Ready To Be Flamed

[tinker&belle]

I am so excited about using the DDP in August (which we had booked to pay for before free dining came out and we switched to that). We hate the feeling on vacation where you are paying bill after bill after bill. (Sometimes at tourist destinations we feel like they may as well hold us upside down and empty out out pockets!) We are so excited about trying some of the fabulous restaurants and not feel guilty about ordering soda instead of water and such on our vacation!

 

[treehugger]

The DDP isn't for us. Regardless of the headaches in planning, we spend less and eat healthier without it.

So true. We used it in April and will not be using it again. Although all our meals were great, we ate much more than we normally do. Beleive me, everytime I did not order an appetizer or dessert the servers seemed to get offended! Aside from that though is this: I felt that our vacation was being dicated by table service meals. I was constantly checking my watch and this took away from the magic.

 

[shondad]

While I have not read all of the posts here, my own personal experience (once) though limited, was wonderful. We found the dining plan:

• unbelievably easy to use, as we ate every single meal together whether counter or table service (may not work for everyone of course), so there was no confusion
• great because it included all taxes and gratuities
• allowed us to enjoy some great meals with great variety (IMO), with the excess food saved for snacks
• no stress for me (I made all of the plans, though I did run them by DH), I just made my reservations, awaited the trip and enjoyed each stress-free meal, though we did not like one of the meals we had, it was great not having to pay for that meal esp, which would have been in excess of $105.00
• was a no brainer for us, I honestly cannot say a bad word about it, as each experience was good if not great and because it was free for us last year and this year, though I would definitely purchase it, if not going during the free period.
• a great way to go and it seems it should lessen the stress significantly by not having to worry about every single little detail dealing with the dining portion of your vacation

 

[Micca]

I haven't tried it, but the freedom of getting what we want, where we want, seems liberating compared to what I have seen on these boards.

 

[maxiford812]

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

That makes sense, disneyjunkie. Those were the good old days. I wouldn't be able to afford it either, now.

 

[lyzziesmom]

I have to say, I loved loved LOVED the Dining Plan. (Did I mention that I loved it?) Through a total of 17+ years of living in 2 parts of FL, plus going to college in Orlando, I must have gone to WDW about, oh, 30 times or so. Not once in all those times was I able to eat a TS meal. When I was a kid, I didn't even know they existed! My folks were, and still are, very thrifty. We would often bring our own food into the park or all share one CS meal, with Dad whining about the price the whole time. Once I "grew up" I visited WDW on such a shoestring, college-student budget that TS meals were a luxury I couldn't afford. Friends once took me to a character breakfast and I was flabbergasted to see that the meal was over $100 - and most of us ate pancakes & cereal.

Last year I discovered a little thing called the Disney Dining Plan. What a revelation! For slightly more than what I would spend on one meal for my DD & myself, we could eat for an entire day, at nearly any place we wanted. We were able to try so many character meals and fun places that I had previously only wondered what may be inside. My extremely picky DD doesn't have to hear things like "no you can't order your own meal, because if you don't like it I've wasted all that money!" and we can all just relax and enjoy our vacation. Other posters have likened it to being on a cruise... that is how I always describe it!

I too don't understand all the whining & questioning & other antics that go on here on the DIS about the DDP. It is soooo easy. You pay for your meal credits (or not, if you have free dining!) and then you use them. Period. Some people just can't handle things being THAT easy and feel the need to make it more difficult.

All I know is, in the past, eating at WDW for a day cost me nearly what my weekly grocery bill is here at home, and that was eating CS and snacks only. Now, especially with free dining, I can just enjoy the entire WDW experience. I LOVE it!!

 

[cdntourguide]

As a solo traveler to Disney, I always budgeted an average of $50 per day to cover three meals with a snack every couple of days (must have ice cream or will die).
when I am at Disney I always go to at least three character meals, plus Boma once and two TS restaurants. Now I can go to a TS every day, plus still have breakfast/lunch and a snack every couple of days for just $38/day.
However, this Sept I am getting Free Dining: I anticipate saving nearly $1400 over twenty days. Even if I day for the DP, I figure that I would save over $600.00: this plan is a good, good thing.

 

[magicmouse2]

I love the DDP . without it I wouldnt be able to try some new restaurants and we would be stuck with a couple of character buffets and offsite eating due to budget for family with 3 kids. No flames , everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

I didnt think it was a headache at all. We werent miserable using, we had no issues with what was included or how the credits were used. I think it is what you make of it.

 

[patsal]

It is very simple to use and very user friendly. The biggest problem about it around these boards is people who are overly concerened they will not get their monies worth on it. Really it would be nearly impossible not to at least break even--things that might impede that would be going offsite to expereince other parks and not using the credits later in the trip, someone in the party getting sick or needing to cut the vacation short (the latter two you can't pan at all about anyway so why worry about it). I'd say plan to eat where you want and when you want. I do not plan my snacks or CS, Just my TS for ADR's so my life is a little easier. I know which TS do not participate and have planned accordingly to pay OOP for those. Bottom line it isn't difficult or a hassle!

 

[Mermaid02]

We used it in December and had no problems. I liked having my meals already paid for and my ADR's in place. I can't tell you how many people we saw turned away from table service restaurants because they had no ADR. These are a necessity now unless you don't care where you eat.

 

[ReneeA]

We LOVED the dining plan, too. But, I do like to plan for my trip and made sure I made ADR's in advance. I was glad I did since we saw so many being turned away at the door of TS restaurants while we were there.

However, I also don't worry about maximizing the value and paying OOP and saving credits for signature meals. I'm going to take it easy and make it simple so that it's just as enjoyable this year as it was last.

Honestly, just because they offer you an appetizer, entree and dessert per person, doesn't mean you have to take them. We only ordered the maximum allowed about half the time - and we had a 2 year old that grazed off everyone else's plate while we were there. We still came out $500 ahead and didn't end up stuffed and miserable after our meals.

 

[P-Dust]

We used the DDP in Dec. '05 and tried 5 new TS restaurants. In Sept. we will try 3 more new places. I find that the DDP is a great way to explore WDW. Going to new hotels...checking out various Epcot eateries that we never would have tried without it. Yes, you do have access to more food than usual. But, that does not mean that you have to eat it.
I, personally, LOVE obsessing over my ADR's. By choice. Planning is fun!

 

[cruisin'Mike]

I'm looking forward to trying the DDP for the first time this August, but I get where the OP is coming from. We made our ADR's, like usual, for restaurants that we enjoy. I'd rather eat at our favorite places than worry about getting the most bang for the buck. After reading some threads, I thought maybe I wasn't analyzing (or overanalyzing) things enough.

We always eat at at least one TS a day, and usually spend more than the cost of the plan (We're DVC members, so we'll have to pay for it.) for that one meal. So I figure the CS and snacks are like a bonus. We'll see how it actually works out.

That said, once my oldest guy turns 10, we porbably won't do the plan. He doesn't eat enough to justify the adult price of the plan. For the same reason, we'll probably avoid the buffets and all-you-care-to-eat places after that. Then we'll go back to the DDE card.

Mike

 

[maddiemouse]

I may get flamed for this too, but it seems to me that most of the angst is coming from people who want to use child credit for adults, or adult credits for children, or are afraid their servers aren't going to treat them like royalty and would like to know how they can stiff them on tipping.
I'm going in September with FREE dining, 5 days solo, and then my sister is joining me for 4 days. No matter how much I wrack my brain, I can't figure out how this is anything but a fantastic deal.

 

[beattyfamily]

I can see why the OP and other might think the way they do but I don't feel that way.

I find it quite simple and I try and keep it that way. I know I have 5 TS, 5 CS and 5 snacks per day for my and my girls. I just book 5 sit downs that we want to try and then that's it for me. I don't plan out anything else.

I won't let the DDP rule my vacation.

 

[huey578]

I have to say, I loved loved LOVED the Dining Plan. (Did I mention that I loved it?) Through a total of 17+ years of living in 2 parts of FL, plus going to college in Orlando, I must have gone to WDW about, oh, 30 times or so. Not once in all those times was I able to eat a TS meal. When I was a kid, I didn't even know they existed! My folks were, and still are, very thrifty. We would often bring our own food into the park or all share one CS meal, with Dad whining about the price the whole time. Once I "grew up" I visited WDW on such a shoestring, college-student budget that TS meals were a luxury I couldn't afford. Friends once took me to a character breakfast and I was flabbergasted to see that the meal was over $100 - and most of us ate pancakes & cereal.

Last year I discovered a little thing called the Disney Dining Plan. What a revelation! For slightly more than what I would spend on one meal for my DD & myself, we could eat for an entire day, at nearly any place we wanted. We were able to try so many character meals and fun places that I had previously only wondered what may be inside. My extremely picky DD doesn't have to hear things like "no you can't order your own meal, because if you don't like it I've wasted all that money!" and we can all just relax and enjoy our vacation. Other posters have likened it to being on a cruise... that is how I always describe it!

I too don't understand all the whining & questioning & other antics that go on here on the DIS about the DDP. It is soooo easy. You pay for your meal credits (or not, if you have free dining!) and then you use them. Period. Some people just can't handle things being THAT easy and feel the need to make it more difficult.

All I know is, in the past, eating at WDW for a day cost me nearly what my weekly grocery bill is here at home, and that was eating CS and snacks only. Now, especially with free dining, I can just enjoy the entire WDW experience. I LOVE it!!

I totally agree with you. Last year we finally decided to use dining plan and now we are hooked!

 

[welovedis]

I am so excited about using the DDP in August (which we had booked to pay for before free dining came out and we switched to that). We hate the feeling on vacation where you are paying bill after bill after bill. (Sometimes at tourist destinations we feel like they may as well hold us upside down and empty out out pockets!) We are so excited about trying some of the fabulous restaurants and not feel guilty about ordering soda instead of water and such on our vacation!

ITA with your post, sounds just like we have felt while on vacation. I admit it, I'm cheap when it comes to certain things and we do eat well on a strict budget at home because we choose to. When it comes to vacations, it is hard for me, personally, not to order less expensive things or dread the fact that my son is only going to eat 1/2 of what he's given.

On the plan, that was all taken care of, paid for on the 1st day and we forgot about it after that. The only prep I had to do was make ADRS, which I have to do anyway because of my food allergies and because there are certain restaurants I have to stay away from because of those allergies.

As far as eating too much food, yes, sometimes it can be too much of a good thing. However, for example, the appetizers are not huge, or even close to large. A shrimp cocktail consists of 4-5 shrimp usually and they are of a size smaller than I've served at dinner parties. Some entree items are very light and looked delicious, but even the steaks and other "heavier" items were not overly large, IMO and usually came with 1 side.

I typically had vanilla ice cream or sorbet for dinner, again because of the allergies, but anyone could request those and finish the meal off a little lighter. Did I finish every bite of every meal, no I didn't, but I don't usually. But because I was able to enjoy places like Le Cellier or Coral Reef on this trip, I looked forward to those meals and savored every bit.

Again, for us, it was all how you used the plan and chose to spend your credits. I was not out for trying to pick the most expensive place and the most expensive menu items, but sometimes it did work out that way. I felt it was well worth the cost and would do it again in a heartbeat, esp when we go back in Dec & the park hours are shorter, allowing for a leisurely late dinner.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Here's where I'm having a problem: we decided to go rather last minute, so I was not able to select the times/days I wanted at the more popular restaurants we wanted to try. Instead, I had to take what was available and then try to plan our park days around the dining ressies vs. the other way around. At this point we will be zig-zaging back and forth between parks and resorts almost everyday. I really feel that will become a difficult situation with two children that care more about the rides than eating. I'm about ready to bag the whole thing by canceling our current ADR's and just try to make them on a day-by-day basis once we get there (even if it means trying restaurants we normally wouldn't). Anyone else experiencing this problem?

 

[Cool-Beans]

I hated the Dining Plan. NEVER again. I don't care if it would save me money. Too big a hassle. Never, ever again.

Aside from the scheduling nightmare, I like to sit down for breakfast AND dinner and sometimes lunch, too. But, noooo. Felt like I had to stick to the plan since I'd paid for it. "We have to go to Animal Kingdom and eat at the Flame Tree!" I actually said that.

OP, I thought I was alone and it is good to know there are others who didn't like it.

Never again.