Disney Dining Plan

[Carolo]

I was wondering if the dining plan really saves you money? Also, I've booked my room at AoA for our trip in January 2013 (can't wait!) and did not include a dining plan. If I change my mind can it be added to my package at a later date? I'm still undecided!

 

[KKB]

Depending on how you tend to eat. If you like a daily sit down meal, it will more than likely save you money.
We paid for the DDP the first time we went--worth every penny (a bit MUCH back then--it included appetizer, entree & dessert for everyone at all TS meals). We liked the flexibility. We had free DDP last time which was AWESOME.
I don't know if I would pay for it now...it is pricey, my children are all adults...we could do it cheaper. But we have some restaurants we love now (Boma, Ohanas, Le Cellier) & I'm not sure we could do it without anymore!

 

[TDC Nala]

This is the way I've figured you are most likely to save money by paying for the regular dining plan:

1) You prefer a TS dinner (not lunch or breakfast) every day of your trip.

2) The majority of these dinners will be at a buffet/all you can eat restaurant, OR

3) your party is most likely to order the most expensive items at an a la carte restaurant, plus a dessert and non-water beverage for each person, and you do not tend to share meals.

The more kids under 10 you have, and the more character meals you want to do (they are all buffet or family style all you can eat) then the better off you may be with the dining plan.

You can add a dining plan to a package reservation no later than 72 hours before arrival. If your reservation is a room only and not a package, you will have to cancel that reservation and rebook it as a package. There is a ticket purchase required with the package (at least 1 day base park tickets per person on the reservation -this increases to 2 day tickets for the free dining promotion) . If you are an annual passholder or eligible for the military room discount, you can get a ticketless package when paying for the dining plan (NOT for free dining though).

If you are a DVC member booking through DVC Member Services (not likely for the OP, with a reservation at AOA) you can add a dining plan no later than 24 hours prior to arrival. No ticket purchase required.

 

[Carolo]

Thank you! I'm still undecided! Booked Cinderella's Royal Table this morning and it's around $320 for 4 adults and 2 children (7 & 4). A few meals like that and it would save money!

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you! I'm still undecided! Booked Cinderella's Royal Table this morning and it's around $320 for 4 adults and 2 children (7 & 4). A few meals like that and it would save money!

Not necessarily. That meal at CRT uses 2TS credits and you would be paying $235 per night for the DDP for your party of 6. Since you use 2 nights' worth of credits for that one meal, you've "paid" $470. Now you still have 2 QS meals and 2 snacks per person to use. Can all of you eat those for less than $150? Probably, but that would depend on how you like to eat.

 

[Precious Disney]

I was wondering if the dining plan really saves you money? Also, I've booked my room at AoA for our trip in January 2013 (can't wait!) and did not include a dining plan. If I change my mind can it be added to my package at a later date? I'm still undecided!

I had the same question. Reading the responses, it was noted that if you book room only and add a DP later, you will have to cancel res. and rebook as a pkg. Is there any negatives to that??? i.e., room rate change, or availability, special requests??? I was thinking of booking my room only, and waiting to see if I get any kind of PIN or code to get discounted or free QS dining. Also, wondering the advantage of buying my tickets in advance as part of the package. On the fence about a few things.

I'm a newbie!!! (as you can tell... lol...). Thanks for your patience in replies.

 

[suburbiatexas]

we are going to disney at the end of the year, a party of 8. my daughter is 13 and incredibly picky about what she eats. when we use TS credits, do we have to use all 8 or can we use 7 and pay out of pocket for her meal, therefore saving all her credits and using them for a TS that takes 2 credits like le cellier?

thanks....

 

[alice99]

we are going to disney at the end of the year, a party of 8. my daughter is 13 and incredibly picky about what she eats. when we use TS credits, do we have to use all 8 or can we use 7 and pay out of pocket for her meal, therefore saving all her credits and using them for a TS that takes 2 credits like le cellier?

thanks....

I have done this. Not sure if, technically, it is against the rules. But I have a 14 yo son that would only eat kids meals type of foods. He is not adventurous at all.
The issue you may have is that she will be ordering a full price meal, because they may not let her order a kids meal.

In addition, my kids love SciFi Dine in Theater, it is inexpensive, so I pay cash there an double up my credits for Brown Derby later in the week.

 

[disneyred]

This is the way I've figured you are most likely to save money by paying for the regular dining plan:


You can add a dining plan to a package reservation no later than 72 hours before arrival. If your reservation is a room only and not a package, you will have to cancel that reservation and rebook it as a package. There is a ticket purchase required with the package (at least 1 day base park tickets per person on the reservation -this increases to 2 day tickets for the free dining promotion) . If you are an annual passholder or eligible for the military room discount, you can get a ticketless package when paying for the dining plan (NOT for free dining though).

.

i did not know this... I thought if I wanted to pay for dining plan to go along with room only reservation.. i only have to pay for the dining plan itself and not any extra park tix?

 

[purple figment]

we are going to disney at the end of the year, a party of 8. my daughter is 13 and incredibly picky about what she eats. when we use TS credits, do we have to use all 8 or can we use 7 and pay out of pocket for her meal, therefore saving all her credits and using them for a TS that takes 2 credits like le cellier?

thanks....

Many people do exactly that. Just let your server know who will be paying OOP...and it doesn't have to be just your daughter - anyone can choose not to use their credits at a given meal.

Reading the responses, it was noted that if you book room only and add a DP later, you will have to cancel res. and rebook as a pkg. Is there any negatives to that??? i.e., room rate change, or availability, special requests??? I was thinking of booking my room only, and waiting to see if I get any kind of PIN or code to get discounted or free QS dining. Also, wondering the advantage of buying my tickets in advance as part of the package.

.

Some things to consider if you go from room only to a package:

-If you have a discounted room only res, you'll have to do the math to see if the FD is a better deal because you can only apply one discount.

-Depending on which resorts/room categories are included in any offer you may have to change resorts or room category.

-Also, tickets will be a part of any package because by definition a package is room + tickets.

 

[purple figment]

i did not know this... I thought if I wanted to pay for dining plan to go along with room only reservation.. i only have to pay for the dining plan itself and not any extra park tix?

Are you DVC staying on points? Then you could add the paid dining plan without a package. DVC doesn't qualify for FD.

You can't add the dining plan to a "room only" reservation; it has to be a package - with or without tickets. As Nala said, AP holders and those qualifying for a military rate are the only ones who can book ticketless packages for paid dining. If it's FD, they would have to buy the required tickets.

 

[havoc315]

Thank you! I'm still undecided! Booked Cinderella's Royal Table this morning and it's around $320 for 4 adults and 2 children (7 & 4). A few meals like that and it would save money!

That's actually a misconception. With most character meals, including CRT -- the dining plan is a great savings for kids, but a great rip off for adults.

Plus, we don't yet know 2013 pricing.

But based on 2012 pricing ---
If you break down the meal plan pricing --
Each child TS credit is about $9
Each adult TS credit is about $33 (plus $15 for QS meal plus $4 for snack)

So your CRT meal would cost 8 adult credits and 4 child credits:
Or about $300.
And that's based on the 2012 dining plan price. 2013 will likely cost more (though your price for your CRT reservation is already locked in).
So I'm guessing at 2013 pricing, you'd be looking at breaking even, at best.
Under 2012 pricing -- You'd save $20 off a $320 meal, or about 7%.

Under 2012 pricing -- Children doing a lot of character meals can still save money. But for adults, savings are hard to come by. (The savings in the above example is all due to the children's pricing. If it was just 4 adults, then you'd be losing money).

 

[havoc315]

we are going to disney at the end of the year, a party of 8. my daughter is 13 and incredibly picky about what she eats. when we use TS credits, do we have to use all 8 or can we use 7 and pay out of pocket for her meal, therefore saving all her credits and using them for a TS that takes 2 credits like le cellier?

thanks....

You can totally do that. Alternatively, instead of paying OOP, you can also just share. Many meals are more than large enough to share.

 

[suburbiatexas]

thank you so much for the responses...we definitely plan on paying OOP for my picky eater, since she only eats french fries and plain pasta and we will be saving her TS credits for Le Cellier