Is the dining plan worth it?

[Phil Cirrone]

I have been a DVC member for eighteen years. I have never thought to purchase the dining plan. With four adult children is it worth it?

Lisa

 

[TDC Nala]

Depends entirely on where and what you are all planning to eat.

 

[Cafeen]

This was in response to a similar question from another DVC member asking if it was worth it.

Your situation (4 adult children) may be slightly different, but the thought process is the same.
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On the question of worth, this differs depending on your individual party's desired experiences and eating habits.

If you desire to have at least 1 sit-down per night of stay, with most of them being dinner, and that sit down includes what's included with the DDP, and you'd like to get desserts from at least most of your CS meals, then it might be worth it (this requires a second check of the actual locations and potential orders to check the financial side of things).

If you want at least 2 sit-downs per night of stay, and you're interested in an appetizer at all those meals (as well as entree + dessert), then DxDDP may be worth it (again, a mathematical check afterward is recommended).

With the prices going up in 2012, DDP's margin of savings is pretty slim, while it is advertised as 15-20%, the standard use case rarely reaches this high. DxDDP is still slightly better and easier to come out ahead on (based on lower per-meal targets), but it requires a much larger investment in time (both planning and dining) as well as costing far more.

The best thing to do will be to sit down and hammer out what you want to get out of the trip as far as dining. See how that compares to what's included with each plan. If they match up, great, if they don't, you'll likely be better off OOP.

As far as pros and cons:

• Pros:
  
  
  • Easier to budget - Since the cost of the bulk (or all) of the dining is figured ahead of time, you can pick and choose off the menu as if they had no prices.
  • Easy to track - You go to 'Ohana for dinner? That's 1 credit off your total. A simplified credit system makes the entire system that much more user friendly.
  • Great for "mixed" parties - If you're bringing a friend, or other family member down that you're covering their bill, it makes it much easier to work out with them what they "can" get, since you (or they) are not going to be struggling with "Well, the steak is too expensive even though it's what I want, so I'll get the chicken".
  • Potential Savings - If planned ahead properly, and you've already figured out that it's what you want to do, it can offer some savings over going OOP with the same setup.
  
  
• Cons:
  
  
  • Restrictive Ordering - You must order an Entree, Dessert, and Non-Alcoholic beverage at each meal. While you can skip dessert, you really eat into your value by doing so. You cannot substitute one course for another!
  • Locations - While DDP is accepted at the vast majority of restaurants on WDW Grounds, there are a few that do not take it. If restaurants you really wish to go to are on this list, it would certainly be a drawback to any of the plans
  • Pre-planning - All levels of the dining plans require quite a bit of planning ahead. Even QSDP comes into play here as it has a very slim savings margin, and without planning where you'll want to eat, you can fall behind.

There are more on both sides, but these are the most common ones that I've seen, deduced, and experienced.

 

[Lisa71]

I love that the dining plan is prepaid, so you have a budget already going. That said, depending on what and where you eat, it might not save money. I enjoy the TS meals, but my kids are small, so their TS meals are mostly character experiences. With adults children I think it would be more fun! You can each pick a nice place to eat and know that dinner is paid for. Just my 2 cents...

 

[mwmom]

I will add to the PP that if you do not want dessert bc you are full (not bc you are watching your weight), you can get the dessert to go and eat it as a snack later or the next day. We did this several times and used the snack credit for a drink.

 

[sharonabe]

With four adult children and two parents, that will be $309/per day for food. So, the questions are, would you normally spend that amount each day on food or would you like to be able to spend that much each day on food?

As for getting your desserts "to go".... remember you get a dessert at EVERY meal (QS and TS)...that would be 12 desserts a day for your group. You could easily end up with a refridgerator FULL of desserts by the end of the week. I guess you could pack them up and do your own Wishes Dessert party out on the Poly beach or something. Not to mention, that while many of the QS desserts are easily portable, most of the TS desserts would need to be refridgerated in a short amount of time, so you'd have to go back to your resort to put them away after your meal.

 

[Phil Cirrone]

Thank you for your response. Yes we probably spend more than $309 some days and some days less (but not much less) Do you use the DDP if so has it been worth it for you?
Lisa

With four adult children and two parents, that will be $309/per day for food. So, the questions are, would you normally spend that amount each day on food or would you like to be able to spend that much each day on food?
Lisa

As for getting your desserts "to go".... remember you get a dessert at EVERY meal (QS and TS)...that would be 12 desserts a day for your group. You could easily end up with a refridgerator FULL of desserts by the end of the week. I guess you could pack them up and do your own Wishes Dessert party out on the Poly beach or something. Not to mention, that while many of the QS desserts are easily portable, most of the TS desserts would need to be refridgerated in a short amount of time, so you'd have to go back to your resort to put them away after your meal.

 

[havoc315]

Thank you for your response. Yes we probably spend more than $309 some days and some days less (but not much less) Do you use the DDP if so has it been worth it for you?
Lisa

It's not a question of whether you spent $309 per day. It's a question of whether you spent $309 on COVERED entitlements.
For example, if that $309 included some beer and wine, or some appetizers, or CS breakfasts AND CS lunches -- those things wouldn't be covered under the dining plan. If you included tips in that $309, tips wouldn't be including under the DDP.

So the question is -- Do you spend more than $309 per day, just on 6 TS entrees, 6 CS entrees, 12 beverages, and 12 desserts and 6 snacks? Plus, do you want all that food? (If you share desserts, or even share entrees, it saves even more money)

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you for your response. Yes we probably spend more than $309 some days and some days less (but not much less) Do you use the DDP if so has it been worth it for you?
Lisa

We have used both the regular DDP and the QSDP, but probably won't use them again. The reason is in line with Havoc's answer above. We don't eat desserts (except at TS, we may share ONE), and we prefer water to drink which is free.

However, if you are thinking of doing several DINNER buffets, you need to sit down and do the math (probably need to do it anyway) as the DINNER buffets are close enough to the total cost to possibly make it worth it.

 

[stephmarty]

Yes--if it's free.

My wife would disagree with me. She likes the peace of mind of having all meals covered once we arrive. I'm more of a nerd, but no matter how much logic I apply I can't argue in the end that's it's nice not to look at prices all week.

So, is the plan financially worth it? No, not for me. But is making my wife happy worth it--all guys know the obvious answer is "yes." Probably worth twice the price, in fact.

 

[Bete]

you need to maximize it. This means you don't leave any credits on the table, not even snacks. Also, you need to go to the more expensive restaurants and order high end items. Will everyone agree to go to the restaurants can be another issue; you have 6 to please. The Fantasmic dinner package is a good value on the plan, for example. Steaks are a good value on the plan, too. You have to maximize the plan.

Places like Cosmic Rays that have combo meals (chicken and rib) are a good value on QS meals. You really have to get into the menus to make it worthwhile and pick the right choices and places. Character buffets are a decent value on the plan. Character buffets can be a big time committment; so, you need to decide if you want less park time.

If dessert is not your thing and you can get by with tap water then the plans get to be less desirable. We use our snack credits mostly for breakfast (like getting a bagel). If you want a bigger hot meal for breakfast or use your snacks for sweets I'm not sure if the snack credits will be utilized to their best advantage.

The regular and QS dining plan prices have gone up and they continue to subtract value from them; so, it's getting harder and harder to make it work to one's advantage. Now, when Disney offers free dining promos I would still go for it in your case. Take into consideration that lunches are more reasonable in the TS restaurants and again the value of the plan goes downward. If you like appetizers, then the regular dining plan doesn't help much.

With doing out of pocket you don't overeat usually. With maximizing dining plans you almost need to be a gluten.

If I were a DVC member I know I would cook more meals; since, there would be a kitchen. I know it's more work, but I would alternate days doing it.

Basically, it gets down to crunching the numbers if you you are looking at it from a monetary point of view. Remember, you will be paying more in gratuities, too.

 

[pilferk]

I have been a DVC member for eighteen years. I have never thought to purchase the dining plan. With four adult children is it worth it?

Lisa

The answer is...it depends.

For us (in a very similar situation): No. Especially not in light of the price increases for 2012. We're a family of 5 (2 adults, 1 "Disney" adult, and 2 kids).

We (the adults) would not eat $52 worth of food, on any given day....or, if we did, we wouldn't eat MORE than $52. It can be close on the few days we do character meals, but it's never over. The Kids, with this years pricing, might save a few bucks a day...but it doesn't save enough to "cover" the adults.

The included mug is completely worthless for our party. Were DVC members, too...and we're in a 1BR or 2BR every trip. We stock our fridge and have no need of free fountain drinks.

We don't ALWAYS do a snack in the park.

To find out if it would be worth it for you, you really gotta sit down and crunch the numbers, even if you're doing "guestimates" on where you would eat and what you would ACTUALLY eat/order, normally (and not just what you'd order if you were on the DDP). For example: We would not always order a dessert for everyone at our table, at every TS meal.

Now...last trip (when we were 2 adults and 3 kids) we saved quite a bit. The adults saved a couple bucks a day...but the kids saved HUGE. With the price increase, and our eldest "graduating" to a Disney adult....that's not going to be the case this trip, from looking at the numbers.

HOWEVER, keep in mind that as DVC members, we can now buy the Tables in Wonderland card (reportedly RIGHT now, actually) for $100. That card will save you 20% at pretty much any Disney TS. That, for us, looks to be the money saver.

 

[akayek31]

I have been going back and forth trying to figure this out myself. My DS and I are going Feb 23 for 11 nights. I have called disney 3 times asking them the same question. I finally learned how to do a spreadsheet. It would have cost $770 for the QSDP. We also have ADR's at some of our favorite places. With my SS for QSDP I did not add the TS. It came out to $858 for all 12 days. I then did a SS with CS and TS that I would pay OOP for. We are going to US/IOA and I have some gift cards for off property places to eat so I did not add them. The new total was $579. I am so glad that I did not buy the plan. I would have wasted so much money. I love water so I usually get water at meals so that saves a lot. Also we eat in the room if we even eat breakfast. We love EMH at night so we sleep in and miss RD. So basically it comes down to what is best for your family as someone else said. I had a budget of $500 for on property and Ohana sent me over but I am not giving it up