Worth paying for dining?

[ShesAPirate]

I figured the Budget Board would get me the best answers to this one!

I can't get free dining because we're staying at DVC (renting, so I can't get Tables in Wonderland, either). Two adults, and plan to eat at the following dit-down restaurants, probably all for dinner except for Boma (breakfast):

Crystal Palace
Chef Mickey's
Jiko
Boma
and (very likely) somewhere in World Showcase -- just not sure where.

They're all subject to change, I guess, but one sit-down meal a day will happen for sure.

We're staying 5 nights. Adding Basic dining would be $419 for the two of us. Think it's worth it, or should be pay oop?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[bumbershoot]

I believe the dis (wdwinfo.com) has menus, and if they aren't there, check out allears.net, so you can figure out what your cost for the dinners might be, and compare them!

FYI, Tables in Wonderland can be purchased if you have an AP...it has nothing to do with being a DVC owner. I also believe that FL residents can get it, though I'm not 100% sure on that one. But I do know it has nothing to do with renting or owning DVC.

Remember, the dining plans don't include appetizers, do include a non-alcoholic drink, and dessert. If you wouldn't order the included things, and would include the not included things...might not be the best value.

 

[ambgoph]

We did the dining plan (2 adults) last trip. We did a sit down dinner every night. I thought it was way too much food with getting a dessert at each counter service and table service plus the snacks. Our last day we had 6 snack credits (8 day trip) left and had to throw out a couple of desserts left in our fridge. Our next trip we won't be doing dining.

 

[JCMHutch]

DH & I have opted to do dining the last few trips. We both enjoy one sit down meal a day and those can be expensive. We figure its worth it for us. I use my "snack" for breakfast (bagel) and save my CS for lunch. Sometimes DH will order a breakfast so we share my CS at lunch and his snack. Dinner we always eat well at - we figure we are walking 9+ miles a day and can splurge on one big meal a day. One trip we didn't do dining because we tacked on a few days after a conference and we spent more on food per day than the DDP cost just with dinner (did I mention that DH loves to eat!).

Plus, if you have any extra "snack" credits, you can use them and buy prepackaged items (like Goofy's Candy Co. stuff) and take them home. Then you have treats that remind you of a great vacation.