Disney Dining Plan..... worth it?

[SamandChel]

So this always seems to bring mixed opinion but I'm going to try it anyway. Is the Disney dining plan worth it. I've used the Disney dining plan many times while also paying out of pocket many times. Usually, I feel I break even with no significant difference. I usually opt in for it mostly out of convenience and the ability to pay everything off ahead of time so no bills to come home to. What's everyone's opinion.

 

[officialtom]

I agree there's probably no significant difference price-wise unless you're a really big eater, but we love DDP for the convenience. And without it, we likely wouldn't make as many ADRs as we do, meaning we would enjoy the trip less.

 

[SamandChel]

That's the issue I always come across. I'll say I'm not going to do it since neither of us eat a full meal and dessert, along with a lot of the time we split a qs. But convenience almost always makes me get it so I know my bill up front and it's less spending to watch while I'm on vacation.

Another factor I've never considered is the discounts for annual passholders and the visa card discounts. 10% but have to be certain hours and such, and only certain places. I also like being able to use it for my advanced dining reservations too so I know that I've paid for the restaraunts so I can reserve a table.

Financially so so but convenience is hard to beat when ur on vacation.

 

[DisneyGirl3820]

For our family there's just not enough time in the day to sit down to eat! We used to do the Dining Plan and we wasted so much money because we didn't use up the plan by the time we finished our vacation. Now with Fastpass+, it's insane because you have all of these advanced "reservations" and you find yourself running from rides to dining all day. No way. Now, we just eat at the hotel and then get snacks at the parks. We have saved a LOT of money cutting out the dining plan.

 

[SamandChel]

@DisneyGirl3820 I know what you mean. When we went last January we had our family with us and every table service was almost 2 hours. 3 if u count travel time and it just took away and seemed like a hastle sometimes. On our August trip we did just quick service dining and then we were wanting something besides the quick service options lol.

We planned our meals based off the park we were in and then would park hop and have to go back later.

 

[Minthorne]

Dining plan means more work IMO and if you miss a meal or don't feel hungry you still have already paid for the credits. Also, most times I'd rather have my dessert later in a park than with the meal (except you grapefruit cake - I'll always want you) so the dining plan is too rigid for my plans. I find TiW is a better deal if you go enough and have access to buying it (AP, DVC, FL resident)

 

[britdaw]

For us, it's a waste of money. We don't eat nearly as much food as the DDP offers, so we opted out on our last trip, and we'll opt out again this time.

 

[SamandChel]

@Minthorne I never really looked into TiW. Probably would be worth it. We live in NY but spend 30+ days a year at Disney.

@brinneydee I wish they offered a table/quick service plan or something with less food. I'd be more inclinded to get that since we really only eat the main course. The dessert usually gets trashed or we only eat part of the meal to save room lol.

 

[LSUxStitch]

We've used it the past 3 times, it forces us to sit down and relax for an hour (or more) to have a good meal besides hamburgers and fries. For this alone, plus the convenience, we like it.

 

[Minthorne]

@SamandChel if you go that often I assume you have an AP and you really need to check TiW out http://tablesinwonderland.com/
It is 20% food and alcohol at participating locations. The site lists them all and the blackout dates for certain locations.
Once you spend $500 using the card you have recouped the $100 cost and the rest is savings.

 

[SamandChel]

@Minthorne Yes we have APs. We are going for 11 days starting next week. Probably will spend $1000+ just this trip in Disney restaraunts lol. Thanks

 

[Disneygrl]

I would say it really all depends how important dining in Disney is to you. For me, it depends on who I go with. This trip we opted out of the DDP, because my sister and I tend to share meals so we don't need that much food. We budgeted a cushioned amount per person/per day for food, made the ADR's we absolutely had to have, and plan to spend our left over budget (if any is left over) on whatever we want. Instead of being stuck trying to use up food credits.

 

[Weather_Lady]

It depends on how you define "worth it." To some people, the convenience of pre-payment has a monetary value all by itself which justifies getting the dining plan, even if it doesn't cost less than they'd otherwise pay out-of-pocket. For the rest, it's only a money-saver if the dining plan you've purchased matches up almost exactly with what you'd have purchased even without the plan, and if you prudently select the highest-cost, non-signature (i.e., non-2-TS-credit) restaurants.

 

[BrianV]

In comparing "free dining" to the "room discounts" that are offered frequently, the calculus has always been easy for us. If you stay in a deluxe, the % off the room usually amounts to more than the value of the free dining plan. So we choose room discounts every time. (If you stay in a moderate or value, the costs are less clear cut.)

The question here is different, I think. Is it worth buying the dining plan vs dining out of pocket? Again, to us the choice is always out of pocket. But we don't eat a lot, often splitting an app at lunch. These kinds of meals are best served out of pocket. If you dine differently, your results may vary.

 

[popcenturylover]

We used it the last 2 visits & I believe that it's not worth it unless you get it free. It's very convenient but we don't usually eat that much food in a day. We especially do not eat dessert with every meal! We aren't planning on using it for our next trip in May.

 

[SamandChel]

Yes for worth it I met value financial/convenience between dining plan and out of pocket.

I think the main problem with the dining plan is a lack of flexibility. would be nicer if you could choose course amount or at least be able to pick appetizer or dessert. Two people go out to Dinner share an app and a dessert instead of two desserts. While some places let you others won't let you do this and its kind of weird to ask. Lol.

Only Disney could make me sick of desserts haha haha

 

[MichWolv]

At the current price point for the dining plan, not worth it. You'll do much better with a Tables In Wonderland card if you qualify to buy one. And even if you don't, you only save money on the dining plan if 1) you were gonna eat all those desserts and soft drinks anyways, and 2) you order amongst the most expensive things on the menu.

 

[MagicFantasmic]

Not worth it. It was only worth it when I got it with the cast member discount and it was like $35 or $40 a person then.

 

[smk]

Never used the DP, thought about when we thought we were going over free dining but it did not work out for our dates after all. The QS plan is the only plan that would work for us, we are big eaters at breakfast, so that would be great. Skip lunch or have a snack and use it again at dinner. That is how it would work best for us. We drive to and from so snacks credits would be a plus for our drive home. However, I would never pay for it, if it was free and it made sense over any other discount offered then I would consider it.

Have a great vacation!!!!

 

[SDisney90]

I've used the DP for 2 years in a row and for my girlfriend and I, it works out well. The convenience of walking into the restaurant and having the meal paid and not having to worry about it is great. Yes, it can be a lot of food depending where you go but that's a plus on my end not hers Snack credits we usually use 1 or 2 throughout the entire vacation and get a ton of snacks our last day at DTD and bring them home as a little gift to our families. This past January we also used a few snack credits on breakfast which turned out great saved us a little money and a few less sweets to eat throughout our stay.

Another option: using a QS credit for breakfast instead of a snack credit, skipping lunch and having a nice dinner. Did this once and it worked well in EPCOT with our ADR at Garden Grille.

If planned well IMO, it's really great. Spread out your meals, don't feel forced to eat the entire buffet (if you opt into a buffet lunch or dinner) and everything will be okay.

-> also this link helps decipher the price of the DP prices and paying out of pocket..neat little tool. http://www.distripplanner.com/