I LOVE the Disney Dining Plan!!

[Albertan mom]

Just wanted to start a positive thread about the dining plan!!

Why I love the dining plan:

It lets me plan!! I admit, the first time we did it, I was nervous about having a 'schedule' but I loved it! We knew we could walk up and we would get in the restaurant for sure, so that was a nice feeling.

We get to try places we wouldn't! I admit, I am a bit on the cheap side, and would not want to spend so much money on a sit down meal. We got to eat in Cinderellas Castle! For free! What a memory for my kids! It was great!

Tips are included! If I love the service, I do tip more, but for the most part, I don't have to worry about it. (we won't talk about the rumors about them taking the tips off the DDP, lets not borrow trouble, and just be happy!)

Buffets are included! My kids love buffets. We can go, and all find something we like, and not worry about the cost!

Fantasmic Dinner Package is included! Meal, and a show, for free--yay!!

Why do you LOVE the Dining Plan???

(only positive, happy posts allowed! )

 

[BillSears]

Why do you LOVE the Dining Plan???

I don't love it but it is free for me in September and that's better then any other discount out there right now. That's about the only good point I can think of.

 

[Hodder]

Our family loves it. When we planned our first trip in Oct2005, we had decided to get the DDP,figured as long as we broke even who cares, wouldn't have to worry about how much money we had (we don't use credit cards), had it booked then lucked into it free. When we went we weren't sure what to expect...LOVED IT) When we started to plan for our upcoming Sept trip hubby said right away, get dining, we factored it into our budget, and after we had booked...they offered it free again (we are fortunate to get it free again)

I agree with people on other threads, it's not just Disney Rests. that you have to plan, it is the same around here. You can walk up but some places are a 1hr-2hr wait.

If I am lucky enough to get to plan another trip to Disney you can bet your bananas that I will get DDP again-free or not.

 

[budbeerlady]

We love the plan, it is the only way Dh comes back every year. For us we have a great dinner and our early lunch cs is considered free.

We love the fact that it is paid for, I would croak if I looked at the total and paid that bill every night. We are on vacation to relax and not stress about the costs.

I know it is a sore point for many, but I like making my ADRs at 180 days out. I like to know where I am eating and when. I hate showing up at the local Red Lobster to hear that is it 1 + wait. I wouldnt want to do that on my vacation. We are park hoppers with a kid who takes afternoon breaks, so after our break it is no big deal to head out to where dinner is.

Thanks for starting this thread, the plan works for some and doesnt for others but I think calling for its end is a bit extreme. Part of the problem is the capacity of sit down places. For all the people at AK, there is the rainforest that isnt even on the plan. (I dont know it Yak and Yeti will be on the plan when it is done.)

Maybe a new place to eat or a couple would take the pressure off?

 

[2giddy4wdw]

We too love the DDP. We used to use it back before we bought in to the DVC, and were a little concerned about not getting it anymore. We had 2 trips without it and now it is offered to DVC. I like paying in advance, but I also like being able to try things that I may not have before, because of the price. I don't like spending a lot on food. So for $39 a day we get a snack, a counter service and a table service meal. I think it's a great advantage. Yes that's a lot of food, but you are on vacation. And even before the DDP really hit, it was tough to get into some of the restaurants. We like to plan out where we are eating and what time. I know that when we weren't on the plan, there were times that we would cancel our ADR's because we were having too much fun in a park. But now we plan them for right around 5:00 and still have the time to get things done and see the night time shows.

I realize that it's not for everyone...and that's fine with me. But don't be putting us (the ones that like using it) down for the program. We didn't start it...we just joined and love using it. I have friends who use it, but don't make ADR's and think that it's the greatest too. And for anyone that says the service or the food quality has gone down since the DDP has become more popular...think again. It is happening everywhere, not just at Disney. I have to say that only on our past trip in January did we have poor service. But that could happen at any place at anytime.

The only thing I don't like is that being a DVC member...we don't get the free DDP , but that's ok!!!

 

[sandybobandy]

Yup. Another vote here for LOVE IT! I'm sorry those that don't like it feel that way, but it certainly has offered more variety for my husband and I and has been extremely affordable.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

I love it 2!!!!

 

[n2mm]

We love it too! Used it for the last 6 trips and it's great. We are also DDE card holders too, so we have the best of both worlds.

 

[pooch]

We used the plan for the first time last year, intended to pay for it, got it free! DH, who is not a Disney lover, LOVED the DDP. It took a couple of days worth of "No, you don't have to pay for that!" for him to get the idea but once he did, he was in HEAVEN!! Filet Mignon every night!!! DD & I are going for a return trip in Sept for FREE DDP again. Wouldn't ever consider going without. We don't take breaks in the afternoon so our TS meal is our break. Don't mind at all having to plan meals 6 mos in advance. Aren't we all uberplanners on this site anyway? I figure out which park we will visit on which day, usually based on late EMH's, and pick restaurants to coincide. Of course, we always go in Sept so crowds aren't really an issue.

LOVE MY DDP!!!

 

[Donaldduck66]

Yes we love it too. It's great as you get the opportunity to eat at restaurants that you probably wouldn't pay the cost to go to as some of them are quite expensive. Living in England we have always planned ahead so we know which park we will be in and we just arrange times and locations around show times. You usually end up putting on weight while your on the DP so the diet goes out the window for 2 weeks.

 

[ShannonN]

We used it last year for our first visit and we'll be using it again for our 2nd trip in just 9 days!! We love love love it! It's nice to enjoy your dinner and not have to think about the the cost because it's already PAID!! Just a few more days and DDP here we come! It's great to have a positive DDP thread for a change.
DH DS ME

 

[EpcotLove]

I love that I have it for free in 3 sept... wooooooooooo hooooooooo!

 

[Treacle44]

We've not had the pleasure of doing it yet but will be in November.

I love it because it lets me plan and obsess over restaurants and food, one of my favourite pastimes!

It'll be lovely to eat virtually anything on the menu without looking at the cost.

Not having to worry about tipping and carrying lots of mone/tc's around all the time.

We'll get to eat at places we'd never normally.

I'm lovin' it!

 

[suzimar57]

we love the DDP here!

big planners here - and dining out is a big part of our WDW vacation - this way, we eat where we would anyway, including a couple of nicer places, and for less money - love it love it love it!!!

 

[rentayenta]

I have never done it but cannot see one reason why my family will not thoroughly enjoy it! It will be free this September and you cannot beat that! We would still enjoy a few TS but with the dining plan, it enables us to do 4 character meals and visit with all of the kids' favorite characters.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I would never have eaten at CP withou it. Wouldn't have done the Fantasmic package at H&V without it. Wouldn't be going to WCC this year without it. And I always get to go to 50's PTC and Biergarten. I used to have to decide which 2 or 3 TS to get. This year, which 6(5 actually, since we're doin' HDDR on it). Love it love it love it!

 

[disneyjunebug]

Will try it for the first time this November. To me, paying for it ahead of time is a great selling factor! And when you take a cruise, you "pay" for the food when you pay for your cruise. I look at it as a way that Disney competes with the cruiselines and all inclusive resorts.

 

[blue_eyes5212]

I love it because usually when I eat out I look at the prices of what I really want and then say "Well, I better get this other thing because it is cheaper"

But on the dining plan I order what I want without worrying that it will cost too much!!

It truly makes me feel as if I am "on vacation"!!

 

[wilma-bride]

I haven't done the DDP yet (will be in August for free dining) but, as a fussy eater, I love the fact that it will give us a chance to eat at places where I would normally shy away from because of the menu limitations (for me). With the dining plan being free for us, I am hoping to use the opportunity to try and be a bit more adventurous with my eating habits and hopefully not have to shame DH by me asking for fries with everything

The only thing I suspect I won't love is the fact that I am likely to gain back all the weight I am desperately trying to lose for this trip

 

[Hannahsmom]

We love it because it allows us to not have to use much of our brain on vacation. No budgeting, no "what do you feel like eating? I don't know what do you feel like eating" crap, no fuss no muss. Everything is planned out for us in advance and all we have to do is enjoy our vacation.

I also like that it allows us to try different restaurant and foods that we normally would never try.