My Dining Plan Math

[ScottJayhawk]

We are DVC Members so if we want the dining plan we pay cash for it. So, is it worth it? Last trip 2 years ago we did 5 character meals + 2 other TS and absolutely saved money over what those prices would have been. But we wouldn't have done so many sit downs if we were paying cash for each meal. We eat most breakfasts in the room.

So, going in September this year - here's my math.

9 nights, 2 adults, 2 children paying for the DP = $1043.64

Here are two samples of potential meals over the length of the trip:

Olivia's Cafe
LeCellier Dinner
Akershus Breakfast
Goods to Go - Twice for Lunch/Dinner (staying at OKW)
Earl of Sandwich - Lunch/Dinner
Food Quest at Disney Quest - Lunch/Dinner
Pizza Planet Lunch (kids love it!)
Studio Catering Co Dinner
Casey's Corner Lunch
Cosmic Rays Dinner
Pecos Bills Dinner
Pinnochio Village House Lunch
Plaza Restaurant Dinner
Columbia House Lunch
2 Lunches at Waterparks
18 snacks - Avg 2 per day

Total approx cost WITH TIP $1015

Or......
Olivia's Cafe
LeCellier Dinner
Goods to Go - Lunch/Dinner (staying at OKW)
Earl of Sandwich - Lunch/Dinner
Food Quest at Disney Quest - Lunch/Dinner
Captains Grill - Dinner
Cinderellas Royal Table - Breakfast
Narcoosee's - Dinner
Pizza Planet Lunch (kids love it!)
Studio Catering Co Dinner
Casey's Corner Lunch
Cosmic Rays Dinner
Pecos Bills Dinner
Pinnochio Village House Lunch
Liberty Tree Tavern
Teppan Edo
2 Lunches at Waterparks
36 snacks

Total approx cost WITH TIP $1471 based on paying cash, of course dining plan would mean paying $1267


So.....is the 2nd dining itinerary worth an additional $252 total out of pocket??

All numbers approximate - but close.

 

[JJsmama]

I think the second one would definitely be worth it. You have several more TS on that one. The two biggies, for $$$ or credits, are CRT and LC. Are they super importnt to you? CRT's reviews are sooooo bad these days that eventhough I am planning to do DxDP AND actually had an ADR for it, i am not doing it. Also, personally, if you choose the first one, I would give up LC dinner and do two less expensive TS dinners over the 9 days instead. That is a long time to do mostly CS, which you are doing to allow yourself to stick to your budget and do LC and CRT. Sorry if my suggestions only made things more difficult.

Have you ever gone and done mostly QS? If so and you liked it, you shpuld be ok with the first. For me, at the end of a long day there, i am ready to be waited on and not carry a tray looking for a table. In september, that may not be a problem though.

 

[StuckInKS]

First thing I noticed was your avatar LOL. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! We're even in the same county. Anyhow, in regard to your post...

CRT, LTT, Narcoosee's and double the snacks for $250? It would be worth it in my book. I don't really care much for Disney CS and there are a lot of sit-downs I want to try. But our situation is also different -- with 5 young kids we need a sit-down or two to relax and recharge. Plus, juggling all that food at a CS is a hassle.

Look at it as paying for the extra snacks and CRT, and then getting the other two for free.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[3pletprincesses]

it would be worth for us simply because you get to have down time while you have TS and it's also time to cool off a bit plus you have so many more snack credits which to us is priceless. No worried about getting that extra Mickey bar KWIM. I could also not stand to mainly do QS. After a few days, I would be sick of hamburgers and fried.

 

[ScottJayhawk]

It really does come down to TS options, nearly every QS place is the same.

We've never done CRT and kids are DD 5, DS 8 - we likes the princesses even if he says he doesn't
So the timing is very good to finally do it!

We loved LC 2 years ago so it's a must do and we'll be bummed if it's really declined since our last experience which was fantastic.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

We do the dxdp and we like it.... but I would suggest that you lay those meals out (if you haven't already) and see how you would fit them into your plan. Sometimes you can have too many and that can cause a problem too. You math makes the second look ALOT better but if you have trouble fitting them in... then it's not worth it to lose too much time or to be eating to close together. If they fit into your plans than the second is definately the way to go!

 

[ScottJayhawk]

We do the dxdp and we like it.... but I would suggest that you lay those meals out (if you haven't already) and see how you would fit them into your plan. Sometimes you can have too many and that can cause a problem too. You math makes the second look ALOT better but if you have trouble fitting them in... then it's not worth it to lose too much time or to be eating to close together. If they fit into your plans than the second is definately the way to go!

Thanks - doing the rough plan now. We like food at Epcot more than Epcot overall so that gets a bit tight but I think it can all work without too much trouble over 10 days

 

[lesabrowning]

We also love the dining plans and do the DXDDP about every other trip. We just worked out our upcoming trip with DXDDP and it worked well, not feeling like we had too much down time. I think your plan works : )

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Thanks - doing the rough plan now. We like food at Epcot more than Epcot overall so that gets a bit tight but I think it can all work without too much trouble over 10 days

I understand this all too well! My DH laughs because this trip I actually said we needed to add a night to do our dxdp properly! Who would think that the length of your stay would have to be based on how many nights you can get yourself into Epcot!?