No more free dining for us!

[magicmouse2]

I have decided against any more free dining trips. Last trip I put on 14lbs, I wasnt really overweight prior to the trip but I certainly was on return. I drifted off to sleep at night feeling sick at the thought of more food! (we were on free dining 14 nights) I didnt like the menu changes for free dining period and felt obliged to eat all 3 courses. I hate waste. I also felt that getting reservations was a nightmare and also that we had to be at a certain place at a certain time every day. I loved experiencing al lthe Disney restaurants. Some I would have happily paid for, some I wouldnt be too keen. Also the heat in August is a killer. I love hot but my family dont. I noticed a definate increase in crowd capacity too. Airfare from the UK is expensive in August too. I think April is the best time for our visits, as I used to do. I have my DDE for discounts on the onsite resturants.

 

[Angelgirl13202]

explain what you mean by the menu changes i thought you eat off of the same menu as if you were paying out of pocket. We are doing the dining plan for the first time in december and my Father in law will not be happy if it is a different menu as that is how we convinced them to do the plan was we said it was the same menu?

 

[mom2cookies]

When we went September of this year we did not have to order from a separate menu. The only thing we could not get were alcoholic drinks and the kids could not order drinks with the glow ice cubes. Now, we did not eat at super high-class pricey restaurants like Le Cellier etc but even at the 1900 Park Faire Cafe, there weren't any limitations on menu.

You could double check on the dining thread here.

 

[TANYABETH]

The dining plan is a ton of food. We did it last year and I did not gain any weight at all though. I think that I walked around the parks so much that it balanced out. I probably would have actually lost weight if I hadn't been on the dining plan!!

 

[caracap]

14 pounds!!!! I lost 1.5 in 6 days because of all the walking, and I am not overweight (120 lbs) See, i like free dining, because I didn't feel guilty not getting a dessert or appetizer if I wasnt hungry. Now, if I were paying for it I would feel like I had to eat it. But, because it was free I never even ordered it. I also left 11 CS behind too. And, if I paid for it, i would have been upset or ate just too eat. I am actually liking next years plan, it's just way too much food this year.

 

[traviesojmt]

Wow, we had a completely different experience. I am overweight (losing thanks to Weight Watchers though) and I completely went off Weight Watchers for our 10 days trip in Feb. I ate everything I wanted and did not gain a pound. I did take my pedometer and we always walked at least 10 miles a day. I was actually shocked to find out that I didn't gain any weight after the way we ate. I'm sorry that your experience was so negative. It was a great thing for us.

 

[GC&S]

We are just the opposite. We just got back from free dining. This was our
4th trip with the DDP. We will continue to get the DDP. Yes, it is a lot of food. But many times, I never got the counter service dessert, or I ate it later (sometimes for breakfast the next morning ). I didn't have problems getting ADR's (in fact, I even changed some times while we were there last week). I think it's just a mindset for us. It's paid for, we love doing TS everyday; it's a part of our vacation, a time to relax and take a break. But it's not for everyone.

 

[joy13]

We just got back from our trip last week and this was our first experience with the DDP and we did get it free. We loved it! My husband can eat a ton, so we never felt like there was too much food. We used our TS on all character meals that ended up being buffets though, so maybe that was the difference. I didn't weigh myself before or after though, so I can't comment on weight gain

 

[MS_mom_1965]

I am going in November, and paid for my families DDP. I was able to use the Visa discount, and got almost 40% off our room rates at CSR.

If you went during the free DDP time, were you able to get any discount off the room rates? If there were only 1 or 2 people in your room, wouldn't you have come out the same to go another time and pay for DDP and take advantage of a room discount?

 

[Colleen27]

I am going in November, and paid for my families DDP. I was able to use the Visa discount, and got almost 40% off our room rates at CSR.

If you went during the free DDP time, were you able to get any discount off the room rates? If there were only 1 or 2 people in your room, wouldn't you have come out the same to go another time and pay for DDP and take advantage of a room discount?

No, you can't take advantage of room discounts and get free dining, and yes, how good a deal it is does depend on your party size and resort choice.

We went in August but before free dining, and saved $75/night at the BC with a package discount code. Free dining would have saved us almost $100/night because we're a family of 4, but for a couple, it would come out about the same and a solo would be better off with the room discount.

But if you're not staying in a deluxe resort, free dining is a better deal than you'd ever get with a code. When we stayed at POR during free dining, we saved $100/night by paying rack rate for the $140/night room - we came out *way* ahead of the $40/night room discount that was also available for that time. If there was only one adult in the room, it would be a toss up, but any more than that and free dining is the better offer.

At the values, free dining is always the best deal. Even solo, the $40/night discount of the free dining plan is better than the $15-ish/night discount rates on the room.

 

[MommaTinkerbell]

Our family went in April of this year and paid out of pocket for DDP. We loved it...no limit of menu choices. DH loved that he could have steak every day. DD wanted speciality tinkerbell punch at a few meals..we just paid out of pocket for that...no big deal. Our meal at LeCellier proved to us we got our money back....I think,just our 2 adult meals were around $140(if paying oop)...the plan is worth it and loved the Chef Mickey buffet as well as all of our other adr's. We didn't gain a pound either...we walked from sun up to sun down..but never realized the miles we were putting in because of the fun around us! Sorry, it was a bad experience for you.

Personally, I think if you only use your counter service & snack credits..you get your money worth from DDP(what is it $38 a day/adult and $12 a day for child--I didn't double check this info)...sounded like a bargain to us.

 

[disneyjunebug]

We are going in November and are paying OOP for the DDP. DH is an Accountant and he crunched numbers and menus. Said we would be making a huge mistake if we didn't use it! We enjoy a sit down meal everyday to unwind, etc. so it just made good money sense for us.

But that is the good thing, if you don't want it, don't buy it!

 

[RJD]

It is alot of food, but no one says you have to order and/or eat all the food. Anyway, I guess there'll be no appetizers on the 08 plan so the amount of food will be less.

 

[beroh2253]

Just got back home late last night from POP and the free DDP plan. Yes me and DW did gain some #'s even though we put on 55 miles in a 9 night stay and we did have a great time and are signed up on the bounce back plan for next year. But now it is time to get back to the real world and get back in shape for next year. Got to reset my count down clock.

 

[magicmouse2]

I am not knocking the dining plan - its a really great deal, just think I overdid the eating without the plan I never would have eaten so much. I think I am just not used to eating so much steak and prime rib! Its probably more enjoyable for shorter stays like maybe up to 7 nights. It probably would be better for us now there is no appetizer, but what we would gain in free food we would lose in airfare for that time of year.

 

[siestakeys04]

I sorry to hear you gained weight. I know you will lose it again!!!!

 

[metsno1]

We just returned from 13 days at CSR with FDP. I don't care if I EVER see another bite of food. And we still had tons of credits left over at the end....

But I have to say, after seeing the $245 tab at Coral Reef and the $280 tab at Artist Point, the plan would be worth paying for! We would NEVER...let me repeat, NEVER...pay $200+ for one dinner! It just wouldn't happen. We wouldn't be able to enjoy it at all, we'd feel so guilty. So paying for the plan up front gives us the opportunity to eat at places we wouldn't otherwise go for what we feel is a very reasonable amount of money.

So next trip, regardless of when we go, we'll definitely do the plan again! We'll just have to budget for the tips, that's all!!

 

[mrp4352]

When we went September of this year we did not have to order from a separate menu.

Right - however, in two different restaurants we had waiters tell us they were offering all guests a modified menu during September. The most noticible menu change (to us) were at Tony's and Rose and Crown. However, in the locations where we actually noticed a different menu, there was still a nice variety of options, just not as many as there normally are...

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I don't think its fair to blame free dining on weight gain...we didn't eat everything that was offered to us every meal...and when we did rebook for 08, I strongly considered the premium dining but opted against doing that for the exact reason that I do not want to feel the need to eat everything thats offered to me. I exercised the entire week I was there, and haven't weighed myself (since I rarely do anyways) but I doubt I gained any weight...we used snack credits for waters and milk....many meals we skipped an appetizer or dessert...if you don't order it its not wasted! Luckily with all the walking I did have more of an appetite, but I ate when I was hungry and opted for healthier choices like salads and lighter sandwiches for CS meals. We love the free dining! we saved a lot of money, ate when hungry, and didn't overdo it at every meal (although we did at some-Chef Mickey's dessert bar-YUMMY!) I think its all what you make of it, and its a great thing for our family thats a huge money saver and will allow us to go to Disney 2 years in a row with a really good idea of the costs all pre-paid-YAY!

 

[melomouse]

...I have to say, after seeing the $245 tab at Coral Reef and the $280 tab at Artist Point, the plan would be worth paying for! We would NEVER...let me repeat, NEVER...pay $200+ for one dinner! It just wouldn't happen. We wouldn't be able to enjoy it at all, we'd feel so guilty. So paying for the plan up front gives us the opportunity to eat at places we wouldn't otherwise go for what we feel is a very reasonable amount of money.

So next trip, regardless of when we go, we'll definitely do the plan again! We'll just have to budget for the tips, that's all!!

ITA!!!!!