MYW cost analysis. And the winner is... (long)

[Bedknobs/Broomsticks]

We are 3 adults (DD is only 10 but she counts as an adult for MYW ) and 1 child, DS8. We'll be staying at Pop for 4 nights 3/27-3/31 (then we're moving over to HRH for 3 nights).

I would love to have your input on my "MYW package vs. no package" breakdown:

MYW Package: $1854.07 (quoted by CRO this morning)

Pop 4 nights 3/27-3/31​

MYW 4DPH (no plus, does expire)​

Dining package​

(1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack per day)

No Package: $1695

Pop 4 nights 3/27-3/31 $79/night with BDP​

MYW 4DPH (no plus, does expire) $843​

Food approx. $500*​

* To get this number, I used info from our previous WDW trips.

So the winner is... no package!. But not by much. I'm kind of surprised that the numbers are so close. We will save $159 by not using the package. I expected to be able to save more by doing things ala carte.

What tips it for our family, though, is the food. We generally like to have BF in the room, 1 counter service meal, 1 table service meal, and 1 snack per day. However, DD is a vegetarian/picky eater so we try to stick to buffets for the table service meals. If not for her, we could probably go to some of the more expensive restaurants included in the package and make the dining add-on work.

My other concerns with food are the potential for overcrowding and lack of flexibility. If a majority of people buy the package, won't those restaurants that are included in the package be more crowded? We're going during Easter Week; things are going to be crowded enough. Also, what if we spontaneously decide that we want to snack on something that's not included, like candy from the gift shop? Or if we decide to skip a table service meal 1 day in favor of 2 counter service meals?

So whaddya think? Any suggestions?

 

[Bedknobs/Broomsticks]

bump

 

[MommytoPayton&Max]

For the lower cost and more control over your meals, I would definitely pick the second option. Even if you spend enough on food to make it to the cost of the first, you have the choice of where you eat. I, personally, don't think I would ever do the meal plan because of the sole fact that some of the places we really like are excluded.

 

[the kabuki]

The reason your cost difference wasn't that much is because you're only doing 4 nights. If you were doing longer, like 6,7 nights then you'd probably find that the package was cheaper. I just went through this as I had a choice between the old tixs and the new since we went the 5th-11th of Jan. Because we only did 4 days of parks our price actually was more with the new tixs. Disney really wants to stop people from going to US with this plan and stay onsite for longer

 

[javaj]

We were able to get a package with the dining plan incorporated with the email code. There's a thread on the resorts board about this right now. You can probably save at least another $300 off your package rate if you incorporated the code.

We are 3 adults (DD is only 10 but she counts as an adult for MYW ) and 1 child, DS8. We'll be staying at Pop for 4 nights 3/27-3/31 (then we're moving over to HRH for 3 nights).

I would love to have your input on my "MYW package vs. no package" breakdown:

MYW Package: $1854.07 (quoted by CRO this morning)

Pop 4 nights 3/27-3/31​

MYW 4DPH (no plus, does expire)​

Dining package​

(1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack per day)

No Package: $1695

Pop 4 nights 3/27-3/31 $79/night with BDP​

MYW 4DPH (no plus, does expire) $843​

Food approx. $500*​

* To get this number, I used info from our previous WDW trips.

So the winner is... no package!. But not by much. I'm kind of surprised that the numbers are so close. We will save $159 by not using the package. I expected to be able to save more by doing things ala carte.

What tips it for our family, though, is the food. We generally like to have BF in the room, 1 counter service meal, 1 table service meal, and 1 snack per day. However, DD is a vegetarian/picky eater so we try to stick to buffets for the table service meals. If not for her, we could probably go to some of the more expensive restaurants included in the package and make the dining add-on work.

My other concerns with food are the potential for overcrowding and lack of flexibility. If a majority of people buy the package, won't those restaurants that are included in the package be more crowded? We're going during Easter Week; things are going to be crowded enough. Also, what if we spontaneously decide that we want to snack on something that's not included, like candy from the gift shop? Or if we decide to skip a table service meal 1 day in favor of 2 counter service meals?

So whaddya think? Any suggestions?

 

[mermaidlady]

Hey BB we will be there as well! staying at POR for 5 of us (4adults and 1 child) MMY park hopper will be $1698. We like BR in the room and want lots of flexibilty for dining so we never do the dining packages.

 

[ncbyrne]

Good for you for doing your homework! Every family needs to do this to get the most bang for their buck on a WDW trip. I did the same thing yesterday. Our next trip is just DH and me, 8 nights Oct 15-23, staying at Coronado Springs. After pricing out the menus and the food costs from our last trip, the dining option definitely saves us $. One big factor is that the tax and the tip is included in the package plan, and with 8 sit down meals included on the plan, gratuities can add up.
Example - dinner at Cinderella's Royal Castle Appetizers ($5-8) Entrees ($21-$26) Dessert ($6) Beverage ($2+) If you average the cost of just this one meal, the cost comes to $38. Add tax and 15% tip and the total is: $45.98
I also took into account the resort rates w/ and w/o the pkg rate and when you factor in the savings for us on the dining plan, the packing is the best bargain for us - by far!

 

[plutolovr]

My other concerns with food are the potential for overcrowding and lack of flexibility. If a majority of people buy the package, won't those restaurants that are included in the package be more crowded? We're going during Easter Week; things are going to be crowded enough. Also, what if we spontaneously decide that we want to snack on something that's not included, like candy from the gift shop? Or if we decide to skip a table service meal 1 day in favor of 2 counter service meals?

The dining option just bundles your dining together. Example: if you are there for 4 days and you are a family of 4 you get 16 counter service, 16 table service and 16 snacks. You can use them however you wish. You can use 2 table service meals in one day. They will just be deducted from your dining bank.

Plutolovr