New Touring Plans Dining Tool Just Released

[bwbuddy5]

It works if you have a planned vacation, and enter the age groups of your party. Informational, but could be a bit misleading (if I understand correctly).
For instance, it compares OOP cost to the various Dining Plans costs IF you order the exact same food. It also shows a comparison of OOP to plan at maximum savings (basically if you order the more expensive items on the menu). Interestingly, this shows the Deluxe Plan to most always be a savings to OOP.

The tool will be valuable for many people, but perhaps not for those that are comparing Dining Plan costs to the cost OOP for food they would buy if not on the plan (which could be lower, less expensive choices).

So, the tool is valuable for my plans, but not sure it's valuable for the majority of folks. What do you think?

 

[HatboxGhoul]

What is the link to it and do you have to have a reservation made and sign up with their site?
I've used one in the past at distripplanner found here: https://www.distripplanner.com/

 

[loves to dive]

I don't use the dining plan but years ago when we did, it probably wouldn't have been useful for us. Even on the dining plan we never ordered the most expensive thing on the menu just to optimize the plan, we just ordered what we wanted, which 9 out 10 times was not the most expensive thing on the menu. If it does compare actual costs, I think it might be useful to some folks on the fence since the other tool out there just gives you averages.

 

[bwbuddy5]

What is the link to it and do you have to have a reservation made and sign up with their site?
I've used one in the past at distripplanner found here: https://www.distripplanner.com/

You actually go to your Touring Plans dashboard, and click the Dining button. I've place a link below, not sure if everyone will be able to see it through this link.

Don't get me wrong, I love Touring Plans and used them to plan for every day of our trip - everyone will have to decide for themselves how much they like the Dining tool - I think it needs a bit more flexibility.

https://touringplans.com/users/457622

 

[Faldred]

Interestingly, this shows the Deluxe Plan to most always be a savings to OOP.

No surprise to me - I've been saying for years that if the DxDP entitlements match your preferred dining style, you'd have to work hard to not save money using it. It's basic DDP and QSDP that I think are money-losers unless you have multiple kids age 3-9 on the reservation.

 

[mommymanda]

It works if you have a planned vacation, and enter the age groups of your party. Informational, but could be a bit misleading (if I understand correctly).
For instance, it compares OOP cost to the various Dining Plans costs IF you order the exact same food. It also shows a comparison of OOP to plan at maximum savings (basically if you order the more expensive items on the menu). Interestingly, this shows the Deluxe Plan to most always be a savings to OOP.

The tool will be valuable for many people, but perhaps not for those that are comparing Dining Plan costs to the cost OOP for food they would buy if not on the plan (which could be lower, less expensive choices).

So, the tool is valuable for my plans, but not sure it's valuable for the majority of folks. What do you think?

Do you need a subscription to use it? Mine has expired and not quite ready to renew. I have used the Distripplanner calculator many times, but its not up to date with the 2017 or 2018 plans so I'd love to try a newer version.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I just set up my own excel. It's pretty simple and I can put in what I actually plan on ordering, roughly, and my own gratuities

Best part is once you set it up easy to reuse. And no relying on someone else's tool

For what it is worth, we don't do dining plans. Having been sick at Disney before, you never know if meals will need to be skipped for whatever reason. Not to mention how many times we read about a suitcase of snacks brought home lol

If it works for you great. If not, you are not alone, don't feel like you are doing something wrong