Ditching the Dining Plan

[Jonathan Swift]

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 don't think you're disagreeing with us. We're saying people who do the DDP because they're trying to be frugal are misguided.

I think most people it's a matter of convenience not frugality.

I don't get the convenience aspect of the DDP either. In order to get the price benefit of the DDP, you have to do a lot of inconvenient things like order food you may not want, choose dining locations based on points rather than desire, keep track of points, etc. Even when you do all those things, the resulting saving is pretty small. So if you're not being frugal and really care about convenience, then OOP is the best way to go.

 

[robinb]

I don't get the convenience aspect of the DDP either. In order to get the price benefit of the DDP, you have to do a lot of inconvenient things like order food you may not want, choose dining locations based on points rather than desire, keep track of points, etc. Even when you do all those things, the resulting saving is pretty small. So if you're not being frugal and really care about convenience, then OOP is the best way to go.

I have had the DDP 3-4 times (when it was "free") and I don't find the DDP to be any more or less convenient that just using my KTTW card and charging it back to my room . The steps are exactly the same. In fact, it's probably even less convenient when you use the DDP when you have to choose to pay OOP for a snack or use a credit each time you buy a snack and then what the heck to do with all your left over CS and snack credits at the end of the trip. If you use the DDP and have not had to face extra CS or snack credits at the end of your stay, I salute you !

 

[DVCJones]

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

Stacy

Not taking something because you don't like it is WAY easier than not taking when you DO like it.

I can pass on blue cheese dressing too. But, chocolate cake.... Not so much. Lol

 

[chimilady]

I can pass on blue cheese dressing too. But, chocolate cake.... Not so much. Lol

Yup, exactly.

We always get the dining plan because we go on a CM discount, so I feel like I have no place in these discussions. But I enjoy seeing both sides of the argument.

 

[bumbershoot]

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

I think that "to flare" is a good message board phrase and we should start using it. A typo might have spurred a new *thing*.

I don't get the convenience aspect of the DDP either. In order to get the price benefit of the DDP, you have to do a lot of inconvenient things like order food you may not want, choose dining locations based on points rather than desire, keep track of points, etc.

That's why I think it's only a value (financially, convenience-wise, etc) if you eat the way you want to eat while using it.

Not taking something because you don't like it is WAY easier than not taking when you DO like it.

I can pass on blue cheese dressing too. But, chocolate cake.... Not so much. Lol

So true.

But now I've connected blue cheese and chocolate in my head, and, well, ew.

 

[robinb]

But now I've connected blue cheese and chocolate in my head, and, well, ew.

Now, I can totally see blue cheese and dark chocolate nibs over some fresh or poached pears .

 

[Green Tea]

I got a PIN today for free dining. I've never had an offer before. Is it crazy during these periods? Would we even be able to get reservations at Jiko, California Grill, etc?

 

[DVCJones]

But now I've connected blue cheese and chocolate in my head, and, well, ew.

Haha!!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

We did OOP our first trip and it was fine. We stayed offsite and ate offsite a lot and did 2 TS in the parks and a few CS and snacks as well. We definitely prefer staying onsite and dining onsite.

Trips #2 and #3 were onsite with the dining plan...free for trip #3 (we paid for the upgrade) and paid for on trip #2.

Our next trip (which is not yet on the books) will be onsite again but OOP, and I can't wait to see how that goes!

I used to worry more about the price of my entree and aim for the cheapest option that appealed to me, but after finding the $40 a day thread and starting the $50 a day one...I realized I could eat EXACTLY the way I wanted with a really decent daily food budget.

Maybe when you have a little time you could give them a little look-see...they may ease your mind about committing to your husband's suggestion for food this trip?

(Links are in my siggie!!) Good luck and have a great trip!!

 

[tinkmom2]

I only went once without the dining plan and it was the biggest mistake of my life. We spent almost all of our $700 spending money on food and came home penniless. Then to top it off our plane was delayed overnight in MCO. Luckily they put us up at the Hyatt and gave us food vouchers. We like to eat different places everytime we go to WDW. What we would have paid out of pocket for places such as Jiko, Sanna, and other buffets would have put us in the poor house for sure. We didn't get free dining because of Columbus day week in October 2011 but realized what a benefit the free dining was to us. The DDP is especially beneficial for places like CRT and other character meals.

 

[robinb]

I only went once without the dining plan and it was the biggest mistake of my life. We spent almost all of our $700 spending money on food and came home penniless.

The questions are (1) how much would you have paid for the DDP on that trip and (2) would it have covered all the meals you paid for OOP?

 

[lauradis]

Im fan of ddxp, but only when it is Half price aka free..Did not order anything that we didnt want, even if it was covered under the plan. cs desserts are yucky pooh pooh,

Full price dinning is a big no thank you.. way over priced..

First advice i would give to anyone on the dinning plan is to inform waitress

1 we are on the dinning plan
2 we might not order everything we can get, we might order things not covered and it is ok
3 plz bring me total at end so i can give you proper tip

After hearing over and over again that is or that or adult drinks where not included in dinning plan, i finally snapped. Pointed at my hubby and told the server don't worry he has money and i like to spend it...

Felt like jerk so of course i said im sorry and left her bigger tip.

 

[DVCJones]

I only went once without the dining plan and it was the biggest mistake of my life. We spent almost all of our $700 spending money on food and came home penniless. Then to top it off our plane was delayed overnight in MCO. Luckily they put us up at the Hyatt and gave us food vouchers. We like to eat different places everytime we go to WDW. What we would have paid out of pocket for places such as Jiko, Sanna, and other buffets would have put us in the poor house for sure. We didn't get free dining because of Columbus day week in October 2011 but realized what a benefit the free dining was to us. The DDP is especially beneficial for places like CRT and other character meals.

I would agree that if you plan on going to several character meals then you may make out well.

Back when my kids were under 10 and we did all the character meals it was a decent deal. Back when the tip and appetizer was included for a little over $30 per adult and 8$ for kids, it was a huge deal.

Now that my kids are 'Disney adults' but still eat like regular children and the huge price increase each year, it has lost the value for us.

I guess we just grew out of the dining plan. We usually do one character meal now.

 

[Srbright]

After hearing over and over again that is or that or adult drinks where not included in dinning plan, i finally snapped. Pointed at my hubby and told the server don't worry he has money and i like to spend it...

This is one of the good arguments for not telling them until the very end that you are on the DxDDP.

Stacy

 

[eliza61]

I did not read all the replies so I apologize if what I post has been repeated 20X's already.
We stopped using the dining plan a few years back. Our reasons were this.

1) I never did think it was very convenient. I stressed way more about meals when I was on the ddp. I always had to make sure I got the "value" of the plan. there were many days when I really did not want to eat a full meal but god forbid I lose those points. My meals no longer were about where I wanted to eat but more about how to maximize the points. I can't tell you how many steaks I forced down just because it was the most expensive thing.

2) expensive. My family simply does not spend 200 a day on food. Now there are days where we will have an expensive meal but in the last 4 years our average expediture for food is nowhere near the cost of 4 adults on the ddp.

3) character meals. We don't do them anymore. Our 7 day trip in april we didn't do one. I never understood how it saved money at those places any way especially CRT where you have to use 2 credits. so essentially you are paying 100 bucks per person for this meal.
4) we do enjoy a beer or glass of wine with dinner. not included in the ddp.

We are much happier, flexible and satisfied paying oop.

 

[bdklein]

Ask for an extra bottle of water instead of dessert at CS.

Or just get the free filtered water available at any CS.

 

[robinb]

Or just get the free filtered water available at any CS.

I think that she was suggesting an alternative to taking/eating the (IMO nasty) CS desserts. I don't particularly want to carry 3 bottles of water around with me until I get thirsty either.

 

[sweetdana]

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!!!!

so I am not the only fruit cake on dis..

 

[Woodmnky]

I have ran the numbers for our family & we will not be buying a dining plan when we visit next time. With the QSDP we would save a little bit of money, but it is only about $10 a day. That savings is also based upon ordering everything that comes with the QSDP and as others have said, QS desserts are not great. I would much rather save my money and get a better dessert/snack from another location.

We actually could save a decent amount of money with the DDP. Our son is 2 (so free) and we would schedule mostly buffets/family style restaurants where he would then eat for free. These also tend to be pretty expensive so the numbers work out well.

However as we discovered on our recent Disney cruise, our 2yo does not necessarily want to sit and/or even wait at restaurants. I can't count the number of meals that one parent ate while the other walked laps with our son. I don't want to deal with this stress again. We will likely consider dining plans again as our son gets older and wants to do more character meals and/or gets to the point where he is a bottomless pit and needs to eat everything in site, but for now we will just skip it.

I am debating on putting money on a Disney gift card or just spending it out of the bank. One plus that I see to putting money on a gift card if the feeling that we "have to" use it up whether that be on food, souvenirs, or experiences. For me the issue won't be paying for meals, but I am going to have to take a deep breath and figure out how to mentallly justify the cost of snacks.

 

[tinkmom2]

I would agree that if you plan on going to several character meals then you may make out well.

Back when my kids were under 10 and we did all the character meals it was a decent deal. Back when the tip and appetizer was included for a little over $30 per adult and 8$ for kids, it was a huge deal.

Now that my kids are 'Disney adults' but still eat like regular children and the huge price increase each year, it has lost the value for us.

I guess we just grew out of the dining plan. We usually do one character meal now.

That's why I think the DDP works out well for us. For example we went to Jiko's one trip just my DH and I. For the two of us our bill would have been around $140.00. All of that except for the alcohol was covered. We also went to CRT this last trip. Another place that can be very expensive. I save all the receipts and for us it works to our benefit to get the DDP. Sometimes my youngest would share a meal with one of us and then we would carry that meal over to use at a later time. It really comes in handy for the buffets which can be very pricey. We do at least 2 character or themed things like the breakfast or the Luau each trip.
The deluxe was too much food for us. I am quite fine with one QS and one TS per day. Our biggest meal usually is breakfast anyway to get us through the day. Then we would supplement with Garden Grocer and maybe make a PB and J in room or sodas if we needed it.
DDP may not be everyones cup of tea but it works great for us, especially when it's free