Is the Dining Plan Good for DVC Members?

[douglas4315]

Hi,

My wife and I are new DVC members and we are taking our first DVC trip in February for 5 nights in a studio at SSR. We also have a 19 month old baby who will also be with us. We plan on going to Disney for 3 days, 1 day at Sea World and 1 day just relaxing by the pool.

For the 3 days that we will be at Disney does it make sense for us to buy the plan? In addition does it also incluse breakfast or is it lunch and dinner only?

Last but not least does the restaurant in SSR accept the plan?

 

[mbhoxsie]

Looking at what you are planning to do, I would vote no to DDP..

We have small kids as well, and eat at least 1-2 meals in the room per day.. (That's with a 1BR..)

Those days that we go to the parks, we pack lunches and will snag a quick counterservice for dinner... Usually hot dogs at MK, Sci-Fi Dine Theatre at MGM, etc... This helps to keep our costs low...

IMHO... DDP is for those vacationears that:
1) Don't have experience getting around WDW and think they must buy DDP just to get by and save money...

or..

2) Those DVC'ers that do not want to cook in their rooms, have AP's, and plan on going into the parks every single day.. (I would love to be a part of this crowd.. )

For us... It just doesn't make sense... We only ever go to the parks for 1 or 2 days on a 7 day vacation.. We eat in our room a lot, and don't feel like lugging the kids to restaurants all the time.... We know how to minimize what we spend at WDW so that we don't break the bank... We don't want to feel like we have to eat on property to get our money's worth..

BTW... Looking at your post, you asked if you can buy DDP for just the 3 days you are in the parks... I don't think you can... I believe that you can only get DDP for every day that you are booked at the resort, so you would need to purchase three 5 day plans..

 

[jodifla]

DDP would be a BAD idea for you, IMO. First of all, you'd need to buy it for every day of your vacation. Second of all, you'd need to commit to a TS service almost daily...and that's really rough on babies and their parents.

The beauty of DVC for us when DS was an infant was that we could put him to bed in the bedroom, then make ourselves a nice steak dinner with appetizers and wine, and sit out on our OKW porch and enjoy. Much preferable than slogging out to a restaurant with a tired and cranky infant!

 

[Dean]

I agree, not a good choice for that trip unless you move during your stay so you can get the DDP for only the portion you are primarily at Disney.

 

[jennz]

I agree too - if I were you I wouldn't get it.

We're probably trying it for the 1st time our next trip - we have an 8 yr old DD and the 2 of us. We think we'd probably break even w/the plan since we do character meals a lot. Our next trip, however, will be with a family of 5 that includes 2 teenage boys - yikes! Hopefully they won't have a surcharge! And like you said we probably be in the parks most of the time.

 

[starbox]

Hi,

My wife and I are new DVC members and we are taking our first DVC trip in February for 5 nights in a studio at SSR. We also have a 19 month old baby who will also be with us. We plan on going to Disney for 3 days, 1 day at Sea World and 1 day just relaxing by the pool.

For the 3 days that we will be at Disney does it make sense for us to buy the plan? In addition does it also incluse breakfast or is it lunch and dinner only?

Last but not least does the restaurant in SSR accept the plan?

You could use the DDP on your Disney and resort days and it would definately be possible to use the credits from the Sea World day by doing signature dining or by doing two TS meals one day and a TS breakfast the morning you check out.

For example - you'd have 5 days worth of credits and you'll be staying at SSR. Thats 10 TS and 10 CS meals per day for the two of you.

Assuming you'll hit MK and Epcot - here's a very hypotetical example of how you could break it down:

Day One - MK - breakfast at CP with Pooh Bear & Friends (2 TS). Lunch/Dinner at a CS restuarant (2CS) like Cosmic Ray's.

Day Two - EPCOT - breakfast or lunch at Garden grill with Mickey and Co. (2TS). Dinner at Coarl Reef (2TS) (little kids tend to enjoy being inside the aquarium and watching the fish)

Day Three - Sea World (stock up on some prepackaged snacks and some bottled drinks using snack credits and carry them in your diaper bag).

Day Four - staying at SSR - lunch at AP (2CS), dinner at Turf Club or a DTD restaurant (2TS)

Day Five (hypothetically starting at AK and ending at MK) - breakfast at SSR (2CS), lunch at AK (2CS), dinner at Concourse Steakhouse or Kona Cafe (2TS)

Day Six - Get a 2CS breakfast before you leave (Earl of Sandwich is great)

The plan can be used for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

All restaurants at SSR accept the plan and there is a section in the food court with lots of individually wrapped items that count as snacks that is clearly marked.

The big question for you is will you be eating TS every day and how many character meals would your 19 month old like? IMHO, character dining is THE way to see characters will toddlers and preschoolers, but different kids start loving the characters at diferent ages. If the baby's schedule is going to make it difficult to sit down and eat and you think you'll end up just grabbing burgers and eating as you go - then the plan is a bad idea.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I find the kitchen facilitites, even in a studio, allow for some quick and easy meals. Plus, if you purchase the Disney Dining Experience discount card you will save 20% off food and beverage at majority of the Disney Restaurants. Visit our Restaurant Board for lots of info on this.

 

[jennz]

Oh darn it - good point on the DDE card! Now we have another decision to make... I don't know I still think we might end up on the dining plan because of our friends' boys - it's the entire party or nothing, right?

(So sorry - not trying to hijack your thread! )

 

[CarolMN]

Oh darn it - good point on the DDE card! Now we have another decision to make... I don't know I still think we might end up on the dining plan because of our friends' boys - it's the entire party or nothing, right?

(So sorry - not trying to hijack your thread! )

Yes, if you want the DDP, everyone staying in the room must purchase it for every night of the stay.

Note that you cannot purchase the DDE card unless you are either a Florida resident or an annual passholder. (Maybe that will make the decision a bit easier, lol).

 

[Mickey527]

I personally love the Dining plan. I was at the parks alone in May and I enjoyed having the plan. I got seated at every place I wanted, and I booked approx 5 days before I arrived. I even got Canada and Italy. It was different eating alone, but I talked to people seated near me and had a great time. I like having the meals pre paid so I can spend all my money on margaritas and stuff to bring home. And my meals always go way over what I paid for the day, I usually take dessert home with me and enjoy it for breakfast the next day with a cup of tea even when I am staying in a studio.
You will have to buy the plan for all 5 days, but you won't have to buy the plan for your 19 month old, the plan is for children 3-9 and adults. They will allow you child to eat from your plate at all the sit down restaraunts and if you ask they will bring you a small portion of macaroni and cheese for free. I brought my nephew one day with me and they were very accomodating.
I would recommend trying the restaraunts at the resorts. We can all recommend our favorites.
I did eat at the restaraunt at SR one evening on my last trip. It is a very nice place but I thought they needed a larger menu. They really didn't have the variety that most other restaraunts have, it seemed like they had one beef, one chicken, one pork, and one fish choice. I had the steak but would have preferred a few different choices.
You can also go over to Poly and eat at Ohana's or maybe do the luei (sp). I took my boys when they were 6, 8 and 9 and they hated it so try and see it now while the baby is young and won't be bored. You can either put him/her in a high chair or bring along your stroller.
On the day you go to Sea World you can make late ressies for dinner somewhere at one of the resorts. Sea World closes earlier than Disney and most of the resort restaraunts stay open till 11. Make ressies for the last seating and have something small at Sea World to hold you till dinner. I would not recommend late seatings for Ohana however, I did that once and we got the driest left over pieces of meat I ever tasted. I saved all my snacks for the last day and then went to DTD and picked out cookies and snacks and had them put in a big box for home. I gave out the $4 cookies as souvenieers and the family thought I was the best. They like that more than the cups and statues etc... I usually bring home.
You can pick up jarred baby food at any of the baby care centers at the parks if you can't find something for the baby to eat, or go over to one of the grocery stores in the area or Walmart and get the junior foods to carry just in case the baby wants to eat at a different schedule than you. If you prefer to warm the food you can bring it into the baby care center and warm it in their microwave and use their high chair to feed the baby.
Let us know what you decide. Peggie