Does having a dining plan influence your choice of restaurants?

[ELSA711]

Typically we plan the trip and the meals we want then decide to add plan or not. We always end up going with the plan because it is cheaper for us based on where and what we eat.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

So far we've done the QS plan, the deluxe plan, and OOP...my next trip will be the first with the regular dining plan! My choices are usually more influenced by the group I'm traveling with than anything else, though. (I probably won't do character meals again if the little guys aren't with me, for instance.)

 

[married2mm]

So far we've done the QS plan, the deluxe plan, and OOP...my next trip will be the first with the regular dining plan! My choices are usually more influenced by the group I'm traveling with than anything else, though. (I probably won't do character meals again if the little guys aren't with me, for instance.)

That's most unusual-I like it!

 

[Wood Nymph]

We have done the dining plan twice now, once with free dining and once we paid for it. I have found that I become an obsessed crazy person trying to get full value, even if the DDP is free. We eat at buffets more than normal and we eat dessert with our TS meal even though we usually don't eat it if paying out of pocket. And I eat snacks that I would normally never eat. And I make sure to use every single one of our credits. DH won't let me get the DDP anymore. He says it takes over the trip.

But seriously, we do eat differently and when we had free dining we shared our credits with family members who did not have the DDP, so we ate closer to normal for that trip.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes and No. We try new buffets when we're on the ddp. But we might go back to favourite buffets without the dining plan.

 

[DrunkJam]

The first time we went to WDW we got FD. (We got married there on 10/10/10 - we had no idea this was within FD, so it did not affect our choice of dates)
We enjoyed the ability to choose the restaurant we wanted and then the food we wanted, instead of limiting TS, or choosing the cheapest things (My husband has a problem choosing food without thinking of the cost, and this struggles to choose what he actually wants if that is expensive) - we found the dining plan relaxing, and, we do eat in a way that means it works out.
We now BUY the dining plan when we travel. But, we do a couple of 2 credit meals, so we do get to try all types of food (we do like character meals with the children, and some of the buffets too)
I find by fitting in a couple of 2 credit meals, using all the table service credits, and taking home a LOAD of Mickey rice krispie treats (I love these and am HAPPY to take them home, to extend my holiday) this means we don't eat WAY more than we would at home, and we can try places we would definitely avoid for reasons of expense OOP

 

[Nancyg56]

Absolutely not. We eat where we want, with or without the plan

We do too. The only difference is that when I have the plan I don't cringe when i want that $8 creme brûlée or $7 pressed pit of coffee. I happily order both!

 

[Hopefully]

We do too. The only difference is that when I have the plan I don't cringe when i want that $8 creme brûlée or $7 pressed pit of coffee. I happily order both!

You made me smile!!
I simply don't understand the approach to having to " maximize" the plan by eating at the most expensive restaurants and needing to choose the most expensive option. We simply choose where we want to eat and order what appeals to us, whether we are on the plan or not.

 

[babesboo99]

We are on the DxDDP for the first time this fall and we are going where ever we want this time doing 2 credit meals to buffets. We usually eat at the places we like but never try to do anything new this time we are. Because we have the freedom of knowing it's paid for and no worries on how much everything will cost at the end of the meal and I won't go damn that's expensive maybe next trip.

 

[DrunkJam]

We are on the DxDDP for the first time this fall and we are going where ever we want this time doing 2 credit meals to buffets. We usually eat at the places we like but never try to do anything new this time we are. Because we have the freedom of knowing it's paid for and no worries on how much everything will cost at the end of the meal and I won't go damn that's expensive maybe next trip.

That is also true, we feel much freer to take a punt on something new on the dining plan. We are actually thinking about upgrading to the DXDP this time, just because we want to try more 2 credit things, and, we know, if it's paid in advance, we will enjoy it without worrying about the cost of each individual item.

 

[Disneylover99]

I simply don't understand the approach to having to " maximize" the plan by eating at the most expensive restaurants and needing to choose the most expensive option.

Because it's fun and it feels luxurious.

 

[babesboo99]

That is also true, we feel much freer to take a punt on something new on the dining plan. We are actually thinking about upgrading to the DXDP this time, just because we want to try more 2 credit things, and, we know, if it's paid in advance, we will enjoy it without worrying about the cost of each individual item.

I always wanted to do CRT ( my favorite princess ) but never did because of the price. And now we can we are also doing Le Cellier for the 1st time as well, a lot more freedom knowing it's paid for. For us knowing it's paid for is much better than worrying about the price when we are sitting down and realizing i want this but not getting it because it's to expensive.

 

[DrunkJam]

I always wanted to do CRT ( my favorite princess ) but never did because of the price. And now we can we are also doing Le Cellier for the 1st time as well, a lot more freedom knowing it's paid for. For us knowing it's paid for is much better than worrying about the price when we are sitting down and realizing i want this but not getting it because it's to expensive.

Yep, my daughter wants to go inside the Princess Castle! I really want to try the Cali Grill Brunch. We want to do Spirit of Aloha, and Le Cellier (I know the crap it gets on here, we went when it was 1 TS, and it is my DH must do) We also want to try the Yachstman. But O'hana is a must (DS favourite) as is Tusker Breakfast.... Eeeeek!
And, yes, I really like avoiding that not having what I *really* want because of the expense, and I KNOW my husband does this too if it's not prepaid.

 

[Chant124]

I would never eat in as many character or deluxe meals as I do without the DDP.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

You made me smile!!
I simply don't understand the approach to having to " maximize" the plan by eating at the most expensive restaurants and needing to choose the most expensive option. We simply choose where we want to eat and order what appeals to us, whether we are on the plan or not.

The approach you don't understand really makes financial sense for those who travel to WDW rather frequently and want to experience as many different meals as possible at WDW.

We have done several trips with the dining plan (have done paid and FD), and many without the plan.

When on the plan, we eat at the character buffets (usually dinner) and the other really expensive meals, like Ohana, Cape May, and Boma. You can't share those meals and you can't opt for a cheaper version with no drink or dessert, so they are best for the dining plan. The Be Our Guest breakfast is also a great way to use the quick service credits.

When paying OOP, we generally stick with the least expensive table service restaurants like Sanaa, Via Napoli, Sci Fi, The Plaza, etc. We can share meals and forego drinks and desserts.

I am going for the Golden Spoon (and still have a long way to go) and would like to eventually eat at every WDW restaurant (hey- we don't know which ones we love until we have tried them all).

Alternating dining plan with non-dining plan trips is probably the most financially feasible way to do that. I have done the math and found that, when I have trip dinners that are primarily character meals and expensive buffets, I can save hundreds off of the OOP price if I use the dining plan (especially since I have two children whose dining plans are quite inexpensive for the value, and if they use their QS credits for adult meals we get even more value).

As others have pointed out, if I have a trip without the dining plan, I can actually eat for significantly less money if we pay OOP and eat at the cheaper restaurants and share meals. But I am not just about eating cheaply. I want value AND experience.

A lot of the decision making process is based on what you want out of a vacation. Some want to just eat what they want and to enjoy the experience, so the DDP will not affect their choices. Others want value for money, so the DDP will affect their choices. Still others, like me, are on a mission to eat at every WDW restaurant and do it for the best value. For that, we need a plan (but not always a dining plan).

 

[HopperFan]

Does having a dining plan influence your choice of restaurants?

Yes.

I book restaurants that I feel are very overpriced and I would never pay OOP - like character meals.

 

[Hopefully]

The approach you don't understand really makes financial sense for those who travel to WDW rather frequently and want to experience as many different meals as possible at WDW.

We have done several trips with the dining plan (have done paid and FD), and many without the plan.

When on the plan, we eat at the character buffets (usually dinner) and the other really expensive meals, like Ohana, Cape May, and Boma. You can't share those meals and you can't opt for a cheaper version with no drink or dessert, so they are best for the dining plan. The Be Our Guest breakfast is also a great way to use the quick service credits.

When paying OOP, we generally stick with the least expensive table service restaurants like Sanaa, Via Napoli, Sci Fi, The Plaza, etc. We can share meals and forego drinks and desserts.

I am going for the Golden Spoon (and still have a long way to go) and would like to eventually eat at every WDW restaurant (hey- we don't know which ones we love until we have tried them all).

Alternating dining plan with non-dining plan trips is probably the most financially feasible way to do that. I have done the math and found that, when I have trip dinners that are primarily character meals and expensive buffets, I can save hundreds off of the OOP price if I use the dining plan (especially since I have two children whose dining plans are quite inexpensive for the value, and if they use their QS credits for adult meals we get even more value).

As others have pointed out, if I have a trip without the dining plan, I can actually eat for significantly less money if we pay OOP and eat at the cheaper restaurants and share meals. But I am not just about eating cheaply. I want value AND experience.

A lot of the decision making process is based on what you want out of a vacation. Some want to just eat what they want and to enjoy the experience, so the DDP will not affect their choices. Others want value for money, so the DDP will affect their choices. Still others, like me, are on a mission to eat at every WDW restaurant and do it for the best value. For that, we need a plan (but not always a dining plan).

We ARE frequent visitors. We are DVC owners & I DO understand wanting to experience many different venues during our vacations!!! I eat at " really expensive places" whether I am on the DDP or not - my point exactly. We eat wherever we want whether on the DDP or not. We don't have to "forego drinks or desserts".
My point is, once again, we always eat where we want - whether we are on the DDP or not, by choice.

 

[Wood Nymph]

The approach you don't understand really makes financial sense for those who travel to WDW rather frequently and want to experience as many different meals as possible at WDW.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

When on the plan, we eat at the character buffets (usually dinner) and the other really expensive meals, like Ohana, Cape May, and Boma. You can't share those meals and you can't opt for a cheaper version with no drink or dessert, so they are best for the dining plan. The Be Our Guest breakfast is also a great way to use the quick service credits.

We have only eaten at 'Ohana when we have the DDP. We also saved a lot of money using the dining plan for BOG lunch.

As others have pointed out, if I have a trip without the dining plan, I can actually eat for significantly less money if we pay OOP and eat at the cheaper restaurants and share meals. But I am not just about eating cheaply. I want value AND experience.

That is what we do, too, eat for less when paying OOP than for what it costs for the dining plan.

 

[Lisa F]

There are SO many restaurants that I want to eat at so yes the DDP influences which ones I choose. I am doing a split stay with 4 nights DxDDP and the rest OOP and I did put the better value DDP things on DDP and the rest paying OOP. That said I would not choose to not go somewhere I really wanted to go because it wasn't a great value (but I might pay OOP for it) and I would not choose someplace just because it is a good value. But if you have more restaurants than you can possibly fit in, it does provide some criteria for choosing.

 

[GaryDis]

We simply choose where we want to eat and order what appeals to us, whether we are on the plan or not.

I am going for the Golden Spoon

I don't want to speak for @Hopefully , but I suspect that someone who simply chooses where they want to eat and orders what appeals to them probably doesn't understand making the Golden Spoon such a compelling goal. At least I don't, because there are restaurants at WDW that I wouldn't choose even if they were free, including a number of the buffets. There are many better restaurants in most major cities, and few people other than food critics set a goal of eating at them all, so why make this challenge at Disney?

But I do understand getting the dining plan specifically for the goal of eating at the more expensive menus, and discovering that it saves money.