What happens if I don't add the dining plan?

[sam3996]

I'm trying to decide if I really need the dining plan or not.

Can you really have a good time WITHOUT the dining plan? Does it really save money to eat off campus? My husband is a big "buffet" lover. Are their good places you can go eat off campus or is it a be hassle or headache to go somewhere else to eat?

I'm in a valley of decision here. I'd hate to skip the dining plan to save money on the trip.. and then get there and WISH we had it.

 

[mesaboy2]

I'm trying to decide if I really need the dining plan or not.

Can you really have a good time WITHOUT the dining plan? Does it really save money to eat off campus? My husband is a big "buffet" lover. Are their good places you can go eat off campus or is it a be hassle or headache to go somewhere else to eat?

I'm in a valley of decision here. I'd hate to skip the dining plan to save money on the trip.. and then get there and WISH we had it.

You don't need it at all. Dining may cost more, but not enough in my opinion to justify the time and effort to go off-property. WDW is huge--not like you can find a McD's across the street.

I've never had it in all my trips. The two or three times I've done the math, it just didn't make sense for us. Somehow I've still managed to cheer up and tried to have a little fun.

 

[Missytara]

The dining plan is nice to have, if you want to go on a budget and have your meal costs already planned out.

If you don't want to be held down by having what they call ADR's or advance dining reservations, then you won't want to do the dining plan. You have to have your meals very well planned out to take full advantage of getting your money's worth.

You can eat anywhere you want in the world w/o the dining plan; they won't ship you off-site if you don't have it.

You can read up on the dining boards for more info.

Enjoy!

 

[GBBTomorrow]

As stated above, you do not need to have the dining plan to eat at WDW. We eat on property exclusively during our stays, and have only once had the dining plan. I don't think the dining plan is worth it, unless you require a LOT of food. I only eat dessert a couple of times a week, not twice a day, so for me that's a waste of money.

Just to repeat: without the plan, you can still eat in ANY WDW restaurant you want, AND you can still get advance reservations.

 

[Sugar Jones]

While I liked the budget aspect of the DDP, knowing in advance what our food budget was, not having to worry about having enough cash at the end of the week to eat, I hated being so scheduled and having ADR's.

The next we go I'll either do the QS plan or go without. I will make the necessary 1 or 2 character meal ADR's in advanced, but that's it.

 

[Cherinva]

You don't have to have it...however, the time it takes to leave the property and get back isn't worth it in my honest opinion. I like having the dining plan...it's already paid for when we get there and all I have to pay for is the tip...if you are using the TS plan. I've gone the last few times with just the CS plan, and that has worked out very well. I still got plenty to eat and didn't have to spend a lot of time waiting for the table to ready. If you do the TS plan, there are a lot of buffet places.

 

[mom2travel]

I'm trying to decide if I really need the dining plan or not.

Can you really have a good time WITHOUT the dining plan? Does it really save money to eat off campus? My husband is a big "buffet" lover. Are their good places you can go eat off campus or is it a be hassle or headache to go somewhere else to eat?

I'm in a valley of decision here. I'd hate to skip the dining plan to save money on the trip.. and then get there and WISH we had it.

We have been to WDW many times and have never done the dining plan. Not sure why you think you couldn't have a good time without it

We eat at a mix of TS and CS during our stays and never leave WDW property. We always have a great time!

Honestly, to me, there is no appeal in trying to keep track of dining credits. We eat where we want, when we want (subject to the pre-selected & reserved ADRs). And as far as discounts go, we have done better with PINs or room-only discounts than we would w/ free dining plan (when that has been a promotion)

No stressing! You are going on vacation - have fun!

 

[addiln]

as the pp stated you do not need this ddp to eat at wdw. we did the math last time we were there at it did save us a lot of money. also it was nice not have to worry about the money for the meals since they are prepaid. with that being said, if you have a car or not big eaters then the meal plan may not work for you. if you are doing late lunches/early dinners and that is all your eating at the parks then you may not need the ddp. we did find that we end up having to much food with the meal plan then we really need. with or with out the ddp your trip will still be enjoyable.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

We tried to go without the dining plan in June after having it on our October trip. After our first dinner at one of the cheapest TS places (50s PTC) came to almost $80, we called begging to have them add it to our reservation. We got lucky and the CM was able/willing to add it...but we had to check in again at the resort and get new keys (Disney policy is that it has to be added 3 days before the trip.)

I don't care to eat off site...too much driving and missing out on park time...and I just like Disney ambiance

 

[VAN]

The only time I've had the dining plan is when it was "free". Even then, you still have to pay gratuity for TS and for any alcholic beverages. We don't normally eat desserts, and then tend to eat when we aren't hungry because "we have to use our credits."

Unless you are a huge eater and/or dining is a big part of why you are going to WDW, I'd pass on the dining plan. You can still eat at any of the restaurants ... just a pay-as-you-go situation.

People have been having fun at WDW long before the dining plan was ever thought out and they continue to have fun even without it.

 

[growinupdisney]

I have been to WDW just about every year for the last 30 yeras and I have NEVER had the dining plan, it is not a $ saver for us at all. We always eat on site. We usually eat 2 table service meals and the rest are counter service meals and it still comes out cheaper than with the dining plan. And we always have a wonderful time and eat just like we always would.

 

[sharadoc]

We've never had the dining plan and we prefer it that way. We hate eating out all the time. We'd much rather grab a sandwich during the day and eat light at the room, or snack around World Showcase, eat a funnel cake and coffee at MK, or grab a churro, something from the bakery, etc. The dining plan is great if you eat that way anyway.

There are some lower cost buffets on property that you can try and they don't have characters. Trail's End at Fort Wilderness has a breakfast and dinner buffet that is the lowest cost dinner buffet on property, then there's Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club. Higher priced buffets would be Boma, Cape May Cafe, I'm sure I'm missing something.

There's some great places to eat at DTD, too. Earl of Sandwich is delicious and under $10 for your meal, unless you get dessert.

For our two week trip in June, I have two dinner and one lunch reservation, plus a dinner with friends. The rest of the time we'll go with the flow.

If you want to go offsite to eat, there certainly is everything within a 20 minute drive. You may have to wait in line during busy times. It could turn your dinner into a 2 hour adventure. If you're okay with that, then go for it. The Golden Corral is right down the street from the DTD entrance onto 536.

 

[ktlm]

We did the math based on what we were spending on food on our WDW trips, and the dining plan was not going to save us any money. It is just more food than we eat!

We just make ADRs at WDW for wherever we want to eat, and pay at the restaurant.

As others have said, it sounds like you are under the belief that you have to have the dining plan to eat at WDW. That is not the case at all. You can eat anywhere you want at WDW without the dining plan. You are free to make reservations for TS (table service) meals at the same time as everyone who has the plan is able to do so.

You definitely don't want to go off WDW property (off campus) for every meal. That would take way too much time out of your day. I would suggest that you get on allears.net. They have a dining section for WDW that lists every restaurant and has all the menus and prices for each.

There are some pretty good buffets at WDW. Off the top of my head for those that do not involve characters, Biergarten (at Epcot), and Boma (at AKL) stick out. DH loves Biergarten and I do too! I could eat about 10 servings of their different desserts.

 

[Rip]

What happens? They send a squad of Michael Eisner clones to sneak into your room the first night of your stay and make you an offer you can't refuse.

 

[Pakey]

We've done 3 vacations with a dining plan and 18 without. So that tells you how much we prefer not to use a dining plan.

 

[Karebear]

We are paying for the dining plan when we go this Fall--I got a room code discount that saved us more $ than the free dining deal. My kids are little and want to eat at many of the buffets, like Akershus. I added up what we would pay out of pocket for meals (NOT including any desserts) and what we would pay for the dining plan and the dining plan is saving us $. My kids are both under 10 so we pay the kid dining plan price for them. I think that if it saves you $ and works for you, then it is nice to have.

 

[sam3996]

We can definately tear up some food. We can go into an all you can eat buffet and nearly eat up all they've got. hahaha

 

[princessnoelly]

We did it in 2008 and felt like all we did was run from one TS ADR to the next. I've NEVER eaten so much. We got free dining this time so I'm hopeful it'll be a better less filling experience- I already know it's cheaper!

You have to figure out what is cost effective for your trip and do that.

 

[fairestoneofall]

we've been with the DDP, with the QSDP and without any plan at all. we do still schedule one or two TS if we don't have the DDP. but every trip has been magical. and we've never been hungry.

i will say, for our June trip, we did the QSDP. i was glad we hadn't done the DDP. we were so hot that we weren't that hungry. it wouldn't have been worth it. plus, we had a lot more freedom to come and go where and when we wanted. we could hop parks if we felt like it. and we could eat when and if we wanted to.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

We won't do WDW without the Dining Plan. There is no way in God's green earth I would pay $120 for dinner with Mickey, BUT on the Dining Plan, we get to do it.

Same thing for breakfast at Crystal Palace, we could care less about Pooh and Friends and wouldn't pay $100 for breakfast ANYTIME, but on the dining plan, we do that breakfast. We get a 8a ADR, get Main Street basically to ourselve, eat breakfast and then hit the Mountains. We are a good 1/2 hour ahead of the rest of the people coming in.

So in that sense, the dining plan is way way worth it. PLUS, with all our food paid for - all the money we bring to WDW is for spending on fun frivilous fun stuff.

OP, there are many many expensive buffets that are on the plan. People have strong feeling pro and con of the DDP.

R