Is the dining plan worth it.

[momfor4]

I am also on the fence about getting the DP. With 4 kids 8 - 4 yrs., they don't eat alot, however they have to eat during the days. Our first time to MK and we are not going for the food- we'd go to NYC for that- lol!
I can't decided if we would benefit- i know we want to do at least 2-3 character meals and HDRevue, but then we don't/the kids don't want to spend 2 hrs. at a dinner table- yet i don't want to eat hamburgers and fries the whole week!! ugh-- how do i decide??
- i like the convience that you just use room key, but what are the other pluses? anyone been with 4 young kids 6-7 days and know how much you spent on food?? with the characte meals does it make it more worth it do you think??

are you real limited on what snacks you can get with DP??

 

[indigoxtreme]

Your thinking is similar to mine. The fact that you wouldn't be using it on the first or last day would put me right off it and the ages of your children is a mark against it too. 76 dollars is a lot of money to feed an 11 year old and 13 year old.

What many people do and what we do is take the extra night and do a Signature Dining which is 2 TS credits. Hoop De Doo, the Luau, CRT, etc. Also we split several meals at cs and then have cs for breakfast as well. At some of the sit down meals,if not a buffet or all you can eat, you can share these as well and have some more Signature dining meals with the extra credits. The main thing to consider is can you eat, 1 person, for 37.99 per day including tax and tip and snack? I know that even if we did counter service 3 times a day it would cost more. Yes you can eat Breakfast in your room, but that still cost money to provide. And if we didn't want the second app or desert we simply did not order it and still came out well ahead of the price. Even if you don't get the plan and you want to do any TS meals you really need to make an ADR so you are still basically having to plan where to eat for each day as well, unless of course if you mainstay will be CS meals. I wish they had this plan back when my children were young, we never got to eat a TS meal and we always had sandwiches in the room and cereal etc. That is just not vacation. I do enjoy the cereal in the room now, but I don't want to have to worry about making up sandwiches etc to take to the parks or back in the room. We are getting the plan again in 8 days and really looking forward to eating at some new places. And by the way we all came home weighing less. You work the food off through so much walking. OUr DGD (age 4) loved being able to order what she wanted as well.

 

[eeyore45]

Your thinking is similar to mine. The fact that you wouldn't be using it on the first or last day would put me right off it and the ages of your children is a mark against it too. 76 dollars is a lot of money to feed an 11 year old and 13 year old.

We planned to do 2 TS meals - breakfast, or take advantage of a 2TS experience - also for the extra CS - we went to Earl of Sandwich and got a "to go" sandwich for our flight... we also had a CS breakfast at our resort, and took it to the room... for us, it is the dining plan!!

 

[aunt kelly]

Your thinking is similar to mine. The fact that you wouldn't be using it on the first or last day would put me right off it and the ages of your children is a mark against it too. 76 dollars is a lot of money to feed an 11 year old and 13 year old.

I think we posted at almost the exact same time and we were thinking alike! You're right, $76 a day is a lot to pay for my 11 and 13 year old to eat. I think we will skip the dining plan. (I'm just glad there is not a McDonald's inside WDW because my kids would want to eat every meal there!)

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I just wanted to throw in the idea that if you are arriving late your first day, get a room only and start the package the next day. Then you can check in early the nnext morning and get your tickets. That's what we're doing. If the reservations are linked, you shouldn't have to switch rooms.

 

[cherokeemamma]

Having used the DP last Oct. I will agree that it really is alot of food. However, it saved us alot of money and we truly enjoyed getting to eat at many different rest.
One thing that we did was give some of our food away. There was just no way we could eat 4 app and 4 dessets at each meal. We would ask one of our "neighbors" if they were on the DP. If their answer was no we would explain how we could not eat everything we were allowed to order and offer them a freebie or two. People were thrilled and usually very receptive. The CMs were great about it! We would tell our severs what they wanted and we would just order for our new friends. We felt like we spread a little magic at the same time.

 

[tricia]

Sorry to burst your bubble aunt kelly, but there are 2 full McDonald's on WDW property and a couple of vendors where you can get fries or nuggets.

 

[numbersman]

For our family (myself, DW, DS9 - a big eater -, DD6 and DDalmost 1), it's a no brainer. We went last year during the free dining, and I saved all of our receipts with the value on them, and we "spent" over $1,100 on dining. Even if we had paid for the plan (at around $675), we still would have saved almost $500. Question is, would you otherwise spend $675 for 7 days? For us, we would. Figure we can't make it out of a CS restaurant for less than $30-35, and you're already at $60-$70 for 2 meals, plus breakfast and snacks. And that's eating nothing but counter service all week, which we never do. Throw in a few character meals or other TS meals, and we're up to about $95 a day, which is about what the dining plan would cost us. And for that, we don't have to eat CS every day - we got Cindy's breakfast, the CP, San Angel Inn (great!), Le Cellier, 50's PTC, Sci-Fi, and Cindy's for dinner! Plus all the snacks we needed! When we go back this year, we'll still pay for the plan. It's great to not have to open your wallet or worry about the cost at meal time!

 

[gregger77]

We had the Dining Plan on our honeymoon, and we've made a vow not to go to Disney without a DP ever! It saved us a ton of money, and we ate at some FABULOUS restaurants that you don't get every day.

It was worth it to us. And if you're doing a lot of character dining or table service restaurants, I would go for it.

Good luck!!

I think I speak for all of us parents out there when I say, "We envy you!" I think if it was just my wife and I, and we could spend more leisurely mealtimes plus explore some of the more "adult" oriented restaurants, we might do the DDP again. But not with 9- and 12-year old children, one of whom was forced into the "adult" price and menu category.

 

[gregger77]

...the ages of your children is a mark against it too. 76 dollars is a lot of money to feed an 11 year old and 13 year old.

Precisely. They are placed in the "adult" price and menu category, and at least in the case of my 12 year old (who turned 13 on-site), who loves to eat, it was simply too much.

 

[gregger77]

Having used the DP last Oct. I will agree that it really is alot of food. However, it saved us alot of money and we truly enjoyed getting to eat at many different rest.
One thing that we did was give some of our food away. There was just no way we could eat 4 app and 4 dessets at each meal. We would ask one of our "neighbors" if they were on the DP. If their answer was no we would explain how we could not eat everything we were allowed to order and offer them a freebie or two. People were thrilled and usually very receptive. The CMs were great about it! We would tell our severs what they wanted and we would just order for our new friends. We felt like we spread a little magic at the same time.

Great post. Very thoughtful...and a nice way to handle what some perceive to be a waste issue.

 

[gregger77]

I am also on the fence about getting the DP. With 4 kids 8 - 4 yrs., they don't eat alot, however they have to eat during the days. Our first time to MK and we are not going for the food- we'd go to NYC for that- lol!
I can't decided if we would benefit- i know we want to do at least 2-3 character meals and HDRevue, but then we don't/the kids don't want to spend 2 hrs. at a dinner table- yet i don't want to eat hamburgers and fries the whole week!! ugh-- how do i decide??
- i like the convience that you just use room key, but what are the other pluses? anyone been with 4 young kids 6-7 days and know how much you spent on food?? with the characte meals does it make it more worth it do you think??

are you real limited on what snacks you can get with DP??

Ok, my last post I promise, but you PM'd me so I thought I'd put my answers out in the open

Firstly, if you are planning on doing a few Character meals and also a "special" (2-credit) meal like Hoop-Dee-Doo (which we enjoyed immensely), then you are sounding closer to a family which can save some bucks. These are the events that cost the most out-of-pocket.

Second, if you do not want to do breakfast in your room (and frankly, you'd be eligible for some kind of trophy if you could pull off feeding four kids in a hotel room each morning!), then you can use indigoxtreme's GREAT idea of spreading out the CS usage a bit by sharing food! In other words, get two kids' breakfasts instead of 4 and spread the food around. Lord knows there is enough of it. (Also, if your kids are like mine...conditioned from an early age to share table food and not make a big fuss about it...you will be fine. Everyone is so happy to be at WDW to begin with...)

Third, all the table service restaurants are well geared to kids, so don't worry about spending too much time in them. The key is to plan ahead and pick TS restaurants close to where you will be on a given day or hour. Unless we are talking a fast monorail or boat ride, it is generally NOT a good idea to travel between major WDW locations to get to a restaurant--that is, not if you're trying to see a lot of attractions.

Fourth, yes, snack usage is in my opinion TOO LIMITED...you get a choice of bottled beverages or soft drink, whole piece of fruit, "single scoop" popcorn box, or a frozen treat (i.e., ice cream bar). All of these are fine, but not for days-on-end. (We burned out on them after four days, and started taking lots of bottled water...even to the airport!) Meanwhile, you must pass up on the Dole Whip, the traditional ice cream, all sorts of cookies and pastries which look great, and more--which even when they cost the same or less as a "premium ice cream bar" (and they are good!), are NOT available to you on the DDP. Why, I can't tell you. (I can guarantee you the food cost on a Dole Whip is far less than a big, fat chocolate-chip cookie ice cream sandwich.)

Fifth, the convenience thing...I can't downplay that. It's nice to go around not thinking about money. My kids were old enough the carry their own cards, and felt very cool doing it. Receipts show you how many credits you have left and it's pretty easy to manage, if you plan ahead.

Sixth, you are probably eligible for sainthood for taking four children under 8 to WDW. Be sure to ask for an application at your place of worship. (And be sure to go during the school year...you will not ruin their educational career, and you will see easily twice as much as you would during school holidays.)

Sorry, I rambled on...don't sweat the decision too much, go with your gut and then have a great time!!

 

[momfor4]

Anyone or gregger...
Are we crazy to take 4 kids : ages 8, 6, and 4 yrs. old twins to disney?? AHHHH I just think they are at the perfect age for loving all the disney stuff and characters!! we are staying 7 nights and only 5 days in park- imagine mostly in MK! does this sound like enough time with out then being too rushed??

and yes, we are taking them out of school- 3rd grade and 1 st- it is less crowded i know and cost a lil less!!!
thanks for any tips!!

 

[twinsmamma]

I think I speak for all of us parents out there when I say, "We envy you!" I think if it was just my wife and I, and we could spend more leisurely mealtimes plus explore some of the more "adult" oriented restaurants, we might do the DDP again. But not with 9- and 12-year old children, one of whom was forced into the "adult" price and menu category.

i went ewith my 2 12 yr olds in december and had no problem with meals and sitting for them, we ate late dinners and there was really no long waits for food or tables. the plan is soo worth it, if you eat even two counter service meals a day and buy one snack you are going to spend about 30.00 a meal so 90 a day not including snacks portion of plan. the plan for us was 114 and we ate great fdood not burgers and nuggets etc. plus we got snacks and desserts and drinks with each meal. I would never go agin without it not to mention not having to worry about what you are spending on the meal and you dont have to get the app or dessert if you do not want.

 

[twinsmamma]

Anyone or gregger...
Are we crazy to take 4 kids : ages 8, 6, and 4 yrs. old twins to disney?? AHHHH I just think they are at the perfect age for loving all the disney stuff and characters!! we are staying 7 nights and only 5 days in park- imagine mostly in MK! does this sound like enough time with out then being too rushed??

and yes, we are taking them out of school- 3rd grade and 1 st- it is less crowded i know and cost a lil less!!!
thanks for any tips!!

if you think that you can handle it and don't sweat the small stuff then it should not bae a problem. Are your kids fairly well behaved? if so then why not just plan alittle ahead and take breaks and just see what you can see. rushing is a sure way to end up with cranky children.
why are you only getting five days it is only a matter of dollars to get the two more days on the plan.

 

[gregger77]

Anyone or gregger...
Are we crazy to take 4 kids : ages 8, 6, and 4 yrs. old twins to disney?? AHHHH I just think they are at the perfect age for loving all the disney stuff and characters!! we are staying 7 nights and only 5 days in park- imagine mostly in MK! does this sound like enough time with out then being too rushed??

and yes, we are taking them out of school- 3rd grade and 1 st- it is less crowded i know and cost a lil less!!!
thanks for any tips!!

Good move on the school days. Five days in WDW is PLENTY of time to see the things you want. We were there for just four days in early February, and with good planning saw absolutely everthing we wanted to...one park per day (but then, we didn't need or take nap time...older kids). Granted, we passed on the little kid stuff, but conversely, you will be passing on some of the big kid stuff. Take advantage of your kids' early rising time and be at your park of choice before opening; you'll see more attractions in two hours than other families will see all afternoon. Enjoy a nice lunch, with characters. Then head for the room and quiet time. Use the Unofficial Guide as your bible on which park to visit which day, and how to stage the attractions. They have a daily plan geared to families with kids in your bracket...it's uncannily accurate for saving time and steps. And if character meals and special meals are available by reservation, and you want to do them, then the DDP is sounding better for you all the time. (Kids your age will be delighted with Mickey Mouse ice cream bars, etc. at snack time.)

Bottom line: The 6 and 8 year olds will be in heaven; the 4 year olds will love it but potentially slow up the pace; and with five days, you can relax because you will have time to see everything you want. Have fun and take hundreds of pictures!