Dining plan? (never thought it could work)

[Nala06]

With recent price increases, I'm actually considering adding the regular dining plan. Me, DH, DS 3.5 (excellent eater). 7 nights at the Poly. We will have 8 days of food due to early flight in and later flight out. We typically don't drink alcohol, may have 1 or 2 the whole trip. We were going to get 2 refillable mugs regardless ($40 value). Since we are renting DVC points the total cost of the dining plan would be $1314 (they charge a fee to cover credit card charges, not ideal but it is what it is). I still have to calculate expected tips with the dining plan. My total food budget OOP currently sits at $1420, including tips/tax/mugs/snacks. I had planned on packing food from home for breakfast or doing a small grocery order, but if we get the dining plan I won't bother except for a few things.

Our TS ADRs (non buffet meals would likely use 2 credits between the 3 of us)
-Homecomin' lunch (2)
-Garden Grill lunch (3)
-Ohana breakfast (3)
-50s Primetime (3)
-Ohana dinner (3)
-Crystal Palace breakfast (3)
-Rose and Crown dinner for illuminations (2)
-Kona breakfast (2)

QS (likely would get 2 meals to split between the 3 of us at most places)
-Capt Cooks/Oasis Pool Bar (4 or so meals between breakfast/lunch)
-Casey's Corner
-Flametree Bbq
-Columbia Harbour House
-Satuli Canteen

We will be there during F&G and have planned 2 "meals" eating from the booths, avg 4-5 plates per meal.

Is milk included as a drink at TS meals? I only see fountain drinks, tea, etc listed, can't find anything that explicitly says milk. I would assume it is.

Can I substitute a side (side salad, rice, fruit) for dessert at meals?

Any input? What I am missing? I always thought the meal plan wouldn't work for us, so it seems strange to even consider it. I am doing a full analysis including cost of plan plus tips, but thats still a work in progress.

 

[Maeryk]

We have found that the meal plan (base level) either works or does not work depending on how many TS we use, (and which ones). I think you can sub sides for a dessert now.. that always drove me nuts. I don't do carby sugary stuff, so would always be leaving, effectively, 1/3 of my meal either in the restaurant or in the fridge at the resort, where it inevitably got thrown out when we left.

On this particular trip, the meal plan is going to be a benefit for us, based on where we are eating, though we are doing a couple of out of pocket big ticket dinners as well (CRT, for example), but the biggest thing to remember is use your snacks! We always end up with a dozen snack credits at the end of the trip, because nobody feels like getting an ice cream bar or a cupcake or whatever during the day.

So, we found out that the resort shop that has the food, and sundries, (at least, on our last trip) has a booklet that specifies what counts as "Snacks" and the chip and dale trail mix is a "snack". So now we just get a bag of that (a pound of trail mix is a MUCH better value, IMO, and works great for walking around food in a backpack), and nom on it all day.

 

[Nala06]

We have found that the meal plan (base level) either works or does not work depending on how many TS we use, (and which ones). I think you can sub sides for a dessert now.. that always drove me nuts. I don't do carby sugary stuff, so would always be leaving, effectively, 1/3 of my meal either in the restaurant or in the fridge at the resort, where it inevitably got thrown out when we left.

On this particular trip, the meal plan is going to be a benefit for us, based on where we are eating, though we are doing a couple of out of pocket big ticket dinners as well (CRT, for example), but the biggest thing to remember is use your snacks! We always end up with a dozen snack credits at the end of the trip, because nobody feels like getting an ice cream bar or a cupcake or whatever during the day.

So, we found out that the resort shop that has the food, and sundries, (at least, on our last trip) has a booklet that specifies what counts as "Snacks" and the chip and dale trail mix is a "snack". So now we just get a bag of that (a pound of trail mix is a MUCH better value, IMO, and works great for walking around food in a backpack), and nom on it all day.

For snacks I had planned to use theme to supplement our QS breakfast, lattes at starbucks, and my kid loves those fruit and cheese bowls from the snack stands in parks, and those cost well over $6.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I dunno -- when I ran your meals through distripplanner, the costs it gave for out-of-pocket, even with the mugs and assuming 2 snacks per person, per day were $100+ less than the cost of the DDP for your party -- and that was with the calculator assuming that you'd all be getting your own meal (no having to share) at each restaurant, meaning the real out-of-pocket savings would be significantly more if you split meals as you indicated.

It sounds like you're on the right track, OP, with breaking down the costs for yourself so you can get a better idea. I suggest you keep adding it up and see if the DDP will really save you money (or if it's "close enough" that it's worth it to you regardless.)

 

[JIMINYCR]

We have calculated our trips eating desires and there were trips when the DDP did save ( other times not)... the savings were never a huge amount but it was something. That savings went towards other things. So yes it can save you money depending on what youd order but I dont think its ever a huge savings for anyone.

 

[Tom 55]

My understanding of DDP is if your son is 3.5 you have to buy the dining plan for him also. With the DDP there is no sharing. Each person at the table is a credit for every meal.
Just got back fron Sept 24 to Oct 4 trip. I paid out of pocket. Spent $1200 meal and tips for just the wife and I. DDP would have been $1600.

 

[Nala06]

My understanding of DDP is if your son is 3.5 you have to buy the dining plan for him also. With the DDP there is no sharing. Each person at the table is a credit for every meal.
Just got back fron Sept 24 to Oct 4 trip. I paid out of pocket. Spent $1200 meal and tips for just the wife and I. DDP would have been $1600.

Yes he would get a dining plan also, but we might share entrees at sit down meals that are not buffets, which I understand is ok to do? Like i said I am still researching the details since I never considered it to work before.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Yes he would get a dining plan also, but we might share entrees at sit down meals that are not buffets, which I understand is ok to do? Like i said I am still researching the details since I never considered it to work before.

You can do that as long as it's not a buffet, all-you-care-to-enjoy meal, or dinner-and-show package. The TS restaurants where you've indicated you would only use 2 credits (Rose and Crown, Kona Cafe etc.), are a la carte, so no problem.

There's some good info. (including information on substitutions, which you asked about, OP) here: https://www.mousesavers.com/disney-dining-plan-tips-and-tricks/

 

[Nala06]

You can do that as long as it's not a buffet, all-you-care-to-enjoy meal, or dinner-and-show package. The TS restaurants where you've indicated you would only use 2 credits (Rose and Crown, Kona Cafe etc.), are a la carte, so no problem.

To follow up on this, if we did share 2 credits between the 3 of us (assuming they are 2 adult TS credits), the ones left over that we haven't used are considered child TS credits, correct? And can only be used to purchase off the childs menu?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

This isn't really a comment about dining plan versus OOP, but I think you're way overplanning TS meals for your son's age. Our daughter was 3 1/2 on our last trip and also an excellent eater, but the time commitment of that much sit down dining is nowhere near worth the hassle with a child that age. I don't know if you son is on a nap schedule, but you'll want some kind of midday break as well as a decent bedtime to make sure he's well rested for all of the fun and chaos. Those breaks significantly shorten the day and we found that doing too much TS dining interferes with enjoying the parks at a reasonable pace.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The thing I think you're missing on the financial side is that you're probably underestimating TS tips. Tips will be well over $100, pushing your DDP cost past your OOP budget.

 

[Nala06]

DS stopped napping a long time ago, much to my dismay. We went to WDW last year when he was 2.5 and followed a similar eating schedule and it worked fine. We found that a sit down meal helped all of us recharge and we were able to hit some more rides after the meals, as they are mostly planned for after we have been in the park a few hours. Also a lot of our bigger TS meals are on days or half days where I have no park time planned.

 

[Weather_Lady]

To follow up on this, if we did share 2 credits between the 3 of us (assuming they are 2 adult TS credits), the ones left over that we haven't used are considered child TS credits, correct? And can only be used to purchase off the childs menu?

Yes, that's right (where a children's menu is offered -- obviously at a buffet, it's all the same food for everybody). So if you use 2 adult TS credits at Kona Cafe and save an extra child TS credit, you and/or your husband wouldn't be able to make use of that credit later on for yourselves -- you can only use it for your son. You can always, however, mix-and-match (e.g., if you're out of adult TS credits but have child ones left over and are dining at a TS restaurant, you can pay OOP for you and DH, and use the DDP for your son. Just make your intentions clear to the server at the outset.)

 

[Nala06]

The thing I think you're missing on the financial side is that you're probably underestimating TS tips. Tips will be well over $100, pushing your DDP cost past your OOP budget.

I am in the process of estimating tips right now! Looks like at the moment I have $150 estimated. Does that seem about right?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I am in the process of estimating tips right now! Looks like at the moment I have $150 estimated. Does that seem about right?

Napkin math.

$50 per adult meal x2
$20 per child meal
= $120 per day
x 18%
= $22 tip per day
x 7
= $150

Yup.

 

[Nala06]

Math has been completed, here are my numbers

OOP Meals (includes tax/tip): $1282
OOP Snacks $175
2 Refillable Mugs: $40
Groceries bought prior to trip and packed in suitcases or delivered to room: $50 (fruit, cheesesticks, hummus, granola bars, milk, veggies)
OOP TOTAL: $1547

DDP Cost (includes tip): $1467

I don't know, I still feel like I'm missing something. Am I thinking too hard about this? Probably.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Math has been completed, here are my numbers

OOP Meals (includes tax/tip): $1282
OOP Snacks $175
2 Refillable Mugs: $40
Groceries bought prior to trip and packed in suitcases or delivered to room: $50 (fruit, cheesesticks, hummus, granola bars, milk, veggies)
OOP TOTAL: $1547

DDP Cost (includes tip): $1467

I don't know, I still feel like I'm missing something. Am I thinking too hard about this? Probably.

I think your OOP meal number is too high.

 

[Nala06]

I think your OOP meal number is too high.

Ooooh, you know what, I forgot to take out HDDR, since its already paid and I wouldnt use DDP credits on it. You are right, taking out that large chunk would switch it back to OOP being best!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Ooooh, you know what, I forgot to take out HDDR, since its already paid and I wouldnt use DDP credits on it. You are right, taking out that large chunk would switch it back to OOP being best!

Glad we solved it. It's near impossible to "beat" the DDP now that it includes alcohol unless you plan on drinking every last drop.

 

[Nala06]

Thanks for helping me sort through this guys! Looks like i will be sticking to my usual method of rewards dollars and discounted gift cards. Kind of a relief!