Meal Plan - Yay or Nay?

[magicalfoursome]

We have decided against the meal plan for our upcoming trip. Our picky DS10 is now considered an adult. I can't see paying $37/day for him when he would probably prefer the kids meals. Also the changes to the DDP make it much less of a value. We normally don't order dessert either. Remember when comparing the DDP to OOP do not include items that come with the DDP if you normally would not order them. It really is dependent on your family's style of eatiing.

 

[Mom2Evie]

We aren't the type to eat at fancy sit down restaurants every night. More likely to grab a hot dog or something instead. That is what I am hesitating about.

TS credits don't have to be used at dinner. Use them for character breakfasts. Crystal Palace or 1900 Park Fare are two perfect examples. Of course, there's also Garden Grill, Liberty Tree Tavern and Chef Mickey's. I'm sure any of those would really thrill your son. Have a couple of breakfasts, meeting different characters and then maybe use 2 other credits on Hoop Dee Doo Review or another show of that nature, as much entertainment as food!! Of course, a big or late lunch is a good idea too. Instead of heading back to the resort to rest, just enjoy a leisurely, air conditioned late lunch somewhere.

We've used the DDP for our last 4 trips but for our upcoming April trip we're going to give the DDE a try. Since the altered the DDP to not include the appetizer (which I'd have perferred to the dessert), it doesn't seem as well suited to our needs as it once was. This coming September we'll be there for free dining. I think this will help us evaluate the plan better, factor in costs and then decide exactly what we're going to do for the April trip.

 

[piratemom07]

We have decided this year to use the DDP we could not decide if it will be the best thing for us to do or not so we hope we have made the right decision. We have reservations to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern, Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace, Ohana's for BK and 50's Prime Time. My family consisits of myself, DH, DD, DS and since my kids are 13 and 18 we pay the adult price. I figured the price of the following meals for our family and just those alone would cost us at least 500.00 and that is a rough est. We have also considered doing CM for breakfast the morning we check out. For us I think the ddp will work out.

We are not big breakfast eaters so that is not a problem for us but we do enojoy sit down meals and not all fast food types.
This will be our 5th trip the last was in May of 06 and then in May of 01 we were able to spend 10 days our longest ever and that was really wonderful we were able to take our time. This year we will be staying at the POP we stayed here in May of 06.

We have never gone in August so we hope it will not be too crowded we do know it will be warmer but we live where we have highs in the 100's and heat index higher so the heat will be no shock to us.

 

[SuperTink]

I say try it and see how it works out. There are menus around, so you could actually price out the difference.

We did it 2 years ago. It was fun, but we really didn't like being tied to the schedule and we also didn't like feeling pressured to eat all that food. We wasted a bit, and we gained weight. Neither of those things appeals to me Dollar for dollar we probably saved 20 bucks.

Our trips are short so we want to make the most of our time on attractions so it will be Garden Grocer and CS for us this year.

 

[asmit4]

1. Will your family eat 1 TS meal on average per day?
2. Will your family eat 1 CS meal on average per day?
3. Do you not mind making ADRs for the TS meals?

If the answer to the above questions is yes- buy it. You will most likely save $$. If your family prefers CS meals over TS, if your family is more into snacks rather than full meals? Don't buy it- you won't save $$.

 

[northriver]

I sit down every trip and estimate the approximate OOP dining expenses.

Then I take a look at the DDP costs. If we have or are planning to get an AP, I compare that to the savings we'd have with the DDE card.

So far, the DDP has not been a savings for us, not even close to break even.

It depends on how you eat. We don't eat desert, we don't drink pop, we usually eat lower on the value scale - chicken or vegetarian dishes. We also often eat two table service meals each day, so we'd be loosing the CS credits.

I also don't go to Disney to focus on eating and I'm the kind of person that would stress about using the credits, skipping ADR that made the DDP "worth" it, etc. So I'd rather skip the DDP and be free to do what I want, when I want, and save myself the whole DDP hassle.

We have had DDE on the last two trips and if anyone is going to have an AP, I definately recommend the DDE card. We saved BIG money using DDE. Last trip I was with two drinkers and take that 20% DDE discount on food PLUS two Margaritas and two Glowtinis every day, and it really adds up quickly!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Been to WDW 40 times and never had a use for alot of food, do not like structured stays based on eating times. We also found that the size of meals are huge and we split most meals. Counter service across the property holds our attention, we hit different resorts for our favorites, we make picnic lunches with groceries purchased en route to WDW along with some beverages and like the pizza and buffets at FW. Even staying 10-12 nights no saving for us and we book room only, have AP's and never in 40 trips booked a package. We eat when we're hungry and in the Florida heat, we eat less and do not want to be stuffed from too much food.

 

[d96j97]

We CAN'T go with the DDP although I would like to. We already have tickets for our upcoming trip (purchased 10 day non-expiry 3 years ago) and we can not add it to them. I was told that all I had to do was purchase a 1 day MYW ticket and I could add the DDP but by the time I purchase tickets and then add the DDP, I'm never going to be ahead.

PLUS....both of my DS's are 11 and 12 on our next trip so everything is prices as adult and they both still eat like kids. For us, it just won't be worth it.

 

[danielle.st]

The two times I went to WDW in the past, I stayed offsite. I ate a fast food breakfast off site, lunch as a CS on site, and then dinner at a fast food place off site again. Yes, it was cheap. It also wasn't all that healthy and there was little variety. We also did commando touring and were hot and tired most of the time (not to say we didn't have fun, but still). Those times I was a teen or in my early 20's.
This time when we go, we are doing the deluxe meal plan. My reasoning being that we aren't nappers, but we're going to need the breaks from walking (no strollers here). Also, my youngest dd (4) and my dh get miserable when they are hungry. Seriously, not pretty. And my older dd (7) is a foodie who would be completely bored with the typical kids meals. Heck, even my youngest, slight on the picky side child would be bored as her favorite vegetable is broccoli! Anyway, for us, the buffets are going to work out the best, I think. Also, I would rather see the characters at meals rather than standing in long lines in the parks.
Really, I think you just need to think about your family and decide what might work best for you. What works for one family may not be the best fit for another.

 

[Somnia]

I don't know if I average the $39 or whatever it is everyday I'm here, but before the dining plan we only did one sit down dinner normally. Now we do one every night we are there. I honestly look at it as a way to spend more money on gifts and items honestly. I do not have to worry about having money with me for lunch or dinner. That is a HUGE plus for me honestly and is worth it if I end up spending 5-10 more a day than I actually eat.

 

[moose1283]

I was for the DDP before they took off the appetizer and gratuity. Now if you eat at say Lecellier and $250.00 worth, you have to add another $ 50.00 (20%) tip. So you end up spending additional dollars. I liked it better when everything was included and food expense was taken care of.

 

[CanadianGuy]

This is a thread best suited to the Disney Restaurants board here on the DIS, I'll be moving this one over there.

Thanks,

Knox