Do solo travelers need a dining plan?

[Newcarsmell]

I'm new here but have been to WDW many times, usually solo (the best way!). I've never really considered a dining plan because at first glance, it didn't seem worth the hastle of being constricted to a "plan" (although I fully understand why families do it). For someone that loves dining at WDW resorts & Epcot and would do Signature dining at most dinners, is this an option I should consider? Aren't there different levels? What's your experience, you solo foodies?

 

[Cafeen]

No one "needs" a dining plan .

However, there is really no difference between solo and family with regards to the plans. It's all in how you wish to eat and what your ideal plan it while traveling.

There are 3 levels of the dining plans (the all-inclusive plans, Platinum and Premium fall under different categories), Quick-Service (QSDP), "Normal" (DDP), and Deluxe (DxDDP). They offer different options and entitlements, and it's probably easier just to point you to the direction of the Restaurants-> Dining Plan subforum than detail them all out here.

With specific regards to solo traveling, again, it's all about whether a plan would fit your, well, plans. For me, I tend to do DxDDP, since it's what closely matches how I wish to dine at Disney. The fact that I happen to be solo helps in the sense that I don't have anyone else to worry about when schlepping from restaurant to restaurant, and I only have to take my own desires into account when planning it all, but that's more of a benefit of being solo than anything to do with the plans themselves.

Now, of course, the raw dollars saved will be less when solo than with others. For example, in Sept/Oct, I'm looking at saving roughly $200 in total over 9 nights. With a family of 4 and a similar itinerary, that number may jump upwards of $500! But, the percentages would remain roughly the same (~15% in my case).

My typical pattern is mostly a 1 credit lunch and a 2 credit dinner, though I do tend to leave off some entitlements and even have 4 unused credits this year. So long as I come out ahead enough to justify the plan, I don't worry all that much about extra stuff.

 

[JeffryK]

Thought about it aswell, however;
from Mousesavers.

To add the regular Dining Plan to a basic package, the cost varies by season (click here to see the 2012 costs; click here to see the 2013 costs). With the regular Dining Plan you'll get a full service meal, a counter service meal and a snack each day. The 2012 Dining Plan is marginal in terms of value; the 2013 Dining Plan is even more so. It's possible to save a little vs. paying cash, but only if you use all of the included benefits, carefully plan out each meal in advance and order only the most expensive items on the menu. Otherwise at best it's a break-even proposition. Adding the Dining Plan to your package does allow you to prepay your vacation expenses (except for tips), which for some people is relaxing. To read more about the pros and cons of the Dining Plan, click here to see my review.

If your family isn't into table-service dining, there is the Magic Your Way Package Plus Quick Service Dining. The Quick Service Dining Plan is not a good value. You will be lucky to break even vs. just paying cash for your meals and snacks, and the Quick Service Dining Plan is not particularly flexible. I don't recommend it.

The higher level packages (Deluxe Dining Plan, Premium Plan and Platinum Plan) are really luxurious, but for the average family they are also serious overkill. First of all, eating the included three full meals a day is just too much for most people. But if you're like me, you'll feel compelled to eat all those darn meals, because you're paying for them!

The Premium and Platinum packages also include lots of unlimited extras like recreation (i.e. boating, fishing, parasailing) and behind-the-scenes tours, which sound great -- until you factor in the hot and humid Florida weather and the extensive walking, which slow most people's energy level to a crawl by the end of the day. The reality is, it's highly unlikely that you will take a tour in the morning, play tennis in the afternoon and attend a Cirque du Soleil show in the evening, on top of visiting the theme parks. But to get your money's worth out of the Premium and Platinum packages, you really need to be taking advantage of such "extras" every day.

 

[DakotaRose]

I wondered about this as well. In my case the free dining plan was available, but not at the resort I chose. I could have stayed at a different resort with free dining, but would have needed to upgrade rooms. The room upcharge cost versus two meals and a snack out of pocket is probably a wash for me. So, I passed on free dining.

 

[ludari]

I'm new here but have been to WDW many times, usually solo (the best way!). I've never really considered a dining plan because at first glance, it didn't seem worth the hastle of being constricted to a "plan" (although I fully understand why families do it). For someone that loves dining at WDW resorts & Epcot and would do Signature dining at most dinners, is this an option I should consider? Aren't there different levels? What's your experience, you solo foodies?

I too enjoy dining at the WDW resorts and trying new places and after travelling to WDW solo several times this year I reviewed the possibility of purchasing a dining plan and discovered that the amount of food you get with any dining plan is far more than I would eat verses the cost. It was a better investment for me to purchase Tables in Wonderland.

 

[auntfrannie]

I think over the years the value of the dining plan has dwindled. The prices for next year increased substantially. Lately I've been doing TiW for a couple of reasons.

First, the 20% discount on everything (including alcohol).

Second, I think a lot of the signatures have more interesting appetizers and I would rather order a couple appetizers and dessert rather than a full entree.

Third, I don't always want dessert. If I skipped dessert on the dining plan I would feel like I'm not getting the full value of the plan. I know, go figure!

 

[tinkerbella16]

Never really thought of it until this year when I decided to book my first solo trip.. I am going in September and I was able to get Free Dining but if it wasn't free I don't think I would have gotten it. I only see the deal if its offered free, other than that its just way too much food and we probably wouldn't break even because we don't eat that much as it is.

 

[Precious Disney]

I decided to go with the QSDP when I made my ressie and glad I did. When the FD offer came out right after that, I called and was able to apply that offer and it saved me $178. WOOHOO!!! Glad I found out about the offer after I made my ressie!!!

Now I'm deciding on which QS places I will eat at while I'm there. Thanks to fellow posters/reviews it's coming along....

 

[jvptravels]

I chose the Premium Plan because I like want to be fully immersed in the Disney experience on my trip next month. Here is what I will be taking advantage of:
Dining:
ADR's for Cinderella's Royal Table, 1900 Park Fare, Narcoosee's, Yachtsman's, Wolfgang Puck, Crystal Palace, Tokyo Dining, Les Chefs de France, Rose & Crown, Planet Hollywood, Hollywood & Vine, Fulton's Crab House and several more

Recreation:
2 parasailing trips, 1 personal watercraft tour, Sea Raycer rentals

Tours:
Keys To The Kingdom, Backstage Safari, Epcot Segway tour, Undiscovered Future World

Shows:
Cirque Du Soleil "Lanouba"
Fantasmic! Dinner Package
Priority viewing of "Wishes" and "Illuminations"

I might even fit a horseback trail ride in this already packed schedule.

All of this was around $1300 on top of my room and tickets. Purchased OOP, these activities and meals would cost over $2000. Of course I would not pay for everything OOP, but having what's pretty much an "all-inclusive" package for my trip will make this the ideal Disney vacation for me.

To each his own, but I think the Premium package is a winner.

 

[PaulaSB12]

This will be my fourth trip on property I am doing the deluxe dining plan as well.

 

[abdgeek]

I always get the dining plan when I go to WDW and I always travel there solo.

The first few times I ever got a dining plan it was the regular dining plan with 1QS, 1TS and one snack. After a while, I realized I wanted more variety in my breakfast meal and wanted to eat at the signature restaurants. Now I almost exclusively get the deluxe dining plan. The one time I went to WDW and didn't get the dining plan, I was hungry and didn't want to buy certain things because I didn't want to spend the money on them. The good thing about the dining plan is that it is already paid for when you get there. The only thing you have to do is book your reservations 180 days out.

As someone mentioned, no one needs a dining plan. Instead, think of the dining plan as a way to save money on meals while you're on vacation.

 

[Random Ninja]

I prefer the DxDP when I go solo. It works out better for me and I don't even use all the entitlements. With the DxDP it's easier to save on each meal because the cost per credit is lower then the DDP. I prefer to eat at TS due to allergies and never get both an appetizer and desert at a meal. I still end up saving $100 over the weekend.

 

[NJDiva]

I love having the dining plan, I totally enjoy having the opportunity to try different restaurants and cuisines but more importantly it makes me stop and take a break and just enjoy the magic more. I went one day to the park and was so wrapped up in doing and seeing everything that by the time I had left the park I didn't eat all day...
does anyone need a dining plan....not really, and if you don't eat a lot (like once a day works for you) then it's a waste. but if you enjoy trying new foods, going to signature restaurants and things like that...absolutely do the dining plan.

 

[winthropf]

The dining plan is all about your preference. I take 2-3 solo trips a year and have an AP. I find that TIW works better for me than the dining plan. Especially since one of the trips is for F&W where I don't eat many actual sit down meals, TS or CS, but rather spend most afternoon "grazing" the food booths at F&W.

 

[jvptravels]

I had previously posted that I chose the Premium Plan for my solo trip that is now just days away. On one of these boards, people expressed feedback that I would miss-out on too much park time dining and using the recreation. That feedback caused me to reduce my tours from five to four.

After carefully weighing my options, and planning-out most of my time, I was able to bring my tours up to six:
Keys To The Kingdom
Backstage Safari
Wild by Design
Undiscovered Future World
Epcot Segway Tour
Ft. Wilderness Segway Tour

I also got ADR's at all of the restaurants I wanted, including six signature, six World Showcase and several character meals

For recreation I have booked two parasailing flights, one Personal Water Craft tour, and will use Sea Raycers a couple of times. This is all in addition to the other included benefits. I won't be doing any sports.

The package cost around $1300, but I have more that $2300 (estimated) in meals and activities booked. So I will be getting over $1000 worth of this stuff for free. To me, that's a heck of a deal.

Yes, I splurged on this vacation. But I will have peace of mind, and a total blast while I am at Disney World. Two words: CAN'T WAIT!

 

[mayprincess2003]

I decided to get the DDP for my solo trip this September. There are a few restaurants that I've been wanting to try that my previous companions either didn't want to or couldn't afford. After making my ressies for those places, I looked at the DDP and realized that I would save money (considering the food I'd probably order).

I'm going for 6 days and based on my calculations, I'll save about $250. But I've been to Disney a few times already and know I'll be back again this year so I'm not too worried about missing out on park time while I'm having my restaurant time.