Is the Dining Plan Worth It Anymore?

[Lucky]

It was never worth it. It's just gotten more and more not worth it over the years.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Like others here I find that I (pretty much) break even ... one thing I would prefer is spending my money on an appetizer instead of dessert. In april I did a 14 day stay (split between 3 hotels, 2 on property and 1 off property) I only had the dining plan for my first 5 days, let me just say that I definitely missed it the rest of my trip... Hubby and I tend to order the most expensive things on the menu... I REALLY felt the difference at quick service places, guess i never really looked at those prices before, it was easily $40 for 2 adults each quick service. I really think it depends on the way you eat... are you a steak/seafood guy or a burgers and fries guy? ordering a $20 entree at every table service you will for sure loose your money... As of now I feel like the DDP is worth it for me although I know with prices constantly and consistently rising in a few years DDP won't be worth it... GET IT WHILE YOU CAN.

If it's not signature dining and it's lunch, you can't spend more than about $20 for an entree at some of the restaurants we like.

 

[sxeensweet]

If it's not signature dining and it's lunch, you can't spend more than about $20 for an entree at some of the restaurants we like.

Mostly true but a lot of restaurants on property do share the same menu for lunch and dinner. Some may have some cheaper items at lunch but some the menu is identical and prices identical at lunch.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Mostly true but a lot of restaurants on property do share the same menu for lunch and dinner. Some may have some cheaper items at lunch but some the menu is identical and prices identical at lunch.

Right, but I'm talking about the places we are eating that kill the dining plan deal. Mama Melrose, 50s Prime, and Liberty Tree.

Even a place like Teppan Edo at lunch is still only about $35/person for the most expensive entree. That just doesn't get the price high enough for dining to be worth it. Table services needs to be around $45/person just to break even because the dining plan is right around $130/day for 2. We can easily stay around $18/person for quick service, even with drinks.

 

[Jess G]

Mostly true but a lot of restaurants on property do share the same menu for lunch and dinner. Some may have some cheaper items at lunch but some the menu is identical and prices identical at lunch.

When on the dining plan I always only do TS dinner. I do one TS breakfast OOP and the last day we traditionally go to Raglan Road for lunch which has the same menu and pricing for lunch and dinner.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I've decided the dining plan has turned in to a budgeting tool/scam. It's essentially just pre-payment at the most expensive menu options and maybe necessary for people if they are trying to budget. If you get sick, don't feel like eating something one night, or eat lunch at cheaper places, it's a win for Disney.

Unless they're going to save you 20% or so, it's at best a wash, even if you really try to eat dinners at the most expensive places. 2 table service allotments for signature dining doesn't help either.

I remember when it used to be a real savings, because I did an analysis on it back in 2006ish timeframe and it seemed absolutely better. Now, you're just pre-paying for your meals and it's slanted toward the most expensive options possible. Any deviation and you're overpaying.

 

[sxeensweet]

When on the dining plan I always only do TS dinner. I do one TS breakfast OOP and the last day we traditionally go to Raglan Road for lunch which has the same menu and pricing for lunch and dinner.

Yep if we eat a lunch for a TS we use it at a place that has the same menu and costs the same as the dinner option. Unless we are paying that lunch OOP. And us too we usually do 1 or 2 breakfasts at our faves such as Kona and pay that OOP too being breakfast is not expensive.

 

[sxeensweet]

Right, but I'm talking about the places we are eating that kill the dining plan deal. Mama Melrose, 50s Prime, and Liberty Tree.

Even a place like Teppan Edo at lunch is still only about $35/person for the most expensive entree. That just doesn't get the price high enough for dining to be worth it. Table services needs to be around $45/person just to break even because the dining plan is right around $130/day for 2. We can easily stay around $18/person for quick service, even with drinks.

We just always eat where we like regular and singnatures included every trip and don't worry about trying to max out the plan. Lol. Even with eating where and what we want and not stressing we still save a little or break even. We never let the dining plan dictate where we go or what we order and we still rarely lose any money. I always save and add up my receipts after each trip to see how we did and even without worrying to try to get the most out of the plan we do just fine money wise. People tend to stress way too much when using the plan.

 

[Chef Mickey]

We just always eat where we like regular and singnatures included every trip and don't worry about trying to max out the plan. Lol. Even with eating where and what we want and not stressing we still save a little or break even. We never let the dining plan dictate where we go or what we order and we still rarely lose any money. I always save and add up my receipts after each trip to see how we did and even without worrying to try to get the most out of the plan we do just fine money wise. People tend to stress way too much when using the plan.

It's tough to justify the cost at current prices. I just did the math down to the snacks, drink, entrees ordered, desserts, etc with prices from the actual menus. ~$130/day for 2 PRE tip is quite difficult, unless you just ignore the favorite restaurants I mentioned, only eat dinner for TS, only get the most expensive thing on the menu, and always get dessert. Even still, I'm struggling to even break even. You might get closer if you actually buy dessert with every quick service and every table service, but even still, it's close My generous math in favor of the dining plan still puts it about $150 more than just paying cash.

 

[sxeensweet]

It's tough to justify the cost at current prices. I just did the math down to the snacks, drink, entrees ordered, desserts, etc with prices from the actual menus. ~$130/day for 2 PRE tip is quite difficult, unless you just ignore the favorite restaurants I mentioned, only eat dinner for TS, only get the most expensive thing on the menu, and always get dessert. Even still, I'm struggling to even break even. You might get closer if you actually buy dessert with every quick service and every table service, but even still, it's close My generous math in favor of the dining plan still puts it about $150 more than just paying cash.

I'll pay the $150 more if that were the case for the pre paid aspect. I am a coupon user and always want the best deal with most things as possible but we love the dining plan and if I lose a very small fraction with the plan I'm okay with it. Now if I lost hundreads more than $100ish or so I would maybe rethink it. But that has not happened yet. Even using TIW I have done the math and it may save us a little more over time (but does not include most QS locations we love) but we still rather the dining plan as of now.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I'll pay the $150 more if that were the case for the pre paid aspect. I am a coupon user and always want the best deal with most things as possible but we love the dining plan and if I lose a very small fraction with the plan I'm okay with it. Now if I lost hundreads more than $100ish or so I would maybe rethink it. But that has not happened yet. Even using TIW I have done the math and it may save us more over time (but does not include most QS locations we love) but we still rather the dining plan as of now.

I used to agree with you and it used to be true. I truly think the pricing has gone up enough to make i worth a second look and perhaps a more thorough analysis. I think their pricing now is essentially built assuming you will buy the most expensive thing on the menu. Every time you don't, it's margin for them. It's a good plan, to be honest.

Like I said, if you like it for budgeting, it's not like you're getting destroyed. I will tell you that in terms of value, you are getting ripped off if you use 2 TS allotments for a signature dining. Those places are still only around $45/person for entree, such as California Grill. I think Ohana is around $50/person for dinner and it's only 1 TS.

Anyway, do whatever makes you happy. Just remember Disney is the margin extraction empire, particularly under this CEO and leadership.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I realize that the "pay more to prepay" mindset is one of the main reasons people love the DDP, but I confess I do not understand it. If I'm going to have to pay for the dinner I plan to eat on an evening 6 months from now (and if I'm going to have to pay for the gratuity on that date, regardless), I'd rather earmark $40 of my savings today with the intention of using it to pay $40 in six months, rather than remove it from my bank account today so I can prepay $45 for an entitlement to the same meal. Obviously, reasonable minds differ on this point.

FWIW, I've found this chart at WDW Prep School (you'll have to fill in the blank in the link with the name of the site, as it will get censored) extremely helpful. It seeks to break down the monetary value of TS credits at each WDW restaurant, and compares it with the average cost (and maximum cost) of TS meals at every WDW restaurant.

According to the authors, the "break-even" cost of a TS meal (buffet or entree+drink+dessert) on the 2016 DDP is about $37/credit. This means, if the pre-tax, pre-tip price of each of your TS meals is less than $37 for a 1-credit TS meal or $74 for a 2-credit TS meal (or, implicitly, if you don't want or don't eat an entire entree+drink+dessert, or a full buffet+drink, at every TS meal), you can expect to lose money on the DDP. If you can keep your TS meal costs above $37/credit (and if you're happy to be getting that amount of food), then you can consider yourself ahead of the game. http://*************.com/maximizing-disney-dining-plan-credits/

 

[G8rchamps]

We spent way too much time with ADR's and then planning the whole day around getting to meals. We got our money's worth- but too much work to do again..

 

[SAV]

I'll pay the $150 more if that were the case for the pre paid aspect. I am a coupon user and always want the best deal with most things as possible but we love the dining plan and if I lose a very small fraction with the plan I'm okay with it.

It's your money and you can spend it how you want to, but I don't get this at all. Why pay them more to eat the same food or to have them serve you things you may not necessarily want? With MB's, it's just as easy to charge the OOP meal to your room as it is to pre-pay for it.

 

[sxeensweet]

I used to agree with you and it used to be true. I truly think the pricing has gone up enough to make i worth a second look and perhaps a more thorough analysis. I think their pricing now is essentially built assuming you will buy the most expensive thing on the menu. Every time you don't, it's margin for them. It's a good plan, to be honest.

Like I said, if you like it for budgeting, it's not like you're getting destroyed. I will tell you that in terms of value, you are getting ripped off if you use 2 TS allotments for a signature dining. Those places are still only around $45/person for entree, such as California Grill. I think Ohana is around $50/person for dinner and it's only 1 TS.

Anyway, do whatever makes you happy. Just remember Disney is the margin extraction empire, particularly under this CEO and leadership.

Yep it's not for everyone. And we do several signatures every trip and still does not hurt our margin much when I did the overall costs analysis.
You said the entree at most signature is $45 pp but you have to include desert and a drink also that's included. We actually just for an entree at some pay $50++ (my filet at several is over $50) not including adding desert and a drink etc. We usually do 2-4 signatures/ shows each trip and the rest are 1 credits. Also we add several we pay OOP like Kona, Via Napoli, etc that are pretty cheap. We stay 2 weeks so food adds up and rather budget it before hand and not have to worry about saving the cash or getting gift cards just for dining etc.
But yes always do what you are comfortable with and what's best for you not anyone else.

 

[sxeensweet]

It's your money and you can spend it how you want to, but I don't get this at all. Why pay them more to eat the same food or to have them serve you things you may not necessarily want? With MB's, it's just as easy to charge the OOP meal to your room as it is to pre-pay for it.

Again I never waste money all year elsewhere so we will do what we want on our vacations and we like that most is pre paid and easier to budget for us this way. We do pay some OOP also so yes the MB is easy but we like the majority to be already paid for. Lots of folks do I'm not the only one that is okay losing a small fraction with the plan but frankly we have personally never lost $150 yet anyway.

 

[21stamps]

I've been going back and forth about this.

I have it booked for our upcoming trip, but am debating cancelling. I just can't bring myself to make a spreadsheet and go thru every restaurant menu.

We did it last time, and I admittedly used it in a horrible way. I didn't save my receipts, so have no idea what the math came down to, but I paid for quite a few meals out of pocket on top of the DDP. Plus, I only drink water at meals.

My upcoming trip we have-

Arrival day- Ohana breakfast. Whispering Canyon early dinner. Room Service appetizers while we watch Wishes.
Day 2- BOG lunch. Chef Mickey dinner.
Day 3- H&V Minnie's holiday dine dinner F! Package (but will do a Star Wars desert party instead of Fantasmic if offered, keeping the dinner either way)
Day 4- Room service breakfast. No table service meals.
Departure day- T-Rex lunch.
I would purchase the refillable mugs regardless of if plan or not, so that's not a factor.

I, once again, have too many credits (although less than last time) for the DDP, and not worth the Deluxe Dining plan.

I think in 2017 the plan is much better. 2 snacks instead of desert is ideal for me personally.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Yep it's not for everyone. And we do several signatures every trip and still does not hurt our margin much when I did the overall costs analysis.
You said the entree at most signature is $45 pp but you have to include desert and a drink also that's included. We actually just for an entree at some pay $50++ (my filet at several is over $50) not including adding desert and a drink etc. We usually do 2-4 signatures/ shows each trip and the rest are 1 credits. Also we add several we pay OOP like Kona, Via Napoli, etc that are pretty cheap. We stay 2 weeks so food adds up and rather budget it before hand and not have to worry about saving the cash or getting gift cards just for dining etc.
But yes always do what you are comfortable with and what's best for you not anyone else.

I think you need to look at current pricing and re-do your analysis. There is no possible way eating "several" signature dining restaurants per trip won't cut into your value and add to Disney's margin.

Unless staying 14 days is different than 8 days, I don't see the value.

I am also not trying to be argumentative. I'm just trying to put it out there in case people are reading that these dining plans are essentially a waste and no longer save money. If you have other reasons for using it, I can't blame you...but it can't be financial. It's just not a savings, particularly if you're using 2 allotments at signature dining OR eating lunch basically anywhere OR not eating all your desserts.

 

[sxeensweet]

I think you need to look at current pricing and re-do your analysis. There is no possible way eating "several" signature dining restaurants per trip won't cut into your value and add to Disney's margin.

Unless staying 14 days is different than 8 days, I don't see the value.

I am also not trying to be argumentative. I'm just trying to put it out there in case people are reading that these dining plans are essentially a waste and no longer save money. If you have other reasons for using it, I can't blame you...but it can't be financial. It's just not a savings, particularly if you're using 2 allotments at signature dining OR eating lunch basically anywhere OR not eating all your desserts.

It is not financial why other than its easier to budget for us by paying it ahead of time.
I have looked at current pricing and we just went last October 2015. This years price of the plan and next year is about the same as 2015 give or take a few dollars, and the menu prices have not changed really since October 2015. I looked at all this the last several months and still nothing has changed for us. It was around $63 a person per day, last year close to the current and next years. I evaluate every single year and we have gone almost every year the last 8 years. And math and accounting is my strong suit and we even with the signatures don't lose an amount to be concerned over if at all. And we eat all our deserts by the way being we love to splurge on food at Disney! Also like I mentioned the rare occasion we do a lunch for a TS we choose one that has the same menu and prices at lunch so that does not affect it either.

 

[21stamps]

It is not financial why other than its easier to budget for us by paying it ahead of time.
I have looked at current pricing and we just went last October 2015. This years price of the plan and next year is about the same as 2015 give or take a few dollars, and the menu prices have not changed really since October 2015. I looked at all this the last several months and still nothing has changed for us. It was around $63 a person per day, last year close to the current and next years. I evaluate every single year and we have gone almost every year the last 8 years. And math and accounting is my strong suit and we even with the signatures don't lose an amount to be concerned over if at all. And we eat all our deserts by the way being we love to splurge on food at Disney! Also like I mentioned the rare occasion we do a lunch for a TS we choose one that has the same menu and prices at lunch so that does not affect it either.

Can you give me your input on my schedule that I listed above, and tell me if you think I should keep or cancel?

I would very much appreciate it. Like I said, last time I just purchased for the ease, didn't really pay attention to what I was spending individually.. Just to the giant bill at the end of our stay.lol