Should I get the DP?

[gracefor5]

MY husband did not want to pay for this, but he is also insisting (nicely, with a smile ) that he won't eat "burgers every meal!!" So I priced out one counter service, one sit down a day and it was cheaper on the plan and that was without the snack!! I'm sure that was recommended by these great people (I didn't have time to read all of the posts!)

Kim

 

[Rylee]

I'm not sure this is worth the money. $600 seems like an awful lot to feed a family of 4 2 meals a day for 5 days. DH is not an early morning eater so we'd probably just eat a little something in our room before heading out for the day anyway. I also can't imagine that he would care to eat a sit-down dinner at a nice restaurant 5 nights in a row. He likes to be able to lay-back and enjoy some quiet time in the room with just a pizza or something sometimes. Dessert is also something he would most likely not eat.

Also, my 11 year old is not a big eater so paying adult prices for her seems silly when most of the food would stay on the plate. My other DD is 6 so I'm not worried about the cost for her. By the sounds of it, we could probably get away with sharing some of the meals. At least for the kids anyway.

One thing I worry about for paying as we go is I had been thinking of at least one character breakfast, but it sounds like those are pretty expensive. I doubt DH would go for it if we had to pay for it. With the DP he's blissfully ignorant. I also don't want to be stuck eating counter service for EVERY meal because DH is in a cheap mood. I can never predict how he will be, but thus far he's not too thrilled with this trip. His attitude tends to change when we actually get where we're going though.

Do you think I'd save money just paying by the meal?

I'll check out the menu's on allears too and see if I can get a feel.

We love the Dining Plan and have purchased it on our last few trips, HOWEVER, I'm going to go against most of the other posters...

I think you have answered your own question, and the DP might not be right for your family.

I always scheduled a Table Service meal, long before the DP, and I would be miserable eating Counter Service meals all week. We enjoy the themed restaurants and meal time is a nice break from the parks. Plus, I have the opposite problem... our 9 year old has very developed taste buds, so the children's menus are a bore to him... we actually pay out of pocket for him sometimes.

As for your family, if you don't think your husband will enjoy a daily TS meal, or the adult price is not a value for your daughter, you'll need to really check menus and prices.

If you think your husband "doesn't really know what he wants," so to speak, perhaps he may find he enjoys a break with a nice meal, the different themes, and the security of having reservations. Having a plan and knowing what to expect, does make for a more relaxing vacation.

Also, consider using your child's ADULT credits for another meal, maybe a signature meal, and paying for her oop, as you go.

Have a magical trip!

 

[katybugsmom]

We debated about getting the DP as well! My DH and I sat and added up meals, snacks, and such and it would have ended up about the same; however, once we decided to get the DP I have made reservations for 5Character Meals while we are there. We have two children: DD9 and DS 3. We would have neverspent that kind of money had we not had the DP! I think it will be well worth it! No worries too!

 

[Jordans_Mommie]

This is our first trip and I decided to go with the DDP because I am going alone with my DS3 and he loves characters, so we have 5 character meals + Fantasmic dinner package planned. The cost of the character meals alone came out to more than the DDP for both of us.

 

[mumom95]

I'm going in October and have booked the DDP more for the convenience. When I priced it all out I really don't think I'm going to save much, if anything. I just like knowing that after a long day in the parks I can sit down to a very nice meal each evening and my food is paid for ahead of time. For me it makes for a nice break.

This is exactly why we get it. I'm know we could eat cheaper. But it is so nice to have it paid for before we get there, and then not have to worry about how much things cost while we are there. For example, we loved Le Cellier so much when we went last time, I may book it for 2 or 3 times this vacation, which is fine since we are on the DDP. I completely do it for the "stress free" feeling it gives us on vacation.