Is the meal plan worth it?

[DISoriented]

I've never stayed at a Disney Resort before and am wondering if we should upgrade our package to include meals too. I declined at first because ds only eats three things...pizza, hot dogs and bacon. Dh and I will probably eating two meals a day. But now I'm starting to have doubts. Everyone keeps saying how expensive Disney food is. Can anyone give me an idea of what it'll cost us if we're not on the dining plan? We'd like to do a sit down meal at least once a day.

Thanks so much.

Only 18 days to go!

 

[mdsouth]

If you are planning on having one sit down meal a day, I would say that it would be worth it. Each adult is 35.00 a day for the plan and I think the kids are 10.00 a day.

You should check out the menus and prices posted on the Internet to decide for yourself whether or not it would be worth it. You can find them at www.allears.net.

It looks like we will be at WDW the same time you will be!!! Yea Hoo!

 

[disneyjunkie]

You can check out the menus here. http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

My son and I used the dining plan last week. You will get alot of food if you use the plan.

I love the idea of having most of our food bill taken care of before leaving home. The only mistake I made with the plan was scheduling our dinner PS early(5:00)

I plan to use the plan again this October and next summer.

 

[cocodog]

We did very well on the meal plan, and alot of what the kids were offered included pizza and hot dogs! We probably could have eaten for the same price, but not nearly as well. I enjoyed not worrying about cost when ordering,a nd having everything (ecpecially the tip) already paid for!

 

[tammy/mom of two]

We thought it was very worth it. We started to calculate our savings last night and as soon as I have it all down I will do a post on it. A sitdown meal without appetizers alcohol ,drinks or dessert will run you conservetively 35-40 for the two of you and that bare bones ordering. We were able to try food we would not of had the chance too, we ate better food, I actually lost 4 pounds on the plan and that was with appetizers, alcohol and dessert. I considered that a bonus. So I would say go for it. We ate at some of the other resorts, before Epoc resteraunts came on board,(we missed them by a week) but we looked at this as an opportunity to eat at places we probably would have skipped. So really consider it.

 

[DISoriented]

The only mistake I made with the plan was scheduling our dinner PS early(5:00)

Isn't that a good thing?

 

[ncbyrne]

If you plan on a sit down meal every day, the meal plan will definitely be worth it. Adults are $35 per day, kids $10. After you review the menus and prices, consider that tax and tip are included, and you'll see that you will definitely save $.

 

[winnie77]

Just recently got back from Disney (got back april 28) The meal plan is 100% worth it. It is worth every single dollar of it. I would get it again in a heart beat. Table meal. Tip and tax are included. Just stick to the resturants that are included and you will have no problems. When you get to a counter service place tell them you are on the meal plan and they will take good care of you. Same with table meal. Tell the waiter or waitress you are on the dining plan and they take very good care of you.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Isn't that a good thing?

For us 5:00 was too early to eat dinner after eating a heavy lunch and snacking.

By the time our dinner PS came, we were still full from lunch. We barley ate anything at Whispering Canyon Cafe and Chef Mickey's. We loved the atmosphere at both places, but just couldn't eat much.

Last Thursday we had a late PS at Rose and Crown (7:00). We were seated at 8:15, which worked much better for us.

In the future when I use the plan, I'll book our dinner PS for 6:30-7:00.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I haven't used the plan yet but did book it because one of our major things to do is eat at nice places and try different food on vacations. For 2 adults it's $70/day and one meal for us can easily run way beyond that. We get tired quickly of the same old chicken strips and hamburgers meals and not really having to look at prices when ordering is a big treat for us.

Someone mentioned not having dinner at 5pm probably because of the large meal that eat earlier in the day that they may still have been full from it. My plan is to have either a big TS breakfast/brunch or a very later TS meal aroun 7-8 is to help space out the meals more.

I think if your family is big eaters or enjoy going to other places other than counter service then the plan is for you. It's also great just having that paid for in advance also. Have a great trip.

 

[winnie77]

we ate a big breakfast about 9:30 am and then had an early dinner with the snack in between and that was plenty to us.

 

[dreaminboutdisney]

If you book the MYW dining plan do you have to set your dinner time for the same time every day when you book? I was under the impression that you could use it for any time and didn't necessarily need ps arrangements for table service restaurants. Also are any menu items excluded from the plan (ex. alcoholic drinks, more expensive entrees) on the table service and counter service restaurants? Trying to decide if it is worth it for 4 adult/jr & 1 child. Thanks for any input.

 

[cocodog]

No, you mkae your ps (or reservations now??) separately from your dining plan purchase. Alcohol IS excluded. I need to get my numbers crunched so that I can post a report!

 

[DISoriented]

Sounds like we can't go wrong on the dining plan. Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

 

[DISoriented]

No, you mkae your ps (or reservations now??) separately from your dining plan purchase. Alcohol IS excluded. I need to get my numbers crunched so that I can post a report!

Looking forward to your report.

 

[kgkmom]

'Is it worth it' is my question, too. It looks like it would be (my DD and I are heading down in July, and she is 12), but then I remember how large the portions are in the table service restaurants, and that we hardly ever finish our meals. We've frequently split a meal.

So, any thoughts? Suggestions for how to get the most out of the plan, or should I just scrap it?

Thanks!

 

[Nora94]

since the plan really is only giving you 2 meals a day, having to split a meal is perfect! You can use one counter service for both of you to split as breakfast, one as lunch to split and then treat yourself to some new things at dinner w/o worrying that you will hate it and go hungry.

We felt that we would have spent the same $$ if we hadn't been on the plan, but we would have eaten a lot of burgers and chicken strips and drank water at every meal from the fountain instead of a fancy drink.

Nora

 

[kgkmom]

Nora94-I hadn't considered splitting the counter service meals! What a great idea. I was remembering that my mom and I split a meal at the 50's Prime Time Cafe, and splitting was more than enough for both of us. That's what was concerning me-the table service meals.

I think what I'll do, is try to book the TS places that have desserts that I can conveniently take away (love late-night snacks!), and that will help alleviate the 'too much food' guilt!

Thanks, again for the great post!

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

If you do a sit down meal at least once a day, it sounds like a good idea. $35/adult, per day, plus one counter service. Add another $12 per adult minimum per day to cover your third meal then and your at around $48/day. Then it's a good deal. However, if you don't plan on doing a sit down meal each day, it's a rip off. Run the numbers based on how many sit down meals your planning. Have a blast!