Why do YOU do the dining plan?

[TinkerKell-ey]

I haven't purchased to DP since 2006...it just didn't make sense for us. I am currently obsessing over ADR's (180 day mark is next week!) and once I had our wish list, I went through the menus on the site and "ordered" as we would w/out DP. Our DP would cost $756, just TS conservatively was $620ish --- will 7 days of CS and snacks for 4 add up to more than $136 - OH YEAH!! I'm totally sold. We are plan a more relaxed trip and want more TS than usual, so it makes sense for us this trip.

 

[ksumn1]

OP, I think for you, the DDP just won't work. It seems almost as if you're talking yourself out of it. But if you're secondguessing IF it's right for you, then it probably isn't. And obviously by the research you've done (checking out menues, possible savings) it isn't a good choice for you, based on your personal food preferences. I don't think anyone here is going to be able to "convince" you of the perks of the plan, since you yourself don't see it. And I mean that in a nice, not snarky, kind of way.

For us, we save money on the DDP. My DH likes to eat, as does my DD 11. Myself and DD 7 tend to snack more than eat. So we do alot of sharing meals. Not as in we only order 2 adult meals and try to share it, as thit is against the rules but as in DH will eat what's left on my plate so it's not wasted. Older DD gets a meal that satisfies her and DD7 gets a kids meal, which if not enough, she can have a little of older sisters or mine. And 2 hours later, when DD7 and I are a little hungry and older DD and DH are stuffed, we will get a snack and a couple of drinks to share. I like to plan, so figuring out the savings as fun for me.

With that said, we eat where we want to eat, not strictly where we get the best dining plan credit value. But every time we have saved $$, even including tip. DH likes steak, all of us are big seafood eaters, and those tend to be the higher priced emnu items. We rearely get an appatizers and any adult beverages we plan into out extra food budget. We figure on at least 3 extra drinks per day, usually a bottled water that we refill at the water fountains. And if we're doing Spectro or Fantasmic, popcorn and drinks to share. So for us the money savings are a consideration.

Another consideration is having the meals (except for the extras, tips, etc that I already plan for based on out food preferences) paid for. When I'm planning a trip, DH doesn;t want to hear it could be $3000 if we do this, or $2500 if we do option B, or $400 for option C...he wants to hear it will cost $xxxx. And that's what he'll plan on. He wants to go and know that everything is paid for, that could possibly be prepaid. So when I plan, I figure DDP, tips (I always figure 25% and an occasional appatizer), adult beverages, souveniers, gas $, meals for the drive down and back, resort, tickets, extra snacks...you name it, I add it into the costs plus a little extra. That way, I'm secure that even if we go over our estimated budget, it's OK because I padded it a bit, KWIM?


ANd obviously, if we could ever go during FREE dining, that would be a MAJOR plus!!!

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

QUOTE: " So we do alot of sharing meals. Not as in we only order 2 adult meals and try to share it, as thit is against the rules "

There is a rule against this?? Why? Not that it would apply to us---I know we will all want our own meals ...but I am curious. To me a TS credit is an entree, dessert and soft drink -- do they really "audit" who eats it ?? (I know you can't use credits for those not on the plan and you can't share buffets, but for example, if our family of 4 goes to LeCellier, my DH and kids get their meals. I'm not that hungry and just order a drink. If I take a few bites here and there from their plates am I seriously breaking the rules? Are they going to charge me a TS credit?

 

[sgrabin]

Got my quote from Dreams Unlimited. The room would have been $200 per night for a Moderate, AND the Coronado Springs Resort was "sold out" for 10/2 arrival for 10 nights! There's 3 in our party. I booked a 3 bedroom townhouse in Terre Verde for $68 per night! There's no way on God's Green Earth that we'd spend anywhere near $132 per day to eat. We still booked ADR's at the Disney restaurants we really wanted to go to, we'll just pay OOP. Last year the same trip was nearly $500 less. Leave it to Disney to raise prices in a recession and just expect people to pony up the dough!

 

[gibbersome]

Got my quote from Dreams Unlimited. The room would have been $200 per night for a Moderate, AND the Coronado Springs Resort was "sold out" for 10/2 arrival for 10 nights! There's 3 in our party. I booked a 3 bedroom townhouse in Terre Verde for $68 per night! There's no way on God's Green Earth that we'd spend anywhere near $132 per day to eat. We still booked ADR's at the Disney restaurants we really wanted to go to, we'll just pay OOP. Last year the same trip was nearly $500 less. Leave it to Disney to raise prices in a recession and just expect people to pony up the dough!

As long as you have people willing to pay for it year after year, I guess it makes perfect business sense.

 

[wayneg]

There's no such thing as "free dining." If you receive the dining for free, you're paying rack rate for your room.

Not always, depends on the deal you get, thankfully in UK we get offered genuine free dining deals. Rack rate for OKW is $295 total for our 21 nights $6969, price paid $3108 ($148/nt inc tax) and free regular DDP.
They know many UK travellers will not stay onsite at rack rates.
I understand Disney are offering upto 40% off and free DDP this summer for all travellers.

 

[Melodious]

I will say I have never looked at something and said, "Oh, it's not on the plan so I won't get it." If I want a snack that is not covered, I buy it anyway. If I want water I get water. If one of my kids wants a popcorn bucket instead of a box, I buy it. I don't go through life (or Disney) trying to figure out the best way to get over on anything. I realize WDW has likely loaded the DDP to come out in their favor in most cases. I enjoy the convenience of knowing most of my meals are prepaid. There will be times when I will add things OOP. It's not a big deal.

Your posts suggest the dining plan is truly not for you. You can absolutely use a gift card or Disney dollars, or even cash, to cover your room charge. There is no need to carry these items with you. When you check in, have the front desk add the value of the gift card (or whatever) to your account. The money will be debited as you spend. I've done it before, and it's nice to pick money up at the end of the stay, or just know that the money is already in place to pay for whatever you're buying.

Thanks for really answering about the snacks and saying you don't worry about buying things that aren't the plan. It was something I was wondering about how other people felt about it.

WHOA so you CAN add a gift card to your room keycard?! That would be great for us. Can mrsltg or anyone else confirm?

 

[Melodious]

OP, I think for you, the DDP just won't work. It seems almost as if you're talking yourself out of it. But if you're secondguessing IF it's right for you, then it probably isn't. And obviously by the research you've done (checking out menues, possible savings) it isn't a good choice for you, based on your personal food preferences. I don't think anyone here is going to be able to "convince" you of the perks of the plan, since you yourself don't see it. And I mean that in a nice, not snarky, kind of way.QUOTE]

That doesn't sound snarky. I did not actually mean for this to be a 'convince me to use the dining plan' thread. I should probably go back and edit the first post. As I have been adding and readding and readding to decide about the dining plan, I began to wonder what value did other people get out of it. Do most people get a significant savings from it? Do people see a value in it other than money? If they enjoy that it's prepaid, have they considered a gift card? Does anyone who loves the plan ever have a complaint, like sometimes I choose snacks that fit the plan even if I wanted something more expensive or if I weren't on the plan, I'd get a salad and an appetizer? Is it common for people who love the plan to purchase a number of things, snacks, drinks, appetizers, outside of the plan?

Basically the question is why do YOU do the dining plan? And you answered that question so thanks. Though you never know, I might get the plan after all

 

[mrsltg]

I can absolutely confirm you can prepay your room charge account. They don't care what you do with your money - give it them, carry it in cash, whatever! Hand over the money (in any form) at check in and you will be working with a debit system. I love doing it this way anytime I can! It's a joy to know the money is there and you end up with a low balance on your room charge.

Have a great trip!

 

[Melodious]

I can absolutely confirm you can prepay your room charge account. They don't care what you do with your money - give it them, carry it in cash, whatever! Hand over the money (in any form) at check in and you will be working with a debit system. I love doing it this way anytime I can! It's a joy to know the money is there and you end up with a low balance on your room charge.

Have a great trip!

Perfect. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't reading that wrong so thanks so much for the information. Learn something new on here every day...