News Disney Dining Plan Returns in 2024

[MisterPenguin]

The alcohol inclusion for a tee totaller like me is sooo frustrating. I’m basically paying more to subsidise others drinks.

I won’t buy even consider buying the plans till they drop this ludicrous inclusion

*Buying* a DDMP was never going to be cost efficient unless you meticulously chose the most expensive item allowed every meal.

A DDMP becomes cost effective when it's "free" (at rack rates) with a resort reservation and at least 3 people in the room (who aren't fussy eaters).

 

[Nunu]

There was a time when table service meals on the DDP included an appetizer and tip, it was a good value for us back then.

When they took those items away, and increased prices, we stopped getting it.

 

[DisDude33]

*Buying* a DDMP was never going to be cost efficient unless you meticulously chose the most expensive item allowed every meal.

A DDMP becomes cost effective when it's "free" (at rack rates) with a resort reservation and at least 3 people in the room (who aren't fussy eaters).

I did the dining plan a lot in the last 2010’s and did my best to make the most of it and consider the loss as a convenience fee for having paid ahead and not having to think about money while I was there.

I haven’t been to the parks since the plans returned and I’m not sure if I’ll bring myself to pay such a high convenience fees should I ever have any future trips.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

There was a time when table service meals on the DDP included an appetizer and tip, it was a good value for us back then.

When they took those items away, and increased prices, we stopped getting it.

when it included the tip it was also nice to just eat and walk away - to now have to pay the tip it doesn't feel as prepaid/all-inclusive

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There was a time when table service meals on the DDP included an appetizer and tip, it was a good value for us back then.

When they took those items away, and increased prices, we stopped getting it.

Yep…circa 2006-7…that was the “hook” plan…

Great deal.

But then it had to be tweaked into where it is…which is an upfront cash payment that almost no one can get the “value” back out of…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

when it included the tip it was also nice to just eat and walk away - to now have to pay the tip it doesn't feel as prepaid/all-inclusive

Because it’s not?

 

[lentesta]

Because it’s not?

That was a 15-20% price increase right there.

 

[Figgy1]

Yep…circa 2006-7…that was the “hook” plan…

Great deal.

But then it had to be tweaked into where it is…which is an upfront cash payment that almost no one can get the “value” back out of…

IMHO it's only good now if your kids are under 9 and do a character meal every dinner, you eat at the pricier qs places, and you like an adult beverage with meals because your kids are under 9. Last part is a joke

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That was a 15-20% price increase right there.

I’m sure you remember the “reason” they gave for the change, Len…it’s still tops in my all time favorites

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

IMHO it's only good now if your kids are under 9 and do a character meal every dinner, you eat at the pricier qs places, and you like an adult beverage with meals because your kids are under 9. Last part is a joke

That’s my point…you have to reverse engineer it too hard.

And the food on the buffet is fine…but you’re not getting “value” out of them. You’re paying a $20+ lightning lane fee for the characters. So is 7 days of that a “value”?

 

[Figgy1]

That’s my point…you have to reverse engineer it too hard.

And the food on the buffet is fine…but you’re not getting “value” out of them. You’re paying a $20+ lightning lane fee for the characters. So is 7 days of that a “value”?

For a family with kids who only/mostly want to do M&Gs, yes
That said it never made sense for us because my kids would order off the adult menu at 5/6. One kid taste buds of Remy, appetite of Emille, the other one not quite as picky but found kid's menus basic, not to mention his appetite

 

[networkpro]

The dining plan didnt have logical guardrails to protect the profit margins of the locations. "Value Seeking" customers naturally went for the most expensive menu items for themselves while also demanded mundane menu items for their pickey eater children. So the menus were dumbed down, lesser qualities of ingredients purchased, and burgers/nuggets became ubiquitous. So non-character dining locations became mostly Dennys

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The dining plan didnt have logical guardrails to protect the profit margins of the locations. "Value Seeking" customers naturally went for the most expensive menu items for themselves while also demanded mundane menu items for their pickey eater children. So the menus were dumbed down, lesser qualities of ingredients purchased, and burgers/nuggets became ubiquitous. So non-character dining locations became mostly Dennys

You have an interesting recounting of history there, Donnie

 

[networkpro]

You have an interesting recounting of history there, Donnie

Mendaces saepe in negotiis vincunt

 

[Splash4eva]

Granted i was in the minority but the deluxe dining plan made sense and saved me a good amount of money. I would always do a character breakfast and dinner and the DDP fit me perfect and since removal my food costs went up substantially. Th Dining plan for some reason is a polarizing subject but to me its simple math and nothing more that takes literally minutes to calculate to see if it makes sense or not…

 

[Comped]

Maybe Disney will stop offering an entirely different plan for certain nationalities at certain times (UK/South Ireland in particular). Was annoying to deal with...

 

[seabreezept813]

I think we came out pretty even on ours this year. But I booked expensive places—Hollywood and vine dinner with Fantasmic, two other character meals, Boma, Tepan Edo, etc. We also had “free dining.” I will say as someone who very rarely drinks, I left a lot of 2/3 beers on the table (like the taste but can’t usually finish one). My husband would usually drink it but the meals are just so filling.

 

[JD80]

When our family used the dining plan back in July the whole family enjoyed trying out the Non-alcoholic options on the menu. Some were good, some weren't.

 

[lentesta]

That’s my point…you have to reverse engineer it too hard.

And the food on the buffet is fine…but you’re not getting “value” out of them. You’re paying a $20+ lightning lane fee for the characters. So is 7 days of that a “value”?

I 100% believe some meet-and-greets got dropped from LLMP to promote character meals out of the slump caused by people re-allocating their dining budget to pay for LL.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I 100% believe some meet-and-greets got dropped from LLMP to promote character meals out of the slump caused by people re-allocating their dining budget to pay for LL.

There’s little doubt

It’s a shell game and I’m sure they’re aware