Ditching the Dining Plan

[Srbright]

I totally understand the the desire for an all-inclusive vacation, but I never understand the "I'm frugal" argument for the DDP. I don't understand how folks can be so frugal as it order the cheapest thing off the menu while paying OOP, but then still pay more than they need to by buying the DDP .

Much of it, especially for me, is psychological. I'm not embarrassed to say I grew up dirt poor. And by dirt poor I mean we knew people who had dirt floors. Most people don't like to think of that being possible in the USA but it did and it still does. It takes me 21.4 hours to make more money than my father did in a month.

Even if I had $10,000 cash in my pocket (which would be kind of fun to try to get on a plane) I would still go into the restaurant and order the cheapest thing on the menu so that I could be absolutely sure I would have enough money to get through the trip.

While I'm sure that they didn't make the DxDDP with people like me in mind it works perfectly for my idiosyncrasies. I can go in and order what ever I like, which usually isn't the most expensive thing on the menu, and not worry about counting my pennies or wondering what happens if I don't have money and can pay for the food.

Now it also happens that even if we paid full price for the DxDDP that we are some of the people Disney doesn't like because it actually saves us money. At last count it would save us $365. Add that to the $1,465 we saved for free DDP, then now it's practically free. We don't order the most expensive thing on the menu but we use the appetizers to get the children to try things that they normally wouldn't. It never gets all eaten but now they get to try new things.

Add that to the fact that we are doing Tusker House, CRT, Akershus, 1900 Park Faire (breakfast and dinner), Fulton's, Cali Grill (if it opens in time), BOG (dinner), and Fantasmic..... It actually works out for us.

Stacy

 

[Srbright]

We ditched the DDP in April. After 8 trips with the DDP, we decided to use the TIW card combined with gift cards bought at target with the 'redcard'(5%discount) and Disney Visa rewards points. We saved several hundred dollars!!! We ate what we wanted and didn't feel like we had to get items we didn't want just because 'it came with it'. Coincidentally, this was the first trip I actually lost 2 pounds instead of gaining FIVE!!! We ate at one CS and one TS a day. That even included 2 character meals.

After we figured out and added the tip that is not included on the DDP, we were sold. We will never do the DDP again..

Why would you get something just because it came with it?

Stacy

 

[DVCJones]

Why would you get something just because it came with it?

Stacy

Example... Dessert.

 

[robinb]

Why would you get something just because it came with it?

Stacy

Example... Dessert.

Yup. Specifically CS desserts. They are, for the most part, quite bad. I can't tell you how many nasty parfaits I threw out when I was on the free DDP that I ordered because it was "included". That's what? $5 per delicious dessert that I never order when paying OOP? I also admit that I had a bit of a problem hoarding snack credits. A bottle of water or a box of popcorn wasn't "good enough" and I ended up with left over credits almost every DDP trip and then I would have to try to spend them at the last minute and bring home goodies that I wasn't going to even consider eating at home! I can indulge in the fudge while at WDW, but back at home I worry about the calorie content .

 

[eyor44]

Ask for an extra bottle of water instead of dessert at CS. Most will do it.

We used to do the DxDP but then the last trip we had it, DH and DS didn't use all of their credits and you should have seen all the snacks and Powerade we brought home just to use them up. Good thing we drove. Now we have the TIW card and since DD is now considered an adult, this is what works best for us. DS goes on his own a lot and liked not having to worry about paying for meals, so now I give him a GC to carry. Extra card for him to carry, but it was a good compromise.

 

[luvmy3]

We aren't doing the DDP on our next trip. I'll probably spend the same amount of money on our food/snacks, but the difference is I'll be ordering what I want and not just taking things (like desert) just because. Also, we aren't planning on many TS meals, but I wouldn't want to get the QSDP and then decide to have a TS dinner a few nights, pay OOP and then feel obligated to find a way to use of the CS meals before the end of our trip.
I've been stocking up on GCs to pay for our meals, so it is like its pre-paid and if there is left over on them, I'm sure the kids would be able to find a couple xtra souvies to bring home.

Anyone know if you can use GCs for the Grey Goose slushies?

 

[webprinter]

DS and DDIL wanted to do the dining plan in Oct but I went through and figured out exactly what I would order and it came to a little less than the dining plan so we decided not to do it, thinking that in a lot of the cases we were figuring on the most expensive price when we might very well want to order something less expensive. I figured it was a good comparison since we figured on an expensive item most of the time. Plus, when we did the dining plan last time, we felt it was too much food to eat. We couldn't eat 2 large meals everday. Plus it was a pain trying to eat the most expensive item on the menu to "get our money's worth". DS and DDIL like a lot of the less expensive places to eat like 50's Prime Time for lunch in which case we cannot eat a large meal again at 6 or 7. I think figuing out what you would order if you could order whatever you want is the most accurate way to do it.

 

[musicmama]

Those of you who are ditching the DDP for TiW - how do you do that? I though TiW was restricted to annual passes or Florida residents? Is this now generally available - it would be a GREAT alternative for us.

 

[DVCJones]

Those of you who are ditching the DDP for TiW - how do you do that? I though TiW was restricted to annual passes or Florida residents? Is this now generally available - it would be a GREAT alternative for us.

DVC members can get it too.

 

[AliceandAriel]

I've struggled with this considerably for our next trip in Oct. DBF says we shouldn't do the dining plan, and just 'wing it' and book ressies and leave it at that. I told him we should go either DDP or GC pre-loaded with our food allotment.

For us, the DDP is a could-be-probably-be winner. I've done two models, and if we used almost each TS for a specific dining experience (like characters), added with the average use of the other credits for snacks and QS, we come out roughly $50-60. If we do only one or two character TS credits, use the rest at regular TS locations, and then finish off with the same QS locations and snacks used in the first model, we come under about $40-50. So it really does depend on what you want out of where you eat and how much you're willing to pony up, be it DDP or pre-loading a GC.

 

[bumbershoot]

Too much of my trip planning in advance becomes about what we're going to eat, as opposed to what we're going to do.

Ah, well, see that's most of my planning anyway. Especially now that we're on Weight Watchers, I want every single bite to COUNT. I don't track points while at Disney or Universal, I eat what I want and what is good. I won't waste calories on things I don't like. So I need to make my plans carefully, based on what I already know I like or what I will probably like.

And our upcoming October trip is even more important, food-wise, as first I'll be getting ready for, and then I'll be recovering from, the Tower of Terror 10-miler. Food is going to be incredibly important the day before and of (it's at night), and going by how ravenous I am the day after any of my current long runs, the day or two after the 10-miler is going to be insane, food-wise. It's why I have the last Tusker House breakfast reservation planned, so I can snag some eggs and something else breakfasty, just in time for them to bring out the lunch foods.

That said, I don't get the dining plan. But i do the heavy food planning anyway!

Why would you get something just because it came with it?

Stacy

Some people do, whether others understand it or not. My husband knows that I will always try to pre-justify the DDP, and is glad I always fail in my quest because he knows that if something "included", he WILL want to order it. He will want to clean his plate, order soda (even though it's poison to him), and order desserts. The dessert thing will be frustrating because the disney cupcakes apparently all have gelatin in them (we're vegetarian), or other cruddy ingredients that he doesn't eat. The ONE TS dessert he's found to eat is a crumble at HBD. Other than that, we just go to the store and buy Haagen Dasz for the freezer and enjoy a tasty dessert at the resort.

It's important to know if you are a person who can bypass the items that are included, or if you will feel the need to eat everything offered up, even if you are full, even if you don't want it, even if you would not normally get it.

I feel that if the DDP causes you to eat in a way you wouldn't normally eat, then it's not a value for you. That's how I feel.

Anyone know if you can use GCs for the Grey Goose slushies?

OH yes indeedy.

I had my very own GC for booze on our second to last trip. It was fabulous. I didn't feel like I was taking money from the family, because I'd, well, already taken money from the family when I made that lone GC. I should note that I had maybe 3 drinks the whole trip, but those 3 drinks were very special, and I was glad to have the GC!

I'm a Grand Marnier slushie fan myself, but it's the same stand, and I definitely used the GC there.




I just went through the seeyarealsoon calculator. I hadn't already because my Mac and DH's personal Linux computer don't have Excel on them. His work computer does, though, so I finally was able to do it.

And the result is...since our TIW card has already moved into the "pure discount" phase after our February trip, our planned food expenses so far are under $500. The DDP would cost around 650. Getting the QS plan would actually cost MORE, because so much is left uncovered (I assume it gives me the discounted amounts on the TS restaurants since it knows I have TIW, but I could be wrong).

Pretty obvious that TIW is the winner for us. Again.

I still have DDP envy. I think I'll make up cards with TS, CS, and snacks, and each time we have one I'll mark it off with a sharpie or something.

 

[sweetdana]

I LOVE the dining plan....just the knowing that I've already paid for our food makes me feel comfortable. So DH threw me for a loop when we were talking the other day and he suggested us NOT get the DDP next year. He suggested taking the money that the DDP would cost us and putting it on a Disney gift card. He said that way we an still basically order what we want but we wouldn't be confined to order desert at every meal and if we want an appetizer we can do that. When I'm on the dining plan I don't look at prices....if I'm paying I'll order the cheapest thing on the menu. I'm sure that we'll come out ahead and have money left over for souvenirs if we do it his way. And he says that technically if we put the DP on a gift card our food will still be paid for before we leave home. Has anyone else ever done this??? Advice anyone???

I feel similar to you. When on the DP, I LOVE ordering the filet at T. Epo, or dining for a breakfast at Cape May. I spend hundreds less not doing DP.. cause I could not justify the prices of some of the places. I tried 1 and a 1/2 time to go no DP.. here is what happen.

I had a ressie for Cape May, CP and the MBYBBQ... guess what a week out I was like I am not paying 400$ for these that is nuts.. and cancelled them..
Why spend 120$ for breakfast, when we can go to ponderosa for 40$? I stopped at no TS, ordered water from the QS places, and even shared with DD4ish at the time, instead of getting what I would have gotten. Mind set of cash $$ is. .. When I know I can share a 7.99$ chicken finger meal with kiddo with more than enough food.. and my $$.. I will. If I was on the DP I would have ordered a BBQ Sammy, a dessert and a pop. I would enjoy them but don't need them. I wouldn't pay the extra 10$ for it...


I decided due to I can mindset pay for an extra 900$ 6 months before the trip.. and I some how don't care it is just in the price.??? so .. When on vacation (ASSUMING I COULD AFFORD IT), to just get the plan cause I vacation differently and enjoy it more.

Go ahead flare me.. I know it is a mid set thing.. and I paid for it either way.... but some how it is different?

 

[Marionnette]

I feel similar to you. When on the DP, I LOVE ordering the filet at T. Epo, or dining for a breakfast at Cape May. I spend hundreds less not doing DP.. cause I could not justify the prices of some of the places. I tried 1 and a 1/2 time to go no DP.. here is what happen.

I had a ressie for Cape May, CP and the MBYBBQ... guess what a week out I was like I am not paying 400$ for these that is nuts.. and cancelled them..
Why spend 120$ for breakfast, when we can go to ponderosa for 40$? I stopped at no TS, ordered water from the QS places, and even shared with DD4ish at the time, instead of getting what I would have gotten. Mind set of cash $$ is. .. When I know I can share a 7.99$ chicken finger meal with kiddo with more than enough food.. and my $$.. I will. If I was on the DP I would have ordered a BBQ Sammy, a dessert and a pop. I would enjoy them but don't need them. I wouldn't pay the extra 10$ for it...


I decided due to I can mindset pay for an extra 900$ 6 months before the trip.. and I some how don't care it is just in the price.??? so .. When on vacation (ASSUMING I COULD AFFORD IT), to just get the plan cause I vacation differently and enjoy it more.

Go ahead flare me.. I know it is a mid set thing.. and I paid for it either way.... but some how it is different?

I won't flare you, nor will I flame you.

I think that choosing to go with the DDP or to forgo it is a matter of knowing yourself and how you vacation. For some people, it's a good deal. For others, it's not. And even for those for whom it is not a good financial choice, there is that convenience factor that has its value.

You've weighed the pluses and the minuses and you've chosen the DDP based on them. I say: Good for you! At least you've given it some thought instead of blindly choosing to pay for it just because of some slick Disney advertising.

 

[Colleen27]

Much of it, especially for me, is psychological.

For me too. We live in a small town with a low cost of living, where the "nice" restaurant we go to for special occasions is $15-20 seafood entrees. The DDP was, for me, a coping mechanism because I worried the sticker-shock of Disney pricing would keep me from enjoying the dining experience on our trip. Fortunately I'm over that now.

Why would you get something just because it came with it?

Human nature. You already paid for it, you might as well take it. Plus at the current pricing it is often those things that you wouldn't buy OOP (QS desserts, extra snacks, drinks other than water with every meal) that tip the DDP from money-loser to savings.

Those of you who are ditching the DDP for TiW - how do you do that? I though TiW was restricted to annual passes or Florida residents? Is this now generally available - it would be a GREAT alternative for us.

DVC members, passholders, and FL residents. I switched because an AP made sense this year. Going forward I suspect I'll arrange our trips to be 11 months apart so that an AP continues to make sense because the TiW is an excellent value for the way we vacation (lots of TS, a few adult drinks, almost no QS).

 

[robinb]

Those of you who are ditching the DDP for TiW - how do you do that? I though TiW was restricted to annual passes or Florida residents? Is this now generally available - it would be a GREAT alternative for us.

You still need to run your numbers. We used to get the TIW card all the time. but skipped when it increased from $75 to $100. Many of our days at WDW are "blacked out" (Christmas Eve, Christmas, NYE, New Years Day) that it's difficult for us to spend the initial $500 to make the DDP "break even". That's about 4-5 TSs for us on non-black out dates and we only ate at 2 TSs on our Spring Break trip for a total of less than $200. We *probably* would have broken even but our savings would have only been about $40 when everything was said and done *and* I would have felt I had to stick in TS meals to do so. I would rather just "wing it" and possibly pay a little bit more for the flexibility than feel I had to "make up" for the cost of the card.

 

[Srbright]

We aren't doing the DDP on our next trip. I'll probably spend the same amount of money on our food/snacks, but the difference is I'll be ordering what I want and not just taking things (like desert) just because. Also, we aren't planning on many TS meals, but I wouldn't want to get the QSDP and then decide to have a TS dinner a few nights, pay OOP and then feel obligated to find a way to use of the CS meals before the end of our trip.
I've been stocking up on GCs to pay for our meals, so it is like its pre-paid and if there is left over on them, I'm sure the kids would be able to find a couple xtra souvies to bring home.

Anyone know if you can use GCs for the Grey Goose slushies?

I don't understand. Why would you take it if you didn't want it? My Cobb salad comes with blue cheese.... but I have them leave it off because I don't like it.

ETA: I must have missed a page. There were some good responses and I could see how that happens.



Stacy

 

[Marionnette]

You still need to run your numbers. We used to get the TIW card all the time. but skipped when it increased from $75 to $100. Many of our days at WDW are "blacked out" (Christmas Eve, Christmas, NYE, New Years Day) that it's difficult for us to spend the initial $500 to make the DDP "break even". That's about 4-5 TSs for us on non-black out dates and we only ate at 2 TSs on our Spring Break trip for a total of less than $200. We *probably* would have broken even but our savings would have only been about $40 when everything was said and done *and* I would have felt I had to stick in TS meals to do so. I would rather just "wing it" and possibly pay a little bit more for the flexibility than feel I had to "make up" for the cost of the card.

Those blackout dates can be a real deal-breaker for people who travel during peak periods. You make an excellent point that people need to be aware of. TiW is a pretty good deal if you like TS meals, adult beverages and appetizers. You need to have more than a couple of Disney "adults" in your party and it helps if you also take long trips or visit frequently.

Something else to consider is that if you're staying at a resort that doesn't have table service restaurant, you can use your TiW card at the resort's counter service location. Those resorts would include AllStars, POP, AoA, and POFQ.

And it is also accepted at the following Swan/Dolphin restaurants:

• Garden Grove
• Il Mulino New York Trattoria
• Kimonos
• Shula's Steak House
• Todd English's bluezoo

 

[robinb]

Those blackout dates can be a real deal-breaker for people who travel during peak periods.

Gotta tell you it REALLY stank last year when I made reservations at California Grill (my DD's choice and favorite TS restaurant) on Christmas Eve. We are not Christian so it was just another night for us, not some super special holiday. I forgot all about the black out date and ended up having to pay $30 more for dinner than if I had made the reservation for the night before. *sigh* I was VERY mad at myself! And it wasn't the first time we were bit in the butt by the black out dates but I have no one else to blame but me.

All of the CS restaurants at Animal Kingdom are also on the TIW program. We would use the card there every trip.

 

[chrystalc77]

Bingo.

I don't consider getting the DDP frugal.....we've gotten it free our last 2 trips with the exception of paying the difference between the QSDP and the basic because we were booked at Pop. Next year will be our first time either paying OOP or going with the DDP. I think most people it's a matter of convenience not frugality.

 

[chrystalc77]

I feel similar to you. When on the DP, I LOVE ordering the filet at T. Epo, or dining for a breakfast at Cape May. I spend hundreds less not doing DP.. cause I could not justify the prices of some of the places. I tried 1 and a 1/2 time to go no DP.. here is what happen.

I had a ressie for Cape May, CP and the MBYBBQ... guess what a week out I was like I am not paying 400$ for these that is nuts.. and cancelled them..
Why spend 120$ for breakfast, when we can go to ponderosa for 40$? I stopped at no TS, ordered water from the QS places, and even shared with DD4ish at the time, instead of getting what I would have gotten. Mind set of cash $$ is. .. When I know I can share a 7.99$ chicken finger meal with kiddo with more than enough food.. and my $$.. I will. If I was on the DP I would have ordered a BBQ Sammy, a dessert and a pop. I would enjoy them but don't need them. I wouldn't pay the extra 10$ for it...

I decided due to I can mindset pay for an extra 900$ 6 months before the trip.. and I some how don't care it is just in the price.??? so .. When on vacation (ASSUMING I COULD AFFORD IT), to just get the plan cause I vacation differently and enjoy it more.

Go ahead flare me.. I know it is a mid set thing.. and I paid for it either way.... but some how it is different?

OMG this is so my dilemma!!! I'm so glad you "get" me!!! We have gotten it free with the exception of paying for the upgrade fee from QSDP to basic last year so we've always enjoyed the dining plan. It's so nice to get that receipt at the end of the meal and thinking "wow I'm glad I didn't have to actually pay that!" Most of our TS bills were easily over $100 and most CS for the four of us easily reached $50. This is what I think my DH will miss about the DP if we opt not to pay for it next year....looking a what it would've cost.

Our eating habits are different on vacation. We enjoy getting what we want without looking at prices. We do a LOT of walking so we do eat a little more than if we are at home. I definitely wouldn't consider the DDP for being frugal.....more for convenience and peace of mind. I don't save my hard earned money for 2 years to take a vacation to Disney where I'm going to order the cheapest thing every time I sit down to eat. I am considering doing it by GC next year but nothing is set in stone.

I totally know its a mind thing!!!!