Should we get the Dining Plan?

[Miss Mary Poppins]

I was wondering if any experts can give their opinion on whether we should or should not buy the plan.
so here are the facts;

We plan to bring our own breakfast foods.

for lunches CP, Plaza, Tony's,
1900 park for dinner with Cindy and her man,
counter service for dinners except the one night when we dine with Cindy. we are a party of 2 adults, 1 child and one infant.
we are going for 6 nights, 7 days. thanks
no apps, probably no deserts, it's just too much food.

so what do you think. buy the plan or not??

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

I have the same question!

Our specs:
4 adults
1 child (5)
1 infant (2)

6 nights/7 days at the Poly

We have 5 TS meals reserved already:
Cinderella's Royal Table Breakfast
Ohana Breakfast
Artist Point Dinner (for 2 adults)
Chef Mickey's Dinner
Crystal Palace Breakfast

I had imagined we would just take snacks, but now I'm thinking we'd probably end up buying quick service meals at least some of the days.

It will cost us an additional $971.70 to add the basic dining plan. Our CRT breakfast alone will be $209.08, so if we chose to do the DDP, they would apply that to the $971.70, so it would cost an additional $762.62. That total would be divided by four adults and one child for the four remaining TS meals (since CRT requires two credits), the CS meals and snacks. It's finals week, and my brain is fried, so help me out with the math. Those of you who are familiar with Disney dining prices, does that end up being worth it?

Sorry to hijack your thread, Miss Mary Poppins, but I figured it was easier to keep this subject in one thread. Let me know if you want to kick me out!! Haha!! I'd still check back to see what people told you, though!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

Okay, I've done the DDP for three years now and really liked it. But, it really depends on what kind of people you are... if you like to have a sit down meal each night, then I think the dining plan will pay for itself. But, if you don't plan to do that, it might be cheaper to just pay OOP.

We go to Disney to enjoy the parks, but we also really enjoy the restaurants. They are as much of an experience for us as rides... really. So, the dining plan has always been a great idea for us, and next year we're doing the deluxe just so we can spend more time eating...

It is also convienent, but with the tip gone and appy gone, it isn't such a "deal" anymore. If you do choose to do the DDP, plan some fun dinners and enjoy! Some restaurants at Disney are A LOT of fun and the kids really will have a blast. Happy Planning!

 

[1313WEBFOOTWALK]

After much deliberation, I have decided to try it. I weighed the expense of taking 150.00 a day and just getting the dining plan and it was almost five hundred dollars cheaper to get the plan! Even w/ gratuity and a few alcoholic beverages, I can't imagine we'd spend that ammount.

Just look at the menus where you'll be eating and weigh out the cost of the meal with gratuity...you migh be surprised how great the dining plan deal is.

 

[melomouse]

FWIW - my .02....

Mary Poppins - probably NOT a good deal for your family. You have an infant and a child and are planning on mostly CS dinners. Unless you really want to try more TS - and dinners are more TS value, though you can certainly use the credits for lunch - you won't be saving anything and it may be more stressful for you with the kids, naps, timing, etc.

TotallySnow - I'd say Go for it! Four adults at TS will definitely eat more than the $762 for the length of your stay.

Your family size, eating habits, appetites, goals for the trip, and budget all play a part in deciding. I've used FDP in '06. DDP in 07', and will use DDP '08 in January, and we love it, though it's changed the way we "do" WDW - for the better.

There are many others here who are MUCH better math whizzes and experts than I, so I leave you to their expertise, and wish you happy planning!

 

[evenpar4me]

if you would like to indulge yourself and eat the opposite way you eat at home and other resteruants,order a lobster and filet mignon just becasue,have desert when your so full you can hardly move,then go for the plan,this way ans this way only will you save money,espeically since tipping is not included but expected. used it in sept07,will not in jan08,learned my lesson.

 

[Brygida]

I was wondering if any experts can give their opinion on whether we should or should not buy the plan.
so here are the facts;

We plan to bring our own breakfast foods.

for lunches CP, Plaza, Tony's,
1900 park for dinner with Cindy and her man,
counter service for dinners except the one night when we dine with Cindy. we are a party of 2 adults, 1 child and one infant.
we are going for 6 nights, 7 days. thanks
no apps, probably no deserts, it's just too much food.

so what do you think. buy the plan or not??

Since you are planning on essentially one sit down and one counter service per day, buy the plan. Usually the cost of the plan equals 1 sit down per day.

You did not mention all your lunches so it is hard to tell. I primarily do sit-down for lunch, keep breakfast foods in our room, and do a counter service for dinner too. We come out way-ahead because I like the pricier restaurants (Raglan Road, Wolfgang Puck, Chefs De France, etc) and would eat their anyway. As for your two little ones, you had two buffets out of the 4 restaurants you mentioned, so the plan is good here too (you pay for your two to attend the "event" buffet, irregardless if they eat).

It is a lot of food. One other thing to consider... you are only getting 6 days of food on the DDP, even though you are there 7 days. With a little planning you can save some TS or CS points and use them on your 7th day.

 

[dgagnon519]

Your meals that you have noted will probably cost about 640 oop without tip, but dont even take that into consideration. You are going to tip regardless if on the plan or not.
It will probably cost you 300 for all your counter service meals depending on where you pick some places that are cs can still give you a good deal on ddp. You will probably break out even on the dining plan with the choices you have listed. You can always go on to allears.net and look at the menus and prices if you really want to crunch numbers.

 

[keliblue]

For us it is really a push... 2 adults OOP vs. Dining. We are choosing to do OOP with the DDE card. 1st reason, we like appi's more the dessert. 2nd we get the 20% off everything including cocktails aand 3, We have done the dining plan on the last 3 trips and have skipped meals due to wrong place wrong time or just plan to full to eat again .

OOP works better for us and will be cheaper even doing a TS every night

 

[Mr Vincent]

Me and DW will be going in May of 2008 and the TA tried to get us to sign up for this and at first I thought it was a great idea. After much thought I decided not to do it.

Part of the reason is physcological. I dont want to have to keep track of what meals I have used and whats left etc. Part of vacation is to eat what you want, when you want. I dont want to have to deal with what meals have been used and whats left.

Of course, if you are a very frugal type, then this might work for you.

 

[Pirate's Princess]

I really enjoy the DDP. And I will be experiencing '08 in a little under 3 weeks! Yay!

Anyway, I think anyone can make the plan work for them. Unless you eat very little and hate TS, I feel you will at least break even. Plus I feel better knowing ahead of time how much I'll be spend. And I don't feel the need to eat steak and lobster every night, and sometimes I waste my dessert but I enjoy trying it (Plus you can always take it with you and eat it later!!) Also a lot of the CS places allow you to get fruit for dessert so it doesn't bother me either!

 

[pwyu1969]

I agree with a previous poster, Mary Poppins, probably not, unless you think you change your menu plans and indulge! But if you're not planning on apps and dessert, then its not a good deal.

Snow White, with 4A and 2 kids I assume you are going to have two rooms? Or will all of you be staying in a suite of 6? If you're across two rooms, and not everyone is a big eater, then here is what we did. My wife, 2 kids and I stayed in one room with ddp. The other two adults (grand parents) stayed in another room (adjoining) w/o the ddp, but when we went out to eat, we would "buy" their meals with the ddp. That way the ddp cost for four people was split across 6 people. With kids at only $10, it was a true value and we came out ahead. Especially with cs because we often would feed four adults with only two to three cs meals.

 

[Miss Mary Poppins]

I agree with a previous poster, Mary Poppins, probably not, unless you think you change your menu plans and indulge! But if you're not planning on apps and dessert, then its not a good deal.

Snow White, with 4A and 2 kids I assume you are going to have two rooms? Or will all of you be staying in a suite of 6? If you're across two rooms, and not everyone is a big eater, then here is what we did. My wife, 2 kids and I stayed in one room with ddp. The other two adults (grand parents) stayed in another room (adjoining) w/o the ddp, but when we went out to eat, we would "buy" their meals with the ddp. That way the ddp cost for four people was split across 6 people. With kids at only $10, it was a true value and we came out ahead. Especially with cs because we often would feed four adults with only two to three cs meals.

Thanks all we are not going to do the DDP this trip. We are not big meal eaters so we will see what we spend when we get back. I'll let ya all know. Thanks for the help!

 

[septbaby]

I was wondering if any experts can give their opinion on whether we should or should not buy the plan.
so here are the facts;

We plan to bring our own breakfast foods.

for lunches CP, Plaza, Tony's,
1900 park for dinner with Cindy and her man,
counter service for dinners except the one night when we dine with Cindy. we are a party of 2 adults, 1 child and one infant.
we are going for 6 nights, 7 days. thanks
no apps, probably no deserts, it's just too much food.

so what do you think. buy the plan or not??

Well, I may be after both the cart and the horse on this one, but your party is a lot like ours was on the DP. The spirit of the plan will work really well for your group. The infant is free and if the kid is really a kid, $9.99 a day is a steal. For the length of your stay you'd get a chance at more TS meals:
CP, The Plaza, Tony's and PF; you could add two more...I'd suggest two of our favorites: Chef Mickey's and Coral Reef. You might also consider one of the MGM places for a Fantasmic meal, but the show might be too scary for the 4yo (our 5yo demanded that I hold him at certain times). Boma was also a great treat and great reason to go visit AKL. With the DP I see the meals as and extention of the experience. It was our first time on the plan and wonderful way not to worry or have to say no so often due to cost. We didn't over eat and absolutely loved the snack credits!

By the way, those CS credits to me are the hidden jewels. For one Adult CS credit we got a platter (eggs, potatoes, biscuit and we skipped the bacon and sausage) and two beverages. You could share the breakfast platter then share another credit for lunch that day You still have a child CS credit to spend that day! We usually split our juice/milk and got water as our second beverage and carried that into the park.

Have fun and eat with flair!