Disney Newbie - Dining Plan Question

[MrsB73]

Hello everyone!

My husband and I will be taking our daughter to WDW for her 5th birthday next May. This will be our first trip to Disney - ever.

We are on a budget, and I'm trying to figure out if it will save us money to sign up for the dining plan.

We will be there for two full days. We do like to eat three meals a day, but we don't eat desserts and a bunch of junk. Our daughter may want snacks, but we probably won't.

Any tips or suggestions you guys could give me, I would greatly appreciate!

Thanks!
Faye

 

[beroh2253]

Welcome,
Here are 2 links to the restaurants with the menus and prices.
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

 

[TDC Nala]

If you don't eat desserts, you should be aware that desserts are included with every meal (except breakfast).

Substitution of appetizers for desserts at table service is never permitted.

You don't HAVE to order the dessert, but that may detract from the value of the plan for you.

 

[caroline1851]

We just came back from using the ddp and it saved us sooooooo much money. We ate $800 worth of food and paid $600 for the plan. We didn't always order dessert, it's still a great bargain.

Think of a typical day if you eat a cs ($35 w/ no dessert) and a TS ($75 w/ no dessert) and a snack each $3-4/each X 3) = $120/day appx. plus tax

Dining plan would only cost you $86/day (including tax) and you have the option of ordering dessert or not feeling guilty about choosing the most expensive item on the menu.

 

[skier_pete]

Here's what I say - if you want to eat at the Table Service restaurants - then get the DDP...if you are more interested in seeing the rides and shows and are perfectly happy to eat fast food for the length of your trip, you will spend less $$ not on the dining plan.

Since you are only going for 2 full days and what I assume is three nights - I myself would skip the TS restaurants and spend your and time on park touring. If you like it, you can always save up and try the DDP next time. Just remember, for lunch or dinner, you will likely spend about $25-$30 per meal for the 3 of you even at a CS restaurant. (Slightly less for breakfast.)

SkierPete

 

[sherreis]

If you are planning any character meals, the DDP might be worth it for you.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Unless you own dvc or have annual passes I believe in order to add on the dining plan you have to be on a package which consists of tickets & hotel. & I think the hotel has to be 3 nights or more. Dining plan credits are accrued by night. So if you are going for 3 nights each member gets 3 t.s. credits, etc. (It is not accrued by the day so you would not get 4 days worth)

Not sure where you said you were going to be there for 2 days?

If you do qualify for the dining plan I think it is worth it if you plan on doing 1 table service meal each day.