I'm torn -DP or no DP that is the question

[BernardandMissBianca]

Headed down for 12 days at Christmas. 2 adults, 3 juniors, 1 child.

Is the basic dining plan worth it?

If my numbers are right it would be $284 per day for the 6 of us for the basic dining plan, plus gratuity.
Boma and Pizzafari would be roughly $260 plus gratuity OOP.

Historically at WDW DS10 and DD6 don't really eat a lot, they tend to split meals like pizza and burgers.
But with the snack credits I think we might make out on the plus if we did the dining plan.

Either way we would also be doing CRT and Bistro de Paris on this trip which are both 2 TS credits. And we are driving our RV so we plan to eat burgers and dogs with our other 2 parties because they are on the dining plan. (to make up for the use of 2 credits at CRT)

I'm not really sure what to do. Any ideas, suggestions, tips?

 

[DJFan88]

This is a much debated topic that I'm not up to debating right now. It involves many factors, which there are other threads pretty high up right now with alot of points to it, which is because all situations are different.
But, I wanted to post to remind you that you also get the refillable mugs with the dining plan too, so if that is something you would be getting, you could also factor that in.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I forgot about that, at $14 or so a cup, that would really add up if the kids wanted the cups.

I doubt we would buy them if we paid OOP only because we will have the RV with us so I have more flexibility in how much food/drink we bring with us.

I guess I really just need to run all the numbers of where we would eat (good thing the kids usually buy the same thing trip after trip).
It's so complicated!

 

[DJFan88]

I'll tell ya, I had free dining last time and we of course did it and loved it. But, we're not buying it this time.
Reason: We want to eat what we want when we want. We don't usu. have room for dessert after eating,and frankly the CS desserts are not always appealing, except at the resort.
Sometimes, I just like to snack around and sometimes we like appetizers in lieu of the entrees. Flexibility for us. However, I do make about 4-5 table service reservations. We also like the regular food for that - not as much gourmet, so our reservation at The Plaza doesn't really get full value on the plan, and do not always like the top entrees at other places.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I have to agree with the flexibility. That's why I'm struggling with paying $53 for DS10, he just doesn't eat that much in a day. Sometimes he will eat bread and that's it. I really wish they would have a junior price for the dining plan.

We aren't big dessert eaters either. The only dessert I really like for CS is the chocolate cake at Cosmic Ray's. And I know our snack credits would go to water.

 

[ut*disney]

Ok...I was just about to post a topic on this. I know this is being posted constantly and there are tons and tons of posts about this. We are leaving June 16. We went last summer and it was not as expensive as it is this year. We are not sure what to do! We usually have a backpack FULL of chocolate chip cookies left from dessert. We thought about buying the Tables in Wonderland card. I am CERTAINLY not trying to highjack your thread. Has anybody used that as opposed to the dining plan???

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We have actually used TIW before and we would definitely get it again if we pay OOP.
I actually really like the TIW card, it gave us some savings and gave us the flexibility for food options. We actually used it more when the kids were little because they like grown up food so we used the card to off set the cost a bit. (This was when they were still considered children in Disney's eyes)

Oh and I hear you on the cookies! the last day of our trip when we used DDP we had so may rice krispie treats I thought my head was going to explode! I stuffed those suckers in my carry on to take home. They were nice to have here because it extended our happy place time but they were a bear to get home!

20 days until I can make reservations. I need to run some numbers and see what we want to do. Of course we are compounding the problem by going with 2 other families. That is why this is making it so hard to decide. One is using TIW but one is using DDP.

 

[Karabee]

We got it for free one year and had 8 QS meals left over. It was my sister and I, and then my Dad joined. Well, he needs a sit down breakfast so we ended up paying OOP for that, then we would eat breakfast so didn't use any for lunch, and finally we ended up ordering apps and didn't eat dessert at dinner so we would use TS credits but still pay OOP. Plus we don't drink soda so the mugs we're useless to us.
Just goes to show that it depends on what you will use and won't use!

 

[mcraige]

I always face this delima. We did the dining plan a few years ago when it included appetizer, entree, and dessert, and really liked it and felt it was worth it. For this trip, I tried doing the math, comparing the price of the dining plan to the price of the food we would order without it. Because we wanted a 2 TS meal, it was cheaper to just pay OOP rather than buy the dining plan. YMMV

 

[Princess KP]

I forgot about that, at $14 or so a cup, that would really add up if the kids wanted the cups.

I doubt we would buy them if we paid OOP only because we will have the RV with us so I have more flexibility in how much food/drink we bring with us.

I guess I really just need to run all the numbers of where we would eat (good thing the kids usually buy the same thing trip after trip).
It's so complicated!

Is that $14 a day for the refillable cup? We've never purchased it.

 

[aiminator]

Is that $14 a day for the refillable cup? We've never purchased it.

$14 is the cost of the mug for the length of your stay. So even if you don't have the dining plan you can purchase the mug for a one time fee of $14 and use it for your whole stay and I believe it expires at 11:59pm on the day you check out

It is worth it. One day I filled it up 6 times! I definitely saved a lot of money on beverages with the refillable mug. The only pain is having to walk down to your resort's food court each time you want a beverage (at least I got a lot of exercise!!! haha)

 

[aiminator]

I have to agree with the flexibility. That's why I'm struggling with paying $53 for DS10, he just doesn't eat that much in a day. Sometimes he will eat bread and that's it. I really wish they would have a junior price for the dining plan.

We aren't big dessert eaters either. The only dessert I really like for CS is the chocolate cake at Cosmic Ray's. And I know our snack credits would go to water.

Are you looking into the Quick Service Plan or the Regular dining (1 table, 1 quick, 1 snack)? If you are doing the regular dining plan it might be good since you have kids and are planning on doing a bunch of character meals. Those are pretty pricey (Akershus Royal Banquet includes a photo in the cost of the meal - I highly recommend this character princess dining) Those alone can make up the cost of the dining plan and make it "worth it"

I just returned from my first WDW trip as an adult and bought the Regular DDP. I ran the numbers before I went (and after each meal... haha) and it was really stressful to make sure I broke even.

My boyfriend wanted to eat healthy and didn't want dessert at any meal - and as you know dessert comes with each lunch/dinner meal. Without the dessert you are saving $4-$7 per meal. I would get cookies to go and brought them home at the end of the trip.

We did 2 character meals and 2 prix fixe meals so we were on target to save a decent amount of money by using the dining plan. However, my boyfriend got very ill our last day - when I had 2 Table Service credits to use up - he only ate a roll at that dinner but the bill was for $35 each since it was an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal. I felt obligated to use the last credits since I pre-paid for them. Paying out of pocket my bf could have just bought a roll somewhere for a couple bucks haha.

At the end of the trip we came out $50 ahead which is pretty good considering we wasted one TS credit at our last meal

It was nice to know the cost of our trip before we went though - our out of pocket costs were minimal while on the trip - about $40 for additional food and drinks.

We used most of our snack credits on water - Dasani is $2.50 and SmartWater is $3.50 - I went with SmartWater when I could because of my ever pressing need to save the most money on the dining plan. Frozen lemonade at the World Showcase was $4 and quite tasty!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We are looking at the basic dining plan with one snack, one QS and one TS.
One of the families we are going with has never been before and she's so stressed out about having things organized she figured having the basic dining plan would make her life easier. I am pretty much in charge of planning everything and we will be spending the majority of our time together so all TS and most QS meals will be together.

Typically we wouldn't eat a TS every night, on an average 10 day trip we might do TS 6-8 times mixing up breakfast and dinner. But since we are sticking together TS once a day is probably going to happen, with the exception of one night because we are using 2 credits for CRT.

We don't really do a lot of character meals, my kids like places like Bistro de Paris, Brown Derby, and Boma. but I keep leaning towards buffets because I don't know what the girls will eat, they can be picky at times.

But if we do buffets, some of the cost is going to be less expensive if I go with TIW instead of DDP.

 

[thelionqueen]

It sounds to me as if using the TIW card would be the best bet. I totally understand about the need to have everything organized and planned before the trip, but honestly..the dining plan is not a huge value if you have finicky or small eaters.

I think you said you have an RV so you could buy waters and keep them in there, saving the snack credits. I find here is SO much food and snacks leftover, it simply wasn't worth it. We wouldn't buy dessert ever..just an ice cream bar here or there so the desserts always went to waste. Not counting into the equation that the majority of their desserts are really not very good.

Again..this is a hotly debated topic..and there are plusses and minuses to both sides. If it were free..I'd say absolutely a great deal..but not for that much $ per person..especially with a small eater. Just my .o2

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

This will be my second time using the Dining Plan. The first time we had free dining. My DH was paying for snack items and I had to question why was he doing this! He said oh I'll get a snack with it later. At the end of the trip I had to use snack credits but I got some things for the trip home. This trip it is only me and my 13yo DS. I got the regular dining plan for convenience mostly. I like that it is paid, except for tips. I love having a mug and my DS will like dessert with every meal.

 

[parkers218]

the dining plan? Can anyone get it? We are debating this also. Right now we have a split stay 1 room only and one room with Tix. Have gone both with and without the plan before and prefer with.. simply because of the convenience. We are a family of 5. 2 adults 3 kids (one is 12 so a "disney" adult).

 

[thelionqueen]

the dining plan? Can anyone get it? We are debating this also. Right now we have a split stay 1 room only and one room with Tix. Have gone both with and without the plan before and prefer with.. simply because of the convenience. We are a family of 5. 2 adults 3 kids (one is 12 so a "disney" adult).

You need to book a room/ticket package in order to be eligible for the dining plan option. You could do the DP on your room that includes tickets and possibly the split stay as well..depending on if they are linked. I'm assuming your purchased tickets on only one room because they would account for your whole trip? If that's the case they might be able to link the reservations

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I think you really need to just sit down and do the math and decide what you'd really order if you weren't given credits and specific things to order w/those credits (i.e. 1 entree, 1 dessert, etc). The DDP can be a good thing if you think you'll use the credits exactly like it was designed or close to it.

We've done DDP and DxDP and neither one really fits us. The standard DDP doesn't have enough TS credits and DxDP has too much. We won't use the CS credits on DDP and we won't use all of the snacks on DxDP. On top of that- we are more appetizer people than dessert people. DH really enjoyed the refillable mugs and I like having them at home after the trips, but we're thinking about just buying a case of soda- loading it up into the fridge in the room and just saving the $. For this reason, even free dining is a waste for us. I mean- if it winds up being the only deal for our dates- I'd probably do it and maybe spread the magic by using our CS credits on perfect strangers , but it doesn't help us as much as it helps others.

For these reasons- I always book a pkg since it's less $ for the deposit...then I wait to see what kinds of pins or deals we might get. Ideally- if I could get a 30-40% off room discount and switch to room only , buy discounted park tickets from UT, and pay OOP for food based on what we really need- I'd come out ahead. But that's us.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

the dining plan? Can anyone get it? We are debating this also. Right now we have a split stay 1 room only and one room with Tix. Have gone both with and without the plan before and prefer with.. simply because of the convenience. We are a family of 5. 2 adults 3 kids (one is 12 so a "disney" adult).

I believe you have to be annual passholders, DVC members, or FL residents to qualify. I know a lot of people prefer it, but I don't currently qualify- so no experience using it. I know the discount can be applied to a lot of things...so it definitely seems to afford more flexibility and savings options if you are eligible.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

It sounds to me as if using the TIW card would be the best bet. I totally understand about the need to have everything organized and planned before the trip, but honestly..the dining plan is not a huge value if you have finicky or small eaters.

I think you said you have an RV so you could buy waters and keep them in there, saving the snack credits. I find here is SO much food and snacks leftover, it simply wasn't worth it. We wouldn't buy dessert ever..just an ice cream bar here or there so the desserts always went to waste. Not counting into the equation that the majority of their desserts are really not very good.

Again..this is a hotly debated topic..and there are plusses and minuses to both sides. If it were free..I'd say absolutely a great deal..but not for that much $ per person..especially with a small eater. Just my .o2

We are driving our RV down and staying at Fort Wilderness for 11 days. We wouldn't even typically spend every day in the park but since we are going with First timers, we are definitely going to be in the parks all day, every day with the exception of the day that we will A) do laundry and B) eat at the RV because my friend is using an extra Table service credit for CRT.

Dh really is leaning towards the dining plan, but I think I'd rather do Tables in Wonderland. We've been toying with the idea of getting Annual Passes anyway, because we are going back down for Marathon weekend.

Parkers to get the TIW card you have to have annual passes. Well, one adult needs an annual pass.
With the dining plan you need a package but with TIW you can do a room only but you have to have your ticket upgraded to an annual pass.

With TIW they automatically include the 18% gratuity but you get 20% off the bill. Run the numbers to see what the increased cost of the annual pass is (you can upgrade one of your park passes) plus the cost of the card ($75) will be. Then see how much the 20% off will net you at the places you plan to eat. We usually get TIW because we A) go multiple times a year and B) we pretty much break even on a 10 day trip.