is Disney Dining worth it?

[mickeyfan83]

I understand dining in Epcot is very expensive... AAA has seperate packages with and w/o the dining. it basically comes out to 150 bucks extra per person for a 4 night stay. and for kids an extra 30-50 bucks. the idea of having it all paid for is nice and not having to say no to dessert but i am trying to have enough for a trip to discovery cove too. i just did the math if i got the basic pkg at a value resort itd be like paying 95 bucks a day including theme park tickets. basically 133 a day including food. per person. its really not bad and i hate to starve us while there but i thought i'd see if anyone had an oppions. an extra 300+ is a lot. hmmmmm............................................................

 

[dreamin in pa]

We did the dining plan in 2006 (free dining package) and 2007 (paid for ourselves). We are also going in November of 2008 without the dining plan. While it was very nice to have everything basically paid for before the trip, we found that we were spending too much time worrying about when our next ADR was. Sometimes it felt like our entire day was planned around our ADR...what could we do until the ADR, would we be late, what happens if we are late, etc.

We also found that it was way too much food for us. Even with careful planning, sometimes we just weren't hungry when it was time for our ADR. Remember, with the dining plan, it's "use them or lose them". For our next trip, we only planned one or two sit-down meals (really special ones if we can get them) but otherwise, we will do counter service when we get hungry.

As to whether the dining plan is right for you, check out the dining section on the boards. There is a whole section on the DDP (Disney Dining Plan). There are links to the restaurant menus with prices too. Try to figure out what you would normally order and compare the totals. Tips are not included this year so don't forget to figure that in too. Also take into consideration how much time you want to spend sitting down at a meal as opposed to grabbing a quick bite to eat.

 

[unknownname]

I think it's so worth it. I love it.

Just don't plan a breakfast with a dinner the same day or you'll be stuffed. unless its a late dinner.

 

[hematite153]

I've done the 2006 and 2007 DDPs and we're going to try the DxDP in Sept.

But, we've also gone to wdw and spent less than $10/day per person on food. Oatmeal (instant pkgs work with hot tap water) for breakfast in the room. PB&J sandwiches that we carry for lunch (and sometimes dinner too), a bottle to drink tap water out of, etc. We drove the price up to $10 by having 1 nice TS meal in the week and by getting 2 or 3 counter service meals. (Note: get these without drink, fries or dessert to save this money and go to the places where 1 meal feeds 2.)

What's my preference? Probably somewhere between these two extremes.

Think about what your family values in a vacation. If you really like sitting down to eat in a nice restaurant, or, at a buffet, or with visiting characters, then the dining plan is worth it. If having to stop touring and go to eat your dinner will frustrate you then the dining plan isn't worth it.

If you are simply interested in having your meals paid for in advance, you could put aside the same amount of money now and then use it to pay for food later. Also, remember that the 2008 plan does not include tips so you will need to budget for these either way.

 

[missypriss19]

They also changed the dinning plan this year so you get less. I felt we spent way to much time in looking for a sit down place to eat. It took to much planning for me. We used on our trip in 05 and it was worth because my son was under 10 and his meal plan was cheap. But when we went in 06 I had to pay for him as an adult. I kept all my reciepts even from the snacks and found that I can come out even on price but had to jump through their hoops. We are going the 19-26 of this month without the dining the plan.
I feel that I can come out less since we are just as happy eating a light breakfast in the room and grabbing a quick bite on the go. We only expect to 2 one or 2 nice sit down meals during this trip.

 

[Dawn68PA]

I think it's worth it. I've used it on my 2 past trips and will be using it again next year. I priced out a few meals, there's 6 adults going, and we'll definately save money. We like to do a buffet or 2 and a sit down dinner every day. It's a nice way to relax for us. The added fact that I don't have to worry about paying while there, is a plus. Even if the tip isn't included, I'm still saving.

 

[JenAusty]

I think it comes down to how important the dining aspect is to you. If you like trying all the restaurants then it actually is worth it price wise. You will save money- its like $39 a person a day and that inlcudes 2 meals with dessert and a snack. This is a good deal because most restaurants you will spend at least $40 in 1 restaurant. If you plan on eating a lot out of your room (bringing food) then you will save more that way. The last time I went for 5 days, eating 2 meals a day in the parks- mostly the fast food joints- no sitdown, for 2 adults- we easily spent $400 or more in food. It was ridiculous. A lot of the restaurants are included in the dining package- I've only found a few that I want to go to aren't and its better to be to do the dining plan and have the meals paid for- one less thing you have to worry about- you know you are saving money- and if there are any restaurants that aren't included that could just be 1 that you don't pay for.

Hope this helps!

 

[maciemouse]

We have gone during free dining the past two years. We are going to go in May this year and are going to pay for the dining plan. We looked at all of our options and we feel if we can get a discount on the hotel room and pay for dining it would be basically the same as paying full price for a room and adding free dining. Anyway about the dining plan, I feel like it is well worth it. We went for a short trip last May (Thurs night-Sunday) and we spent $500 on food. I have two small children. That is alot of money for four people to spend on food. The prices at Disney's restaraunts are high. I feel the dining plan is worth it. Now I agree you do have to do planning for ADR's. I look at it as our time to relax. I think you pay $37.00 for adults and $9.00 for children per day on the DDP. By the time you go to breakfast with the characters you have spent 24.00 for an adult breakfast and that is not including drink and a tip. You still have 2 meals left in your day. If you eat three meals a day, you would easily spend over 37.00. You can also use the DDP to eat at places you normally wouldn't eat at. We went to Kona Cafe last year. It was wonderful. They bought the ticket for us to sign and it was $230.00. We didn't have to pay because we were on the DDP. You can see where we did save money. Also our total was $98.00 at LTT one day for lunch. We used our table service then and didn't have to pay. I am glad they took the appetizer out of the standard dining plan this year. In the past, in has just been way too much food. I have seen alot of wasted food.
Also, I love the fact you get dessert with each meal. That is a special treat.

 

[sharonmickey]

I guess it depends on how much you eat. My family are not big eaters so for us it isn't worth it. However, friends who do eat more than us, found it to be worth the money. No matter what you decide just relax and have a fun trip.

 

[Silver Queen]

We're trying the Dining Plan for the first time this year and the way I look at it it will probably be a draw. We're disappointed that the appetizers aren't included because we prefer an app or salad with our dinner rather than dessert, but we'll make do. I agree that it will be nice to know that our meals are already basically paid for. Another advantage will be that if we feel like getting a more expensive entree like filet there will be no second thoughts or guilt about not going with meatloaf instead. We'll see how this goo and next time we may pay OOP. As much as ther are some great ( and healthy) counter service restaurants (like Sunshine Seasons) we do like the idea of relaxing at a nice sit down dinner. By the way, our kids are grown so it's just the two of us. Good luck with your decision!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We have been on the dining plan 3 times. Twice we have paid for it and once we got Free Dining (receiving free dining on our September trip saved us almost $1000). We are a family of six and it has saved us money everytime we used it. Unless you are packing your own pb&js to bring into the parks or going back to your room for a "homemade" meal, I don't see how you can't be saving money. The value is especially good for the kids, there is no way we could feed them on $11.00 per day without the plan. We even used snack credits for breakfast items on our last trip. You could get a whole carton of Entimens donuts and a half gallon of milk for two snack credits. That was a quick breakfast for the kids before we left for the parks. We had a character meal everyday of our trip. I can't remember the price of every single item at every single meal (part of the beauty of the dining plan, not having to worry about prices), but I know the buffet at Crystal palace is about $28.00 per adult and $13.00 per child (the child's price on the plan for the entire day with cs meal, ts meal and snack was on $11.00!) so our bill was about $107.00 (before tip, which was included on our last trip), with tip about $127.00. The dining plan for our family for the whole day was only $120.00. We came out $7.00 ahead just on dinner, then you throw in lunch for the six of us that would have cost about $40.00 out of pocket and say $3.00 each per snack for each of us ($18 total), that has us saving about $65.00 per day.

I also can't quite understand everybody saying that there's too much food. If you don't want an appetizer and dessert, don't order both. And also, I lost 6 pounds during our September trip. How can you possibly gain that much weight with all of the walking. I wouldn't be surprised if we walked 10 miles per day or more! It was easy to use. We have never had any trouble with it. You just hand them the card and they swipe it. No big deal. That's my husband's favorite part of it all, the ease of the plan and not worrying about the money.

Now, I must say I agree that people will not be saving as much money with the new 2008 plan because it does not include the tip. (I also don't think the revamped plan will last past 2008 either, just my opinion.) Even without the tip and the appetizer we would still come out ahead. So, as you can see we are "Fans of the Plan!"

 

[rickfromky]

i am new on here where should i go?

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Take a look at the menus on allearsnet.com they list the prices at all food venues if you think you will eat mostly counter services while there price a few and add it up most of the buffet/character meals alone range from 18.99 per adult for breakfast and 28.99 per adult for dinner, while the kids are 10.99 for breakfast and 13.99 for dinner.

http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

 

[wilde_oscar]

i am new on here where should i go?

Disney World.

 

[sl_underwood]

We used the dining plan in 2006 and loved it. We split the CS meals and a few ts too and paid nothing oop. Plus all except for one day the kids had a character meal. I have been pricing things this trip and even with the changes made, we will save a ton just cause all our TS meals are buffet. We will also split a few cs meals so breakfast will be covered as well. I will only have to pay oop for one meal, of course I am dissapointed they wont include tips anymore. I loved not having to worry about carrying credit cards or cash around the world.

 

[kimis]

You have to sit down and do the math for your trip. For my dh and me it has always been great. In 21 days we will be doing the DDDP and we can't wait. We chose the new deluxe plan because it will allow us to eat at more signature resturants that we normally wouldn't try. Plus I use the snack credits to bring back mickey ears for my grandkids and the kids I watch.

 

[danielle782001]

I say YES!!! I have been reading that many people no longer think it is worth it because it no longer includes the appetizer or tip.... But I figured it out and it still is worth it for us. I went through every menu for each table-service we have reservations for and went through counter menus we would likely be ordering from. I added it all up. Took some time but I came out with a savings of over $150 for just four days. Some days we were spending more on the plan then if we were to pay OOP. But the average was in our favor, big time. I think I know why....

We have two children under 10. The plan costs us $9.99 for the day which is less then one single table-service. We do a lot of character dining and there is no meal less than $12.99. The kid plan pays for it self in one meal per day and we are still left with a counter and a snack.

If you don't have small children, I would suggest going through the process of figuring out what types of food you would order and where (you don't have to know excactly). You will get an idea of what you would be spending, then compare that to the DDP. Like I said, it took some time but now I am not wondering if I am wasting money on the plan and I know I AM SAVING!

 

[torinsmom]

I don't think meals at Epcot are more expensive than other meals. The CS meals are the same price and TS meals vary at every park.

If you have two kids under 10, the DDP is probably a decent deal for you. You can do a character meal every day. If you're more likely to eat CS, then DDP does not save you money. The CS meals are enough to share, IMO. Two meals would be plenty for the 2 adults and 2 kids. Last trip, we did DDP and DS13 did not really care for the TS meals. We ended up using 4 of our TS credits as CS credits, just to use them. We definitely lost money on the DDP that time! Trip before, we got free dining. Trip before that, we paid for DDP and had a character meal every day. That trip we made out better with it. Point being, you need to figure out what you would eat and add it up to see if it will be a good deal for you.

If you like the idea of it all be paying paid for, you can just save the money you would use on food. Then charge all your meals to your room key and pay it off at the end of the trip. That's what I'm doing in October.

Marsha

 

[rotlex]

To our family it is very worth it, even with the upcoming changes in 08. We like to do at least 1 character meal per day, and that alone pretty much pays for the plan. As we are usually on a pretty strict diet year round, it's also nice to kick back, and eat what we want, so in short, eating is half the fun of our tips, LOL.