to do DDP or NOT??

[poohbearrocks]

thats the question...

the last two trips we have done the DDP - once paid and once Free Dining - my husband has come to LOVE it! He wants to do it again...here is the deal...my daughter is 10 - and eats like a bird...so $51 per day for her is sorta crazy - now we can probably split meal with her and my son when kid meals aren't available and make it last for 3 meals a day sharing...

Im sure we can keep it lower -but my DH knows that I will be "like do you really need that $20 item when this $15 looks as well..."

and LASTLY - do the character dining ask what age they are she doesn't LOOK 10 definatly doesn't EAT like a 10 yr old? or at a regular resturant, can she order from the kids meals if she wants?

I feel we will do it, just so I won't stress at the time on costs- we can save up and just pay the cost of it up front and not worry about it there...my husband doesn't normally get dessert, but will on the DDP and LOVES it... we will most likely buy at least 2 mugs - and maybe one for each of us, so those are included, so that is like one days worth...

 

[danceintherain]

Anyone can grab food from the "kids" section at buffets. Most other character dining locations are served family-style, and again anyone can eat from the kids selections, and they'll bring you more of whatever you want. The only exception is CRT.

Her being able to order off the kids menu will vary from restaurant to restaurant, server to server. Most restaurants will allow anyone to order off the kids menu, but they may give her an adult size portion. I'm not sure about the sharing. You probably can, but I've never tried it.

My DH is also obsessed with the Dining Plan. In the past few years, we've done one trip with the Dining Plan and two without. He preferred the trip with the Dining Plan, even though it didn't necessarily save us any money. In general, it saved us the cost of dessert and special drinks (smoothies and milkshakes). For our next trip, I ran the numbers, and we'll likely come out on top paying out of pocket for the items we actually want to eat. I need to run the numbers more precisely before I make my decision, but if we don't get the Dining Plan, we will be putting the amount of money I expect us to spend on a Disney Gift Card, and use that money to pay for all our meals. This way, we'll still be prepaying for our meals, but we have more flexibility with what we actually wish to order. I can feel free to order as little as I want, and DH can feel free to order an appetizer, the most expensive entree, and a dessert. Then, instead of extra credits or uneaten desserts at the end of the trip, it will be extra cash, which we can either hold onto for a future trip, or use for a fun souvenir.

 

[havoc315]

I'm of the mindset that if you have a light eating 10 year old, who prefers the kids meals, then the dining plans make no sense, as you are wasting about $30-40 per night.

But there is 1 way to make it work --- adult credits can be used by any adult. So let the real adults use her credits. And pay for kids meals for her, oop. Gives you a few extra ts meals.

 

[Cafeen]

I'm of the mindset that if you have a light eating 10 year old, who prefers the kids meals, then the dining plans make no sense, as you are wasting about $30-40 per night.

But there is 1 way to make it work --- adult credits can be used by any adult. So let the real adults use her credits. And pay for kids meals for her, oop. Gives you a few extra ts meals.

If you are interested in doing a couple extra non fixed price (buffets, family style, etc) meals, then this is certainly a viable thing to do. Just mention to the server when you are ordering that you'll be paying OOP for her meal (if they allow her to get a kids' meal).

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

You must run the numbers to see if the dining plan will actually save you money. I got to allears and check out the places I am eating at, what we would eat (ONLY what we would eat, if we wouldn't eat dessert, I don't calculate it), then add it all up and add in tax. If the dining plan costs less, get it. If not, don't!