New dining plan prices

roomthreeseventeen

Inaugural Dopey Challenge finisher
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
8,756
via Facebook:

Here's the new pricing courtesy of Mousesavers:

Deluxe Dining Plan $109.53 per night per adult or junior (ages 10-17), $29.86 per night for children (ages 3-9).

Plus Dining Plan $60.64 per night per adult or junior (ages 10-17), $19.23 per night for children (ages 3-9).

Quick Service Dining Plan - $41.99 per night per adult or junior (ages 10-17), $16.03 per night for children (ages 3-9).
 
I'm trying to figure out a breakdown of meals to show how much one has to "spend" just to break even. Here's my first stab at it. What do others think?

QS
Snack $5
Meals $18.50 each

DDP
Snack $5
QS Meal $17.64 (just want to get rid of that $.64)
TS Meal $38

DxDDP
2 Snacks $9.53 total (again, that $.53 needs to go)
Each Meal credit $33.33
 

So the prices went up again? It doesn't seem like they are going up by much when they do, but it seem to be twice a year instead of once to me. Is that right or is time just flying by so much it feels that way?

To me the breakdown for regular dining (the only one we ever need) could be a little lower on the CS end and a little higher on the TS end. But again, maybe I am wrong. I didn't pay real close attention last time we were there. Other trips, I actually calculated to be sure it was worth it, and it was for us.
 
Ouch, the regular DDP has officially broken $60. It's almost double what it cost at the beginning, when it included more food and the tip isn't it? I remember paying $30 something per person per day in 2007 (I think).
 
Ouch, the regular DDP has officially broken $60. It's almost double what it cost at the beginning, when it included more food and the tip isn't it? I remember paying $30 something per person per day in 2007 (I think).

I was at Disney last in 2008 and yes, it was around that price range. It shocked me when I saw the price difference for the trip I just booked in May compared to then...I'm behind on all this!
 
I don't understand how the dining plan saves money. I guess if u have to drink soda and eat a dessert. Most QS meals are under $10 and TS meals under $30 (some <20). My family of 4 drinks water, might share 1 dessert and an appetizer or 2 at sit down restaurants and spend far less than the cost of the dining plan. And no headache of trying to keep up with the plan. Stick with DVC or AP discounts; if you like a wider variety of restaurants, drink alcohol or are staying at one of the value resorts, consider tables in wonderland (you can even buy bottles of wine discounted at the value resort or AOA food courts).
 
I don't understand how the dining plan saves money. I guess if u have to drink soda and eat a dessert. Most QS meals are under $10 and TS meals under $30 (some <20). My family of 4 drinks water, might share 1 dessert and an appetizer or 2 at sit down restaurants and spend far less than the cost of the dining plan. And no headache of trying to keep up with the plan. Stick with DVC or AP discounts; if you like a wider variety of restaurants, drink alcohol or are staying at one of the value resorts, consider tables in wonderland (you can even buy bottles of wine discounted at the value resort or AOA food courts).

Most QS aren't under 10, especially if you're not drinking tap water. The only table service restaurants that are under $30 the 1 credit ones that are not buffet/family style, or are breakfast, and some of those are even pushing $30. All the buffets/family style meals we ate at on our recent trip were 40 per adult, except Chef Mickey's which is more, around 45 I believe.

It's not hard to eat cheaper than the dining plan, but it's also not impossible to save a bit on the dining plan. It all depends how your family wants to eat. If a family eats like yours the dining plan won't save. If a family eats at character meals and other price fixed meals most nights, ordering expensive entrees for the rest, DDP may save something. You need to want to maximize the credits, if you can do that you'll likely come out ahead.

I think when people look at dining plan savings they sometimes look at it the wrong way. It's never going to save a family money who doesn't eat "dining plan style", there are far cheaper ways to eat at Disney. It will save a family money who wants to eat close to exactly what the dining plan offers. Not everyone has the ability to get the TIW card, therefore the DDP may be the best option for their family.
 
I don't understand how the dining plan saves money. I guess if u have to drink soda and eat a dessert.

Some people CHOOSE to drink soda and eat dessert, others do not. It isn't that they HAVE to. I don't understand why people try to talk those who like the dining plan into thinking it is a horrible deal. It is different for everyone. Definitely NOT a GOOD deal for everyone, definitely Not a BAD deal for everyone. It depends on what you CHOOSE to eat.

If you have an AP or a DVC, then you can stick to those discounts, and they may help many. However, many of us do not have either.
 
my dad used to say, when choosing what to eat v how much money he had at the time, "you get just as full off a hot dog as you do from a steak". so very true!! if I were paying out of pocket for a meal, I would probably steer away from the extras and order a cheaper meal, the pasta as opposed to a steak and salmon dinner. I ate at a good restaurant and am no longer hungry, but may feel cheated because I did not get what I really wanted because of cost. with the dining plan, I don't have to choose. I can get what I want. if I want the pasta, fine. that's by my own choice. not what my pockets say I can have. if I want the steak and salmon, that's fine, too! if I want an appetizer, I can get that. it's just oop! that's okay. the dining plans aren't for everyone. but it's for me!!
if I want a hot dog, I can get one. if I want a steak, I can get that instead!!
 
my dad used to say, when choosing what to eat v how much money he had at the time, "you get just as full off a hot dog as you do from a steak". so very true!! if I were paying out of pocket for a meal, I would probably steer away from the extras and order a cheaper meal, the pasta as opposed to a steak and salmon dinner. I ate at a good restaurant and am no longer hungry, but may feel cheated because I did not get what I really wanted because of cost. with the dining plan, I don't have to choose. I can get what I want. if I want the pasta, fine. that's by my own choice. not what my pockets say I can have. if I want the steak and salmon, that's fine, too! if I want an appetizer, I can get that. it's just oop! that's okay. the dining plans aren't for everyone. but it's for me!!
if I want a hot dog, I can get one. if I want a steak, I can get that instead!!

But the opposite of this is also true (can two opposites be true?? :confused3). If I'm on the DDP and I really WANT the pasta, I'm not going to get it because I've paid more for the plan than that pasta is worth. Essentially, I'm paying the steak price to eat pasta. If I WANT a hot dog, I'm not going to get one because the QS credit is worth a whole lot more than a hot dog.
 
But the opposite of this is also true (can two opposites be true?? :confused3). If I'm on the DDP and I really WANT the pasta, I'm not going to get it because I've paid more for the plan than that pasta is worth. Essentially, I'm paying the steak price to eat pasta. If I WANT a hot dog, I'm not going to get one because the QS credit is worth a whole lot more than a hot dog.

This is why we stopped getting the DDP. We are not big steak eaters, and don't really care for dessert after dinner (we might split one dessert). We like to get an ice cream during the day while walking around in the Florida sun so another sweet is not our thing. For chicken/pasta eaters that don't want dessert, it is a money loser. We liked it when you could at least get an appetizer.
 
We like the convenience of having the meal part paid in advance. We try to pay as much up front as possible. It takes some pressure off us I guess.

This time we are taking my MIL and I don't want her looking at the food prices and saying she shouldn't get what she wants. So, we went for DDP. I feel it's a good fit for our family. We get to dine at some of the nicer places without going too crazy.
 
I like the deluxe plan and still find it worth the money when considering the appetizer and extra snack. I wouldn't want to do it for a 2 week trip but it's fun for a short one or split stay. :)
 












Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top