Ready To Be Flamed

[TEK224]

Last year I went on the Free dining promo with my 12 y/o nephew. We had a blast. I let hime look at several menus before we left to pick out what he liked. I made the ADR's and we planned our park time around the meals. It was great. We never would have eaten at all the TS places we did if I had to pay OOP. My cost for the room, PH tickets and FREE dining for 4 days was around $450. The receipts from our meals (TS, CS and snacks) totaled $461.

I'm going to F&W this year (as a relatively new DVC owner). This trip will be all adults. We're purchasing the DDP and I'll have a DDE card. We can't wait!

Karnak - There's nothing wrong with getting the DP if you're going solo. Ya still gotta eat and if you like TS places, you can't go wrong. A meal at a TS practically covers the cost of the plan per day. Then you still have the CS (which you can use for breakfast) and snack. To me it's a no-brainer.

 

[debster812]

I agree with others that for us, it works GREAT. Of course, we are not scrutinizing every detail on how to get the best deal, just using it, as intended to get one counter service, one table service, and one snack per person/per day. I like that it is pre-paid as well.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I think there's a natural tendency when you have a lot of time to fill before a trip to make things more difficult than they really need to be. Having the dining plan in December made for one of the most relaxing trips in 28 years of WDW trips. The most "work" we had to do was occasionally pull out the pamphlet to make sure certain restaurants were included that we weren't positive about.

I have a tough time parting with my money on vacation. I like to make it stretch so I can do more, so paying for table service every day was something I wasn't quite ready for. . . and when we DID do table service, I watch the prices. We probably paid a little more than we usually spend on food, but honestly it wasn't much more . . . and we were getting SO much more, and all those table service meals that I always wanted to do but couldn't justify, and I didn't have to feel guilty if what I wanted to order wasn't the among the least expensive options. It was just SO relaxing and stress free just to swipe the card . . . I can't imagine how good it'll feel on the free dining plan!!

 

[novdisneydreams]

We used the DDP last fall and LOVED it. It was so wonderful having everything paid for ahead of time and not having to even look at prices when dining. We also ate at some places that we never would have tried if paying out of pocket. For instance, we had a $100+ dinner at Kona one night ( absolutely FANTASTIC if anyone is looking for a great place to go - it was my favorite!) We wouldn't have spent that if paying "out of pocket". As a family who spends regular life budgeting for groceries, the occasional dinner out, etc. it made our Disney Vacation that much more magical. We felt like royalty just "flashing" our card We joked at the airport and grocery store after the trip - WHAT ? our card doesn't work here????? (The nerve!) We spent about $100 a day on the plan ( 2 kids, 2 adults ) and while it was probably possible that we could have spent less eating each day it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun if we'd had to figure each meal individually, stress if the kids didn't eat their food, pack a bunch of stuff along, etc. Plus we never would have eaten at so many interesting restaurants!!!! I may just be the DDPs biggest fan but WE LOVED IT! I can't imagine going again without it

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

We actually enjoy using it!The thought that all our meals are paid for in advance is what we like the most ,and as far as making all the adr's... thats what gets me psyched for the trip!!Would never go to Disney without it!!!

 

[DebbieB]

I didn't think the DDP was for me but I ended up using it twice this year and loved it! The first time was in April with 3 friends, it was nice not to have to worry about splitting up the checks or asking for separate checks. Then I used it 2 weeks ago with my 12 year old niece (first trip). We did character meals for all our table service and that alone pretty much paid for it, most of them came to $35 each with tax and tip. Again, it was nice not to have to worry about the charges, just sign the slip and it's done. On the other hand, if I took one of my nieces again, we probably would not do the character meals again and it probably would not be worth it. The niece I just took eats very little, so it would be alot cheaper to just do counter service.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Just reading these (and other) posts about the DDP makes me come to the conclusion that it's probably a good deal for families, BUT probably not a good idea for one like me who takes solo visits to WDW. I do wonder, tho, how it would work for one single solitary traveler.

Enjoy.

I'll let you know after I have been in September. I looked at what I wanted to eat and decided it was worth it, then I got it free via dreamsunlimited.

 

[maxiford812]

A form of the dining plan has been around for years. I know we bought a package called "Discovery Magic" in 2001 that included a certain number of "features" that would be the equivalent of a CS and a TS restaurant each day, or you could use the features for certain activities or a few certain souveniers. I understand that the free DP would be a different thing, but I never used to read much about the plan in years past. Why now has it become such a big thing? (We aren't doing it this trip. I found my journal of the previous trip where I had written, "Discovery Magic = too much food. Bleah.")

 

[TikiGoddess]

It's actually much simpler to use than it sounds. I'm an uber planner so I enjoy figuring it all out. We used it in 2005 and I can't imagine going back w/out it. We will be using it again in January. Once you've used it for a day it's really pretty easy.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I think we may have to try this once just for the heck of it.

 

[dismama]

We will be using DDP for the first time this trip. It is what sold us on the trip since it was free. We are not really stressing over what CS to eat or how to get the most bang for the buck. We are only having a hard time with TS because we only ate at two when we went a few years ago, and can't decide since every place is new to us and we want to try so many. Last time DH and I went it was just the two of us so we didn't do ADR's because we were flexible. Now we have DS, and you can not explain to a 2 year old why they have to wait hours for dinner, so it works perfectly so we don't have to hunt for a TS with a short wait, if those exist.

 

[PolyAddict]

To the OP, I totally agree about the DP. I figure it would save us approx. $200 based on what we would eat normally and allow us to have app's and dessert(which we don't normally do). I just don't want to have to worry about what I am doing all day long. Like the should I's or shouldn't I's. Ya know what I mean.

 

[theostwalts]

We are a family of 5 and it worked great for us last fall. We are using it again on our next trip. We ate CS for lunch each day and ate TS for dinner. We just decide which parks we will go to on each day and make a TS for that night. Very easy. We did not try to pay oop or switch things up, so it was very easy. One credit for each person per meal. From what everyone says, you need to make adr's for TS meals anyway so some preplanning is necessary anyway.

 

[disneyjunkie]

A form of the dining plan has been around for years. I know we bought a package called "Discovery Magic" in 2001 that included a certain number of "features" that would be the equivalent of a CS and a TS restaurant each day, or you could use the features for certain activities or a few certain souveniers. I understand that the free DP would be a different thing, but I never used to read much about the plan in years past. Why now has it become such a big thing? (We aren't doing it this trip. I found my journal of the previous trip where I had written, "Discovery Magic = too much food. Bleah.")

You're hearing more about the dining plan now than in the past, because this plan is affordable.

I couldn't even think about booking the other plans.

I believe they were $60.00+ per night for adults and $30.00+ for kids.

The MYW dining plan is only $37.99 per night for adults and $10.99 for kids.

 

[jmurphy625]

Too much preplanning for me, although everyone needs to make ADR's now if you want to get a few good TS meals. Eventhough we didn't use it last week... I found myself reading EVERY menu before making our decision whether or not to purchase it.

maxiford812, we had a plan in 2002 that included breakfast, lunch & dinner...we had so many more "wishes" than we needed...I know we didn't use them all. But I also remember how much we ate, we love to eat....but not like that.

 

[GC&S]

We love the DP. We've had no problems but then again we use it as it's intended. We don't try to save a child's credit to pay for another TS, we don't pay OOP, etc. We just use it like the brochure says. Makes it so much easier. We do make ADR's but we did that long before even using the DP since we like TS at least once a day. It's been wonderful for us but it may not be for everyone. I had more stress picking out a resort than I did using the DP.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

I love the DP and will probably continue to use it, Although, I did like the plan where you can eat anywhere, anytime, you wanted... I think it was the silver or gold plan. On that plan, we ate breakfast and dinner at a TS restaurant and had a lunch wherever we wanted. Yes, we ate alot at times and wasted some foods because we were full but wanted to just try that wonderful dessert...but we were on vacation and we eat alot and love to try new things while we're on vacation...
It was confusing to us the first day or so but became very easy after that. Now, it's just the fun of how we're going to "spend" those CS&TS credits...

 

[Sammie]

Is it just me, or does the DDP seem like a huge headache? I've personally never used it (I like the control of choosing what I'll eat, and doing great things like "creating" my own appetizer sampler), but most of what I seem to read about on here are people fussing about it. I just don't understand........if people are as miserable as they make themselves sound regarding the DDP, then why bother with it in the first place? Does anyone else feel this way and has been too scared to admit it? Please help me understand!

Oh I will be the first to admit we have analyse it and picked it pieces and decided that out of our 2 week stay we are only going to do it the first week. We will do one signature meal and we won't break the Disney bank but we will cover our usual places to eat and save some money.

I most concerned about the large amount of food, we never, ever all in our group order appetizers for each of us and never get that many desserts. The CS dessert will probably be a sacrifice, unless we can get fruit. I doubt we will use of all our snacks credits unless we get bottled water.

My other concern is the time element. Which is one reason we are doing a signature at least once, as I just did not want to be tied to TS daily. We don't do that ever on our trips to WDW. Its too much food, too much time and too much when we are going straight to the parks.

If I am going to eat TS, we want a leisurely meal without parks afterwards.

So I understand completely.

 

[Esmerelda]

Waaaaaay to much planning for meals for me/us.......

I just want to eat when/where/and how much food only when necessary. If someone in my group gets ill....I won't be out any credits. (as I have read others doing on the board) or if my trip is cut short.I won't miss out on any credits either.

good day,
Esmerelda <does NOT have DOCD (Disney obsessive compulsive disorder)

<E on vacation

 

[3PRINCESSMOM]

I've read many posts from people wondering about maximizing value and exemptions and specific rules regarding the DDP. However, I feel that the responses these posts get from many here on the Dis prompt debate and judgement. I truly believe the plan is probably simpler to use than it may appear here because of so much debate. At least that is what I hope.

Our family has never been able to do TS everyday of our previous trips; we would plan about 5 for an 8 day vacation. We usually did a grocery stop and snacked in the room for breakfast. The rest of our meals would be CS. We are taking advantage of the free DDP in August. This required a few more ADRs than usual, nothing more. I have 4 kids, this is probably the only time in our lives we'll eat at "fancier" restaurants everyday for 8 days. We couldn't be happier or more excited about using the DDP.

Just my .02.