Value of dining plan for young couple

[mystery222184]

I know there are several threads relating to this but hopefully the thread allows us to finally figure out our best option.

I will be taking my gf to the GF next week for 6 days. We booked with the 40% room only discount and as of now do not have a dining plan. Even though we didn't exactly choose a discount resort, we would still like to save money where we can.

We know we will be buying the refillable mugs that come free with a few of the plans and will be eating at the GF and the parks throughout our stay. For those with more experience in this situation, would we be best off with a dining plan (which one) or avoiding and buying as we go?

Thanks!!

 

[sharonabe]

My first question is, have you made any dining reservations (ADRs)? Your going next week, which is not a horribly crowded time, but getting ADRs where and when you want to eat may be difficult.

So, my first suggestion is to decide where you want to eat and when and then go to disneyworld.com and see if you can get the ADRs you want. Go ahead and book them as they may not be there the next time you check. Then "order" your meal by looking at the menus (at the dining tab above) without regard to cost and total it up to see if the amount is more or less than the cost of a dining plan.

Getting DDP or DxDDP will depend on how many sit downs you want to do and what those are.

 

[mystery222184]

My first question is, have you made any dining reservations (ADRs)? Your going next week, which is not a horribly crowded time, but getting ADRs where and when you want to eat may be difficult.

So, my first suggestion is to decide where you want to eat and when and then go to disneyworld.com and see if you can get the ADRs you want. Go ahead and book them as they may not be there the next time you check. Then "order" your meal by looking at the menus (at the dining tab above) without regard to cost and total it up to see if the amount is more or less than the cost of a dining plan.

Getting DDP or DxDDP will depend on how many sit downs you want to do and what those are.

Thanks for the reply! To be honest, having not been to WDW since 2001, and my gf never been, I guess I would need more research (quickly). I know she wanted to eat at one of the nicer/more popular restaurants once. Other than that we would likely be looking at quicker spots like the Grill at GF or the parks (Im sure we would be trying one of the foreign places at Epcot as well.

 

[Faldred]

Based on your most recent message, it sounds like a dining plan might not be a great option for this trip.

I find the quick service plan (QSDP) to be a little hard to do better than break even on. If you're adding it this late, there'll also be a $10 or $15 change fee, even with an upgrade. The one thing in its favor is that you're already planning on getting the travel mugs, so if you're going to average 2 counter service meals each per night, it might work out OK.

The basic DDP is a bit harder to justify. You really need a sit-down meal per night to make it worthwhile, and if you're a week out without ADRs, that's going to be hard to pull off. Plus, no resort mug. The good news is that the nice (signature) restaurants are probably easier to get into if you're flexible on time -- the bad news is that in general, double-credit restaurants aren't worth it on basic DDP.

And we won't even get into deluxe (DxDP), because it's an order or magnitude worse of an idea without advance reservation planning.

 

[sharonabe]

With only a week out, and only wanting to do one or two sit downs, you are probably better with OOP.

Playing around with menus and finding things I WANT to eat as opposed to getting the best value for what I paid for a DDP is one of my DIS hobbies. I can actually eat three meals a day with one of those being table service and even a buffet or two for less money than the DDP costs. The reason for that is I normally drink water and I only want a dessert if it's a REALLY good dessert.

You do need to decide where you want to sit down to eat and make those ADRs. The dining tab above will take you to the menus or allearsnet.com also has a great menu list. I would do this ASAP.

 

[havoc315]

Buying for the dining plans, for the vast majority of adults, is really an upsell, not a discount.
Take an adult who already planned on eating 2 qs meals per day, at a cost of about $20-25. Disney offers you the upsell of the mugs plus 2 snacks for $10 more.

Or take the adult who planned on 1 ts meal and 1 cs meal for about $35-40... for "just" 46, Disney will "throw in" desserts with every meal and a snack.

The so-called savings, is really just a discount on extras that you might not have bought.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Buying for the dining plans, for the vast majority of adults, is really an upsell, not a discount.

Take an adult who already planned on eating 2 qs meals per day, at a cost of about $20-25. Disney offers you the upsell of the mugs plus 2 snacks for $10 more.

Or take the adult who planned on 1 ts meal and 1 cs meal for about $35-40... for "just" 46, Disney will "throw in" desserts with every meal and a snack.

The so-called savings, is really just a discount on extras that you might not have bought.

Your very smart. Thats exactly what it is! its an upsell. Its not too late to get ADRs right now. on the disney website, in the reservation system, just select the "lunch" or "dinner" option instead of putting in an actual time....then select which park or resort you wanna go to....you should get a list of restaurants pop up. There's always something available as long as your not picky. Plus its much easier seating two ppl rather than 3 or more. heck, i even think you could get away with a couple of walk ups. I've had friends who did it many times.

 

[purple figment]

I guess I would need more research (quickly) .

Yes because any dining plan has to be added no later than 48 hours before you arrive. Also, it has to be part of a package (room + tickets + dining plan). You can book a ticketless package if you have an AP, are a DVC member or qualify for military tickets.

(Oops, sorry, it's 72 hours before arrival. Thanks Nala for the correction.)

Even if you decide not to add a dining plan, making reservations now for TS restaurants you would like to try is highly recommended.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes because any dining plan has to be added no later than 48 hours before you arrive.

it's 72 hours on a package reservation (which the OP doesn't have so he would have to purchase some tickets to make it a package unless he's an annual passholder, plus possibly pay the "nominal" fee for doing it within 2 weeks of arrival) and 48 on a DVC reservation.

As the OP really does not have any idea of where they want to eat and are leaving within days, a dining plan, which requires planning and forethought if you choose one with table service options, would probably not be the best option for them. They could do the QS plan, but as noted it is harder to make the QS plan work out as a moneysaver.

 

[Reddy]

My thought - how are ya at budgeting???
can you save the money so you can eat on the last day
I do QS just so that is one less thing I have to worry about

 

[mystery222184]

Thanks for all the input guys!

We are going to go without the dining plan. After looking into it a bit further and reviewing the advice from this thread, I don't think we would do much better than break even at best.

I appreciate the advice on searching for a general meal period (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) to book a reservation as well. While the times are more limited, it does seem many options are available. Any recommendations on a favorite signature dining restaurant (whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner)? Since we would like to try at least one of Disney's signature restaurants, it would be great to find a well regarded one.

 

[TDC Nala]

Right at your resort, there is Citricos (my preference of the two) and Narcoosees for signature dining. A short monorail ride away at the Contemporary, you have the California Grill, which is most popular for its view of the Magic Kingdom. I think they have great appetizers and sushi but the entrees are not fabulous.