No more free dining for us!

[wishesdocometrue]

I have eaten at many of the same restaurants long before I even knew about a dining plan and my kids would much rather eat at Rose & Crown than a CS(they never liked fast food so I was spared the McD's faze). I just came back from our 3rd stay at POP. Have been on the free DDP 2005, 2006 and this year and I agree with the previous poster on eating light. The first year we ate everything but the snack credits were very limited; last year my DH and I went and ate breakfasts and then early dinners at wonderful restaurants and loved being able to have ice cream sundaes as a snack after an evening at a park. This year my daughter(26) and I went and while we ate well...had a counter service for an early lunch and then a wonderful sit down TS for dinner. Sometimes we would get a muffin, danish for CS desert(at POP) and then have that for breakfast the next am. Snacks were used for evening snacks cookies, chips, the apples and dip and fruit were great evening snack as well(when going through food withdrawl at 11pm!) We even used our last CS(had one left over because instead of arriving at 1pm..we arrived at 11pm!) at Earl of Sandwich before heading to the airport. It was great to take those sandwiches with us on the plane...oh the looks of envy we got! We booked the bounceback for next year and am toying with upgrading to the deluxe plan simply to have more 2 TS places to eat--Cali grill here we come!The dining plan certainly does have its merits both for those that would never eat at a TS and for those of us that just like to take the worry out of paying for it. Once you get over the, getting the most out of the plan, and ordering what you really want, it really is wonderful

 

[Twende]

We loved the free dining. We zeroed out all credits. It was fantastic.

I will admit that I savored every bite of food that added 7 pounds to my week stay!

I will miss the appetizers and having to pay extra for tips. I am not sure if we will use the plan next year or just eat CS and then pick 2 nice places to eat for two nights.

 

[mom2my3kids]

It is a lot of food, one night we traded in our TS for CS plus 2 snacks. We just was not that hungry and did not feel like eating a big meal.

 

[Bete]

DDP does not force anyone to overeat or gain weight. Instead of steak and prime rib switch to some fish or chicken entrees. Do fruit for your snacks. Get a healthy dessert.

You can skip some table service meals and use double credits for the signature places. Share your food with strangers. I know this sounds weird, but this works at counter service. Most people see you set your food at a table to know it's not tainted. Just offer a family a dessert and say you didn't have to pay for it. I even offered to pay for someone's counter service meal once. I told them about the plan and that I had more credits than I was going to use. It was like giving someone a wish granted at Disney. I like spreading the magic a little. I still make out to the positive on the plan. I never leave credits behind. I use them one way or the other. Snack credits can be used at the end for the airport ride, etc. I do a carry-on; so, it's easy to do it.

I wouldn't give up the plan; just use it differently. Even if you don't make out like a bandit, it still can save money and be a lot of fun trying all the different places to eat.

 

[metsno1]

I think it's fair to say that some people just know themselves well enough to recognize that if they were on the plan, they wouldn't have the willpower to follow all of the very nice suggestions that have been laid out for them.

It's one thing to say "I'm gonna be good." And it's an entirely different thing to actually DO IT when that menu is right in front of you!!!

My wife and I had different experiences with the DP. We both ate a LOT, and I mean A LOT! She gained three pounds and I lost three pounds-so we came out even as far as I'm concerned. Why she doesn't see it that way is beyond me.....I just wish she would start talking to me again.....

Hey, we walked what? 12 miles a day???? I can't help my metabolism, right?

 

[Mom of 3]

We won't be doing the free DDP again either. Here are the gains for our family:

DS4 - stayed the same
DS7 - gained 11 lbs
DS11 - gained 5 lbs
DH - claims to not have weighed since being home so I don't know
Me - gained 6 pounds

DS7 gains weight really easy but I was shocked that he gained 11 pounds.

Needless to say we are back to our usual diet of lots of healthy food.

DH hated TS meals. Being diabetic and having to wait and wait on food and not knowing what the portions are going to look like till the food gets to the table was a killer for him. He refuses to ever do it again. Although he did really enjoy the counter service.