pros and cons of dining plan

[North of Mouse]

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST.....................................Disney is making $$$$$$ no matter whether ones buy the DDP or not......just saying......

enjoy the sticker shock................

Goes without sayin' -

 

[nkereina]

There are times when there are no room discounts through Disney, such as over Christmas/New Years, but FD is available. If you are going anyways and had planned on purchasing the Hoppers, it’s free.

When has free dining been available to the public over Christmas/New Years? To my knowledge, free dining exists to fill rooms. Disney has no trouble filling rooms during times like the holidays and Spring Break.

 

[Disneylover99]

When has free dining been available to the public over Christmas/New Years? To my knowledge, free dining exists to fill rooms. Disney has no trouble filling rooms during times like the holidays and Spring Break.

Every year.

Last check in date generally ranges from Dec.20 to the 24th each year. So you check in on the last day it’s offered and get FD for up to two weeks. I book it every year.

 

[nkereina]

Every year.

Last check in date generally ranges from Dec.20 to the 24th each year. So you check in on the last day it’s offered and get FD for up to two weeks. I book it every year.

Gotcha - so those checking in on or before the 24th can get it for the duration of their stay. I thought you were implying it was offered the week between Christmas/New Years, which is blacked out for discounts to my knowledge.

 

[Disneylover99]

Gotcha - so those checking in on or before the 24th can get it for the duration of their stay. I thought you were implying it was offered the week between Christmas/New Years, which is blacked out for discounts to my knowledge.

Yes. Which will take you into January. It’s the best discount I know of over Christmas and New Years.

 

[Lovetherodent]

Pros:

• Prepaid. No bills when you come home. No gasps as you hand over cash. No "leftover" Disney gift cards that you'll lose before your next trip.
• Price amnesia (term used upthread...love it!). No way any single member of my family would order without regard to price. Those of you who order what you want and want and still come out ahead? More power to you, but I'm the type who just couldn't order the priciest thing on the menu if it was also the most expensive. We would skip cocktails (everyone is over 21), apps, and desserts because, well, we don't really NEED them, do we? If I've already paid, everybody has permission to do what they want. (But I do, therefore, understand the opposite problem...feeling like you HAVE to order expensive to get money's worth instead of what you want. That also wouldn't be fun)
• No negotiating. When meals get split, somebody has to settle for what the other wants. Not on the plan.

Cons:

• Price. I break even/come out slightly ahead (without factoring in the mugs). Not everyone does. I'd say most people don't. But, we're not a burger/fries family, so a lot of the less expensive TS/QS places don't appeal to us.

Neutrals:

• Amount of food. I don't feel compelled to clean my plate at home. Being on vacation doesn't change that.
• Being "forced" to eat a certain way. It's vacation; I'll let you "force" a dessert on me!