Just Back From A Week Without The Dining Plan. Won't Do It Again!

[luckytobeme88]

We love having the Dining plan; especially the deluxe version. Can't never go without having some type of dining plan because we will still eat mostly TS dinner and snack throughout the day anyway.

 

[sunshine43]

What is DDE?

robin

 

[time4Mickey]

We went our first year without the dining plan. It was awful. My husband LOVES to eat. He was so unbearable by the end of the trip. He didn't want to pay the prices for a sit down dinner but was so unhappy with the cs. We have used the dining plan since. We are much more of an appetizer family so the changes made us decide to get the deluxe plan for our next trip. We are doing a split stay so will have the dining plan for 4 of the 7 nights but can stretch in across 5 days. For me, I don't want to be there and feel like I shouldn't have the desert or whatever due to the cost. I like having it all paid for in advance.

 

[scotas]

You shouldn't let the lack of ADR's be a reason not to get the dining plan. Our last trip we had the dining plan and only used it for 1 ADR. We still managed sit down meals for all but one day of our trip, we just relied on eating at off times. It was a bit of a struggle at some places, easier at others. Hollywood and Vine, for example, was only a 10 minute wait for a table of four. Of course we went right as everyone was leaving to see Fantasmic (which I seen sooo many times already.)

 

[vicki_c]

But you can make ADRs with out beiong on the plan. Even last minute trips can be planned some in advance.

That's what I was going to say -- we never do the dining plan and probably never will, but we don't eat counter service the entire time we're there. We schedule a few table service meals. Even on short notice, if you're flexible with your choices, you can still do a few sit downs.

 

[vicki_c]

What is DDE?

robin

Disney Dining Experience - it's a card you can purchase only if you have an AP or are a Florida resident. Gives a 20% discount at a lot of table service places and a few counter service locations.

We prefer that over purchasing the dining plan, but it's not available to everyone, as stated above.

 

[mickeystoontown]

That's what I was going to say -- we never do the dining plan and probably never will, but we don't eat counter service the entire time we're there. We schedule a few table service meals. Even on short notice, if you're flexible with your choices, you can still do a few sit downs.

I tried to make ADRs before we left home. Because we were short on time, I tried to schedule ADRs for the same park we would be in on that particular day. The castmember I talked to was so very nice. She tried all of the theme park restaurants and the only thing she could find was Rose & Crown. I took that ADR.

When we checked in, the Concierge desk tried to help us too. The only openings (2 to be exact) they had were at restaurants I knew my son wouldn't like. As a matter of fact, my husband and I wouldn't have liked the cuisine either.

She told me that every resort was sold out the week we were going. Therefore, last minute ADRs were slim to none.