For 2 people: Dining Plan? Or Skip Dining Plan??

[sam3996]

Does the Dining Plan really help that much? I'm a green- horn when it comes to stuff like that. lol

 

[ObsessedwithMickey]

It all depends. If you're looking to do mostly counter service meals, then no. If you want a sit down meal every day, then likely yes. I'll be using the dining plan for the first time next weekend. Already figured that if I hadn't purchased the plan, I'd be paying more than $50 a day out of pocket per day. So to me, it's worth it.

 

[ChelleinNC]

From the Dis DDP FAQ sticky:

"Is the Dining Plan right for me?" Questions

Is the package a good deal?
The answer to this question depends on you and your family. You need to determine how much you save doing your trip with and without the plan. For some, it is a better deal to get the discounts, but for others, the food expense is greater than the amount saved. You need to review the list of participating restaurants and try to set up a sample meal plan for your trip. Make sure to include all your snacks, drinks, tax and tip. Try to compare apples to apples. Make out your list showing where you would eat if on the plan. Then compare where you would eat if not on the plan, but were still able to eat what you wanted. Then compare that with how you would eat if Disney did not have this plan at all.

Doesn’t this plan force me to stick to a schedule?
You can look at it that way, but others like knowing that they have a reservation made at a certain restaurant for a certain time. You can always call and cancel the reservation when you are on site and change your mind.
Miscellaneous Questions

Is this the same as the DDE card I keep reading about?
No, it is not the same thing. The Disney Dining Experience is a dining discount program for eligible Florida residents and annual passholders, 21 and older, which provides a 20 percent discount on food and beverages (including alcoholic beverages) at a number of Walt Disney World Resort hotel and theme park restaurants and lounges. Click here for a great thread that explains DDE.

We do the math before every trip, sometimes it works out better to get the DDP and sometimes it's better not to. Check the menus and see how it adds up for you. If you know that you don't/won't eat CS or don't/won't eat a lot of TS, then the plan probably isn't for you.

 

[jenniferhornsby]

We always do the dining plan when my parents, me, DH, DS go. My parents went by themselves earlier this year. They were staying at 2 different resorts, so during the first one they didn't do the dining plan. During the rest of their stay they did do it. They said they came out much better doing the dining plan. If you're going to eat at a CS and TS every day and planning to eat at WDW the whole time the DDP is worth the money no matter how many of you there are. Hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[nononsensedisneydad]

My DW has done countless comparisons and for us, the DDP definitely saves us money.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

We have done the dining plan in the past and it is great to have everything paid up front and it definitely saved us money.

We opted not to do it for our next trip -- not because it's not a good value, but because what's offered doesn't fit with how we plan on eating on this next trip. I'm on weight watchers so having dessert included with two of my meals is deadly I know myself, if it's there and included I'll eat it (no will power, haha).

We'll probably get 1 dessert to split at dinner and not at all at lunch. Or we may opt to get an appetizer instead of dessert, and that's not an option on the basic dining plan.

That said, we're going again in December for a short stay and we are going to get the dining plan because we're going with other family and it'll work best for that group and itinerary.

 

[Scornelius]

We (DH and I) loved the dining plan so much the last 2 times we used it, we're upgrading to the Deluxe plan for this trip. We really enjoy disney restaurants, and we love being able to try out new table service places every time. I don't think we'll ever take a trip without a dining plan again!

 

[dbarker]

My suggestion: go to www.allearsnet.com. Look over the menus. Figure out where and what you would most likely eat. Do the math. Then you can have a very good idea about what it will cost both ways. That way you can make a very educated choice.

For us, it is about a break-even. So, we prefer the DDP for the convenience.

 

[tiger4me2]

It works for us even though it only two of us. We like trying new places to eat at. And having one sit down a day.

 

[bigbabyblues]

DH and I used the ddp on our anniversary trip last year and it worked really well for us. We saved quite a bit of $$, even if you don't count the appetizer that's no longer offered.

 

[lotferg]

I love the DDP! My DH and I used it last year, before the recent changes, and had to find ways to spend all of our credits. The appetizers will certainly be missed. I won't go without DDP again...especially if we have kids with us!