Time to Stir the Pot

[maxiesmom]

So, as far as I'm concerned, this myth is BUSTED!

What do you think?

I think the myth is only conditionally busted. If you like to sleep in, or if you don't like to stop during the middle of the day for a sit down lunch, the myth still holds true. That is what you are saying.

 

[roselark]

I was seriously considering the dining plan for the first time since 2007 for our trip next year. We are taking a trip in September with extended family (different rooms) and plan on eating 3 TS meals per day. This will be a nice, laid back trip to celebrate DH's grandmother's 90th birthday and she is a foodie. I used the dining plan calculator available online and if we choose the higher priced entrees with an appetizer and dessert every meal, then the Deluxe Dining plan would be slightly cheaper than using TIW (about $100). While I KNOW that we would alter that plan and not eat both an appetizer and dessert, each, at every single meal, and therefore spend a little less if we used PIW instead, I was still considering the deluxe plan for a couple of other reasons. 1. I could pay for it in advance with my Disney Visa and get a bunch of points that I can use on my trip. 2. The convenience of having everyone on the same plan and having it paid for in advance may have been worth paying just a little more. 3. Knowing that I could order the most expensive item on the menu without guilt.

I have pretty much decided not to go with the plan for one reason: flexibility. If I or DH feels ill/tired/grump/not hungry during one mealtime and decide to skip it or would rather do CS without the famly, then that is a credit wasted. If I get to a restaurant and decide I want the turkey sandwich instead of the steak, then that credit is worth far less. By planning on utilizing TIW instead, I can budget the same amount but with much more confidence knowing that we will get our money's worth no matter what our decisions will be. One final, silly reason is that I like how the tip is calculated and added automatically to my bill when using TIW...no worrying about calculating and adding in and appropriate tip after the food coma sets in.

 

[Catcleves]

(Clipped)
If you like to have it all paid for, but you calculate that it's not cheaper, just pay it into a savings account or buy disney gift cards that are harder to spend (you can get them for 5% off at Target with their card).

That 5% off trick never dawned on me! Thanks so much for the tip! Heading to Target now...

 

[davedmaine]

I keep seeing people claim "if you're doing character meals, you need the DDP." So, I decided to see if that claim could hold water.

Where it does hold water is if you have kids or you have to do dinner buffets. BUT, if the only reason you're doing character meals is for the characters, why not just do breakfast or lunch and get the same characters for less money.

Here's what I came up with using the adult DDP cost of $58.66 and doing character breakfasts/lunch:

AK $55.39
Late Tusker House Character breakfast, jalapeno pretzel, soup and sand at Earl of Sandwich, make-my-own chocolate waffle bowl two-scoop sundae at Ghiradelli

MK $56.50
Nutella waffle sandwich, Crystal Palace Character lunch, tuna sandwich and chilli at Columbia Harbour, corn dog nuggets snack at Casey's

HS $56.20
Early Cape May Character breakfast, antipasta salad and cupcake at Pizza Planet, pretzel dog/chips at Min & Bill's, frozen lemonade and popcorn at Fantasmic!

EP $60.48
Croissant Berry Pudding at Sunshine Seasons, Biergarten Buffet lunch, pizza and zeppole at Via Napoli

I have snacks and sides you can't get on the DDP, extra snacks, and an extra TS.

So, as far as I'm concerned, this myth is BUSTED!

What do you think?

That's one of those myths that people on these boards just blindly agree with. The truth is, that if you want to save money, it's never a good idea to purchase the Dining Plan. I've never found a single instance where people will save money on it, including by patronizing the infamous character buffets.

 

[Crazyforbuzz]

Yes, the Cast member discount on DDP makes it worth a try. Otherwise, too much food and the tip gets to be very expensive because you ate so much!

 

[shadeauxe]

That 5% off trick never dawned on me! Thanks so much for the tip! Heading to Target now...

Glad to help! I don't know if there's a limit on how many forms of payment at a restaurant (there is on tickets), so in that case I would charge everything to the room and pay the room off with gift cards.

 

[catherines_mama]

I think for people with more than one small child (under 10( and lots of character meals it definitely can work out. The DDP was a great deal for us when my kids were under 10. Now it isn't worth it

This is us. Even before mine turned 10 it wasn't worth it. My son is just 12 and 5'7". He grew out of the kids menu a long time ago. So now we do TIW and my 8yo and I share meals. She loves it. We have 2 12s and an 8. So it's been a couple years since we did it.

 

[jrtoastyman]

Let me preface this by noting that I am not a fan of the dining plan. Did it once, have no intention of doing it again, doesn't match the way we eat at all.

With that said, I don't think the argument is so much that DDP is good and will save you money if you're doing character meals, it is that doing a lot of character meals is one of the few circumstances where it CAN save you money. You still have to crunch the numbers and figure out if it actually WILL save you money as opposed to paying OOP. Point is, I think the point the OP is trying to challenge is framed incorrectly.