tell me about dining plans.....

[720L]

We are a family of 4. When going to Disney we are happy eating counter service all the time. Usually kids split a meal. Does the dining plan save you money all around or does it just save money if you do 1 sit down every day? And does it make a difference if you are going for a week or a couple days?

 

[gigi1313]

it would not be worth the money if you did not use the sit-down credits... so if you are not interested in doing sit downs (including buffets, character meals, etc) then it's not for you...

for our family it is worth it for a long or short trip (11 days last august/5 days next january) because we really like our sit down meals...

you don't have to do a sit-down every day... you could use two credits for one meal at certain "signature" restaurants or dinner shows (i.e. crt, hddr, cg) or you could do two on a 'down' day and then eat counter service on your park go-go-go days... it's very flexible...

 

[720L]

so it would save us money?

 

[lucincia]

It would save you money if you do a sitdown meal a day. It was worth it for us because we did character dining almost every day. That in itself paid for the dining plan. The CS and snack credits were just icing on the top.

Best thing is to look at the menus of the restaurants you want to eat at, figure out approximate cost including tax and standard tip, and add them up. Then see if it may be worth it for you.

 

[gigi1313]

menus can be found at www.allearsnet.com under dining...

we found it to be worth it, but we like to eat... we also go at a slow time of year so we can enjoy a leisurely meal each day...

 

[Marimar]

It will be worth it for us...we are doing at least one TS meal a day...a few days two of them; one being a character meal and the other a "normal" meal.

 

[MyGoofy26]

It depends on the reason *why* you eat at counter service. Do you typically eat at counter service because of a genuine preference for counter service? Or do you choose counter service because it's cheaper but would like to eat at more table service if given the opportunity?

If you have a genuine preference for counter service, the dining plan won't be a bargain since you'll be paying for meals you probably won't enjoy. If you've always wanted to go table service but couldn't bring yourself to pay that much every day, then it'll most likely be a great opportunity to indulge without spending significantly more than you ever did on your counter service trips.

 

[twinsmamma]

We are a family of 4. When going to Disney we are happy eating counter service all the time. Usually kids split a meal. Does the dining plan save you money all around or does it just save money if you do 1 sit down every day? And does it make a difference if you are going for a week or a couple days?

We always eat counter service before due to money and time but I opted for the dining plan thies time and well see if it is good or not in three days. When i figured it out to eat lunch and dinner at counter service was about 30 or so each person( this didn't include a dessert) then 2.50 each for a mickey bar each day and the dinning p[lan is 40? per person a day and you get a snack a counter service( which includes drink and dessert) and a sit down meal(which includes app. entree and dessert and drink) Its like you are getting a sit down for nothing and you are not eating chicken fingers or burgers evey meal. I know that I got sick of this last trip.

 

[lucincia]

We always eat counter service before due to money and time but I opted for the dining plan thies time and well see if it is good or not in three days. When i figured it out to eat lunch and dinner at counter service was about 30 or so each person( this didn't include a dessert) then 2.50 each for a mickey bar each day and the dinning p[lan is 40? per person a day and you get a snack a counter service( which includes drink and dessert) and a sit down meal(which includes app. entree and dessert and drink) Its like you are getting a sit down for nothing and you are not eating chicken fingers or burgers evey meal. I know that I got sick of this last trip.

Especially when they're same old $10 chicken fingers and burgers every day!

 

[tndisneyfan]

Another thing to consider is the age of your kids. If they are 10+ they are going to be charged the adult price for the dining plan.