Need help choosing the Dining Plan

[Trina7020]

We are going to Disney for the first time June 1-June 6 and I am trying to pick a dining plan. It will be my husband and I , and our 2 and 3 year old.

First.. how many days of Dining will my package include.. Just 5 because we are there 5 nights?

We will actually just be there almost the full 6 days. We will be there by 11am on the 1st and our flight is at 8pm on the 6.


I am thinking about the Deluxe just so we don't have to worry about food at all. But I am thinking we will only do 1 sit down meal a day with the kids. But probably 2 counter service meals?

Will I get my money's worth out of the Deluxe Plan? I cannot imagine more than 1 sit down meal with the kids. If I go basic.. then basically we pay out of pocket for the 3rd meal if we want it right?

Also.. if I am only paying for 5 days of dining credits... then we could use them on that 6th day as well right?

Thank You so much! This dining stuff is the hardest part of the trip for me!

 

[Tricia1972]

CS Meal Breakfast - Approx Average $10 for Entree, Juice and Coffee
CS Meal Lunch - Approx Average $12 for Entree, Dessert, and Beverage
TS Meal Dinner - $40-$45 on Average for Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, Beverage
Snacks - $3.00 Average snack x 2

So yes, if you maximize each meal you can get your money's worth and break even.

However, how do you eat? Many breakfasts and lunches are plenty for an adult and a child to share. (Even enough for two adults to share). If you get too much food on the DxDDP will you feel pressured to eat everything because you are just breaking even?

You could always do the basic DDP

Breakfast CS - 1 Adult and 1 Child - split
Lunch CS - 1 Adult and 1 Child (OOP $4.49) - split
Supper TS - everyone orders their own entree, beverage and dessert

DxDDP Cost - $349.95/Adult
DDP Cost - $189.95/Adult

Credits expire at midnight the day that you check out.

 

[wannabprincess]

I agree, I would go with the basic plan and split a CS credit for lunch and breakfast, unless you want to do a lot of character meals than Deluxe would be a better value. We are also just staying 5 nights on the Deluxe and I planned it so I will have enough credits for day 6.

 

[Trina7020]

I have Reservations for 1 character meal a day...

I too want to have enough credits for 6 days of eatting....


UGH! I don't know what to do! lol

 

[ChelleinNC]

It get's hot in June and that makes it hard to eat full meals. I would suggest the basic DDP at most or just paying for meals OOP. If you get the DDP, your credits will be good from the time you check in until midnight of your check out day. If you're staying 5 nights, that means 5 TS, 5 CS & 5 snacks per person on the plan (the 2 yr old won't be on the plan)

 

[Trina7020]

So doing 1 (maybe 2) TS meals a day and then 2 CS meals won't make the Deluxe worth it?

 

[Mom2JPL]

I say try the regular dining plan. We were on that plan in Oct with 3 kids, 4, 2.5 and 1. We only had to pay for the 4yo, the other 2 were free. We had character meals booked everyday (1 breakfast, the rest were lunches) and used our cs credits around it. We grabbed some milk and donuts with our snack credits from the hotel to have for a quick breakfast. It worked out well for us...and the kids LOVED the character meals! It was so worth it to meet so many characters without having to stand in line! Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Trina7020]

One more time... let me talk this out!

The Deluxe plan would be about $800 for 2 adults and 1 child (and my 2 year old will share with us free) for 5 days... right? (69.99 for adults and 19.99 for kids)

I have 7 table service character meals reserved. I looked online and the total price of them is $431.79

If we did 9 CS meals... that would fill in so we have 3 meals a day... at about $25 (You think that is about average for 2 adult and 1 child?) a piece that would be another $225

If we spend all 30 of our snack credits at $4 a piece that is roughly $120

So the total would be $776.79

But that is ALOT of meals and a lot of snack...

I need something in between the Basic and the Deluxe! If I go Basic I have to cancel some of my ADRs!

 

[Tricia1972]

I personally don't think you need to go Deluxe, but I am sensing from your posts you really want to do it. If you really want it, go for it!

However, I would guess with 7 big buffets in 6 days you'll probably be pretty full the rest of the time and will be happy splitting CS meals and sharing snacks. Splitting and sharing other places greatly decreases your OOP Prices.

DDP - 5 Credits Per Person
10 Adult TS/5 Child TS
15 CS
15 Snack

TS Meals - 7 Buffets Planned for 5 Credits, leaving two OOP
CS Meals - 5 Credits per Person shared over the 6 Days
Snacks - 5 Credits per Person shared over the 6 Days

Not Knowing your schedule, but making an educated guess

Day 1 - Counter Service - 3 CS

Day 2 - Breakfast - Snack Credits 3
Day 2 - Lunch - CS Credits 2
Day 2 - Supper - TS Credits 3

Day 3 - Breakfast - TS Credits 3
Day 3 - Lunch - CS Credits 2
Day 3 - Supper - TS Credits 3

Day 4 - Breakfast - Snack Credits 3
Day 4 - Lunch - CS Credits 2
Day 4 - Supper - TS Credits 3

Day 5 - Breakfast - TS OOP $75-$80
Day 5 - Lunch - CS Credits 2
Day 5 - Supper - TS Credits 3

Day 6 - Breakfast - TS OOP $75-$80

CS Credits Used - 11
Snack Credits Used - 6
TS Credits Used - 15

DDP cost $429.85
OOP cost $160
Total Spent Dining $589.85

You have 9 left over Snack Credits and 4 left over CS Credits to fill in any hungry gaps you may feel AND you are keeping all of your reservations that you want.

DxDDP Cost $800
DDP and OOP Cost $589.85
You save approximately $200 and feel no pressure to get your money's worth.

 

[Calliaz]

I need something in between the Basic and the Deluxe! If I go Basic I have to cancel some of my ADRs!

Technically, you don't need to cancel the ADRs, you just need to pay out of pocket. It would possibly still be cheaper than the DxDP. Would you buy mugs anyway? That's also a consideration since they are included with the DxDP and two are approx. $30.

You should also look at the post that covers the best and worst values for your DP choices. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715997 If you do the basic DP, you could then figure out what to use a credit for and what to pay out-of-pocket.

 

[Trina7020]

The only reason I am wanting to do Deluxe is to not overspend when we get there...


Here is my schedule..

Day one: Flight lands at 11am... Dinner at Chef Mickey's @ 6:20 (Really not sure if we will have much time for anything else.. if anything it might be in the airport... or pack snacks for the kids.

Day Two: Magic Kingdom... Crystal Palace at 2:30pm

Day Three: Breakfast at Ohana's & Late Dinner (7pm) at Garden Grill (Epcot this day obviously)

Day Four: Studios... Playhouse Disney’s Play n’ Dine 2:20

Day Five: MK again... Liberty Tree Tavern 4:05

Day Six: Animal Kingdom Tuckers breakfast... Plane leaves at 8pm


Truthfully... with a 2 and 3 year old I don't want anymore TS meals than that..


Explain to the Disney newcomer how I will pay for tips and OOP meals... can I use a credit card... charge it to my room.... need cash? That was one of my fears of paying OOP was the need for lots of cash?

 

[Trina7020]

One more question... if we are paying OOP at a buffet does my 2 year old eat for free? What about at family style like Ohana's?

Two of my ADR are for breakfast buffets that are $50 for 2 adults and 1 child... so only $100 OOP...

Looking at my schedule... I bet we can spread out the 15 counter services pretty well. Is there a difference between child and adult at CS or are all the credits the same?


I really was leaning Deluxe but I am really thinking about changing my mind if I can just figure out how the payments work.... I don't want to be carrying around a lot of cash...

 

[Calliaz]

One more question... if we are paying OOP at a buffet does my 2 year old eat for free? What about at family style like Ohana's?

The two year old will be free at both buffet and family style.

Two of my ADR are for breakfast buffets that are $50 for 2 adults and 1 child... so only $100 OOP...

Looking at my schedule... I bet we can spread out the 15 counter services pretty well. Is there a difference between child and adult at CS or are all the credits the same?

Remember tax in your calculations.

There is not a difference between a child and adult CS however, you are technically supposed to have your child eat a child's meal where one is available. In addition, your card will say 2A1C and a cast member might not let you get three adult meals at one time. However, if you are sharing meals, you can buy 2 adult meals to share every time you eat.

I really was leaning Deluxe but I am really thinking about changing my mind if I can just figure out how the payments work.... I don't want to be carrying around a lot of cash...

You don't have to carry cash if you have charging on your room cards. You'll need something to pay tips with (and for drinks for the 2-year-old if you order them).

 

[Trina7020]

But I am guessing all tips need to be paid in cash?

I think Basic is the way to go and pay OOP a little. I will just plop the $400 extra dollars in my savings account and spend it when I get there.... if I have leftovers... GREAT!

 

[Calliaz]

But I am guessing all tips need to be paid in cash?

I think Basic is the way to go and pay OOP a little. I will just plop the $400 extra dollars in my savings account and spend it when I get there.... if I have leftovers... GREAT!

They can be charged to your room. You need to put a credit card on the account for charging, but you can pay for the charges in cash at the front desk. Just pay for the charges before the bill gets auto-charged overnight on your last night.

 

[septbaby]

We were there for 5 nights last Sept. We had 6 ADRs for 7TS credits before arriving at Disney. On the 2007 plan (ie. the 2008 Basic Plan) we paid OOP for one character breakfast and ended up canceling another because we were too full to eat another buffet breakfast (barely finished the CS breakfasts we got instead). I think make your ADRs and know that it's OK to cancel if you don't want/need to use them. In "DIS" land it isn't alright to be a no show, cancel so that another guest has a chance to book the ADR or grab a rare walk in table.

As far as managing "Cash/Budget" many on these boards have indicated they buy Disney gift cards ahead of a trip and use them to pay for things on vacation. If you know/expect to pay for two TS meals OOP you could buy a gift card(s) to cover those expenses. It would relieve you from carrying the extra cash and keep you on budget as the card has a set value.