Disney Dining plan for off-site guests

[princesssatheart]

I love the Disney dining plan. I wish they would offer an option for guests who are staying off-site. We got a really great deal on a timeshare this year and has allowed us to go to Disney when we didn't think we could. I understand why Disney only allows the dining plan if you are staying on-site, but there is a huge market of people who would spend more time in the parks if they could purchase a dining plan. Anyone else agree or disagree?

 

[Bete]

The dining plan has gone up in price and we don't feel it's such a savings anymore.

If you free lance, you don't have to feel like you need to do dessert for every meal.

If we can get a free dining plan package then I'll do the plan; otherwise, we do OOP, now.

It would be nice to have the plan option as an off site guest, but it really doesn't stop us from dining in the parks.

You may want to do an AP and the Tables in Wonderland card if you are going there more often with owning a timeshare.

 

[maxiesmom]

They use it as an enticement to get people to stay on-site, so there would be no point in offering it to off-site guests.

It is kind of like saying "Wouldn't it be great if off-site guest could take advantage of EMH". Yes it would be for the guest, but then it takes away some of what attracts people to staying on-site.

I do have to agree with the previous poster. I've been on around 13 trips to WDW and only used the dining plan 3 times. It only makes sense for us to be on it if we plan on doing a lot of character meals. Usually we can eat for a lot cheaper off of the plan.

 

[GoofyMac]

We really enjoy the Disney Dining plan. It is a value if you dine in Disney restaurants exclusively and a way for Disney to make your vacation more inclusive and to keep you on the property.

We enjoy it very much because no matter where we go we know that Disney is child friendly. Going to Applebees or somewhere like that off property takes away from the experience and cant guarantee the Disney quality of service. Our daughter is well behaved and we never try to be a burden as a result when we eat out but we do know that many restaurants and the wait staff are not fond of party's with children. We always tip according to the service and if it is good and we have our Daughter with us we tip extra.

The entire Disney Experience is family oriented. We don't do Signature dining with our daughter as we feel that it would detract from others experience if we did. Sometimes you go out and just want to be away from children.

We pretty much stay on property now though that is not to say we wouldn't say off property in the future. We feel that the convenience and experience is much more important than saving a few bucks staying off property.


Goofymac

 

[sukhakuli]

Have you thought about getting an AP and getting the Tables in Wonderland card? We may stay at a non-Disney resort next time (either SoG or off site) unless Disney offers free dining and we can get the Cabins. And I have been running the numbers for the Tables in wonderland card and an AP. With an annual pass you also get free parking at the parks, which will save about $14 a day, and on top of that the TiW discount, might make it worth it.

I agree with you, though, disney only offering the DDP to onsite guests is a real incentive to stay on site. The problem is that for larger families, it is difficult to get the kind of accommodations we "need" for a 2 week stay without spending insane amounts of money on a room. It's a conundrum.

 

[princesssatheart]

Good Feedback. I agree with what everyone posted. I haven't thought about TiW or an annual pass. I have never really thought it applied because we go to Disney every other year or so. I will check it out, thanks!

 

[maxiesmom]

it.

I agree with you, though, disney only offering the DDP to onsite guests is a real incentive to stay on site. The problem is that for larger families, it is difficult to get the kind of accommodations we "need" for a 2 week stay without spending insane amounts of money on a room. It's a conundrum.

I totally get that! Many of my trips to WDW are with extended family, so we end up a family of 6 or 8. And I'm constantly trying to plan yet another trip to WDW, so I run the numbers all of the time. I could do food and accommodations off-site cheaply, no problem. It is the added cost of transportation that does me in. You just cannot get rental van for the same cost as a rental car. Any money we would save by staying off-site would be used to pay for the van, so then, what is the point of being off-site?

 

[Bete]

and I was shocked that I could get park tickets that allowed an early entry to the park without staying on site. Yes, we got an extra magic hour without staying on site. Anyway, the point here is that Disney did give away a perk that belongs to on site guests.

I've been to a lot of parks other than Disney and most of them have a dining plan you can buy for all day including getting non alcoholic drinks. It's more revenue for the parks if you stay there and eat; so, they offer the incentive. Now, none of them have the choices of Disney World with over 100 retaurants to choose from in their lineup, but I don't really care about that part. In fairness, I do know that Dollywood does not have an all day eating plan, but they do have an all you care to drink offer. Also, they will offer coupons for some some of their restaurants. We were able to get a 2 for 1 at a table service place there.

Maybe, a fair way would be to give on site guests a little better deal for the dining plan over off site guests. On site guests already do get the opportunity to do a free dining offer as a package deal.

If we haven't seen Disney do an off site dining plan yet during these economic times it's probably doubtful they will do it. I will say that the DP in the past was more worth it and thus I stayed on site more, but that has changed in recent years and I don't stay on site, now; unless, I get the free dining plan. We plan our time there to get free dining.

 

[sukhakuli]

I totally get that! Many of my trips to WDW are with extended family, so we end up a family of 6 or 8. And I'm constantly trying to plan yet another trip to WDW, so I run the numbers all of the time. I could do food and accommodations off-site cheaply, no problem. It is the added cost of transportation that does me in. You just cannot get rental van for the same cost as a rental car. Any money we would save by staying off-site would be used to pay for the van, so then, what is the point of being off-site?

Adding in rental cars complicates matters, that's for sure. We have always driven, except for one trip when we flew, so we already have transportation. The trip we flew we stayed at SoG and rented an airport shuttle to get to and from the airport, and then since we were at SoG we didn't need any other transportation.