Having second thoughts about the dining plan...

[BeccaGrace]

I was the biggest dining plan cheerleader & have been praising how great it is to my family since the MYW plan came out and now, two months before we leave, I am suddenly having second thoughts Our trip is paid off--we have 4 days with dining at the WL and today I switched our last two days to a room only at the Poly. Well switching to the room only days felt so liberating--I've gotten so anal about planning how to use credits to get the most out of them and what to order and I feel like I am planning way too much and almost deciding for people what they are going to eat. Not to mention the fact that I'm on Weight Watchers and realizing there are much lower point ways I'd prefer to eat that don't involve getting an appetizer, entree and dessert (even if I am splitting my meal with my kids)...

So I am thinking of cancelling the dining plan...am I crazy? I know that $$$-wise it is a great deal if you use it well but I also know that my dh is going to go nuts if I tell him to order extra stuff that he wouldn't typically order (i.e. dessert at lunch) but then tell him there are things he can't have on the plan (Dole Whip)...

Has anyone had this same internal debate? What did you decide?

 

[Dorisk3]

Your husband might enjoy being able to get the extra stuff, particularly if you normally don't order 3 courses ( we almost never do, so it was a nice treat to be able to!). If it blows your mind to waste food, it might get you a bit upset. I loved being able to try both appetizers, entree and dessert, but soon had to realize that there was no way I was going to be able to eat all of everything. You could skip ordering all the desserts or all the appetizers if you don't want all the food. And look at it this way, you can always buy a few Dole Whips, that's not very much $ ! I also think you were smart of thinking of ways to maximize your meal plan- don't worry about your planning- when you get there it will all make sense! Have a great time!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I can tell you this:

We went to WDW in January. Dining Plan was introduced like 10 days before our departure and I would have had to change ALL of our stuff (room, tickets, etc.) to add the dining. We went without it.

When we came home I made a little chart of exactly where we ate and added up the receipts. Then I made a little chart of what the plan would have covered. We would have saved over $150 with the plan eating EXACTLY what we ate anyway. We planned the January trip with NO thought about credits and TS and CS and all the things we now worry with on Dining Plan. But with the plan we still would have saved a lot of money. We were there for four days. Now we are leaving in 12 days (YAY!) for a 9 night trip. If our savings are on par with what they were in January we will save around $300. Even if we don't always order appetizers and desserts we will come out ahead. (OK, so the dinner at Fulton's will totally wipe out everything we save, but that's OK - it's a vacation!)

Look at the way your family usually eats. Look at the places you want to go, see how much it would cost out of pocket. Then look at those same places covered under the plan and see if you save enough money to make a difference. For our family it makes complete sense, but for others it might not. Happy planning!

 

[Pedler]

I think it depends upon what type of person you are. If you have to maximize the value in whatever you do then the dinnning plan can and will drive you nuts. You will choose places to eat based on price (Most expensive) and "force" yourself to eat things you may not normally do such as appetizers or desert.

On the other hand as another poster said if you can go with the idea of not maximizing it but look at is a providing a savings for what you would normally eat then go for it.

As for the dole whip I must admit I don't understand that. Nothing is keeping you from getting one, you can pay for it out of pocket. We primarily used the snack credits on the dinning plan for water (It was August) or ice cream treats for the kids. When we wanted a funnel cake at Epcot we just bought it. Snacks are about the only serious limitation on the plan and we basically viewed the snack credit as an added bonus, not a deal breaker.

Take a look at what you would normally order and add up the cost to see if the dinnning plan would save you money. That's the best way to evaluate it.

 

[oogieboogie]

We just got back from WDW tonight and had originally planned 9 nights on DDP then changed to 7 nights on DDP and 2 nights room only.

I can tell you now...

1. It is a lot of food. After a while I got tired of the desserts as I'm not normally a sweets eater. Several times we couldn't finish the main course much less the desserts.

2. In order to get the most value, since the servers do get their tips based on the total amount, we would still order desserts. At 50's PT, I ordered a dessert and gave it to the couple at the next table to us who weren't on the DDP. At Cali Grill, DH gave his dessert to our server. He gave it to the kitchen staff and they shared it (that was nice... I liked that) We did this at CS places too. At ABC Commissary, we paid for a couple from UK who were there on their honeymoon. That was a nice feeling.

3. I didn't have any snacks at all during the entire time we were on DDP. We didn't get a chance to eat any mickey bars, turkey legs, funnel cakes, dole whips, etc. We were just too stuffed. But that didn't stop DH from getting chocolate covered strawberries/marshmallows.

4. However... the DDP was great for Food & Wine since they accept snack credits to pay for the food.

5. Overall, I was really happy on the DDP. It was great not worrying about how much to spend on a meal and I could just order whatever I wanted. We just paid OOP for anything we wanted extra. We paid OOP for some soda because we were saving our snack credits, we still got popcorn, etc.

 

[Okiemom]

I know personally for me, it would drive me crazy trying to figure out where to eat, keeping up with credits, etc.... I guess you just have to know yourself.
For me, a want just one ADR a day, and keep it simple. But I am sure its a good deal, or so many people would not be doing it.

 

[bellarella]

I had the same debate and we went with out the plan. When I added up our expenses at the end of the trip -- to eat the way we wanted -- the dining plan was more expensive. We do room service for breakfast, like to eat mostly at TS restaurants, but with small portions each time (just an appetizer sometimes, etc) and eat snacks not covered on the plan. To do the dining plan would have required a lot of changes to how we ate.

The way the math worked for us was that we could have saved about $150 (for a family of 4 staying 5 nights) had we changed our eating habits to conform to the dining plan.

BUT

To eat the way we wanted and remain on the plan would have cost us about $200 more (in other words, we had $200 of what would have been OOP expenses) and we would have had a bunch of unused credits.

When paying for the plan, it isn't a great deal for everyone.

 

[maxaroni]

Personally, I don't see why everyone gets themselves in a tizzy over this

I am on WW and actually lost wt, while at disney and on the dining plan...go figure.

We loved the dining plan and found it really very easy to use, no problems at all. The CM's at breakfast (POFQ), all gave us a different answer but we'd say we did this yesterday and they'd say ok. It really is very easy to use, once you get there. I think that reading about it, is more confusing than actually dealing with it.

 

[jtdl]

I'm actually going throught the same dilemma myself. On our last 5 day trip to WDW we only ate at 2 sit down restaurants and both were buffet - Crystal Palace breakfast and Trail's End Buffet. The only other park we may have wanted a sit down meal would've been Epcot - Le Cellier. But if we had the plan, we would certainly do extra character meals / Hoop de doo and I'm sure we would use up all of our TS credits, but it would be on places we wouldn't normally eat at nor actually have any big desire to eat at. I do have a long time to think about it and weigh the options so I'll just continue reading everybodies experiences and decide. Who knows - by 2007 they may have something totally different!

I guess it boils down to how your family dines or would like to dine at WDW.

 

[Belle5]

We decided to purchase an AP. We then got our rooms at a great discount! (BRP) In December we will buy the DDE card. I have done the math and for our particular (large) family staying at 2 rooms at a deluxe resort for 4 nights and then switching to a moderate for 7 nights (huge rooms savings by not purchasing the dining plan). I like because we can eat at 2 TS a day if we decide to and can eat what we feel like eating at that time without feeling like we are wasting the dining plan. I have done the math and we should come out ahead with money by saving on our room, eating what we normally would and getting our 20% discount with DDE. I like that we will be able to switch resorts. On the dining plan we would have to start over with the purchase of park tickets, too if we switched resorts.

 

[jann1033]

haven't used th edining plan and hoping it still exists for our trip. we did however use the vkl vouchers ( basically the same amount of food) last trip and loved the fact everything was prepaid and we could order with abandon )), if we were fullish we just split a meal. we always get one counter type ( brkfast or dinner usually if we are paying oop) and 1 ts a day. just an entree and drink at counter and most ts plus a drink during the day would come really close to paying for the dp so i don't see why you would feel you were wasting money or food, if you don't want it just either don't order it or give it to someone. i couldn't stand just eating cs but i guess if that is all you want to do it wouldn't be for you although i think someone said you can use either cs for ts or vice versa.(??)

 

[missypie]

Let me give you my perspective. I had $1005 in Disney Visa reward dollars and I earmarked it all for food. (We weren't on the dining plan.) Our family of 5 ate whatever we wanted, whereever we wanted for 7 1/2 days before the $1005 ran out. 15 meals, roughly hald TS and half CS (including the pricey Fantasmic Dinner Package at Brown Derby). Buying the dining plan for the same time period would have cost us $120 more, plus we ate exactly the snacks WE wanted (Dole Whips, churros, etc.)

Of course, we could have eaten a lot MORE food on the dining plan. But we typically DON'T order appetizers/entree/dessert at every restaurant. When I'm at MK, I don't want the chocolate cake or pudding (or whatever) they serve for dessert at Cosmic Rays. After my lunch, I want to walk around a bit, then have a Dole Whip.

On our trip, since I had "free" dollars to spend, I started out letting the kids get dessert at TS restaurants when they asked for it. However, we all found that we all got impatient waiting for dessert when the parks were out there to be experienced!

So, I think that if you want to have a once in a life time trip that involves lots of meals, go with the dining plan. But if you plan to just "eat normally" you will probably spend less not being on the plan.

 

[Frantasmic]

For me, the dining plan works solely because I have paid for it upfront, have attempted to piece together some fun meals for my family, and I just have to show up when and where I made the ADRs.

I'll be "happy" if I get some extra value out of it or can stretch a kid's meal a time or two; but, if not, it will still work for my family just because it is one less thing I have to worry about during the trip.

 

[goodeats]

We are not doing the dining plan. I don't get to travel to WDW very often. My last trip was more than 3 years ago! So when I go, I want to eat where I want, when I want and get what I want, and stay where I want. Currently I have a AAA discount on a standard room at WL. If I wanted dining plan I would lose the discount AND have to go with a courtyard room. The money we would save on the dining plan is not worth that change. And I don't want to switch resorts to make it 'worth it'.

I went through and added up what we were likely to order, not the most expensive thing on the menu, and we would have saved money. But not much since we have a couple signature restaurants planned and we also tend to share desserts since who can eat their own dessert after having an app and entree?

 

[jann1033]

Let me give you my perspective. I had $1005 in Disney Visa reward dollars and I earmarked it all for food. (We weren't on the dining plan.) Our family of 5 ate whatever we wanted, whereever we wanted for 7 1/2 days before the $1005 ran out. 15 meals, roughly hald TS and half CS (including the pricey Fantasmic Dinner Package at Brown Derby). Buying the dining plan for the same time period would have cost us $120 more, plus we ate exactly the snacks WE wanted (Dole Whips, churros, etc.)


.

since you must have 4 adults , 1 child i am just wondering how you managed to eat for $11 a piece including tax and tip at ts? when husband and i split a meal we do good to keep it under $30 for lunch sit down, cheaper than dinner, most of our 2 entree only dinners are about $50+even at places like wcc(looked at our receipts from last trip)
the bd pack would have been around $190, since you included snacks( allowed $2 per person per day except for child, allowed them same as meal plan of $10 for 2 meals, no snack) that would bring your total even lower.) did you split meals a lot? counter i can understand that price ( cheapest thing would probably be around $6-7, $2 for a drink then tax)

 

[Goofyta]

Remember, just because they offer all that food, doesn't mean you have to order it.

 

[Brygida]

I am on WW and actually lost wt, while at disney and on the dining plan...go figure.

I watch my weight too when I am *outside* WDW, but not inside. Frankly, I always lose weight or at least not gain any on vacations... no matter what I eat!

I believe it is because I love being a tourist (I don't nap in the room much, lay on the beach, etc.). I want to see everything, go everywhere, etc. This usually involves a LOT of walking... which I love to do, but I could not find enough hours in my normal work day to do it (I sit at a computer for a living ).

That is why, on vacation, I eat whatever I want, when I want. Aaaah! If only life were a vacation to WDW!

Brygida

 

[KristineN]

We just got back from WDW and had the dining plan. For us, the biggest dawback was the amount of time spent in the restaurants. While the parks weren't crowded while we were there....the restaurants were madhouses. 90 minutes plus to get in & out. This does not include the time we waited to get seated. While this is not necessarily a bad thing...it was tough with 3 young kids. In the 6 days we were there all the meals totaled about $1200. I am glad we tried it...not sure if I would do it again. The best meal we had was CRT lunch...often the food was not that great...cold, etc.

 

[dpic]

I find it interesting how so many people are thrilled to save $200-300 on the latest MYW Discount package. However, we will save a little more than that by not getting the dining plan. No we won't have as much food, but we won't walk around ready to explode from eating so much, either. We eat one table service a day. Breakfast in our room, snacks/sandwiches from our fridge the rest of the time. He have plenty to eat, and eat at all the top spots ('Ohana, Crystal Palace, LeCellier, Boma, etc.). Our dining will come in around $800 while the dining plan was $1100.

 

[Brygida]

I find it interesting how so many people are thrilled to save $200-300 on the latest MYW Discount package. However, we will save a little more than that by not getting the dining plan. No we won't have as much food, but we won't walk around ready to explode from eating so much, either. We eat one table service a day. Breakfast in our room, snacks/sandwiches from our fridge the rest of the time. He have plenty to eat, and eat at all the top spots ('Ohana, Crystal Palace, LeCellier, Boma, etc.). Our dining will come in around $800 while the dining plan was $1100.

Well... the dining plan is only one table service a day. You pretty much have to have one meal from the fridge in your room (let's say breakfast).

And the last meal is counter-service... analogous to your sandwiches from the fridge. It seems to me to be fair, you should add in "cost of sandwiches from the fridge" to your dining total.

Then, (if there were still a difference?) to determine whether to take the plan or not, you should factor in: a) do you want to buy food, stock food in fridge, make a meal in the room, or b) have the convenience of ordering what you want at a counter-service restaurant anywhere you happen to be?

Brygida