Finally ran the numbers from our May trip to see if DP was worth it.

[mommyboys3]

Let me start by saying we have always gotten the dining plan (mostly for free). We paid for it this last time & I kept the receipts & finally ran the numbers. At the time of the trip we were 2 adults, 2 Disney adults & 1 child. The verdict is that it was NOT worth it for us this time & with the 2018 changes it will definitely not be worth it for us next time. Here are my reasons:

1) We came in about $150 short of what we paid for the plan. Not a big deal, BUT we were there during Flower & Garden & used a lot of our snack credits for items $6+. Unless we go again during either F&G or F&W then our per snack average will go down quite a bit.

2) We used 5 of our CS credits for breakfasts. Not a good value on the DP but that's how my family likes to eat so worth it for us.

3) The 2018 plan went up in price because it now includes an alcoholic beverage. We're not big drinkers while there (I didn't have a single drink this last trip & I think DH may have had 2 beers). Now all 3 of my boys will be Disney adults so we'd be paying the high price & they obviously wouldn't be drinking alcohol & the specialty non-alcoholic beverages really aren't worth it to us.

I thought we'd always do the DP but the numbers just aren't supporting that. Unless we get free dining in the future we'll be out of pocket from now on.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

The numbers rarely support it. There are convenience reasons to use it which is why we stick with it. We've been getting FD bounce back so the cash compare hasn't been an option for a few years.

 

[vinotinto]

I ran the numbers on our FD, and if we would have purchased the DDP, we would have almost exactly broken even. And, that was using the plan to its maximum. Our experience is similar to you.

- Like you we used a lot of snack credits on very expensive F&W snacks. Almost half of our snacks were $8! We did get a few bottles of water, but again, with 40 snack credits over 5 days, those snack credits would have gone to waste anyway.

- We used a few QS for breakfast at the resort. Otherwise, they would have gone to waste. We used 4QS credits at BOG breakfast and 3 at BOG lunch, which are very high value.

- We paid OOP for my DD (she's 10 and vegetarian) and used her TS credits for more expensive meals.

- We selected some expensive TS meals: lobster at Narccoossee's, ROL dinner package at Tuskegee, Dinner at Biergarten, Skipper's.

So, all in all, we enjoyed FD, but would not buy DDP out of pocket.

 

[brockash]

Let me start by saying we have always gotten the dining plan (mostly for free). We paid for it this last time & I kept the receipts & finally ran the numbers. At the time of the trip we were 2 adults, 2 Disney adults & 1 child. The verdict is that it was NOT worth it for us this time & with the 2018 changes it will definitely not be worth it for us next time. Here are my reasons:

1) We came in about $150 short of what we paid for the plan. Not a big deal, BUT we were there during Flower & Garden & used a lot of our snack credits for items $6+. Unless we go again during either F&G or F&W then our per snack average will go down quite a bit.

2) We used 5 of our CS credits for breakfasts. Not a good value on the DP but that's how my family likes to eat so worth it for us.

3) The 2018 plan went up in price because it now includes an alcoholic beverage. We're not big drinkers while there (I didn't have a single drink this last trip & I think DH may have had 2 beers). Now all 3 of my boys will be Disney adults so we'd be paying the high price & they obviously wouldn't be drinking alcohol & the specialty non-alcoholic beverages really aren't worth it to us.

I thought we'd always do the DP but the numbers just aren't supporting that. Unless we get free dining in the future we'll be out of pocket from now on.

That was our conclusion too. Honestly, it's really never been worth it financially for us, but they sucked us in during the better times of free dining, so we just kept doing it. We had seriously considering going without before, but after the 2018 plan/prices came out, we decided that's it we're out. Like you, none of us are big drinkers, so that's no benefit, and I just can't justify the cost anymore. It was nice having something prepaid and not having to think about it, but it's stupid for us to keep losing money on it. Why am I paying Disney for more than what I want/use even at Disney prices lol. We usually go during free dining, but even then between paying rack rate, having to get a min. number of days and park hoppers, and then upgrading to regular dining at value or moderate, it's just not our best option.

Really, once they stopped including the tip and especially after they stopped offering regular free dining at values, is when I really started paying them more for what we were actually getting and that was a long time ago lol.

 

[Chrelaine]

I love that someone else did this post. I ran the numbers from our (me, DH, DD6) FD trip the last week of August. We came in $7 under what we would have paid for the plan and that was with using 2 credits each for HoopDeeDoo. We didn't try to max it out, we ate what we wanted at each meal and had 19 (yikes) snacks left over, so we bought out Goofy Candy Co on our last day. DD is still eating jelly beans

If anyone needs to know, we ate at: HoopDee Doo, Cape May, Via Napoli, Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare and the Wave. So, we did go to a few buffets/character meals.

Observations - I would not have been upset if we paid for the plan as we clearly fulfilled it's value; HOWEVER...we ate a ton more than we would have otherwise. We almost never order desserts with dinner and most days, I didn't want them, but ate them because we were entitled to them. I also found it cumbersome to always have to make sure things were included and that we were ordering correctly ,etc. At POR's QS getting to the register with the wrong things is a pain if you have to go back.

Overall, we liked the convenience of the plan. Would we do it again? Not if we were paying for it. (We had received a FD bounceback package that I couldn't beat throughout my year of planning.) We don't mind paying OOP. I can see why others like it, it just isn't for us. I'd rather order an appetizer with or for dinner and walk somewhere for a good treat if we are still hungry afterterward.

it was a fun experiment and we enjoyed some great food but we could have lived without 19 bags of Goofy candy and trail mix These are just our opinions and experience. I think every family is different and what works for us may not work for you!

 

[supersnoop]

had 19 (yikes) snacks left over, so we bought out Goofy Candy Co on our last day

I’m not sure I understand your phrasing. Did you save $7, or did the plan cost you $7 more than you would have otherwise spent? Also, are the 19 snacks that you redeemed on the last day included in that figure?

 

[Chrelaine]

I’m not sure I understand your phrasing. Did you save $7, or did the plan cost you $7 more than you would have otherwise spent? Also, are the 19 snacks that you redeemed on the last day included in that figure?

For the exact food we ate/brought home our total came in $7 under what we would have spent for the plan. Yes, the 19 snacks were included in my figures.

 

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

So, I just booked our ADR's for our March 31 - April 4 trip (Easter/Spring break for us) and was able to get all the restaurants we wanted. I have used the DxDP for our previous trips, but was going to cut back this trip and see if just eating CS at lunch and a TS dinner would work for our 4 night trip this time. I have a 3 year old son going with me and the food is about the same costs but once I add in the snacks and mugs, I come out ahead and yes, I would get the snacks anyway and 85% sure I'd get a mug for at least one of us. The ADR's I got are:

BOG lunch - (QS credit)
'Ohana Dinner
Rose and Crown dinner
Sci-Fi dinner
Yak and Yeti dinner
'Ohana breakfast

Non-ressie places are QS and I did add in the cost of what we will most likely order for lunch those days.

One of these I will have to pay for OOP since I booked the bfast for our departure day. (We are staying at Poly and I was able to get 7:30 a.m. bfast before checkout that morning) After reviewing menus, Rose and Crown and Sci-Fi are looking to be about same cost so it will be one of these I pay OOP.

Also, this is using my AP discount of 10% at the participating restaurants. Of course, if I did the math wrong somewhere ..... It may be close but with it being as close at it is, the convenience of having the DDP prepaid is going to probably win out. Also, I didn't add in the fact that I can order alcoholic beverages with some of the meals because I'm not a big drinker but there may be an occasion where I order one.

 

[PolyRob]

I run the numbers every trip, and for my family, OOP always comes ahead.

I think you made an excellent point when you mention eating QS breakfasts! To me, OOP allows you to dine wherever you want and order as little or as much as you want. I probably do 3/4 TS and 1/4 QS. There is no dining plan that fits that need. Throw in a dessert for every meal (which hikes up the total tip amount) and snacks that may go to waste, and I am sticking with OOP. Some like it for convenience, but I am driven by the numbers. Burning a TS credit on my Kona Cafe breakfast or Via Napoli pizza for four would not be an enjoyable experience for me.

Multiple children with tons of character meals. DP may be worth it!

Free dining? thats a whole different experience. If that works out to be more money saved than a room only discount, go for it, but with the change in moderates to QS plans, I would have to run those numbers again.

 

[WDWFan0813]

Overall, we liked the convenience of the plan. Would we do it again? Not if we were paying for it. (We had received a FD bounceback package that I couldn't beat throughout my year of planning.) We don't mind paying OOP. I can see why others like it, it just isn't for us. I'd rather order an appetizer with or for dinner and walk somewhere for a good treat if we are still hungry afterterward.

I'm curious as to why you say you like the convenience of the plan? I've seen many people say this, but you still have to scan your magic band to "pay" using your credits, so I don't see how this is more convenient. We've never done the dining plan because it doesn't fit our plans, so maybe I'm missing something?

 

[Belle5]

I'm curious as to why you say you like the convenience of the plan? I've seen many people say this, but you still have to scan your magic band to "pay" using your credits, so I don't see how this is more convenient. We've never done the dining plan because it doesn't fit our plans, so maybe I'm missing something?

I am guessing Chrelaine meant the convenience of having your food prepaid...

 

[sharonabe]

I'm curious as to why you say you like the convenience of the plan? I've seen many people say this, but you still have to scan your magic band to "pay" using your credits, so I don't see how this is more convenient. We've never done the dining plan because it doesn't fit our plans, so maybe I'm missing something?

The majority of those who like the convenience like the prepaid aspect as well as the "don't have to look at the prices and can order whatever we like" feeling. They also mention being able to say "yes" to the kids when they ask for a Mickey ice cream bar or other snack without having to watch every nickel and dime.

 

[dvcer97]

The majority of those who like the convenience like the prepaid aspect as well as the "don't have to look at the prices and can order whatever we like" feeling. They also mention being able to say "yes" to the kids when they ask for a Mickey ice cream bar or other snack without having to watch every nickel and dime.

 

[dvcer97]

Well i like the dining plan for my Son and I. We like to eat different foods and eats snacks each day I remember when first came out it was cheap cheap with dessert tax and tip included it's become harder to come out ahead now. I still enjoy the options of not getting sticker shock at the end of my stay

 

[dvcer97]

I enjoy the Dining plan it has open lots of possibilities that I would not normally try

 

[Chrelaine]

The majority of those who like the convenience like the prepaid aspect as well as the "don't have to look at the prices and can order whatever we like" feeling. They also mention being able to say "yes" to the kids when they ask for a Mickey ice cream bar or other snack without having to watch every nickel and dime.

This is exactly what I meant. Other than tips, no need to think about prices. Plenty of food and you don't feel cheated. Again, we don't mind paying OOP and will probably go back to that for our family, but can definitely see why many people really like the dining plan.

 

[bumbershoot]

They also mention being able to say "yes" to the kids when they ask for a Mickey ice cream bar or other snack without having to watch every nickel and dime.

But you still have to watch your credits. That's still budgeting. The difference is that with the plan you've fully nisgeted for food but maybe people aren't doing that when they don't buy the plan.

 

[TomServo27]

I love the dining plan but we have never had to pay for it. I’m not sure I would pay for it but as to why I love it. It’s totally mental for me it does not matter if I have plenty of money set aside to eat whatever I want. I can’t help but look at price I was just there for food and wine and was able try lots of things really enjoyed it. Some were great others not so much even threw one or two into the trash after a couple bites. I didn’t care it was just a snack credit and we had plenty but if I would have paid oop I would have been angry about wasting the money. Probably would have passed on many of the thing I did try cause I’m cheap. In the end I’m on vacation I want to have a good time and the dining plan helps me do that.