DP thought

[tlenzendorf]

We have been running numbers for our trip next year. While we aren't trying to make it a "cheap" trip, we ran the numbers for the DP vs. just paying OOP. Wow! We would be over spending by $30-50 EVERY DAY by getting the DP. It sure would be nice if Disney would let you decide how old your children were for the DP. My oldest 2 DDs will not eat enough food to justify the DP, not to mention that we had leftover credits last trip.

Just a thought, if in doubt of whether to DP or not, run thru the menus of places you'd like to eat and add it up. Normally we like the ease of the DP so we don't have to think about money, but for 9 nights, that's a lot of money for us.

 

[Sandisw]

I think that is key when doing the DDP. For our family, it was a good deal for 3 out of the 5 of us. But for me, it really is not. Last summer, we did the QSDP for a few nights and realized that even that is more than I need.

Next summer we are going to take the money that we would spend on the DDP's (we are DVC and with split stays can customize by day) and put it on Disney gift cards and use those. I think in the end, we will save money.

I typically don't need or want dessert at every meal. Now, I can just get it when I want and not after having just eaten a big meal when I am not hungry at all.

Worst case is that it costs me a bit more than the plans but having figured everything out, I just don't see that happening but at least I won't be getting things that I really don't want.

 

[tlenzendorf]

That was kind of my thought, too. We were eating stuff just to eat it because we had the credits. DDs will be able to share lots of meals as they are just way too much food for them. When they were under 10 the DP made a lot of sense, but now that they are "adults" its just way too much.

 

[TDC Nala]

DDP isn't a fit for every guest; if they allowed a self-designed prepaid plan to fit every guest, it would be really difficult to administer.

 

[tlenzendorf]

DDP isn't a fit for every guest; if they allowed a self-designed prepaid plan to fit every guest, it would be really difficult to administer.

I agree with that. It would just be nice if they let you pick for kids if you wanted them to be "adults" or "kids". Although on things like buffets if you pick kid for your 15 year old and you eat at a buffet every day for one meal, that's sure to be a loss for Disney.

I just wanted to create the thread in case some people were wavering. Run the numbers and see what you think will work best for you!

 

[LilyWDW]

I agree with that. It would just be nice if they let you pick for kids if you wanted them to be "adults" or "kids". Although on things like buffets if you pick kid for your 15 year old and you eat at a buffet every day for one meal, that's sure to be a loss for Disney.

I just wanted to create the thread in case some people were wavering. Run the numbers and see what you think will work best for you!

And this is the key.

The dining plan won't work for everyone... but try to tell some people that and you'd think you just asked them to send their first born to the moon or something. People need to run the numbers for themselves and see if it will work for THEIR family. Does it work for some people? Yep. Does it work for all? Nope.

It doesn't work for myself and my mother when we go. We just simply don't eat like the plan makes you eat. Sometimes I want an app, but no dessert. Sometimes I want a couple apps, but no entree. Sometimes we share an app and dessert, but get our own entrees. The dining plan doesn't allow that flexibility, so it is not for us. Not a big deal. We just save our money and use our room key to pay.

Though I will admit, if the only deal we can get next year is "free dining" then I will take it. My current reservation is already at rack rate, so may as well get something out of it.

 

[DISdreamin']

Though I will admit, if the only deal we can get next year is "free dining" then I will take it. My current reservation is already at rack rate, so may as well get something out of it.

+1 to this. We're doing free dining, and I'm working on optimizing the use of our credits (so that we use most of them), but I won't change what we WANT to do because of it. If it means we pay a meal or two OOP because that is what we want to do on our vacation, so be it. And if we have QS credits left over, whatever. BTW, we always do breakfast in our room unless we're doing a character breakfast (we have two planned over eight days) so this saves $$ on meals.

I have to admit that, were we paying OOP for the dining plan, I'd look at things much more carefully when choosing to purchase it. But when I ran conservative numbers for free dining versus % off plus food cost, the free dining works out better even if we leave a couple things on the table, so to speak. I also agree with PP when they pointed out that you really need to look a the menus and choose what you WANT to eat, not what you feel like you should eat to get your moneys worth. I definitely want to eat based on what sounds good, not on the price! If the only way to make the dining plan a good choice was choosing the most expensive menu items we'd pass and go OOP for all meals.

The first time we did Disney was on the 4/3 deal, which meant we also got dining. And honestly, I really liked having almost all meal costs covered and also treating the kids to "free" snacks on the dining plan. Yes, we could have brought cash to cover everything instead but seeing that much money flow out at each character meal would really diminish the experience for me.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree with that. It would just be nice if they let you pick for kids if you wanted them to be "adults" or "kids". Although on things like buffets if you pick kid for your 15 year old and you eat at a buffet every day for one meal, that's sure to be a loss for Disney.

/QUOTE]

The problem with your idea is that Disney links the park passes and the dining plan ages together. You can't buy a child park pass and and adult dining plan for the same child. They have to be in the same age group for both things.

You definately have to run the numbers to see if the dining plan is worth it for you. Out of my 12+trips, we have only used the dining plan once. Next month will be my second time. It just depends on how much dining we want to do, and what type of dining that will be. The one time we have used the plan we did A LOT of character meals. Next month, we will be doing the Candelight Processional Package and a few other sit down meals, so the dining plan will once again save us money.

Depending on the trip the Dining Plan can either save you money or cost you money. You have to run the numbers.

 

[kkmcan]

Dining plan works for us because we tend to try to eat so cheaply when we pay cash that we arent' really satisfied. We share meals and dh is sometimes still hungry but in order to not spend more money he will just suffer and eat a granola bar or something.

With the dining plan everyone gets what they want- it's plentiful so no one goes hungry and then on top of that we get our snacks everyday. It's so much fun to feel like having an ice cream cone, or a churro and just walking over to get one guilt free!

 

[TEK224]

I ran the numbers for my upcoming trip. Two adults. We're getting the DxDP because we wanted to try out/return to the signature dining places we like.
We're staying DVC and only getting the plan for 3 nights (stretching the meals for 4 days).
Cost of the DP is $237 per person. I looked at the menu for what I would order and cost came to $264 (not counting 1 meal credit which we haven't planned where to eat yet, or the 2 snacks per day and refillable mug). I didn't necessarily order the most expensive thing at all meals, but I'm a big steak eater and that is usually one of the pricier meals.
So, for this trip the plan works for us. Other times, depending on our park plans, we'll just do QSDP or pay OOP.

Terri

 

[Colleen27]

The value of the plan gets iffy when the kids get to be Disney adults; some 10yos have the tastes and appetites for the plan to be a value, but others still eat more like kids in quantity, food preference, or both.

I run the numbers for my family every trip and right now the DxDDP works well for us. My oldest is the only one of my kids to count as an adult, and he's a big, adventurous eater. But once my 9yo DD turns 10, I'm not sure the plan will work out to be a value. She's a very light eater and it just doesn't make sense to prepay a bunch of three course adult meals for a 50lb girl who is happy with an appetizer as her entire meal.

 

[crabbygal902]

Smart move, adding up your expenses to see if the DP is a good fit for you.

It is a great thing for us, as we are feeding a 10 year old bottomless pit with expensive tastes! We are NOT the people you hear about coming home with extra snack credits! If only we could put just him on the Deluxe plan...

We also choose the higher priced 1 TS restaurants for dinners to maximize the dollar value. It's kind of like a game to me.

I'm sure that Disney is not losing money on us, but they're not sad to see us leave, either!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I'm getting the plan for the 3rd time! I've had it in different incarnations, back when tip and appetizer were included, and then without those things. I like knowing that all my food (pretty much) is paid for, and that I'm not restricted to burger, hot dog, burger, pizza because it's cheaper. I want steak and potatoes and chicken and cake!!!!!!!!! If I really wanted to save money, or was on really limited means, yes I'd probably go the QS route or even bringing my own food, but I love being able to sit down to a nice meal once a day and relaxing with it, and even then not having to say "I'll have the chicken because it's less expensive". I added up what the plan cost vs what I would have paid OOP the first trip and we saved like $300 bucks. That sold me.

 

[sissy_ib]

We do more apps than desserts so for it would not work out to be a benefit.

 

[18sprint]

I have ran the numbers so many times I'm dizzy. Every trip I think how nice it would be to have everything paid for and not have to worry about the dinner bill. Then I run the numbers and compare it against a realisitic dining schedule and habits including using actual menus and pricing, looking at each day. It almost always comes out about the same until you throw in a dinner at, say the Brown Derby, which requires 2 dining credits then the cost really goes up. It all depends on your personal situation, but no matter how we look at it, it doesn't seem to be a huge money saver.

 

[hdmichael]

I agree- definitely run the numbers. I have an eighty pound 13 year old with very gourmet tastes who has to eat frequently (at least 3 meals and 3 snacks) and a husband who needs a nice sit down meal in the early afternoon to regroup and re-energize for the rest of the day and sometimes needs a nice meal at the end of the day. Because of this, we did the deluxe plan the last time, and it worked for us.

However, sometimes we pay OOP or do the other dining plans. My husband and I tend to share meals- I get the appetizer, we split the entree, and he eats the dessert.

It really depends on how we are structuring our days. When we are planning on spending most of the time touring, catching special events, etc., OOP works better although I am leaning toward trying the QSDP when we go in June and paying OOP for a few sit-down meals. Disney does have a nice choice of quick-service meals.

One of the things I found when we did the deluxe plan was that I had to set aside several hundred dollars for tips, so if you are looking at the plan as pre-paid, just remember to budget for tips at table service restaurants and set aside that money so you don't have any surprises in your budgeted expenses.