Please enlighten me on the if the current Dining Plan is worth it...

[3kidz4dis]

Ugh! I got just the $51.54 pricing for us (all 3 kids are now adults) and it will be a small fortune for the dining plan. We have always done the dining plan but now that all the kids are adults and assuming tip and appetizer have NOT been added, what is everyone doing? Still going for it? Thanks!

 

[poppypetal]

We like the dining plan. I dont have to worry about how much I'm actually paying for food while away, its all paid upfront. And being as we get TC with it, we usually do the buffets, that way we totally load up on food ,and we survive on 2 meals a day by having a huge breakfast buffet in the morning, and aqs for dinner. Between those meals it would probably cost us per person between 45-60 anyways.
I like the convenience of it. And with it being free. Its a much more enticing offer.

 

[TDC Nala]

It is correct that the regular dining plan includes neither appetizers (for the most part) nor tips. The deluxe dining plan includes appetizers (not tips) but will add about an extra $30 per night per adult.

I stopped using the dining plan in 2008, for others the breaking point has come with this year's price increases, others are still waiting for their breaking point and others will probably get the DDP every time no matter what it costs.

 

[keith-atl]

It is correct that the regular dining plan includes neither appetizers (for the most part) nor tips. The deluxe dining plan includes appetizers (not tips) but will add about an extra $30 per night per adult.

I stopped using the dining plan in 2008, for others the breaking point has come with this year's price increases, others are still waiting for their breaking point and others will probably get the DDP every time no matter what it costs.

I think that is about the last time we used the dp as well.

 

[Smile&Nod]

I used the dining plan for a few years - in the beginning it was well worth it - for the past couple of years I have not used it - too much food and too much time spent planning around our ADR times. For an upcoming June trip I have taken the Counter Service dining plan - we don't have to be tied down to where and when and will get good use out of the mugs at our resort!

 

[justjoannj]

Besides, free is free. You're not paying anything if you don't use it.

 

[sharonabe]

Besides, free is free. You're not paying anything if you don't use it.

But the OP is NOT getting it free; they said they are paying for it.

OP, the best way to see if it is really a deal for you is to go online (here or allearsnet) and check the menus and prices for where you want to eat. It will take a little time, but at least you'll know if you can break even or save some money.

One PP said they liked using it for buffet breakfast and a QS dinner. With the price increase, you will have a hard time saving any money with that combo. Your TS needs to be $30-35 and your QS $15 to see a savings.

The other question to answer is does EVERYONE want their own dessert and soda at EVERY meal? That's where most of the savings comes in.

 

[MBELSANTI]

Opps I didn't realized I hijacked this thread...I moved my question to a new thread...sorry!

 

[kandb]

One thing good about not getting it, is that if you go to a restaurant your children can still order off the children's menu, if they are not that big of eaters. I would not pay over $250/day for the dining plan for the 5 of you. just my opinion.

 

[summermac]

This year's price increase did it for me. In 2009, I think it was $40 per adult and $11 for kids. Now at $52 for adults and $15 for kids......that's a lot of money per night for our family of 4. The mug isn't worth the price increase IMO.

We have 4 TS meals planned for our trip and with making one breakfast and two lunches I know we can eat for less than $1000.

Also if you maximize the dining plan (and are subject to the automatic gratuity like we will be b/c my parents and sister are joining us) you also cost yourself more than you might without a dining plan. So be sure to take that into consideration. Desserts are generally $5-7 and we don't usually eat dessert when we eat a meal out but we sure did in 2009. Why not? It was "free!"

We also left behind a good bit of CS and many snacks. It was SO hot that sometimes we just weren't hungry.

 

[WDW2012]

I'm in the process of trying to figure this out too. We will be 4 adults and 2 kids. MIL has had gastric bypass surgery 1 year ago and while she can eat more than I thought, I don't think she'd be able to eat dessert everynight. With us being 6 people we'll have the tip added. We're also planning on doing at least 2 signatures (staying for 7 nights) so I'm sure at some point we'll end up paying oop for some meals. Just trying to figure out if we should pay oop for everything. (We're also choosing the 30% pin over free dining).

 

[3kidz4dis]

One thing good about not getting it, is that if you go to a restaurant your children can still order off the children's menu, if they are not that big of eaters. I would not pay over $250/day for the dining plan for the 5 of you. just my opinion.

This is what I was wondering...Can a 14, 12, and 10 year old, split an adult meal (paying cash) and/or order off the kids menu? I know the exception to this would be family style or buffets but does Disney let or frown upon this being done? Because this is where not doing the dining plan and being able to do this would make the decision for us. Not worth it, if we can do this. Plus another poster mentioned getting the highest price meals (because you can) and then paying a huge tip on what you would not have ordered anyway. That adds up...plus it really is all too much food and none of us should so much dessert!

So for sure, they can split an adult meal (the 14 and 12 year old) and the 10 year old can order off the kids menu? If that is true, that is what we are doing! Thanks!

 

[rachael_9667]

^^ I'm wondering about meal splitting, too. My family just doesn't eat enough to justify the dining plan unless it's free. If entree splitting is OK then this is def. the way we would go. The kids, especially, are lousy eaters and I hate throwing out so much food.

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

We saved $97.01 last year using the DDP. The majority of that was probably on desserts. We ate all of our food though & I'd continue using the DDP as long as it was actually saving me money. When I'm on vacation I like to eat

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, you can split meals, as long as it's not at a buffet, all you can eat or fixed price restaurant, or a dinner show.

There are a couple of restaurants (Via Napoli and less strictly, Beaches & Cream) that apparently don't allow splitting on the DDP but do when paying cash.

 

[rachael_9667]

Yes, you can split meals, as long as it's not at a buffet, all you can eat or fixed price restaurant, or a dinner show.

There are a couple of restaurants (Via Napoli and less strictly, Beaches & Cream) that apparently don't allow splitting on the DDP but do when paying cash.

Thanks! That's what I figured (hoped) but wanted to make sure before banking it all on my assumptions! lol

 

[3kidz4dis]

You helped make up my mind...no dining plan this year!

 

[pgianna]

Here is a nice tip. If people like the prepaid aspect of the dining plan,.they can just buy disney gift cards and use them when they buy food at the parks.

 

[GoofyLo]

We'll be using the dining plan for the first time in April. Typically when we go, my father and I share a meal and order for my daughter. It was going to be the three of us because DH had to work, but is now able to go. I'm pregnant and didn't eat much when pg with my daughter, but with this pg (it's a boy!) I find I am always hungry. So I decided to suck it up and try the ddp. I think we will come out slightly ahead. The part that kills me is paying $15 per day for my 3 year old who barely eats anything. She is a grazer and usually doesn't eat much when we sit down to it. Oh, well! I'm not going to fib about her age, so I'll suck it up. Indo like that it is all paid for ahead of time.

 

[nooneshome]

Each family has different needs so it is hard to tell someone if the DP is good for them. Our first trip we had the DP and it was way too much food for us. We spent too much time chasing our ADRs when we could hav been enjoying the parks. After that we had several trips with any DP and enjoyed our freedom. Lately we have taken advantage of the QSDP free dining. It was fun because we didn't have to worry about ADRs and we enjoyed the 2 snacks per day!!!! But even the QSDP is too much food if we were looking to get our money's worth. We can't eat all those snacks and desserts.