Is DP worth it when using TS for lunch?

[jennyf10]

Not sure if I'm not adding up correctly or if I'm underestimating the cost of food at Disney. I'm hoping someone can confirm my numbers! My main TS meals are as follows (all prices are before tax and tip but include the holiday surcharge):

Chefs de France - lunch - approx. $30 pp;
Crystal Palace - lunch - $25 pp;
50's PrimeTime Cafe - lunch - approx. $30 pp;
Mama Melrose Fantasmic! dinner package - $38 pp;
Tusker House buffet - lunch - $25 pp;
1900 Park Faire Breakfast - approx. $25 pp;
Trail's End buffet - dinner - $25 pp;

California Grill Dinner - approx. $60 pp (will probably pay oop - my son will order the $20 sushi for dinner).

I'm staying in a FW cabin and don't plan to eat very much CS - maybe three or four meals. The meal plan for three of us (Me, DH and DS (10)) is $120 a day for 7 days for a total of $840. I don't see how the meal plan will save us money in the above scenario but I want to make sure I haven't underestimated the cost of food and/or my costs are correct. Any input would be great. Thanks!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Based on your numbers, unless you think you are going to eat more CS than you estimate the DDP probably isn't for you.

At 3 CS there will be $156.00 left in paid DDP for you to use just to break even.

At 4 CS there will be $126.00 left in paid DDP for you to use just to break even.

Do you think you would redeem the snack credits each day? That could equal another $80.00 in value used but that still doesn't get you close to a break even on the plan. With all of your TS planned, do you think you would use a CS meal each day (except for the Cali Grill day?) Then you would have 6 CS used and your value left to break even would be around $66.00 and the 7 snack credits each would put you only at a $13.00 savings by using the DDP.

I think based on your numbers you're better off paying OOP.

 

[ancestry]

Well the meals plans don't always save everyone money. It depends on your family and how you eat.

The regular dining plan includes more than just one table service. It also includes a quick service (i.e. counter service) and a snack as well. If you aren't going to utilize all of your meal points -- table, counter, and snack -- then you would probably be best paying out of pocket.

Also, the TS meals include a desert, beverage, and tax. When you calculated your prices per person did you add in the cost of the beverage, the cost of the desert, and tax for the entire meal?

 

[ready4mouse]

I still think that after you pay for a snack per day, drinks, desserts, and your counter service meals you will come ahead. For me, as long as I at least break even I'm thrilled, b/c it's paid for and I don't feel that punch in my stomach when I get the bill and stare in amazement at how much it all added up to! For me, it allows me to order anything I want off the menu, instead of trying to be "responsible" and save some money by ordering something cheaper off the menu. I think the DDP really adds to our "vacation" feel...

Good luck with your decision!

 

[jennyf10]

Also, the TS meals include a desert, beverage, and tax. When you calculated your prices per person did you add in the cost of the beverage, the cost of the desert, and tax for the entire meal?

I didn't include tax but I did include a beverage and dessert for the non-buffet meals. I pulled the costs from the menus on allears.net but want to be sure I'm not missing some important information about the cost of food!

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We used the DDP on our March trip and I kept our receipts because I wanted to see how much we saved since we are taking another trip later this year. It was just DS12 and me that went this time and after doing all the math, I think I saved about $40. I don't think I would have ordered all those CS desserts that we usually took one bite out of if I had been paying OOP so I'm not sure we really saved anything if you factor that out. We generally ate our TS meals for breakfast and lunch because this is what suits our lifestyle and touring plans so this is probably another reason I didn't see much savings.
So for us we probably won't get it for our December trip.
Good luck!

 

[AlternateEgo]

Not sure if I'm not adding up correctly or if I'm underestimating the cost of food at Disney. I'm hoping someone can confirm my numbers! My main TS meals are as follows (all prices are before tax and tip but include the holiday surcharge):

Chefs de France - lunch - approx. $30 pp;
Crystal Palace - lunch - $25 pp;
50's PrimeTime Cafe - lunch - approx. $30 pp;
Mama Melrose Fantasmic! dinner package - $38 pp;
Tusker House buffet - lunch - $25 pp;
1900 Park Faire Breakfast - approx. $25 pp;
Trail's End buffet - dinner - $25 pp;

California Grill Dinner - approx. $60 pp (will probably pay oop - my son will order the $20 sushi for dinner).

I'm staying in a FW cabin and don't plan to eat very much CS - maybe three or four meals. The meal plan for three of us (Me, DH and DS (10)) is $120 a day for 7 days for a total of $840. I don't see how the meal plan will save us money in the above scenario but I want to make sure I haven't underestimated the cost of food and/or my costs are correct. Any input would be great. Thanks!

This is where you need to decide if the plan is for you or not.

With the three of you, you are going to get (assuming you are staying 7 days??)

21 CS Credits X Approximately $12 each = $252
21 TS Credits X Approximately $28 each = $588
21 Snack Credits X Approximate $3 each = $63

DDP would cost you $839.79
OOP would cost you $765 + tax ($594-listed + $63-estimated snacks + $108-estimated 3 CS)
Plus California Grill $180.00 with both plans

Plus you will have 12 unused Counter Service Credits (This is where the controversy over the dining plan being "worth" it) Because you have 12 Counter Service Credits that if used would make your plan worth all the money, but if you don't then you save money without the plan.

 

[jennyf10]

Plus you will have 12 unused Counter Service Credits (This is where the controversy over the dining plan being "worth" it) Because you have 12 Counter Service Credits that if used would make your plan worth all the money, but if you don't then you save money without the plan.

Perfect logic! Thanks for laying it out like that - makes it much easier to assimilate the options. I don't think I'm going to use enough CS to make up the difference. I'd rather leave us the option of staying and cooking at the cabin in the evening instead of 'forcing' everyone back out to get CS at a park simply because I paid for it already. Now, if FW had a CS restaurant, I probably would opt for the dining plan so I wouldn't have to cook...