Should I take the Disney dining plan?

[tguz]

We had free dining this Summer but when we got back, I went through the menus and added up the cost of what each of us ate, the cost of the mugs, and used a generic $5 for snack credits and we would have came out ahead by around $50 ( a little less). But even at break even, it is worth it to me. I don't have to worry about cost of anything, we all choose what we want, no food budget, no worrying about how much we have charged to the magic bands, its vacation and we can say YES to a couple snacks per day for the kids. I'd say it wouldn't be worth it if your family splits meals, skips meals, would rather order just appetizers, or maybe even if you are vegan but that is not us so it worked well. We each had a couple snack credits left on the last evening (which we like) so I got a couple Disney tins of mints as souvenirs (like I always do) and my Fiancee and Son got snacks for the long drive home.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

A smaller factor to consider is the Disney Travel mug you will receive with the DP. Will you use it?
That was actually a big factor in my family's decision to NOT do a DP for our upcoming trip. I am the only one who would drink coffee ( or POP for that matter) so 6 mugs seemed a waste.

 

[Christine]

A smaller factor to consider is the Disney Travel mug you will receive with the DP. Will you use it?
That was actually a big factor in my family's decision to NOT do a DP for our upcoming trip. I am the only one who would drink coffee ( or POP for that matter) so 6 mugs seemed a waste.

I'm not doing the dining plan this time because our meals just don't seem to be tracking well with it on this trip, plus I want to try some of those awesome lounges for food that I see on the DisneyFoodBlog and the food there will come under the cost. BUT....I used the heck out of my mug last year for hot tea. I drink a lot of hot tea during the day so whenever I was back at the resort and trying to unwind, I'd go get some very hot water, brew a bag of the Twining's English breakfast, add milk and sugar and I was instantly refreshed!!! I want to do that this year, but no DDP. So I figure I'm going to buy the mug at $19.99. I have to drink 6 cups of tea over the week to break even. I think it will work out. But there was value in those mugs for me. But, yeah, 6 of them is a lot.

 

[Ana Klein]

So after thorough thinking and consideration of all your experience and advices, we decided not to take the dining plan and just flow with the vacation.
Thanks for your help everyone!