My 2 cents worth on Dining plan

[nbodyhome]

Each family is different - for myself, I found it excessive as well. We got it for free (my MIL, myself and my SIL) and there was a lot left over creditwise that I boxed up and drove home with at the end of only 3 days.

I get a better deal anyway by getting an AP or FL resident room rate and not going the WDTC way. If they did it for free again, I'd probably do it again. But I just don't eat enough to justify the cost. I really work at being healthy (nearly 70 pounds lost in 3 years, etc.), and I just can't eat all that food nor do I feel comfortable leaving it behind if paid for! I can eat on property for less than $15 a day anyway, which is a lot cheaper than $38.

But some families really like eating on vacation - and the dining plan can be a good deal (as long as you aren't using the counter service for stuff like Beach's n Cream, character breakfasts, etc. so much).

Denise

 

[WDWfor5]

We just got back from 6 nights at POR on the Dining Plan and all week we kept saying how much we loved being on the plan. For my family(me, DH, DD 6, DS 4 and DS 2), it wasn't too much food at all. We ate at Chef Mickey's, Mama Melrose, Cinderella's Royal Table, Le Cellier, Whispering Canyon and Boatwright's. With the exception of breaskfast at Boatwrights(which I will never repeat - food wasn't as good as the foodcourt and the service was awful ) we would have spent more than the $95 per day for the plan just for dinner. Dinner at Le Cellier's would have been a whopping $171. But the dinner there was amazing and my DS 4 decided my steak was "easier to chew" than his kids steak and ate that instead. Sure we wouldn't normally all order an appetizer or dessert BUT it was so much fun and the food was sooooo good

My DH and I would never have tried the thngs we did or enjoyed a TS meal everyday and it was the highlight of our trip. The sitdown meal worked wonders for my kids beng able to stay up to see the nighttime shows as they were recharged from a relaxing meal and we were all in a better mood after sitting for a while.

As for CS, we tended to order 2 CS Meals at a time and share them which gave us some of our breakfasts and let us eat only what we wanted. Especcially since my DS 2 wasn't on the plan, we never had too much food as he loves to eat anything I'm eating. We used all of our snacks and loved being able to say yes to the kids requests for a Mickey Bar or popcorn without choking at the cost.

All in all we will definetely do the dining plan again and hope they never discontinue it. It may not work for everyone but if you like to eat a TS meal each day I can't imagine it not being worth the money.

Jennifer, who needs to change her signature to show she just got home and won't be going for at least a year

 

[Cruz Family]

I can eat on property for less than $15 a day anyway, which is a lot cheaper than $38.

Denise

$15 a day

 

[momto2girls]

We used the dining plan in Sept. when it was free. I totally agree with you, way too much food!! It felt really wasteful to leave so much food not eaten! I don't think I will purchase it in the future.

ITA! We had the free dining plan last year for our October trip. Since it was free, it was a no-brainer. But I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. It is way too much food! Plus, I enjoy eating at more TS restaurants and felt forced to use my CS credits. Also, we hardly used any of the snacks and have most of them away. I was glad that I hadn't paid for the plan.

We didn't use it on our recent trip and I'm not sure if we'll get it again.

 

[ohMom]

i'm traveling with my Mom next January - can just one of us purchase the plan. We normally split alot of entrees/desserts, etc and are more into sampling more things than big portions.

 

[nowellsl]

The way I understand it everyone in the room has to have it.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

It is definitely a lot of food. We did the plan last year in February, shortly after it began being offered.

Our family consists of dh, myself, dd age 11, dd age 8. We left snack credits on our plan and 1 table service meal. However, dh is a big eater and thoroughly enjoyed the plan.

I, on the other hand, am not as big of an eater, and still enjoyed the plan. For me, I am a price watcher, so while I'd enjoy the $25 Filet more than they $17 New york strip, I'd order the strip to save $. on the plan I felt I could order what I really would enjoy more.

Now I know that sounds silly, but it's just a fact about me. I would rather spend that extra $ on a souvienier or more film developing. It drives dh crazy. So the dining plan worked great for us.

 

[deelam]

I have a question for those who have used the dining. For 3 of us on the plan 3 apps an entree and desert is allot. I wonder if you can get the deserts to go? Also, I guess they could wrap up whats not eaten in apps too. Would this be weird to do?

 

[Houston_Disney_Fan]

I'm not worried about food left on the table, or even what the dining plan costs. If it keeps my husband from being grouchy over having to pull out his wallet at every meal, it's worth every penny. I'll never go without it again, at least not if he is along!

 

[deelam]

I'm not worried about food left on the table, or even what the dining plan costs. If it keeps my husband from being grouchy over having to pull out his wallet at every meal, it's worth every penny. I'll never go without it again, at least not if he is along!

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THIS!!!! I'm booking the dining today.

 

[sajetto]

We are doing a DVC vacation next and doing everything in our power to get the dining plan. On our last vacation the waiters loved me and my DF b/c we ALWAYS ordered the most expensive things on the menu (this was b/c the most expensive thing is beef and we love it!) We are quite thin people but when we eat on vacation we approach it like an event. We eat nearly everything put in front of us! The dining plan is very cost effective for us because of this, but I can see where it wouldn't be for those with much less appetitie and time to enjoy a TS.

 

[siestakeys04]

We purchased the dining plan for our july trip. My husband did not want to worry about money for food while on vacation. We always look at price when we eat at resturants and sometimes never get what we really want. We see this as a time to live like kings and queens with our two kids dd10 and ds6. We like table services alot and our kids enjoy it. I went to allears to look at menus to do a sample bill and we would come out cheaper doing the dining plan my kids must have three meals a day. Who wants to be on vacation telling your kids no you cant have "abcd" . This is our first trip and we want to have fun fun fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[themudd4]

It wouldn't work well for us either because we eat a sit down character breakfast or at Boma in the morning and then eat dinner which is 2 TS meals. DD and I wouldn't eat counter service at lunch too. DH and DS would and it would be great for them, but everyone in the room has to have the plan. I would buy it for the boys in a heartbeat!

Unless I am mistaken...not all dinners are counted as 2 TS meals. I know HopDeDoo does take 2 of your TS meals but that is a dinner show, and it comes out a little better for Disney to do it that way!

 

[themudd4]

i'm traveling with my Mom next January - can just one of us purchase the plan. We normally split alot of entrees/desserts, etc and are more into sampling more things than big portions.

I dont think so...If you call to book, or have a TA who books for you, make a request for one room. Then order the tickets to the parks seperately, and add the dining opt to only one of them. I know this has been an issue in the past with guest traveling with someone with food allergies. It will not hurt to at least ask about it when you book.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Unless I am mistaken...not all dinners are counted as 2 TS meals. I know HopDeDoo does take 2 of your TS meals but that is a dinner show, and it comes out a little better for Disney to do it that way!

What I meant is...we eat a sit down breakfast and sit down dinner almost everyday so that's 2 TS each day we are there, not that each meal is 2 TS.

 

[Lizzybee]

We had the free dining plan at the end of August and it was such a fabulous experience. I think Disney was quite wise to spoil us with all those wonderful meals and experiences because they have now become a part of our "to do list" for our next WDW trip. I can imagine that had I paid for the dining plan, it still would have been easier to say to my DS11 "sure order the salmon" than if I had to pull out the credit card. I also think if someone who doesn't DIS and gets a less than stellar CM on the CRO line could have a terrible experience with the dining plan (ie not knowing that ADRs ARE necessary for lots of the sit down meals).

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I thought about the OP's POV and at first, I agreed after getting the free DP last year...however after pricing some meals and remembering our bills the thing that keeps me on it is the buffets and character meals where you can

A> eat what portions and courses you want
B. can not split meals


so even though I eat only about 1200 cals a day...and managed to HIT my WW GOAL the week after our WDW dining plan trip I know our bills at CRT and CM were areound 125!!!! that is alone a savings!!!


if you are doing character meals and buffets...I see no other options

even so we spilt a lot of food and left with many credits HOWEVER even if we had paid for it we would have saved over 500 dollars for the 5 of us for 5 days!!!

seriously...

that can not be beat

having a hard time NOT buying it for our next trip...even WITH a DVC kitchen at the BCV!!!

 

[Amyg]

Interesting...and people thought $40 a day (Rachel Ray) in WDW couldn't be done! This proves that it IS possible, although I doubt that I could do it.

Personally, I'm looking forward to all the restaurants we have ADR's at! I don't eat a whole lot but I think since my 9 year old son will be dissappointed with having to order off the kids menu (which he hates), I'll be sharing a lot of my dinners with him. I'm so glad that they offer this plan.

 

[MagicForMe]

I won't be using it again. I too felt pressure to order everything possible and felt guilty because I was reducing the server's trip by not doing so

Also has anybody mentioned inclement weather? It rained (and I mean POURED) on 4 occasions during my vacation last August when I was setting off with my little niece to our TS restaurants and frankly had I not been on the plan I would most certainly have cancelled two of those (at MK and MGM) - waiting on buses and boats in the rain was not pleasant. this time we'll be free and easy at the Boardwalk and if it rains we'll get something quick or room service or even throw something in the microwave. No more pressure for me when it comes to dining.

 

[apostolic4life]

I dont think so...If you call to book, or have a TA who books for you, make a request for one room. Then order the tickets to the parks seperately, and add the dining opt to only one of them. I know this has been an issue in the past with guest traveling with someone with food allergies. It will not hurt to at least ask about it when you book.

My DW found out last year about this very subject, the meal plan is joined with the room not the ticket. During planning last year we were informed the package for dining had nothing to do with the park admission since you don't actually have to enter any parks to take advantage of the meal plan.....all you need to do is book a room. By listing all the members of your party for the room, you will be billed for each person if you choose the dining plan. There is no way to get around this part of the regulations unless you were to have seperate rooms which would completely blow the concept of saving money.

For our 2006 trip we have choosen to go with dining, but currently we only have a single day park pass for our 7 day stay (a single day park pass is required to be considered a package by Disney) because we are looking into annual passes.