poll buy dining plan or eat on my own

[traumamama]

what would you do for 8days

 

[snowglobe girl]

DH and I have decided to add the dining option plan to our package for the first time this year. I asked opinions on this a week or so ago and got some really good advice. I sat down and figured out what all we would eat from restaurants on the plan and priced it. For 9 days, it totalled 922.40 but added on to our package was only $500, so we are saving nearly half!!! I think it sounds great and can't wait to try it - so my vote for you is to add the plan

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

We are going for 10 nights and are doing the dining plan. I cannot see how we could wrong.

 

[jodistar]

My fiance/husband are also going for 10 days and have added the dining plan....seems like a good deal

 

[cocodog]

We LOVED the MYW dining plan~

 

[Christy93]

We are going in Sept. and we're using the dining plan. I just don't see how we wouldn't save money using it. Our trip will be $3500 for 7 nights at the Poly. I think that's pretty good.

 

[Cookie Princess]

If we don't get a better room discount via annual passholder discount, then we will be adding the dining plan to our package.

 

[DisneyDotty]

We're doing the dining plan in June--CRTower 10 days. Love the idea that we can just sit down and order whatever we want without kvetching about the price of the meal! And dessert and appetizers, too! Wow--now that will be a vacation!
Granted, none of my clothes will fit when I return...

 

[cepmom]

don't mean to hijack this thread, but I was wondering if you can buy the dining plan if you don't have a package? I currently have a room only reservation (AAA discount) and already have my tickets.

 

[michiele]

We aren't using the dining plan. First, we got an AP discount that just made more sense. Also, we just like knowing we can be flexible without it. If we don't want to eat a sit down meal every day (or at least, an average of every day), we know we don't have to. If we want to eat a Beaches one night, we can. If we want to have ham sandwiches in the room or McDonalds in Orlando, we can. I think if you go with it, you can save some money, or at least eat more for what you normally would spend. But for us, flexiblity wins out...

 

[lsteadman]

The dining plan is the way to go! Don't make the mistake I made!

 

[dimoe]

Definetely do the dining plan because we found that our sitdown meal ran btw around 100.00 alone a day. We paid for 2 adults and 1 child who is 6 80 dollars a day so for us the counter service and the snack for that day were a bonus plus one meal cost more than the money we had paid for that day on the plan.
Diane

 

[WVMomof3]

I debated on getting the dining plan for our 7 night stay. I finally decided not to do it, and I am glad I did. The plan would have been $630, but we only spent about $400 for the whole week for 2 adults and 3 kids (7, 4 and 2). I like to eat and I think we ate alot, but I can't imagine eating an appetizer, entree and a dessert. That is just way too much food for me. We only did 3 sit down meals, but I would not want to do more, I think they take up too much park time. So, I guess it just depends on how much you can eat if it is a good deal or not.

 

[NCombs]

We aren't doing it. I don't want to eat an appetizer, entree and dessert. I don't want to feel I was forcing myself to eat too much because I want to get my money's worth. And believe me, I would do that. If I was paying adult prices for just my husband and I, I think I would do it. But, 2 of my 3 kids are over 10 and I don't think $35 a day for each of them is worth it. I don't think it would be that great of savings based on what we would normally eat. It sounds like a great deal if you normally would eat that many sit down meals and desserts and stuff and if you can get the child price for your kids. So, I think it really depends on what kind of meals you are looking for.

I think I will buy an AP and then the meal card for 20% off.

 

[Savin4Disney]

We are going for 6 nights and I have the dining plan! It is costing me 210.00. I know darn well we will spend more than that on food. So even if we don't eat all of it. Appetizer, main, dessert every meal. I am still coming out ahead.

Plus DS is a big eater so I know he will eat 35.00 worth a day!

 

[sugermouse]

We save far more money with an AP pass then with the package plan. Anyone who thinks that they are actually saving money on the dining plan is mistaken as it relates to the cost of your whole vacation. The dining plan is turning out to be a great money maker for Disney.

 

[DisneyDotty]

We save far more money with an AP pass then with the package plan. Anyone who thinks that they are actually saving money on the dining plan is mistaken as it relates to the cost of your whole vacation. The dining plan is turning out to be a great money maker for Disney.

We're not really looking to save money--but I think we will using the plan, 'cause we do like to have a sit down meal at least once a day to unwind and relax a little. We think of the dining plan as a good excuse to try some new restaurants and really kick back on this vacation.
Besides, even Rachael Ray's budget is $40 a day, so we're coming out ahead!

 

[Nora94]

Do you want to eat like you are on a great expensive vacation or do you want to pinch pennies and eat like you are poor?

Vacation won for us, glad it did, it was worth every penny. We would have spent the same or very close to the same if we didn't have the plan and would have eaten terribly.

As far as the flexible part, we had no problem making priority seatings in the morning for a resturant in or near the park we were in that night. So, when we knew we were doing extra evening hours at Epcot, we made a ressie for a resturant in Epcot, Yacht's Club, or Beaches. Easy. If you aren't even sure if you will be in a park that night, than I am sorry, that is TOO disorganized to even be taking a Disney vacation.

Add it, you won't regret it.

Oh, and there is a key code floating around for free dining plan if you stay at a value resort... ask and you may receive...

Nora

 

[ajm1107]

I am taking my DS for Nine days. We were only eligible to do the plan for half of our stay because we are renting points for the other half. I decided that we could eat breakfast and most lunches in our room and would just spend the money on the rest. When I thought about doing it I was really was to focused on food and which restauraunts we should do and where we should eat and get our money's worth. SO much calmer after I decided that we would play it by ear and just not have that much planning.