We didn't do the dining plan and here's the result...

[chanty]

We were 2 adults. We were at WDW for 7 days/6 nights.
The total cost of food at WDW during our stay was $420 total. Dining plan would have cost us more - Quick Service would have been close but still...not sure if it's worth it.

A -We often ate an appetizer and no desserts -
this would not have been included in the plan. Hopefully, Disney will realize that it would be advantageous for them to add the following - choice of either appetizer OR dessert. If they did this - more people would get the dining plan I'm sure.

B - We often split our meals.

C - We are snackers...we love to snack around the world!

D - We ate 5 TS meals (Crystal Palace Breakfast, ESPN, Big River Grill, Beaches & Cream, Sci-Fi) - tabs were in average between $30-50

We didn't regret not getting the Dining Plan and if Disney doesn't change their options, I don't think we'll be getting it anytime soon...

 

[betmust]

I am going Nov 9 - 16 and staying at Fort Wilderness.
There are 3 of us. I did not get the dining plan either. I was able to save almost $800 with the discount and felt I would probably not spend that much on food.
I think taking the discount instead of going with the dining plan is to our advantage. It does work out for some people though.

Bette

 

[Smile&Nod]

My daughter and I have gotten the dining plan the last few years, but for our upcoming January 2011 trip we are not getting it - we just decided that it took away too much flexibility about what parks to do when with having to have ADRs so far in advance for all the TS options plus it was just too much food - we always felt to "get our money's worth" that we should get dessert . . . this year we're going to pay OOP for everything and for an 8 night stay have just 3 TS ADRs! We're at the BWV so we will have a kitchen and will eat more meals in the room!

 

[beansmom]

we genereally do not get the DP because we spend less OOP and we never eat a full meal per person. Never.

For Us, the best way to do the DP is to book ONE night on the premium package and live it up those days.

 

[ccgirl]

We tend to spend more than the dining plan cost. We usually eat at 1 TS meal a day. Usually character meals so they tend to be a bit more. I think when we added up the receipts our last trip we saved approx $300 doing the dining plan. It really depends on your eating habits and which venues you dine at.

 

[kaybird]

Glad this worked out for you. Our experience was just the opposite. We ditched the plan last summer, ate frugally, and just barely came in under the plan costs, and did not eat desserts, purchase drinks with meals, and for sure ate 1/2 the snacks. For us, the worry over how much does it cost when we get there is well worth the plan.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Glad this worked out for you. Our experience was just the opposite. We ditched the plan last summer, ate frugally, and just barely came in under the plan costs, and did not eat desserts, purchase drinks with meals, and for sure ate 1/2 the snacks. For us, the worry over how much does it cost when we get there is well worth the plan.

This is why we love the Dining Plan. $ for $ we could probably save a few by not doing the Dining Plan. But I am a budget crazy person the rest of the year. Having the Plan eliminates my problem of cost analysis on everything we consume on vacation. I know myself...even if I had xxx$$ budgeted for food, I would find myself ordering less expensive options (even if I didn't want them) to feel safe that we were within budget..The true *value* of the Dining Plan for me is the ability to have everything paid in advance and letting everyone (especially myself) order whatever they want.

ETA: Sorry OP! Didn't mean to go off track on your post! And I totally agree with you...I WISH they would let you choose either an appy or a dessert.

 

[beansmom]

we would definitely DO the DP IF there was some way NOT to have to purchase it for everyone in the room. I simply cannot eat even HALF to food on the DP.

 

[Faldred]

I'm really not sure what "case studies" like this are supposed to show. You chose to eat in a way that was significantly different than what the dining plan offers, and therefore the dining plan wasn't a good fit for you. It's kind of a tautology, isn't it?

For people who wish to dine reasonably closely to what the dining plan is structured to provide, they're going to have a significantly different take.

Neither is more correct than the other. It's just common sense: dine the way the plan's designed and it works, don't and it doesn't.

 

[havoc315]

I'm really not sure what "case studies" like this are supposed to show. You chose to eat in a way that was significantly different than what the dining plan offers, and therefore the dining plan wasn't a good fit for you. It's kind of a tautology, isn't it?

For people who wish to dine reasonably closely to what the dining plan is structured to provide, they're going to have a significantly different take.

Neither is more correct than the other. It's just common sense: dine the way the plan's designed and it works, don't and it doesn't.

For a newbie or someone less educated about the dining plan, there can be an incorrect assumption that the dining plan is generic and works for most people. (Just as the dining plan on most cruise ships is designed to work for the vast majority of the guests). Thus, a post like this, is quite educational. Some people feel the DDP gives them more freedom (to get more expensive entrees and more frequent snacks/desserts), while other people feel that is restricts their freedom (by forcing them to do an exact number of TS meals, by steering them towards desserts instead of soups, salads and appetizers).

I do think, that the way the DDP was designed 5 years ago --- It was of value and benefit to the majority of guests, 5 years ago. (There were man y different combinations that could bring value), but as the prices have increased, and the limitations have increased, it is informative to see how the DDP no longer works for many people.

 

[hsmamato2]

I can understand OP....I have the DDP for an upcoming trip for the 1st time ever and b/c we know of many places we'd like to eat and spend $$$ but never have b/c of that- it will work out to our advantage...I priced out the cost of a cs + TS meal daily plus a snack for the 4 of us the DDP costs much less than OOP.
with no sharing,the kids getting only ice water (it's vacation!) etc etc that we usually do..... it will be a fun experience to eat what we want for one whole week without worry!

 

[Capt'n Tom]

We usually do the DDP and will do it on our up coming trip in Dec. We upgraded a few years ago to the Deluxe and found that it was just way too much food for us. I do see a day when it is just my wife and I going the the plan will not be required (it is on this trip - two 14 year old growing boys - eat everything in site). It is truly all about what works for your own individual taste.

 

[Nohal]

We usually go in Sept and get the dining plan for free. We stay at a value and I was hoping for a bounceback for the DDP but it didn't happen. We will book the dining for next Sept and upgrade from QSDP to DDP because with 2 adults it is worth it. I like the idea that my food is paid for, and I can eat at restaurants that I normally wouldn't eat at. So for us it is a good deal.

 

[Sofia's Dad]

I use to think the DDP was the way to go. Years ago when it included the tip it seemed like a good value. When you ad a 20 % gratuity its starting to make me wonder.
What I like about it is you get to splurge at a signature restaurant. Yes it counts as 2 credits but the expense of it helps when you have the DDP. But its a lot of food. Appetizer's , main meal and a desert. Have a drink with that and you are stuffed. What i don't like about it is you book it 180 days before and you have a lot of meals that you have to include with your schedule.
I had just gotten back early September. I really enjoyed myself. Even Though I wasn't Sharpe on the resort (CBR) and I wasn't thrilled with all the meals. I really feel many of the Disney's restaurants have gone "slightly" down in quality. Not extremely but enough to notice. Some of the restaurants have different cooks and have eliminated some of the previous meals. Also they might have had a different way of cooking our earlier favorites. For these reasons i am really thinking of paying for the moment. meaning, when I go on the next trip I will eat when I'm hungry and stop at a place close by. Also DTD has some good places. I want to try some of them next time. But all in all I don't think the DP's are as good of a deal as it once was.

 

[bluslag]

4 years ago we used the DDP for the next 2 years. We had a party of 6 and the first year it worked great because it included the apps. We usually ordered the app and did not get the dessert much. We like to enjoy our meal and later as we are out for the evening pick up some dessert, coffee, or beer. Also having the tip included made it that more attractive. The next year we were there with the same group and they took out the app and you had to pay your own tip. Once you take away something that you were used to it makes it difficult and I think we became more critical. The next few years we were there with immediate family and had a large group so we couldn't use the DDP because of the coming and going of the family. After talking it over with my husband for the time that we are just there it still doesn't pay for us to do the DDP. We have gotten more interested in getting just what we want in quantity and quality. So when we order for the 2 of us at Disney we usually order a 1 or 2 apps and one entre. The desserts at Disney are almost all the same in the all the parks and it has to be outstanding for us to want a dessert. So we figure we save money by ordering just what we want and we leave the restaurant feeling not overstuffed and usually get to try something that is different and interesting.
I wish Disney could figure out something that would fit our lifestyle but I think we are not the norm. The DDP is great that it is all prepaid and we like that but it just doesn't fit us anymore. The thing I don't like is that Disney streamlines most of the restaurant to fit the DDP. Anyway we still love Disney and we will be back for more.

 

[Tammy296]

Sounds like you folks made out VERY well...

If Disney doesn't change with the dining plan soon (preferrably back to the way it was in 2007) we might do this from now on ourselves.

Every year since 2007 that we go, we become more dissapointed with the plan due to the cuts etc. While we love disney the dining plan and costs associated just do not seem worth it anymore. I don't care how "worry free" it appears. Appearances are just THAT

:

 

[Bete]

I really don't think Disney intends on everyone getting a dining plan. It's not set up to attract all comers and probably never will be.

Also, you have to compare apples to apples and not oranges and apples like the original poster is doing (no offense).

You need to do the math to see if the plan is a good fit for you or not. We tend to maximize our results on the dining plan; so, we always make out.

Going during the free dining promo probably makes a big difference, too especially if you stay at a value resort. We tend to do it this way and so I will probably always get a dining plan.

Many who do a deluxe resort prefer getting a room discount instead of free dining.

You need to do what's best for your circumstances.

 

[smalfitano]

There are 3 of us and we are not very big eaters. So I'm not sure if the dining plan would be for us. Our next vacation comes with a free quick service plan. What do you get for that?? Also any thoughts on the dining plan overall??

 

[henderkm]

I agree that the DDP doesn't fit everyone. This December we will be using the DDP for first time for our family. This is a double edged sword for us because it limits what we do and when we do it. Our ADRs seem to interfere with some of the things we want to do. On the other hand, it will be nice to have an TS meal every night to relax and get out of the rush of the parks.

 

[pwdebbie]

We used the DDP in 2007 when it included appetizer and tip. It was a good value for us since dh tends to like all the food that has the higher prices. We did it again 2009 and I will tell you that I was sick of dessert by the time we hit about day 5. I prefer appetizers but didn't allow myself to have them "because its not on the DDP." This trip, no DDP for us. I know dh is still going to order the more expensive items on the menus (just as he does at home) but now I will feel free to order cheaper items or just get appetizers and not feel like I am wasting DDP money.