Just back, first time dining plan

[normjen]

We have been to Disney around 8 times and this is the 1st time using the quick service dining plan. We did some math and decided to take advantage of the "Play, stay, dine " offer. While we were only able to go to the parks 6 days we actually qualified for 8 days of meals due to our flight times.
First let me say we ate well, too well.
I am surprised that people can actually use the regular dining plan as I cannot imagine how much food that would be. Everyday it was a running joke, "Ok we have to eat 8 meals between the three of us today, which proved not possible. We ended up taking sandwiches from France back home along with some other snack choices and some desserts (NO souvenirs, just food)
Our strategy going in was to use our snack credit for breakfast and save meal credit for throughout the day. That quickly changed as it was so much food and desserts that we usually saved some of the dessert choices for breakfast the next day. We mostly used snack credits for cinnamon buns and root beer floats and other snacks we like.
The end result is that if I had to pay full price for the dining plan, I would pass on it, as we could easily be satisfied with how we have done it in the past and spent less money.
norm

 

[ToTBellHop]

Agree with you on all counts. I would never actually pay for a dining plan. And I would always take a room-only discount over free dining if both were offered (unless the room-only discount sucked like it routinely does at POFQ of course).

 

[Betsyboo]

We have been to Disney around 8 times and this is the 1st time using the quick service dining plan. We did some math and decided to take advantage of the "Play, stay, dine " offer. While we were only able to go to the parks 6 days we actually qualified for 8 days of meals due to our flight times.
First let me say we ate well, too well.
I am surprised that people can actually use the regular dining plan as I cannot imagine how much food that would be. Everyday it was a running joke, "Ok we have to eat 8 meals between the three of us today, which proved not possible. We ended up taking sandwiches from France back home along with some other snack choices and some desserts (NO souvenirs, just food)
Our strategy going in was to use our snack credit for breakfast and save meal credit for throughout the day. That quickly changed as it was so much food and desserts that we usually saved some of the dessert choices for breakfast the next day. We mostly used snack credits for cinnamon buns and root beer floats and other snacks we like.
The end result is that if I had to pay full price for the dining plan, I would pass on it, as we could easily be satisfied with how we have done it in the past and spent less money.
norm

It's a lot of food. We do the same thing and save our dinner or lunch desserts (pastries from Sunshine Seasons always work out) for breakfast the next day. We are on the Play Stay and Dine package in February but we've bought the plan in the past as well. Not sure we'll buy it again when our then 11 year old goes in 2015. He just doesn't eat enough to warrant the $$.

Hope your trip was great!

 

[normjen]

We had a good time, the damper to the trip was fast pass + (we liked the bands), Unfortunately, we no longer think the value is there as rides we had ridden in the past several+ times a trip (sometimes a day) were ridden twice or in some instances not at all do to the choices we had to make. Plus it changed the way we toured (and not for the better) maybe it was a flawed strategy of late afternoon/evening fast passes, ( I think I would do late mid morning if we go again).
norm

 

[BigTxEars]

I love the plan. I don't doubt I could save money paying OOP but the plan is worth the extra money to me as it is more relaxing not having to worry about meal cost each day. We do the TS Plan as we like to do one of those meals each day. But I fully understand what you are saying

 

[ToTBellHop]

I love the plan. I don't doubt I could save money paying OOP but the plan is worth the extra money to me as it is more relaxing not having to worry about meal cost each day. We do the TS Plan as we like to do one of those meals each day. But I fully understand what you are saying

Sounds to me like you would benefit from just using a credit card to pay for meals Save money and don't worry about the numbers at the time.

 

[taz0162]

We like the dining plan only for the fact that we don't have to budget X amount of dollars for what we could spend on food not knowing the cost. Plus when the Table Service is anything on the menu we were not afraid to go all out each meal when ever we wanted to and tried items that if we were paying meal by meal we would not have. It's more of a mental situation to pay up front and not worry then pay at meal. We lucked out with free dining last trip but had originally booked with paying for it and re-booked when offer came available.

 

[Figgy1]

The dining plan just doesn't work for us,but I'm glad it worked out for you and a most magical welcome!

 

[PrincessMia]

On our 6th trip this fall, we will go without the Dining Plan unless it happens to be offered free. Using the displanner website posted here, it calculates that the 3 of us save ~$500 going without the Dining Plan. We've just never managed to eat enough food to make it worth the money.

 

[normjen]

On our 6th trip this fall, we will go without the Dining Plan unless it happens to be offered free. Using the displanner website posted here, it calculates that the 3 of us save ~$500 going without the Dining Plan. We've just never managed to eat enough food to make it worth the money.

This was always our philosophy too, we always saved our receipts from past trips and the QS plan never seemed like it would save us money. but I figured we paid around $260 for this trips dining plan, So while it was not free it was definitely cheaper than out of pocket.
It was definitely an interesting experience and added a little challenge on how to use the credits (not just to get the most out of them but to even use them all)
norm