No Dining Plan = no stress!

[DizzyFORDisney]

I just wanted to put this out there to see if anyone else agrees....

The last two trips we had we were on the Dining Plan, and while it was great to have meals pre-paid (sort of), I have to admit that there was a certain level of stress involved.... Between all of the planning of ADR's, trying to get my money's worth, and the keeping track of credits, I found myself a little crazed...and believe me I am a PLANNER with a capital P and also very organized.

This trip, however, we have decided NOT to use a dining plan. Now I did make ADRs for where we wanted, but I feel SO much less stressed out about this. Make sense to anyone else?

I have a budget for food...and it may actually be the same as the cost of the dining plan! But I think we'll just wing counter service meals, share when we want at either CS or TS, etc.

Curious to see how it works out this time!

Thanks for listening to me think out loud!!

 

[karebear06]

We have stayed in a 2 bedroom with another couple and did the dining plan. That was stressful because all of our credits were pooled together and it was hard to remember who used what snack option or counter service for example. It was very hard to keep track of. Now, when it is just my husband and I, we love the dining plan. So much easier to keep track of. BTW, I am also a compulsive planner and deal shopper, so we always save our receipts when we use a credit and add up how much we saved at the end of the trip. To each their own.

 

[Jetta8300]

It will be my first time going this October, so I do not have experience with this. But we also have decided NOT to do the dining plan! We added it up, and it would actually cost more for the dining plan on what we want to do. We plan on eating counter service during the day, and doing a few signatures at night. We are not big dessert people, but we love appetizers! We do have ADRs, but if we are not hungry we don't have to eat!

The other nice thing is that we are going to try some signatures not on the dining plan, Bluezoo and Bistro for sure!

 

[zanydoc]

We are planning our first trip to Disney in 7 years for my 5 year old son's birthday and have decided not to do the dining plan. It just seems too stressful trying to figure out where and when to eat with a 5 year old and keeping track of points...I think you made a good decision and we did, too! We'll probably eat breakfast in the vacation club room (Saratoga Springs) every morning and then lunch and dinner wherever the day takes us. I usually am a huge plan ahead type of person, but to plan ahead for most of the meals--no thanks. Go no Dining Plan!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We make ADR's and plan the certain park on a certain day even when we aren't on the dining plan.

This is the 1st time in 3 years we're doing our trip with the dining plan. It will be less stress for me. DH is a cheapo with a capital C, so to go to WDW and know our meals are paid for will take alot of stress away from all of us, since DH's whining about the money now but will be over it by the time triptime is here.

 

[TaraPA]

I have to agree, we did the DDP in 2006 & it added so much pressure on the trip. Never again! We like to snack our way around WDW & have a few nice sit-down meals, on our own time & terms.

To each their own!

 

[Belle5]

We have been doing the DDP for a while now. This last trip we tried going without and purchased the TIW card instead. We loved it!

 

[Freyja]

I totally understand where you´re coming from OP. We were on the dining plan for the first time when we went last to WDW and I don´t think we´ll do it again. First of all it was way too much food for us and we ended up throwing out lots of food and using unused credits to buy snacks and sandwiches our last day there. Second, I think I spent way too much time planning and calculating

 

[DisneyMomx7]

This is our first trip in years where we haven't had the dining plan.

Both dd's (10 and 12) are now counted as "Disney adults" so for us it just wasn't worth it anymore. We will have the TIW card so I think we'll be fine.

I've tried to "trick" myself into thinking I have the dining plan. I have been buying tons (think thousands of dollars) worth of Disney gift cards. We'll be there for 16 days and I'm pretty sure I have all our food covered with the gift cards.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Absolutely agree with OP! We bought the TIW card and it has been much more effective for us. I never cared for worrying about how many credits left and are we "maximising" our plan.

Now it's carefree and just eat whenever and wherever we want. I love not having to worry about the DDP.

 

[luckylady131]

Sorry, I'm new to these boards and am learning the acronyms. What is a TIW card? What do you use it for? Can anyone get them? We will be staying at the Hilton in Downtonw Disney.

 

[tracisup]

I was there in May and the receipts printed the amount of credits we had left each time we 'paid'

It was very easy to keep track of!

 

[littlbugmom]

We were on the dining plan for our first trip and thought it took up too much of our time. It was also waaayyy too much food. This was before they offered the different levels...we had TS, CS and snacks every day...couldn't use them all.

We always have a kitchen, so meals have become very simple for us to plan. We spend less than $200 to stock the fridge for a 10 day trip. We have ADR's for our fav places and for the places we want to experience but other than having to arrive on time for those, there is zero pressure around "food" for us.

 

[Belle5]

Sorry, I'm new to these boards and am learning the acronyms. What is a TIW card? What do you use it for? Can anyone get them? We will be staying at the Hilton in Downtonw Disney.

It is the Tables in Wonderland card. In order to purchase one you must already have an annual pass. With the TIW, you receive a 20% discount at most table service (TS) restaurants. Welcome to the DIS!

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I just wanted to put this out there to see if anyone else agrees....

The last two trips we had we were on the Dining Plan, and while it was great to have meals pre-paid (sort of), I have to admit that there was a certain level of stress involved.... Between all of the planning of ADR's, trying to get my money's worth, and the keeping track of credits, I found myself a little crazed...and believe me I am a PLANNER with a capital P and also very organized.

This trip, however, we have decided NOT to use a dining plan. Now I did make ADRs for where we wanted, but I feel SO much less stressed out about this. Make sense to anyone else?

I have a budget for food...and it may actually be the same as the cost of the dining plan! But I think we'll just wing counter service meals, share when we want at either CS or TS, etc.

Curious to see how it works out this time!

Thanks for listening to me think out loud!!

EXACTLY what we are doing this October!
I found the regular dining plan annoying because I resented having to take time out of our park day for TS dining. Last time we went to WDW it rained almost all week, and our last night I was sooooo looking forward to seeing Wishes....well, wouldn't you know our EARLY ADR at Coral Reef dragged out to 4 hours after a two-hour wait for our table! We missed Wishes again and I swore from now on we make no more than 2 ADR's per week to leave time for the "good stuff"

 

[Pakey]

We changed our way years ago when we got our first TIW and we find the slower pace/fewer meal schedules much more relaxing. And since we don't like desserts, we are happier getting to eat what we really want.

 

[indimom3]

I completely agree. We had a debate about the dining plan, because the math works out to be about the same for our trip with 3 little kids. But I get very OCD about planning when I'm on the plan. Not this time. I also KNOW my husband and I would eat too much. We're not dessert eaters at all. But when they are free...

Now, I'm getting OCD about our touring plans... so I guess it's always something, lol.

 

[B-Ride]

Personally we love the DP but I totally understand why people do not.

If you don't mind planning (I love it) and you plan to eat one TS meal per day (we look forward to sitting down for a relaxed meal once per day) then it can be a good deal. But admittedly, with the appetizer and tip no longer included it is not as good a deal as it used to be.

Sure you need to eat a lot of desserts and snacks to make it worthwhile, but that is exactly what we like doing when we are on vacation. Also, I am cheap by nature so tend to order the least expensive thing on the menu to save money but the DP allows me to order what I want. Sure that is silly but I have lived with myself for enough years to know it is too late to change me.

 

[tracisup]

But admittedly, with the appetizer and tip no longer included it is not as good a deal as it used to be.

I keep seeing people say the appetizer isnt included but when I look here
----------> http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw_nextgen/CoreCatalog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2010Dining.pdfwhere it says table service, it says it is. Can someone clear this up for me.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I keep seeing people say the appetizer isnt included but when I look here
----------> http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw_nextgen/CoreCatalog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2010Dining.pdfwhere it says table service, it says it is. Can someone clear this up for me.

The appetizer is included on the Deluxe Dining Plan. It is not included on the Regular Dining Plan.