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!!