WDW just raised dining plan prices.

[WDW in Pearls]

I like to use the dining plan numbers to set an oop budget for future trips.

Will menus reflect a bump also?

GOOD QUESTION!! Very important to know in order to determine whether or not its still worth it.

In the 90s my family always swore by the dining plan. Now, I always end up going during a free dining week so it's a no brainer. As long as the price of the plan still makes sense, I think I'd still pay for it. As other posters said, it's nice not to have to worry about money as much when you go out to eat.

 

[curlysue17]

I think we are going to add the dining plan this year

 

[MomofIndigo]

This will be our first year without the DDP. We priced it out with a soda or drink and a dessert and we still came out ahead. Plus this give us the freedom to have a combination of TS and CS when we want to.

The last two times we did not enjoy the plan so this year will be our first without it.

 

[Tekneek]

The dining plan is rarely worth it. With the mugs being taken out of QSDP (reportedly), that one will surely never be worth the price they charge. Disney has a long list of good ideas that they've slowly destroyed the value of, once they've been able to hook people onto them. It takes a while for some to realize that it is no longer a deal (while Disney counts the money like Uncle Scrooge).

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I keep thinking I want to try it out on one of my solo trips but when I price what I want to eat and compare it with the dining plan, it hasn't been worth it.

This makes me wonder if Disney will be raising food prices again too.

 

[WDWFRV]

We do not do the DP because we have breakfast in our room and I could not eat big meals three times a day because we have a complete kitchen. I have been going to Disney every year since 2003 and this year we wanted to book a couple of breakfasts during our trip and OMG the prices have gone up terribly. We wanted to book Chef Mickey's and it is 33.00 per adult. I find it very expensive for a breakfast (yes I know that it is a character breakfast but...) instead we booked at Kona Cafe, oh yes, the Tonga Toast and more affordable. The worst one to me is Cinderella Royal Table for breakfast at 58.00 for breaksfast, now that is totally outrageous. I am glad that we got to do it with the kids in 2003 because we could not afford it at that price.

 

[Just People]

I've used the ddp a total of 3x ( I think). 2x when they first offered free dining AND included the tip and once more OoP also with tip included (good old days!). I don't get why people claim they use it for convenience. Really, is whipping out a credit card and ordering exactly what you want really that much of a hassle?

 

[rwdavis2]

...I don't get why people claim they use it for convenience. Really, is whipping out a credit card and ordering exactly what you want really that much of a hassle?

I agree. We did it for the first time in January (discounted) and I would never, ever, pay full price for it. There's just no upside.

 

[FireDancer]

I can't imagine a scenario where the dinning plan is a good value if it is paid for at full price. I also have never understood the argument that it helps set a budget. Trading a lower variable cost for a higher fixed cost just seems silly. I'd rather not know what I'm going to be paying for food but pay less. Lastly I hear all the time about people having to eat more than they normally would to make it a "value". What the heck is wrong with people? I'm not going to eat more than I need to so that I can claim my overpriced dinning plan was a "value".

The whole dinning plan thing has to be a virtual money tree for Disney.

 

[rwdavis2]

I can't imagine a scenario where the dinning plan is a good value if it is paid for at full price. I also have never understood the argument that it helps set a budget. Trading a lower variable cost for a higher fixed cost just seems silly. I'd rather not know what I'm going to be paying for food but pay less. Lastly I hear all the time about people having to eat more than they normally would to make it a "value". What the heck is wrong with people? I'm not going to eat more than I need to so that I can claim my overpriced dinning plan was a "value".

The whole dinning plan thing has to be a virtual money tree for Disney.

Agreed. We found that we had more food than we would normally eat.