Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?

[gabzee]

HI! I am traveling to Disney World in June for 6 days. I have been to Disney many, many times (FL residents) but only stay for 4 days and have never used the Dining Plan. I a very unfamiliar with the dining plan, its rules, and cost. I was wondering if you could help me with these questions and if you know whether the Dining plan will truly save you money?!? Just to give you a quick background about us we typically go to character breakfasts, counter service lunches, and sit down dinners (ex: California Grill, teppan Edo, Boma, etc.). Thanks for your help!
Debbie

 

[ToddyLu]

Yes, you would probably really like the plan. Read through the stickies located in the Dinning Forums for a background. You can also get lots of info from Allears. You need to add it to your reservation by a certain time. For our DVC stays it is at least 48 hours before check in and you pay for it when you add it now. Have fun.

 

[Nadjalu]

Hi Debbie,

Since you have been to WDW several times you are familar with the restaurants.

To know if any dining plan is right for you, you need to go thru each day of your vacation, pick the restaurants you "will" eat at.
Then pick a meal for everyone in your party and total up that day's estimated charges, then total up the entire vacation and see what the total bill is for eating at the restaurants you have chosen.

If the amount is more than the dining plan you are looking at then yes the plan is for you and will save you money.
If paying OOP is cheaper, then the plans aren't for you.

This is the only way to truly know if the plans will save you money.

The DDP saves us anywhere from $40-70 per day for DH and I. So we always go with that plan.

What is good for me, might not be good for you. It is all based on how you eat, what you eat and where you eat. No one can decide that for you.

So if you go thru your trip and figure out what and where everyone will eat, then you will have your answer.

Good luck!!

 

[mdelano4]

I run the numbers each time we go, because I am constantly trying to insure we make the roght choice.

If you will normally order everything you'd get on the DDP, then it's well worth it, unless you do a lot of buffet meals. They are usually a little lower priced and may be cheaper than the dining plan.

I'd go to allearsnet or one of the other sites that give you a price list and compare that way.

Good Luck!

 

[LynneyPooh]

I agree! However, for us we ALWAYS come out ahead on DDP. I feel like it gives me the opportunity to order the higher priced entrees that I may not otherwise choose due to price. We did DDP in Jan and lost, but only because we had to leave early and did not take out trip insurance.
We are going to upgrade to the deluxe plan for our June trip. The way I figure it is we can do several table service w/ charecters for breakfast and still eat at the higher end resurants for dinner each evening for the days we're doing the plan. (I segmented my ressies to choose the 5 out of 10 days I want to eat DDP). After crunching the numbers, I'm still ahead, especailly since I have a CRT, Ca grille, and LeCellier ressies.
I crunch my numbers based on what I truly want to order, what I'm pretty sure DH will order, and what DD9 will want. Don't forget about about desserts. Apps aren't on the DDP, but are included in the deluxe plan.
The apps are the second reason we're going deluxe. Often we wanted a salad. That's usually extra on the DDP. They would not allow us to sub an app for a dessert (even though the price was usually the same or LESS).
Also remember gratuity is Not included in the dining plans, we found it was easier to just pay cash, and not put it on our KTTW card. My only gripe with the waiters and waitresses was asking if we'd like to leave more than the "expected 18%". By paying cash, we left what we felt was appropriate on the table without feeling guilty for only leaving 18% (or even 15% depending on the resturant and server).