probably won't used the dining plan again

[mickeymel]

The dining plan was great and we saved a ton of money, but it was way too much food for my family. I was nearly sick a few times from eating so much (of course I felt since I paid for it....I needed to eat it). WE got to eat at some great places, but we would normally never eat that much. Even my DS7 didn't eat bfast or lunch (at Crystal Palace) the last day because he said he wasn't hungry.
We spent about 720 on the dining plan (2 adults, 2 kids 7 and 4) and I kept my receipts just for my info and it added up to about $925 (excluding some snacks). We ate at CRT, 1900 Park Fair, CM, WC, Hoop De Doo, 50's Prime Time, Crystal Palace (2 x).

We actually paid for 4 peoples CS bfast on our last morning so they wouldn't be wasted.

Had lots of food that is for sure.

 

[unixadm]

I'm confused.....you saved money, ate at places you hadn't before and enjoyed it, and were never hungry....and that is not good?

You didn't HAVE to order the appetizers, or desserts if you didn't want it. Just because it was included doesn't mean you have to order it and try to force it down. Thats like trying to eat everything that is offered at a buffet.

I plan to order the amount of food I would normally order. My wife is on Weight Watchers and will watch what she eats. We aren't going to eat so much that we feel sick just because it is available.

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

I'm personally one who really counts calories all but one day of the week. On the dining plan this October...however...it's no holds barred! We're going to pig out (especially in the dessert department). We're going to order the appetizer, entree, and dessert, but plan to just pick at stuff so we don't get so full that we don't feel like walking around. I think the dining plan presents a great opportunity to try different, perhaps exotic foods that we wouldn't normally sample. B-T-W- you stuffed yourself, right? Just curious as to how much weight you gained if any.

 

[InnerStrength]

Hello Mel,

I don't get it either. I mean, true - you paid for the meal plan, but did that neccesarily mean that you just had to eat everything and then at times feel sick? Hey, maybe it's me, but I think I will have a better time at Disney with being on the dining plan if I eat until I am satisfied and not sickly-full. I also have a problem with throwing out (ie. "wasting") food, so with that in mind, we probably won't be ordering all the appetizers and desserts at each meal that we are allowed. I am also trying to follow Weight Watchers - more for the lessens in eating healthier than for weight loss - and even if I go off of the path a little while I am on vacation, I do not plan on "eating myself silly", LOL.

Cheers!

 

[lonegungirl]

I can sympathize with the "eat everything you paid for" mentality, as I constantly fight against it myself. I think my strategy is going to be to book mostly signature restaurants, and then split meals to minimize the volume of food available for ingestion. Of course, the counter service meals are where it breaks down...

I also don't know if I would necessarily use the dining plan if I had to pay for it, as I usually never eat at the counter service restaurants. Having the dining plan also means that we will probably not eat at places like the Sci Fi Diner or Prime Time 50's, just because it's not as great a saving as some of the more upscale eateries (also because we need to utilize the counter service places.)

We'll see how it works out. Either way, come September...FOOD ON!

 

[bellarella]

I can see OP's point. With only a $200 savings "stuffing" themselves, it's quite likely that they would have spent less money had they just eaten in their normal fashion off the plan.

I know that paying for the meal plan doesn't make sense for my family. We eat small meals many times a day and generally only eat at TS restaurants (often getting just appetizers or desserts and not a full meal). The meal plan is totally not in synch with how we would put our dollars to use, so it isn't a "deal" for us.

 

[natalielongstaff]

my dh will not have a problem with eating all he can.....he does that usually im looking forward to getting the kids to try other stuff they would not necessarily have ordered !!

 

[webray]

Usually the dining plan doesn't work out to your advantage unless you do order all that food, even if you take just a couple bites to taste it.

 

[we3disneygo]

thanks for your report--that's what is keeping us from getting the plan...why pay for food your gonna waste or make your self sick. I totally understand.

 

[mickeymel]

For those that seem "confused"......I only really saved money because I made sure the places we ate would help me save money. Had I not purchased the dining plan I would not have eaten as many meals and would have spent way less than what the dining plan actually cost.

And yes, I didn't HAVE to eat everything and I DIDN'T eat everything(never ordered an anything other than the entree and dessert), but my normal breakfast is a bagel, a salad for lunch, and a dinner that may be a baked potato and half a piece of chicken so as you can see I don't eat a lot to begin with, but being on vacation and the food was good I wanted to try lots of different things.
Just a report on my opinion for my family.

 

[Kaycee]

This is the reason we've decided the dining plan isn't for us. We are light eaters and actually prefer the less-expensive entrees at many restaurants. We never eat appetizers and rarely order dessert. We like to spend our time playing in the parks rather than at a restaurant, so we choose just a few table service restaurants that appeal to us for each trip then eat the rest of our meals at counter service. We spend quite a bit less on our meals than the price of the dining plan. With our dining habits, the plan would be a waste of both time and money.

The dining plan is fastastic for some people, but it's not for everyone. Each family should look at the plan and compare it to their dining preferences to decide if it's for them or not.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I'm thinking the same thing, don't think we would ever eat enough to make it pay for the plan. We are going in Sept. with the free plan, it will be a good test. Looking over the menus, I know I won't be eating an appetiser and desert with every meal.

 

[sue1013]

The dining plan does not work for everyone. We won't get it since we do not eat counter service. The table service would work fine for us. Even though there is no way I could eat appy, entree and dessert. I would sample some of each. Now that I'm a grownup I know you don't have to finish everything on your plate, that food will not make it to those starving kids in China! LOL

 

[christinou]

You also have to factor in the fact that most people with the dining plan, cannot get a discount on their room, so you might not actually be "saving" $200.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

I cannot wait to use the dining plan. For us, it would of saved us a nice sum of money (free dining promo) without using the more expensive restaurants. For us, the cost was worth it since we do one character meal a day.

 

[HayGan]

You also have to factor in the fact that most people with the dining plan, cannot get a discount on their room, so you might not actually be "saving" $200.

That is only if they are going on the free dining promotion. We have a package with dining for 4 days in December at the Poly and we saved over $600 with AAA over Disney's quote for the same exact package Last time the promo ran they did have a special code to use with AAA and many people were able to get the free dining and AAA rates on rooms.

 

[LiteBrite]

We're doing the dining plan *only* because we got it for free. Normally, we budget $25/person/day for food, so it wouldn't be a savings for us, especially since we usually get an AP rate on our room. However, I am looking forward very much to trying some restaurants and menu items that we would normally bypass because they're too expensive.

LiteBrite

 

[luvthatdisney]

Is there anyway you can take leftovers with you? I know if you dont plan to go back to your room - it would be hard, but we are staying at CR (next week!!!) and I am taking my DS (15) and his friend (14) - They will eat everything they order - I am sure!! But I am on a weight loss program and dont plan on splurging too much. So I figured I could take back my leftovers (from dinner) and let the boys eat it later - they will eat just about anything!! Does CR have microwaves in the food area that we could use to heat up stuff? I know we will have a small fridge in the room. Just an idea I had.

DD (11) and I probably also share some meals - she is not a big eater either!!

 

[lonegungirl]

I did the leftover thing last trip--I was by myself, and the entrees are just too big (and expensive--I am cheap) for one meal for me. I tried to get a fridge, but the hotel was all out, so I went to the Sam's Club and bought a foldable soft cooler and filled it with ice everyday from the machine. I would bring the leftovers back, stick it in the cooler, and the next day shove the remains into a small plastic container I had brought from home and eat the food for breakfast while I waited in line the next morning. It worked out really well!

(As a side note, the shrimp club sandwitch from Planet Hollywood packs rather well.)

 

[dawgfan]

Just one thought I have been mulling over here...as we all know most of the time a package tyoe deal is usually convenient to us but a real profit margin for the company offering it. If not for that trade off many would not choose the package and the compoany would not sell it. The dining plan is a package deal. They offer what seems to be a very heavy deal of food and a good selection in variety. It is a calculated gamble that you (AND everyone in your party as everyone must be on the same package=kids who do not eat much usually) that you will actually not consume as much as is offered. Even if you do they buy in bulk for their savings and only offer the deal in some restaurants. Signature restaurants "cost" two table service options for upscale food to even things out. In the end Disney always comes out the big winner. One must ask themselves why the suddenly offerd the plan and to boot they offer it for free to introduce it. That is seemingly a pretty costly endeavor for a company to make for something that will upon it's face save the customer money. Customer savings equates to revenue loss. In fact what Disney is doing here is not necessarily fleecing it's customers. Your experience in the park is important to them and must be positive. Their profit margin is more important though. They are offering a trade off here in which they will win most of the time. If I had four guys like me in my party Disney will lose. I am a big eater and would eat everything "to get my moneys worth". Most family's will not hurt Disney here and will actually increase their profits over time. If that were not so they would simply not have done it. And that is where I am in the investigation as to whether the dining plan would be worth anything to me and my crew (me= big eater, wife, and one girl 9, one girl 6 who never eats much). At this time I obviously feel that it would not. I am still open to looking into it further. While it is free it is awesome and I would probably do it. If it costs me I think there would be no "real" savings.