Offshoot of the "feed 9 people for $30" thread...

[momto2girls]

We have done the dining plan in the past, but we didn't really like it much. We just pay OOP now. We usually eat 2 table service meals a day.

 

[AshleyW]

We do all of our meals OOP. I've priced out free dining for us, and it would actually cost us more to do it that way - definitely not worth it for just the two of us. Last time we went, DF and I stayed at Shades of Green. They've got pretty decent food there, so we ate a big breakfast there every morning. For lunch, we usually did a TS place. For dinner, we did CS or went back to Shades of Green for dinner there and to take a break. For snacks, we usually split some fries or chips - or we got some liquid snacks while in Epcot.

 

[AKL_Megs]

When my husband and I are on vacation, eating is our thing. It's a big part of the luxury of vacation for us.

Breakfast isn't a big meal at our house. If one of us happens to be hungry, we might grab a pastry or a bagel at the resort, or once we get to a park, but we usually wait for lunch.

Lunch is usually counter service. We get whatever we want. It's usually $10 or under a person.

Dinner is usually also counter service most days, we'll sample things in the World Showcase, order a pizza at the resort, etc. We DO get table service two or three times in a week-long trip. That's generally $100-$150 a dinner.

Snacks are the most fun. Anything goes.

 

[SC Minnie]

Since we always go on our DVC points no dining plan for us. We eat breakfast in the room while getting ready in the morning and pack snacks like granola bars or crackers in a bag. We do a TS meal every day in the parks or at the resort OOP. We will sometimes do CS meal in the parks are at the resort depending on when our TS meal was and if we want a little something.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I voted OOP as well.

We have done the DDP in the past and it didn't fit for us. It seemed we were rearranging our day around eating.

Like other PP, we typically have breakfast in the room and then eat where we feel like it and when we are hungry. With two small kids, they don't want to spend a long time on eating, so we usually do quick service places.

Traditionally, we have a breakfast meal at Ohana's every visit. And we like a few of the other restaurants as well, but nothing that is a must for sit down.

 

[Darcy03231]

I had to vote "other".

Prior to DDP if were were staying on-site it was OOP for all meals at WDW. If staying off-site it was a combination of meals at the rental house and OOP at Disney restaurants and off-site restaurants.

Since the inception of DDP, if we stay onsite we get the DDP. If we stay off-site again, its a combination of meals at the rental house and OOP at Disney restaurants and off-site restaurants.

 

[eliza61]

The issue for me has not really been about money. the issue has always been what I get for my money. Personally, the last 3 years the food at the world has been mediocre at best to down right terrible, so I can't see paying the prices either oop or with the dining plan.

Last year we were at the world for 11 days and had a total of 3 meals on site. We are dvc'ers so we are very fortunate that we have access to a full kitchen. Also we have a car and there are a bunch of chain restaurants not more than a mile outside of DTD.
Saves us money and the food is much better.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I voted other. We have never done the DDP. On our first few trips we stayed on-site and all our meals were on-site; they were a combo of CS and TS and food court. After the first few trips, we bought an off-site timeshare. Now we may have a couple of ADRs while we are down there, but to tell you the truth, I hate having to adhere to a schedule. It's kind of a pain to have ADRs because the day has to revolve around them. So, we eat some meals at the restaurants at or nearby to the timeshare and some meals in the parks. Our timeshare has a restaurant with a nice breakfast buffet. We usually go there a couple of times during the week depending upon how we are running for time. Otherwise, we will grab something in the parks. Lunch is always in the parks. Dinner is half the time in the parks and half the time outside of the parks. Plus, we always snack in between. In order to experience a variety of our favorite foods, we will oftentimes split meals / snacks so that we can move on and get something else to split a little while later. This is most often done in Epcot (i.e. split a school bread in Norway and share a gelato when we get to Italy). I am a total foodie, but a foodie who has to watch her calories so this satisfies my cravings without packing on the pounds.

 

[PghLybrt]

We have done the dining plan in the past, but we didn't really like it much. We just pay OOP now. We usually eat 2 table service meals a day.

Same here. The dinning plan was just to much work. I like to order what I want and that might be an appetizer and no dessert. We are also not big snack people so the snack credits are really a waste for us.

Since we always go on our DVC points no dining plan for us.

We go on our DVC points and have used the dinning plan. We had to pay for it but it is still available to us.

 

[kirstenb1]

We're DVC'rs. So it's breakfast in the room, CS for lunch, and somewhere offsite for dinner, or I whip up something quick for dinner.

 

[SC Minnie]

We go on our DVC points and have used the dinning plan. We had to pay for it but it is still available to us.

Just doesn't make sense for us. We don't eat every meal in the parks since we have a fridge and microwave at bare minimum in the rooms depending on if we get a studio or 1BR.

 

[PghLybrt]

Just doesn't make sense for us. We don't eat every meal in the parks since we have a fridge and microwave at bare minimum in the rooms depending on if we get a studio or 1BR.

Got it. It just sounded like you didn't know you could do it.
Honestly, I do not think it makes any sense financially. I can see how having everything paid for before you go relieves some stress but other than that, I am not a fan.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

In the past we've done the Deluxe DP. We love to eat, especially at signature restaurants. This next trip we'll be doing TIW since we got annual passes.

 

[Ppufi]

I've been once and stayed at GKTW. We had breakfast there, then got a snack MAYBE if we got hungry, and then ate dinner or got pizza back at GKTW. No Disney meals for us; we were too busy with other things there!

 

[2girlsmom]

First trip we stayed at Pop and paid for DDP, we loved the convenience of not having to think about where to eat once we were there, and also havng it all paid for was nice too. This year we are going during free dining, so would have the standard DDP (staying moderate), but have so many TS places we want to try, as well as a few signature places, that we are paying to upgrade to deluxe dining. Both my kids are now considered adults according to disney, and they are excited about the choices available to them now, so we are not doing all the character buffets that we did the first trip, though we still have a couple.

 

[scrapquitler]

We stay offsite, eat breakfast in the room. Buy snacks and drinks at WDW. Eat counter service meals, and a few of the nights during our trip, we eat at restaurants after we leave the park. Never do table service at the park. We just don't want to sit for 1 1/2 - 2 hours of our park day in a restaurant, especially given that my children AND Dh are picky eaters and never seem happy in any given restaurant...so its just not worth it.

 

[Tiana]

.

 

[momof1princess]

we have done the dining plan before (free) and in that case, we had a TS meal and CS meal each day. in june, 2009, we went on the buy 4, get 3 free promotion and paid OOP for our meals, so we only had three TS meals all week. both have their advantages, and i wouldn't hesitate to do either one again, given the opportunity.

 

[MM27]

I eat out of pocket. The dining plan would not be worth it for me, because I don't eat that much. I've read some trip reports where it seems like people plan everything around their meals. I wouldn't be able to walk, let alone go on rides after eating that much food during the day. I usually get something light for breakfast at the hotel, maybe a snack in the afternoon and then a late dinner. I am not your typical Disser. My last trip was during Spring Break and I only made one ADR for a 7 day trip. Everything else, we just kind of wing it.

 

[marcyinPA]

I voted DDP, only because that has been what we've done the past few trips (mainly, we got the DDP for free each time....last time, it was the QSDP)

Unless we get a killer deal, the next trip will be meals OOP. The DDP is great, but too much food for us, and doesn't really fit our eating style.