do any Sig dining though. We did sometimes substitute the appz for the desert- and used a snack credit to get a treat in the park. Either way- both are great. I don't know how old your boys are (mine are still young and are not awesome eaters) but if your are super hungry- i say go for it!

 

[have2getaway]

Our boys typically eat big breakfasts and dinners, and snack more around lunch. They are triplets and are 7. They eat like crazy when they go through a growth spurt, which happens all at the same time. Our last vacation with extended family, my mother couldn't believe how much they ate! If they are distracted, though, they are more likely to eat less. Pretty sure Disney will be quite a distraction. DH also eats quite a bit. I have used Disney Dining before and all the places I liked to eat at (Holly Brown, Cali Grille, Le Cellier all require 2 TS credits, but not sure if those will appeal to 7 year olds anyway. Still unsure the best route to go?

 

[Nancyg56]

If you are considering the DxDDP and you have youngsters under 10, this is the time to splurge, IMO. Once kids are 10 the cost is very expensive.

I think the restaurants you are considering are kid friendly and am sure they will find something they like. I was sorry I did not upgrade when my DH was along with us. Initially I costed out our extra's and they did nto add up to the additional cost.....until we got there. AND the "extra" extra's!!!!

 

[sharonabe]

It never occurred to me to even consider the deluxe plan, but after looking at some menu prices, I'm trying to decide if the regular dining is enough for a family of 5 (2 Adults, 3 children). Our family loces desserts. Are desserts part of the deluxe plan? Are appetizers? Salads? I'm just worried everything will be all "a la carte" and all we will end up with on the regular plan is an entrée. Just wondering if anyone can comment on both plans and which works better for them? I don't want to end up paying so much out-of-pocket that we should've just paid for the deluxe plan in the first place. DH is not good at saying "no" to the boys, especially when it concerns food and treats so I'm trying to consider this in our decision.

It sounds like you need to go read a bit more. Both plans include dessert at every TS meal. In 2017, the regular plan will only include entree and drink at the QS meals. However, if you get the DxDDP and use a credit at a QS place, you will still only get the entree and drink. In 2017, both plans allow for 2 snacks/night of stay/person.

This page has links to the 2016 and 2017 pdfs for all the plans: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/

 

[Nancyg56]

When I plan which ddp to use I look at how we want to tour. If you plan character breakfasts lunches, and then a few signature dinners you might save with the DxDdp. If my DH is along, or if we have the whole family, we plan meals that tend to be expensive once we add our appetizers. We plan more ts breakfast or lunch as well.

Plan your ADR's that you want, look at menus and decide what you think your family would order and then add it up. Once you know about what your food will cost you can compare the ddp cost and the dxddp to see how it shakes out

 

[Lisa F]

I was on the fence and I sat down and listed out everything I wanted to do and ran the numbers - with some OOP things to supplement regular DDP or DxDDP. It turned out that for the DDP + supplements the cost was the same as DxDDP.... but with DxDDP I was able to jettison all of the CS meals and replace them with TS meals and also add a few more things here and there, all for the same price. for me it was a no brainer based on what I already wanted to do... but you have to sit down and figure out what you want to do irrespective of cost and figure out the best way to pay for it IMO. sometimes it's no DDP!

 

[Nancyg56]

I was on the fence and I sat down and listed out everything I wanted to do and ran the numbers - with some OOP things to supplement regular DDP or DxDDP. It turned out that for the DDP + supplements the cost was the same as DxDDP.... but with DxDDP I was able to jettison all of the CS meals and replace them with TS meals and also add a few more things here and there, all for the same price. for me it was a no brainer based on what I already wanted to do... but you have to sit down and figure out what you want to do irrespective of cost and figure out the best way to pay for it IMO. sometimes it's no DDP!

Yes, there is no easy one size fits all answer. I know that for many the DDP, any DDP is a waste of money, but for others it is not. I always suggest people plan their meals first, look to see what you are planning to book, add up what you actually will want to eat, not what you pretend you will, which works in ether direction, and then compare the cost. I made the mistake of not upgrading when my DH was with us. I knew how we traveled without him, but forgot to factor in how he likes to eat while on vacation. Well after two days of breakfast in the CL lounge we had a mutiny.Oatmeal and danish are NOT breakfast. Dinners were a trial for the poor guy because he kept thinking he was stuck within the confines of the plan. This guy pays for everything yet when it came to ordering appetizers he kept asking if he could have them...yes....we just have to pay for them. LOL ! I tell you, I really miss the original DDP from a several years ago. Even if Disney got rid of the tip and increased the cost of the regular DDP a bit but allowed appetizers, it would be a great plan. For the most part, we do not want or need everything that the DxDDp includes, but we want more than the regular plan allows And then DH would never get confused! LOL!

 

[Lisa F]

Yes, there is no easy one size fits all answer. I know that for many the DDP, any DDP is a waste of money, but for others it is not. I always suggest people plan their meals first, look to see what you are planning to book, add up what you actually will want to eat, not what you pretend you will, which works in ether direction, and then compare the cost. I made the mistake of not upgrading when my DH was with us. I knew how we traveled without him, but forgot to factor in how he likes to eat while on vacation. Well after two days of breakfast in the CL lounge we had a mutiny.Oatmeal and danish are NOT breakfast. Dinners were a trial for the poor guy because he kept thinking he was stuck within the confines of the plan. This guy pays for everything yet when it came to ordering appetizers he kept asking if he could have them...yes....we just have to pay for them. LOL ! I tell you, I really miss the original DDP from a several years ago. Even if Disney got rid of the tip and increased the cost of the regular DDP a bit but allowed appetizers, it would be a great plan. For the most part, we do not want or need everything that the DxDDp includes, but we want more than the regular plan allows And then DH would never get confused! LOL!

I've seen you write about your husband before. poor guy! I would have mutiny too on vacation having oatmeal and danish (although I eat oatmeal daily at home mid morning and a protein shake first thing, lol). I love breakfast though and especially with characters!

My point is really that you should not start from a point of what the plan offers. You should start from a point of what you want to do. Then see how well that fits either DDP, DxDDP or paying oop. It is easy to get caught up in "maximizing the plan" and I had to check myself a few times too but really when I saw what I WANTED to do the DxDDP worked the best. and I got a lot of bonus TS meals I prefer to QS meals.

 

[Nancyg56]

I've seen you write about your husband before. poor guy! I would have mutiny too on vacation having oatmeal and danish (although I eat oatmeal daily at home mid morning and a protein shake first thing, lol). I love breakfast though and especially with characters!

My point is really that you should not start from a point of what the plan offers. You should start from a point of what you want to do. Then see how well that fits either DDP, DxDDP or paying oop. It is easy to get caught up in "maximizing the plan" and I had to check myself a few times too but really when I saw what I WANTED to do the DxDDP worked the best. and I got a lot of bonus TS meals I prefer to QS meals.

I agree. That's what I mean about being honest about your vacation dining habits. I thought he would be okay with cl breakfast most days. I thought a few appetizers in the lounge would count as an appetizer for dinner. No. He said he thought we should "go on the cheap" but what he said and meant were two different things. So now, I know that I have to include ts or CS breakfast daily, decent lunch and ts dinner that includes at least a few appetizers to share. And garlic bread. Always if possible. Now I have different costs.

I think that it's easy for people forget how they roll when they vacation and they are trying to fit their wants into or out of a plan. On paper you can make it work if you need it to. But the question is will it work on reality?

 

[Lisa F]

I agree. That's what I mean about being honest about your vacation dining habits. I thought he would be okay with cl breakfast most days. I thought a few appetizers in the lounge would count as an appetizer for dinner. No. He said he thought we should "go on the cheap" but what he said and meant were two different things. So now, I know that I have to include ts or CS breakfast daily, decent lunch and ts dinner that includes at least a few appetizers to share. And garlic bread. Always if possible. Now I have different costs.

I think that it's easy for people forget how they roll when they vacation and they are trying to fit their wants into or out of a plan. On paper you can make it work if you need it to. But the question is will it work on reality?

and disney vacations cost so much... for me I'd rather plan what I WANT and budget accordingly. It costs a ton of money no matter what, I'd rather spend that money and feel like I got what I wanted and not a little bit less and feel like I spent all that money and still didn't get what i wanted. But I choose to go less frequently and travel the way I prefer rather than more often and on a tighter budget.

 

[Nancyg56]

and disney vacations cost so much... for me I'd rather plan what I WANT and budget accordingly. It costs a ton of money no matter what, I'd rather spend that money and feel like I got what I wanted and not a little bit less and feel like I spent all that money and still didn't get what i wanted. But I choose to go less frequently and travel the way I prefer rather than more often and on a tighter budget.

Yes. I see people try stay within specific budget constraints. I get it. But if you know the kids will ask for ice cream, best to budget snacks in. If you normally drink water at home but know you all enjoy a soft drink in an theme park. Add it in. Don't pretend to yourself that you can make due. We always take enough money to pay for our extras but what if you plan down to the penny. Best to have a reasonable expectation.

 

[senadler]

An important thing I think you need to consider in choosing the deluxe plan is what your kids like to eat. My youngest, who is almost six, will not eat any more than the typical kids meal that you get on the regular plan. But my older son started rejecting the kids meal choices at that age and wanted to eat off the regular menu. While it is not official policy, we have been able to order off the regular menu for children when we were on the deluxe plan.

I also agree that you need to consider where you want to eat and do the math. If you plan on doing a lot of character meals and even a few 2TS credit meals you may find, with the low cost of the deluxe plan for the kids , it will make sense. I also think, while what we would typically plan for meals we would about break even on the deluxe plan, adding the deluxe plan gives us the opportunity to splurge on some extras that we would probably not do otherwise. We will add an extra dinner show or 2TS meals just because we have the extra credits. For example on my last trip with just my youngest, I booked CRT for dinner so that he could experience the castle. I would never have paid those prices OOP, but he enjoyed it and I am happy we did it.