Offered a discount on dining plan. Worth it?

[Verstehen]

Hi everyone! I'll be taking a trip to Disney with my sister over labor day weekend. I'm a Florida resident with an annual pass, and we got a great deal at Port Orleans French Quarter, so I'm very excited.

We were also offered a dining plan, which I can add on later if I want. The price for a four day dining plan for two people was quoted at $370.24. This is the regular plan that includes one quick service, one table service, and one snack. Just to do the math for you, that comes out to $46.28 per person, per day.

Now, I'm inclined to go with it, but I've heard some people say it's not worth the hassle of having to use all your credits. We're making dining reservations tonight, and I guess it'll depend on if we can even get reservations at our restaurants of choice.

But in general, is that price reasonable? We like eating at Disney, and if that could save us a lot of money, I'm all for that. As a passholder, I could also do Tables in Wonderland, which would be $75. That would save us $20 per meal, but only at sit-down places and a few counter service, and I don't know that it would work on the Monday, since it's a holiday and the details said that Tables in Wonderland isn't valid on holidays.

Please advise! I've never done the dining plan before.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

The price they quoted you was the same as the normal price for the dining plan. You are not getting a discount. We have done the DDP a few times and other times just quick service. It just depends on the trip and if you want to take the time to go to sit down dinners or if you would rather spend the time at rides and shows.
The best thing to do is go to allears and look at the menus and prices and see what works for you and what way would save you the most money.

 

[clanmcculloch]

You say this is for Labor Day weekend. I believe this is value season so the price should only be $45.99 per person, per night. I'm not seeing how this is a discount on your dining plan. Also, you say per day. How many nights is your hotel reservation?

 

[Verstehen]

It's four nights. The representative said it would be 30% off the normal price of a dining plan, but yeah, now that you mention it, that doesn't seem right to me. I didn't realize that labor day weekend was considered value season. (I assumed, it being a national holiday, that it wouldn't be)

 

[plutolovr]

It's four nights. The representative said it would be 30% off the normal price of a dining plan, but yeah, now that you mention it, that doesn't seem right to me. I didn't realize that labor day weekend was considered value season. (I assumed, it being a national holiday, that it wouldn't be)

Perhaps the agent is misunderstanding Disney's advertising. Disney advertises that the Dining Plan will save you 30% over paying OOP for food.

 

[Verstehen]

Perhaps the agent is misunderstanding Disney's advertising. Disney advertises that the Dining Plan will save you 30% over paying OOP for food.

That's probably what she meant. Still, is $46.28 worth it? I guess that depends where we end up getting reservations. I like that we can book dining plan later, though. Because if we had to book it now and no tables were available, it would kind of suck.

 

[havoc315]

That's probably what she meant. Still, is $46.28 worth it? I guess that depends where we end up getting reservations. I like that we can book dining plan later, though. Because if we had to book it now and no tables were available, it would kind of suck.

It really is worthwhile for some people, and a financial loser for others.
Look at it this way -- You are paying about $30 for a Table service meal, which entitles you to entree, beverage and dessert. You are paying about $14 per day for a CS meal. And about $3 per day for a snack.
There are plenty of TS meals that cost less than $30, and plenty that cost more. Same with CS meals and snacks.

If you want to eat the more expensive entrees at the more expensive restaurants, if you want 2-3 desserts per day, the DDP may indeed be a money saver.
If you tend to skip some desserts, if you eat more lightly for some of your meals, if you want to do table service breakfast, etc.... Then it's much cheaper to skip the plan altogether.

(Example -- Plan is $47. Breakfast, use a snack credit for a bowl of cereal. OOP cost would be about $3.
Lunch -- Use a TS credit at Plaza Restaurant -- Grilled Chicken Sandwich - grilled chicken breast topped with shaved ham and Swiss cheese served on a flour-dusted Kaiser $12.49, Soft Drinks or Iced Tea $2.69, for dessert Creamy Hand-Dipped Milkshakes $4.69. Total lunch cost about $18 plus tax. Dinner, CS at Cosmic Rays, 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken - with Mashed Potatoes and a seasonal vegetable $9.69, beverage $2.50, dessert-- Carrot Cake $3.59, so total about $16 plus tax ----- So cost of DDP is $47. Cost of OOP is about $37 without tax, and about $39.50 with tax. You would have been much better off skipping the dining plan. On the other hand, if you got the chicken and ribs combo at Cosmic Rays, and if you ordered the New York Strip Steak at Tony's Town Square, then you would have saved a fair amount of money with the plan).

 

[Verstehen]

Thanks for breaking it down, Havoc. Sis asked if we could eat at Garden Grill, and I'd also like to do the Crystal Palace, so it seems like for us, it would be worth it.

 

[Cafeen]

As a general rule of thumb:

• If you're looking to eat the way the dining plan suggests, then it may be a good value.
• If you're not planning to share, split meals, etc, then it may be a good value
• If you'd most likely spend the majority of the TS credits for dinner and CS for lunch, then it may be a good value
• If you're willing to put in the time ahead of time and plan for the meals (which may take upwards of 60-90 minutes including check-in time plus travel time), then it may be a good value.

After that, it's all about the numbers. Which I won't get into here as Havoc's already got it covered nicely (his formatting could use a tweak though ).

One thing to make sure of though, since you're looking to book for not very far off at all, is to check to make sure there are appropriate openings at the times you want for those meals. TS restaurants book up quick during this period, as there is (or was? don't know if it's still bookable) an offer to get the DDP for free (or QSDP for free for value resorts) and this is a very popular offer. (Note: to qualify you must forgo any other discount, so it's not always the best deal for everyone, but for many, especially families, it usually is).

You can use the online system to check for openings at the places you want, you can even book them before you book your resort if you so desire. I'd make sure of this before diving into the DDP though, as otherwise you may end up being better off paying OOP for the food.

More additions...

Seeing as how you have an AP, you should look into Passholder discounts, oftentimes you can get a decent discount being an AP holder, which also lets you book the DDP without tickets. By the way, unless you do a special AP package, you have to buy at least 1 day base tickets, so that's something to think about too. That last line should probably go higher so as to not confuse, but oh well, I wrote it here, in ink so I can't erase it!

 

[Verstehen]

As a general rule of thumb:

• If you're looking to eat the way the dining plan suggests, then it may be a good value.
• If you're not planning to share, split meals, etc, then it may be a good value
• If you'd most likely spend the majority of the TS credits for dinner and CS for lunch, then it may be a good value
• If you're willing to put in the time ahead of time and plan for the meals (which may take upwards of 60-90 minutes including check-in time plus travel time), then it may be a good value.

After that, it's all about the numbers. Which I won't get into here as Havoc's already got it covered nicely (his formatting could use a tweak though ).

One thing to make sure of though, since you're looking to book for not very far off at all, is to check to make sure there are appropriate openings at the times you want for those meals. TS restaurants book up quick during this period, as there is (or was? don't know if it's still bookable) an offer to get the DDP for free (or QSDP for free for value resorts) and this is a very popular offer. (Note: to qualify you must forgo any other discount, so it's not always the best deal for everyone, but for many, especially families, it usually is).

You can use the online system to check for openings at the places you want, you can even book them before you book your resort if you so desire. I'd make sure of this before diving into the DDP though, as otherwise you may end up being better off paying OOP for the food.

Yes, we will be making our reservations tonight and decide after that if we would like the dining plan. I think that's the best way to do it.

 

[JimmyV]

Thanks for breaking it down, Havoc. Sis asked if we could eat at Garden Grill, and I'd also like to do the Crystal Palace, so it seems like for us, it would be worth it.

Still a "maybe". Let's say you go to Garden Grill for dinner. $35. The plan is $47, so you have $12 to "play with" for the rest of the day. If you have a full CS lunch, with dessert and use your snack credit that day, then the plan puts you ahead. But if you are the type of person who thinks: "Hmmm. I'm going to an 'all you care to eat' place for dinner tonight. I don't think I want or need a second dessert at lunch. In fact, I am just going to grab a chicken caesar salad over at Sunshine Seasons for lunch and drink a bottle of water." Cost for lunch is around $11.50 after tax. Right around the $12 you have left on the plan. I'm not saying that the plan is a bad purchase under these facts. But it might not be a money saver, either. So it becomes a "maybe".

 

[Verstehen]

Hold the phone. Quick service credit includes dessert? That might be way too much food.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Hold the phone. Quick service credit includes dessert? That might be way too much food.

Yes both TS and CS include an entree, drink, and dessert. Remember you don't HAVE to get a dessert if you really don't want it. Some people have been able to substitute some fruit or a bottle of water instead of dessert (not a guarantee, but it never hurts to ask). Also in JimmyV's calculations, he left out the snack credit. So you could absolutely leave out the dessert that day and still come out ahead with a snack for breakfast or later in the day.

 

[JimmyV]

Also in JimmyV's calculations, he left out the snack credit. So you could absolutely leave out the dessert that day and still come out ahead with a snack for breakfast or later in the day.

Yes. This is true. If you are someone who eats one light meal and one bigger meal per day who does not snack between meals, you are probably better off OOP. If you eat one light meal and one bigger meal and like to have a snack, then you are probably within mere percentage points one way or the other OOP vs. Plan. If you eat two full or big meals per day, then the plan will probably save you money.

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney advertises that the Dining Plan will save you 30% over paying OOP for food.

Right now Disney advertises that the dining plan can save you UP TO 20% on dining. Not that it WILL save you any percent, because the percent you save depends entirely on how you use the credits. It used to be up to 30% but now it's 20%.