Do you get the dining plan at the Fort?

[Disney crazy mama]

I think you all have great points. We like to eat out one good meal a day. That is my hubby's only request when it comes to vacations. Well except for the golf cart. So we have been to WDW three times. We have had good and bad food. I have studied and studied the boards, reviews and various guide book info on restaurants. So I knew where we wanted to eat.

I made a spread sheet of estimated costs of meals for each location. For us it was more expensive to do the dining plan and we are planning to eat out every day for dinner. I even estimated counter service lunchs for us and snacks. Don't forget to allow for tips and drinks.

I really thought we would be better off with the DDP, until I ran the numbers.

So do a little number crunching for your situation. Our would agree that if you kids are under 10, big eaters and you plan on eating out every night, the plan is probably a good fit.

 

[gillenkl]

On our last 2 trips we had the dining plan and I really liked it because it gave us a chance to experience some restaurants we wouldn't normally eat at and we planned lots of character meals. No dining plan this trip - I plan to cook a quick breakfast, one CS meal paid OOP, another meal will probably be whatever we can make quickly such as sandwiches or a frozen dinner in the microwave.

This choice mainly came down to getting the dining plan or a golf cart and I opted for the golf cart.

 

[TxTink :)]

DH and I have never done the dining plan- it looks neat but then we thought we'd be eating all the time and not able to ride what we want. We make certain ressies but we mainly do breakfast in the trailer (or Chef Mickey's) and lunch and dinner somewhere- we share alot of the time and if not I usually get the child's menu (I LOVE those mini corn dogs at Casey's Corner)
DH's boss does it but it seems he doesn't ride all the rides he could because he's having to make it to their ressie's- we'd rather RIDE!!!

 

[SunshineCamper]

Our DP is Breakfast or lunch (late breakfast or go to early lunch depending on when we wake up) at the campsite. Take out a night or 2 at TE. Mostly dinner at the campsite. 1 night at TE and one night at WL (and that depends on how many nights were stay at the FT.
This saves us a TON of money....plus Disney is still getting a small "cut"

 

[sarahk0204]

The only CS we enjoy is the Fish n' Chips at UK and Flametree BBQ at AK (and Earl, but I don't think he's on the plan).

Earl (as in Earl of Sandwich) actually is on the plan as a CS, as is Wolfgang Puck Express. Still not enough CS to make it worth it for you, but just to clarify.

I'm also with you, Shan man, in that we aren't spontaneous either! Knowing we have a table reserved for us for our TS ADR is great. Since 2008 was the first year we went with the DP (as well as the first time my DC had ever been at all), we don't miss the tip and the appetizer, as we never had them to start with!

I agree that you have to look at how you would eat to see if it would be a good value or not. With children who are 3-9 who love character meals, it is a no-brainer. We are not going to feed them 1 TS meal on $11/day, let alone a CS meal and a snack. Since we are going during the "holiday" season of June , using the DP means we avoid the holiday surcharges at the TS restaurants as well.

Sorry, lots of rambling to say that staying at the cabins and doing the DP are not mutually exclusive. It is whatever works for your family.

 

[redcubfan]

I'm another one in the minority...we have camped at the Fort twice and will be there again in June, and we've done and will do the regular dining plan. There are many reasons why, but I do like knowing everything is paid for long before we arrive. We drive four days (towing our trailer) to get to DW, and by the time we get there we're tired of quick meals in the camper. We don't eat out often anyway, and we definitely don't while traveling to and from the Fort. We use the dining plan to try restaurants we otherwise wouldn't because of the expense. I might be able to save a little money if we didn't do the plan (I honestly haven't run the numbers), but we only take one trip a year so it's a nice splurge for us. After we leave the Fort we will camp for another two weeks as we meander our way back home, and there's plenty of time for cooking in the camper, using the crock pot, cooking on the grill, etc. then. While I'm at DW I just want someone else to do the work for me...that's my idea of a vacation!!

As for spontaneity, we love using EMH at night when it's cooler and not as crowded, so we choose our table service reservations according to whatever park is open late...we'll be there anyway so it's not inconvenient to have dinner reservations there. Regardless, have fun and happy eating!!

 

[liv luvs disney]

I have been torn over this question since March! For the past 3 years, we have stayed in a value and paid for the DP. Personally, we enjoyed the DP, though we liked it much better when gratuity was included. It was great not carrying around a bunch of cash or having to keep up with what you put on the credit card. (For some reason, when you're using plastic, you tend to spend more!)
As of today, I have reservations at Pop in September and was planning on taking advantage of the Free DP. However, my parents have offered their camper for us to use in September and I am 99.9% sure we are going to take them up on it! I know we will never eat $785.76 worth of food in the camper!! I would have to pay for the DP if we camp, but it's more expensive to stay in the value...even if the DP is free. I am planning on using the "saved" expenses on 1-2 meals out and another WDW camping trip in January 2010!

 

[brobrosmom]

I have been torn over this question since March! For the past 3 years, we have stayed in a value and paid for the DP. Personally, we enjoyed the DP, though we liked it much better when gratuity was included. It was great not carrying around a bunch of cash or having to keep up with what you put on the credit card. (For some reason, when you're using plastic, you tend to spend more!)
As of today, I have reservations at Pop in September and was planning on taking advantage of the Free DP. However, my parents have offered their camper for us to use in September and I am 99.9% sure we are going to take them up on it! I know we will never eat $785.76 worth of food in the camper!! I would have to pay for the DP if we camp, but it's more expensive to stay in the value...even if the DP is free. I am planning on using the "saved" expenses on 1-2 meals out and another WDW camping trip in January 2010!

We are also going in January 2010! I just booked last night and I'm so excited since this will be my first time at Fort Wilderness. I think I have decided NOT to do the dining plan. I just don't want to have so many reservations. We will just wing it and probably do a couple of TS meals oop.

 

[Michelle GT]

We've done the dp before they took away app and tip. Our kids were still under 9 yrs old and so for us, I believe we paid about $100-120 a day. It was nice to have it prepaid and it seemed to be a value for us. We like to eat out when on vacation, so I have to make reservations anyway. We would eat brkfst in the camper, go to the parks and eat lunch at cs before coming back to fw to let the kids unwind and swim. then back out to the parks for the night and dinner.
Now, two of my kids are "adults" for the dp so the price would be over $200 /day for us. We are not doing it this year. Instead, we will have brkfst in the camper, go to the parks and then back for lunch. I have mostly dinners reserved and we will pay as we go. I don't see the value of paying $40/day for my 10 yr old to eat chicken nuggets for every meal. I am also trying to eat less myself and this will allow me to just order what I want to instead of the most expensive thing on the menu and desert for every meal.
good luck with your decision... it really depends on what works for your family and how you like to spend your vacations...

 

[iluvstitch]

We are also going in January 2010! I just booked last night and I'm so excited since this will be my first time at Fort Wilderness. I think I have decided NOT to do the dining plan. I just don't want to have so many reservations. We will just wing it and probably do a couple of TS meals oop.

I'll be at the fort in Jan 2010 too! Hooray for Fort Wilderness in January! Counting down and can't wait!

 

[mdoc]

We don't do the dining plan, as it wouldn't make economic sense for us. We don't do a table service meal every day, and when we eat counter service, we usually end up sharing (maybe 4 meals for 6 people) because it's too much food, and we never eat dessert. With Trail's End being the least expensive buffet on property it's not a good choice value-wise for DDP, and there aren't good counter service choices at the Fort (at least there weren't last time we were there; I haven't been there since they added to the menu at the Meadows snack bar). We always eat breakfast at the camper, but we're usually out and about so don't cook a lot of other meals there, but the DDP still doesn't make sense for us. I do have a Tables in Wonderland card, and we use that.

 

[BradyBz12]

I do have a Tables in Wonderland card, and we use that.

Here too. In fact, it almost paid for itself in one meal with my aunt and uncle at Calif. Grill.

 

[Tigger0624]

Personally. I'd have to say it depends on what your plans are... if you plan to hang out around the Fort and not really spend time at the parks etc- I'd say skip the dining plan. But if you plan to get as much time in at the parks as possible- I'd get the DP.

We are a family of 6 and over spring break, had my parents with us as well- so were 4 adults and 4 children total- all of of are big eaters. I had decided against the dining plan this trip, figuring I'd save the money and bring our own food. But we ended up spending more time in the parks than at the campground- between what I spent on food and OOP costs at the parks for food- I actually spent more than I would have if we had gotten the DDP.

It was an expensive option though- I think it turned out to be approx 1100 for the 8 of us for 8 days. But, I ended up lugging about 600 worth of groceries and we still ate out at least one meal per day which averaged around (if not over) 100... add in snacks and whatnot... we would have actually saved money and not felt the need to go back to the camper as much as we did or feel guilty about eating out when we had planned to eat at the camper...

Anyway- most trips we do not get the DP because we spend more time at the Fort than at the parks, but when we go with my parents or others that will want to go to the parks, we get the DP. We will be going in Nov. with my BF and her family and will get the dining plan for that trip since with 5 hyper kids- we will most likely be at the parks from open til close and they will want to do character meals etc... and we are also going for our 10th Anniversary next June w/o the kids- we will be getting the DP then as well so we can enjoy eating out and not worrying about the kids meals! I know- bad mommy... lol...

Just my opinion- but I wish we had done it when my parents were there. But when we just go ourselves, I cook...

 

[twinkie]

I know I'm in the minority here and you all can just call me "lazy" from now on. LOL! We did the DP in 07 and I loved it and Yes I am spoiled! Just ask Goofy Gary. The food was good and I didn't have to lift a finger. I cook constantly at home and work full time. When I go on vacation to WDW I don't want to cook, I want someone to cook for me. I just want to enjoy.

That being said, if the economy tanks further the DP would be the first thing to go if it means doing the trip or not. Oh, how I hope not! I love being spoiled......

*twinkie*

 

[bama_ed]

Nah, never done DDP.

In the early years when it included appetizer and gratuity and the on-property restaurants were decent, it was a good deal although we never did it. As Disney has chipped away and dumbed down the dining experience (referred to as "declining by degrees") it certainly doesn't make sense for us now.

I like the unstructured flow of visiting a theme park and not being tied down to an ADR. Plus we eat healthier and cheaper overall when we eat in. Since most of the food now in the table service restaurants is only average or worse, we choose to splurge on a Hoop Dee Doo (for the entertainment, not the food) or something.

DDP might be good for a portion of our stay but since you have to get it for EVERY day nor not at all, we pass.

Bama ED

 

[Luv2Camp]

We were on the ddp last year, and we loved it. Our food was already paid for before we left for vacation, so there wasn't any guilt when we ordered more expensive items on the menu and dessert. We don't cook on vacation - I do plenty of that at home, so I take a vacation from that too!

 

[CampingBandit]

I don't see the value of paying $40/day for my 10 yr old to eat chicken nuggets for every meal.

Not to mention that they make 10 year olds order off the Adult menu - no chicken nuggets to be had, I can assure you. The only times 10 yo can have "kids" selections is at buffets.

We asked at all the TS restaurants we went to, if our 10yo could order typical kid food, "No, I'm sorry" and there were no exceptions.

I've heard that at some of the more upscale TS restaurants they will customize the menu choices, but those places require 2 dining credits.

Our DD lived on salad (appetizer, so we had to pay extra for it) and dessert at several of the restaurants, she just didn't like most of the choices. You can see the menu choices at allears.net. I recall she ordered a burger at Turf Club. It was a 1/2 lb burger. For a 10 yo. I remember another place she wanted spagetti, and they would not let her have it with no sauce. The sauce had pine nuts in it... We ended up cancelling one ressie and going back to TE for the buffet. Our kids were happy there.

Parents with picky eaters understand where I'm coming from. When you are on vacation you just don't want to deal with the whining associated with trying unfamiliar food. No stressing!

 

[annmichelle]

We have done the dining plan while camping and thought it was a waste of money. We like grilling and eating at the campsite and really missed out on this. The only way we ever did it and enjoyed it was while staying at POR and getting it for free.

 

[neffernie]

We are trying the Quick Service Plan for our next trip. We went through the same arguments: too much money, tied to ADRs vs going back to the camp whenever we are hungry. Since we are going in July, we will probably be doing a lot of morning and evening extra magic hours so it will make more sense to be on the QDP so we can just stop and eat wherever we happen to be at the time. Besides, our DD10 eats like a 16 year old anyway so no chicken nugget issues for us.

 

[Tower]

We are a family of 5, 3 kids 8 & under, Mom, Dad and then my mom is coming along to make it 6.

For everyone to be comfortable, the cabins are our choice and to make it a vacation, we'll get the DP. So far, there are no cabins for our selected dates so I'm biding my time and looking at other options. One option was to get 2 adjoining rooms at a VR and get one room with a DP and another without. This allows us some convenience of the meals, but no over-stuffing.

(We'll be overstuffing on the cruise that following week anyway)