Figured the Paying for food out of pocket vs. Dining Plan for our Trip of 4

[Ricky Spanish]

I agree with others who have said the DDP is too much food.
The last time we used the plan was when they were still giving a dessert with each meal.
We were eating way too much or throwing away food at every meal.
At the end of our trip we would always have extra snack credits to use.
Now, we bring our breakfast and share our other meals.
When we go in June, we have the offer that got us 1 free QS meal per person per day.
My wife and I will share our meals and I figured that I'd only have to buy 1 meal per day for my teen.

 

[Weather_Lady]

My wife and I will share our meals and I figured that I'd only have to buy 1 meal per day for my teen.

Right on! You probably already know about this one (being Ricky Spanish and all, ), but I highly recommend the Pecos Bill Fajita Platter for share-ability. DH and I are big people with big appetites, and the two of us together couldn't finish a single fajita platter (with toppings from the toppings bar) last week. I did order extra tortillas to go with it ($3.99 for three - ugh!), but that only brought the total price to $19, or $9.50 per person, for a balanced meal that stuffed us to the gills. Not a bad deal -- and without wasting food or money in the way the DDP would have forced us to.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

My wife and I will share our meals and I figured that I'd only have to buy 1 meal per day for my teen.

We've done something similar in the past. We often travel with extended family so we might be in one room (me, wife, two small daughters) while my parents and sister (or sisters) are in a different room. Sometimes we'll put the dining plan on just one of the reservations and share the credits between all of us.

We won't do it anymore with the recent price increase and addition of alcohol, which we don't drink enough of for it to be a good value even if we share.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

Right on! You probably already know about this one, but I highly recommend the Pecos Bill Fajita Platter for share-ability. DH and I are big people with big appetites, and the two of us together couldn't finish a single fajita platter (with toppings from the toppings bar) last week. I did order extra tortillas to go with it ($3.99 for three - ugh!), but that only brought the total price to $19, or $9.50 per person, for a balanced meal that stuffed us to the gills. Not a bad deal -- and without wasting food or money in the way the DDP would have forced us to.

Funny you mention that but that's what we did last June.
We got two fajita platters to split between the three of us.
Got a bunch of toppings too.
Way too much food and we are eaters too.

 

[jaklgreen]

I just don't see the "saves a lot of hassle" angle. If it's break even, what hassle are you saving?

To be clear, I'm not anti-DDP. It can save certain parties money depending on their configuration and eating habbits. But I can't see any reason to choose it if your family's situation makes it break-even.

I don't get the "hassle" thing either. I usually just charge everything to my room and pay at the end. It is all the same money coming out of my account either way. We have been going for years to WDW and have crunched the numbers numerous times. Unless you get the most expensive thing on the menu anyway, it is not a savings. And if you go ahead and get the filet and lobster, etc just because it is "paid" for, then I bet you did not factor in the extra tip money you have to add into the budget. But if a person feels better and wants to spend the money to make it feel like an all inclusive. Go for it. That is what Disney is banking on.