Would you buy the dining plan with my schedule?

[beattyfamily]

I haven't done the dining plan in several years and a lot's changed since I did. So please forgive me if this is a 'no-brainer'.

I'm going in October (DVC) on first adult only trip.

Staying for 6 nights.

We usually eat a small breakfast and then one big meal a day.

I can't figure out if it's a better deal for me to buy the basic dining plan.

I think I'm going to eat at:

Castle dinner (2 credits)
50's Prime Time
Fantasmic package (Mama's)
Crystal Palace breakfast
1900 Park Fair dinner

We will have snacks in our DVC kitchen to consider.

Anyway, anyone who can help me decide if the DDP is a no brainer, that'd be GREAT. Thank you.

 

[MamaDrama]

If you did the basic DDP you would be one TS credit over you allotment so you'd have to pay for something OOP. 50's Prime time is probably your best OOP choice. If you eat a big enough breakfast to justify quick service credits (as opposed to a cereal bar in the room) then I think it would be worth your while.

 

[beattyfamily]

If you did the basic DDP you would be one TS credit over you allotment so you'd have to pay for something OOP. 50's Prime time is probably your best OOP choice. If you eat a big enough breakfast to justify quick service credits (as opposed to a cereal bar in the room) then I think it would be worth your while.

Thank you but...I am over?

I am eating at 5 places, and I think only the castle is 2 credits.

I am staying 6 nights so six credits right?

Oh and I was thinking IF I had to do a meal OOP, it might be best if it were CP.

Sorry, as you can see I am confused.

 

[Cafeen]

For TS locations, it looks decent, but to truely guage if it it "right" for you:

• Do you plan on eating at least 1 CS meal per night of stay as well? (I know you mentioned small breakfast + 1 bigger meal, would you also eat a CS meal in here or not?)
• Do you plan on using all entitlements (Entree + Dessert + Drink) at all TS meals? (Granted, most of your meals are buffets, so not entirely applicable, but for those that aren't...)
• Would you be picking up at least 1 snack per person per night? (Yes, you listed you have snacks in the DVC kitchen, BUT you are also going during F&W which often has various good bits of food to be had for snack credits (and they're usually a good value too vs. paying OOP).

If the answers to #s 1 and 2 are yes, then you should come out ahead on the DDP. If not, it may happen, but it's unlikely. However, the snack situation when paired with F&W may make those snack credits more worthwhile (there were some $5-6 items at the booths last year that qualified as snacks I believe). This may help you make the decision.

 

[Cafeen]

Thank you but...I am over?

I am eating at 5 places, and I think only the castle is 2 credits.

I am staying 6 nights so six credits right?

Sorry, as you ca see I am confused.

You are correct , 6 nights = 6 credits. We see a lot of "going for 6 days" around here and people expecting "6" credits, so it gets confusing at times .

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks!

We will eat those 4 dinners and that 1 breakfast which based on my calculations is about $200 pp. OOP

The dining plan for one person for 6 nights is $275.94 pp.

so that difference is $77.72.

There will still be 2 nights without a dinner planned and 5 mornings without a breakfast planned and no lunches planned at all.

So, I'm thinking that $77.72 difference isn't so bad.

Ok, I'm even more confused!!

 

[Cafeen]

That $77 should be pretty easily "eaten up" (bad pun intended ) by QS meals if you get them and snacks.

Figure an average of about $14 per QS meal per person and $3 per snack.
(14 * 6) + (3 x 6)
84 + 18 = $102 estimated cost of remaining "stuff"

So, you could potentially save around $25 per person plus tax (which would be $18-$20 or so per person). However, breakfasts are a bit cheaper, so dropping that CS average to $10 per, it would change to about $1 per person plus tax savings.

If it were me and those were my plans, I think I'd forego the DDP on this trip and allow for more flexibility (assuming your estimate is correct, which should be pretty easy to figure out since it's mostly fixed price stuff.)

 

[MamaDrama]

Sorry, I thought the Fantasmic package was 2 credits!! You're good!

 

[DaniB]

Sorry, I thought the Fantasmic package was 2 credits!! You're good!

It can be depending on which restaurant is chosen for the package. Mama Melrose is 1 credit. There's 2 other restaurants and one of those charges 2 credits for the fantasmic package.

 

[Diegosmom]

If you are staying DVC you dont have to get the meal pln for your entire stay. You can do say first 2 nights then 1 night off then 3 nights. You will still have access to credits on each day because you have till midnight on the check out day and then the next day you will get more credits...

Or you might even consider doing the upgrded plan 1 night (like the day you are doing the 2 credit meal). Just some ideas

 

[beattyfamily]

If you are staying DVC you dont have to get the meal pln for your entire stay. You can do say first 2 nights then 1 night off then 3 nights. You will still have access to credits on each day because you have till midnight on the check out day and then the next day you will get more credits...

Or you might even consider doing the upgrded plan 1 night (like the day you are doing the 2 credit meal). Just some ideas

Wow, I didn't know that. That's interesting.

I'm starting to think that if it's close to a wash that I'll forgo the DDP this time and have more flexibility.

But now I need to think about the DVC aspect. I didn't know I don't have to buy it for the whole stay.

Thanks everyone.

 

[DaParkers]

If you are staying DVC you dont have to get the meal pln for your entire stay. You can do say first 2 nights then 1 night off then 3 nights. You will still have access to credits on each day because you have till midnight on the check out day and then the next day you will get more credits...

Or you might even consider doing the upgrded plan 1 night (like the day you are doing the 2 credit meal). Just some ideas

I don't think that's accurate. I always believed the DDP to be for the length of your reservation, including DVC. For instance, if you have a reservation for 6 nights, you must buy the dining plan for 6 nights. If you have 2 separate reservations, (two 3 night ressies) you can then buy the dining plan for just 3nights or for just one reservation.

 

[Cafeen]

I don't think that's accurate. I always believed the DDP to be for the length of your reservation, including DVC. For instance, if you have a reservation for 6 nights, you must buy the dining plan for 6 nights. If you have 2 separate reservations, (two 3 night ressies) you can then buy the dining plan for just 3nights or for just one reservation.

Originally, this was the case. Sometime fairly recently they changed it some. I don't personally know the details of it, but a few posts have been doing just that (buying for fewer nights than stay, and not on split stay). This ONLY applies to DVC points stays though and not any sort of cash stays at all. I also don't think it's very widely known, these are the things Disney doesn't advertise much .

 

[LoriABil]

If it were me, I think the answer would depend on

1. Are we going to the F&W Festival?

2. Would we use the CS meals?

If I were staying at the BWV or BCV, for instance, I think we could use the snack credits and CS at the F&W festival over 2 nights (the 2 free nights). Many of the kiosks have food that are snacks on the DDP. You could also do a CS around the World type thing (which might be a waste of food). I would have to work out the cost, but it might be worthwhile for convenience.

Then again, if you are not much of a foodie, or if you would enjoy the "Wine" part of the festival more, you could take your $70 and buy a gift card for the F&WF. That gives you the option of wine while not having to decide where to use those pesky CS credits.

But all of this is assuming you are doing the Food and Wine Festival.

 

[beattyfamily]

I''ve been to Disney 12 times and probably 4 or 5 of those trips were in October and now I'm going again in October and I have NEVER done the Food and Wine Festival. I know, the horror!

I'm a foodie. I LOVE food. I love trying new things. I also LOVE wine.

My friend, however, not as much of a foodie.

I don't know much about the F&W festival. I never had any interest when going with my kids.

Hmmmmmm, more to think about. :

 

[rlduvall]

Originally, this was the case. Sometime fairly recently they changed it some. I don't personally know the details of it, but a few posts have been doing just that (buying for fewer nights than stay, and not on split stay). This ONLY applies to DVC points stays though and not any sort of cash stays at all.

Yes, you are correct - they made the change in late 2010. As long as you segment your DVC reservation this can be done, i.e. a 7 night reservation might be reserved in 3 different segments, then linked together so you do not have to change rooms. I did this in early December . . . and it was a nightmare. They hadn't worked out all the kinks yet, but I believe it is getting better. It's a pretty nice perk for DVC'ers.