Going from Free Dinning to Paying for Meals

[Shanti]

I didn't think that the room discount would be better, because for just 3 adults at a Mod we are saving close to $1600 for an 8 night stay. I don't think we could eat for $28 pp per day, that's pushing it.

Room discounts are better deals at deluxe resorts than at moderates.

 

[Shanti]

We have gotten free dining for the last 7 years or so. This year I had a bounceback at CBR with free dining which was a good deal for my family of 5 (2 adults, 2 Disney adults and 1 child) but I decided to go with a great room rate at the Beach Club and am now paying out of pocket for our meals. I am pretty thrifty, so know of some ways to keep the costs down but thought I would start a thread for any recommendations.

We eat only 2 meals a day at WDW, usually an early breakfast (we're rope drop people) and a late lunch or early dinner.

The breakfast gives us energy for the big day ahead, and sometimes doubles as a PPO to get us into a park early.

The late lunch or early dinner is typically eaten late afternoon (3 - 6pm), when energy is flagging & crowds are high.

Both are typically full, table service meals. We get a small snack at some point if we're a bit hungry at some other time, but we never feel the need for 3 meals a day at Disney. Planning from a 2 meal per day context rather than 3 meals per day saves a lot of money- and calories.

 

[bethannie203]

My husband and I are taking advantage of the free dining when we go in september this year, but this is my first time using the DDP. Usually, we are penny-pinchers on our meals at DW! We share entrees at most places and have never had a cast member tell us it is not allowed. (It may very well be at some places that we have not eaten). Typically, even the portions at QS locations are enough for us. We split an entree and then might order an extra side and waters.

Another perk that makes DW golden is being able to bring your own food into the parks. We don't do this too often, but we have packed our own sandwiches for a quick lunch or granola bars for breakfast on the go. From experience though, it's hard to eat that when you are surrounded by all the good smells and temptations!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

everything you have learned about how to maximize the dining plan, flip on it's ear. IMO the biggest savings will be in being able to order your disney adult aged kids the kid meals if they want them. when I used to travel with another adult we liked to split an app, main course and dessert (a bite or two of dessert is usually sufficient for me). Hit up all of the fun but poor value on DDP places you may have been avoiding on free dining.... liberty tree lunch and plaza and sci fi dine in and 50's prime time. Take the opportunity to check out some of the swolphin restaurants which are NOT on ddp.

All of this.

Google "worst values on the DDP," and eat at those restaurants. Order from the kid's menus at QS restaurants, and maybe make your big TS meal of the day lunch instead of dinner.

 

[SGMCO]

Room discounts are better deals at deluxe resorts than at moderates.

maybe if you are just 2 adults that don't eat very much. The more people in your party and Disney Adults the less savings you have for food. Food at WDW is expensive that's why OP is trying to figure out how to save money.

 

[Shanti]

maybe if you are just 2 adults that don't eat very much. The more people in your party and Disney Adults the less savings you have for food. Food at WDW is expensive that's why OP is trying to figure out how to save money.

Standard deluxe rooms only hold 2 adults and two kids.

The room only discount can save hundreds of dollars per night, and no, it isn't hard to feed 2 adults & 2 kids on hundreds of dollars per day.

One thing about paying out of pocket is that you don't have to order adult meals for a 10 year-old, for example. You don't have to have dessert with every meal, which many people never do, anyway. Paying out of pocket allows people to eat the way they wish rather than trying to maximize savings by stretching the dining plan to the hilt (buying the most expensive entrees at the most expensive restaurants they can get for a credit). There are many charming TS places that are reasonably priced.