To Dining Plan or Not Dining Plan?

[Bigeasy]

OK, so maybe an old argument.

I remember our last visit, after about the fourth day we could not fit so much food in our tummies. But going over the plan again for our upcoming trip in March it still seems the way to go. The wife does not want us to cook while on vacation, maybe mac n cheese for the little ones for an emergency.

So, do you guys like the dining plan or not. Lots of food for sure.

BLT see you soon!

 

[westcoastsunshine]

I still think it is the right way to go as I have
done both ways and came out ahead using
the dining plan.

 

[Mtnman44]

If you have kids under 10, and want to eat in the parks, especially at a table service each day, then I think you still come out ahead.

 

[rcchello]

Depends on your families eating habits. It has never worked with my family, but then we are not big eaters and likely to share an entree. My kids many times do not eat with us, so we use a DVC or a Annual Pass discount and have our main meal at lunch and the kids will use fast service.

We also have to eat barbeque at a local restaurant at least once during the vacation.

Our total food bill probably only adds up to the cost of the fast food dining plan, even with our couple of sit down meals.

 

[dsneygirl]

The Dining plan doesn't work for us anymore. Last trip was 10 days and we split a lot of meals. At most CS places we did 2 entrees for the 3 of us and several TS we split an entree and got a couple apps. Also I like the flexibility of NOT being on the plan. Last trip DS was ill for 2 days so we missed all our ADRs.

We also had a trip where it rained for days so we ordered pizza one night. We would have paid for a meal we didn't eat.

When we first did the plan it included app and tip now you pay more for less.

 

[hollis]

If you eat a lot and always like to eat onsite, then dining plan makes sense.

For us, we like the flexibility to eat out or order pizza (think room service). Also, I try not to have the family eat like crazy even though we are on vacation, given that we like relaxed vacations so we usually stay at WDW for 2+ weeks. Not doing the dining plan allows us to eat something lighter for some of the meals.

 

[hollis]

Just read in another thread MS (or the system) now allows splitting up the trip to get DP on part of the stay.

 

[sweetdana]

If you do a char. buffet every other day and a signiture every 3 days it will work out. If you do alot of QS or inexpensive TS like Yak and Yeti, Tony's, Rose and Crown, and if you split alot. I think it is better without the DP. This is especially true if you have 2-3 kids under 10, where 1 Char. dinner is the same price as 3-4 days of the dining plan. I think you can make it work, or make it not. Totally a choice.

 

[Dean]

It's a specialty item that works for some and not for others. Those that it tends to work the best for are shorter trips, kids in the cheaper age range, and those that plan the higher end options. Each change in the DDP will change the groups it works for, the upcoming change will likely make it work better overall for more people.