No Dining Plan for us: I logged our food costs (8/13)

[Mom2Ben02]

Our last trip, we had free dining, stayed at POP and paid to upgrade from QS to the DDP. I have to say, it was fantastic. We live very very frugally at home, so to be able to let my kids order whatever they wanted, and to get dessert with every meal, and to get expensive snacks every day? Magical. We really felt like we were on vacation!! My DD had a Mickey Ice Cream Bar every.single.day.

That said, for our upcoming ultra budget trip, we are staying offsite and doing the Y.E.S. program. So, even free dining would probably cost us over $1000 - when you factor in the difference in hotel costs ($189/week, using a friend's time share vs abt. $650ish for a value) and tickets (regular ticket prices for 4, versus YES tickets would cost us about $587 more!).

The plan for us is to utilize our kitchen for breakfast (I plan to make those breakfast casseroles and to bring our waffle iron, so we have a big hearty breakfast each day). Lunch will be brought into the park, as will water. We will have a stroller, so I am not worried about having to carry a cooler! Then, we can splurge on dinner. I am hoping to do Ohana one night, as that was my FAVORITE meal last trip. I am kind of anxious to see how we do, cost-wise...I am hoping to come in at under $100 a day average for our family of five. I still plan on the daily Mickey bars, though.

 

[Qwackertoo]

The free dining plan is pretty cost effective when staying at a value resort since whatever room discount offered usually doesn't save you as much money. DH and I split our CS meals just because we don't want so much food all day long. We enjoy the dining plan, but then, we've only paid for it once when we had a 40% discount and stayed at WL. DH loves the dining plan and it really does work best for the two of us. I think you'll like it. Enjoy your special upcoming trip!

Thank you. I can't wait to go back. The kids, both got to go in April for a band trip with their marching band and I missed out as I like to give them some freedom and don't go along as a chaperone, although there are plenty of chaperones.

I'd love to stay at WL again, especially in Dec. but we're trying to not spend too much.

 

[TDC Nala]

Also since TIW is only for passholders you have to factor that in

Not just AP, but DVC members and Florida residents also. The price for the membership is lower for AP holders though.

 

[HappyArtist]

How do you get the discount card?

 

[TDC Nala]

www.tablesinwonderland.com

You can buy it at any Guest Services at the parks or DTD, or you can order it ahead of time. But it's valid from the time you purchase it, so you might as well purchase it there.

 

[dhardawa]

I only do the dining plan when it's free. On the trip we have planned this fall, we got free dining (1 TS, 1 QS, 1 snack) and are staying at POFQ. If we had had a 30% off code, that would have only averaged $53.78 per day. There is no way I can feed three adults and one child in the parks for that and I'm not cooking on vacation. So, for us, even if we don't eat everything the plan offers, it's a much better choice.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I always bring breakfast bars, a ziplock bag of trail mix, a box of 100 calorie snack packages and buy a case of water when we get there to off set the high cost of Disney food.

We usually stay at SSR which is our home resort, and we like to dine at Sweet Tomatoes, Qdoba, Chevy's and Joes Crab Shack because we don't have these restaraunts at home and all of them are less than a 10 minutes ride from our resort. So we only eat a few meals on property.

I save all of our receipts and tally up what we spend to eat and our average is usually $40-$50 a day for two people.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I completely agree. The DDP is not right for our family, either. It was great when tip was included in the Plan pre-2008, but it has been becoming a worse deal each year since, with the steady price increases.

It really is amazing how much it has moved away from being a good deal for most families.

I think the Budget Board is the best place for DDP threads. We take the emotion out of the decision and just talk dollars and cents.

Thanks! (Although, I've never been unemotional about anything...)

I used to be a big lover of the dining plan. Then the prices started going up. Then my kids aged up to Disney Adults. Now I'll only use a dining plan if the free dining promotion is available AND there isn't a really good room discount available for a deluxe resort (if we use free dining we'll stay value or moderate but if there's a really good room discount then we may stay deluxe depending on the discount).

When we stayed at YC in August 2011, we didn't have a dining plan. We ate at least one TS meal per day and on a few days we ate 2 TS meals. We like really quick and light breakfast foods in our room using groceries (we do this even if we have a dining plan) followed by a big TS lunch and a lighter CS dinner on park days and on resort days we do a big late breakfast followed by a full dinner. We never skimped on meals and we never split meals. Our kids always ordered off the regular menu, never the kids' menu. If we felt like dessert then we ordered it though because of allergies we were bored with the dessert options so we frequently left without getting dessert and then got snacks a little while later. Our average cost for food including CS, TS and snacks was around $146 per night of our stay. DDP would have cost us around $200 per night. We ate more TS and snacks and less CS than we would have with the DDP by paying OOP. It just doesn't suit us any longer.

Great example! Isn't it wonderful to skip dessert and get whatever snacks everyone wants later??

Our last trip, we had free dining, stayed at POP and paid to upgrade from QS to the DDP. I have to say, it was fantastic. We live very very frugally at home, so to be able to let my kids order whatever they wanted, and to get dessert with every meal, and to get expensive snacks every day? Magical. We really felt like we were on vacation!! My DD had a Mickey Ice Cream Bar every.single.day.

That said, for our upcoming ultra budget trip, we are staying offsite and doing the Y.E.S. program. So, even free dining would probably cost us over $1000 - when you factor in the difference in hotel costs ($189/week, using a friend's time share vs abt. $650ish for a value) and tickets (regular ticket prices for 4, versus YES tickets would cost us about $587 more!).

The plan for us is to utilize our kitchen for breakfast (I plan to make those breakfast casseroles and to bring our waffle iron, so we have a big hearty breakfast each day). Lunch will be brought into the park, as will water. We will have a stroller, so I am not worried about having to carry a cooler! Then, we can splurge on dinner. I am hoping to do Ohana one night, as that was my FAVORITE meal last trip. I am kind of anxious to see how we do, cost-wise...I am hoping to come in at under $100 a day average for our family of five. I still plan on the daily Mickey bars, though.

It is wonderful to be able to say yes instead of no to all of those treats! What I liked about not using the dining plan was that I could do that without worrying about how many snack credits we had left.

You mention buying water in the park. Last summer, I bought a Brita water bottle with a filter and asked for cups of ice water at counter service places in the parks. (it's free). This summer, I didn't even bother with the water bottle. The water tasted fine. (I am a filtered water gal...) We would ask for water throughout the day. It was free and cold and perfect!!

Have a great trip!

Thank you. I can't wait to go back. The kids, both got to go in April for a band trip with their marching band and I missed out as I like to give them some freedom and don't go along as a chaperone, although there are plenty of chaperones.

I'd love to stay at WL again, especially in Dec. but we're trying to not spend too much.

Maybe next time you can chaperone other kids.

Not just AP, but DVC members and Florida residents also. The price for the membership is lower for AP holders though.

How do you get the discount card?

www.tablesinwonderland.com

You can buy it at any Guest Services at the parks or DTD, or you can order it ahead of time. But it's valid from the time you purchase it, so you might as well purchase it there.

What quick answers!

I only do the dining plan when it's free. On the trip we have planned this fall, we got free dining (1 TS, 1 QS, 1 snack) and are staying at POFQ. If we had had a 30% off code, that would have only averaged $53.78 per day. There is no way I can feed three adults and one child in the parks for that and I'm not cooking on vacation. So, for us, even if we don't eat everything the plan offers, it's a much better choice.

I completely agree!

I always bring breakfast bars, a ziplock bag of trail mix, a box of 100 calorie snack packages and buy a case of water when we get there to off set the high cost of Disney food.

We usually stay at SSR which is our home resort, and we like to dine at Sweet Tomatoes, Qdoba, Chevy's and Joes Crab Shack because we don't have these restaraunts at home and all of them are less than a 10 minutes ride from our resort. So we only eat a few meals on property.

I save all of our receipts and tally up what we spend to eat and our average is usually $40-$50 a day for two people.

Thanks! I will have to make a note of all but Joe's (we have that). We may drive again next summer, and it's good to start a list of dining options.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

July 9

15.90 Lunch - La Cantina
19.68 snacks - Karamelle Kuche
4.25 drink (beer for dh??)
60.53 dinner 50's Prime Time (11.73 savings TIW)
10.07 jelly beans (I kid you not!)
6.00 snacks churro

Total 116.23 (about $100 less)

We did eat fruit, breakfast, and snacks in room. (We don't eat only jelly beans...okay the ten-year old twins might...)

 

[akayek31]

This October will be our 5th stay on property. We had free QSDP last September with the 2 snack credits. On our last day we still had 10 snack credits and 2 QS credits. I didn't have my AP yet so we only went to the Food and Wine 1 time. This year we only have 1 per day and an AP and I want more credits . But seriously, I can pay OPP for myself and my kids and get save a lot more than the DDP.

 

[Marionnette]

July 9

15.90 Lunch - La Cantina
19.68 snacks - Karamelle Kuche
4.25 drink (beer for dh??)
60.53 dinner 50's Prime Time (11.73 savings TIW)
10.07 jelly beans (I kid you not!)
6.00 snacks churro

Total 116.23 (about $100 less)

We did eat fruit, breakfast, and snacks in room. (We don't eat only jelly beans...okay the ten-year old twins might...)

I'm really enjoying your posts that show the comparison between what you spent vs. the cost of the DDP. But it would help to know what you got for your money at La Cantina and 50's Prime Time.

For us, the DDP doesn't make financial sense (even during free dining) because of our dining preferences (few desserts and snacks for us), resort choices (I'm a deluxe snob, what can I say?) and family make up (usually just 2 adults). It looks like your reasons for forgoing the DDP are much different from ours but the outcome is the same. The bottom line doesn't support the cost of the plan and doesn't offset the convenience of prepaying the cost of the food.

 

[nilseks]

We started doing DDP because we got it free a few times. Last year was the first time we were paying with DS being an 'adult' (he had just turned 10). I did the numbers before we left--I literally sat down and made a spreadsheet with every restaurant we had reservations at, and picked what I thought my picky eaters would choose. The numbers said we would save a whopping $15 by getting the DDP. I ended up doing it because I like the idea of having it prepaid and not worrying about it.

However, we came home from that trip sporting some massive weight gains (DH gained 12 lbs!!! and felt like crud). It was just WAY too much food. And by the end of the trip, our kids were SO sick of sitting down to TS meals. That is not their idea of fun.

This year is the first year we're staying off site, and part of my consideration in doing that was no longer feeling the need to have the DDP. When we told the kids we were going back they said "plllllleeeeease don't make a lot of dining reservations!". What we decided to do was have each of us pick our favorite restaurant at Disney, those are our only advance plans. Since we're staying off site, we will eat breakfast in the room every day, and they are so HAPPY about that! Between getting a condo at Bonnet Creek, which is so much bigger and cheaper than Disney, and not getting DDP, we are saving a ton of money. It's funny how needs and desires change over the years. I never thought we would be staying offsite and not getting DDP, but we are all excited about it!

 

[Zim]

I will really miss her and planning a week in Disney second week of December after her first semester away at college and planning on staying at Pop Century, she wanted All Star Movies but no free dining plan available.

You might want to recheck this occasionally... the only Value Resort they specifically state isn't valid for December FD is AoA. I've noticed one day the FD rooms won't be available for a certain resort, then suddenly it IS available. So if she really wants Movies, check back occasionally, it might become available!

 

[hsmamato2]

July 9

15.90 Lunch - La Cantina
19.68 snacks - Karamelle Kuche
4.25 drink (beer for dh??)
60.53 dinner 50's Prime Time (11.73 savings TIW)
10.07 jelly beans (I kid you not!)
6.00 snacks churro

Total 116.23 (about $100 less)

I don't know how you got away from these places so cheap.... La Cantina for my group is (4 'adults') at least 10 pp for lunch,likely more probably closer to 60.00...and dinner at PT would cost us at least 90.00 with 4 meals plus those shakes the kids like..... my boys eat a full adult meal,then finish whatever I haven't finished....

 

[hsmamato2]

adding,I don't doubt you at all OP but I think my fam eats quite a bit more than yours probably.... (no,FTR we don't have weight/health problems either) just a houseful of tall skinny big eaters!

 

[eliza61]

I don't know how you got away from these places so cheap.... La Cantina for my group is (4 'adults') at least 10 pp for lunch,likely more probably closer to 60.00...and dinner at PT would cost us at least 90.00 with 4 meals plus those shakes the kids like..... my boys eat a full adult meal,then finish whatever I haven't finished....

We are too but we still average 20-30 bucks cheaper per night than the ddp.

for example,
last august on our Epcot day, We had lunch at Beaches and Cream

1 single cheeseburger 10.00
2 double cheeseburger 30.00
1 chicken ceaser salad 13.00
4 sodas 12.00
18% tip 11.70
can't remember tax so I'll go with 7% 4.65 total 82.55

then for dinner we ate at Via Napoli
We had 1 mezzo pepperoni pizza 41.00
1 plain small pizza 16.00
4 drinks (ice tea/lemonaide) 12.00
tax 4.83
tips (18%) 13.00
total at dinner 87.00 dollars. (rounded up to nearest dollar)

Grand total for day 169.35 and this included tips.
If I was on the DDP it would have been 51.00X4= 204.00 Plus 13.00 + 11.70 grand total 228.70

228.70-170.00 = ~59.00 savings off of ddp.

We really only had 2 days out of the 6 that we spent more than 204.00 and that was one day we did a character meal at cape may and one day we did Animal kingdom. we always eat at rainforest cafe.

 

[JeffreyY]

We are too but we still average 20-30 bucks cheaper per night than the ddp.

for example,
last august on our Epcot day, We had lunch at Beaches and Cream

1 single cheeseburger 10.00
2 double cheeseburger 30.00
1 chicken ceaser salad 13.00
4 sodas 12.00
18% tip 11.70
can't remember tax so I'll go with 7% 4.65 total 82.55

then for dinner we ate at Via Napoli
We had 1 mezzo pepperoni pizza 41.00
1 plain small pizza 16.00
4 drinks (ice tea/lemonaide) 12.00
tax 4.83
tips (18%) 13.00
total at dinner 87.00 dollars. (rounded up to nearest dollar)

Grand total for day 169.35 and this included tips.
If I was on the DDP it would have been 51.00X4= 204.00 Plus 13.00 + 11.70 grand total 228.70

228.70-170.00 = ~59.00 savings off of ddp.

We really only had 2 days out of the 6 that we spent more than 204.00 and that was one day we did a character meal at cape may and one day we did Animal kingdom. we always eat at rainforest cafe.

You wouldn't have even been able to do this on the reg. DDP because you have 2 TS and with DDP you only get 1TS and 1QS + 1snack .

 

[Disfan3]

You wouldn't have even been able to do this on the reg. DDP because you have 2 TS and with DDP you only get 1TS and 1QS + 1snack .

Actually, that is not true since all the credits are in a bank and there is not a limit on how many you use per day as long as you do not exceed your total TS credits, you can use them when and however you want.

 

[TDC Nala]

Actually, that is not true since all the credits are in a bank and there is not a limit on how many you use per day as long as you do not exceed your total TS credits, you can use them when and however you want.

But, use more than 1 TS in one day and you have fewer available for your later days, if you prefer TS restaurants.

 

[eliza61]

You wouldn't have even been able to do this on the reg. DDP because you have 2 TS and with DDP you only get 1TS and 1QS + 1snack .

Totally forgot. Thanks Jeffrey, Makes it even better. this was what we ate on our Epcot day last August. We stopped the ddp pretty much a year after the ended the tips and appertizers. So it looks like had we eaten this way with the ddp I would have to pay for beaches and cream oop.

Usually when we plan a trip I look at how we ate on the last vacation and it seems every time I do that I still come out ahead by not using the ddp.

Our next trip is in October, it's looking like we'll skip the plan again.