Meal plan?

[alwaysready]

Does anyone have any advice on weather the meal plan is cost effective or just a convienence? We have never purchased the plan and we are thinking of doing it this year, however it looks like the plan has changed from what it was last year. We like to (and already have) make reservations at different table service resteraunts such as Ohana, characture dining, ect. Will this plan benifit our family of four, 2 adults, 1 @12yrs, 1 @5yrs? Thanks

 

[RobDoc]

You'll get some great help with this over on the DDP forum.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[GranddadTom]

We did it last year and we won't do it again this year. I believe that if your family eats a lot of food, then it would cost effective. For us, it was just too much food. We all agreed that what with the heat down there, it was more comfortable to make a sensible sandwich in the resort room, pack a lunch and skip the greasy food in the parks. We thought doing the table service meals was fun (we don't usually do TS meals at WDW) but it was also a little constraining as far as timing is concerned. This year we bought the Dining Experience card which gives us 20% off on our meals.

 

[alwaysready]

You'll get some great help with this over on the DDP forum.

Good luck with your decision.

Thanks, I will check it out.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I would add up how much the dining plan will cost you..

$38 per night per adult, $10 per night per child ages 3-9... then go to www.allearsnet.com website to check menu's and pricing for what you would order without being on the plan to see the difference. Yes, for dining plan 2008 they removed the appetizer and gratuity. For us the appy isn't a big deal, because as it was it was way to much food for us!

If your 12 yr old eats more like childs meals it may not be worth it.
If you are planning on doing one seat down meal a day or a couple of expensive sit downs than it may..

 

[ForeverDance]

Somewhere on these boards there is a ddp spreadsheet that helps you figure out whether it is worth it. You figure out what you would order (use allears) and put in the costs. It then calculates how much (if anything) you would save if you used the ddp. I can't remember where it went, but someone probably knows... or you could try using the search feature.

 

[nickspace]

I am not one for spending a lot of money of food so we eat breakfast in the room, pack a light lunch, and then figure something out for dinner as needed. The fast service Epcot food is good and far less expensive than sit down. We also have 3 kids and don't eat out much because of that. If it was my wife and I a sit down meal would be relaxing but kids like to keep moving

 

[james'mommy]

I think it's worth it because the cost of paying oop for just counter service meals is insane. My sister spent $50 at Cosmic Ray's last year for 2 adults and 2 kids meals. I would rather not eat than pay disney prices. So that's why we use the ddp.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It's pretty much a guarantee if you use all your credits for the week, and order something average priced on table service menu (including dessert and non-alcholic beverage) and ordered an average quick service lunch, you'd spend less on the DDP then on OOP.

Example of a Day at Epcot:

Lunch:
Liberty Inn:
Chicken Sandwich combo meal (includes fries), apple cobbler and a soda = $12.07 X 6% - 7% (depending on county) = $12.79 - $12.91

Snack:
Soda/Juice = $2.09 X 6% - 7% = $2.22 - $2.24

Dinner:
Rose and Crown:
Fish and Chips, Vanilla Custard and a soda = $23.57 X 6% - 7% = $24.98 - $25.22

Total
$12.79+$2.22+$24.98 = $39.99
or
$12.91+$2.24+$25.22 = $40.37

So even going fairly low end (there are definately more expensive CS and TS restaurants), you're still paying less OOP. Going to places like Coral Reef or Le Cellier for dinner the night at Epcot would just make the cost event a larger difference.

In the end if you figure out how much you want to eat, you can back into how much you'd spend average per meal/day and then compare it to the costs of the plans. Some days you might break even, others you'll save a lot.

The amount of food is a whole other subject, if you're one not to waste anything, then you'll probably find yourself rather full.

There is also the part about planning, being on the DDP or not, doesn't change the fact you need to make reservations in advance, this is most true to popular venues. From the other planning perspective, some people like to know their food costs are already taken care of, not wondering how much to plan out etc.

Think of it sort of like a cruise. It's all inclusive, but the food suffers a bit (some lines are better then others), but you almost always have the option of a restaurant where you can pay a nominal amount the eat in a finer dining place on the ship. Some people don't see the point, but usually the food served in these nominal fee restaurants is far superior to the rest of the ship, the service is kicked up a notch and because of the cost (refer to people not seeing the point) it's not usually as busy.