Help Us decide

[DopeyKel]

My family and I are going to Disney World in June of 2007. My family includes my dh and I and our three kids (16 ,14 , 12 ). Only the 14 is slightly picky the other two eat anything and even the 14 will eat most things. Do you think the plan would be a good deal for us? We usually eat a couter service meal and a table service meal each day, but sometimes have our own snacks along. Help us decide please!

Thanks,

DopeyKel and family

 

[karibritt01]

Last year we spent $630 for the DDP (DH, me, DS 8, and DD3). Our receipts were over $900. I am not certain of the exact amount, as we didn't save all the receipts, but we definitely saved a ton. We went to quite a few buffet TS, and the $38 we spent per day would have gone mostly to those. So basically we were given free lunch and snack each day. For people who would generally skip a TS meal, this isn't really a good option. For those that would be eating a TS anyway, the savings really add up. You can go to www.allearsnet.com to veiw menus and prices for the different restaurants, if you want to figure it out $ wise. We felt we ate at several places we wouldn't have 'splurged' on had we not had the DDP.

 

[bicker]

DopeyKal: Since you typically eat 1CS and 1TS each day, then yes, you'll probably save a little money with the Dining Plan, even if you don't typically order a lot of appetizers and desserts with each meal.

karibritt: I'd be careful about using receipts as a measurement, since folks generally order a lot of things when on the Dining Plan that they wouldn't order if they weren't on the Dining Plan. If you want to use receipts as a measurement, you should use receipts from a visit where you weren't on the Dining Plan.

 

[karibritt01]

We definitely ate more on DDP than we ever would have without. Had we been paying OOP, we would have only done 1 or 2 TS. However, we discovered that we really liked sitting down for an hour in the AC to relax and eat. We generally hit the parks around lunchtime, and stayed through the end of EMH. With a DS8 and DD3, that TS meal gave them a chance to rest and recharge, and get through the evening. I will keep the receipts on my next trip just to see the difference between DDP and OOP. BTW, we ate all buffet TS last year, with the exception of Hoop Dee Doo and CRT breakfast. Our meals would have cost the same DDP or OOP that way. The main difference is that we actually did TS instead of all CS. (That alone is worth the extra $!)

 

[unbroken chain]

Yes, I think you would save money, but I agree that looking at the menus where you would eat is the best way to decide. Even if you would not eat a lot of appetizers and desserts, if you plan a lot of fixed price meals (character meals, Luau, Hoop-de-Doo, Cinderella's Royal Table, etc.) it is worth it also.

I just calculated the costs from my trip. Even though one of my children consistently ordered things like plain pasta, or plain rice (with *nothing* else), we came out ahead. I calculated that we would still have come out ahead if (1) I had skipped all desserts (but the kids had desserts), (2) we had skipped all appetizers, and (3) we had skipped all snacks. On the other hand, 5 of our 7 TS meals were fixed price.

 

[jakenjess]

I think it would be worth it. We will be using the plan for the first time on our upcoming Feb. trip. I sat down last night and tallied up the approximate cost of the meals based on what we would have ordered if we weren't on the plan. We would never all order appetizers and desserts otherwise. I estimated on the conservative side and came out just above the break-even point, so we should do fine.