Regret not using Dining Plan

[TAKitty]

After our trip this time, I really think we should have used the dining plan. Even though I can't eat all of the food provided on the plan, our meals without the plan were easily over 100 a day, and my husband would tell you that I was trying to starve him. The plan would have saved us a lot of money. I am sold on it for our next trip!

 

[Houston_Disney_Fan]

That's good thinking. My husband does not enjoy Disney trips when he has to pull out his wallet at mealtimes, and pay Disney prices. Our last trip was awesome and stress-free, thanks to the dining plan. I'll never go again without it. At least, not if he's along!

 

[Stacerita]

We didn't use the dining plan on this last trip either and I sorta regret it. The main reason we didn't was that the friend who was traveling with us had issues with paying for food that she didn't order yet and thought that it would tie her down to much to what she could eat. (I did try to explain the plan to her) After seeing where we ate and approx what it cost, it would have been better is went and did the dining plan. Next time we definately will be using it.

 

[Cookie Princess]

That's good thinking. My husband does not enjoy Disney trips when he has to pull out his wallet at mealtimes, and pay Disney prices. Our last trip was awesome and stress-free, thanks to the dining plan. I'll never go again without it. At least, not if he's along!

Same here. My husband loved the plan! He ate more than ever, and we came home with more money in our pockets than ever.

 

[Mermaid02]

We enjoyed having most of our meals "prepaid" too- just seemed much less painful! My dh gained 8 pounds though!

 

[Nancyg56]

That's good thinking. My husband does not enjoy Disney trips when he has to pull out his wallet at mealtimes, and pay Disney prices. Our last trip was awesome and stress-free, thanks to the dining plan. I'll never go again without it. At least, not if he's along!

This is exactly the reason that we chose to purchase the plan. I checked out the menus, and knowing that DH likes at leats one full meal per day, chose restaurants that we would have chosen anyway. Now we won't need to hear any whining over food bills.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

When we got back in August after using the DDP, we kinda thought the other way around: wayyyyyy too much food. So we told ourselves, next time it will be oop for us. NOT!

Even if you don't eat appetizers, entrees and desserts, it is still worthwhile. Plus in January, the heat won't affect my appetite so I will probably enjoy it more this time.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I am trying to book the disney dining plan but the company I am travelling is saying you can only book it with disney and disney is saying that it has to be part of a package deal booked with a travel firm. Its hell trying to do anything in the uk.

 

[NJDisneymom]

That's good thinking. My husband does not enjoy Disney trips when he has to pull out his wallet at mealtimes, and pay Disney prices. Our last trip was awesome and stress-free, thanks to the dining plan. I'll never go again without it. At least, not if he's along!

I feel the exact same way!! And with young kids I don't feel the pain of paying the big bucks for those character breakfasts! Really, when else would I pay $60+ for breakfast, LOL!!

 

[skent10]

I am trying to book the disney dining plan but the company I am travelling is saying you can only book it with disney and disney is saying that it has to be part of a package deal booked with a travel firm. Its hell trying to do anything in the uk.

I'm sorry I don't have a firm answer to your problem, but the dining plan is sold as part of a package, so I dare say Disney would be correct. When we purchased the dining plan for our upcoming trip, we purchased it directly from Disney. But we purchased our whole vacation package directly through Disney as well. In order to get dining, you have to stay at the resorts--it's tied together, so Disney isn't going to directly sell you dining plan without directly selling the resort stay to go with it.

If you're buying your trip through a travel company, you should be able to purchase the whole package (room/dining plan/tickets). If your travel company is claiming they can't sell you part of a package (i.e. the dining plan), I'd start looking for a different travel company. I obviously don't know for sure, but being in the UK shouldn't make a difference when booking the dining plan.

Someone with more knowledge feel free to step in here!

P.S. You might get more responses if you posted this as its own thread.

 

[WAHMto5]

I am already feeling less stress knowing that the meals will be included. We really regret not doing the DP in previous trips.

 

[GeorgeG]

The first five or so years we went on a plan that included three table service meals a day at any table service restaurant, including dinner shows. No credits, just three meals a day. I believe it was called the "World Adventure Vacation Plan" and was often refered to as the "Gold Key Plan" in reference to the gold key of the card. This was okay for stays of seven or eight days, but you still had to eat a lot to get your money's worth and that meant not grabbing a hot dog in the park if that's what you felt like.

Then we did that plan for fourteen days and it was way too much to eat three big meals a day, even with all the walking. We ended up skipping meals and losing money on the deal.

After that, we just paid as we went. We still ate at the same restaurants, but not three times a day. We can skip meals or just snack without feeling guilty. We really don't spend any more per meal because we don't need all thos meals. And the occassional hot dog in the park is much more enjoyable.

Meal plans are good if everyone in your party is a big eater and you plan your meals to get the best value. Maybe try a one meal a day plan for starters.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I cannot rave enough about the Dining Plan! Used it for 6 days in June and it saved us a ton of money. Dinner at Spoodles alone was over $100 and we only paid a combined $70 for food for that whole day! What a bargain. I tried to add it to this upcoming trip, but since we have leftover days on our tickets, we have room only and they wouldn't let me. What a disappointment!

 

[krissyh]

I cannot rave enough about the Dining Plan! Used it for 6 days in June and it saved us a ton of money. Dinner at Spoodles alone was over $100 and we only paid a combined $70 for food for that whole day! What a bargain. I tried to add it to this upcoming trip, but since we have leftover days on our tickets, we have room only and they wouldn't let me. What a disappointment!

I thought you only needed to buy a one day pass to get the ddp?
If so, it might be worth it. Don't get the "no expire" option and use that ticket this trip...
A suggestion...

 

[TAKitty]

Meal plans are good if everyone in your party is a big eater and you plan your meals to get the best value. Maybe try a one meal a day plan for starters.

I am not a big eater and I only planned one full meal a day and the plan still would have saved us money. It also would have allowed my Dh to eat breakfast!

 

[Marimar]

Originally Posted by disneymagicgirl
I cannot rave enough about the Dining Plan! Used it for 6 days in June and it saved us a ton of money. Dinner at Spoodles alone was over $100 and we only paid a combined $70 for food for that whole day! What a bargain. I tried to add it to this upcoming trip, but since we have leftover days on our tickets, we have room only and they wouldn't let me. What a disappointment!

I thought you only needed to buy a one day pass to get the ddp?
If so, it might be worth it. Don't get the "no expire" option and use that ticket this trip...
A suggestion...

Exactly what I was going to suggest! I know this is true because we are doing that on the second leg of our trip. We have 10 day tix, but will buy a one day base at the GF to be eligible for the dining plan.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Exactly what I was going to suggest! I know this is true because we are doing that on the second leg of our trip. We have 10 day tix, but will buy a one day base at the GF to be eligible for the dining plan.

I did the same thing last April.

I'm planning to purchase a PAP for our next trip. In order to use the dining plan, I'll buy a one day base for each of use. We'll keep that ticket and use it sometime in 2007.

 

[drp4video]

We didn't get the plan, but then DD and I split meals a lot..We ususally skip breakfast or just split a bagel or have a muffin. Lunch is counter in the parks, as is dinner. We usually only eat one or two sit down meals in a 7 or 8 day trip. Rather than taking long for dinner with a sit down, we would rather grab and run and do attractions.

 

[jann1033]

i agree, even with out eating every scrap allowed it seems like agood deal to me..

 

[deide71]

We went to WDW last week. We had the dining plan for 2A and2C=450 for 5 nights. I didn't try to maximize the plan, didn't pay for chidren OOP etc. We had 2CS credits remaining, and our total reciepts were just over $700!

We thought the restaurants were one of the highlights of the trip. We will use the dining plan from now on.