Do Disney Dining Plans actually save you money?

xtina72

xtina72

New Member
I did not read the entire thread so please excuse if someone already said this but in MY opinion, the Dining plan is only "worth it" if you are getting it for free.

We were lucky to get into the deal for the FREE DD plan at the begining of the month and it was waaaaaaaaaaaay so much more food than we could eat, we went home with SOOO many snacks and we never get dessert at lunch or not even dinner sometimes, and to get a dessert at dinner AND lunch and snacks during the day, it was just nuts. My husband calls it the Disney gluttony plan. lol

I would never actually "pay" for the DD plan, but again thats just MY opinion based on OUR eatting habits.
 
worldfanatic

worldfanatic

Well-Known Member
I don't really buy into the argument that the dining plan "makes thing easier".
I feel to take full advantage of it or "make it pay", you often feel the need to order specific items that you may or may not want.
You may want the chicken, but you feel foolish not ordering the Surf and Turf which is much more expensive and included on the dining plan.

You also feel pressured to use every single credit and not let them go to waste. Sometimes I want a beer with dinner, but I order that damn coke also because I don't want to waste the included beverage.
And god forbid if I let a snack credit go to waste. I'd rather have a suitcase full of bananas for the trip home than let that happen.:brick:

This doesn't seem easier to me.
I prefer not using the plan, and ordering what I want, when I want, where I want.

No thought process needed.:shrug:
 
T

tomm4004

New Member
lovepooh said:
I LOVE LOVE the dinning plan... we were at the world from the 2-11 of dec. our first night we didnt have our package yet. The first night we stayed at the pop before moving the fq... so we ate at Chef Mickeys for dinner \. for my DH and 2 sons 1 who was 2 so he was free it was 90.00 there is no way i could afford to pay that the whole trip. The next day we were on the dinning plan. Well worth it in my mind. Wouldnt do it any other way.
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But the dining plan is $40 per day per person, so it would cost you $120 per day for three people. So I'm not sure how you would save money.
 
Mystic

Mystic

Well-Known Member
worldfanatic said:
I don't really buy into the argument that the dining plan "makes thing easier".
I feel to take full advantage of it or "make it pay", you often feel the need to order specific items that you may or may not want.
You may want the chicken, but you feel foolish not ordering the Surf and Turf which is much more expensive and included on the dining plan.

You also feel pressured to use every single credit and not let them go to waste. Sometimes I want a beer with dinner, but I order that damn coke also because I don't want to waste the included beverage.
And god forbid if I let a snack credit go to waste. I'd rather have a suitcase full of bananas for the trip home than let that happen.:brick:

This doesn't seem easier to me.
I prefer not using the plan, and ordering what I want, when I want, where I want.

No thought process needed.:shrug:
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I totally agree. After having gone on the dining plan and off the plan, we much prefer NOT using the plan. I don't want to order the steak when I what I really want is the chicken, simply because the steak will make sure I take full advantage of my dining plan.

I would rather not pay for the dining plan and order what I want because I want it, not because it's the best value and bang for my buck.

We've also found that we've gotten better service OFF the plan than when we're on the plan.

Only way we'll use the dining plan from now on is when Disney gives it to us for free, then we don't care if we take full advantage of the credits or not. But that's kind of irrelevant for our next trip as we booked the bounceback which is a much better value for us. Room discount = $1200 savings as compared to Free Dining = $640 savings. I'll take the room discount thanks.
 
Monty

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
Mystic said:
I totally agree. After having gone on the dining plan and off the plan, we much prefer NOT using the plan. I don't want to order the steak when I what I really want is the chicken, simply because the steak will make sure I take full advantage of my dining plan.

I would rather not pay for the dining plan and order what I want because I want it, not because it's the best value and bang for my buck.

We've also found that we've gotten better service OFF the plan than when we're on the plan.

Only way we'll use the dining plan from now on is when Disney gives it to us for free, then we don't care if we take full advantage of the credits or not. But that's kind of irrelevant for our next trip as we booked the bounceback which is a much better value for us. Room discount = $1200 savings as compared to Free Dining = $640 savings. I'll take the room discount thanks.
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I've found that room discounts at Mods and Deluxes trump free dining hands down. At a Value it tends to be better to take the free dining.

But each person should do their own calculations based on their vacation plans and the way they like to pay and the way they eat.
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
MontyMon said:
I've found that room discounts at Mods and Deluxes trump free dining hands down. At a Value it tends to be better to take the free dining.

But each person should do their own calculations based on their vacation plans and the way they like to pay and the way they eat.
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I have free dining at WL next August, and I am thinking of having it removed if I can get a good room discount.

The more I think about it, the more I realize just how restricvtive the dining plan can be. Maybe I am lucky, but when I go to WDW I expect to eat at a sit down just about every night, and pay accordingly. I really do not make my choices based on prices. Of course if there was something like a Kobe Beef offering at $85 or Oestra Caviar for $120, then of course I would think twice. But when choosing between a $32 plate and a $28 plate, the choice is based on what appeals to me, not on $4. I also find a lot of the desserts at WDW to be uninspiried (can anyone say creme brulee overload)

-dave


-dave
 
Mystic

Mystic

Well-Known Member
Phonedave said:
I have free dining at WL next August, and I am thinking of having it removed if I can get a good room discount.

The more I think about it, the more I realize just how restricvtive the dining plan can be. Maybe I am lucky, but when I go to WDW I expect to eat at a sit down just about every night, and pay accordingly. I really do not make my choices based on prices. Of course if there was something like a Kobe Beef offering at $85 or Oestra Caviar for $120, then of course I would think twice. But when choosing between a $32 plate and a $28 plate, the choice is based on what appeals to me, not on $4. I also find a lot of the desserts at WDW to be uninspiried (can anyone say creme brulee overload)

-dave


-dave
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Totally agree Dave. We have issues with the fact that there is creme brulee and cheesecake on EVERY dessert menu. Neither of which we eat.

We've started checking out dessert menus first to see if we want to consider eating at that particular restaurant. Mainly because the dining plan does not let you swap a dessert for an appetizer. It's one of the reasons we stopped eating at Rose and Crown. The dessert menu left much to be desired.
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
Mystic said:
Totally agree Dave. We have issues with the fact that there is creme brulee and cheesecake on EVERY dessert menu. Neither of which we eat.

We've started checking out dessert menus first to see if we want to consider eating at that particular restaurant. Mainly because the dining plan does not let you swap a dessert for an appetizer. It's one of the reasons we stopped eating at Rose and Crown. The dessert menu left much to be desired.
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I swear, I am going to open a restaruant called "Fillet, lobster, cheese cake, and creme brulee" and watch it do gangbuster business.

I the phrase "Wal-Marting" is one I am loathe to use, but in this case I think at applies. To quote a Disney movie "I am looking for perspective. Yes, some fresh perspective"

While I do like the occassional fillet, lobster, cheese cake, or creme brulee, other things do exit. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horaito, than are dreamt of in the WDW kitchens. (Sorry William)

-dave
 
Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
Phonedave said:
I swear, I am going to open a restaruant called "Fillet, lobster, cheese cake, and creme brulee" and watch it do gangbuster business.

I the phrase "Wal-Marting" is one I am loathe to use, but in this case I think at applies. To quote a Disney movie "I am looking for perspective. Yes, some fresh perspective"

While I do like the occassional fillet, lobster, cheese cake, or creme brulee, other things do exit. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horaito, than are dreamt of in the WDW kitchens. (Sorry William)

-dave
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I have often wanted to open a restaurant called "I don't know" or "I don't care". I know every time my wife and I are trying to decide where to eat those two phrases seem to come up.:D
 
Pumbas Nakasak

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
xtina72 said:
LOL!

When we were in Europe last year (the real one, not the Epcot one lol) all I kept saying was "how do these people eat? The food is awful!"

Seriously, I dont think I had one memorable meal in Europe.
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Thats what you get for eating at McDonalds, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
 

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