To Plan or Not To Plan????

[1stTimeDisneyer]

Dh & I are planning a 30th Birthday trip for me. We maybe going with my cousin, her husband, and her daughter. It will be our 3rd trip, her 2nd trip, and everyone else's 1st trip, so we want to make it a good one. And we all know Disney Dining helps makes a trip great. So because if this I am left with a few questions. DH & I have always used the DP, once we payed for it and once it was free, but both were before the new changes which we are not sure we will like. We also felt like it was to much food, like we were always eating way to much, which we did not care for (putting on flame suit now). So DH & I are thinking about paying out of pocket for our trip in 2009. We eat breakfast in the room, can split lunch and for dinner the only place we really like to have an appy or dessert is Le Cellier, 50's Prime Time, and Beaches and Cream (we always pay OOP here.) However, we think the other couple might like the DP because of the prepaide and more food options. Can anyone give me some info about paying oop compaired to the DP. Will we save or lose money this way. Also would it be weird for half of us to use the plan and the other half not to.

DH & I are not to sure what to do and we are not sure if we like the changes to the 2008 DP.



Thanks!

 

[Tricia1972]

The way your and your DH plan to eat is very similar to our plan for this coming March.

In crunching numbers we came out ahead $450 by not doing the DDP for our party of 5 adults, 1 child and 1 infant.

Unfortunately the only way to know for sure, for you, that you'll come out either ahead or behind is to crunch the numbers for yourself. Allearnet.com has the menus with pricing on their website. Take a look and see what you'd order if you got what you want paying OOP.

That being said, will you be dining with your family on the plan? If so, will it feel odd to you to just order an appetizer and dessert, while they get an entree and a dessert? That would be the main weird factor for you. As far as how the billing would work at the restaurant, that would not be a problem at all, just communicate to your server what you are doing when you sit down.

(A side note, part of the reason we aren't doing the DDP in March is for the same reasons you listed. OK food, overly stuffed feeling, etc)

 

[beroh2253]

Last 2 years DBIL and DSIL joined us for 3 TS each year, we were on the same ADR's (we were on the DDP and my DIL's were OOP) no problem anywhere just did split checks.

 

[1stTimeDisneyer]

Thank You!

 

[TLSnell1981]

I think everyone would be happy if they have the freedom to dine as they please. On the occaisions you can dine together....it will be a treat....otherwise....they may be unhappy because they prefer 3 meals a day....your unhappy because that's too much food. Some time away from one another can be a good thing....especially if you have different tastes in dining.

 

[septbaby]

What changes are would you not like? The plan now has less food and instead of paying OOP you just cover your tips? It seems the new changes match your eating style better than the previous version.

Also its your birthday don't you want to eat at one of the Signature places this time around? The dining plan can really help the costs with those.

To come close to knowing if you'll do better with or without the plan run the numbers based on what you would eat off the Disney menus plus the money you would spend on extra food for the room (breakfast items?). Be sure to add in extra for tips on the OOP side, but those are already included on the DP side. Finally consider the "feel" of the plan. You know what its like to be able to pick what you want, grab the snacks that you want on the DP. Do you want the same feel and will you get it OOP?

Happy Birthdy early and have a magical trip!