Does the Dining plan save you money?!!

[brymolmom]

Notice that the posts here that say they saved money - say they got it for FREE! There's a big difference between paying for it and getting it for free. For my family it would be (for the basic DP) about $120 per night.

I agree with many - I don't think it saves MOST families money. I think it's a convenience.

If you don't eat desserts a lot and therefore wouldn't buy them most of the time and if you, like me, eat breakfast in the room and bring in some drinks/snacks into the parks with you most days. It likely won't save you money.

One caveat is that if you like to do a lot of character meals, IMO, you will likely at least break even (on the basic DP, NOT on the DDP - I can't imagine anyone ever 'saving' money on that one) or save a bit then.

 

[prttynpnk]

We are among the people who usually save 30% or so on it. We use deluxe during F&W- do at least 4 2TS a trip and save all of our snacks for grazing at the F&W. We don't like to plan and budget once we are there. We like to try new things and sample so it works for us. If we had to think about a meal budget while we were there it would be less fun.

 

[sukhakuli]

I think we're going to save a fair amount. The dining plan would cost us 162 for 3 disney adults and 2 kids. We have a lot of buffets planned, and just one buffet would cost 138. I'm sure we can easily make up the $24 in snacks and QS. In fact, just one regular TS meal, such as at the Coral Reef would cost us at least $130. (3 NY strips, 2 kids meals, 3 desserts, and I didn't include drinks). If we were paying OOP, we could get those numbers down, but not by a ton, and we would be going hungry. Well, dh and I. The kids would be eating a lot of beef jerky and Cheez-its, lol. But I don't want to spend my vacation that way this time. I want to be able to eat a full meal, including drink and dessert, when I'm on an expensive vacation like this.

BTW, we're paying for the dining plan for part of the trip, and getting free dining for the other.

 

[DLW8]

We are fans of the DDP and have never had free dining.

It doesn't save us as much as others have posted, but it does save us some money and I like having it paid for up front. It's one less thing I have to bring money for, and if I'm paying OOP, I won't get the $30 entree at dinner even though I want it. On the DDP, that is a no brainer.

This is our last year that our kids will be "kids" in Disneys' view, so future trips we may have a different view on the DDP, but for now, it works for us.

I considered NOT doing it this year since it's a quick trip, but when I floated that by DH he kind of freaked. he LOVES the dining plan.

Do your research and figure out if it's worth it based on what you would order at each TS restaurant.

BTW...there has been free dining when we have gone (like this time) but the 40% discount we got at AKL was a better deal than to pay rack rate and get Free dining. You just have to do the math to see what is the best deal for you and your family.

Whatever you decide, ENJOY!

 

[ppoe65]

As Faldred said:

[/QUOTE]
... well, you can eat cheaper without one, but the real question is, do you want to? For some, having a dining plan means the convenience of not having to worry about budget while traveling and perhaps having more meals or allowing themselves to have somewhat larger meals, or those off the higher end of the menu, than they would if paying cash. For others, the limitations of the plan make it not worthwhile.

The real question comes down to: will the extra money spent on a dining plan make your overall vacation experience better, and enough better to warrant the cost?[/QUOTE]

When we go, the dining plan works for us. we are on vacation and we eat what we want not worrying about the price. The sitting down for the TS is a nice break in the day. we all sit around the table and talk about what we've done and where we are going.

On our last two trips I did a brief cost analysis and we came out ahead on the DDP by about $250-400. So again, it works for us.

 

[Debs Hill]

Thank you so, so much for all your replies you have been brilliant!
I think for me it would be great to have paid for our meals before we go so we don't have to worry about scrimping and saving whilst we're there......maybe I'll just add it on and surprise hubby! ha! ha!

I have a couple of questions....
1) When does the dining plan run out......is it 11.00am on the day you check out of the resort?
2) Are all of the credits put onto the 'room' or is each person given so many credits for them to use personally? For example...if hubby goes off to golf can I use the credits allocated to the room in his absence or is it so many meals per person?
3) Are smoothies/non-alcoholic cocktails snacks or drinks you can have with a meal?

Thanks again!!
Debx

 

[havoc315]

I have a couple of questions....
1) When does the dining plan run out......is it 11.00am on the day you check out of the resort?
2) Are all of the credits put onto the 'room' or is each person given so many credits for them to use personally? For example...if hubby goes off to golf can I use the credits allocated to the room in his absence or is it so many meals per person?
3) Are smoothies/non-alcoholic cocktails snacks or drinks you can have with a meal?

1. Midnight on the day you check out.
2. Yes, all the credits are pooled on your KTTW card. But in 1 sitting, you can't surpass the number of individuals on the card. (If the card is 2-adults and 2-children, then you can't order 3 adult meals, you can't order 5 meals total).
3. In some locations, some smoothies/shakes etc are included. For example, shakes at Sci Fi Dine In are included. Really depends on the location.