Will I regret it???

[nkereina]

I am not sure I understand the rationale of "I don't have to worry about the cost and can get high priced things".
You are still paying for it even if you don't hand someone cash at each meal.

True. But it's paid ahead of time. If it's worked into the cost of my vacation, it's paid for and not something I have to budget for when I'm going to the restaurant. When I go out to eat and pay OOP, I usually don't order and app and dessert. But if it's already paid for and I'm on vacation, I'm getting it. I'd also be hesitant to order an expensive steak and lobster dish if paying OOP but knowing that that's a good value on the DP and I've already paid for it, I'm getting it. That's another way to get your money's worth on the DP is to get the more expensive entrees, which are typically things you probably won't order if paying OOP.

 

[mmay60046]

We get the DP and I never think about "well if I target these snacks for the snack credits and make sure the entrees I order cost at least xx dollars I'll maximize the value of my investment". I just like having the meals prepaid. It's less that I have to think about when I'm on vacation, and if I'm minimizing the amount of things I have to think about when I'm at Disney World, then I'm maximizing the overall value of my vacation.

 

[3pletprincesses]

True. But it's paid ahead of time. If it's worked into the cost of my vacation, it's paid for and not something I have to budget for when I'm going to the restaurant. When I go out to eat and pay OOP, I usually don't order and app and dessert. But if it's already paid for and I'm on vacation, I'm getting it. I'd also be hesitant to order an expensive steak and lobster dish if paying OOP but knowing that that's a good value on the DP and I've already paid for it, I'm getting it. That's another way to get your money's worth on the DP is to get the more expensive entrees, which are typically things you probably won't order if paying OOP.

Agree with you. No way I would order the $60 lobster or $56 surf and turf if I wasn't using the DxDDP. I'm on vacation and can eat what I want when I want and not worry about anything.

As for having to pay tips, yes I have to pay for tip but I can guarantee you that the only card you will find on me is me KTTW and 1 cc in case the KTTW doesn't work. Plus I've already factors my tips into my cost and made a payment at check in on my KTTW exactly for that purpose.

for people saying it's too much food, I would ahve to agree if you eat every course at every meal. We will share. We will only order 2 kids meals and split our app with them and then split their meals between the 3 of them. Since we are doing lots of 2 credit meals, we will only eat breakfast and dinner and then use the extra children credit for a light lunch for the girls to share.

The plans are not for everyone and I understand that but for us it's god sent. I know my vacation cost me $2600 including meals plus another $290 for tips. Not bad considering there's 5 of us and we are staying 5 nights, 10 days park tickets and 12 meals are covered for under $3000.

 

[Mjkre]

Agree with you. No way I would order the $60 lobster or $56 surf and turf if I wasn't using the DxDDP. I'm on vacation and can eat what I want when I want and not worry about anything.

As for having to pay tips, yes I have to pay for tip but I can guarantee you that the only card you will find on me is me KTTW and 1 cc in case the KTTW doesn't work. Plus I've already factors my tips into my cost and made a payment at check in on my KTTW exactly for that purpose.

for people saying it's too much food, I would ahve to agree if you eat every course at every meal. We will share. We will only order 2 kids meals and split our app with them and then split their meals between the 3 of them. Since we are doing lots of 2 credit meals, we will only eat breakfast and dinner and then use the extra children credit for a light lunch for the girls to share.

I am curious about your post in that we are also a family of five. Our oldest will be now considered an adult, but will largely still eat child's meals. We usually share an appetizer, the kids eat dessert, the adults do not. I am just not sure if the ddp makes sense. Oh, and we do breakfast in out room, too. Just not sure which way to go and like the op, do not want regrets!
The plans are not for everyone and I understand that but for us it's god sent. I know my vacation cost me $2600 including meals plus another $290 for tips. Not bad considering there's 5 of us and we are staying 5 nights, 10 days park tickets and 12 meals are covered for under $3000.

 

[princessdawn2011]

Didn't read entire thread, so if I'm repeating o
OP suggestions, sorry.

It looks very cost effective if you will be traveling with a child (saw that you are) BUT it's very structured and may be disappointing if you want an appetizer w/ your meal or no entree, etc.

I don't use it anymore, has gotten over-priced for what I don't want to eat (IMO). Annual passholders and Florida residents can apply & use Tables in Wonderland and get 20% off many restaurants and lounges, which helps my travel party at this time.

I also found that on short trips we don't use it all & at times aren't able to convert the leftover to snacks.

I agree checking out the menus in advance is your best resource.

Happy dining!

 

[Dizneydawn]

Just wanted to chime in again to say this.

For me, changing my mindset from the Dining Plan to paying OOP is also about health. I need to loose weight like many others on these boards and eating via a plan that encourages me to have more than I should or would order normally is just not healthy for me.

Why would I need a milkshake and dessert or a smoothie and a dessert for one meal?

Do I have to order it?

No.

Would I feel enticed since it was already paid for?

Probably.

I know many people like myself that have food addictions. A smorgasbord of 2000 calorie meals yelling out, "pick me, pick me since you paid for it," is a bad plan that I have done before, convincing myself that it is a better deal. I liken it to a cocaine junkie living in Charlie Sheens house for a week and trying to convince themselves that on vacation, what goes up the schnoz doesn't count.

I have usually done the dining plan and always convinced myself that it is a value because I was saving money or like others have said, had the ease of pre-paying most of the trip.

The truth is it also made it easier to not think about what I was eating since the mentality was, "It's paid for so enjoy."

I love Disney.

I love Food.

I love Disney's food.

Well most of it.

What I need to do though is love myself enough to want to be around for another fifty years if at all possible and strictly going by what is convenient or the best deal is not going to get me there.

I am doing a Food TR from our March trip and I am thinking of the food I consumed strictly because it was there and I need to change these habits, even at Disney.

No matter what anyone here chooses is best for their family, I hope they have a fantastic experience and feel good about their choices and themselves at the end of the trip!

 

[Mjkre]

Ok I tried to quote something and it did not work. We are a family of 5 also and I am trying to decide if the ddp or oop is more economical as well. Like the OP, I do not want to have regrets. Since my oldest is now an adult in Disney's eyes, the ddp plan has gone up be several hundred dollars this year. Yet, she will likely order like a child...chicken fingers and pasta and such. Also, my dh and I enjoy sharing an appetizer, but do not eat desserts. The kids do eat dessert with dinner, never with lunch. We threw out most cookies and chocolate cakes last year. We also eat all breakfasts in room. We order alcoholic drinks with dinner...for the adults, that is!

I am considering putting the ddp money on two gift cards, one for dh and one for me. I will try not to look at prices as we go, and just get what we actually like. Then I will find out if we go over the amount. I suspect we will not.

However, since we belong to dvc and can now segment, maybe we will do it for a few days and not for others, just to experiment.

 

[havoc315]

.

I have done the DxDP and I do think it brings some convenience. It's generally the ddp which I find creates major inconvenience.
But you bring just 1 credit card for tips? That's no different than bringing 1 credit card for oop.

And all meals are basically prepaid, since you paid for the credits. So if you skipped a few meals, you can't get unused credits refunded.

The deluxe at least offers some allotment flexibility.

 

[havoc315]

True. But it's paid ahead of time. If it's worked into the cost of my vacation, it's paid for and not something I have to budget for when I'm going to the restaurant. When I go out to eat and pay OOP, I usually don't order and app and dessert. But if it's already paid for and I'm on vacation, I'm getting it. I'd also be hesitant to order an expensive steak and lobster dish if paying OOP but knowing that that's a good value on the DP and I've already paid for it, I'm getting it. That's another way to get your money's worth on the DP is to get the more expensive entrees, which are typically things you probably won't order if paying OOP.

I am just the opposite. At home, if I want surf and turf, I get it. If I want an appetizer, I get it. I rarely get dessert, but that's not because of money. At the same time, if I want a lighter meal, I get the lighter meal.

Now if I purchase the basic ddp for $47 --- sure, what if I'm in the mood for lighter fare? And my interest in desserts is no stronger than the rest of the year. I have to feel guilty for ordering cheaper items... Having spent $47... but only getting $30 worth of food.

While I understand some people say the ddp let's them order expensive items without worrying about the price... At home, I don't pay attention to prices. I order what I want when I go to a restaurant. But if I already paid $x, then I have the anxiety of getting value so I don't waste my money.
I feel compelled to order extra calories, just to get my value.

 

[havoc315]

Just wanted to chime in again to say this.

For me, changing my mindset from the Dining Plan to paying OOP is also about health. I need to loose weight like many others on these boards and eating via a plan that encourages me to have more than I should or would order normally is just not healthy for me.

Why would I need a milkshake and dessert or a smoothie and a dessert for one meal?

Do I have to order it?

No.

Would I feel enticed since it was already paid for?

Probably.

I know many people like myself that have food addictions. A smorgasbord of 2000 calorie meals yelling out, "pick me, pick me since you paid for it," is a bad plan that I have done before, convincing myself that it is a better deal. I liken it to a cocaine junkie living in Charlie Sheens house for a week and trying to convince themselves that on vacation, what goes up the schnoz doesn't count.

I have usually done the dining plan and always convinced myself that it is a value because I was saving money or like others have said, had the ease of pre-paying most of the trip.

The truth is it also made it easier to not think about what I was eating since the mentality was, "It's paid for so enjoy."

I love Disney.

I love Food.

I love Disney's food.

Well most of it.

What I need to do though is love myself enough to want to be around for another fifty years if at all possible and strictly going by what is convenient or the best deal is not going to get me there.

I am doing a Food TR from our March trip and I am thinking of the food I consumed strictly because it was there and I need to change these habits, even at Disney.

No matter what anyone here chooses is best for their family, I hope they have a fantastic experience and feel good about their choices and themselves at the end of the trip!

Very well said! And congratulations on your weight loss.

Yes, it's one thing to say, it's a Disney vacation, so I am going to indulge on 1 Mouse Ears Rice Crispie treat. It's another thing to say, it's a Disney vacation, so I am going to eat 14 desserts in a week, snacks every day, steak every night.

And you are 100% right. It's much harder to turn down those desserts when they are prepaid. Especially knowing you have wasted money by not ordering them.

 

[princessdawn2011]

Dizneydawn- very good point about health & good choices. Would you get water instead of a soda? Fish or chicken instead of a strip steak, salad instead of dessert? Maybe a bowl of cereal in your room instead of a full sit-down breakfast? All because you prepaid & feel that you should get your money's worth.

It's a tough decision with these thoughts added. Also, the childrens dining has a lot more food, do if your child is not a big eater or is "picky" it may not even be worth it for them.

AND, lastly, will there be time to run around for dining reservations? Which since the inception of the current dining plan & free dining @ times-ADRs, strongly recommended.

 

[MsPeggySue911]

When are you going to Disney? Is it possible you may be able to wait and watch the Disney special offers page and get FREE dining plan for your trip and you could get your money back on what you have already paid for it and it would be free. Then you wouldn't worry if you ended up not getting all your money's worth on the plan or skipped a few snacks and desserts.

 

[JLS]

From experience I can say that the one year I did not have the DDP I did regret it. We love doing the buffets (CP, Boma x2, Cape May breakfast and dinner) and a few all you can eat dinners like Ohana. When we didn't have the DDP I almost had a heart attack when we would get each bill and it made me not enjoy the dining experience as much. I really prefer pre-paying the full amount along with whatever else we are pre-paying, and then not worrying about the cost of food when we are there.

With that said, if you don't think you will usually want dessert, and you don't want to eat at any of the more expensive TS places, then you will likely come out ahead by skipping the DDP.

 

[discookiemonsta]

When are you going to Disney? Is it possible you may be able to wait and watch the Disney special offers page and get FREE dining plan for your trip and you could get your money back on what you have already paid for it and it would be free. Then you wouldn't worry if you ended up not getting all your money's worth on the plan or skipped a few snacks and desserts.

I was wondering the same thing...when are you going to Disney? They just announced the FD dates...something may be worth it to look into?

 

[PHXscuba]

DisneyDawn, thanks for bringing up the health/diet effect the DP could have on some of us with weak wills. DH has lost a good amount of weight in the last year. He will probably still want to eat well at WDW, but it probably wouldn't be smart if I am always urging him to order dessert and soda with every meal and get the more expensive steak when he just wants a Caesar salad. I had already been leaning away from the DP, and I think this just pushed me firmly into the "no DDP" camp. Plus, I can really only see 4/5 TS meals I want on our 7 day trip and we are breakfast-in-room people, so that doesn't fit well with either QSDP or DDP.

PHXscuba

 

[Izjezted]

ReAlly good advice here.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I am a single mom of a six year old princess, and I keep the dining plan because it allows me to go to Disney and not worry about my budget.

Recently, I, too, have been going with the deluxe dining plan. It provides us with a character breakfast before park opening and either a light lunch and nice dinner OR a signature dining dinner each night. We love it!

If I didn't have any dining plan, I would fret about how much money I am spending, and it would cause me to curtail our pleasure. I don't want that feeling when I am on vacation. I want to be able to buy my daughter a Mickey ice cream bar or a popcorn and not worry about it. Plus, in August, which is when we go, it is so nice to use the snack credit for a great big ol' bottled water. I love that!

I know that I spend a little more than I need to on food when I go with the deluxe dining plan, but that is okay with me. It is a vacation, and I want to splurge. I also know myself well enough to realize that, if I did not have a dining plan, I would be scrutinizing every penny and it would take the joy out of the trip. I've even thought about pre-loading a gift card or buying Disney Dollars to use for my dining, but I would be analyzing every penny spent, and this way, I do not even have to think about money. I love it!

Single mom myself here (Also in RIC, Hey Hey!!) I couldn't have said it better! We always get the basic dining plan, but I agree 100% that I would scrutinize every penny if I was paying OOP, I HATE that feeling.... who wants that on vacation?! LOL

I love love love the DDP, it works really great for us and I wont ever go to Disney without it again!!

 

[2DisPrincesses]

The Dining Plan really works for us right now for a number of reasons:

1. My DH requires 1 table service a day.
2. My DDs have to have character dining.
3. I am a penny-counter- with the DP, I relax and don't look at prices.

If we want something that is not on the DP, we pay OOP without worrying about it because everythings else has already been paid for.

 

[StuckInKS]

If you have kids and our planning on character meals, that is where the value is and is why we have decided to get dining on the days we can. Everyone pays the same (high) price at these meals, no matter how much or how little they eat. Plus, you don't *have* to make it to CRT for breakfast because it is cheaper, since all three meals cost the same on the plan.

I won't eat a full app, entree, dessert and pop at a meal, but I might eat half. I always order a pop at meals, even if I only drink 1/4 of it. I like to have some. Same with dessert. I might eat a 1/3 or 1/2, but if it wasn't included, I would feel bad about spending $10 on it and only eating some of it. This way I can eat what I want and leave what I don't. Either way, with all these kids, we are still gonna come out a head.

And I spent the last two trips limiting the snacks like popcorn and ice cream because one snacks costs so much when you have to buy 6 of them. This way, I don't have to say no so much (though I am sure I will have to say it some )

ETA: And I would order a steak at every meal if I could, but if I'm paying OOP I'm more likely to get a pasta dish instead.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Single mom myself here (Also in RIC, Hey Hey!!) I couldn't have said it better! We always get the basic dining plan, but I agree 100% that I would scrutinize every penny if I was paying OOP, I HATE that feeling.... who wants that on vacation?! LOL

I love love love the DDP, it works really great for us and I wont ever go to Disney without it again!!

Hello, Altoqueenkelly! How cool you are in Richmond, too!

I agree about the DDP, although, I understand the other arguments. Everything previous posters said makes sense. Whether or not the DDP is good for an individual depends on how their mind works.

The way that my mind works is that the meals must be pre-paid for me to relax. Even bringing a gift card for meals would not work for me. I would be too busy thinking about other things that I could do with that gift card.

I like that I am locked into the meal plan and cannot get my money back. If I knew that Disney would credit my account for unused meals, I would go back to trying to conserve. And I do not want to conserve when I am on vacation!!!

In fact, when I am at Disney, I revel in ordering dessert and only eating one bite, just for the flavor. On the Deluxe Dining Plan, I seek out the fine dining places and enjoy the restaurants with small portions. I go to the expensive buffets and eat lightly. I soak in the ambience and the characters and the whole experience. I do not try to be wasteful. In fact, I ask for smaller portions whenever possible. The Deluxe Dining Plan is too much food for me, otherwise. But if there is food on my plate at the end of the meal, I do not feel as though I have to finish it to get my money's worth.

Technically, do I waste money this way? Sure! But I can relax doing it, because the choice has already been made and there is no going back. I do not mind if I leave credits unused either. I am paying one set price to enjoy having anything my heart desires to eat while I am on vacation.

I purposefully pay more upfront to avoid having to worry about the cost in the moment. I haven't wasted money in my book, because while I possibly could have that same experience at a cheaper price, my mind would not allow me to relax enough to enjoy it. This way, if the most expensive entree is something I would enjoy (and it usually is!), I order it. If the cheapest entree is my favorite, I order that instead. I do not worry about maximizing the value of the plan, because I already got what I paid for: a worry-free dining experience at Disney restaurants.