Worried about all that food...?

[Just*the*ten*of*us]

We do the DxDDP on every trip. The HUGE plus to this, is that you are pretty much all paid for (except alcoholic drinks and tips) before you get there. This could be a major plus for a bigger family.

It really depends on how big the family is. We were considering it for our upcoming trip, but being larger than a party of 6, we would be subject to Disneys mandatory 18% gratuity. So, even without eating at a TS restaurant every meal, we would still have been looking at over $1000 in tips...easy. That was a major turn off, and one of the main reasons we decided not to go for it. I agree one of the best parts of the dining plan is not even having to worry about paying while youre there, but having to shell out $50 or $60 per meal, kinda took that away.

 

[MaggieMoo'sMom]

Both times I have been we have done the DxDp. I really enjoyed knowing I had 3 meals a day that were paid for...it wasn't about the "value" for us. If I lose $100, it was worth it for us. It was the piece of mind that we knew what to expect and that it was taken care of already. By the way, we have saved major bucks from it as I have saved the receipts. JMO...

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I did the DDXP in 2008 and I swore I would NEVER do it again.. We didn't have a lot of signatures or 2 credit meals, except for HBB and CRT.. But, we definitely were overscheduled. I felt like we were running from place to place..
However.... on our upcoming trip I am thinking of upgrading for the second part of our trip (we are doing a split stay).. And I say this because I am an obsessive planner and after I have added, and changed and deleted and added again all the places that I want to eat, I realize that I am going to be spending Alot of extra $$$ OOP.. So for 4 nights and I extra $300 that it is going to cost me, it makes sense for us to add some signatures.. And also to have all those snack credits.. we are staying at the Poly for the last part of the trip and HUBBY is the coffee fanatic, I see all of our snack credits going towards coffee.

 

[h2oophelia]

We were there Jan 28th - Feb. 7th and did the DxDP. It was a TON of food. But, to us it was worth it because we did a lot of character breakfasts and signature dining. I loved that I could order what I wanted without being concerned about the price. However, the TS meals took a good chunk of time so I'd think twice about doing DxDP if we were there a short time. I hate to feel rushed!

I went in expecting to eat my way around the world....and I did it!

 

[Maus]

I don't understand the concern about over scheduling, that is up to yourself. We do two ts meals a day, a character bf and a signature dinner. I don't feel that sitting down two times a day is too much. We can use sc for lunch or do cs or just don't eat anything. I also don't get the too much food. Signature restaurants have much smaller portions and nobody ever pressured me to finish my plate. For us it is about quality, not quantity. We like good food, specialy when on vacation. Look at some reviews with pictures of the food, portion size in signatures is a lot smaller than in regular restaurants.

 

[AugustDisney]

BF and I are doing Deluxe Dining in August. He's been on one Disney trip where they did the dining plan, but not deluxe. He said it was enough food. I have never done dining plan. Because it is just the two of us and we will likely not be going to Disney with as much freedom as we will have this trip, we are going to do the Deluxe and take advantage of it as much as possible. We have plans for ADRs for 2 meals a day (pretty much breakfast and dinner), including 2 signature restaurants. Since we don't have kids and are night people, we are going to take advantage of having late reservations for dinner, giving us more park time.

 

[Max Webster]

I've been looking at adding the deluxe dining to our vacation. My family (including me) are getting very excited about all the fantastic restaurants, but I'm scared of that much food. What does everyone think? Have you done it and it worked out? Is it too much food? We're a family of 6. 4 kids, but 3 are Disney "adults". Help! Thanks!

Unless you are large people, you would be crazy for doing the deluxe plan. It's way too much food and you will be tied down to 2 TS per day.

The regular plan 1 TS, 1 QS, 1 snack should be plenty for your family.

Cheers!

Max

 

[Areaction]

We are all adults and we've done the deluxe plan twice. Not only is it too much food for us, we hate the schedule constraints of having 2 TS a day. Both times we left with several unused credits.

Agreed, we tried it on a visit over the holidays... I never eat desert & usually no snacks. Same with the family, I have two kids & they can share a kids meal or some of our food... We ended up with a ton of unused counter service & snack credits.

Plus the plan we were on did not have tip, & no liquor so it felt like we spent more.

We went this last week & we were happy not to be on it, no counting or worrying about restrictions.

But, we have friends that love it. It really depends.

 

[Melanie B]

We did the deluxe plan last August and loved it. Yes it was a lot of food but there is no rule saying you have to eat it all. We liked because of all the additional choices and it was nice to sit down and get out of the heat for a bit. Yes it took some to sit down but overall we felt it worth it. We used the snack credits mostly for drinks like frozen coke or lemonade. Very refreshing on a hot day.

 

[AugustDisney]

Unless you are large people, you would be crazy for doing the deluxe plan. It's way too much food and you will be tied down to 2 TS per day

Um wow? Small people can eat a lot too. And some people like flexibility.

 

[Colleen27]

If you do more than one ADR pr day, when do you go on rides? I enjoy some dining at WDW, but mostly I'm there for the rides!

We really don't feel like a TS meal during the day takes up significantly more time than a QS meal at our kids' normal lunchtime. Peak lunchtime lines at QS locations coupled with the table-hunt don't exactly make for a grab-and-go experience, and most of our daytime TS meals take under/around an hour. For the "lost" 30 min (or less), the meal is much more relaxing.

But we go at slower times of year so most of our dinners are at/after park closing unless we're doing evening EMH, and we don't take midday breaks. For us, that relaxing TS lunch is our break. I don't think I'd want to try to fit in deluxe dining and nap/swim breaks during the day; between the two I think that would be too many things cutting into park time.

 

[lilandvisma]

Unless you are large people, you would be crazy for doing the deluxe plan. It's way too much food and you will be tied down to 2 TS per day.

The regular plan 1 TS, 1 QS, 1 snack should be plenty for your family.

Cheers!

Max

Are you kidding me? I know several 100 pounders who can put my DH to shame lol. I'm 5'7 and 123 pounds and will be on the DxDP (and don't eat all that much but want GOOD, quality food when I do eat)...I really am having a hard time understanding your logic with that one.

We really don't feel like a TS meal during the day takes up significantly more time than a QS meal at our kids' normal lunchtime. Peak lunchtime lines at QS locations coupled with the table-hunt don't exactly make for a grab-and-go experience, and most of our daytime TS meals take under/around an hour. For the "lost" 30 min (or less), the meal is much more relaxing.

But we go at slower times of year so most of our dinners are at/after park closing unless we're doing evening EMH, and we don't take midday breaks. For us, that relaxing TS lunch is our break. I don't think I'd want to try to fit in deluxe dining and nap/swim breaks during the day; between the two I think that would be too many things cutting into park time.

Colleen when we went in 2009 we found most of our TS meals to be faster than CS to tell you the truth. We don't take time out of our day for naps or swimming either, perhaps that is why I enjoy the TS meals and think of them as our "breaks" as well. It's not a loss for us when we do character meals. We are killing 3 birds with one stone. Resting up, filling up and meeting characters.

 

[ElliBelle]

Unless you are large people, you would be crazy for doing the deluxe plan. It's way too much food and you will be tied down to 2 TS per day.

The regular plan 1 TS, 1 QS, 1 snack should be plenty for your family.

Cheers!

Max

Really? Lots of thin people eat alot and many large people do not eat much at all. Deluxe dining may not be for you but many people enjoy having more options/better quality of food. DS13 and I will be doing the deluxe plan for a weekend trip in March. We have an ADR at Cali Grill grill on the Friday evening of our arrival, yes quite a bit of food will be presented to us and we will gleefully sample all of it but not feel the need to consume every last bite.

Since credits are good on departure day we also have a dinner ressie at Flying Fish on Sunday before we drive home. The other credits will be used easily as we still need to eat on Saturday as well as Sunday morning. Left over snack credits are great for bringing treats home, not that we really expect to have any (Dole Whips anyone?).

Really all anyone needs to do is the math to see what it would cost OOP vs dxdp or TIW and decide what kind of trip is RIGHT for you. We enloy the chance to relax and it gives DS13 and I a chance to connect over a meal and share our thoughts on whta we have done/want to do next.

 

[2010_Bride]

DH and I did the Deluxe plan last year for the first time.
We were smart with our credits, and didn't do many sit down lunches so that we could eat at the signature restaurants and shows which required 2 credits per meal. So I can't say that we waisted any money -

However, as many people have said, we felt like we were running from one ADR to another. There were times when we went to get a fastpass and it showed a time 3 hours later and we didn't get it because it was too close to our ADR time - or we wanted some time to relax at the resort before going to dinner.

I honestly think you need to decide which is more important - enjoying the parks and doing what you want, when you want - or experiencing all the dining and shows that Disney has to offer espically if you are looking at the delux plan.
This next trip we are avoiding the dining plan all together, and even bringing breakfast foods for us to eat in the room so we have more flexability to just enjoy the parks and resort

 

[cmb4314]

Yes it was a lot of food but there is no rule saying you have to eat it all.

This is my problem. If I'm paying for it up front, I want to eat what I've paid for. Otherwise it just seems like a waste to get it in the first place. And for me, it's just WAY too much food to get the deluxe. I can't eat it all. And I'm a foodie and a big eater.

I had the dining plan once back when the base plan used to include both appetizer and dessert with TS meals, and it was always too much food for those meals. I'd come out of every dinner stuffed. I can't imagine doing that more than once a day.

I feel like a normal day would either be a full buffet + an app/entree/dessert TS meal, or two app/entree/dessert TS meals, with another CS meal for the last. So you're already getting two desserts a day, on top of which you're given two snacks. After all that other food, I don't even know that I'd have stomach room to spend any of my snack credits on anything but bottled water. It just seems like such a waste.

 

[ElliBelle]

This is my problem. If I'm paying for it up front, I want to eat what I've paid for. Otherwise it just seems like a waste to get it in the first place. And for me, it's just WAY too much food to get the deluxe. I can't eat it all. And I'm a foodie and a big eater.

I had the dining plan once back when the base plan used to include both appetizer and dessert with TS meals, and it was always too much food for those meals. I'd come out of every dinner stuffed. I can't imagine doing that more than once a day.

I feel like a normal day would either be a full buffet + an app/entree/dessert TS meal, or two app/entree/dessert TS meals, with another CS meal for the last. So you're already getting two desserts a day, on top of which you're given two snacks. After all that other food, I don't even know that I'd have stomach room to spend any of my snack credits on anything but bottled water. It just seems like such a waste.

I think it just depends on each individual and their relationship to food and/or money. We are not members of the clean your plate club, as a matter of fact I encourage mindful eating, meaning pay attention to what you are eating, savour it, enjoy it but listen to your body and stop before you are full. I dont feel that I am wasteful if I order an appetizer , enjoy some of it and leave the rest so I can enjoy my entree and a bite or two of dessert. That said, we would eat like this paying OOP or on the dining plan. We just like to try things. I'm not trying to eat every bite or get the most bang for my buck. I am an intelligent consumer however, so I plugged our meal selections into a spreadsheet, tallied up the price and DXDP works out to be a better value, there will be food left on the table either way.

 

[MSLRAC]

We did the DxDDP on our January 18-28 trip and I sent a text to a friend on the way home "As God is my witness, I'll never do the Deluxe Dining Plan again" (a nod to Gone with the Wind)

So funny because on our way home, DH said we would never go to Disney again without the DxDP. We absolutely loved it!

But it really worked for us. We did 3 TS meals a day because that is what we are used to at home. We didn't lose park time except for at lunch and that was well worth it because my kids were ready for lunch when it rolled around and we all used that time to refuel and relax for our big afternoon. We never felt like it was too much food, like we were just going from ADR to ADR or as if was wasteful.

I think you need to decide what restaurants are a must do for you and start planning out your days. The moment I started doing that, I realized that the regular plan was not going to work.

 

[cmb4314]

I think it just depends on each individual and their relationship to food and/or money. We are not members of the clean your plate club, as a matter of fact I encourage mindful eating, meaning pay attention to what you are eating, savour it, enjoy it but listen to your body and stop before you are full. I dont feel that I am wasteful if I order an appetizer , enjoy some of it and leave the rest so I can enjoy my entree and a bite or two of dessert. That said, we would eat like this paying OOP or on the dining plan. We just like to try things. I'm not trying to eat every bite or get the most bang for my buck. I am an intelligent consumer however, so I plugged our meal selections into a spreadsheet, tallied up the price and DXDP works out to be a better value, there will be food left on the table either way.

I have the same relationship with food, but I guess I'm just stingy

I LOVE food and I savor what I get, but I'm not going to order something I think I can't finish. That's not to say I'll blindly stuff myself just to finish a plate, but if I have to leave food on my dinner plate, I can't justify in my head buying dessert. $10 for one bite of appetizer or dessert is just not something I can stomach financially.

I also did a spreadsheet and tallied up what I was going to eat while I was there, and ended up completely without a dining plan for my upcoming trip because it was nearly identical in price, and we appreciate the flexibility of not having the plan.

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

It really does depend on how you normally eat. For my family it totally works because 3 out of the 4 of us (my DD17 is the exception) likes a nice breakfast, all of us like sit down lunches and sit down dinners. At home we eat that way. Not to mention DD prefers seafood above all else. Cost wise even with tips we come out better with the deluxe plan. We did the regular plan once and it just wasn't enough for us. Trying to find seating for the counter service was a pain. We were happy to give it up for table service dining.

We also found that by getting up early we could get our breakfast out of the way prior to getting to the parks. However we never visit when parks open prior to 8am. For my family, table service meals do not take away much time from our touring. We get our major rides out of the way in the morning and plan more relaxing activities in the pm so we don't feel rushed. But then again we are up and at 'em type people.

Signature meals really help in using those dining credits. We tend to have one every night. Usually 7:30 or so to spread out the meals. It works best for us. Everyone just has to figure what's best for their family.

Have fun OP!

 

[Colleen27]

This is my problem. If I'm paying for it up front, I want to eat what I've paid for. Otherwise it just seems like a waste to get it in the first place. And for me, it's just WAY too much food to get the deluxe. I can't eat it all. And I'm a foodie and a big eater.

I had the dining plan once back when the base plan used to include both appetizer and dessert with TS meals, and it was always too much food for those meals. I'd come out of every dinner stuffed. I can't imagine doing that more than once a day.

I feel like a normal day would either be a full buffet + an app/entree/dessert TS meal, or two app/entree/dessert TS meals, with another CS meal for the last. So you're already getting two desserts a day, on top of which you're given two snacks. After all that other food, I don't even know that I'd have stomach room to spend any of my snack credits on anything but bottled water. It just seems like such a waste.

Personality really does play a role - if you feel you have to eat everything the plan includes or make the most of every credit, you're going to end up stuffed silly!

We regularly skip desserts and I account for that in my spreadsheet, but the deluxe plan still works out to be the best for our preferences. We do want appetizers and entrees, and sharing is rare because of different tastes and DH's allergy to one of my favorite foods (fish). But I don't mind walking away from the table with those dessert credits unused. Sure, I paid for them but I'm saving about 20% on the items we do want by using the plan so I see no need to order every dessert.

Most of our deluxe plan days are two app + entree + dessert TS meals, one at lunch and one at dinner, and more often than not we skip or share desserts at lunch. Most of our dinners are at signature restaurants and we don't do in-park counter service at all any more. We do very few buffets because we prefer meals that are served to the table but might "tolerate" one or two buffet character meals, preferably breakfasts because 1) breakfast is a harder meal to screw up and 2) we're not big breakfast eaters so if a breakfast buffet is mediocre we're not leaving hungry/disappointed anyway.

Because we're only eating two meals per day, we don't find it difficult to use and enjoy our snack credits (especially now, with a toddler too young for her own credits - she used two a day on her own last trip, just for berries and bottled water/juice). We do use quite a few for drinks and fruit and other low-value items because that's what we want in the FL heat, but we always find time to hit a couple of the DIS favorites too.