We will be getting the dining plan for our next trip. I feel it will be worth it since the price is pretty reasonable for both of my kids who are under 10. I hear a lot of people end up with unused credits at the end (usually snacks). What is the best way to maximize the dining plan? Can my kids share a meal or does everyone have to order one meal? Can you substitute the dessert for an appetizer? Is there somewhere in the MDE app that shows you how many credits you have remaining?
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Dining Plan Advice
- Thread starter WDWFan2018
- Start date
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
Sharing depends on the kind of restaurant (you can't share at buffets, etc. except with an infant), although there's little incentive to do it if you have the DDP and have already paid for a separate meal for each person.
One of the best ways to maximize value is to avoid 2-credit restaurants (unless your bill is really going to be more than twice that of a 1-credit restaurant), and to eat at only the most expensive places (generally dinners at 1-credit character buffets or other all-you-care-to-enjoy 1-credit meals, and meals that include a parade/show viewing package, will be the best use of your DDP entitlements). Use your credits for lunch or dinner instead of breakfast, order only the most expensive items on every menu (note that pricey milkshakes and smoothies are often DDP-eligible "beverages"), use your refillable mugs to the maximum possible extent, and leave no credits unused. As far as I know, there's no tie-in to the MDE app (at least, there wasn't when we last used the DDP in 2016), but every time you purchase something on it, your printed receipt will show the number of credits you have remaining. You can make certain substitutions between drinks/snacks/desserts (check the plan brochure for the details - typically you can sub any item marked as a "snack" for any other item marked as a "snack," whether that item is a drink, dessert, or side, although you may be surprised at CS places how few options there are, and at TS places you can sub dessert for a side or soup), but you cannot sub for appetizers. Mobile Ordering is also now available for those on the dining plan.
Simply Google, "Best Disney Dining Plan Values in 2018" if you want to find out which restaurants are the most expensive/best value. There's also a handy tool at distripplanner.com that you can use to see average prices for meals at the restaurants you're thinking about, and compare the DDP cost for your dining itinerary with the out-of-pocket cost.
One of the best ways to maximize value is to avoid 2-credit restaurants (unless your bill is really going to be more than twice that of a 1-credit restaurant), and to eat at only the most expensive places (generally dinners at 1-credit character buffets or other all-you-care-to-enjoy 1-credit meals, and meals that include a parade/show viewing package, will be the best use of your DDP entitlements). Use your credits for lunch or dinner instead of breakfast, order only the most expensive items on every menu (note that pricey milkshakes and smoothies are often DDP-eligible "beverages"), use your refillable mugs to the maximum possible extent, and leave no credits unused. As far as I know, there's no tie-in to the MDE app (at least, there wasn't when we last used the DDP in 2016), but every time you purchase something on it, your printed receipt will show the number of credits you have remaining. You can make certain substitutions between drinks/snacks/desserts (check the plan brochure for the details - typically you can sub any item marked as a "snack" for any other item marked as a "snack," whether that item is a drink, dessert, or side, although you may be surprised at CS places how few options there are, and at TS places you can sub dessert for a side or soup), but you cannot sub for appetizers. Mobile Ordering is also now available for those on the dining plan.
Simply Google, "Best Disney Dining Plan Values in 2018" if you want to find out which restaurants are the most expensive/best value. There's also a handy tool at distripplanner.com that you can use to see average prices for meals at the restaurants you're thinking about, and compare the DDP cost for your dining itinerary with the out-of-pocket cost.
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DarthVader
Sith Lord
I tried to manage our credits as best I could, but we ended up with a surplus. We also found the volume of food being provided to be too much. I'm not complaining per say, just pointing out that it was really too much.
Now that my kids are "adults". You know over 10, we no longer qualify for kid pricing and so the meal plan makes less sense for us. We're better off just buying it out of pocket.
I agree. I think the fact that both of my kids are under 10 is the only thing that makes it worthwhile. Since there is such a price difference between the child and adult prices, it definitely evens things out a lot more. I also read that the price increase for the dining plan this year was 10% but the restaurant prices actually went up 15%. I'll get the dining plan for our next trip and see how it goes.
DarthVader
Sith Lord
Very much so, its easier to justify the expense and make it work if you only need to deal with kid prices for your kids
Tom P.
Well-Known Member
This has changed. The dining plan now ties in to MDE. We were there in September of last year and were able to keep track of all our credits on our phones. Very handy.
Figment_Of_Imagination
Member
We always go with the deluxe plan. Being foodies it's really nice. Generally what we do is plan for two sit down meals a day with one being a dinner at a signature restaurant.
For people like us it's definitely worth it from a cost perspective as well as just the convenience of it. But if food isn't one if the major draws for even being there it's likely going to leave you with unused points and wasted money.
For people like us it's definitely worth it from a cost perspective as well as just the convenience of it. But if food isn't one if the major draws for even being there it's likely going to leave you with unused points and wasted money.
Tk0021
Active Member
My kids love the character buffets. They are expensive and we eat at them for dinner which is more expensive then breakfast. My kids are both under 10, so we feel the dinning is worth it. For our quick service meal I usually order the most expensive item on the menu, but my wife is a pick eat, so that doesn’t work for her.