DVC Dining Plan

[tracyl921]

Speaking of children...my problem would be them not wanting to eat. Is there a rule that they can't share what we've ordered? If there is so much food anyway or would that be a no-no? Anyone ever sat down with 2 adults and 2 kids and only order 2 meals on the dining plan and shared the food? I would think they would frown upon this practice. I just know my kids eat like birds and it'd be a waste. Any suggestions?

 

[clutter]

There's another hidden problem in the dining plan if you have children.

When they discover that they can order anything on the menu, some of them will do so. The next thing you know, they'll develop a taste for filet mignon and lobster tails and prime rib and other expensive stuff. You'll spend the next 10 years saying "no" whenever you take them out to dinner and they try to order those $29 entrees. Believe me, it happened to us on the Silver Wishes plan. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Oh man, my dd9 discovered filet and prime rib this year. I figure I'll get the dining plan this summer because we can order an adult entree and a kids one then share. And I get to try all those great appetizers and desserts I've never had before!

 

[Cinderella]

Sammie - maybe you could try having some of your sit downs at lunchtime?

 

[OurDogCisco]

I'm struggling with the dining plan as well. I don't think we'll have a problem using the snack credits on water. It will be nice not to have to take a ton of frozen water in the back pack. We usually do sit down dinners so I'm okay with those. Also, we like to do a few character meals. We probably eat at two signature restaurants. I'm stuggling with the counter service meals. We just don't eat dessert at lunch and I realize you don't have to order it but still. Also, we would probably skip a few counter service meals if we do character breakfasts. If we do a character breakfast in the early morning then, we usually have light snack during the day. Then, do a sitdown dinner. So I'm not sure. Plus, I have scheduled us for two down days where we won't be on property. It won't be a problem with the TS credits but it will be with the counter service.

I did add up our meals from our last trip and snacks. We had a two dinners at our villa plus ate breakfast 6 of 9 days in. And, I made two lunches in. We ate at signature restaurants and had all kinds of snacks. Plus, we bought a ton of water at the grocery store. I figured out the dining plan would probably only save us $200. I didn't figure into the dining plan breakfast items which would probably give us less of savings. Or snacks that are not part of the plan or alchoholic beverages that we would order.

I guess I'm really struggling with flexibility over cost. We don't go enough to get the annual pass so the DDE card is not an option for us.

UGH....

 

[FLYNZ4]

We generally do not eat at CS restaurants at all. At the same time... we do not want appetizer/entree/dessert at each meal.

For us, we generally eat breakfast in our room. Some eat bacon & eggs, others cold cereal/milk.... others a danish. For lunch and dinner... we usually eat at TS restaurants, but only an entree.

I think we are just the opposite of several people here. We especially like the TS restaurants during the hot days. We find it refreshing to get into a nice air conditioned themed restaruant... suck down lots of ice tea... and enjoy a nice "light" meal. We find that far superior than eating burgers and fries in a hot open-air sweat pit with a few celing fans creating a convection oven effect.

Generally we will eat at about noon and 7pm... but we do move the times around a bit depending on the days agenda. Other times, we might have just one mid afternoon meal (instead of lunch/dinner). For example... we had a ~4:00 dinner at Brown Derby... which gave us plenty of time to eat one large meal, and then get to Fantasmic.

BTW: I actually think it is cheaper to eat two smaller TS meals/day (entree only) than to eat a 3 course TS dinner and a CS meal too.

For us.. DDE is much better than a dining plan.

/Jim

 

[OurDogCisco]

I think we are just the opposite of several people here. We especially like the TS restaurants during the hot days. We find it refreshing to get into a nice air conditioned themed restaruant... suck down lots of ice tea... and enjoy a nice "light" meal. We find that far superior than eating burgers and fries in a hot open-air sweat pit with a few celing fans creating a convection oven effect.

I hear ya.... I am beginning to think the meal plan may not be for our family. I was thinking of doing more table services for lunch because we are going during a crowded time and I am not interested in looking for a table at the counter service places. I like your idea thanks for sharing...

 

[jdvm]

We use the Disney Dining Experience card and find it is right for us. It's bad enough trying to schedule activities without having to worry about breaking even or "making money" on the Disney Dining Plan. We also like to eat a meal or two off property and that really throws the system a curve. There's no right or wrong on this one. A lot of people swear by the plan. We just don't think it's worth the added grief.

 

[MinnieGi]

Speaking of children...my problem would be them not wanting to eat. Is there a rule that they can't share what we've ordered? If there is so much food anyway or would that be a no-no? Anyone ever sat down with 2 adults and 2 kids and only order 2 meals on the dining plan and shared the food? I would think they would frown upon this practice. I just know my kids eat like birds and it'd be a waste. Any suggestions?

We are planning on doing this some of the time. I don't see why it would be a no-no. We share meals at restaurants quite frequently and have done so in WDW many a time. We are also a family of four and the portions are just too much for all of us, but if we share them we do just fine.

 

[Dean]

It is a lot of food and I don't think we could eat this much food over more than 2-3 days. Plus I think for many situations for longer stays esp, one will come out ahead with the DDE over the DP. But it depends on one's habits, group makeup and length of stay.

 

[TinkGirl]

Too much food for us, too! For us, though, it's more a financial issue.Now that we are staying in DVC resorts, we're counting on saving a little money on food by having some quick meals in our room. Two of our children (10 and 13) are "Disney adults" and would cost nearly $40 a day for the plan--they would never eat that much. We'd be throwing a lot of their food away. Maybe someday if my husband and I go alone we'll do the dining plan and eat our way through vacation.

 

[chris1gill]

I think for us, the plan is nearly perfect, but I wish they had a junior price for kids in the 10-14 range... Our son is 10, nearly 11... I don't know that he could or would ever eat 40.00 worth of food a day.... I just don't think it's possible for him.... My daughter is only 8 & she eats NOTHING... well, no, that's not accurate, she'll eat two desserts per day and any meal that has a burger in it Her dining habits drive me insane.....

We're only going for four days however, so overall, it might still be good for us since we do have a sit down meal daily... and that snack should be no problem LOL....

 

[PinkTink63]

Sammie...I am totally with you on this one...we just don't eat that much food!!! This is especially true if the weather is warm (or hot). There are many, many times where we will have a light bfast in the room, and split a CS meal for supper....that's it. Then, we come back to our room, we might cook some popcorn, or eat some cheese and crackers with fruit...but eating too much in WDW is a sure-fire way to get sick...too much rich food, and not enough fiber.

If we do eat a TS meal, that is most certainly our "one meal for the day". There is just no way the dining plan would make sense for us.



Beca

This is pretty much what we do too. We do some snacking in our room and one meal out. We do have to go get beignets a few times! We always go in August and it is just too hot to eat a big meal like that! We went to Whispering Canyon for Dinner last summer and although it was delicious, I was miserable afterwards! I wasn't even hungry for most of the next day. My DH on the other hand was full, but woke up wanting to go have breakfast! Him and his darn fast metabolism! It's just not fair!
I just wish that you didn't have to get it for your entire stay. Can you imagine eating like that for 9-10 days! I would have to buy a new wardrobe to make it home!
Stephanie

 

[LakeAriel]

I have been mulling this over and over. I think that considering the tax and tip is included you can't lose even if you don't eat everything. Those of us in DVC units can bring some stuff back and refrigerate. As far as over eating you walk about 7 miles a day so it evens out, IMHO!

 

[HM]

Dining Plan available to people renting points from DVC member?

 

[Anewman]

Yes the member renting you the points need to note this on the reservation and you pay for the plan when you arrive.

No park ticket purchase is required.

EDIT=for visits starting April 1st.

 

[HM]

Thanks for your quick reply. I really appreciate it!

 

[disneymom3]

Okay, not that I am planning something sneaky, but if you don't have to buy your tickets when staying DVC to get the dining plan, how do they insure that everyone in the booking is accounted for on the plan.

 

[Sammie]

Okay, not that I am planning something sneaky, but if you don't have to buy your tickets when staying DVC to get the dining plan, how do they insure that everyone in the booking is accounted for on the plan.

If you don't include everyone on the reservation they won't get Resort IDs. I guess if they don't need or want them for Extra Magic hours then it's another situation of just being honest.

But I will say this I hope the DVC membership will not abuse this perk and therefore cause further restrictions to it, or heaven forbid it being taken away.

 

[bongkel]

Yes the member renting you the points need to note this on the reservation and you pay for the plan when you arrive.

No park ticket purchase is required.

EDIT=for visits starting April 1st.

I might be reading this wrong but I thought I read that if you are a DVC member and bought Dining Plan you don't need to buy park tickets??? We went to WDW last year and we really wanted to dine at this place in Epcot but we didn't have enough time and missed our reservation. Is this another DVC member perks? Not pay park tickets if you buy dining plan? I would say that's cool.

 

[tigger2on]

Anyone know what the cost is to add the dining plan to your stay after April 1st?