meal plan

[huey duey & luey]

wasn't worth it for us at all. We hated to be so planned and really too much food for us. We wouldnt do it again. Now the TIW card we would use

 

[zeferjen]

We are doing it this time because I have a lot of character buffets. I figured out with the cost that it will be worth it (with two small kids). I wanted to book the character meals b/c my youngest doesn't remember doing them the first time (and it's a birthday trip).

Going forward, we will likely be doing TIW. I don't think we will feel the need to *squeeze* everything into one trip anymore now that we are DVC members.

 

[Dean]

Hi,

Can you tell me what the WP express, and the WGPE are? I'm not familiar with all the abbreviations. (Once you tell me, I'll probably think - duh, of course)

Ken

both Wolfgang Puck Express, 2 locations. The one in DD is the better value dollar wise.

 

[katieam1]

My husband and I were trying to figure out the same thing would the meal plan be worth it or would TIW be best. We ended up looking at the places we wanted to eat looking at the menu and deciding TIW was the way for us to go. We are very excited to try TIW because I think it will give us the freedom to eat how we want. We have done the DXDDP when we have gone the last 5 times so we have pretty much tried all the places in WDW so the musts for us are now narrowed down, we know at certain places what we like and what we don't. The TIW will allow us to eat where we like order what we like and still be able to get a dicount.

I think the main thing is to just write down your musts the prices and just start comparing. Good Luck and have a GREAT trip!!!

 

[KPOP]

both Wolfgang Puck Express, 2 locations. The one in DD is the better value dollar wise.

ty Dean,(duh, of course)

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are a family of 4 and get the DxDP. My kids love all the character meals and DH and I love the Signatures, that alone makes it worth it to us. Yes it is a ton of food, but since we go often we like to take a break at the TS restaurants and talk about everything while soaking in the air conditioning . We also stay in the Studios, which the kitchenette really makes it hard to make a good dinner in, but we do use the toaster and microwave for pop-tarts, popcorn, and such. However, when we do stay in a 1-bedroom, we have already decided that that is when we will not be doing the DDP, a full kitchen will make it so much easier to cook in .

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Not anymore. Now that my kids are considered adults, it's just too expensive for us.

This.

We actually enjoyed the dining plan, but we have to fuss at our 10 year old son to eat a kid's meal, let alone an adult one at adult prices.

 

[disneymomjcs]

We have done it both ways.

If you are doing lots of Character meals or buffets it is well worth it to book DDP. You will save money or break even!

If you are just eating at TS order off the menu and you choose whatever you want not based on price you may not make out as well. For people who eat lots of steak and expensive food it is a better choice to do the dining plan. I usually get pasta or chicken so ordering off the menu is alot cheaper than a buffet or character meal.

That said I do love the dining plan because we can eat at a buffet and everyone can find something they like to eat, and eat and eat if they are really hungry or just have bits of things if they aren't super hungry. Some fruit, salad, soups, appetizers and entrees and desserts too!

 

[deegack]

For us the basic plan works out to be better. BUT inlike ts meals. It's a nice break and gives us some down time in ac. Also my dh is a big eater. So often I end up giving him part of my meal. Also I save the fruit or yogurt gets with her cs meals as a snack for later. We eat breakfast in the room most days.
So in a convoluted way it works for us and I like having the meals paid for before I go.

 

[puente0629]

I just put a 7 night plan using the menu pricing from Allears website, 1 counter service, 1 table service, 1 snack per person per night....

2 adults, 7 night Disney Dining Plan pricing $721.00

Eating one counter service for lunch and one table service for dinner with snacks and one free refill cup came out to $842.16 (includes tax and I picked the most expensive meals). Some of restaurants I chose was Yake & Yeti, T-Rex Cafe, Crystal Palace, Chefs De France, Sci-Fi, etc.

Basically, I would save $121.00...is it really worth it? In my opinion, NO. Plus, you still have to add gratuity to that and we don't want dessert after every single meal. Also, we like to eat sometimes appetizers and I think when it includes appetizers and gratuity it was well worth it. Obviously, my pricing above could change depending on the restaurant we really end up choosing and what you choose. At the end, you make your own conclusion.

 

[Dean]

I just put a 7 night plan using the menu pricing from Allears website, 1 counter service, 1 table service, 1 snack per person per night....

2 adults, 7 night Disney Dining Plan pricing $721.00

Eating one counter service for lunch and one table service for dinner with snacks and one free refill cup came out to $842.16 (includes tax and I picked the most expensive meals). Some of restaurants I chose was Yake & Yeti, T-Rex Cafe, Crystal Palace, Chefs De France, Sci-Fi, etc.

Basically, I would save $121.00...is it really worth it? In my opinion, NO. Plus, you still have to add gratuity to that and we don't want dessert after every single meal. Also, we like to eat sometimes appetizers and I think when it includes appetizers and gratuity it was well worth it. Obviously, my pricing above could change depending on the restaurant we really end up choosing and what you choose. At the end, you make your own conclusion.

As you noted, you have to do the more expensive meals in that situation. You likely used around $4 per snack as well. One can make the numbers work but it's difficult for most situation. We have been able to make it work the last few trips with a child and 2 adults.

 

[Pattiwig]

I have searched on dis, allears, and the disney site and cannot seem to find the cost of the QS plan. We are considering it for our August trip. We are staying at OKW. Thanks for any help.

 

[Anal Annie]

Personally I think the dining plans are pricier than what we would normally spend on our meals. We just got the TIW card on our spring break trip. Now that DS is almost 15 and eating like he has a twin it was a much better value than when we had it when he was younger and still eating kids meals. I added up the amount saved on this trip and it came to $115.94. We have AP's so we got it for the $75 price which means we came out $40.94 ahead on just this trip. We're going back in August for another week so that trip will be all savings since we've already recovered our investment cost. I know without the TIW card I probably would not have ordered a $13.50 Avocado Margarita at La Hacienda!!

 

[Serkazong]

I recently went through my own calculations for an upcoming trip. We have 6 adults (3 older teen boys) for 8 nights. I went through the menus of likely places we'll be eating and added up item by item what our group would likely order. I assumed that we would eat the same amount on the plan or without the plan. That's a big assumption and would effect the outcome a lot, but for us, its not too far off I think. Meals ARE a highlight of our trips.

First, paying completely out of pocket with no plan would cost $3,425.89.

With the dining plan we would pay $3,229.87 ($2473.92 for the plan, the rest is stuff not covered).

With the TiW card, including $100.00 for the card, and assuming we'd only eat at places that take the card, it was $2,856.00.

 

[Brook1099]

Our family(myself, DH, DD who is 12 and DS who is 11) are going to do the QSDP, this year, and TIW. We usually did DDP ( it was great when it first came out), but now that we are DVC ,and AP holders we figured get TIW for a few restaraunts we like.( Lecellier, Fultons and Ragland Road) We vacation in Orlando for two weeks, our first in our Orlando timeshare then our second week in Disney. So we will utilize the TIW the first week at a few of our favorite restaraunts, then when we go to the BC we will start the QSDP. I chose the QSDP over the DDP, because my son still does not like a lot of adult foods, and we really lose on the value of the DDP, unless we do buffets and character meals, which was fun when they were little but now not so much. I wanted to try the QSDP for the freedom of no schedule while in Disney #1 and # 2 reason I still wanted the snack credits( even though its no longer 2) because we go during food and wine and too me seems like a wise choice.I love WPE, Cosmic Rays,Peco Bills, Sunshine Seasons, La Cantina and want to try CS @ Morocco, so this will allow me to do so, and if I find it did not work for us then next year I will stictly do TIW, which will still be good on our 2013 trip!!

 

[TDC Nala]

I have searched on dis, allears, and the disney site and cannot seem to find the cost of the QS plan. We are considering it for our August trip. We are staying at OKW. Thanks for any help.

QS plan is $34.99 per adult per night and $11.99 per child (age 3-9) per night. Kids under 3 aren't eligible. Per night, you get 2 QS meal credits and 1 snack credit per person, plus the refillable mug.

 

[Pattiwig]

Thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Irishmom23]

I have a TIW card and I am doing the DDP for our upcoming trip as we are going as a family of five adults. We have ADR's for every night (our choice, we love to eat and try out new things) We are going for 7 nights and I like that it is prepaid and we can eat what we want. We will each share tips and any appetizers or alcohol that are purchased will be at a minimum as several of us do not drink and there is so much food already, so it isn't really a a factor to consider. For shorter trips, I like the TIW card as our stays are more spontaneous without many ADR's and that works out too.

 

[jacksmom]

For us it is worth it! DD 5 1/2 aways wants to do Princess meals and we always go at a higher priced time! Plus ds 15 eats a lot! and always orders a steak! So, we come out pretty wel on DDP, esp cause we stay 10 days!

 

[Alexander]

We just like the idea that everything is prepaid (except gratuities). Somehow it doesn't feel as expensive as paying out $100 or so for a TS meal. I know in the end it is probably a wash, but it is all psychological for me!