Does anyone ever get the dining plan while staying at FW?

[lovemy4sweeties]

Do you find it's worth it? We're thinking of staying 7-10 days, but I think we'll only spend about 5 of them at the parks. We're also going in January so it looks as though 2 of the 4 restaurant choices at FW are closed for the season. We also plan to do some day trips off of Disney grounds. I know for convenience factor the dining plan would be good, but I'm wondering if it will actually save us money since we may not need to use it every day.



Kerri

 

[figmentfan1]

We will use it in Dec and my sister and her familt used it last Dec when they stayed at FW. We find that it is a good deal, we especially like that it is "pre-paid" and like not worrying about budgeting for food. It is always a deal for us because character meals are expensive.

I know for some people there is really no savings, so it is just dependent on your individual situation.

JE

 

[VACAMPER]

We just used the dining plan and thought it was ok but a little inconvient. It was great because we enjoyed alot of character meals which we would not have done otherwise. You didn't have to stand in those park lines the meet the characters that in itself made it worth while. (highly recommend Donalds breakfast Safari). On the other hand we had rain and sickness which lead to alot of leftover meals. We did find out you can count 3 snacks and a drink for a counter service meal which help us a least get snacks for the trip home, so it wasn't money completely wasted. You can also downgrade a table service to a counter. I would probably do it again.

 

[Drewsmommybear]

I wasn't cooking on this vacation so we got the dining plan and it worked for us because we were almost always in the parks. If you aren't going to the parks everyday, it isn't as convenient. The closest CS is Roaring Forks and though their food is good and we didn't mind the boat ride over, some people do. We also made a trip over to the Polynesian for dinner at Captain Cook's and I thought that was worth the trip too.

I guess we look at things differently than most people because we travel for everything at home. The closest Walmart is 45 minutes away and a good restaurant is about that far as well. Going out of our way to get somewhere is just part of normal life for us.

Maybe you should look into getting it for the days that you're in the parks. It's really great then.

 

[Rhonda]

We're also going in January so it looks as though 2 of the 4 restaurant choices at FW are closed for the season.

FW really only has 2 restaurants -- Trail's End and Crockett's Tavern. Both of them are open year-round. There is also the Hoop-Dee-Doo dinner show, and that runs all year too (but takes 2 Table Service credits each off the Dining Plan).

Mickeys Backyard BBQ (which would take 2 Table Service credits) is not offered in January though. And the Meadows Snack bar is not open either, but that's not ever offered on the Dining Plan anyway.

We like the Dining Plan. The Table Service credits can be used for any meal -- so sometimes it's nice to use for a nice sit-down breakfast someplace (maybe a character breakfast?)

Some of our favorite restaurants are included in the Dining Plan, such as: Wolfgang Puck in Downtown Disney, Kona Cafe at the Poly, and the Cape May Clam Bake buffet! So, we definitely get our money's worth with the Plan.

 

[chief19spixi]

I always use the dining plan while at the fort.. I do not do it to save money though.. if I was it would not be that great of a deal.. I like it cause at least I do not have to cook at all!!

 

[musicmama]

We used the meal plan in December 2005 (first and last time we camped at WDW) and at the time, people thought we were crazy. We actually had to go through AAA in order to get the plan because CRO didn't want to sell it to us. We spent most of our time in the parks and not at the RV, so it made lots of sense. It also meant that we didn't have to bring lots of food and make a special shopping trip or order food deliveries. It was also great because everything was pre-paid, so DH was not worrying about the bill at each meal and he could order exactly what he wanted. Win-win for all of us!

BTW, we haven't camped at Ft. W again due to vacation schedules and the prohibitive cost of gas. When I budgeted our 2005 trip, our previous travels had shown about 15 mpg for our '96 Four Winds Class C. So, I budgeted accordingly. We actually got 12 mpg, and it cost waaay more than I planned. (It was much less expensive to fly the 3 of us the next time.)

I was looking forward to trying it again, but with the conversion of the loop we liked to Premium and with our vacation schedule being limited to during Christmas break, I'm not so certain.

 

[djblu883]

we loved the dining plan and it made the vacation much more so...no cooking after being all day at the parks....character dining, I don't think I'll go again without it EVER!!! it may cost more but it was certainly worth it to us!!!

 

[kmurawski]

We love the plan for our DVC vacations but will fore-go it for our FW trip.

 

[icepickjazz]

Is the meal plan worth if if you are not interested in character dining? I think my kids are past that stage.

What's the cost of a meal plan?

 

[djblu883]

Is the meal plan worth if if you are not interested in character dining? I think my kids are past that stage.

What's the cost of a meal plan?

I don't have that figure but it is expensive...there are other things to do with the DDP besides the Character meals such as the Luau (Spirit of Aloha), Hoop De Doo at the Fort, Its a savings if you plan to eat each meal out and a savings on your sanity trying to get back to the Fort for meals when you can eat in the parks without having to dig in your pockets each time...pre paying for meals is a great way for families to try new places and foods they might not try without it...example...we were at the Hollywood Studios one day and hadn't really made a meal decision that day and got hungry before we were ready to go home...we found sci fi theatre had a table for us...we had wanted to eat there but thought there was no way we could have gotten in....the meal with the plan would have been 78 dollars for 2 adults and a toddler under 3!!!...all it cost us was 2 table service meals and we had so much fun!...we did the character meals as well and actually by accident spent too many of our table service meals so we had to pay out of pocket for the LUAU...so planning IS important...that meal cost us over 100 bucks!!! live and learn...it was our first time but we will sure be doing it again...won't go without it...Mom gets a vacaton from cooking for everyone...win win situation!!!!!!

 

[Rhonda]

Is the meal plan worth if if you are not interested in character dining? I think my kids are past that stage.

What's the cost of a meal plan?

Hi!

Nobody is past that stage!! Our son, when he got to around 10 years old, tried to act like he didn't care about Mickey anymore. But, every time he'd come to Disney with us, he would still get excited when Mickey would come out and say hi to him! lol

The cost is $37.99 for adults and $11 for kids ages 3-9. For that, each person gets 1 Table Service meal, 1 Counter Service meal, and 1 Snack per day. The Table Service meals includes entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink. The Counter Service meal includes basically the same thing -- just at the walk-up restaurants.

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

Thank you so much for all of your replies. It definately sounds like it's worth it. How far in advance can you book the restaurants and where can I find a list of the Characters meals that are offered (and included in the dining plan)? The Luau sounds great. I'll definately want to do that.

 

[Rhonda]

Thank you so much for all of your replies. It definately sounds like it's worth it. How far in advance can you book the restaurants and where can I find a list of the Characters meals that are offered (and included in the dining plan)? The Luau sounds great. I'll definately want to do that.

The restaurants can be booked 180 days (6 months) ahead of time. Here's the list of restaurants that are included: Dining Plan Participating Restaurants

 

[kc5grw]

The dining plan would only make sense for me if I didn't have a kitchen to cook in. I can't stand to eat at restaurants everyday. We do eat out while we're there, but we limit it to a few dinners and a breakfast or two. Since my DDs are over 9 the dining plan would be $152/day for my family, I can manage a lot cheaper than that by cooking in the trailer.

 

[IDoBelieveInFairies2]

We are staying in the cabin and getting the dining plan. We will eat breakfast at the cabin and the other meals at the park. I am on vacation! No cooking, except for after Typhon Lagoon, then we will grill at the cabin with friends. It is a treat to eat at such a variety of themes and cuisines (SP!) and is part of the fun for my family.

 

[bama_ed]

Be careful about the DDP. If you buy it, you HAVE to buy it for every day that you book the "room" (campsite or cabin). It is not just for the days in the parks (unless you break your room into seperate ressies).

The DDP was a good deal when it first came out years ago but when Disney saw how people jumped on it they have trimmed it back each year. This year tip is no longer included.

It's not a good deal unless you have folks that eat like horses anyway and would eat at a sit-down restaurant and order full meals every single day. There is a convenience factor to consider but when you multiply the cost per person times the number of days times the number of people, those trips to the grocery store or snack counter don't seem so bad!

Bama ED

 

[momoffive]

I think it was sooo worth it for us. A family of 7. The cost per day was about $135-$140. Our trip in 2005 our only meal out was Chef Mickey before the MNSSHP and that cost us over $200. Another trip, the kid's first, we had 1 counter service, with each of the kids getting a hot dog and DH and I each a hot dog and drink, and that ran us $63. That said together $263 vs $140, I'll take the meal plan I realize the days that it is cost effective are few(until it cost us $280/day). Once the quads reach 9 and we have to pay adult fare for them, it will not be worth it. It will be a long time before any of my kids could eat that much food in 1 day, let alone every day of our trip. We did end up with 42 snack options left at the end of our stay, so we hit the bakery on Main ST and came home with a "bag" FULL of the rice crispie treats. I think we still have 1 or 2 in the freezer.
Loretta aka momoffive

 

[mrtroutjedi]

I think it was sooo worth it for us. A family of 7. The cost per day was about $135-$140. Our trip in 2005 our only meal out was Chef Mickey before the MNSSHP and that cost us over $200. Another trip, the kid's first, we had 1 counter service, with each of the kids getting a hot dog and DH and I each a hot dog and drink, and that ran us $63. That said together $263 vs $140, I'll take the meal plan I realize the days that it is cost effective are few(until it cost us $280/day). Once the quads reach 9 and we have to pay adult fare for them, it will not be worth it. It will be a long time before any of my kids could eat that much food in 1 day, let alone every day of our trip. We did end up with 42 snack options left at the end of our stay, so we hit the bakery on Main ST and came home with a "bag" FULL of the rice crispie treats. I think we still have 1 or 2 in the freezer.
Loretta aka momoffive

This is pretty mutch our story too but theres 6 of us and as my wife puts it "I'm on vacation too!"

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

I think we're all on vacation when we're at Disney World

But for us, the DDP would be an idiotic choice because we would be wasting money...we rarely cook and paying out-of-pocket is a better choice for us. If your kids are 9 and under then it could be worth it, especially if you do a lot of character meals. But DS out grew that a few years ago

I hear so many times, "I'm on vacation, I'm not cooking, therefore I'm buying the DDP." It makes me wonder if some people think you have to purchase the DDP to eat at Disney restaurants

NOW, on another note, if you get the FREE DDP then I can see it being worth it for most everyone...still have to weigh the cost of purchasing a package vs. if you are annual passholders, AAA discounts, Disney Visa discounts, etc., etc...