DL Mickey Dining Plan - Worth it?

[Adi12982]

My DH and I are thinking about a trip and we were wondering if the dining plan at Disneyland is worth it?

 

[anabelle]

It is not the same as the WDW one. I think it works with vouchers, not credits.

 

[AskTheChief]

I don't think there is much, if any, savings. And then you are forced to only eat at specific places, etc.

I like to peruse the menus online before the trip, decide about how much each person will spend for lunches, dinners, snacks, etc., and then put the money for the day in an envelope. I always overbudget, too (usually I'll do $15 per person for lunch and I have three kids under six). I do $10 per day for snacks, and $20 per day for dinners (not including seperate "going out" money for when dh and I or my mom and I go out to dinners at DTD or whatever, which is a lot more than $20 pp).

It's my own Disney dining plan, so I still get the feeling that everything is already "paid for", because I don't like to use the debit card at the park. It makes me feel out of control or something, like I'm not really keeping track of money spent, etc. I usually end up with a ton of "extra" money at the end of the day.

I also have a seperate envelope for souveniers, etc. I fully realize that this makes me look like an anal freak. And I embrace it.

 

[tracer]

I don't think there is much, if any, savings. And then you are forced to only eat at specific places, etc.

I like to peruse the menus online before the trip, decide about how much each person will spend for lunches, dinners, snacks, etc., and then put the money for the day in an envelope. I always overbudget, too (usually I'll do $15 per person for lunch and I have three kids under six). I do $10 per day for snacks, and $20 per day for dinners (not including seperate "going out" money for when dh and I or my mom and I go out to dinners at DTD or whatever, which is a lot more than $20 pp).

It's my own Disney dining plan, so I still get the feeling that everything is already "paid for", because I don't like to use the debit card at the park. It makes me feel out of control or something, like I'm not really keeping track of money spent, etc. I usually end up with a ton of "extra" money at the end of the day.

I also have a seperate envelope for souveniers, etc. I fully realize that this makes me look like an anal freak. And I embrace it.

You can call me an anal freak too then! lol I am like that too, except we bring a lot of food with us to leave at the hotel. We usually eat lunch at the hotel when we go back for naps.

For us the dining plan isn't worth it, but for some it is.

 

[AskTheChief]

You can call me an anal freak too then! lol I am like that too, except we bring a lot of food with us to leave at the hotel. We usually eat lunch at the hotel when we go back for naps.

For us the dining plan isn't worth it, but for some it is.

Same here. We bring a cooler for the hotel (fridge is too small) and bring tons of water bottles, milk, cereal, pb, jelly, bread, bagels and cream cheese, fruit, dry salami, various cheeses, crackers, etc.

We always eat breakfast in our room, but usually lunch at the park, then go back to the hotel to drop my mom and the two younger kids off for a nap (they all three need their naps, LOL.).

 

[tracer]

Same here. We bring a cooler for the hotel (fridge is too small) and bring tons of water bottles, milk, cereal, pb, jelly, bread, bagels and cream cheese, fruit, dry salami, various cheeses, crackers, etc.

We always eat breakfast in our room, but usually lunch at the park, then go back to the hotel to drop my mom and the two younger kids off for a nap (they all three need their naps, LOL.).

I need my nap too! I used to stress about staying at a hotel that had a cont. breakfast until last trip. We stayed at a suite that had a buffet breakfast, it was awesome. But not needed. All any of us need is a bowl of oatmeal and some fruit. That is so easy for me ot pack and so cheap. We always do a character breakfast so at least one morning we have a huge, not needed on the figure, yummy breakfast!!

I have never really understood the dining plans. We priced them out one time and we would have wasted so much money. Maybe when my kids are older?? But the phase we are in, we pack just like you and take a bunch of food. Its nice to have with kids and you don't have to wait in line for an hour for a sandwich! Also, isn't it a bunch of coupon/vouchers that you have to spend at certain places??

 

[FoodLover]

My DH and I are thinking about a trip and we were wondering if the dining plan at Disneyland is worth it?

No, definitely not. With the Disneyland plan you get vouchers that are worth exactly what you paid for them, and they restrict you to eating at certain places. It's just a way for Disney to get your money up front. No advantage whatsoever to you!

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[AskTheChief]

I need my nap too! I used to stress about staying at a hotel that had a cont. breakfast until last trip. We stayed at a suite that had a buffet breakfast, it was awesome. But not needed. All any of us need is a bowl of oatmeal and some fruit. That is so easy for me ot pack and so cheap. We always do a character breakfast so at least one morning we have a huge, not needed on the figure, yummy breakfast!!

I have never really understood the dining plans. We priced them out one time and we would have wasted so much money. Maybe when my kids are older?? But the phase we are in, we pack just like you and take a bunch of food. Its nice to have with kids and you don't have to wait in line for an hour for a sandwich! Also, isn't it a bunch of coupon/vouchers that you have to spend at certain places??

We always do a character breakfast, too (Goofy's kitchen). You're staring to scare me... and you live where I live...are you ME?

 

[staley7580]

We used them, and will continue to use them. I had no trouble using them where we wanted. It helped that we had a 1yo, who always ate the kids meals but we didnt have meal vouchers for her. They say the CMs have to tear out the coupons, or that you can only use 1 $15 voucher per person, but that was so not how it worked for us. We ate at the mexican place, it $40. I used 4 $10 vouchers. We bought Ice cream from vendors, cost $6, we used 1 snack vouch, which was $6. Does this make sense? Basically, if you eat you at a fancy resturant, you can use as many vouchers as necessary. I am terrible at saving money, so this works for us.