I'm sure this is showing my "noob-ness" but I need help....

[OllieDannyandMe]

I might be reading your posts incorrectly, but I am thinking that you may be calculating your children as "children" at the buffets, and they will be charged as adults unless they are nine or younger. Could that be where your $500 savings springs from?

I could be way off base, but I didn't want you to be surprised in case you thought that they would qualify for the child's price at a buffet.

 

[southern_redhead]

I might be reading your posts incorrectly, but I am thinking that you may be calculating your children as "children" at the buffets, and they will be charged as adults unless they are nine or younger. Could that be where your $500 savings springs from?

I could be way off base, but I didn't want you to be surprised in case you thought that they would qualify for the child's price at a buffet.

No, I am using the prices based on four adults (me, DH, 11 yo, 14 yo) and two kids (6 and 8.) The two oldest will have had/be having a bday by the time we go but DD and youngest DS will still fall under the kids plan. It was because I was doing 2 non DDP table service meals but still paying for the plan on those days. Thanks for looking out for me though, I need ALL the help I can get!


I can see the posters point about ordering up. I will have to look more closely at the CS menus and see what I think. I'll crunch numbers for the QSDP and paying OOP on our TS meals and see how that runs......I'm sure I'll have another sleepless night and need the entertainment soon!

 

[williamson_ja]

Something else to remember- we used to do the dining plan, and i can tell you it was just too much food.

Also, you have to remember the tip factor- we tip very well for good service. However, on the dining plan, even at a buffet, where the server only brings your drinks, you are automatically charged 18% gratuity. I just do not believe in paying more than 2-3 dollars per person for a buffet.

I noticed where a lot of the meals you are choosing are buffets.


We no longer do the dining plan and unless you plan to really eat that much food in a day, it doesn't really save you money. The reason I liked it was for the idea of my meals being pre-paid. it was more a budgeting ease thing than a real savings thing.

They really only charge the 18% gratuity automatically to your meals if it is a party of 6 or more. If you are only traveling with 4-5 people, this won't affect you.
I also have to agree with the value of the dining plan. I am a super budgeter sort of person that would be fretting about every nickel my kids spent on their meals. If we were buying food out of pocket, I would probably spend less because I would be stressing the whole time about the money and telling everyone not to spend too much. When I buy the DDP, I have prepaid for everything and I don't have to worry about what they are spending. We've always come out ahead. For example: Dinner at Akershus $38, Lunch at cosmic Ray's $14, snack $4 =$56. The plan only costs $42. If we go to a restaurant, I don't have to worry if my kids want to eat the steak and get dessert (which they almost always do). I can let them have it and not worry about it. For us, it is a good value for the money. It also improves the enjoyment of our trip because we are much more free to order what we want without worrying about it.

I also found that there were so many good restaurants on the DDP, we never had a reason to go somewhere that wasn't on the plan. Have you looked to see if there are other places on the plan that would work for you? Cape May has some crab legs and pretty good seafood.

 

[AimeeMichele]

I'm a huge fan of the dining plans! Last year we saved arond $300 using the dining plan and when we go back in October we will save $400 - $500 with it (all depending on what's really ordered compared to what we think we'll order). I know that everyone's situation is different, so just go with what works best for you and your family!

 

[lojikal1]

You neglected to mention the dates you plan on being at WDW... Two words... FREE DINING!!! If you are going at the right time of year this whole conversation might be moot!