Help me with dining plan decisions.

[texascop2]

It seems like the dining plan doenst save me anything.
1 table meal
1 quick meal
1 snack
$57 per person


I think I can get the same deal by paying cash...am I wrong?

Doesnt seem like a BAD deal....just seems like about the same price as I would normally pay.

Input please.

 

[Mrs K]

It depends on where and what you eat. For us the QS plan works. I really don't know how much money we saved, but the convenience is the selling point. It's so nice not to have to carry money or worry about what the meal costs. I used my Visa redemption points for TS meals and basically didn't pay out of pocket for anything we ate.

 

[Wishes Count]

Depends on where you eat. If you are planning on eating at a sit down restaurant every day of your trip it is worth it. Those meals easily add up to about $35-50 per person right there. Also you have to think would you really be ordering a soda and a dessert normally at every quick service meal? For me the answer is no as we would get water for free. If you use all your credits and don't waste the snacks on stupid things like sodas and candy then it is totally worth the price.

 

[cdgrill]

It depends on where and what you eat. For us the QS plan works. I really don't know how much money we saved, but the convenience is the selling point. It's so nice not to have to carry money or worry about what the meal costs. and basically didn't pay out of pocket for anything we ate.

Totally agree that it works! And for a couple of our 2-point dinners a beautiful photo package is INCLUDED! We use the dining plan every time!

 

[sissy_ib]

Dining plans work well for the people who eat what is included. For DFH and I it is not a good deal because we would rather share an app most places and skip dessert. I really don't understand the convenience argument. How is it more of a hassle to use your KTTW card to charge for meals? We will end up spending much less paying OOP and that wins everytime.

 

[texascop2]

whether I pay now or then is not an issue for me. Mine concern is what is the best deal. I was thinking I could eat pretty good for $57 per day per person, but it has been awhile since I have been to WDW in Florida.
The menus online rarely show prices....
what to do?
what to do?

 

[texascop2]

Dining plans work well for the people who eat what is included. For DFH and I it is not a good deal because we would rather share an app most places and skip dessert. I really don't understand the convenience argument. How is it more of a hassle to use your KTTW card to charge for meals? We will end up spending much less paying OOP and that wins everytime.

This is what I was thinking. the convenience issue isnt an issue for us. I carry credit cards anyway, so using one is not a problem. I just cant get the math to show me how the plan saves me anything.

Until I am shown some savings, I guess I will pay OOP.

 

[sissy_ib]

whether I pay now or then is not an issue for me. Mine concern is what is the best deal. I was thinking I could eat pretty good for $57 per day per person, but it has been awhile since I have been to WDW in Florida.
The menus online rarely show prices....
what to do?
what to do?

Most of the menus online do have prices.
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

 

[texascop2]

Most of the menus online do have prices.
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

Thanks that is helpful.

 

[cdgrill]

In my opinion, NOT pulling out my debit card all week helps keep the magic going for us!

 

[sissy_ib]

This is what I was thinking. the convenience issue isnt an issue for us. I carry credit cards anyway, so using one is not a problem. I just cant get the math to show me how the plan saves me anything.

Until I am shown some savings, I guess I will pay OOP.

Yeah, I agree. I like the idea of the DDP but it just would not save me money. I had to do a lot of research, looking at menus, guessing what I would order adding it all up. Every time I come to the same conclusion that the DDP will cost me more than paying OOP.

 

[sissy_ib]

In my opinion, NOT pulling out my debit card all week helps keep the magic going for us!

If that is the case just use your room key to charge. If the DP works for you that is great. I know it saves many families money. But to use it just for some "magic" feeling is silly. I would love it if the DPs worked for me and I could save some money and not have to settle a bill when I check out, but it doesn't so why pay for it and not use all my entitlements and end up wasting money?

 

[sharonabe]

I will start by saying I agree with you....the DDP is NOT a value for our family.

BUT you wanted someone to show you how it saves you money, so...

For an adult

Order the $20 entree, $6 dessert, and drink ($2.50-$4.00) and your TS is $30. There are many places with entrees closer to $30 so even more money "spent."

QS meal maximized with the $12-14 entree, $3.50 dessert, and $2.49 drink and you've spent $20.

1 snack of $4.00 and your total is $54.00 and you have your refillable mug.

The DDP for 2012 is $50 (not sure where you found the $57).

The dollar amounts above are probably a little low for TS and higher for the QS, although, if you go to Wolfgang Puck Express or Pepper Mkt at Coronado, you can find QS entrees for even more than $14

If you do buffets, you need to do dinner as they are $35 and you come closer to getting your value for the plan.

Where most people see the savings is with the children's plan which I believe is $20 for 2012. One buffet and you've gotten your value for the kids, but regular TS for kids is around $10, and their QS is $5-7, so even there you don't see much savings.

 

[sharonabe]

In my opinion, NOT pulling out my debit card all week helps keep the magic going for us!

I don't pull out my DEBIT card all week. I pull out my KTTW card the same as you do. You pay more than I do to have it paid BEFORE your vacation. I pay less, and pay after.

 

[texascop2]

my cards get paid off every month so putting my meals on a cedit card or putting the DP on a credit card doesnt matter, it will get paid for in a few weeks either way. I know some families on a tighter budget like the idea of having the food already paid for when they get there. I can appreciate that.
i am all about the numbers...
i looked at the links to the menus and believe I will save money without the DP.
Whatever works for each of us, right?

 

[texascop2]

pardon this newbie's ignorance...
KTTW card?

 

[cdgrill]

If the DP works for you that is great. I know it saves many families money. But to use it just for some "magic" feeling is silly.

To each their own.....

We plan on having a BLAST in just 23 short days!!!!!!

 

[sharonabe]

pardon this newbie's ignorance...
KTTW card?

Key To The World card...it's your room key and your ticket into the parks. You can put charging privileges on it and eveywhere your buy something in the WDW, will be charged back to your room. This way you can leave your credit cards in the safe or somewhere you feel is safe instead of carrying them around the parks.

 

[sissy_ib]

pardon this newbie's ignorance...
KTTW card?

Key to the World card. It is your room key, has your tickets on it if you purchased them with your room stay and DP credits if you purchase the DP. You can also use it for charging.

To each their own.....

We plan on having a BLAST in just 23 short days!!!!!!

I'm really not sure how you meant this but I hope you have fun on your vacation. I think everyone who is planing on going to Disney, including myself, plans on having a "blast".
Sorry, I wont take spending an extra few hundred dollars over an extra 5 minutes to settle my bill at the end of my stay.

 

[texascop2]

The DDP for 2012 is $50 (not sure where you found the $57).

I booked my trip yesterday through Disney reservation's. They are the ones that told me $57 per person, per day for March of 2012.

Perhaps they were mistaken.