Help! Dining Option? **LONG!

[mookie]

I know that the dining plan has been debated on the boards several times, and trust me, I've read every post. But we are having trouble deciding if this will work for our family. My husband and I will agree that the dining plan is our best bet and then the next minute change our minds. Can you help? Here are our dilemmas:

Our DD will be 2.5 for our trip at the end of Sept. We are staying at BWV, in a 1BR w/ a kitchen. We did this because our thoughts are that we can use wegoshop.com for groceries and eat breakfast in the room before the parks. we also figured it would be good for when we come back to the room for our daughter to nap, we'll have her sleep in the bedroom so we can still enjoy ourselves (snacks, etc) without disturbing her. (We even thought lunch in the rooms might happen depending on her nap, which is why we are debating on the dining plan).

My other thought is that what if we don't need to go back to the room at all for a nap, and she naps in the stroller? Then the dining plan would come in handy for DH and I. We also like to eat out for dinner, and go all out, so regardless of what happens during the day, I'm sure we'll be out each night for a nice dinner. (DD usually will just eat off our plates, or we would buy her a kids meal. The only Dining plans we would purchase would be for my husband and I) We are planning on doing one character breakfast and the Hoop Dee Do, also. So, with that said, do you think the dining plan is still worth it, if breakfst and lunch might be in the rooms? Which would be cheaper - getting the dining plan, plus just a few things for the room (snacks, donuts, etc.) or not going with the dining plan, stocking up on our in room supplies, and just paying outright for any meals that we eat outside of the room? (Obviously we are looking at which one would save more money!)

(Just rereading my post, and it looks like all we are planning on doing during the day is spending time in the room. This is definintely not what I want to do, but this is our first trip with our DD, and while she is a pretty adaptable kid, you just never know. If at all possible, I would love to have her push through and sleep in her stroller, but if that doesn't happen, I have to think of our "worst case scenario.")

I am so sorry that this is so long and confusing, I'm just hoping all you experts can give me some advice that I might not have thought of yet. Any help on what we should do would be greatly appreciated. I know we don't leave for awhile, but I'm a big planner, so I would love to be able to map out our meals. Thanks again, I'm looking forward to hearing all of your opinions!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

My opinion.....

Go for the dining plan, there are enough counter service places where you could get your lunch "to go" and then reheat it at the Villa if your daughter needs to go there for her nap.

And there would pretty much always be enough food that you would not have to buy too many kids meal for your DD.

also, if you are doing Hoop De Do, that takes two dinner credits, so if you did enjoy a meal back at the villa, you could save one of your counter service for a dinner.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First of all, since DD is less than 3 there is no charge for her for any park admission, for the dining plan, or for any buffet (which basically covers all character meals).

Since the Dining Plan covers one sit down meal, one counter service meal, and one snack per day per person (and does not cover any alcoholic beverages) it would probably not be worth it. You have to consider that a lot of restaurants are considered "signature" restaurants by Disney and use two days worth of credits for one meal. Also, as you describe, it is unlikely that you will be doing the counter service daily or the snacks often.

For some math, if you look at the full-service only, you would have to exceed $28.81 per day on menu pricing to cover the $35.00 (which includes tax and tip). This does not sound too bad until you consider the "signature" restaurants, where $57.62 in menu pricing would be needed to cover two days meals. This would be amlost impossible.

If you were sure that you would be doing counter service also daily, and skipping the signature restaurants, then it would be a good deal.

 

[gigi1313]

although i did not get as detailed as chesire figment, i would vote that the dining plan would not work in your favor either... mainly because of the HDDR and other finer dining you plan to enjoy...

 

[DisneyWisher]

Mookie how long are you going for?

 

[mookie]

Thanks for your responses so far. DisneyWisher, we'll be there for 5 nights, 6 days. (They are 6 full days, we arrive early morning, and leave late evening.)

I guess it would just make it easier if I knew what my DD was going to do!!

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Do the dining plan. You can still eat breakfast in your room since only two meals (one CS and one TS) are covered with the plan and that way you don't have to pay for breakfast. As for lunch, if you do go back to your room your DD could nap while you or your DH go gets some CS food to go, The Spoodles Pizza Window and Leaping Horse Libations participates in the dinning plan at the Boardwalk, or bring some food back from the park and heat it up. If she ends up just napping in the stroller then let the sleeping child sleep and get food in the park.

 

[estnh]

You're on vacation! Do the dining plan and cut down on the groceries. There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with groceries when you get home!

 

[crisi]

Are you renting points or paying cash.....? If you are renting points the decision has been made for you, no dining plan available for point ressies.