We just returned from 6 nights on the Deluxe Dining Plan. 2 adults and 2 children.
Thought I would share some observations and some conclusions.
We used virtually all out credits for TS meals. Out of 72 credits total, we used 68 for TS meals, we used 3 child credits for CS breakfast, and we wasted 1 credit. Because of this very efficient credit use, we "saved" significantly -- I need to sit down with the receipts to figure it out exactly, but we realized real savings of $200-$300.
Some observations of the DxDP in general --
Snacks -- With all those TS meals, with the mugs, with constant desserts -- it's nearly impossible to actually use many of your snack credits. (unless you are constantly shoving food in your face).
Out of 8 allotted snack credits per day, we used 2-3 per day total.
We were too full to eat individual snacks, if any snacks at all, during the day. 1 day, we split a Dole Whip 4 ways. Another day, we split a chocolate croissant 3 ways. I did use snack credits for coffee a couple of times, and we used a couple credits for water. But out of 48 allotted snack credits -- we still had 29 leftover on our last day -- Really only used about 1/3rd of the snack credits. Thus, when projecting possible savings on the DxDP, I would not assign significant value to the snack credits.
Mugs -- I know many families love them. Last year, we didn't use them at all, because we were far from the hotel CS. This time, we were much closer.. so thought *maybe* we would use them. With getting kids ready in the morning, I found it easier to just make coffee in the room than go fill the mug. A couple mornings where we did CS breakfast, I did use the mug for coffee. DW used it for hot tea a couple of times. But overall, got minimal use out of the mugs. Thus, in projecting my own savings on a dining plan, I wouldn't assign any value to the mugs.
Desserts -- I ate them most meals, DW usually skipped desserts or ate a child's dessert. This would have killed any potential savings on the DDP, but we still managed to save on the DxDP, because of our maximization of credits.
Timing of meals -- We did lunch plus signature dinner almost every day. I can NOT imagine doing 3 meals per day. Our fastest meals were about 1:15. 1:30 was most typical. But for example, lunch right at opening, at Chefs De France, was 2 hours. They open at noon. We checked in at 11:55, weren't seated until 12:10, and didn't exit the restaurant until 1:55. The amount of food of 3-sitdown meals would be way too much, but the timing would be an even bigger issue --- 3 sitdown meals would certainly be around 5 hours per day in restaurants. Plus commuting to/from restaurants.
Savings -- Real or not? -- We tried to order what we would want, even if we weren't on the dining plan. But in truth, I ordered a couple appetizers and desserts that I would have skipped without the dining plan. We wouldn't have ordered appetizers at signature restaurants for the kids, if not on the dining plan. (They didn't eat them anyway). Most importantly -- while we saved $200-$300 based on what we ordered --- There was 1 night, we had reservations at Narcooses. We were stuff from lunch, and not really in the mood for a sit down dinner. If not for the dining plan AND the new cancellation policy, we likely would have cancelled the meal, and eaten a light $20 total at the CS. As we got the lobster at Narcoose's, if we had skipped that 1 meal --- almost our entire so-called savings would have been wiped out.
Comparing it to the DDP --- Unless you fill all your meals with steaks and buffet dinners, the basic DDP makes absolutely no sense. We hate 7 1-credit meals, and 6 2-credit meals. (had some extra credits as the kids skipped 1 signature meal). We ordered what we wanted. Never really the cheapest items on the menu. Out of the 7 1--credit meals, NONE of them would have been winners on the DDP. Just to break even on the DDP, assuming you do order desserts at every meal, your TS meal has to be about $34. So it has to be $32 before tax. Remove beverage and dessert, which are priced pretty consistently -- You need at least a $23 entree, or a $34 meal to break even.
Here were the adult 7 meals:
Kona Cafe -
Shrimp and Scallops -- $20.99
DW had the fish, which I believe was $18.99
Crystal Palace lunch --- Total meal, $25 per adult. (major loser under the DDP)
Chefs De France -- Me and DW both had the roast chicken -- $17.95
Yak & Yeti -- Bourbon Chicken -- $17.99
DW had the Tamarind Chicken -- $19.99
Tony's Town Square -- DW had the chopped salad with chicken -- $12.99
I had the chicken parmigiana -- $17.99
Ohana Breakfast -- I believe it was $22 per adult, a major loser under the DDP.
Paradiso 37 for lunch --
DW had Skewered Shrimp & Jicama Orange Salad, $16.99
I had the "From the Land Platter" -- $20.99. (this meal *almost* would have broken even under the dining plan.)
Of our 2-credit meals, where I did red meat a couple of times, the only meal that would have made sense under the basic DDP was lobster at Narcoose's. The other 2-credit meals would have lost money under the basic DDP (the luau, castle dinner, leg of lamb at Brown Derby, seared tuna at California Grill, salmon at Artist's Point).
On health, weight and calories: There are certainly some "better" options on most of the menus. But overall, the Dining plan encourages gluttony. And yes, while you are walking a ton --- Our pedometer indicated that we walked 5-7 miles per day, burning several hundred calories per day --- I think it's very very hard to avoid gaining weight while on the plan. My DW who skipped virtually every dessert, managed to make it home without gaining. As indicated, I didn't do excessive snacking, but I did eat 2 desserts per day. I didn't eat super-fatty meals, I often had fish or chicken. Yet, I gained 3 pounds on the trip. For people who are used to consuming 3,000+ calories per day, they might be able to get through the plan without gaining weight. But otherwise, it's hard to imagine not gaining weight on the trip, if you use all your snack and dessert entitlements.
So personally, if we return to Disney in the next couple years, I certainly would never consider the basic DDP. I'd probably lean against the DxDP, unless I was really totally committed to a TS lunch AND signature dinner EVERY night.
Thought I would share some observations and some conclusions.
We used virtually all out credits for TS meals. Out of 72 credits total, we used 68 for TS meals, we used 3 child credits for CS breakfast, and we wasted 1 credit. Because of this very efficient credit use, we "saved" significantly -- I need to sit down with the receipts to figure it out exactly, but we realized real savings of $200-$300.
Some observations of the DxDP in general --
Snacks -- With all those TS meals, with the mugs, with constant desserts -- it's nearly impossible to actually use many of your snack credits. (unless you are constantly shoving food in your face).
Out of 8 allotted snack credits per day, we used 2-3 per day total.
We were too full to eat individual snacks, if any snacks at all, during the day. 1 day, we split a Dole Whip 4 ways. Another day, we split a chocolate croissant 3 ways. I did use snack credits for coffee a couple of times, and we used a couple credits for water. But out of 48 allotted snack credits -- we still had 29 leftover on our last day -- Really only used about 1/3rd of the snack credits. Thus, when projecting possible savings on the DxDP, I would not assign significant value to the snack credits.
Mugs -- I know many families love them. Last year, we didn't use them at all, because we were far from the hotel CS. This time, we were much closer.. so thought *maybe* we would use them. With getting kids ready in the morning, I found it easier to just make coffee in the room than go fill the mug. A couple mornings where we did CS breakfast, I did use the mug for coffee. DW used it for hot tea a couple of times. But overall, got minimal use out of the mugs. Thus, in projecting my own savings on a dining plan, I wouldn't assign any value to the mugs.
Desserts -- I ate them most meals, DW usually skipped desserts or ate a child's dessert. This would have killed any potential savings on the DDP, but we still managed to save on the DxDP, because of our maximization of credits.
Timing of meals -- We did lunch plus signature dinner almost every day. I can NOT imagine doing 3 meals per day. Our fastest meals were about 1:15. 1:30 was most typical. But for example, lunch right at opening, at Chefs De France, was 2 hours. They open at noon. We checked in at 11:55, weren't seated until 12:10, and didn't exit the restaurant until 1:55. The amount of food of 3-sitdown meals would be way too much, but the timing would be an even bigger issue --- 3 sitdown meals would certainly be around 5 hours per day in restaurants. Plus commuting to/from restaurants.
Savings -- Real or not? -- We tried to order what we would want, even if we weren't on the dining plan. But in truth, I ordered a couple appetizers and desserts that I would have skipped without the dining plan. We wouldn't have ordered appetizers at signature restaurants for the kids, if not on the dining plan. (They didn't eat them anyway). Most importantly -- while we saved $200-$300 based on what we ordered --- There was 1 night, we had reservations at Narcooses. We were stuff from lunch, and not really in the mood for a sit down dinner. If not for the dining plan AND the new cancellation policy, we likely would have cancelled the meal, and eaten a light $20 total at the CS. As we got the lobster at Narcoose's, if we had skipped that 1 meal --- almost our entire so-called savings would have been wiped out.
Comparing it to the DDP --- Unless you fill all your meals with steaks and buffet dinners, the basic DDP makes absolutely no sense. We hate 7 1-credit meals, and 6 2-credit meals. (had some extra credits as the kids skipped 1 signature meal). We ordered what we wanted. Never really the cheapest items on the menu. Out of the 7 1--credit meals, NONE of them would have been winners on the DDP. Just to break even on the DDP, assuming you do order desserts at every meal, your TS meal has to be about $34. So it has to be $32 before tax. Remove beverage and dessert, which are priced pretty consistently -- You need at least a $23 entree, or a $34 meal to break even.
Here were the adult 7 meals:
Kona Cafe -
Shrimp and Scallops -- $20.99
DW had the fish, which I believe was $18.99
Crystal Palace lunch --- Total meal, $25 per adult. (major loser under the DDP)
Chefs De France -- Me and DW both had the roast chicken -- $17.95
Yak & Yeti -- Bourbon Chicken -- $17.99
DW had the Tamarind Chicken -- $19.99
Tony's Town Square -- DW had the chopped salad with chicken -- $12.99
I had the chicken parmigiana -- $17.99
Ohana Breakfast -- I believe it was $22 per adult, a major loser under the DDP.
Paradiso 37 for lunch --
DW had Skewered Shrimp & Jicama Orange Salad, $16.99
I had the "From the Land Platter" -- $20.99. (this meal *almost* would have broken even under the dining plan.)
Of our 2-credit meals, where I did red meat a couple of times, the only meal that would have made sense under the basic DDP was lobster at Narcoose's. The other 2-credit meals would have lost money under the basic DDP (the luau, castle dinner, leg of lamb at Brown Derby, seared tuna at California Grill, salmon at Artist's Point).
On health, weight and calories: There are certainly some "better" options on most of the menus. But overall, the Dining plan encourages gluttony. And yes, while you are walking a ton --- Our pedometer indicated that we walked 5-7 miles per day, burning several hundred calories per day --- I think it's very very hard to avoid gaining weight while on the plan. My DW who skipped virtually every dessert, managed to make it home without gaining. As indicated, I didn't do excessive snacking, but I did eat 2 desserts per day. I didn't eat super-fatty meals, I often had fish or chicken. Yet, I gained 3 pounds on the trip. For people who are used to consuming 3,000+ calories per day, they might be able to get through the plan without gaining weight. But otherwise, it's hard to imagine not gaining weight on the trip, if you use all your snack and dessert entitlements.
So personally, if we return to Disney in the next couple years, I certainly would never consider the basic DDP. I'd probably lean against the DxDP, unless I was really totally committed to a TS lunch AND signature dinner EVERY night.
There is no way I am paying 55 bucks a day for hot dogs and burgers
