Is it worth getting the dinning plan for a 2 day stay(pros and cons)

[nuge67]

We received 2 nights free and 2-day park hopper passes for my family of 4.

We are trying to figure out if it is worth it for us to purchase the dinning plan for our 2-day stay, which cannot be combined with our current comp room and passes.

Pros and cons of getting the dinning plan in this situation?

 

[ghtx]

No matter how many days you are staying, it is never worth it to get the dining plan.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

There's no way to say whether it will be worth it for you without knowing how you might plan to use the credits. It's all on what you will be using them for. Do you have kids under 10 and plan character meals? One credit restaurants or 2 credit restaurants? How much do you just enjoy having the dining plan as opposed to not having the dining plan?

 

[nuge67]

My kids are not into character meals or really big sit-down eaters. they are more chicken tenders or hamburgs with fries and a coake and let's go!

 

[MrInfinity]

No matter how many days you are staying, it is never worth it to get the dining plan.

Huh? It is worth it "some times". Depends on where the OP wants to eat. Nuge, just look over the places you think you might eat. If you don't know where you might eat, then it probly won't benefit you as much, since the more expensive restaurants tend to fill up fast... so if you are winging it, then better out of pocket. But if you do have an idea, just go over allears.net, and see what each one costs. The DDP will cost you $162/day. That's $61+$61+$20+$20. If you would spend more than that, go for it. Less than that, not so much. Factor in $13/day for a Quick Service meal per person, $4 a day for a snack, and consider if you would otherwise buy refillable resort mugs. Either way, it will end up about +10% to -10%, i.e. it's not going to make or break you either way.

On our current trip, 6 out of 7 of our points would be spent on rather expensive fixed price meals, so it's about 10% favoring the DDP.

You should see for yourself! Or if you post your restaurants out here, many can chime in as to whether you'll save or not.
Enjoy!

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

If we were going on a short trip, we would probably stick with counter service meals to save time. When I do the math, the DDP does not save us any money unless we have the free dining discount.

 

[Mikie]

My kids are not into character meals or really big sit-down eaters. they are more chicken tenders or hamburgs with fries and a coake and let's go!

Based on this, absolutely no DDP. Dining plan is worth it for families with kids between 3-9 who like sit-downs once a day and especially character meals or buffets, which are the priciest meals at disney. If you'll eat counter service or maybe a sit down with a menu you like, you'll save money and meal time by just paying for your meals as you go.

 

[nkereina]

Worth is relative. For us, it's worth it solely for the convenience. We aren't nickel and diming it by ordering the most expensive entrees at every stop. If we lose a few bucks, we chalk it up to the price of convenience. If we break even or make out on it, then even better.

But with your short stay, I do think you'd end up focusing a lot of time on food/meals rather than the parks. On our short stay, we tend to eat a lot of snacks and QS rather than waste time with TS meals. If you feel the same, you may be better off with the QS plan or no plan at all. If you want to do one or two TS meals, just pay OOP.

 

[GovieMom]

No matter how many days you are staying, it is never worth it to get the dining plan.

I agree.

 

[bumbershoot]

We are trying to figure out if it is worth it for us to purchase the dinning plan for our 2-day stay, which cannot be combined with our current comp room and passes.

If it can't be combined how would you get it?

 

[Hopefully]

No matter how many days you are staying, it is never worth it to get the dining plan.

In your opinion it is not worth it. This is not fact.
It is worth it to us. As nkeireina stated worth is relative. We agree with her statement. To us it is worth the convenience alone, but I am not nickel and diming it to death. Worth is not equal to money, in our world

 

[OB1]

too much time dining for a 2 day trip. If you like the convenience, then maybe when you are staying at least 4 days.

 

[Anne5555]

If you don't plan to do any character meals, which can take a lot of time out of your two day trip, I doubt the expense would be worth it. You could consider the quick service only dining plan, but the cost savings, if any, would be marginal.

I've seen reviews that claim you really only save money on the dining plan if you go to the most expensive 1 TS restaurants (not the double credit restaurants) and get the most expensive items (usually steak) plus soda and dessert, on the menu.

 

[Indio]

My kids are not into character meals or really big sit-down eaters. they are more chicken tenders or hamburgs with fries and a coake and let's go!

Then I would say it's probably not worth it in your case. The DP works out best when you want character meals/buffets or are big eaters.

 

[JimmyV]

The accountants at WDW are not dumb. The Dining Plan is now priced so that it is very close to being an even proposition. You might save a wee bit. You might not. The savings, if any, would not be worth it to me and I would favor the freedom to order whatever I wanted off the menus or even skip a meal if I felt so inclined. If you ever get to the point where just once you say: "I'm not very hungry. I think I'lI just have an appetizer or salad", or "I think I'll skip dessert" you have lost whatever savings you thought you were getting. Since the cost is so close to even, I prefer the freedom that comes with paying out of pocket.

 

[kwaite24]

I am in the same predicament. I am planning a trip to Disney for about 2.5 days to visit parks that my fiance has never been to! gasp! I was looking into the DDP and wondering if we should do it or not. We both love food, however, I want to be able to show him as much as possible in the parks without having to worry about leaving a place of interest to go somewhere to eat if we made an ADR. I would really love to have dinner at Be our Guest, I just don't know if it's worth trying to scout out an ADR or let him lead since he's never been to magic kingdom or epcot! thoughts?

 

[Mikie]

Sorry - I quoted wrong - this is from kwaite24:
I am in the same predicament. I am planning a trip to Disney for about 2.5 days to visit parks that my fiance has never been to! gasp! I was looking into the DDP and wondering if we should do it or not. We both love food, however, I want to be able to show him as much as possible in the parks without having to worry about leaving a place of interest to go somewhere to eat if we made an ADR. I would really love to have dinner at Be our Guest, I just don't know if it's worth trying to scout out an ADR or let him lead since he's never been to magic kingdom or epcot! thoughts?


And my reply:
Id split the difference and do an ADR one day and not the other. Personally, I'd pick an ADR at Epcot because there are fewer rides/attractions to try to cram in, the food choices are delicious, and to me food is definitely part of the day at Epcot. Honestly, I'd probably still try for BOG, but knowing it's hard to get it might not happen & you'll still get the disney dining experience at Epcot. I love the dining plan, but wouldn't get it on a short trip where I'm trying to see a lot in a compressed time.

 

[kwaite24]

Thank you for your help! I was leaning the same way.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

We are staying on property for 2 nights over Easter, Sat-Mon

When I add up the cost for brunch at Chef Mickey and dinner at Cape May Cafe on Easter day (prices are increased for the holiday) -- which will be covered with our 2 TS credits-- we are only spending $38.09 for 10 QS meals, 10 snacks, and 5 mugs. Can't beat that!

In your situation it seems like skipping it is the way to go, but unlike the PP mentioned, it certainly IS saving me money!

 

[kwaite24]

I agree. If we were going over a holiday when the prices were increased it might be worth it. But with trying to see as much as possible in think I might just suck it up and dish out the extra money if we want to do a fancy TS like BOG.