Would you do it again?

[warriorboy648]

I'm looking for input on whether people feel that they will do the DDP again. I've heard comments lately that it is too much food and makes food the focus of the trip. Also, did you feel as if it was cost effective when you looked at what you would normally eat if you didn't have the DDP. Thanks

 

[Nancy K]

I would not do the dining plan again. It's more food than we would normally eat. If you like to over-eat, it's for you.

 

[rzeta94]

I would def. do it again. We would of spent close to $700 for two of us. We even had a better discount because we were with someone who was working at disney...so we really made out!

It is A LOT of food but who says you have to eat all of it. We had 3 snacks left at the end and got some fruit and 2 rice krispie treats for home! Ate things I wouldn't of eaten if we weren't on the plan. We loved it because then we all were able to taste everyone else's food since we tried to eat different things!

 

[eliza61]

I would not do the dining plan again. It's more food than we would normally eat. If you like to over-eat, it's for you.

No I would not do it again. Did not like it. I'm using my DDE card next trip.

 

[Sammie]

We would defnitely do it again.

We did not over eat, we don't over eat at buffets, so the DDP did not force us into over eating. Just because it was there, we felt no need to stuff ourselves.

We had many delicious salads for appetizers and bypassed a few desserts or got them to go or got fruit.

We did not buy any food out of pocket. I really can't see how one CS and one TS per day, could ever be considered too much food.

 

[ThinkTink!]

I absolutely loved knowing my cost up front. Not having to worry about how much to spend or not to spend each day on meals, not having to carry around extra cash. I can't imagine the dining plan not being a food cost savings! I enjoy planning the ADR's ahead of time. We are huge character meal fans and this is worth the cost alone. For us, it worked wonderfully.

 

[kellyg403]

Yes definitely! We have used DDP last 2 times. Like others I appreciate knowing my entire package is paid for. Takes the stress off of the trip for me. Plus, with 5 kids still at home it is nice to do TS we normally would not do.

Kelly

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

I am trying it for the first time on Free dining so we will see. It seems too restricting and too much food which is why we havn't done it before, we normaly only do 2 or 3 TS in our 14 day trip.

 

[k-team]

I absolutely LOVED the dining plan. We could easily spend $100 a day on food at Disney and that's with sharing drinks and only eating counter service and snacks. With that same $100, I got to pick just about whatever I wanted, not having to worry that DH doesn't like chicken or DS is allergic to milk! I didn't have to look at the price my dinner would have been at Coral Reef . I would never have splurged on dessert, but with the dining plan, I could (and I loved every bit of it!)

 

[La2kw]

We wouldn't do it again unless it was free. It's too much food and was not our style of eating at all. We don't usually order appetizers and if we order a dessert, we usually share one amongst the four of us. Two desserts a day is way too much for us. Not to mention a "snack" on top of that. In all the years of vacationing at WDW, we have never spent as much on food as we did with the DDP. We prefer paying as we go and charging everything to the room, which eliminates carrying $$ around. I hated seeing that much food wasted.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Yes, we are doing it next time. We were on the free dining plan last September and that was the first time using it. It was wonderful! I also like the fact that everything was paid for before we went (even though it was free) We never eat like that at home so it was a real treat and something we are already looking forward to on the next trip. We are planning on getting it free or not.

 

[labdogs42]

YES! We love the DDP! It was a great way to try restaurants that we hadn't tried and I loved that my meals were paid for in advance. I would do it again for sure!

 

[lynninpa]

We will be using the Dining Plan for the THIRD time for our next trip to Disney! The first year, it was just 2 adults and 1 child. The second trip, it was 6 adults and 3 children. The next trip will again be 2 adults and 1 child. A big part of any vacation is the food for us. In our opinion, one of the biggest perks about the Dining Plan is that it is paid for upfront. Not having to budget money on a daily basis for meals just makes a vacation just that-a vacation! Of course, this is just our humble opinion.

 

[klinlin]

Love having everything paid for before we leave, and not having to worry about it. (well most things!) I do not cook on vacation, I do not want to eat nothing but fast food, and I will not watch every penny all week long. (If I can't afford it, I will stay home.) I want to relax and enjoy! I think the only time DDP is stressful is if you are too worried about getting the most for your money. If you don't want dessert, don't eat it. You will still come out ahead.

Just my opinion, but I think the overeating comments are rude. Most people eat two meals a day at home, when they are not walking around the whole time. Most of the CS desserts are nothing to write home about anyway. Perhaps Disney should consider eliminating them altogther, and that would take take of the sugar free jello outrage!

 

[slotzkin]

My hubby & I are going to WDW this May and will be trying DDP for the first time. It is pretty expensive, but my husband is a 6ft 2inch firefighter and a big eater so the cost of our food always puts a bit of a damper on our trip so I hoping this time, prepaying will take some of the sting out of feeding him for 6 days!

 

[rzeta94]

I would love them to get rid of the desserts from the Counter Services and give us more snacks instead! That would be great.

 

[daisyduck123]

Yes!

We've done it several times.
It gives us the option of trying new foods that we wouldn't have ordered before..if one of the kids wants to try an appeitzer, then hey, they can!

Everything is already paid for & this is our vacation!!
We can eat what we want!

 

[slotzkin]

How do you get the "free dining" I keep reading about?

 

[suzimar57]

we did DDP last september, and we're doing it again this coming october - we had the free dining when we went (which made it that much better!) but even at $38/person, it's still a bargain to us - we'd be making daily ADRs anyway for TS, and we always have counter serve lunch each day - works out well for us, we like to eat... plus this trip, we can use the snack credits for the FW booths

 

[slotzkin]

Is the free dining only offered in October? Just wondering b/c I am going this May and have not paid for my package yet, just on hold...