First trip-Should I do the dinning plan or not? Help please

[MistyLRobertson]

My DH and our DD 8,4 are planning on going to disney world april 26-may 2nd with 5 day tickets with no park hopper and staying at AOA. Im planning on booking some meal with the princesses. Ive been reading about the dinning plan and I still cant decide if its going to cost us more for the dinning plan then oop. I was looking at the regular dinning plan. The only thing I dont seem to like much about the dinning plan is that it puts us more on a set scheduel and we are more of a just go with it family, but if it would save us money im all for it. If we didnt get the dinning plan our DD would most likely end up sharing alot of food and we would pack some breakfast stuff and some sandwhich meats for quick snacks. Another question as well, for those of you who use the dinning plan how restricting on where you eat what you can eat and all that good stuff and what resturants require ADRS? Thank you

 

[greengeen]

Since you're going during Spring Break season, I'd say ADRs are required at ALL restaurants. And I personally think the dining plan is a waste of money and that most families would do better paying OOP! Just my 2 cents.

 

[aaarcher86]

I'd go without the dining plan on this trip. It'll be easier to see if it fits your needs (and it doesn't sound like it does from your description) once you're a bit more familiar with Disney and your touring style there. Personally, we do a TS breakfast, QS lunch, and a TS dinner each day using the DXDP and love it.

The TS restaurants that are popular will require an ADR fairly far out around that time (I'm assuming that's spring break?) but as far as what you can order you aren't super limited. With the regular DDP you would not be able to order an appetizer without paying for it OOP and you'd be getting a dessert instead. But you aren't given a watered down menu. It's the same for cash guests.

 

[MistyLRobertson]

Thank you. Since its our first trip to disney I just don't want to be tied down to too many must dos and restaurants we have to be at id like it to be more laid back

 

[sharonabe]

With two Disney kiddos you could see a significant savings with the DDP, but that's ONLY if you want to do a TS EVERY day. If doing only ONE TS meal with the princesses during your stay is more your style, then OOP will be better.

If you decide the OOP route, you still need to make an ADR for that one princess meal. Akershus breakfast or 1900 Park Fare dinner would be your cheapest, but CRT breakfast isn't too much more OOP and you get to go in the castle.

 

[briand1023]

My .02 on the DDP....I have never found it to be worthwhile...the two times I used it - 2 adults, 2 children - my kids did not want the rubber chicken nuggets or other crappy kids food and ended up eating off the adult menu so I had to pay out of pocket for their meals...if the kids menu was better then maybe it would be worthwhile...my kids prefer to eat food that tastes good and most kids menu items(I think its the same 3 items at every place) are not that good.

 

[TDC Nala]

Unless you want to do a table service restaurant for dinner (not lunch or breakfast) every day, or you want to do LOTS of character meals (as opposed to just a few), I'd skip the DDP for your first trip.

If you want a princess meal at all, you should make an ADR for it as soon as you can.

 

[wiigirl]

With two Disney kiddos you could see a significant savings with the DDP, but that's ONLY if you want to do a TS EVERY day. If doing only ONE TS meal with the princesses during your stay is more your style, then OOP will be better.

If you decide the OOP route, you still need to make an ADR for that one princess meal. Akershus breakfast or 1900 Park Fare dinner would be your cheapest, but CRT breakfast isn't too much more OOP and you get to go in the castle.

 

[MistyLRobertson]

The time we are going is after spring break. Its at the end of the month. On the crowd calender it says it a lower crowd level.

 

[TDC Nala]

Regardless of crowd level, it is adviseable to have an ADR for any character meals you want to do.

 

[JimPGH]

My DH and our DD 8,4 are planning on going to disney world april 26-may 2nd with 5 day tickets with no park hopper and staying at AOA. Im planning on booking some meal with the princesses. Ive been reading about the dinning plan and I still cant decide if its going to cost us more for the dinning plan then oop. I was looking at the regular dinning plan. The only thing I dont seem to like much about the dinning plan is that it puts us more on a set scheduel and we are more of a just go with it family, but if it would save us money im all for it. If we didnt get the dinning plan our DD would most likely end up sharing alot of food and we would pack some breakfast stuff and some sandwhich meats for quick snacks. Another question as well, for those of you who use the dinning plan how restricting on where you eat what you can eat and all that good stuff and what resturants require ADRS? Thank you

It sounds like you guys aren't big eaters, I say pay out of pocket. Dining does put you on a schedule, so if you have a character meal you want to do, definitely make a reservation, even though that is a low week. Have fun!

 

[princessmocha]

We love the dining plan, but it isn't for all families. If you don't want to do a sit down meal every evening (or lunch or breakfast) it probably isn't for you. If the only sit down you want is one with the princesses I would just pay OOP for that and go with what will work for your family.

Like others have said too, since you will be there during a pretty busy time, make that reservation for the princess meal ASAP.