we skipped the dining plan..how it worked out

[daisyx3]

We just got back from a week at WDW. If we had done the dining plan (holiday pricing) it would have cost us $1499 plus tips. So we skipped it. Here's how it worked out.
Pro #1: I wasn't so worried about "getting our money's worth" as I had been before. My kids both got appetizers at Sanaa instead of entrees, and when my daughter ordered a salad for an entree I didn't freak out. Ordering an appetizer or skipping dessert at lunchtime was OK.
Con #1: We actually went from the 6 table service meals we had booked to only eating five. We canceled a few while we were down there.....after our first night buffet DH decided he didn't want to feel that overstuffed again and we canceled Boma, but replaced it with Sanaa. We canceled Narcoosee's, which is great when it is on your DDP but way expensive when you aren't. We relied more on healthier CS choices (earl of sandwich, wolfgang puck express) and snacks in the room.
Pro #2: we were way more flexible. We decided to eat at a couple of places (counter service ) we hadn't before and as I said before, let the kids get appetizers for their entrees if they wanted to. One CS meal my son was feeling a little off so he didn't eat at all, and I wasn't mad about it. We also did not eat as many snacks!
Con #2: a couple of times we had to explain to a snack cart CM that no, we were not on the dining plan. It seemed to confuse some of them.
So all in all, it worked for us. We spent less money and ate less food. Of course the kids are 13 and 17, so we don't have to be uber planners about meals like we would have been when they were little. But then just a few years ago the plan was $40 pp and included tips!
I'm glad we tried it and I don't think we'll be using the DDP for any trip soon, especially the way the price is going up.
Daisyx3

 

[DB&KS]

Thanks for sharing. All the reasons you have listed are why we are not going to use the dining plan either for our next upcoming trip. I was feeling very controlled by my dining reservations and the last thing I want on vacation is to be controlled . I really don't mind spending the same amount of money but I want to do it my way. I am quite certain it will be the same or less money once all is said and done. I originally made dining reservations with the idea I was going to be on the dining plan but I have decided not to purchase the plan, so we will see what the price difference will be. Either way I am sure to be happier all around!

 

[unionville]

We will be there at Thanksgiving and the cost of the plan seems too much to justify with our 12 year old that is a very picky eater. The flexibility of just having a salad and appetizer is appealing to me and my husband doesn't ever order desserts anyway. We too remember the days when the dining plan included an appetizer and tips. Thank you so much for pointing out the pros and cons. It has to be less stressful than trying to maximize every meal. If we come out even and actually order the things we want and maybe even have an adult beverage or two we will feel like it's worth it. Thank you again for sharing!

 

[aubriee]

After being a big proponent of the DDP and DxDDP for years, this past Sept I got to thinking about the way and actually what I wanted to eat and decided to go with the TiW card and just buy Disney gift cards to use for my meals. I did the same thing for my Nov/Dec trip and will be using it again for my upcoming May and Oct trips (TIW is good for 13 months). Now for our trip this past Feb we took our 3 y/o GS with us and wanted to do every character meal we could so went back to the DxDDP. What I found for my Sept and Nov/Dec trips though is that I loved being able to eat exactly what I wanted and didn't worry so much if I had to miss or change an ADR. I am not a snacker or a breakfast eater and much prefer TS over CS. Plus alot of times would rather have two appetizers or an appetizer and dessert, so none of the DDP really worked for me. The basic DDP didn't allow enough TS meals so we always had to pay for a meal or two OOP and had too many CS, and too many snacks. The DxDDP gave too many meals and way too many snacks. I never, ever skimp on vacation and always order exactly what I'm in the mood for whether it be the most expensive thing on the menu or something cheaper. With the DDP I always felt like I needed to order the more expensive items if I wanted to get my money's worth. The main reason I liked the DDPs was because I like having everything prepaid. With the tip no longer being included we usually bought Disney gift cards to take care of the gratutities, now we just pay for the whole meal with the gift cards, so everything is still prepaid, plus I always have some left over on the gift cards to use the next trip. Unless we take one of our grandkids back and will be doing alot of character meals, I don't think I'll ever use the DDPs again. Getting 20% off with the TiW card and paying with gift cards works out cheaper and easier and we get to eat exactly how and what we want and still have everything prepaid.

 

[miami305]

Thanks for sharing! I was starting to feel like I was the only person not choosing the DDP! My husband is the only big eater in our family and we never eat anywhere near that much food in one day.

I think the Children's menus are terrible at most of the restaurants. DDP is a lot of money for chicken nuggets. Plus, I don't want to spend hours each day eating. We'd rather be exploring, at or the pool or taking a between the parks nap. We're driving so we also have the luxury of escaping the Mouse for a bit and dining elsewhere.

 

[fabfinn]

Thank you for sharing your experience. We're trying to cut corners this year and hate the fact that our 10 year old who is an extremely light eater would be paying the same price for the dining plan as my husband and myself. This was very encouraging.

 

[dis_guy]

Like some of the previous posters, we found that the plan did not pay when we had our two daughters with us. I mean a soup and salad at Le Cellier? One of our party was under the weather for a few days, so we left credits on the table there too.

In the end, if it's just me and DW for a shorter stay (5 nights or less) we do great on the DDP (we go slower and really enjoy the meals-and order the more expensive entrees) but for longer stays, I doubt I could keep eating like that.

 

[buffettgirl]

thanks for the feedback!

(and yes, sometimes the CMs do seem a bit confused when you're not on the DDP... we're going near the beginning of free dining in August, so I can't imagine what will happen)

 

[Gorechick]

We're going in August, the week of no discounts or free dining. I'd rather have control of what we want to order, especially for a family of 4, than have to get entrees or desserts we don't want. I made ADR's according to where we'd like to eat, even if it costs us a little more. We'll see how it all turns out.

 

[princesskimberella]

thank you for posting this info ! We are trying to decide wjether or not to go with the dining plan. We have 2 of the 3 of our children that will be considered adults..

 

[bdrex95]

Thanks for posting! We too are struggling with the DDP decision.

We did the DDP in 2007, back when tips and appetizers were included, and felt it was a good value. Now that apps and tips are extra, and the way the price has increased, we are leaning toward paying cash. Plus we will be there during F&W, and we will definitely want to try that for at least one meal. I just found out about the TIW card, and that looks like it would work out nicely. We are planning on going to CRT and Le Cellier, and would probably recoup the cost of the card on those 2 meals alone.

The final nail in the coffin for the DDP for us is the fact that we have a DD10 who eats like a bird. I just can't justify paying over $50 per day for food for her, when she probably will not even eat half that!

I'm going to track my spending versus what I would have spent on the DDP, and I will post a summary when we return. Only 186 more days to go!!!!

 

[Planogirl]

I'm mulling over doing the dining plan but it's confusing. We don't really want to spend a lot of time at full serve restaurants but there are a few that we like. However that won't work with the QS plan or really the other plans.

 

[doitforlove]

I only use the DP because it's free the only week I have available for vacation. I could never imagine paying full sticker price for it. It is way too constricting (I prefer apps over dessert personally, don't usually order most expensive entree, and would never eat as much food as the plan gives if I was paying OOP) but if it's free it's free!

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Just curious how much $$ you saved eating OOP.

We're going at a time that FD has been released in the past, but I'm thinking of going with YES tickets and a room discount instead of FD (if offered).

For the reasons you mentioned (flexibility, not being stuffed, etc.) I think it might work out better for us. We did the FD two years ago and enjoyed it, but we did have extra credits left over. Since then dh and I have lost weight and we probably couldn't eat like that again!

 

[penjen]

yes I was wondering about the cost difference as well. We were thinking of doing a short vacation without the dining plan. I do like the flexibility as you stated.

 

[buffettgirl]

this thread has some people who did a comparison http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2907065
maybe it will help?

 

[DJFan88]

I only use the DP because it's free the only week I have available for vacation. I could never imagine paying full sticker price for it. It is way too constricting (I prefer apps over dessert personally, don't usually order most expensive entree, and would never eat as much food as the plan gives if I was paying OOP) but if it's free it's free!

 

[nooneshome]

For our family all the dining plans are too much food and we will never pay for one again. TS meals take up too much time and frankly most are way overpriced. We enjoy when we get FD QSDP. We aren't tied down to ADRs and we enjoying snacking. Because we don't eat that much I enjoy treating strangers in line to a meal or snack. Sharing the magic is fun!!!

 

[Disney-Kim]

I only use the DP because it's free the only week I have available for vacation. I could never imagine paying full sticker price for it. It is way too constricting (I prefer apps over dessert personally, don't usually order most expensive entree, and would never eat as much food as the plan gives if I was paying OOP) but if it's free it's free!

the thing is...teh DDP is not technically FREE....I have figured the difference of booking a package with a discount and a regular package with free dining...and they are pretty much dollar for dollar.

so one way the room is cheaper and you pay for food...the other is the room is pricier and you don't pay for food.

its not really FREE...imho

 

[beedale862003]

Thanks for sharing.