Is Dining Plan still a good deal?

[happymommy]

I've only gotten the dining plan for free. First time, it was in conjunction with a room discount (years ago), and it was the regular dining plan. At that time, it was the four of us. We ended up leaving behind some counter service meals I'm sure of. Second two times, it was just DD and me with the free QSDP. Both times, we tried to use all our meals. But, the meals are so large that we share a lot. Took home a lot of snacks (candy and such) to use up the credits last day.

We find meals so large at Disney, and DD and I prefer most CS meals over TS meals. Next trip, though, we do have a few TS meals planned (and even Sunday brunch at CG). Still, for us, it would cost us WAY more to buy the dining plan that just pay OOP. The dining plan is a LOT of food to me. We like snacking, don't eat large breakfasts more than once a trip, don't do dessert almost ever, and share meals since they are just too much food.

We've done a couple character meals, but they were not planned. My kids were never into them. They aren't worth it to us. And, buffet meals aren't really a draw for me.

Only you can make that call.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Rudely so.

1) Hopefully, not "rudely so", just realistically.
2) To me (personal opinion, only) Disney vacations are very expensive, and guests should save money whenever/wherever possible.
3) I want to pay for value and worth, and not pay to increase the annual bonus of Ogre (yes, I again mean Iger).

 

[hopeful4fl]

Here is why I do NOT like the DDP.
It forces me (and others who think from a financial viewpoint) to change my eating habits. Trying to maximize the value, I try to order the most expensive dish, but cannot control what my wife wants to order and though I do not say anything if she orders the cheapest thing on the menu (like a chicken entree), it gnaws at me. The sad part is, if I paid OOP, I could care less. I put this down to my "get a deal" nature. I know it is stupid, but it is what it is.
The other thing I do not like about the DDP is the dessert lock in. I am not a desserts guy, but to "max" the value, gotta order.
DDP is not for everyone. In my case, it actually causes stress (y own fault, but stupid stress nevertheless). Just a different angle I wanted the OP to understand.

 

[Disneylover99]

1) Hopefully, not "rudely so", just realistically.
2) To me (personal opinion, only) Disney vacations are very expensive, and guests should save money whenever/wherever possible.
3) I want to pay for value and worth, and not pay to increase the annual bonus of Ogre (yes, I again mean Iger).

I agree with point number 2. Sometimes the ddp is part of that savings for people.

 

[Canadian Girl]

I am doing a split stay with my 15 year old and 12 year old daughters. They want 1900 Park Fare, Garden Grill etc. And the refillable mugs. We will get the DDP the first four days, and carry the TS to the fifth. No plan for the last three days but we will have the mugs. I think this will end up being cheaper for us than paying OOP.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I agree with point number 2. Sometimes the ddp is part of that savings for people.

Of course I have no scientific data to back this up, but my guess is that if the vast, vast, vast majority of guests eat like they normally would, they would spend less than if they'd purchased the dining plan. I really don't think Disney would offer the dining plan if it didn't net them a profit.

I'm sure there are a handful of big eaters or people who want to do a character meal every single day, but these would be more the exception than the rule.

I'm sure we will never have true data, but I feel pretty confident that the average guest does not save money on the dining plan.

 

[Disneylover99]

Of course I have no scientific data to back this up, but my guess is that if the vast, vast, vast majority of guests eat like they normally would, they would spend less than if they'd purchased the dining plan. I really don't think Disney would offer the dining plan if it didn't net them a profit.

I'm sure there are a handful of big eaters or people who want to do a character meal every single day, but these would be more the exception than the rule.

I'm sure we will never have true data, but I feel pretty confident that the average guest does not save money on the dining plan.

I totally agree, especially if you don't research it first or compare prices ahead of time. But many frequent travellers, do know how to maximize the value on the ddp and enjoy doing so.

The ddp is also designed to keep people on Disney property. Disney realizes that the ddp may save some families money on food, but they're hoping families will more than make up for that by spending elsewhere in Disney.

 

[AngiTN]

It wasn't a test at Disney but I recently saw someone put the cost of an all inclusive trip against paying OOP.
2 people went on the same vacation, same location, same time.
One did it all inclusive, food, room, etc.
One did it all OOP
They ordered the same things at the same meals. The one paying OOP cringed each time they signed the charge slip
At the end of the trip, the one paying OOP paid less than the one paying for all inclusive.
This was an item for item identical comparison. Not even altering how they ate to fit things.
Now, I realize that Disney is different but I still believe that most tests done similarly would work out the same.

 

[Dug720]

I'm in the group that "worth it" is not so much about "am I getting a 'deal' on my food" but it being already pretty much taken care of. Maybe it's the cruising mindset I've gotten into with vacations as of late, but to me, including the DDP is just easier. Yes there are gratuities and any alcohol if I choose that at meals where available, but that is just like on a cruise in my mind (because I don't get the drink packages when I'm on a ship where they're offered since I don't want a glass of wine every night necessarily). And in terms of the "but if you don't get the most expensive things" argument, maybe I don't; but continuing the cruise analogy, I don't have kids so I don't use the kids' clubs on ships but I still have to "cover the cost" in my cruise fare. You don't get to go to Disney (or whatever cruise line) and say "I am a solo adult and do not have children. Please figure out what percentage of the cruise fare covers the kids' clubs and deduct that from my bill."

To me, "worth it" means I have to think as little as possible about "doing math" when I'm on vacation. Having it prepaid means I don't have to think about it when the bill comes.

 

[alex9179]

Here is why I do NOT like the DDP.
It forces me (and others who think from a financial viewpoint) to change my eating habits. Trying to maximize the value, I try to order the most expensive dish, but cannot control what my wife wants to order and though I do not say anything if she orders the cheapest thing on the menu (like a chicken entree), it gnaws at me. The sad part is, if I paid OOP, I could care less. I put this down to my "get a deal" nature. I know it is stupid, but it is what it is.
The other thing I do not like about the DDP is the dessert lock in. I am not a desserts guy, but to "max" the value, gotta order.
DDP is not for everyone. In my case, it actually causes stress (y own fault, but stupid stress nevertheless). Just a different angle I wanted the OP to understand.

This is me. I would be trying to maximize the value of the plan the entire time which would cause unneeded stress. If I had already paid $X to cover a TS visit and DH ordered a salad, I'd be lamenting those lost dollars...and it would just build as we got less and less interested in eating over the course of the week! I mean, I clip 25 cent coupons! I can't ignore the loss.
I'm also a little nutty over food waste. At WDW I don't want to order more than I think we can eat because the foods don't keep well for leftovers or don't hold up to reheating in a microwave (if even available). The newer flexibility, at several TS, about how credits are used certainly helps this but then I'd have to figure out how to use those credits I "saved". Or, someone decides they must have their own entree when I had counted on sharing and my future meal plan is shot down. Illness and canceled dining is a very real possibility, too. There are too many variables, for me.

Yes, the plan would force our family to eat contrary to our preferences. Feeling the pressure to optimize it, the food waste, the larger tips...all would lessen my fun. I love to plan but the DDP would be planning against ourselves. Like others, I also like to have the vacation paid when we go. My Disney Visa rewards and the gift cards purchased ahead of time will cover almost all of it. The restaurants that give you 10% off using the cc will be the exceptions.

It's so personal. Club level is often considered "not worth it" but I think we're going to book it for the second half of our vacation because we'll be at the resort a lot. Split between 5 people, we'll more than get our money's worth with the snacks and beverages, even if we don't utilize the concierge.

Each person/family can decide what compromises are acceptable to them.

 

[IrishNYC]

To me, "worth it" means I have to think as little as possible about "doing math" when I'm on vacation. Having it prepaid means I don't have to think about it when the bill comes.

Exactly!

Even when you pre-load Disney gift cards before you go and consider that as pre-paying, you still have to think about budgeting what you've pre-loaded. With the DDP thinking about it is removed. I don't want to think on vacation.

Just for the sake of curiosity I used the DDP comparison calculator someone posted above, plugging in the TS meals we have planned, and using choosing "average QS" and assuming we'd order 2 desserts per day (we are a family of 3). According to that calculator the DDP will save us $196. Once DD turns 10, maybe it will be different, or if she ever isn't interested in character meals, it won't save us money, but for now it makes sense both financially and just because I prefer to have as many vacation expenses as possible out of the way before we get on that plane. But, I won't judge anyone who doesn't care for the DDP, or tell belittle them for not using it.

 

[Farro]

It wasn't a test at Disney but I recently saw someone put the cost of an all inclusive trip against paying OOP.
2 people went on the same vacation, same location, same time.
One did it all inclusive, food, room, etc.
One did it all OOP
They ordered the same things at the same meals. The one paying OOP cringed each time they signed the charge slip
At the end of the trip, the one paying OOP paid less than the one paying for all inclusive.
This was an item for item identical comparison. Not even altering how they ate to fit things.
Now, I realize that Disney is different but I still believe that most tests done similarly would work out the same.

But who wants to cringe every time you sign a charge slip? Even if you spend less in the end, it seems like it's on your mind in real time, which is exactly what I want to avoid on vacation.

Again, maybe I wouldn't spend as much, but then I would spend time thinking about price. I choose not to, that's all. Pay up front and be done.
My dream would be an alcohol package add- on....oh that would be great!

 

[AngiTN]

But who wants to cringe every time you sign a charge slip? Even if you spend less in the end, it seems like it's on your mind in real time, which is exactly what I want to avoid on vacation.

Again, maybe I wouldn't spend as much, but then I would spend time thinking about price. I choose not to, that's all. Pay up front and be done.
My dream would be an alcohol package add- on....oh that would be great!

I don't cringe every time I sign a charge slip. Why would I when I know I am paying less than if I paid all up front? I order what I want and book the meals I want. If I want all TS meals and no QS meals that's good. No DP tells me I have to have so many QS meals and so many TS meals. Plus, who wants to pay more on purpose? Though I'm glad folks do. As long as folks overpay for their food it will keep other prices down elsewhere.

Otherwise, you are right, what one person does makes no difference to me. When someone asks, I'm giving them an honest answer. Vast majority will pay more with the DP. Which is the original question here.

 

[Farro]

I don't cringe every time I sign a charge slip. Why would I when I know I am paying less than if I paid all up front? I order what I want and book the meals I want. If I want all TS meals and no QS meals that's good. No DP tells me I have to have so many QS meals and so many TS meals. Plus, who wants to pay more on purpose? Though I'm glad folks do. As long as folks overpay for their food it will keep other prices down elsewhere.

Otherwise, you are right, what one person does makes no difference to me. When someone asks, I'm giving them an honest answer. Vast majority will pay more with the DP. Which is the original question here.

Your post about the study or whatever you read, that I then quoted and replied to, said the person paying OOP cringed every time they signed the charge ticket. I didn't assume it was you.

But you are welcome for keeping your food prices down, anything I can do to help out a fellow human being.

 

[KrazeeK120]

To me, "worth it" means I have to think as little as possible about "doing math" when I'm on vacation. Having it prepaid means I don't have to think about it when the bill comes.

I don't do math while on vacation either. I order what I want and know I am still paying less than if I had gotten the dining plan.

For those who are concerned about the price of meals, the dining plan is surely not the way to go. It would be far less expensive to order the least expensive thing on the menu at each meal than it would be to get the dining plan.

People don't want to "do math" on vacation, so they buy (in most cases) an overpriced dining plan, which is exactly what Disney wants. It's purely psychological. Disney is very good about squeezing the last penny out of people.

 

[Farro]

Well then. I guess then I'm amazed at all the people who actually assumed you would save money on the dining plan. Of course you wouldn't. Just as the post above states, you can save by ordering the cheapest thing on the menu if that's what you are worried about.

I don't think I was psychologically manipulated by Disney into buying the dining plan. Or maybe I was....

 

[alex9179]

Even when you pre-load Disney gift cards before you go and consider that as pre-paying, you still have to think about budgeting what you've pre-loaded. With the DDP thinking about it is removed. I don't want to think on vacation.

A lot of people still have to budget the items not covered by the DDP. Alcohol or an add-on at a signature, for instance. I don't have it down to the dollar, but if I budget about the average cost per day for my family I can get in the ballpark prior to arrival, including alcohol or extras. Any amount left over on a Disney gift card can be put towards souvenirs and visa/mastercard types can come home with us if we don't use it.

All of the opinions are in answer to the OP's question, "Is Dining Plan still a good deal?" We're all chiming in about our idea of a good deal and I don't think either method precludes thinking about it. As demonstrated, some of us would be thinking of the price real time if using the plan.

 

[Dug720]

Well then. I guess then I'm amazed at all the people who actually assumed you would save money on the dining plan. Of course you wouldn't. Just as the post above states, you can save by ordering the cheapest thing on the menu if that's what you are worried about.

I don't think I was psychologically manipulated by Disney into buying the dining plan. Or maybe I was....

Exactly. I never said I'd "save money" on it. What I do save is any kind of worrying about where I want to eat or what I want to eat. Do I always get the most expensive thing on the menu? No. But I don't want to be limited to the cheapest thing either.

As I said earlier, I look at buying the package very much the same as an overall fare on a cruise. I pay the same fare for the ship regardless of what I do while onboard - I don't get a discount because I don't have kids who use the kids club, I can't deduct anything by saying "Oh I don't need a cabin steward. I'll make up my own bed.", and I don't get to deduct anything for meals I don't eat because I'm off the ship doing something while in port. I do what I want that's included and don't stress what I don't do that's included. And I budget for my gratuities and any alcoholic beverages I have onboard. Ergo for me getting the dining plan works because it takes what I'm now used to (cruise vacations) and transplants the same basic idea to land.

No manipulation there at all by anyone.

 

[Farro]

Listen, I think it all comes down to the way you travel.

I like to see how much I can pay for up front. I look at hotel, food, length of stay, etc. Then I look at the total cost and see if I can afford it. If I can't afford it the way I want, then I wait to travel to that particular destination. This includes the dining plan, a deluxe hotel if I want (which people also like to say "I don't judge, but boy people are idiots paying that price for a deluxe" ) and anything else.

If I can afford it, I buy it, put it away in my mind and don't think about it again. My main costs of my trip are d-o-n-e done.
Booze is extra, sure, but I'd have to budget for it anyways to drink at Epcot or any bars. Besides, booze is always in the budget.

And that's the way I do it. I'm not naive, I didn't expect to save money, and I get it if you don't choose to buy the dining plan. And I certainly won't make a snide comment about your choice.

Soooo, who can I write to about adding an alcohol add-on to the package/dining plan? Because THAT would be awesome....

 

[Roxyfire]

A lot of people still have to budget the items not covered by the DDP. Alcohol or an add-on at a signature, for instance. I don't have it down to the dollar, but if I budget about the average cost per day for my family I can get in the ballpark prior to arrival, including alcohol or extras. Any amount left over on a Disney gift card can be put towards souvenirs and visa/mastercard types can come home with us if we don't use it.

All of the opinions are in answer to the OP's question, "Is Dining Plan still a good deal?" We're all chiming in about our idea of a good deal and I don't think either method precludes thinking about it. As demonstrated, some of us would be thinking of the price real time if using the plan.

Yeah ultimately I think it's important to understand what's in it for the individual or family vs WDW travelers as a whole. I just can't make it work because my kid won't eat very much. He's also considered a Disney adult so unless he was a giant of a kid it wouldn't be necessary. But, I can see it being useful for teenagers and grown adults with big appetites, like myself. For people who are satisfied with a child's serving of food, it's a no brainer to just pay as they go. I think the OP would be better served to go through some menus and add up some prices, assuming it's not a family of 5 I think they'd probably come out ahead with a pay as you go mentality but it all depends.