Regular Dining Plan: Is it possible to eat that much?

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Unless you only eat one meal a day at home normally then yes it is possible to eat that much. It's 2 meals per day on the regular dining plan and a snack. We have done the DDP 10+ times and find it worth it. We also split some meals and stretch our credits out even more at times.

 

[Geordietyke]

Here now and we are full all the time with just our TS meal and occasionally splitting 2/3 CS between 4 each day. We rarely have our snack credit and are not eating breakfast either. It's just too much for us and we are finding TS ADRs quite tying. If we had it free again, we'd go for the qsdp instead as it would suit us and our way of touring better.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I think it is possible to eat that much for most people. We are really only talking about one fast food meal and a snack and dinner. I would say that the vast majority of people, at least in the US, eat at least that much food at home every day.

I have done this type of plan three times, albeit with two teenagers, and I can say that we never had a credit left over. We are not what you would call light eaters but we are proportional to how the rest of our friends and family eat.

Also, if you do find it to be too much for your individual tastes, I would recommend skipping a Quick Service lunch or two and just getting the most bang for your buck at dinner.

 

[angelbear425]

I was on the Dining plan last time I went but we did a completely different from everybody else. We had the basic one tableservice, one quick service, and one snack plan. We would use our tableservice in the morning for a buffet breakfast, Snack midafternoon, And then quick service for dinner. Generally our breakfast was before the Parks opened because we didn't want to waste time eating. The large breakfast helped get us through the day without being hungry. It was nice to get a little snack, but Then a smaller dinner at night. I didn't feel that it was too much food.

 

[Peachkins]

We used the regular Disney Dining Plan when my family and I went to Disney last year. It ended up being perfect for us. We did do a couple of dinners that took 2 table service credits, so that cut back on those. On most days we would use our counter service meal for a decent breakfast, a snack credit for something around lunchtime, and then we usually had a reservation for a table-service dinner. This gave us plenty of time between our two largest meals of the day so we weren't just totally stuffed all the time.

Now the Deluxe Plan- that would probably be overkill for me. I think you'd have to be a serious foodie and eating at a lot of Signature restaurants to be able to even think about using all of those credits. To get your money's worth you'd have to be eating a table service meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus multiple snacks, and I don't think I could keep up that pace for an entire week.

 

[Dean]

I think it is possible to eat that much for most people. We are really only talking about one fast food meal and a snack and dinner. I would say that the vast majority of people, at least in the US, eat at least that much food at home every day.

With a drink and dessert each time plus the portions at Disney are pretty large. Teens may eat that much and I know a lot of people do but that's probably why the obesity issue is so much of a problem.

I was on the Dining plan last time I went but we did a completely different from everybody else. We had the basic one tableservice, one quick service, and one snack plan. We would use our tableservice in the morning for a buffet breakfast, Snack midafternoon, And then quick service for dinner. Generally our breakfast was before the Parks opened because we didn't want to waste time eating. The large breakfast helped get us through the day without being hungry. It was nice to get a little snack, but Then a smaller dinner at night. I didn't feel that it was too much food.

I can't imagine that plan would work out financially for most adult plan costs though it would with kids 3-9. Even with the most expensive of everything including a character breakfast at $30 with tax, WPE max around $28 and a $5 snack, that only gets you to $63. It's all downhill from there. Even then you'd have to value the dessert and drink options that are available CS.

 

[Maiden]

Obviously you will get very different opinions on this one. While families' eating habits vary, there are other reasons why the plan may or may not work for you.
Our family of 4 has enjoyed the plan very much and used it over the past several trips. We are all active and healthy weights. We will definitely eat more on the plan, but that's part of enjoying the trip for us. Each family member chooses their favorite TS to eat and we look forward to the dining experiences a lot, and they give us an indoor break. Our kids (13 & 16) would definitely order off the adult menu anyway. Some people have small 11 or 12 year olds that are filled up by a kids' meal so the plan would definitely not be a good deal for them. We try hard to go during free dining as it saves us a lot.

If you or your children are not big eaters and not overly adventurous with food preferences, it may not be the best choice for you.
As far as cost, we do well because we tend to take full advantage by splitting 2 CS breakfasts and 2CS lunches and TS for dinner. If we were on a tight budget we would definitely save by not purchasing the plan and eating less. But we really enjoy disney dining, and also knowing ahead we have paid and can relax & order what we want. Our kids are old enough to order at CS without us right there, and that's great on the DP as well.

So I would say it depends on how important dining is to you as part of your experience, whether there's room in the budget, your family's eating habits, and whether you like to keep close track & pay as you go, or pay up front & not worry about it during your trip.

Good Luck!

 

[goofy4tink]

My family loves the regular dining plan. We eat a light breakfast in the room before leaving. Then for lunch we do counter service then the table service in the evening. It works out great for us.

This past trip we did do the breakfast at Tusker House. So since we had a huge breakfast, we had a snack around lunch time, then did a counter service for dinner.

Now I couldn't do the deluxe plan where you have 3 table service a day. That would be way too much food.

That's pretty much how we used to use the regular dp. Nowadays, we don't use the ddp, but that is still how we eat at WDW.

Your calculator must be old. There is no TS where you can get the full value of the regular DDP ($55 in 2013) thereby making your CS and snack "free." In fact, it's getting harder and harder for adults to break even, even with all entitlements used.

That was my thought as well. The cost is exactly why we don't buy the dp anymore..it just doesn't make sense, financially, for us.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

we will typically ensure that we allow plenty of times betwen meals to make sure we're hungry. To this end, we will typically use our TS credits for dinner (6-7pm). After walking around the parks all day we're usually ready for a big meal

 

[TheDisney411]

Hey!

I had every intention of getting the regular dining plan for my next trip to Disney World (in a few short months...).

I was planning on having the plan for 5 days.. that's 5 table services.

Well, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it's really possible to eat that much food in such a short period of time. I understand that one could just nibble, but that seems so wasteful.

Our ressies are for Ohana, LTT, Coral Reef, Biergarten and GFC (if that makes a difference).

Thanks for your thoughts on this..

I seriously don't understand this post. I mean, you don't eat at least 2 meals per day in your normal life? How can this be too much food?

 

[DanInMN]

Our January trip will be our first on the dining plan (S/P/D - regular dining plan). I usually fret about how much things cost, and try to skimp some on where and what we eat. It will be nice to have most of it "prepaid" and just relax and let everyone get whatever they want. Kinda like being on a cruise ship.

I can't imaging how the regular plan will be too much food. It's just lunch and dinner, and one small snack treat. I'm wondering how we will do without breakfast!

 

[Nancyg56]

I think how you might want to be very honest about how you all eat while n vacation.

We like a full meal every night and always have lunch. we travel as a family so there are always at least three adult but many time four. We generally will split a CS breakfast and split a CS lunch so there is always plenty of food but we are not filling up too much at any given meal. Many times we will order two CS meals for three of us. My DH does not always want dessert for lunch and I always do so that works out well