Would you ever stay on-site strictly for the dining plan?

[emer95]

Hi!
We're offsite people. We only have been to Disney once and we stayed offsite and loved it. I cannot talk myself into staying onsite because of the squished factor. We loved all the room we had to spread out on our last trip.

Anyhoo, we're planning our next trip, and we're either going to stay at DoubleTree suites, Windsor Palms or Cypress Pointe (haven't decided for sure yet). We're probably going to go for 10 days or so.

However, I keep thinking about that Dining Plan. It sounds so great. Today at work I was talking to a girl who went to Kona Cafe and had the most amazing meal. The total bill came to over $200 for 4 people, but they were on the dining plan. I can't see us doing the dining plan for our entire stay. We have two little girls who aren't big eaters, and I'm really not either (although I do enjoy good food!). My dh can be an extremely big eater when given the opportunity. Here's what I was considering as a compromise....stay for 8 nights off-site, and then stay at a value resort for our final two nights, and eat like kings! What do you think? Would any of you ever consider doing that, or am I crazy?

 

[FayeW]

I could see me doing something like that! I just about had myself talked into it for one night on our last trip, but then I got Sheraton Safari for $59. for that night instead.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Just for the dining plan?????? That's a definite Maybe!!! I love to eat!
Of course, that's why I'm shaped like this guy -->

We're onsite for the first time this summer and I am really excited, I have wanted to stay "in Disney" since I was 5. Because I want to avoid commuting to meals I did get the dining plan for this trip. I feel like I will get to try a lot of restaurants we usually just walk past on the way to a hamburger. Trust me, there is a limit to how many hamburgers I want to eat in 7 days!!!

I know this is not the cost saving plan some people make it out to be but If you plan to pay the higher hotel price to be on Disney Property and you don't really want to leave then if can at least let you eat a real meal for the price of that burger and fries... kwim?

 

[dylansmom1]

The dining plan is the only reason we are staying at the pop for half our trip. We really want to try out some of the really good restaurants. Otherwise, we'd be eating at el-cheapo places or out of a cooler. Besides, it's a treat for my mom who is recovering from cancer treatment. I'm still debating staying at Vistana Villages or in a pool home though. I also like the space and privacy.
It's a hard choice.

Jane

 

[swilshire]

We stayed onsite for the free dining last year in October for four or five nights, then moved to a timeshare. Our two sons are not big eaters and we had SOOOO many credits left at the end of our stay. The last day we got carryout meals with our remaining credits (something like 15 meals) and Mickey rice krispie snacks and ice cream bars with the remaining snacks. We ate on this for much of the following week.

You might want to do the Disney stay first to give you a chance to eat up any remaining food.

Sheila

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Not sure if you've been to Windsor Palms already but that place is absolutely fabulous! Wonderful!! What I would do in your case is do Disney first, and do it for 3 days, then do a week at Windsor Palms. We split a lot but for just 2 days just for the eating plan seems rushed, I would do 3, and then put in a week at Windsor Palms. You can get great deals there also and its just fabulous.

 

[Straitlover]

I stayed onsite and did the Dining Plan in Dec 05 (4 nights). I can't imagine doing the Dining Plan for 10 nights! I gained 3 lbs just w/ the 4 nights!

Since you have to get your tickets w/ the package, what I would do is this: Stay onsite for the first 3 nights w/ dining plan and go ahead and get the 10 day tickets. Then move offsite to a timeshare or other hotel for the remaining 7 nights. If you do the onsite at the end, you'll have to buy 2 sets of ticekts (unless you already have AP's or tickets from a prior trip), and you will spend more money.

 

[swillis]

I wouldn't consider staying onsite unless I was traveling without my kids. I just can't go on vacation and be so crowded and cramped. Not to mention that if you stay offsite you can find accomodations that may include a kitchen, or free kids meals or at the very least little kitchenettes that you can do simple breakfast, snacks etc that would possibly save you as much money as the Dining Plan.

I will stay onsite someday. But for now it's not economic, or desireable.

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

We stay onsite for alot of reasons, but the dining plan is a huge one. We like the idea of going and not worrying about what each person is eating and weather or not they are staying in their budget. We even let the kids start with desert and see if they have room for dinner (once or twice ) We are a family of 5 and the cramped factor may be a problem for us except for the fact that we are rarely in our room unless it is to sleep. It is alot of food, but on vacation we don't drive or worry... for us it is wonderful.