New Dining Plan - Is it worth it???

[luvthatdisney]

Hi guys,

We are planning a trip for this coming August. We normally do not do the dining plans, but for $35 a day for each of us (there are 4 of us - 2 adults and 2 juniors) it seems kind of cheap. We do like to eat at sit down restaurants for dinner and usually eat breakfast at the resort (something quick). It is just so hard coming up with $980 more for the dining plan.

The only reservation I have is that my soon to be 11 year old dd sometimes does not eat as much as an adult - sometimes she does it just depends on what it is. Would they let the 3 us us eat with the dining plan and let us buy her a kids meal ourselves? We could use her extra "dinner" for maybe a dinner show or something with the 2 for 1 option? I know if I get the dining plan I have to get it for all of us - just not 3 of us.

Just trying to rationalize this in my head before I do it???

Any thoughts?

 

[Chuck S]

The dining plan isn't the best way to go for every group. Remember that by using two options for a dinner show, you're essentially paying $70+tax for a $51 venue that includes tax & tip.

 

[YesI'mObsessed]

I think that the dining plan is a great option for us. My kids actually eat. My oldest will be almost ten when go, so she still qualifies for a kids meal, which is fine by me. I did the math and figured out one day for us for having dinner at Chef Mickey's, lunch at MK (hot dogs), and and ice cream for each of us. And we saved over $100.00 for just one day. I also like the idea of paying for everything up front and not having to blow money on food when we get there. Just my thought. Last time we went, we didn't try alot of the restaurants because of the prices. Instead we packed sandwiches etc... this will be a good oppourtunity to try some of the places we didn's last time and not worry about paying SO much for the meal. I personally don't plan on going to any of the "signature" restaurants because of my kids, so I'm not worried about having to use 2 table service meals at once. And I don't think we'll try the Ohana or Hoop Dee Doo because of the mixed reviews of both. So for US, it's going to work out great, and yes much cheaper. Hope this helps you out.

 

[robsmom]

The dining plan isn't the best way to go for every group. Remember that by using two options for a dinner show, you're essentially paying $70+tax for a $51 venue that includes tax & tip.

I don't think the difference is quite that bad as the $70 is for 2 days of adult meals which would include 2 sit downs (used for 1 show $51) plus 2 counter service meals (maybe $15-$16 for 2?) and 2 snacks ($3-$4). I reality doing a show is probably a break even.

 

[Scroft391]

I was doing research on this very same subject a while ago. I found this link that lists the menus of every restaurant in Disney and the resorts. I calculated a typical meal at around $20 for lunch and $25 for dinner. Snacks at around $7. This is just for an adult. That is $52 worth of food for $35. I was sold. I hope the link helps (and I hope it works )

 

[hopemax]

Here's an example for a day in the MK (NOW WITH DESSERT!):

Lunch at Pecos Bills:

1/4 lb Cheeseburger meal: $5.79
Coke:........................... $1.99
Dessert:..........................$1.99
Tax: ........................... $ .64

Total: $10.41

Snack: Box of popcorn or ice cream $2.50

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern: $22.99
Tax:......................................$ 1.50
15% Gratuity:.........................$ 3.45

Total: $27.94

Total for day: $40.85 as compared to $39.03 or $39.55 (All Stars -higher resort tax)

However, there are some ways you can really come out ahead. For example, dinner at Tony's Town Square. You can order an appetizer, entree, and drink. So you could do

(Appetizer) Cappa Santa con Sedano Rapa: $8.99
(Entree) Costaletta di Vitello : ...................$24.99
Drink: ................................................... $2.19
Tax: ..................................................... $2.35
15% Gratuity: .........................................$5.43

Total: $43.95 and that's just for dinner.

Instead of getting a burger at Pecos Bills you could order the chicken wrap, which brings your lunch total to: $10.10, and then your total for the day would be: $56.55.

For those that are wondering about exchanging 2 dinner coupons for one signature dining it could break down something like:

California Grill:

Appetizer: $8-$15
Entree: $20-$35
Dessert: $8-$10
Beverage: $2-$3 (sorry not listed on the menu site, and I don't know if they charge more than the parks or not)

Subtotal: $38 - $63
Add in tax and 20% gratuity and you're looking at $50-$80.

If you consider of the $39 dining charge, $10 for counter service, $2.50 for snack that would leave $26.50 for dinner x 2 = $53

So you would be spending $53 for a signature dinner when it would cost you
$50-$80 if you paid on your own.

Defintely visit, the link Scroft391 provided and price out what you might end up spending if you were to not get the add on. Make sure that the places you want to dine are on the list. IMO, anyone who likes character meals this package fits perfectly. And there are still a number of choices for people who don't. Tony's at the MK, Rose & Crown at Epcot (great place to watch Illuminations), Mama Melroses at the Studios and the less crowded restaurants at the hotels.

 

[hopemax]

So my analysis above was just for adults. Here's how it might break down for kids:

Cost: $11.15 or $11.55 at the All-Stars

Sample Day:

Mousekemeal: $3.99
Tax:...............$ .30

Total: $4.29

Snack: $2.50

Dinner at Chef Mickeys: $11.99
Tax: ...........................$ .78
15% Gratuity: ..............$1.80

Total: $21.36

 

[Jan]

I am a total disney novice - been to the world a few times. We have booked for June and the dining price was so great, i still think there must have been some kind of mistake. We are at CBR for 7 nights and the dining plan cost my fam of 4 (2 adults/2 small kids) about $200 for all 7 nights. I paid the whole thing in full just in case it was a mistake. If you are a novice and don't do any of the codes and things that the other folks here talk about, make sure to check the price directly with disney vs a travel agent. I got a much better deal through the travel agent and canceled my original reservation I made directly with disney.

Jan

 

[Chuck S]

I am a total disney novice - been to the world a few times. We have booked for June and the dining price was so great, i still think there must have been some kind of mistake. We are at CBR for 7 nights and the dining plan cost my fam of 4 (2 adults/2 small kids) about $200 for all 7 nights. I paid the whole thing in full just in case it was a mistake. If you are a novice and don't do any of the codes and things that the other folks here talk about, make sure to check the price directly with disney vs a travel agent. I got a much better deal through the travel agent and canceled my original reservation I made directly with disney.

Jan

Yep, 7 nights dining 2 adult 2 kids should be $630 plus tax.

 

[micksterlee]

the last two visits we used the silver plan. This plan looks similar the thing I enjoyed the most was being able to hand the waitress a card and knowing it was already taken care of. We ate at restaurants we would have passed by do to prices and ate food we would have never gotten a chance to taste.As far as value goes the only thing I remeber was at the yatchsman I ate a 55.00 steak had an appetizer and a dessert, 35.00 seems like a good deal to me.

 

[Robopig]

We are going in June and are gonna save about 100 a day (2 adults/2 under 10). You can't let some people use the plan but pay for your daughter seperate. If one is on the plan they all have to be on the plan.

 

[luvthatdisney]

Thanks guys,

I went ahead and made my ressie today and added the dining plan!! I did view GoofyDad's site and the actual dining plan brochure. I did see something I was not aware of. The counter service meal includes dessert. You can get the combo meal plus dessert and a drink. So actually we will come out a little better than I thought!

Thanks again!

 

[HB2K]

Hope-

You forgot the desert with the counter service meal...further adding to the savings!

 

[hopemax]

Wow, I didn't even know it included dessert at the counter services. I read this on Mousesavers

One counter service meal – includes entrée and non-alcoholic beverage, or full combo meal: entrée, side dish and non-alcoholic beverage

which didn't list dessert.

But the one on Disney.com says

1 counter-service meal including entree, dessert and nonalcoholic beverage

So yep, even a better deal!

 

[bkhibiscus]

We just received the trip planning thing from Disney, and it has brief rules for MYW dining since we signed up for it. The rules say "single serving non alcoholic beverage". Does this mean no free refills even if they are offered to other guests? If so, that could be a little awkward.

 

[areno79]

I think it would be a good plan if you've got kids under 9. Unfortunately we've got a 9 year old and an 11 year old, so the plan wouldn't actually save us anything. Plus we plan on eating offsite for one night, so that really wouldn't be saving us any money.
I also heard that if you book with Disney a room only ressie and use a AAA discount, you can't use the AAA discount when you make that a package...Anyone know if that's true?

 

[WDWBetsy]

I think it would be a good plan if you've got kids under 9. Unfortunately we've got a 9 year old and an 11 year old, so the plan wouldn't actually save us anything. Plus we plan on eating offsite for one night, so that really wouldn't be saving us any money.
I also heard that if you book with Disney a room only ressie and use a AAA discount, you can't use the AAA discount when you make that a package...Anyone know if that's true?

That is correct - you can book a discounted AAA room-only reservation (and MYW tickets) with Disney, but you cannot add dining to it.

However, you can book a MYW package (room & tickets) + dining with a AAA travel agency and get the AAA discount off the room portion (subject to availability).

 

[tigereye]

That is correct - you can book a discounted AAA room-only reservation (and MYW tickets) with Disney, but you cannot add dining to it.

However, you can book a MYW package (room & tickets) + dining with a AAA travel agency and get the AAA discount off the room portion (subject to availability).

I asked this on another thread, but as far as I can tell, that's the ONLY way to get a discounted room if you're using the meal plan, is that correct? Otherwise you'll be paying rack rate for the room?

 

[GillieRose]

we will be using the dining plan in May. With the full service meals it will pay for are plan. Granted I have taken the time to map out certain places to eat to make sure we are getting are moneys worth.So the counter service and snacks are like a bonus for us.

 

[LglBlonde]

I asked this on another thread, but as far as I can tell, that's the ONLY way to get a discounted room if you're using the meal plan, is that correct? Otherwise you'll be paying rack rate for the room?

That's the problem I have! I have an email code for about 50% off rack rate, and can't add dining to that. Would have to book a package and pay rack rate for the room! I checked for 2 adults at WL for our dates and the package for 5 nts + 3 days tickets + dining was $2600!! The room alone was $1900 of the package! I just can't justify that!