Is Dining Plan still a good deal?

[Farro]

I was thinking it would be more convenient but the more I thought about it, I'd still have to use my charge card for tip and alcohol so don't see how it would save time. So confusing!!

By convenience I mean all of our lunches/breakfasts are paid for with snacks/quick service. Done. Our main parts of our dinner (entree, dessert). Done. All we have to do is have money for booze, which isn't just for dinner , appetizers if we want (won't always) and tips.

Our plan is for each one of us (myself/boyfriend and my sister) to take turns paying for any apps/drinks/tip at our table service. Or one can pay for dinner extras, the others can pay for that person's cocktails throughout the day. We drink enough to cover costs!
And we tie our credit cards to our magic bands, so it still takes the same amount of time to pay.

Do we get the most expensive entrees at dinner? Not on purpose, but it usually works out that way because they sound so good! Does it make financial sense? Maybe not, but nothing about this trip makes financial sense!

We've been traveling together for many years. We've had plenty of trips where we were eating barely anything because we didn't budget correctly. Now we are in a better financial position, but still, paying ahead of time for food greatly appeals to us.
I am way better at paying a price up front/paying it off and being done with it, rather than trying to budget what I think we'll eat, paying attention to the budget when we are there (which I'm terrible at ) or using my food budget for other stuff before we even eat! If I had an unlimited budget that would be great, but sadly I don't. A healthy budget, but limited. One day....
This way, we definitely have all necessary meals paid for months before we even go and I can use my spending money for anything I choose! It's not for everyone, I get it, but we like it and that's that.

 

[jk and ek]

i think it can work if you are creative. we've done deluxe dining plan on our shorter first portion of a split stay with great success/value....because its all about using your "check out day" to your advantage and being smart with all your credits (including snacks).

we're doing it again in feb. and i've calculated our estimate cost out of pocket vs dining plan cost and we're going to be saving a significant dollar amount.

here's how we are doing it....

we have two nights at BLT and then 3 nights at AKL. we're getting deluxe dining for the BLT portion and using 2 of our TS credits a day and using our snack credits for breakfast foods (and the day of our super early chef mickey breakfast, we're using snack credits for a light soup lunch at BOG) and since you can still use dining plan credits on your check out day, we're using our remaining two each on our AKL check-in day for our meals on that day. essentially turning two days of dining plan into 3. in the past, our refillable mugs worked for our entire trip, not just the two days we had the dining plan so that was another plus. it should be noted that we are a group who really enjoys sit down meals and if you aren't into that, this obviously isn't an idea for you....but if you like to chill out and eat a lot....then its great!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We haven't been to WDW for seven years so I know some things have changed like Le Cellier is now two credits, so I was wondering if it's still a better choice or if we'd be better off buying our meals?

1) No.
2) No.
3) No.
4) No.
5) No.
6) DDP is not a good deal for guests.
7) If it were, WDW would not offer it.
8) Disney only "gives" things to guest when they make a tidy profit.
9) If Disney makes a tidy profit, you lose money and value . . . PERIOD.

NOTE: DDP is a huge money maker for Disney. Some people I know say they buy it for the "convenience". If they want THAT kind of convenience, I offer to walk around behind them and pay for their meals with my own credit card and charge them the price of a DDP plan. Although retired, I could then live in the lap of true luxury. Even disBoards analysis of DDP shows it to be a looser for guests.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

If calculating based on the way we eat normally, no.

If calculating based on the way we eat on vacation when dessert is part of every meal, it's an okay value.

Last year the meal plan "won" by $200. We just like the meal plan. We know it's not the best value and that there are other, better ways to save but it fits our needs.

 

[Farro]

1) No.

NOTE: DDP is a huge money maker for Disney. Some people I know say they buy it for the "convenience". If they want THAT kind of convenience, I offer to walk around behind them and pay for their meals with my own credit card and charge them the price of a DDP plan. Although retired, I could then live in the lap of true luxury. Even disBoards analysis of DDP shows it to be a looser for guests.

That was rather obnoxious. Everyone has an opinion, obviously not everyone knows how to share them.

 

[cedricandsophie]

For us the tables in wonderland card makes more sense. It's for annual pass holders and dvc members. $150 for 13 months. 20% off at most table service restaurants and many lounges including alcohol. Since we are big wine drinkers and get a bottle of wine most nights we find that we can get our money back and save money pretty quickly. And the tip is automatically added in so the servers love it. But we eat breakfast in room, share lunches and also share some dinners. And we rarely snack. So the dining plan would be a waste.

 

[MellyLouWho]

This is the first time I've had the DDP, so excited not to have to budget food. But made the price of our trip crazy high. Thinking that I can break more than even though...

 

[dminnie]

We've only used the dining plan once, but we didn't really find it to be convenient. It wasn't convenient to have more TS meals than we really wanted. It took a lot of time away from other things we wanted to do. We were so full and then we'd order dessert anyways even though we'd really rather just get a scoop of ice cream someplace a couple hours after dinner. It wasn't convenient for us to schedule every day around making sure we got our money's worth of the plan. Other times we've gone without it, I've compared and for us, we would have spent more every time with the DDP. You also have to take into account that you'll be tipping on those more expensive things that you may or may not have otherwise ordered. We just go and order what we want and we still save every time without the DDP.

Also, one thing to consider is getting a Disney Visa. It can give you 10% off several restaurants(mostly at resorts).

 

[rebelbuddhist]

1) No.
2) No.
3) No.
4) No.
5) No.
6) DDP is not a good deal for guests.
7) If it were, WDW would not offer it.
8) Disney only "gives" things to guest when they make a tidy profit.
9) If Disney makes a tidy profit, you lose money and value . . . PERIOD.

NOTE: DDP is a huge money maker for Disney. Some people I know say they buy it for the "convenience". If they want THAT kind of convenience, I offer to walk around behind them and pay for their meals with my own credit card and charge them the price of a DDP plan. Although retired, I could then live in the lap of true luxury. Even disBoards analysis of DDP shows it to be a looser for guests.

I know you have strong feelings about the DDPs-- all of them and this may be correct for you. However, I wish I could take you up on your offer. My wife and I save anywhere from $200-$400 on a ten day trip and have for our last 5 trips. People need to do the work to plan in advance and compare costs to determine how and IF the DDP works for them. There are no absolutes cast in stone.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I know you have strong feelings about the DDPs

Does it show?

 

[rwdavis2]

I was thinking it would be more convenient but the more I thought about it, I'd still have to use my charge card for tip and alcohol so don't see how it would save time. So confusing!!

Those are my thoughts exactly. You still have to pay something so I never believed there was any convenience to the DDP. We had it 4 years ago, heavily discounted. We decided then we would never pay retail for it.

 

[disneynutz]

We haven't been to WDW for seven years so I know some things have changed like Le Cellier is now two credits, so I was wondering if it's still a better choice or if we'd be better off buying our meals?

The dining plans are a good deal - for Disney. Every year they change the entitlements and raise the price for the most profit. There may be some exceptions but there are thousands of meals credits never used. IMO the plans have caused the menus to be modified to really increase profits. The entrees are smaller and they put some dots or smears on the plate to make the dish look fancy, not what I enjoy.

 

[AngiTN]

It comes down to being as simple as this for me.
Disney would not offer the dining plan for the cost they offer it for if it lost them money.
They make money on it, not loose money on it. If they make money on it that means you would spend less if you pay OOP vs. buying the DP.
This does not count free dining, this is referring solely to buying the plan.
Now, that may not apply to 100% of the people visiting (because, seriously, what would apply to 100%?) but I do say it applies to a vast majority.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Disney would not offer the dining plan for the cost they offer it for if it lost them money.

Exactly. I think about 80% of the outrage I see about everything is about how "Disney just want to make a buck!" but somehow it rarely gets applied to the DDP and people act like the DDP is an act of great generosity and charity, somehow.

 

[IrishNYC]

Does it show?

Rudely so.

 

[Disneylover99]

1) No.
2) No.
3) No.
4) No.
5) No.
6) DDP is not a good deal for guests.
7) If it were, WDW would not offer it.
8) Disney only "gives" things to guest when they make a tidy profit.
9) If Disney makes a tidy profit, you lose money and value . . . PERIOD.

NOTE: DDP is a huge money maker for Disney. Some people I know say they buy it for the "convenience". If they want THAT kind of convenience, I offer to walk around behind them and pay for their meals with my own credit card and charge them the price of a DDP plan. Although retired, I could then live in the lap of true luxury. Even disBoards analysis of DDP shows it to be a looser for guests.

Your no's apply to yourself and many, many people. I know several families who have purchased the dining plan and left with lots of extra unused credits or used their credits on low cost meals. Disney does make a ton of money off of these guests. But you paint everyone with the same brush.

If you do enjoy eating dinner at buffets, or like to order expensive entrees, the dining plan can save you money. Many one credit buffets run in the $40/$50 range and the H&V Fantasmic package looks to be $60 now. The ddp may not have a lot of value to most, but it's not a money loser to all guests.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We discovered last year that it wasn't worth it, even with 3 character meals. We saved about $300 without it, but DD5 and I shared a lot of meals. We debated getting it for next year, but after crunching the numbers it just isn't worth it for us.

 

[AngiTN]

Your no's apply to yourself and many, many people. I know several families who have purchased the dining plan and left with lots of extra unused credits or used their credits on low cost meals. Disney does make a ton of money off of these guests. But you paint everyone with the same brush.

If you do enjoy eating dinner at buffets, or like to order expensive entrees, the dining plan can save you money. Many one credit buffets run in the $40/$50 range and the H&V Fantasmic package looks to be $60 now. The ddp may not have a lot of value to most, but it's not a money loser to all guests.

No, there isn't a thing on property that covers "all guests"
But it is very safe to say it's the minority that save money with it.
Because you know darn well if the majority saved money with it Disney would either stop offering it or raise the cost
They are NOT going to loose money on it

 

[Disneylover99]

No, there isn't a thing on property that covers "all guests"
But it is very safe to say it's the minority that save money with it.
Because you know darn well if the majority saved money with it Disney would either stop offering it or raise the cost
They are NOT going to loose money on it

Of course. I'm just responding to TheRustyScupper who seems adamant that the ddp is a loser for all.

 

[Dakota731]

I will have to discuss it with hubby. When we bought the plan six years ago we spent more than we paid, but I had to do the prep ahead and eat at the most expensive places. Then I told my family they had to get the most costly item on the menu lol. This year my husband is watching his weight so it may not work for us if he doesn't want dessert. Question: what party size do they add 18% tip nowadays?