Disneyland Dining Plan. Worth it for a couple without kids?

[SamandWill1921]

My hubby and didn't do the dining plan last time but we stay off site so we ate breakfast at Denny's every morning. I know it really helps people with kids but what about just the 2 of us. We don't need a lot of TS places, maybe 1 or 2. I want to do what's most economically friendly.

 

[disneychrista]

The Disneyland dining plan is nothing more than pre-paying for your meals. At best you will break even but you could even lose money. Each voucher is a dollar value, you pay any difference if you spend more, but do not get change/credit if you spend less.

You are better off putting money on a giftcard if you want to pay in advance.

 

[TheZue]

It's not worth it for anybody. Like the PP said, they get your money and don't give you change if you are under...if you spend more than the voucher value you have to pay extra. There is absolutely no benefit to it.

 

[sonnyjane]

Yup! Run, don't walk, away from the DL dining plan! It's pointless. You pay real money up front to get Monopoly money vouchers lol. There is no savings. For example, if you pay $110, you get $110 in the form of $35, $15, and $5 vouchers. You don't get change back. Soooooo, keep your money and you'll be much better off.

 

[cmwade77]

Exactly, I am honestly not sure why Disney even offers these, sounds like a guest relations nightmare.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

use to be the only one who would say do it, now a days im going with gift cards and getting chr dinning from getaway today sorry i cant be the positive one i use to be about it. They must fix it more like wdw and then it would be more a good idea. Hope this helps

 

[nikkislaght]

We bring our own breakfast from home, mini cereal boxes, fruit packs or fresh fruit. and you can always buy some pastries from the local store. Von's will deliver to your hotel room. We also save money by taking our own lunch into the parks. Tuna salad packs, cheese sticks or individual cheese packs. slim jims. or small summer sausage's. nuts. cranola bars etc. and then buy dinner at the park. saved a bomb for our family of six whern there..

 

[JadeDarkstar]

also dont forget ice is free as is ice water at most places. One 16oz drink can fill 3 med glasses of ice for lunch (we did this last time saved a ton)

 

[JadeDarkstar]

As pointed out i'm not keen on the ddp any more how ever should you be doing any Char meals check getaway today out They do have vouchers for sale and I have used them before.

 

[Girimama33]

I used the dining plan before, and it was fine. If you want to pre-pay for meals prior to your trip, this is not a bad option, as long as you know the ins and outs. If you spend more than the voucher, and pay the difference, you will not lose money. For example, the $5 snack vouchers could be used for a snack ( under $5) and a water...then pay the difference.
I was planning on buying a few for character meals, but now that I have an AP, I want the discount, so a voucher would be pointless for me unless I would use them at other TS.

 

[Nox54]

As pointed out i'm not keen on the ddp any more how ever should you be doing any Char meals check getaway today out They do have vouchers for sale and I have used them before.

I didn't know anyone sold discounted character meal vouchers. Thanks for the info!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

yw, ares, cosco and getaway today are the three ive know of that sells them

 

[Girimama33]

I didn't know anyone sold discounted character meal vouchers. Thanks for the info!

Just an FYI, they are not discounted. You are purchasing a voucher that is the price of the CM, tax and 18% gratuity.

 

[disneychrista]

Just an FYI, they are not discounted. You are purchasing a voucher that is the price of the CM, tax and 18% gratuity.

Example
Goofy's Kitchen

Cost of Brunch - $29.99 + 18% (5.39) + 7.75% (2.32) = $37.70

Cost of Dinner - $35.99 +18% (6.48) + 7.75% ($2.78) = $45.25

Cost of Voucher - $40

Savings
-$2.30 - Brunch
5.25 - Dinner

 

[Girimama33]

The Disneyland dining plan is nothing more than pre-paying for your meals. At best you will break even but you could even lose money. Each voucher is a dollar value, you pay any difference if you spend more, but do not get change/credit if you spend less.

You are better off putting money on a giftcard if you want to pay in advance.

I'm confused....first you state the dining plan vouchers will not save you any $, but then you break down a scenario where it could.
I never mentioned anything about whether you will save/lose $, I was merely pointing out that the vouchers are not intended as "discounted" when they are sold by a third party. It is the same price you would pay through WDTC.

 

[disneychrista]

I'm confused....first you state the dining plan vouchers will not save you any $, but then you break down a scenario where it could. .

If you go for dinner then the DELUXE character dinning can save you money, at Goofy's Kitchen. At Brunch you lose money.

But this ONE VOUCHER is not the dinning plan sold by Disney that will never save you money and I am not even sure if it includes a DELUXE Character dinning voucher. The character meal vouchers (deluxe & regular) are sold seperately from travel agents (ie coscto, getawaytoday, etc)

 

[htfdwlfpack]

If you go for dinner then the DELUXE character dinning can save you money, at Goofy's Kitchen. At Brunch you lose money.

But this ONE VOUCHER is not the dinning plan sold by Disney that will never save you money and I am not even sure if it includes a DELUXE Character dinning voucher. The character meal vouchers (deluxe & regular) are sold seperately from travel agents (ie coscto, getawaytoday, etc)

SORRY but unless im reading what your saying your wrong. Disney DOES sell al cart dining certificates, one regular character dining at 33 and 17(ad and CH) and the premium at 40 and 23(ad and ch though the child price might be wrong non this one i cant remember) travel agents are NOT the only ones to sell them

Disneyland DOES have a dining plan for 2-5 days (donald,goofey,minnie amd mickey in that order)the 4 and 5 days includes on premium dining at goofeys kitchen OR Ariels Disney princess celebration. Im going to check the pricing becasue summer pricing is in effect now so the savings shold be greater.

How do i know this, I work for the WDTC

 

[starshine514]

I'm confused....first you state the dining plan vouchers will not save you any $, but then you break down a scenario where it could.
I never mentioned anything about whether you will save/lose $, I was merely pointing out that the vouchers are not intended as "discounted" when they are sold by a third party. It is the same price you would pay through WDTC.

From what I've seen, the dining plan cannot save you money, the prepaid character meal vouchers from getawaytoday could save you money, depending on when/where you use them.

Dining plan = no

Character meal vouchers = maybe, check prices before you buy

 

[disneychrista]

From what I've seen, the dining plan cannot save you money, the prepaid character meal vouchers from getawaytoday could save you money, depending on when/where you use them.

Dining plan = no

Character meal vouchers = maybe, check prices before you buy

This!

 

[sonnyjane]

SORRY but unless im reading what your saying your wrong. Disney DOES sell al cart dining certificates, one regular character dining at 33 and 17(ad and CH) and the premium at 40 and 23(ad and ch though the child price might be wrong non this one i cant remember) travel agents are NOT the only ones to sell them

Disneyland DOES have a dining plan for 2-5 days (donald,goofey,minnie amd mickey in that order)the 4 and 5 days includes on premium dining at goofeys kitchen OR Ariels Disney princess celebration. Im going to check the pricing becasue summer pricing is in effect now so the savings shold be greater.

How do i know this, I work for the WDTC

As an employee of WDTC, you should at least be able to understand how misleading the Disneyland dining plan is compared to the WDW one. When people see "2 day dining plan" for $106, they assume, like at WDW, that you get two days worth of meals, but that is not the case. You simply receive $106 worth of vouchers, two $33 vouchers, two $15 vouchers, and two $5 vouchers. That means that people that purchased expecting to get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and soft drinks are going to be sorely disappointed. You can't possibly deny that the logistics of the dining plan could stand to be clarified.