Is Disney Dining Plan worth it?

[ParentsOf4]

touringplans.com has blogged a 3-part review of the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) using meat-and-potato (pun intended) examples to calculate savings.

http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/10/02/could-the-disney-dining-plan-save-you-money/

http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/10/09/dissecting-disneys-deluxe-dining-plan/

http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/11/28/analyzing-disneys-quick-service-dining-plan-for-2013/

Since being introduced in 2005, DDP has proven to be popular with many onsite guests. In 2005, DDP cost $35/night and included one Table Service (TS) meal consisting of appetizer, non-alcoholic beverage, main course, dessert, and 18% gratuity, one Quick Service (QS) meal consisting of non-alcoholic beverage, main course, and dessert, and one snack. Disney now offers several DDP options, with the Standard DDP being most similar to the original DDP. The 2012 price of this plan is $51.54/night. However, the TS appetizer and 18% gratuity are no longer included. When these are factored in, the equivalent price is around $60/night. An increase from $35/night in 2005 to $60/night in 2012 represents an annual increase of 8.0%.

In 2013, the DDP price increased another 12.5%.

When originally introduced, it was possible for the casual WDW vacationer to save money using DDP. However, with the changes and price increases since then, DDP becomes more difficult to financially justify every year. If you want to maximize savings using DDP, carefully map out your dining to eat the most expensive menu items at the most expensive restaurants. Also be sure to eat every morsel. Otherwise, there’s a good chance DDP will cost you money. For the hungry planner, DDP makes sense. However, for many WDW guests, I suspect DDP offers considerably less financial benefit.

There are some who prefer DDP for nonfinancial reasons. Perhaps the most frequently mentioned is having the meals prepaid. If this is really important to you, consider using a prepaid debit card, which offers considerably more flexibility than DDP.

I haven’t paid for DDP in 5 years because I calculated my family could eat for less by simply ordering what we wanted from the menus rather than having DDP “force” us to pick the most expensive items so we could justify its cost. Each year, I financially reevaluate DDP against my family’s typical eating habits and, each year, the gap between how much I save by paying for my meals vs. purchasing DDP grows.

I used to like DDP when we were dining at Disney’s expensive buffets but found my family could not eat a QS meal, a snack, and a buffet meal on the same day. It was too much food. Today, we instead go with a light (and inexpensive) breakfast and gorge ourselves at the buffet in the early afternoon. Not ideal eating habits but, hey, we’re on vacation. And it ends up costs less than DDP. We spend considerably less on days we don’t eat at one of the expensive buffets.

My teenage children are athletes burning many extra calories a day training, including when we’re on vacation. They find it difficult to eat all the food on DDP. It’s a lot of food.

If you are considering DDP, I suggest you make an informed decision. Take the time to look at the prices on the menus (available online), ask what you and your family realistically expect to eat, and compare these to DDP prices. Be a smart consumer.

IMHO, DDP works for some but probably not for most. What are your thoughts? Is DDP worth it?

 

[aw14]

I totally get your thought process and it truly does depend on the individual family. For us it recommended DDP is always the most cost effective. We like to have the table service option that could get more costly if it was not for the plan up front. Both my wife and I have looked over the numbers and have felt that this was the most economical way to go, but it truly is one that each individual family needs to research

 

[Jo DeVil]

We have used the Dining plan 3 time once the original back in 2007 and then the Deluxe twice. For us it makes sense we like to be able use the table service options and the Signatures. We go for 14 nights and I book at 180 days and it means we have time to chill and have a good meal. If you commando the parks it might not be worth it for you. TTFN Jo

 

[rufio]

Yes. I've used in on my past two trips. I really want to try the Deluxe Dining Plan soon!

 

[Master Yoda]

One thing that often gets overlooked and is quite hard to calculate is the psychological effect the DDP has in relation to relaxation. We use TiWL because it works out the best numbers wise for out family, but I always find myself cringing a bit when I get the bill. On the occasion that we have used the DDP that same cringe was not there and I found the feeling quite liberating. It did not matter that I know that paying for my meals and using TiWL is typically a better deal, I felt like I was dining for free using the DDP. That same feeling is just not there when you are using a prepaid debit card.

 

[real mad hatter]

First four vacations just winged it on food,then this year Disney gave free DDP in July,and we got it.Would I pay for it.? No.

 

[copcarguyp71]

We prefer a rock solid budget with as few variables as possible so for us it is a yes. Everyone is different it seems on this subject though from what I can tell from threads past.

 

[luv]

There is nothing about "free" dining (or anyother dining plan) that would make me pay more to use it, so I don't.

Always much cheaper to use the AP discount and TiW. For us, anyway.

I also don't want to have to keep track of how many meals and snacks we should have coming the whole trip...or have to ask if I can get X or Y on the plan. Also, the planning. Ugh. "We have to eat this many meals of fast food and this many meals in restaurants. We have to get one snack per day...can we use it for X?"

Not my thing. Rather do what I want, when I want and pay less to do it.

 

[copcarguyp71]

At least DDP is easier to figure out than DVC

 

[erasure fan1]

I haven’t paid for DDP in 5 years because I calculated my family could eat for less by simply ordering what we wanted from the menus rather than having DDP “force” us to pick the most expensive items so we could justify its cost. Each year, I financially reevaluate DDP against my family’s typical eating habits and, each year, the gap between how much I save by paying for my meals vs. purchasing DDP grows.

This about sums it up for me. If you take the cost of what we eat on a typical trip it isnt any where close to the cost of the dining plan. I get why some say its a great deal but we dont do table service everyday. Could I make the plan work in my favor? Of course, but that won't save me any money. We have done the DDP and it just felt like our trip revolved around the meals instead of the parks. So many meals made park hopping a pain, because if you missed something at one park, you had reservations at a different park you have to get to.

 

[Mattdaddy4321]

Just stayed there for 8 days. Added up the cost of breakfast and dinners and it came to around $1,000 for 2 of us and that's without tips and snacks. I think it's worth it. We used our quick service to get breakfast and made reservations to the best places using our table service. Don't understand the person that said it made it feel like everything revolved around food. If u plan ahead you will be fine. Don't get caught looking for a place that has a opening for dinner. Just call ahead and reserve.

 

[Avenger117]

At least DDP is easier to figure out than DVC

Thats so true, thats off the subject but I still don't understand DVC.

As for Dining plan, it really depends on lots of factors. if you see it as a value to you, if you want to have meals paid for ahead of time, etc.

 

[Monty]

One thing that often gets overlooked and is quite hard to calculate is the psychological effect the DDP has in relation to relaxation. We use TiWL because it works out the best numbers wise for out family, but I always find myself cringing a bit when I get the bill. On the occasion that we have used the DDP that same cringe was not there and I found the feeling quite liberating. It did not matter that I know that paying for my meals and using TiWL is typically a better deal, I felt like I was dining for free using the DDP. That same feeling is just not there when you are using a prepaid debit card.

And that is precisely what Disney manipulates to get more people using DDP.

The human psyche is an amazing thing and the vast majority of business decisions made are made with a view to capitalizing on our vulnerabilities. The only people the base line DDP really works for financially are the meticulous planners who eat the most expensive meals at the most expensive restaurants and use up every QS and snack credit on the most expensive items in those categories. If all that happens to be what you would choose to eat independent of DDP, then DDP is a value. In any other scenario you are giving Disney more money than necessary and that's why they offer the plan at all.

The other plans are pure money in the Mouse' pocket.

 

[real mad hatter]

Well my old Irish buddy Crush Dude stayed at OKW for three weeks this year.His package included 40% off listed price and three weeks of FREE. TS meals.Ok,so he still had to tip but three weeks of eating steaks,lobster,and other goodies.If Thats not classed as FREE, then what is.?

 

[Master Yoda]

Well my old Irish buddy Crush Dude stayed at OKW for three weeks this year.His package included 40% off listed price and three weeks of FREE. TS meals.Ok,so he still had to tip but three weeks of eating steaks,lobster,and other goodies.If Thats not classed as FREE, then what is.?

That is a UK only deal. You can not get that if you live anywhere else in the world.

 

[real mad hatter]

That is a UK only deal. You can not get that if you live anywhere else in the world.

I knew it was an overseas deal but didn't realise it was UK only.Thought maybe Europe also,but as I type this if I remember right Crush stayed in Southern Ireland. It's not UK.or is it ? I should know this but it's brain freeze time.

 

[sgtmgd]

And that is precisely what Disney manipulates to get more people using DDP.

The human psyche is an amazing thing and the vast majority of business decisions made are made with a view to capitalizing on our vulnerabilities. The only people the base line DDP really works for financially are the meticulous planners who eat the most expensive meals at the most expensive restaurants and use up every QS and snack credit on the most expensive items in those categories. If all that happens to be what you would choose to eat independent of DDP, then DDP is a value. In any other scenario you are giving Disney more money than necessary and that's why they offer the plan at all.

The other plans are pure money in the Mouse' pocket.

With todays economic liabilities Disney nailed the Dining plan. Disney isnt losing money on this you can be sure of that, however...Disney cant and wont survive unless you can get people into the parks. Food/drinks are extreamly high at any Theme park...Disney is at the top of the heap, I cant tell you how many conversations Ive had with people who's number one complaint is all the "hidden" cost of going to Disney for a week. Food and drinks are the number one issue..a family of 4 in in mid summer will require ALOT of sustanence..just in bottled water alone in the parks you will drop a pretty penny each day.
The DP regardless of which one you use helps negate that, add in that you can pay this off over a maximum of 18 months makes a week long trip to Disney affordable for masses of peole that would never even consider it otherwise. I cringe when I hear the the"just do a pre paid debit card" for food..really? This country and the lower to middle class are not by and large fiscally conserative enough to manage that kind of money and not use it because its sitting there, chances are something will happen on the 12-18 months that ends up eating into their funds. If your paying it too Disney its already beyond the ability to touch unless you cancel the trip. Im not starting a class war, its just the facts. Ive spent 25 years serving this country and I continue to do so, from a military standpoint the "deals" offered by Disney and the time to pay it are the only way most enlisted soldiers that have been in less than 10 years are going to be able to afford a trip like this. I'm fortunate that I dont need to use the DDP but I like to know that everything is paid for in advance. I dont over eat just because I have teh DDP. The bread and butter of what Disney needs to survive...is finding ways to get people into the parks that normally wont be able to afford it...and the DDP helps that cause.

 

[Master Yoda]

I knew it was an overseas deal but didn't realise it was UK only.Thought maybe Europe also,but as I type this if I remember right Crush stayed in Southern Ireland. It's not UK.or is it ? I should know this but it's brain freeze time.

Disney classifies it as such. The UK deals have one important difference that occurs no where else. You can combine discounts on a UK promotion. I have seen people get 40% off on a room, free dining and discounted tickets.

It is my understanding that even after all of those discounts, Disney still makes out from the UK visitors. From what I have been told the average UK guest stays for 2-3 weeks and spends money like it is water while they are here. That of course won't be true for every UK resident, but enough of you fit that description for Disney to seemingly give away the farm just to get you guys through the gates.

 

[real mad hatter]

Disney classifies it as such. The UK deals have one important difference that occurs no where else. You can combine discounts on a UK promotion. I have seen people get 40% off on a room, free dining and discounted tickets.

It is my understanding that even after all of those discounts, Disney still makes out from the UK visitors. From what I have been told the average UK guest stays for 2-3 weeks and spends money like it is water while they are here. That of course won't be true for every UK resident, but enough of you fit that description for Disney to seemingly give away the farm just to get you guys through the gates.

. Yes,we got 14 day park hopper for the price of a 7 day ticket and I agree 2 weeks at least and yes I know we spend around $1500.00 on various souvenirs.

 

[wiigirl]

It is for us....but we usually eat a lot and we use it as kind of a food budget.