I just can't make it work!

[jessc79]

I'm stil crunching the numbers. I think I had originally calculated too little for our QS meals. I've estimated 10% tax, which I think is a little high, but I'm not sure where to find how much it actually is.

DDP for 4 adults for 6 nights = $1,334.16
Remove items for consideration that I wouldn't normally buy (refillable mug, dessert with dinner):
$55 per Quick Service meal ($10 entree; $3 drink * 4 people) + tax * 6 nights = $330
Boma: $170
SciFi: $120
Crystal Palace: $190
O'hana: $160
Tusker: $140
Additional TS (no ADR yet): est $150
Snacks: $100 ($4 per snack * 4 people * 6 nights) + tax.
Total: $1,360
So without considering dessert and the mugs I would be ahead $26.

What am I missing? Am I overestimating?
Thanks everyone!

 

[JVig]

I have a child, and we have character meals planned, but I still can't make the Dining Plan work for us. I think a big part of the reason is that we are NOT dessert eaters. So if paying OOP, we will not incur those expenses and it just works out cheaper.

If I did sign up for the dining plan, I would feel like I HAVE TO order the most expensive thing, every where we go. I'd rather save up the money ahead of time and then order what I really want. Then, if I don't use it all up, I have extra money to play with!

 

[Diegosmom]

To make the dining plan work make sure your ADR's are dinner and not lunch or breakfast (that is where most savings come from)...

Also for you nondessert eaters, at QS places you can get bottle of water or bag of apples or yogurt for dessert. Also at your resort there is a lot of options for your "dessert", often we would get a poptart (for next days breakfast) or something from there "bakery" like a muffin, again for breakfast...another thing we did in resort is get the Mickey Head Rice Crispie Treats or bags of Disney Candy. We have already planned on buying DS's friends something like this so it worked out well...

Few places in Epcot have Bakeries too...

We are not big soda drinkers but I do enjoy specialty drinks...like milk shakes or Mexican soda or fun coffee drinks...and sometimes I will even just get a milk or an apple juice.

 

[sharonabe]

I'm stil crunching the numbers. I think I had originally calculated too little for our QS meals. I've estimated 10% tax, which I think is a little high, but I'm not sure where to find how much it actually is.

DDP for 4 adults for 6 nights = $1,334.16
Remove items for consideration that I wouldn't normally buy (refillable mug, dessert with dinner):
$55 per Quick Service meal ($10 entree; $3 drink * 4 people) + tax * 6 nights = $330
Boma: $170
SciFi: $120
Crystal Palace: $190
O'hana: $160
Tusker: $140
Additional TS (no ADR yet): est $150
Snacks: $100 ($4 per snack * 4 people * 6 nights) + tax.
Total: $1,360
So without considering dessert and the mugs I would be ahead $26.

What am I missing? Am I overestimating?
Thanks everyone!

Tax is 6.5%, so you're still ahead by more than you think.

 

[Magalex]

Next year(June 2014) I want to try AKL. We usually stay moderate or value and rent a car. So the DDP is never an option for us because we go to the store for breakfast foods or right outside the gates to the many other restaurants. So if we stay at AKL I want to use Magical Express and look into at least the QS deal. We do have one 12 yr old (13 next year) so all three adults. But I know in June we drink more eat less. So maybe I will tell my DH about the gift card option. Great idea!

 

[alice99]

We went through the same thing. Additionally, it was just too much food for us and not the food we really wanted as we prefer to eat several appetizers instead of entrees. So to make it work for us, we get the pricing for DDP, put it on a Disney card and use it like the DDP. That way we aren't thinking about the costs. This ends up covering all our meals, snacks, tips and drinks, and we have money left over to spend in the shops before we leave!

This is a great idea. I am visiting this board trying to justify getting the dining plan and it does not make sense for us.

This is what my family are doing. We're 'pre-paying' our meals by buying Disney Gift Cards.
I originally really wanted the DDP as I like ordering things without thinking about the cost of each menu item (it's part of the reason I love cruises), but whatever way I crunched the numbers, it just didn't present good value for the places we want to eat or the type of food we'll order. Also, I want the luxury of being able to buy an entree at a restaurant and then a dessert/snack later at one of the park bakeries, ice cream stores, or F&W booths.

For DW and I, we make it work by eating at TS restaurants that are not buffets, and eat pricier items. However, for us the biggest reason we choose the dining plan is that we know our meals are paid for in advance. I do not want to feel like I need to order the cheapest thing on the menu since I'm paying OOP, which I would to avoid feeling guilty or like I was spending money on food that I could be spending on souveneirs. That's the true benefit for us.

This is the problem I have, I turn into a cheapo when I am confronted with the prices, so I am here trying to justify purchasing the DDP. I'm just gonna have to get past it.
I used to get this same mentality when it came time to book vacation, I'd see how inexpensive it was to stay off property, and could never justify the cost of Disney Hotels.... so I just bought into DVC and I don't have to think about it anymore.

dadofgoofy: You're missing the point. Even if you ordered the SAME things OOP, many times it's still cheaper. No need to deny yourself.

THIS is what i need to remind myself.

 

[freckles04]

I took several hours pricing out our meals, snacks, etc. OOP from allears menus (including tax). I chose what I really, truly thought we would order.. I know my DBF and DS would pick pricier items just based on what they like (steak, seafood, etc), and my choices mostly happened to be the cheaper ones. In my OOP "plan", I only ordered dessert for DBF and I, since DS doesn't like dessert. And we usually only order soft drinks or tea with lunch and water at dinnertime.

All that said, we came out only about $100 cheaper paying OOP, if my guesstimates were anywhere close... btw, I have DS9 booked as a 10 year old so he can order what he wants.. and that savings of $100 includes his ticket price being $20 cheaper if we booked him as a 9 year old and then paid for food OOP.

The variable would be if we decided to share plates or just order appetizers, etc. but we are pretty big eaters, especially on vacation.

My gut tells me to get the DDP again this year because we loved the convenience and that "all-inclusive" feel, even if that's just an illusion!

Wish our dates had FD but chances of that are slim to none at this point.

 

[Bete]

I want the dining plan to work for us. I like not having to think about how much things cost on vacation. But I just can't justify it!! The difference completely calculated out is about $150 more for the regular plan. I know people do make it work so what am I missing? We have ADRs at Boma, O'hana, Crystal Palace, Tusker House and Sci Fi. I have 4 total adults. Even with the most expensive QS items its not working! Ugh!

One point that might help you is knowing tax is included in the dining plan. When you're not on the plan you pay tax on your meals.

The dining plan is better if you choose to maximize the plan. This means you order the more expensive items. Also, it means going to the most expensive restaurants. Then, you can really make out on the plan. Tucker House in Animal Kingdom would be a poor choice on the dining plan. The Biergarten in Epcot would be a poor choice, too.

If you're happy with your choices using all ears menus and you are saving money then don't use the plan.

 

[MomofKatie]

I'm stil crunching the numbers. I think I had originally calculated too little for our QS meals. I've estimated 10% tax, which I think is a little high, but I'm not sure where to find how much it actually is.

DDP for 4 adults for 6 nights = $1,334.16
Remove items for consideration that I wouldn't normally buy (refillable mug, dessert with dinner):
$55 per Quick Service meal ($10 entree; $3 drink * 4 people) + tax * 6 nights = $330
Boma: $170
SciFi: $120
Crystal Palace: $190
O'hana: $160
Tusker: $140
Additional TS (no ADR yet): est $150
Snacks: $100 ($4 per snack * 4 people * 6 nights) + tax.
Total: $1,360
So without considering dessert and the mugs I would be ahead $26.

What am I missing? Am I overestimating?
Thanks everyone!

Tax is 6.5%. The Dining plan does NOT include tips- did you add them to the cost?? Figure $25-30 per TS meal.

 

[jessc79]

Tax is 6.5%. The Dining plan does NOT include tips- did you add them to the cost?? Figure $25-30 per TS meal.

No I excluded tips.