Is the dining plan right for me?

[PMC0849]

Our past two trips we did not do the dining plan, a major factor in this involved dining offsite, or at Swan and Dolphin restaurants that did not accept the plan. This time we are 99% sure we will be on WDW property and I am trying to decide whether we should add a dining plan. The CM I spoke with on the phone (while arranging something else) thought we should add it, specifically she suggested the deluxe dining plan for us. We do enjoy sitdown meals 80% of the time. Anyway, does it really save money? Would you recommend it? I think she said I have until 72 hours before our trip starts to decide so... Thanks for any tips, advice, and help you offer!

 

[CheshireCat12]

Unless you choose the pricey items off the menu, and eat dessert at every meal, I wouldn't.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I price compared for our anticipated trip next year and I could not make the Quick Service Plan work at all, almost $500 difference than if we paid out of pocket, everyone ate $15 at each meal, plus it doesn't count the third meal of the day. The next level plan barely broke even, but that doesn't take into account, most of the time the wife and daughter split something, so really, it does not work out. We are a family of four.

 

[PMC0849]

Unless you choose the pricey items off the menu, and eat dessert at every meal, I wouldn't.

I have been leaning towards no, we usually only split desert at dinner, rarely get one at lunch. We also tend to order alcoholic beverages, which are not included (they should offer a wine and dining plan, for adult groups).

I price compared for our anticipated trip next year and I could not make the Quick Service Plan work at all, almost $500 difference than if we paid out of pocket, everyone ate $15 at each meal, plus it doesn't count the third meal of the day. The next level plan barely broke even, but that doesn't take into account, most of the time the wife and daughter split something, so really, it does not work out. We are a family of four.

I have tried adding up, what I assume we would order, if we didn't have the plan, so far it doesn't add up to saving, but we also haven't scheduled everything yet.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I have tried adding up, what I assume we would order, if we didn't have the plan, so far it doesn't add up to saving, but we also haven't scheduled everything yet.

Thats what I did. Used the handy dandy menus here on WDWMagic and ran a spreadsheet. Even with the refillable mugs it wasn't close.

 

[G8rchamps]

Just got back from a 3 day trip family of 4 kids are 9 and 7. (We do have TIW card)

DDP was going to be $504

Arrived late Thurs, no dinner.
Fri- B, shakes/muffins from home. L-Tomorrowland Terrace $35. D Cape May Café Buffet for 4 and 2 beers $130.00
Sat- B, shakes/muffins from home. L-Farefax Fare $33. D- Shulas we split 3 apps, 2 steaks, and 1 Choc sufflet + 2 adult beverages each $250
Sun French Quarter QS for Breakfast was$31

Total $479 - However we tend to like apps rather than 4 desserts and this total included 4 beers and 2 glasses of wine.

Unless you eat a lot and really like dessert it usually does not pay.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

Mathematically this has never been a bigger savings for DH & I over the room discounts. We basically did the same thing that's been suggested. Once we knew where we'd be eating, we looked at menus & came up with a rough idea of what we'd be spending. Of course that could change here & there, but it gives you an idea. Then we'd compare to the room discount, and have always ended up w/the room discount.

Now that DD is getting older, and we have another baby on the way, we will reassess in a few years. When both are kids are eating off their own plates & making menu choices, the dining plan might make more sense. It really does depend on each individual family. It is a great deal for some people.

 

[gooftroop5]

Thats what I did. Used the handy dandy menus here on WDWMagic and ran a spreadsheet. Even with the refillable mugs it wasn't close.

THIS exactly! Run the numbers even if it is an estimate. I usually just look at the menu and take an average price instead of trying to figure out what we would order. We do TiW, but we have APs. Saves us more money. Think about what others have said as well: Can you eat 3 full meals a day? Do you ever share a meal? Do you like the super pricey meals? Will you do meals that take 2 credits? How many days are you going? Lots to consider.......and only you can make the final decision.

 

[harryk]

We are a family of 4 adults and have done the Delux Dining Plan each year. We keep track of the costs of each meal and have always come out ahead using the DDP. We tend to frequent the signature restaurants and rarely do counter service. The whole thing depends on what you like to do at the parks and how your family eats. We did check out the Tables in Wonderland and so far it does not work out for us. Maybe in the future - but not just now.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

This helped us decide it wasn't worth it

http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0

 

[DisneyRoy]

Granted it doesn't give us any additional savings, but it what it does for us is allows for us to pay off all of our meals ahead of time. So while it may not save you any money, it can save you some money while you are down there. We take less money with us and spend less money (on our trip) because of the DDP.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

Granted it doesn't give us any additional savings, but it what it does for us is allows for us to pay off all of our meals ahead of time. So while it may not save you any money, it can save you some money while you are down there. We take less money with us and spend less money (on our trip) because of the DDP.

I do something along these lines by
buying gift cards when grocery shopping. I set my weekly budget if I'm
under that I get a gift card in the difference. I make it a game. Some weeks it's $15. Some it's $50. We didn't spend any $ out of pocket while
there and just used the gift cards to pay the final balance on the last night. We got the savings of not using the dining plan and didn't have to "pay" while there. I could do the same with transferring $ to a savings account but I like earmarking that money just for WDW.

 

[DManRightHere]

Our past two trips we did not do the dining plan, a major factor in this involved dining offsite, or at Swan and Dolphin restaurants that did not accept the plan. This time we are 99% sure we will be on WDW property and I am trying to decide whether we should add a dining plan. The CM I spoke with on the phone (while arranging something else) thought we should add it, specifically she suggested the deluxe dining plan for us. We do enjoy sitdown meals 80% of the time. Anyway, does it really save money? Would you recommend it? I think she said I have until 72 hours before our trip starts to decide so... Thanks for any tips, advice, and help you offer!

No discounts or free dining available?

 

[FrostyNaples]

Our past two trips we did not do the dining plan, a major factor in this involved dining offsite, or at Swan and Dolphin restaurants that did not accept the plan. This time we are 99% sure we will be on WDW property and I am trying to decide whether we should add a dining plan. The CM I spoke with on the phone (while arranging something else) thought we should add it, specifically she suggested the deluxe dining plan for us. We do enjoy sitdown meals 80% of the time. Anyway, does it really save money? Would you recommend it? I think she said I have until 72 hours before our trip starts to decide so... Thanks for any tips, advice, and help you offer!

I like the (1) QS (1) TS (1) Snack per/person/night

I realize it may be break even, or just a smidge more for the DDP than paying out of pocket, but this is what i like about it:

#1 - Pre-Paid
#2 - Everyone gets a full meal, their own, don't have to share (we use for Lunch QS, and Dinner TS)
#3 - Everyone can chose their own snack in between meals
#4 - Thoughtless, easy to use

Breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day, so we pay out of pocket for that.

When we go to Disney, we are on vacation, anything that takes the stress level down even 1 peg, is worth it in my book. I value convenience over cost.

Everyone is different, some don't mind the spend, others are budget conscious.

In either case, you get all the facts, and make the best conclusion for your specific needs

 

[HollyAD]

I struggle with this myself. However, I think it is probably a good idea to go with the DDP if you are able to spend the money ahead of time. I see it as a way to get the nicer items on the menu even with the QS DP and you get a drink. Drinks alone are over 2.50 now. I may be more likely to try something new even if it a higher QS item costing $12 if I have the DDP. It is also a good way to plan ahead. I know the majority of my meals will be paid for. I will have to worry about very little once I get there as far as money.

 

[tlev]

For me, it depends on the trip and who is going. If it's my husband, daughter, and myself then we come out better using the dining plan. On a recent short trip with my mom who eats like a bird, we came out better to pay out of pocket. For my upcoming trip in October, I decided to go with the dining plan. We use alot of snack credits during food and wine to try to get more bang for our buck, plus we are doing several character meals this trip so after crunching the numbers we will save money this trip.

 

[PMC0849]

No discounts or free dining available?

There was free dining or 30% off room, we chose the latter.

I struggle with this myself. However, I think it is probably a good idea to go with the DDP if you are able to spend the money ahead of time. I see it as a way to get the nicer items on the menu even with the QS DP and you get a drink. Drinks alone are over 2.50 now. I may be more likely to try something new even if it a higher QS item costing $12 if I have the DDP. It is also a good way to plan ahead. I know the majority of my meals will be paid for. I will have to worry about very little once I get there as far as money.

The drink part of the DDP is wasted on us, at dinner, and at the majority of lunches the drinks we will order will contain alcohol. I am probably not going to order a cocktail and a soda. Like I said in the OP I wish they had a Disney Wine and Dine plan that came with a glass of wine, a beer, or cocktail each night.

 

[lilclerk]

There was free dining or 30% off room, we chose the latter.


The drink part of the DDP is wasted on us, at dinner, and at the majority of lunches the drinks we will order will contain alcohol. I am probably not going to order a cocktail and a soda. Like I said in the OP I wish they had a Disney Wine and Dine plan that came with a glass of wine, a beer, or cocktail each night.

They did have a wine & dine plan a few years ago. It only lasted a year or two, it must not have sold well.

Personally, I only get the dining plan when it's free because we stay in a value, and that's usually the better discount.

 

[dreamfinder]

Run the numbers, see what you would spend on food that you think you would eat. Then compare it to the cost of the dining plan. If you don't order the most expensive food options, don't always eat dessert, don't always want a soda, etc then it will most likely not work out in your favor. If you eat specifically to the plan, you can save money. If you don't, then you will most likely end up losing money. The deluxe plan does usually end up saving more, at least it did when @WDWFigment ran the numbers over on his blog back in 2012. But using 3 TS credits a day requires dedication. Not only taking the time during your day to do 3 sit downs, but getting to a decent TS for breakfast isn't terribly easy.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Are you going deluxe? Maybe.
Otherwise, it's unlikely to save you any money and may very well lose you money. In order to come out ahead on the regular/CS DDP, you have to carefully plan ahead, going only to the most expensive 1-credit restaurants every single time (and if on the regular DDP, using all of your TS for dinner instead of any other meal), and buying the most expensive items on every menu. Also, that dining plan has to match your family's usual dining preferences in order to actually save you money. (e.g., if you don't always buy large fountain beverages and desserts with every meal, or wouldn't want the most expensive entree every time, then the dining plan isn't "saving" you money by providing those things, since it's only "saving" money that you wouldn't have spent in the first place).

The only want to be sure is to run the numbers. The calculator to which @HRHPrincessAriel posted a link is a good tool for that purpose, as is this site: http://www.distripplanner.com/.