Is the Dining package really worth it?

[HollyJoy]

Just curious as to what you Disers think! For those of you who purchased the dining package and used it. Did you find it worth the money? Were there too many restrictions? I'm looking it over, and for us, it seems like it might be worth the money. Last trip, we had two character meals, and ate counter the rest of the time (we didn't want to spend too much on food). If I'm doing the math correctly, We would be spending about $140 a day for the 4 of us every day using the dining plan.

thoughts?

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I haven't used the DP yet, but will comment on why I purchased it for our upcoming trip. I like to eat out - and prefer sit down restaurants, I like to use the time sitting down in airconditioning as a break. I know that I will NOT be able to do mostly counter service for an entire week. I am planning on a few character lunch/dinners and since the DP includes tax/gratuity I see it quickly paying for itself and basically providing us with free CS and snack credits. We live in the Midwest and this is our first trip, so don't have AP or FL discounts. AAA is about our only discount available. Even if we end up breaking even with the costs, I like having it included in the package price for the convenience. There are very few places that don't accept the DP, and there are many comprable alternatives for those, especially since we haven't been there and don't know what we are missing!

 

[jrjac]

Just curious as to what you Disers think! For those of you who purchased the dining package and used it. Did you find it worth the money? Were there too many restrictions? I'm looking it over, and for us, it seems like it might be worth the money. Last trip, we had two character meals, and ate counter the rest of the time (we didn't want to spend too much on food). If I'm doing the math correctly, We would be spending about $140 a day for the 4 of us every day using the dining plan.

thoughts?

We did get the free dining plan but for our next trip I would pay for the plan without blinking an eye! I am pretty sure it is $35 a day for adults and $10 for kids-someone please correct me if I am wrong about the price. We were just there last week and ordered anything we wanted from the menu (although I know Planet Hollywood & Wolf Gangs have a surcharge on some items.) My son, who is 8, was allowed to order off of the adult menu at all CS meals which we were thrilled about! Like I said, I would pay for it next time without hesitation. We could eat anywhere we wanted and never had to the hassle of budgeting money each day for meals-that alone is worth it to me! Let us all know what you decide!!

 

[have2getaway]

The last time I went to Disney was 5 years ago for our honeymoon. At that time, we still probably spent $100+/day just for the two of us on food. Of course, that was on our honeymoon and we didn't scrimp (we ate at: Cali Grille, Hollywood BD, Le Cellier, etc.); however, I know we will still spend more than what the dining plan will cost us.

This time it will be me, dh, and ds (4). We want to be able to do character meals and have time to eat a decent dinner. We easily spent the cost of the package on our dinners alone the last time we did Disney, and that was without our son. Plus, it is very appealing to me to just not have to worry about what we are spending on food because, for the most part, we will have already paid for it.

This is just my opinion, but I really don't think you can go wrong with the package.

 

[dyna]

I had the FREE dining last week and the dining plan is worth it if you gonna eat the food. Meaning if you have kids who are picky eaters. My DD to old for kids menu at the table service resturants and she very picky about what she will eat. The dining plan would not be worth it for her.

Most of the Character buffet meals even at dinner is cheaper than most of the noncharacter actual food brought to your table resturants. We chose noncharacter meals as it was just DH and I and we was looking to get the most out of the free dining. Most all our dinners was $100.00 or more. Mexico was the cheapest I'd have to look it up as to how much our dinner there actually was tho.

 

[HollyJoy]

I am pretty sure it is $35 a day for adults and $10 for kids-someone please correct me if I am wrong about the price.

Okay, I was wondering about the price of the kids. My girls are 8 and 6. Does anyone know the price for them for sure?

 

[dbenlee]

We used the DP in June and will probably use it every time we return. 2 adults and 1 child under 10 came to $80/day that we payed and we after it was all said and done we would have spent between $130 and $150 per day on meals. My wife and I both feel that the DP is well worth the money.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

2005
adults (& Kids 10+) $34.99
kids ages 3-9 $9.99

2006
adults $37.99
kids $10.99

if your kids fall into the "kids" category and are going to do character meals it's a no-brainer to me. CRT is $12.99 plus tax/tip for a child at lunch. I'm paying $10.99 plus tax and getting a CS meal and snack too.

unless you can get a hefty room discount somehow and are going to be there long enough to make a DDE card worthwhile, I'm sold. so is my AAA TA, I've done my homework and know what food prices are in WDW, but she has horror stories of clients (especially from smaller towns) who were aghast at the costs and had not budgeted accordingly. This seriously affected their overall vacation and they are the ones in the "why do you want to go there - it's hot, crowded and everything is too expensive" category.

 

[purplepixie]

If you want to take the time and do sit down meals every day it is sooooo worth it. But you spend a lot of time getting to meals, waiting for tables, and then eating. We just got back and had the dining plan. We like to have the break during the day to relax and enjoy the food. A couple of times it seemed like a chore to do though because it took away from time at the parks. If you prefer to just grab meals at CS the dining plan may not be worth it for you. Decide if you want to spend the time or if you'd be happier with grabbing a bite and hitting more rides/attractions. Looking at the menus helps to decide if the signature meals are worth it for you. They use 2 credits per person and would be less TS meals throughout the trip.

 

[LilyStar]

One thing that really sold me on the dining plan was my trip to an all-inclusive resort in the carribbean a couple years ago. I was a firm believer that all-inclusive meals were a rip off. And I guess if you look at them monetarily, it can be. However, the peace of mind that I got when I didn't have to keep reaching into my wallet to grab my credit card....or really wanting something on the menu that was $6-$7 more and instead getting the entree that was less...was worth the extra $20/day. I had the chance to relax and stop looking at the prices. When I was hungry, I ate, not thinking about how much money in food we had spent for the day. Also when you have a dining plan, you get to experience the "good life" as I like to call it. Your food is paid for in advance and you have the opportunity to eat at the nicer restaurants that you might talk yourself out of if you're on vacation.

For us, the dining plan is great!

 

[monica31671]

Another vote for the dining plan. I didn't think it was hard to take a break from the parks. We needed a break at times. I think the table service meals were some of the most relaxing times we had while at WDW.
I liked the dining plan for several reasons. Not having to budget in money and worry about tips was one of the perks for me. It was all paid for in advance.

 

[have2getaway]

We paid $36 each adult and $11 for our ds (4) for 2006. The moderate increase is still well worth it.

 

[Julia M]

I looked at where we were planning to eat, because I was on a budget. Since we are going at a very busy time (Xmas break), I knew we had to eat a number of table service. (Just to get away from the crowds!!) Also, dh won't go for counter service the entire trip.

So I planned where we wanted to eat (1900 Park Fare, Boma, Chef Mickey's Whispering Canyon). Then I added in the Candlelight processional at Rose and Crown to see Illuminations (I figured as long as we would want to elongate dinner, it made sense to do so when we were paying for it anyway!!) Then I added in Trails Inn for dinner (a decent price) and Biergarten for lunch (cheaper that way). That left me all our lunches and two counter service dinners.

I looked at CS menus, and figured we sometimes have a cheaper meal at $35, and a few at $45, but most would come it right around $40.

We are not big snackers, but do buy a few drinks for us to share, and an ice cream or treat maybe once or twice.

The total for that came to $1379.

The dining plan for the same time was $1350 and we'd get to eat at some nicer sit downs!

In our case, I think it will turn out to be a good deal.

The other plus for our family is that dh likes to splurge, and I tend to worry about money. Now I won't stress about what things cost (which is worth something!)

Julia

 

[dbenlee]

The other plus for our family is that dh likes to splurge, and I tend to worry about money. Now I won't stress about what things cost (which is worth something!)

Julia

To our family that was another plus. We didn't feel bad about splurging. We could get what we really wanted on the menu without worrying about the cost.

 

[singitalto]

Just came back one week ago and used dining plan. We ate really well!!!! We were able to splurge every night. We loved it!!! Added up the receipts and the total was $1509 for 4 adults(actually 2 adults and 11 &13) We had the free dining so it was well worth it.

Even if we paid for the dining plan I still would have saved about $600 dollars. Well worth it!!

 

[shondad]

While I did not pay for my dining plan (got free dining for the 5 days we stayed). It seems to be a good deal. Our approx total was $585, (including snacks, but not including anything bought OOP). Had we paid for it, it would have cost us $400 for the plan. We probably could have had a higher tab had we eaten somewhere else or chosen more expensive items, but, that was not the point. The point was to have a carefree dining experience without regard for watching and worrying about every penny spent, and to try different things we may not have normally had the opportunity to try.

I'd say it is a safe bet. DH is anxiously excited and anticipating a return trip ASAP, and we plan to purchase the dining plan, if it is not offered for free.

 

[thelionqueen]

The dining plan we got in Oct. is FREE...cannot be more excited about that...but even if we had to buy the dining plan, our family of four would easily save over $600. Yes, yes, yes....it's awesome!!

 

[aubriee]

We got it for free for our Sept trip. I already had a room booked with an AP discount and gave it up to pay rack rate and get the free dining. I'll also have my DDE card for anything extra we order.

When I go back in Dec I have a room booked through the best rate plan, so won't be able to get it. My mom wants to do almost all table service meals for that trip, so it probably would not have worked out for us anyway.

However, I'm going back next spring, probably taking my GD, and do not plan on renewing my AP. If not, I will definitely buy the dining plan. She loves the character meals and there is no way I could feed her for $10.99/day or myself for $37.99/day.

I guess it depends on your dining style, but there is no way I could do counter service for a week and if it wasn't for my mom I would also not want to eat three TS meals a day, so the dining plan seems to fit the bill with one CS and one TS a day. My GD and I neither one are breakfast eaters, so we can easily grab a cereal or granola bar in the room and head out. I love the idea of our food being paid for before we get there too.

 

[disneyfreak74]

"$35 a day for adults and $10 for kids" OOOOOOOOO YES!!!!!!!! We just got back and it would definately be something that I will do in the future.

We had . . 3 adults, 1 child, & 1 (2yr old) not on dining plan. Dining plan was $105 per day.
We ate:
Friday:
Pecos Bill's---right at $50 bucks
Snacks----1 water $2; 1 coke $2; chips $4.50 and popcorn
1900 Park Fare---------$110.00
Saturday:
same counter and snacks
Germany ------------------ $100.00
Sunday:
same counter and snacks
Canada---------------$205.84

With the dining plan you KNOW how much money you need and can usually eat at places that you wouldn't before!!!

 

[VSL]

I think that the DP is great if you have children (character breakfasts, for example) or if you enjoy TS type meals often while on holiday.

However, the reasons I didn't get it are:
- My BF is a very picky eater and will probably only eat at a couple of TS places (most of which are not on the DP or will potentially have a surcharge)
- Neither me or my BF are big eaters, so to speak, so we will probably be spending less than $20 each per day (we're saving money and not having to feel as though we *should* be eating more because 'we paid for the DP')
- We're not doing CB's
- We'd rather grab a snack or CS meal while in the park and just enjoy the attractions and stuff than spend about 60mins plus having a TS meal

It sounds like it would be great for you though, and as long as people do the research and make an informed decision, everyone can make the right choice for them and their family (ie, my BF's auntie is having it - it's their first trip to WDW and they have a little girl who'll be going to a lot of CB's!).