Torn between Dining PLans ... Please HELP!

[nursingsteph]

Ok i am going to disney in march with my DH, DS and my husbands cousin who is a 11. my son is only 1. I currently have the 1 ts, 1 qs, and 1 snack and the others we are going with have upgraded to the deluxe dining plan. Is this worth it. DH and I are on weight watchers and we dont want to feel like we are eating all day in restaruants but then again we dont want to spend alot of pocket to eat. Open to any suggestions.

 

[rangermom]

If you don't want to feel like you are eating all day, I would go with the DDP. You will be suprised at how much food it is. We always have plenty of snack credits left over and we spend them on the day to take home. A lot of the counter service meals are pretty filling also. DH and I usually share a meal. We will typically share a meal for breakfast and lunch and then have a sit down dinner. Plenty of food in my opinion and we both really love to eat.

On our last trip we used the QS plan and paid out of pocket for a few sit doen dinners. We were very happy with this plan also. Again plenty of food adn I think we ended the trip with 24 extra snack credits. (We are a family of 5).

 

[blessedby3]

We were on the counter service plan on our trip last March. 4 adults, 1 child, 1 baby. We had tons of food, and lots of snacks left over at the end. We bought lots of Mickey Rice Krispie bars to share with friends back home. We also paid oop for a character breakfast and a dinner at Trails End and it was cheaper than the regular meal plan. Plus we each got a refillable mug on the CS plan.
We dont like to have a sit down meal everday. We prefer to be on the rides, so the CS plan worked great for us. I also have a baby who doesnt like to sit in a high chair for long at all, so I didnt want to have to deal daily with that from her.

 

[brymolmom]

I would stick to what you have - ESPECIALLY if you don't want to go overboard on WW. We get the DDP (1TS, 1CS, 1snack) when we do get it - and manage to NEVER buy anything out of pocket - or at least a very small amount - insignificant.

We bring a box of cereal in our luggage and between that and a couple snack credits - there's breakfast - except for the 2 or so days when we have buffets planned for bfast.

We split CS meals - and since the 11 year old is going to get an 'adult' meal - this shouldn't be difficult. Sometimes we get an extra side or two using snack credits - this will likely be good for the 1 year old. Splitting an adult meal with an extra side of fruit or something on the side.

And for TS, stick to buffets or mostly buffets and the 1 year old can eat as much as he/she wants for free. At sit downs, if the baby is a big eater - you could splurge for one or two kids meals purchased - but that would only be a small amount over the course of a week.

Even on the basic DDP - I feel like I eat WAY TOO MUCH. I can't imagine eating on the deluxe - I imagine you just have to be deciplined enough to say 'no' to desserts or appetizers or extra meals that you are just too stuffed to eat.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

QS is the best! I'm also doing weight watchers, I've gone in the last 2 years 2x with the 1ts, 1qs and snack (not on ww) and it was so much to eat. We actually downgraded from that plan free to qs. You can eat what and when you want instead of dealing with the ressies, plus, not tip $$$ spent!
There were plenty of options with the QS, we were never hungry and we were happy. With the other plan it was uncomfortable all the time, always full or not wanting to go eat at ressie time. Made the trip more enjoyable I think.

 

[Alesia]

Have you considered going without a dining plan?

We were there for 9 days and only had 3 TS meals. The rest of the meals, we would usually split 2 CS meals between the 3 of us. We had the freedom to eat what we wanted, when we wanted, but the best part is that we spent $700 less than we would have if we had gotten the DDP.

 

[worm761]

How many meals are you planning? We had the DDP the last time we went and loved it. We did end up having to buy some meals though. So we will be getting the DxDDP on our next trip. We are a eat three meals a day family. I tried the whole eat breakfast in the room thing and it just doesn't work for us. We also don't share meals. We rarely ordered the same thing the entire week. I think you should look at the menu's and figure out which would be cheaper for you. I know we could do it cheaper without the dining plans BUT DBF would order what was cheapest and not what he really wanted. I like being able to sit down to a meal and not worry about the price of the food. Another plus to the DxDDP is that it has appetizers. We prefer those over dessert. You only have to eat what you want. I know a few times on the last trip I didn't order dessert. I either wasn't in the mood or was full. After we got home and I ran the numbers, we still came out ahead, if you don't include the stuff we paid out of pocket for.

 

[mjkacmom]

The average restaurant entree is about 1000, not including sides, appy's, or dessert. Do you really need to be served, with everything included, 5000 calories a day? I'd just plan to share meals.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

For me, I would stick to the plan that you have. The deluxe is way to much food, plus it would take up so much more time. It's hard enough to make one TBS a day.

 

[let'sgo]

The regular dining plan used to include appetizers and it was WAY too much food. Even with the regular dining plan that does not include the appetizers it tends to be too much food for me. I would definitely stay with what you have. You won't go hungry.

 

[TinkerBrie]

I think the regular dining plan is enough. I can't even imagine eating more in a day then the regular plan!!

 

[Evi]

i think it depends on where you would eat if you were not on dinning plan. If you would do lots of restaurant eating and not much counter service or alot of 2 table service meals then it would be worth it. But if your happy to eat 1 sit down full service meal and one quick service I'd go with regular dp. If you tend to eat off site, in room and just a few quick service I'd go out of pocket. Personally we always do dining plan but I end up paying for a few out of pocket I need to calculate how much of a difference it would cost us for our next trip.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Ok i am going to disney in march with my DH, DS and my husbands cousin who is a 11. my son is only 1. I currently have the 1 ts, 1 qs, and 1 snack and the others we are going with have upgraded to the deluxe dining plan. Is this worth it. DH and I are on weight watchers and we dont want to feel like we are eating all day in restaruants but then again we dont want to spend alot of pocket to eat. Open to any suggestions.

IMHO
Deluxe was WAY overkill, too much food, too much time, (each meal is 1 1/2 hours, PLus your travel time to/from and wait time, with deluxe and apps and dessert it seems even longer, UGH!) it is so time consuming. We only do the regular dine plane each trip now and LOVE it. We have a lovely sit down meal each night for dinner, use counter for lunch and a quick yogurt or something at food court OOP for breakfast. I have to add that I find Disney food VERY salted as well, so talk about watching out.....I usually LOSE weight each trip from all the walking we do, and I LOVE it...
Have a great trip whatever you decide.