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Dining Plans?!?! To do or not do!
- Thread starter Burns712
- Start date
Crush Dude!
Back from WDW!Counting down to DLP in November!
Will you be eating at a table service everyday??
They can be. If all you do is compare food to dollars the dining plans tend to work out as a savings. When you look at what you would actually order if you are paying cash, the savings tend to erode a little. The only way to know for sure is to look at the menus, add up what you would actually order and do the math.
If your numbers come out close one thing to consider is the convenience of the plan. With the plan, there is no sticker shock at the end of every meal and you tend to order what you want more than what is less expensive.
If your numbers come out close one thing to consider is the convenience of the plan. With the plan, there is no sticker shock at the end of every meal and you tend to order what you want more than what is less expensive.
luv
Well-Known Member
I did one dining plan, one time. That was back when it covered everything and included appetizers and desserts.
It was way too much food. I'd never get all that stuff if it weren't on a plan and didn't eat everything I got. But the thing that really drove me bonkers during our Tour of Food was how the food was ruling the vacation. I actually said this sentence, "No, we can't go there because we have to go to the Animal Kingdom and eat at Tusker House."
Even when they worked out financially, it wasn't worth it! Not for me.
Not a fan of dining plans...and not a fan of what has happened to food quality & selection since they became popular, either.
It was way too much food. I'd never get all that stuff if it weren't on a plan and didn't eat everything I got. But the thing that really drove me bonkers during our Tour of Food was how the food was ruling the vacation. I actually said this sentence, "No, we can't go there because we have to go to the Animal Kingdom and eat at Tusker House."
Even when they worked out financially, it wasn't worth it! Not for me.
Not a fan of dining plans...and not a fan of what has happened to food quality & selection since they became popular, either.
sgtmgd
Well-Known Member
I'm a dinning plan advocate..for a week long trip I dont see how youy wont save money..plus the convienence..
there a few choices...we go for the 3 sit downs and two snacks per person..this give me maximum flexibilty..
Its nice to go to dinner and sit down somewhere like the yachtsman steakhouse and have a great meal...and not worry about prices...everyone gets a ton of food..in a great atsmosphere..(you have to pay the gratuity)
I can combine meals for signature resturants...and still have plenty of dining options..the 2 snacks per day are also nice...
I prefer coming to the world with nothing but spending money and (gratuity cash) with everything paid for
there a few choices...we go for the 3 sit downs and two snacks per person..this give me maximum flexibilty..
Its nice to go to dinner and sit down somewhere like the yachtsman steakhouse and have a great meal...and not worry about prices...everyone gets a ton of food..in a great atsmosphere..(you have to pay the gratuity)
I can combine meals for signature resturants...and still have plenty of dining options..the 2 snacks per day are also nice...
I prefer coming to the world with nothing but spending money and (gratuity cash) with everything paid for
jpittore1
Well-Known Member
Make ADRs
I would highly recommend Advance Dining Reservations (ADR)...would you rather spend your time waiting for a table to eat or being on an attraction? Don't set yourself up by not calling for Advance dining Reservations. It doesn't matter if you're using the dining plan or not...anyone can request a reservation. Too many times I see frustrated people walk up for dinner and they are told it's a 45 minute wait!
Our family prefers the dining plan, but it's a personal choice...we love not to fight about prices and if they can get dessert. I kept the receipts on our trip last year and we saved 16% and that included the tips we left! We did the three meal plan with two snacks.
I would highly recommend Advance Dining Reservations (ADR)...would you rather spend your time waiting for a table to eat or being on an attraction? Don't set yourself up by not calling for Advance dining Reservations. It doesn't matter if you're using the dining plan or not...anyone can request a reservation. Too many times I see frustrated people walk up for dinner and they are told it's a 45 minute wait!
Our family prefers the dining plan, but it's a personal choice...we love not to fight about prices and if they can get dessert. I kept the receipts on our trip last year and we saved 16% and that included the tips we left! We did the three meal plan with two snacks.
nolatron
Well-Known Member
I tried the dining plan for the first time last year on a trip just myself and my DD.
Money wise, the DDP cost about $30 more than if I just paid cash. 1 night I had stomach ache so I didn't want to eat dinner. I basically lost a meal credit cause of that. Had I been paying cash it would have been nothing lost. We also rarely order desserts and we could've split some meals.
But that was the thing that bugged me most though about the DDP. I felt like I was over ordering meals for us. We could've split some meals rather than get two whole entrees at places. We tossed a lot of uneaten stuff, which is just plain wasteful.
One time I didn't want a dessert at sunshine seasons, but I couldn't check out unless I got one cause of the DDP. So I had to run back to grab one. PITA with a 3yr old in tow.
So anyway. To me the DDP can be a money saver for families, but to me personally, it's way more wasteful than just buying as you go.
Money wise, the DDP cost about $30 more than if I just paid cash. 1 night I had stomach ache so I didn't want to eat dinner. I basically lost a meal credit cause of that. Had I been paying cash it would have been nothing lost. We also rarely order desserts and we could've split some meals.
But that was the thing that bugged me most though about the DDP. I felt like I was over ordering meals for us. We could've split some meals rather than get two whole entrees at places. We tossed a lot of uneaten stuff, which is just plain wasteful.
One time I didn't want a dessert at sunshine seasons, but I couldn't check out unless I got one cause of the DDP. So I had to run back to grab one. PITA with a 3yr old in tow.
So anyway. To me the DDP can be a money saver for families, but to me personally, it's way more wasteful than just buying as you go.
Eldon_Brasche
Member
I agree that all the food as well as deserts can be too much food. I often ask for a bottle of water in place of the desert. Most CM's will do with no questions asked while others will ask a manager and then end up giving me one. This also keeps me from having to purchase water throughout the day.
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
It entirely depends on how many people in your party, what you're likely to eat, how much "convenience" or prepaying is important to you, etc...
With just two of us, at a Value resort we about break even if we order the most expensive entrées at every table service restaurant. At Moderate or Deluxe resorts I find it better to book room-only, get an AP and the Tables in Wonderland card and take advantage of AP room discounts.
You really need to "do the math" for your own scenario...
With just two of us, at a Value resort we about break even if we order the most expensive entrées at every table service restaurant. At Moderate or Deluxe resorts I find it better to book room-only, get an AP and the Tables in Wonderland card and take advantage of AP room discounts.
You really need to "do the math" for your own scenario...
bamillerpa
Active Member
We love the dining plan. My husband is always checking out the price of what we are ordering and for my daughter and I it's a wonderful week where we order what we want and not worry about the price. We love that everything is paid for up front. I know we would save money by not having the dining plan because we would never eat at most of the restaurants without it but we love having that break in the day where you can sit down and relax for awhile. It allows us to eat at restaurants that my husband would normally say are too expensive. We go during the value season so crowds aren't an issue on rides. Because of this we don't feel like we are losing out on ride time and can afford the longer, sit down dinner. Since we are going during free dining it's even better
Philhar-Fanatic
Active Member
We always use the dining plans. This year we're going with the QS plan because we have no need to dine with charachters etc. We also don't like the fact that you have to meet a reservation. If you do your homework QS is a GREAT care free option!!
Minthorne
Well-Known Member
Last January I did a 6 night trip with deluxe dining and did a good job of keeping track how much the dining plan covered vs what it cost me. We did 1 table service and 1 signature dining each day, leaving snacks to make up breakfast. In the end it was about break even with the following caveats:
1. We ate more at the meals than we would have. We never would have ordered two appetizers and two desserts at every meal.
2. Since we were at table service twice a day and ordering appetizers and desserts the tips were a large added expense.
In the end we decided to not do any dining plan again in the future unless we happened to go during a free dining offer (and even then I'd rather get the reduced room rate offer if available.) We felt too much of the trip was driven by our ADRs and having to get to where were needed to be to eat. Also I missed visiting some of my favorite QS spots (Columbia Harbor House,
Tangierine Cafe) because we felt that wasn't the most cost-effective use of the dining plan credit.
In the end Disney is doing the dining plan because they make money from it. They have high margins on food. Basically they get you to agree ahead of time to buy a certain amount of food if you want to eat that much or not. They are making money by increasing the volume of food sales by getting us to pre-buy the food. If you just pay as you go you are less likely to overeat and consequently overspend.
We are about to go again for a long weekend (June 7-10) and we didn't get dining. We made just 2 ADR for places we really like and will wing the rest. I think I'm going to like skipping a lunch one day in favor of a sugar overload cupcake from starring rolls! :sohappy:
1. We ate more at the meals than we would have. We never would have ordered two appetizers and two desserts at every meal.
2. Since we were at table service twice a day and ordering appetizers and desserts the tips were a large added expense.
In the end we decided to not do any dining plan again in the future unless we happened to go during a free dining offer (and even then I'd rather get the reduced room rate offer if available.) We felt too much of the trip was driven by our ADRs and having to get to where were needed to be to eat. Also I missed visiting some of my favorite QS spots (Columbia Harbor House,
Tangierine Cafe) because we felt that wasn't the most cost-effective use of the dining plan credit.
In the end Disney is doing the dining plan because they make money from it. They have high margins on food. Basically they get you to agree ahead of time to buy a certain amount of food if you want to eat that much or not. They are making money by increasing the volume of food sales by getting us to pre-buy the food. If you just pay as you go you are less likely to overeat and consequently overspend.
We are about to go again for a long weekend (June 7-10) and we didn't get dining. We made just 2 ADR for places we really like and will wing the rest. I think I'm going to like skipping a lunch one day in favor of a sugar overload cupcake from starring rolls! :sohappy:
sgtmgd
Well-Known Member
DizneyPryncess
Well-Known Member
You will find those who love the dining plan, and those who swear against it. It all depends on how much you plan on eating, and where you plan on eating. I concur with the idea of looking at menu's ahead of time, and tallying up how much you think you'd spend without the dining plan. Then compare it to the dining plan, and see if you'd really be saving anything.
The time I did this, I realized that the dining plan will probably never be worth it for my family. We don't eat enough, and we rarely order dessert. If we had the dining plan, we'd be forcing ourselves to eat more than normal, and therefore not saving anything. I'd recommend doing this to see if it would be worth it for you! :wave:
The time I did this, I realized that the dining plan will probably never be worth it for my family. We don't eat enough, and we rarely order dessert. If we had the dining plan, we'd be forcing ourselves to eat more than normal, and therefore not saving anything. I'd recommend doing this to see if it would be worth it for you! :wave: