To Do the Dining Plan or not???

[famofour]

Can't decide if we should do the basic dining plan in Feb. or not...
We are 2 adults, 1 ds15 and 1 dd11

Dining Plans:
Tues - Primetime 50's - dinner
Wed - TBD
Thur - Le Cellier - early dinner
Fri - Raglan Road - dinner
Sat - Coral Reef - lunch or dinner
Sun - Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package(?)

We tend to eat one big meal a day with snacks before... We'll plan to eat breakfast in our room or at the resort (CSR) and grab a snack or two during the day at the parks since we'll have sit-down dinners each night.

I'm thinking we'll benefit from the Dining Plan because we do have plans to dine at these specific table-service restaurants and we can order any entree without worrying about the cost.

We'll budget $ in for alcoholic drinks and tips as well. We like our cocktails! LOL

So with all that said... we are guesstimating we would spend about $1500-$1600 OOP for all (all dining, drinks and tips). Dining plan for 6 nights/4 people is $959.76 - so based on a budget of $1500, that's $540 for tips and alcohol (I know those drinks can add up).

Sounds like it makes sense to try the Dining Plan this time????

Also - if we plan to do the Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose, how does that work with the Dining Plan?

Thanks for any input!
P

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I know nothing of Mama Melrose!! Sorry--all I know is I have never tried it because I always see negative reviews

As far as the ddp, all 4 of you would be on the adult plan. Once a child is 10 they bump up off the kids menu.We are a fam of 5, oldest is over 10, younger 2 are under. So...My older boy can eat like an adult, so this works for him!!! I also usually plan for us to do one sit down(Table Service) meal per day and one Counter Service per day. This works out great. We do breakfast in the room and you have snack credits to use--this is usually enough. Unless you go for dining experiences and need more than one TS per day this should be plenty. If you look through the rest. available and decide you want to do 2(or 3) TS style meals per day, you need to bump up to Deluxe Dining Plan. That said, it is definitely worth it doing one CS meal and one TS meal per day---one meal at Cinderella's castle, or a TS place at Epcot will cost more than your dining plan for the day!! So it's really like getting your CS and snack that day for free. Remember that tips are not included any more--but that's okay-you are free to pay what you want. Hope this helps you a little bit!!
OH!! Pay attention to the restaraunts that are 2 TS credits--this can kinda creep up on you and make you feel like you are being shorted one meal. Dinner shows and signature rest. use 2!!

 

[TxRabbit]

It sounds like the DDP would save you money. I haven't stayed at CSR, nor eaten at the Pepper Market, but judging from your post, if you plan to use CS credits to get breakfast, use the TS each day, and actually use your snack credits (many people find themselves with extra snack credits at the end of their vacation), you should definitely get the DDP.

The Fantasmic Package is simply one TS credit. When you eat at the restaurant, I think that you get some sort of ticket or pass to get you into the reserved section for Fantasmic that evening.

Happy planning!

 

[ReneeA]

As long as our kids are still "children" on the DDP, it remains a good value for us and fits in with our touring style.

I'm not sure it will remain that way once they are considered "adults" on the plan. It sounds like you've done the plan and it would work in your situation...but that's really the only way to know...just sit down with the menus and pricing and figure it out.

Good luck!

 

[Krmrr]

Let's look at min/max cost per TS for your choices.

Tues - Primetime 50's - dinner Min $21 Max $30
Wed - TBD
Thur - Le Cellier - early dinner Min $31 - Max $45
Fri - Raglan Road - dinner $23 - $38
Sat - Coral Reef - lunch or dinner $27 Max $43
Sun - Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package $18 - $31

Take 4x the above and add it up. Min $480 - $748 + 1 TS meal on Wed. Am assuming about $100.

Generally, I find a CS meal is about $10-$16 and a snack is $3 so 24 Counter service meals and 24 snacks would cost.

24 times $13 = $312 Min and $460 Max.

So your Min cost = $480 + 100 + 312 = $892

Max cost =$748 + 100 + 460 = $1308.

$959.76 for the dining plan - So if you always got the minimum cost meal (tofu skewers, whippee!) you would lose about $60. But, it's pretty hard to do. You'll probably end up saving $200-250 or about 22% TO 27%.

AND don't forget when your 15 year old bottomless pit, asks for the $34 9oz steak at Coral Seas, you won't bat an eye when you say "Sure, you can have it!"

For Wed, I would recommend the Marrakesh in the
World showcase. My wife and I love it.

Have fun!

 

[famofour]

Thanks! That last post is a great perspective!

 

[TxRabbit]

I am lovin the mix/max analysis for the DDP.

Very helpful!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Krmrr---are you a math teacher ? That was great--I love when people can break it down like that--really makes it understandable. That's usually dh's job!!!!

 

[LSchrow]

we've used the DDP for every one of our trips where it was offered.

in may, DH & i i ate at coral reef (steak is one of the best on site ), spoodles, biergarten, Lecellier, etc.
CS included repeated visits to WPE (our favorite), pepper market (amazing variety & value), as well as a few "just okay" choices (eg, casey's corner).

we ordered what happened to be some of the most expensive items on the menus (ordered b/c we previously enjoyed the items, not b/c of price ).

the DDP basically covered the cost of our dinners, with the CS & snack a "freebie", saving us aprox $20+ per person, per night.

btw, on a family trip two weeks ago (7 ppl), we used the DDE (inc alcohol, & daily sit down b'fasts & dinners ~ waaaaaay too much food for me tho ). it's a great value for larger groups that also like alcohol with their meals.
DH & i are going back at the end of this month & we want to eat less sit-down meals, as well as some off-site, for a change. we'll use our DDE for our one on-site sit-down, coral reef. i guess 2-3 times a year on the DDP feels a bit confining
enjoy your trip!

 

[LakeAriel]

I never thought I would say this but I crunched the numbers on our recent trip and found we spent less then we would have with the DDP. There were 5 adults and one child. Only three nights pre-cruise. We ate in Tusker House, Crystal Palace and Coral Reef. For lunch we ate in POFQ, Tangerines and the Plaza. I had purchased the DDE (20 % off all meals and drinks except in Morocco) for $60 as I have an annual pass. Granted, if we had the plan we may have eaten more and dined at Chefs and Le Cellier but we needed neither. At $37.99 times 5 plus $11.99 per day...it just didn't save us anything in it's current offering. (minus tip and appetizer)

I highly recommend looking in to the DDE card which is good for a year.

 

[Krmrr]

Well, I have been a math teacher 36 years ago (MS in math). But most of my life, I've been a reference Librarian (now retired and doing consulting). BTW, I forgot to add in tax at 6.5%. I've used the dining plan so long at Disney that I forget about the sales tax.

That means you break even if you order the minimum priced items and you save 28% to 33% if you prefer the more expensive stuff. On our upcoming trip, we will have 6 days on the Deluxe plan. My wife and I will be able to roll home.

 

[famofour]

BTW, I forgot to add in tax at 6.5%. I've used the dining plan so long at Disney that I forget about the sales tax.

That means you break even if you order the minimum priced items and you save 28% to 33% if you prefer the more expensive stuff. On our upcoming trip, we will have 6 days on the Deluxe plan. My wife and I will be able to roll home.

I have a feeling DS and DH will prefer the more pricy meals! Also - TS includes a non-alcoholic beverage and dessert per person, so that's more added-value!

I'm pretty sure we're planning on doing the dining plan after reading these responses! Thanks!

Now... if my AAA TA would get on my ADR's I'll be all set! LOL

 

[pooch]

I have a feeling DS and DH will prefer the more pricy meals! Also - TS includes a non-alcoholic beverage and dessert per person, so that's more added-value!

I'm pretty sure we're planning on doing the dining plan after reading these responses! Thanks!

Now... if my AAA TA would get on my ADR's I'll be all set! LOL

But I wouldn't let my AAA TA do my ADRs. If they can't get what you want for a certain meal or you change your mind on something, it all has to go from you through the TA to Disney. My suggestion is to call and make your own ADRs. Its not that much trouble and you can be sure to get what you want when you want including the ability to change your mind!!! The direct route is the better way to go here!!