Disney Dining Plan

[Phil Cirrone]

I've been a DVC member for 20 years but never used the Disney Dining Plan.
I'm going in July and dont know if I should try it this time. Anybody have any suggestions?
Lisa

 

[minnie mum]

The only way to know for sure if the DDP is an economical option for you and your family is to price out a couple of days of sample meals at the restaurants you are most likely to eat at. Price out for example 3 days of Breakfast, lunch and dinners (and snacks). Then compare this to the cost of the dining plan for 3 days.

We used to save a bit of money (I actually kept close track of our food bills one year) on the DDP, but in the future we are going back to paying OOP. We found that we really prefer an appetizer over dessert for most of our TS meals, and often want no dessert at all for our CS meals, so we were actually wasting money on our last trip.

But every family is different. I think you could save money if you are planning a lot of buffets and set price dinners.

 

[TDC Nala]

Purchasing the regular dining plan may be the best deal for your group if:

1) You plan to eat a table service dinner (not breakfast or lunch) every night of your stay.

2) You would like many of those to be character meals or fixed price family style options.

3) If you want to go to a la carte restaurants, a number of your party are likely to order the more expensive items on the menu.

4) You prefer desserts to appetizers (the desserts are included; the appetizers aren't).

If you don't fit these, the DDP may possibly be a deal for you if you have several children under 10 in your party and they are OK with the kids menu or you are going to do mostly fixed price meals.

If you don't fit any of the above, and your main interest in the dining plan is the possibililty of saving money, you need to come up with an idea of where your party will eat on their stay, what they might order, and how much that would cost in order to compare it to the dining plan cost per night for your party.

If you also have a "convenience" interest in the dining plan because it's prepaid, you'll have to take that into consideration and balance it against whatever savings you might be able to realize, or not realize. (for example, if you do the math and you're going to just about break even DDP or no DDP, you can then decide if you want to prepay and order the courses the DDP requires you to order, or go OOP and order what you want - giving yourself the option to get appetizers without it being an extra purchase, or for children under 10 to order from the adult menu, if your party is so inclined.)

 

[XGrumpy1]

I prefer to eat on my own, breakfast in the room, usually cereal, then at a quick service for lunch in the parks. We finish at a Signature Dining place for dinner.

You can't do that on a dining plan and usual runs us about the same cost.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

I prefer to eat on my own, breakfast in the room, usually cereal, then at a quick service for lunch in the parks. We finish at a Signature Dining place for dinner.

You can't do that on a dining plan and usual runs us about the same cost.

This is what we do BUT we get the deluxe dining plan. We're not breakfast eaters, so we skip it. Have a QS for lunch and then dinner at a signature. The Deluxe Dining Plan gives you 3 credits a day. We use one for the QS at lunch and 2 for the signature dining each night.

 

[North of Mouse]

The DDP does not work for us. We are not big eaters (3 meals a day). Prefer instead to eat a roll and coffee in AM then a snack during mid-day if we plan to eat sit down meal that night (actually we prefer early dinner) or we get a CS mid-day and a snack in evening. That's plenty for us. We don't eat big meals every day. But, that being said, we go with the flow and some days eat more than others. Definitely eat what we want, but never as much as the dining plan costs.

 

[havoc315]

This is what we do BUT we get the deluxe dining plan. We're not breakfast eaters, so we skip it. Have a QS for lunch and then dinner at a signature. The Deluxe Dining Plan gives you 3 credits a day. We use one for the QS at lunch and 2 for the signature dining each night.

Under 2012 pricing, that set-up may be better off oop. It's close. For example-- a $15 CS plus $60 signature with $6 worth of snacks -- would lose about $4 on the plan.

Of course, you can easily do a $17 CS with $70 signature, $9 worth of shacks -- for a $11 savings.

But if you really want to guarantee savings under the DxDP, you really need to use approximately 3/4ths of your credits towards TS. 2/3rds doesn't quite do it.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

We really like the dining plan. We get the one with a snack, quick service and table service per day. We like having everything pre-paid b/c of the convenience factor.

We like to use meal time as a chance to stop, sit and relax. And our kids love to eat and they are not very picky so it works for use.

Usually, we go to at least one place during the trip that takes 2 table service credits, like Jiko, Yachtsman, etc... We always have plenty of quick service meals to make up for the extra table service at the 2 point places. And, your snack credits can go a long way ... you can get more than just a drink or popcorn if you do some research ...

As DVC members we have gone without it and paid for food as we go and cooked in the room. But when we can afford it, we prefer the dining plan.

 

[sissy_ib]

I guess I just don't see how it is more convenient to use the DDP. You still have to hand over your card at the end of the meal and wait for them to run it. You can pay before your trip, pay as you go or use your KTTW and pay at the end of your trip. Any way you still pay.

 

[cymbaldiva]

I've been a DVC member for 20 years but never used the Disney Dining Plan.
I'm going in July and dont know if I should try it this time. Anybody have any suggestions?
Lisa

I see that most of the answers given have been about economics - I don't see where that's what you asked so I'll answer the original question.

I don't know how you deal with dining now (lots of ADR's, grab and go, eat at the room) - if you do patronize a lot of table service places and are accustomed to making reservations for the bulk of your meals , run the numbers and see if it might work. If you eat in room a lot and you're used to a lot of flexibility with your dining options, the dining plan probably won't be the best fit for you.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[mrzrich]

I guess I just don't see how it is more convenient to use the DDP. You still have to hand over your card at the end of the meal and wait for them to run it. You can pay before your trip, pay as you go or use your KTTW and pay at the end of your trip. Any way you still pay.

And for those who "Like to have it all paid for" There is the option to by Disney gift cards before they go. Then the can use the gift card to pay for meals and souvenirs that are "all paid for".

I tend to buy myself a Disney gift card every now and then when I have some extra money. If I get overtime at work I buy one for example. I know its all psychological, but I don't feel the pinch as bad when I pay for something with a gift card.

 

[Phil Cirrone]

Thank you I will do a couple of samples and compare.

The only way to know for sure if the DDP is an economical option for you and your family is to price out a couple of days of sample meals at the restaurants you are most likely to eat at. Price out for example 3 days of Breakfast, lunch and dinners (and snacks). Then compare this to the cost of the dining plan for 3 days.

We used to save a bit of money (I actually kept close track of our food bills one year) on the DDP, but in the future we are going back to paying OOP. We found that we really prefer an appetizer over dessert for most of our TS meals, and often want no dessert at all for our CS meals, so we were actually wasting money on our last trip.

But every family is different. I think you could save money if you are planning a lot of buffets and set price dinners.

 

[Phil Cirrone]

Thank you.This is sooo helpful.
Lisa

Purchasing the regular dining plan may be the best deal for your group if:

1) You plan to eat a table service dinner (not breakfast or lunch) every night of your stay.

2) You would like many of those to be character meals or fixed price family style options.

3) If you want to go to a la carte restaurants, a number of your party are likely to order the more expensive items on the menu.

4) You prefer desserts to appetizers (the desserts are included; the appetizers aren't).

If you don't fit these, the DDP may possibly be a deal for you if you have several children under 10 in your party and they are OK with the kids menu or you are going to do mostly fixed price meals.

If you don't fit any of the above, and your main interest in the dining plan is the possibililty of saving money, you need to come up with an idea of where your party will eat on their stay, what they might order, and how much that would cost in order to compare it to the dining plan cost per night for your party.

If you also have a "convenience" interest in the dining plan because it's prepaid, you'll have to take that into consideration and balance it against whatever savings you might be able to realize, or not realize. (for example, if you do the math and you're going to just about break even DDP or no DDP, you can then decide if you want to prepay and order the courses the DDP requires you to order, or go OOP and order what you want - giving yourself the option to get appetizers without it being an extra purchase, or for children under 10 to order from the adult menu, if your party is so inclined.)

 

[Phil Cirrone]

Thats what I was thinking. I have four teenagers that do like to eat,but also like to go with the flow. A lot to consider.

The DDP does not work for us. We are not big eaters (3 meals a day). Prefer instead to eat a roll and coffee in AM then a snack during mid-day if we plan to eat sit down meal that night (actually we prefer early dinner) or we get a CS mid-day and a snack in evening. That's plenty for us. We don't eat big meals every day. But, that being said, we go with the flow and some days eat more than others. Definitely eat what we want, but never as much as the dining plan costs.

 

[Phil Cirrone]

Thank you. There are six of us.(four teenagers) That like a nice sit down meal everynight.So I will consider that.

I see that most of the answers given have been about economics - I don't see where that's what you asked so I'll answer the original question.

I don't know how you deal with dining now (lots of ADR's, grab and go, eat at the room) - if you do patronize a lot of table service places and are accustomed to making reservations for the bulk of your meals , run the numbers and see if it might work. If you eat in room a lot and you're used to a lot of flexibility with your dining options, the dining plan probably won't be the best fit for you.

Good luck with whatever you decide!