Over $1500 for the dining plan!!!

[kdkbrebel]

Was just begining to crunch some numbers for a trip next July, I about had a heart attack when I did a search on WDW.com and it gave me quote of over $4,000 for 8 days at pop and over $1,500 was the dining plan alone. When we went in 2007 it was only 800 or so, now granted my dd was 9 at the time and I know she is a disney adult now but geez I wasn't expecting it to be that much more. And back then the app's and tip were included as well. Oh well needless to say I will def be rethinking the plan now. Exp. since we are going to go to clearwater for a day and I can get gc from mypoints for rfc or trex. I am sure I can eat cheaper than 1,500. Any thoughts or suggestions? Here are some of the rest I know they will want to go to, ESPN club, planet hollywood, chef mickeys or crystal palace, sci fi or 50's, rfc and or trex, I would love to do Lecelier again as well. as far as cs we can usually share as we will be at typhoon lagoon and blizzard beach at least a couple of the days and usually like to eat light when we are swimming.

 

[cjnix29]

I totally agree that 1500 is insane!! You can probably eat cheaper than that if you pay attention and order smart. I always think it is too much food on the dining plan, and only get it when it is part of the free dining package. Planet Hollywood....there are coupons in the entertainment book, plus don't you get one when you book a package with Disney? The entertainment book is $5 off $20. If you need it, I can send you them. Counter service always has ways to save. The last time I was there, we ate kids meals, cheaper, right size portions. Pop has pizza delivery, right? Feed the whole family with pizza night! There are ways to do it. Especially if you eat breakfast in your room. I would never pay 1500 for the dining plan! Just plan ahead, which you obviously are! Also...you can eat at Earl of Sandwich on a AAA discount I believe, if you have that. Good luck! Also...if you are going to Clearwater...see if restaurant.com has any certificates available there. If you hit the buffets, hit them as a late breakfast, or late dinner. You then get a lunch or dinner for cheaper prices!

 

[kdkbrebel]

were there any deals for July of this year? I know it would be cheaper to go at other times like free dining, but July is the only month we can go due to work schedules, school, sports and dance competetions.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

You may want to double check the website...not that the amounts are that much better headache but the DDP for 2010 should only cost you $1176 for 8 day/7 night trip during "regular" time or $1316 if you are going during a "holiday" time.

 

[kdkbrebel]

I guess it is actually 8 nights sat through sun. and we are going mid july so i guess that is holiday time

 

[java]

were there any deals for July of this year? I know it would be cheaper to go at other times like free dining, but July is the only month we can go due to work schedules, school, sports and dance competetions.

Yep The buy 4 get 3 free days! That's what we did this year. Saved us about $2000!

 

[kdkbrebel]

that would be awesome if they offered that again. Do you know when it came out? Could you apply it to an exsiting ressie? I can't book until the first week of Jan anyway as DH can not get his vac time approved until then and until that is set in stone on the dates I can't reserve anything, i just know it has to be either the 3rd or 4th week of July. Also the last 2 times we have flown american and now they are cutting non stops out of STL so it looks like I will be trying for southwest does anyone know when they will release for July? Sorry for all the ?????

 

[java]

hmm When did it come out? I am thinking about the end of April early May. They often have some kind of deal in the summer. Which is considered PEAK season in rates. So while it isn't as cheap even with the discounts as you could stay other times.
Check out the codes and rates boards. They are generally on top of things. Good luck and I hope you get a way better deal than you found online.

By the way we have not done the dining plan. I have 4 kids and it wasn't cost effective for us with 2 "disney adults" in those 4 kids. But if you are planning on doing buffets- they tack on a "holiday surcharge" for the whole summer charging about $5 more per person if I remember correctly. So then the dining plan may be worth it. You can always ADD the dining plan at a later date when you book your trip.

 

[kdkbrebel]

I was just looking at mousesavers and the historical codes according to that the 4/3 ended on June 8th?

 

[dancin'girl]

The buy 4 - get 3 Free promotion was first offered last Nov for vacations staring in Jan 2009. I had just booked our 2009 trip through AAA (in Oct.) and then saw the 4/3 deal here on the Dis. My travel agent was able to apply the discount and we saved $1100!!!! I'm holding off on booking next year's trip until Nov in hopes that it may be offered again. That would be awesome!!!

 

[java]

I was just looking at mousesavers and the historical codes according to that the 4/3 ended on June 8th?

Nope we booked for check=in June 27th and got it. I believe it went until July 1. But then they announced some other "discount" deal for July(I can't recall what though)

 

[kdkbrebel]

We are looking at the third or fourth week of july 2010 hope they will have something for then.

 

[ChristmasElf]

I totally agree that 1500 is insane!! You can probably eat cheaper than that if you pay attention and order smart. I always think it is too much food on the dining plan, and only get it when it is part of the free dining package. Planet Hollywood....there are coupons in the entertainment book, plus don't you get one when you book a package with Disney? The entertainment book is $5 off $20. If you need it, I can send you them. Counter service always has ways to save. The last time I was there, we ate kids meals, cheaper, right size portions. Pop has pizza delivery, right? Feed the whole family with pizza night! There are ways to do it. Especially if you eat breakfast in your room. I would never pay 1500 for the dining plan! Just plan ahead, which you obviously are! Also...you can eat at Earl of Sandwich on a AAA discount I believe, if you have that. Good luck! Also...if you are going to Clearwater...see if restaurant.com has any certificates available there. If you hit the buffets, hit them as a late breakfast, or late dinner. You then get a lunch or dinner for cheaper prices!

Exactly! This is what Disney hopes people don't realize.....

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

The DDP is not a good deal for everyone and the OP's family is a prime example. When you have tweens that still eat like children and have a child's palate it doesn't make sense to spend nearly $42/day ($47/night during summer and the holidays! ) to feed that child on the DDP.

Of course, if your teenage DS is at the age where if it doesn't move, he will eat it, those buffets are a great way to fill him up without breaking the bank. Yeah, been there, done that, could write the book and direct the movie!

I agree that you can certainly eat more cheaply. You can bring breakfast foods and snacks with you or have a grocery delivery service bring them to your resort. You can take wide-mouth sports bottles and refill them with free ice water from the CS locations. You can share CS meals, buy kids' meals for the 11yo if that's what she prefers, skip the appetizers, desserts and specialty beverages in the TS locations. If you have a car, you can travel offsite and find less expensive meals. You can stay in a DVC resort and make all of your meals in the kitchen there just like you would at home.

I wouldn't count on Free Dining for July 2010. That would be unprecedented. But there have been PIN codes for room discounts that can be converted into packages and also a number of room-only codes for the general public. And then there was the 4/3 deal that is great if you were staying 7 nights but less of a deal if you were staying fewer or more nights. Keep your eyes peeled for discounts, OP. July 2009 room-only codes came out in early May. I believe the package code was released around the same time.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

1500 is just a little bit to much to pay for food, good luck...here's to a pin code for something