TIW or Dinning plan PLEASE HELP

[aylinb]

I need help. I have NEVER done this many days in WDW we are going for my daughter's bithday Dec. 4-7 and we are doing the following restaurants:
Whispering Canyon Cafe
1900 Park fare Cinderella's happily ever after
Hollywood and Vine
Ohana
The Crystal Palace
Chef Mickey's

We are confused as to which plan to go with if any. Please help!~

 

[TDC Nala]

Do you have an annual pass? I see you're a Florida resident so you are still eligible for TIW, however it will cost you more for the membership if you don't have an annual pass.

I see it's only three nights at WDW (December 4-7). If you got the regular dining plan you would get 3 TS credits per person to spend. That means you could use credits for only three of the six meals you have booked and you'd have to pay out of pocket for the other 3. Plus you'd have 3 CS credits you would need to use somewhere.

If you got the deluxe plan, that is 3 meal credits (TS or CS) per night, for three nights that is 9 credits per person. How old is the child? If she is under three you won't get any meal credits for her but she'd eat free at all the restaurants you named except Whispering Canyon (and there, she could eat off the all you can eat skillet for free if she is under 3)

You have six restaurants booked so you'd still have 3 credits left to use on deluxe.

If you get a TIW card, you'd have to spend enough to make up the cost of the membership in discounts. For an annual pass membership ($75) you need to spend over $375 in the year you have the membership. If you don't have an annual pass it's $100 for a year's Florida resident membership and I think you'd have to spend at least $400. If three nights is a lot of time for you to be at WDW I am not sure you would end up using it enough, unless you go on short trips all year.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I'd probably get deluxe dining and see if I could squeeze in more ressies on day in or out.

 

[LaurenT]

How many people are in your party and will you be going back during the year?
TIW is pai for once, lasts all year and is good for up to 10 people dining...it also includes alcohol in the discount and is applied to your entire meal - so your appetizers are covered and whatever you care to order..alot more freedom than the dining plan. The dinign plan supposedly saves you 20%, but that doesn't include alot of stuff..like alcohol and, with the regular plan, appetizers. If your kids are under 10, they'll have to order off thew kiddie menu when there is one.
I know for us, a family of 3, we easily spend $80 or $100 before tip each meal...that would be $600 for just the ressies you already have, and just for the 3 of us....the savings on that is $120 (20%) with TIW.....
So, you have to average out how many of you there are, how many will have drinks...do you prefer to have appetizers....etc....

 

[aylinb]

My daughter will be 1 and its 2 of us. We will be going again since we are getting the annual passes.

 

[aylinb]

How many people are in your party and will you be going back during the year?
TIW is pai for once, lasts all year and is good for up to 10 people dining...it also includes alcohol in the discount and is applied to your entire meal - so your appetizers are covered and whatever you care to order..alot more freedom than the dining plan. The dinign plan supposedly saves you 20%, but that doesn't include alot of stuff..like alcohol and, with the regular plan, appetizers. If your kids are under 10, they'll have to order off thew kiddie menu when there is one.
I know for us, a family of 3, we easily spend $80 or $100 before tip each meal...that would be $600 for just the ressies you already have, and just for the 3 of us....the savings on that is $120 (20%) with TIW.....
So, you have to average out how many of you there are, how many will have drinks...do you prefer to have appetizers....etc....

My daughter will be 1 and its 2 of us. We will be going again since we are getting the annual pass.

 

[aylinb]

Do you have an annual pass? I see you're a Florida resident so you are still eligible for TIW, however it will cost you more for the membership if you don't have an annual pass.

I see it's only three nights at WDW (December 4-7). If you got the regular dining plan you would get 3 TS credits per person to spend. That means you could use credits for only three of the six meals you have booked and you'd have to pay out of pocket for the other 3. Plus you'd have 3 CS credits you would need to use somewhere.

If you got the deluxe plan, that is 3 meal credits (TS or CS) per night, for three nights that is 9 credits per person. How old is the child? If she is under three you won't get any meal credits for her but she'd eat free at all the restaurants you named except Whispering Canyon (and there, she could eat off the all you can eat skillet for free if she is under 3)

You have six restaurants booked so you'd still have 3 credits left to use on deluxe.

If you get a TIW card, you'd have to spend enough to make up the cost of the membership in discounts. For an annual pass membership ($75) you need to spend over $375 in the year you have the membership. If you don't have an annual pass it's $100 for a year's Florida resident membership and I think you'd have to spend at least $400. If three nights is a lot of time for you to be at WDW I am not sure you would end up using it enough, unless you go on short trips all year.

My daughter will be 1 and its 2 of us. We will be going again since we are getting the annual passes.

 

[aylinb]

I'd probably get deluxe dining and see if I could squeeze in more ressies on day in or out.

thank you for your help!

 

[TDC Nala]

If your daughter is one you will be buying DDP only for the adults, if that is what you choose.

Deluxe dining plan will run you about $72 a night per adult and you will need to try and fit in an extra 3 meals.

Basic plan is about $42 a night per adult and you will still have three table services that you have to pay for.

Everything you have booked except for Whispering Canyon is buffet or family style and are fixed prices. This is not the greatest deal for adults on DDP. On the other hand, if this is your only trip in the next year, you may not do too well with a TIW either. Remember TIW also gives you a discount on alcoholic beverages if you order those. I would add up the cost for the six meals (easy to do as they are all fixed price except Whispering Canyon) and see if you would spend enough to get some discount back on TIW - especially since you will be buying meals at these places only for the two adults and will not be paying for the child.

 

[aylinb]

Thank you so very much!