Disney Meal Plan

[bless7ings]

I plan to do it next time we go back. When we stayed at SOG, we couldn't do the DDP. But it would've been worth it. DH is super frugal and I was tired of splitting counter-service meals with him by the end of the week. I just wanted to eat my own, full meal after walking all day long.

Also, we like to do some character meals as well.

I just like having it paid for in advance and not having to think about it.

Yup, that was the other seller for us: I have always been frugal on the food and it has always taken time to talk the kids or tell the kids this is what you get. It was a selling point becasue each child could order what they wanted and didn'nt have to split. The kids loved picking everything out for themselves, it was a big treat. Plus the ability to be in control of picking a snack or drink out when they wanted to. They loved it!!! They have never had that luxary!! (I will tell you there was a lot of wasted food when each person got their own meal.)

 

[bless7ings]

We loved it!!

Last trip it was me, dh, dd 4 and dd 12 months. We normally only eat one or two character meals and that's all the sit downs we do. So I wasn't sure how I'd like having to sit down at least once a day. I enjoyed it so much!! I also enjoyed knowing I had a table waiting for me (well sorta, adr) and that I had to just sit, eat, and leave. I didn't' have to worry about the bill one bit. How nice is that? It made it so relaxing!!

There is WAY to much food. We didn't even try to eat it all. You don't have to order an appetizer or desert if you don't want to, or they can package your desert up for you to take with you.

We were able to do 6 character meals with the ddp. The kids and I were in heaven! That was so much fun to do. I didn't tell dd about any of them so she was so excited to see new characters at each meal.

We did have force ourselves to use some of the credits. We had many snack credits left that we were trying to use up on the last day. I had read that happens and I didn't' believe it, I am a huge snacker at WDW so I thought I would use them fast. Nope, we had lots left.

My favorite part of the dining plan is that you are able to pay it off the same way you do your package. So you can send in a little each month, no trying to save up lots of cash for souvenirs and food. Then when you get to WDW you have no worries about making sure you have enough cash each day for meals. You are all set to go!

That was what I wanted to mention. I don't understand people being on the dining plan and paying out of pocket for some meals!?! IMO you have plenty of credits to do what you want. The other thing is you only get enough credits for two meals a day, so we brought cereal and ate it in the morning before leaving. I am a big breakfast eater, we had enough credits to have eaten three meals a day, because there were quite a few times that the kids wanted the same meals for cs and they were big enough to share. So next time I would have to see how everything worked out to have three meals some days and try double credit meals. I know it could work!

 

[jnordan]

We've decided against it. We're not big eaters, but if it's "free" I'll eat, and I just don't want to. I don't need that much food!

Aside from that, though, once I actually planned out our trip, we're eating so many character meals, etc. that the dining plan just wasn't going to work for us.

Edited to clarify: We're going to be there 8 days, and most days will be eating two "meals" and maybe a snack. With our reservations, per person we would need:
11 table service meals
4 counter service meals
Snacks

So, for that reason, it just doesn't work for us.

FYI, this is our dining plan:
Day 1 -- (Hotel) arrive at BCV, have dinner at Cape May Cafe
Day 2 -- (MK) breakfast at Cinderella's Castle, snack, dinner at Tony's Town Square Restaurant
Day 3 -- (Animal Kingdom) breakfast in room, lunch at Tusker House, dinner at Beaches and Cream
Day 4 -- (Epcot) breakfast in room, lunch at Boulangerie Patisserie, dinner at San Angel Inn
Day 5 -- (Hotel day) breakfast at Cape May Cafe, snack, early dinner at Hurricane Hannah's (poolside)
Day 6 -- (Princess day, more Epcot) older DD and I will go to BBB then tea with Aurora, DH and younger DD will go to 1900 Park Fare for
brunch, early dinner at Akershus
Day 7 -- (MGM) breakfast at Hollywood and Vine, snack, dinner at Beaches and Cream
Day 8 -- (MK) breakfast in room, lunch at Pecos Bill Cafe, dinner at Chef Mickey
Day 9 -- breakfast in room, return home

 

[jnordan]

Hmmm. . . So, I'm sick in bed today anyways, and so after reading my post, I started thinking! If I replaced just one or two of our reservations with a counter service meal instead (maybe Tony's Town Square, one of the Beaches and Cream, and just pay for Cinderell's table since we've already don that anyways) then we COULD do the dining plan!

So here's the question, we would pay roughly $728 for the dining plan (two adults, one child -- we have another who's under 3, so she's free). When I went through all of the restaurants we would then eat at and totalled up only main courses (no drinks, tips, extra fruit for the kids, etc.) it came to $512. But, when we do this, we are left with 2 table service credits, so I suppose I could also apply those to the Cinderella's table reservation that I already made, making the difference about $140.

So, my question, is will the tips, drinks, additional fruit, and snacks at the park come to $140?

I think I'll be making some calls on Monday!

 

[Newcastle]

We too are trying to decide whether we want to add the dining plan but my main concern is with respect to scheduling. I understand that with the introduction of the dining plan, making ADRs has become even more important. We have young children and have learned that spontaneity is key when visiting Disney World. We may "plan" for things to go a certain way but invariably, something will happen with one of the children and we will have to change our plans. Does anybody ever have a problem with having to work their schedule around their dining reservations? We do like to plan our trips to a certain degree but I also think that there is such a thing as too much planning. I'm afraid that having to stick to ADRs for the full week of our trip would fall in the latter category. Any thoughts?

 

[bless7ings]

I heard cinderellas table is now 2 credits. Is that true?

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

Since your little one will be 5 I say it is well worth it. We loved being able to order whatever we wanted to eat and have to worry about a food budget and figuring out how much would be left of it after the meal and tip and so on.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

So, my question, is will the tips, drinks, additional fruit, and snacks at the park come to $140?

I think so because drinks are pretty expensive for that many days and did you already include the tax too?

 

[Sxofus]

So, my question, is will the tips, drinks, additional fruit, and snacks at the park come to $140?!

They all will.....individually. Especially the tips, and drinks. Based on your meal itinerary you'll spend a fortune if you don't do the DP.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

We experienced the Dining Plan for the first time in December. It was SO worth it in my opinion!!!

My family consists of me, DH, 5 year old DS and then 18 month old DD. We didn't do any character meals except for 1900 Park Fare for dinner. IMO, I don't think many meals are a great value on the plan if you are PAYING for it. If it's FREE, that's another story!!

I DEFINITELY don't think you should waste your Dining Credits on breakfast. Chef Mickey's breakfast is only $18.99 plus tax and your meal at Le Cellier can add up to $50!

Bottom line, if you like having one sit down meal per day, then the plan is for you. It's even better that tax and tip are included!! It's paid before or at check in, so you don't have to worry about paying for your food while you are there! Part of the whole Disney experience for my family is dining. We used the TS credits on dinners and it was GREAT knowing we had a sit down meal where we could take a load off and RELAX after all day!

We are going to be using a 2 TS Credits to dine at California Grill in August. So we will be without 1 TS meal one day. It will work out FINE because you can use your snack credits on foods such as Chili Cheese Fries or Nachos and that can be your lunch! We did this in Dec and it worked out!

Good luck with your decision. I know if I stay on site, I will NEVER do Disney again WITHOUT the Dining Plan!

 

[swillis]

I haven't used it yet, but I have it planned for our trip in June. I think it will be worth it for my situation...me and my good friend (both love to try new foods, foodies in training) my DD 12 who is an adventorous eater...loves seafood, lobster, sushi and the my DS 11 who is just a big growing boy, who eats alot.

It will be nice not to have to limit their choices.