Magic Your Way...Dining or Not?

[pewing]

Is the dining add-on a good deal? We do usually eat breakfast before we leave and then lunch and dinner in the parks...

 

[acovington]

No doubt, it's a great deal. Particularly considering the quality of the table service restaurants in the plan (nearly all of them). For about $38/day (adult) you receive a table service meal with appetizer and dessert, a counter service meal with dessert, and a small snack with all tips included. No matter what type of food you eat, if you're on Disney property you pay a "captive tourist" price that gets you past $38 quickly. I'm traveling to Disneyworld in July and I bought the plan for my family of five; I'll save the receipts to see just what we "saved", even though I'm sure we'll eat more/better on the plan than we would without. You mentioned that you usually eat lunch and dinner in the parks; for example: Lunch (counter service) at Cosmic Ray's averages about $6.50 for the entree and about $2 for a drink (never mind dessert for now). Dinner at (table service) Tony's Town Square averages about $22.50 for the entree and $2.50 for a drink, plus $3.75 for a 15% tip. A small snack amounts to a bottled water, soda, chips, or similar - about $2. This adds up to $37.25 before taxes, about the cost of the plan, and you get as a BONUS an appetizer and two desserts! Then, consider that I was conservative in the examples - with a few restrictions you can pick anything on the menu including items with a much higher value, or dine at more expensive restaurants. Character meals are included as "table service" options. Note that there are some exceptions that require additional "meal credits", but these are few and generally worth the extra cost. If you search these boards you'll find many people that have really appreciated the meal plan and recommend it.

 

[hockeybabe]

You might want to check out the Dining Plan board to do more research on this...there are many people who kept very careful records of what they ordered and how much they saved, etc.

I personally think it is a great deal. Unfortunately, my dd will be an "adult" next trip, and she doesn't eat anything except kids menu stuff, and I can't bring myself to pay $38 a day for kids meals. Well, we've got a year, amybe she'll aquire more mature tastes

 

[Flanigan]

I agree with the previous poster (acovington). The dining plan was great! Me & my wife went on the dining plan just 3 months ago and were able to eat at many places we probably would not have been able to afford otherwise. We had some wonderfull dinners and great lunches that more than paid for the Dining plan. I'd say the Dining plan easily paid for itself, several times.

 

[pewing]

You might want to check out the Dining Plan board to do more research on this...there are many people who kept very careful records of what they ordered and how much they saved, etc.

I personally think it is a great deal. Unfortunately, my dd will be an "adult" next trip, and she doesn't eat anything except kids menu stuff, and I can't bring myself to pay $38 a day for kids meals. Well, we've got a year, amybe she'll aquire more mature tastes

Thanks...I will check out that board too

We have the opposite problem with our two boys (one of which will be an 'adult' next trip). The ALWAYS want to order off of the adult menu. The are adventurous and 'healthy' eaters (that means a lot not always 'good stuff' )

That brings up another important question...does my younger DS have to order off of the kids menu? That could be a snag

 

[pewing]

The other board was a great help.

Never mind about the child's menu question I saw that kids 3-9 had to order off the kids menu, but my youngest DS is 10

 

[KJHawley]

The other question you have to ask yourself is how often do you want to eat at table service restaurants. Since one meal a day will be at table service, if you're going during a busy season you'll have to make ADRs, and stick with them (or wait a long time for a table). Some people want to get back into the action quickly, and don't want to wait for a table service restaurant. Other people like table service because it lets you take a break, especially if it's hot outside.

I just did a calculation for our upcoming trip, figuring where DW and I would want to eat for each meal, even what we would order. I came up with a "range" for what we would spend for the trip- and the Dining Plan fell right in the middle. In other words, there was a 50% chance it would save us money, and a 50% chance that it wouldn't.

We decided against it- we'll probably eat TS on fewer occasions than the dining plan would allow, so we'll probably save more money by NOT doing it. For some people, one or two meals at the Yachtsman Steakhouse would make the Dining Plan a huge money saver. It's all a matter of whether the Dining Plan works for you & your schedule.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We did the dining plan for the first time last trip and I really don't know the answer. My youngest DD never came close to finishing her meals. Way too much food.

We do TS for both lunch and dinner leaving with using our CS credits for breakfast, which was a waste. Also, one of my DD's didn't like to have a Mickey bar everyday, she prefers a hot pretzel which isn't on the plan. Both my DH and I never get a snack so we ended up with about 10 snacks left.

My DH and I never order an appetizer, entree and dessert. Usually just an entree so we ended up overeating, who can pass up "free" chocolate cake.

I also thought keeping track of what I had to pay OOP and with the plan a hassle, so this trip no Dining Plan.

 

[texnmickey]

I'm convinced that the DP works to save you money. If used correctly. We have 6 adults going in june and we've picked some of the best places to eat at where the average cost is 25-30. I did the wishes plan back in 04 and used wishes for meals, and believe me this is much better.

 

[Hopefully]

The Dining Plan definitely worked for us last October. We (3 Adults) "saved" $450 over the cost of the plan. However, we have been to WDW many times and no longer tour "commando style". We have a nice dinner every night at home and like a TS meal on vacation, and one of our favorite areas is WS in Epcot. We used our TS credits to eat at Rose & Crown, Le Cellier, Morocco, Teppanyaki (sp), 'OHana and Yachtsman Steakhouse.
It depends on the ages of your party, whether you kids are adult or not, whether they will eat enough to make it worth while, your touring style and whether you want to take the time out of your day for a nice TS meal.
We will do it again in the future, if it is available.