Meal planning

[mommy2two]

Does anyone here NOT do the dining plan and if so what do you do?

We're on a TIGHT budget and we don't really want to spend that much on dining. We're going to be Camping at the Disney Resort and I REALLY think we can eat cheaper for all of us than 90 bucks a day!! What do you think?

We're already planning on taking small snacks into the park for DD1 and DH as he'll get grumpy if hungry. :king: What do you all think for other meals? Thanks

 

[mommy2two]

Thanks guys!! We were thinking about doing ONE character meal but not sure which and the rest just CHEAP as we can meals. I think we'll take sandwhiches for lunch in an insulated diaperbag and then take snacks and eat a good dinner arouund 5 or 6ish?? What do you think? We're camping so we've got plenty of spots to keep food during the stay!! Thanks for all the help!

 

[smk]

I buy kids meals...no kids, just a diabetic (not me, DH) who can't eat a big meal sometime but may have to eat four or five smaller meals just to stay even thru out the day. I also follow this rule, I eat when I am hungry and only then. If we did the DP we would feel like the whole trip was planned around meals and if we wasted one point I would feel like we were throwing away money. Just our opinion. Obviously, there are many who feel like the DP is worth it and use it every trip. If it was free then I would reconsider my plans and take advantage of it, I can never turn down free.....

For our upcoming trip....two short days and counting! we are only planning one sit down and the rest counter service or food court meals. We will also have a car so we will have more options to go off property for meals and we may do that once or twice.

 

[mommy2two]

Where do ppl get the FREE dining plan? I'd def. do it if it were free but I don't think it's offered anymore right??

 

[mroman]

Where do ppl get the FREE dining plan? I'd def. do it if it were free but I don't think it's offered anymore right??

The free dining plan is offered as part of a vacation package if you have a Disney Visa card. I received an email with a pin code and certain dates where free dining applied. Unfortunately for us I couldn't use it because
we're going Thanksgiving weekend. Maybe next time.

 

[Mikester71]

We have never had the free dining plan offered around the time we go (middle of March/Spring Break). I think it is only offered during the slower months though (Value Season), not during Peak Season (I may be wrong :shrug.

Even if it were offered, I don't think we would bother with it still. My friend always goes with the dining plan when he goes and it sounds like it is more of a pain to try and book all your reservations so far out and then you have to make sure to get to the restaurants on time those days.

We normally have brought a bunch of snacks, drinks and food with us the past two trips but discovered a few nearby grocery stores and a Target and Walmart last time we were down there. So this time we have decided to bring only a few items to snack on for the 22 hour ride down and drinks and we will check into the Pop Century and then hit up the grocery stores for supplies for the rest of the trip. We usually have snack bars, Sunny D, milk and cereal and even tuna we store in a cooler to help keep the price down and my MIL sometimes brings a toaster with her for bagels or toast or Eggos in the mornings. We eat in the Pop cafeteria for dinner only or maybe grab a quick bite in whatever park we happen to be in that day. We LOVE not having to worry about making reservations and keep them. We just go with the flow of how the day is going.

 

[dove_]

As for buying kids meals, I thought you weren't allowed if you were over the age limit?? Thanks guys!

Absolutely not! I always grab a kids meal if I'm not that hungry. And even if a CM asks, just say that the kid isn't in line with you. Kid's meals are great deals if you're not on the Dining Plan.

 

[Susan Savia]

We stay offsite. We do book one Character Breakfast and one Character dinner during our stay. We never know where we're gonna be at any given meal time so we don't reserve more then those two. I always carry one bottle of water and several snacks...usually cheese crackers or a trail mix bar, etc. (We've never had problems carrying in a snack at security.) We do eat some lunches in the parks, particularly if we're staying for fireworks later. But there are also times when we go offsite for dinner or just pick up a pizza to take back to our room. Usually one large meal in a day is sufficient for us.

______________________

Next Trip - January 2009

It's like coming home again......

 

[disneygirl76]

We always do the dining plan because for the DH and I, the restaurants are part of our Disney experience. When we didn't get the DP, then this is what we did. If you are not breakfast people, then skip the sit down bfast and go with protein or cereal bars or cereal before you leave. If you are breakfast people, then one of the best values is at Fort Wilderness at Trails End. This is great for you b/c that is where you are staying. If you skip the big breakfast and will be eating lunch at the parks, some CS meals are large enough to split, especially if the kids are younger. You can also bring premade sandwhiches into the park. A good time for a break from the park is lunch time, so this could be back at the campground. Hotdogs and sandwiches are fast and filling. Even if on the dining plan, snacks are always good to bring - packs of crackers and ziplock baggies of pretzels or granola bars. We always keep a couple in the bag with us! CS is good for dinner. And again can be shared. So essentially, you could only buy one meal at the parks each day. Remember to bring bottles of water so you don't have to buy them at the park. I also buy a pack of bottles of diet coke and bring one with us too. That is a savings as well. Have fun and a great trip!!! :wave:

 

[Raven66]

We have never done the dining plan. We just don't eat that much food. We usually have a breakfast item in the room like pop tarts or granola bars. Then we go until we are hungry and if it's hot we don't eat as much because we are full of water. But if we do eat lunch DD and I will share while DH gets his own. The cheeseburgers are so big we just cut it in half. I also usually make my own trail mix that I bring into the parks with us. And we just snack on that. This year we have two sit downs planned. I also bring drink mix to put in the empty water bottles with the WDW water. The drinking fountain water is awful, but if you put the drink mix in it's fine.

We are like someone else said, free spirits. Have fun on your trip!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Have done the dinning plan, when it worked out right for us. Now it doesnt so I wont be doing it. If its all about $$$$ itmay be worth it however Im more concerned about having decent food and a range of choice. Sadly the effects of the dining plan are that many venues are like eating at the trough or a Ponderossa on a busy night, where they can at least point to the price as a plus.

The loss of the appetizer was the final straw for us, not big desert eaters, and eating stuff because wed paid rather than we were hungry or indeed it was appetizing.

Nope not for this cat, as Ill be heading off property for a few meals.

 

[mommy2two]

Great ideas, thanks soo much. I think I'd really like to try Chef Mickeys' now I just need to see if we're too late and what time would be best. It is a buffet Right?? Thanks

 

[UberPlannerMom]

Yes, Chef Mickey's is a buffet.

 

[Crazy4WDW1]

Chef Mickey's is a buffet. It's my fav character breakfast at WDW. Lots of yummy food and great atmosphere! Allearsnet has all the menus, etc. for the parks and resorts. Check it out if you haven't already.

I believe free dining was offered this year for travel from around 8/13 to around 9/23. It's great if you can travel during this time.

I have an AP so I have a DDE card. That 20% really helps.

Check our Mousesavers. Mary has a page with ways to stretch the dining plan and ways to save $$ on food in the parks.

One trick I've learned is that I will order my burger by itself. No fries or drink. I'll split a drink with one of my kids. There are usually plenty of fries to share.

 

[C.M.O]

We tried the Dining Plan last year and will not do it again.

• Too many times when you have to be somewhere for a reservation.
• Impedes flexibility and fun and spotaneity.
• Also, too much food for us

Good luck.

I agree, we went on the dinning plan and were so busy getting to reservations we missed some other things we would have liked to do. HOwever, I went to a lot of resturants I would never have eaten at before.

 

[Phonedave]

I used to try and find every way to save money by packing all sorts of stuff. Tuna, dry soup, crackers, mayo packets, etc etc.

I have come to the conclusion that if I budget a little more money, and not eat everything I see, it works out pretty much the same and I am a lot happier.

We do bring some sort of breakfast for in the room most of the time, only because it gets us out the door faster. However the hot cerial (oatmeal) that they have is great, and sticks to your ribs.

No snacks during the day in the parks. We don't snack while walking around at home, so why would we snack in the park.

CS for lunch, and a sit down dinner.

It works out for us, and I find it a lot more enjoyable that carting food around with me. Of course YMMV

-dave

 

[kimmychad]

Great that was my main concern. I was hoping I could take sandwhiches for lunch.

As for buying kids meals, I thought you weren't allowed if you were over the age limit?? Thanks guys!

it's too hard to enforce the kids meal rule at a counter service restaurant, nobody wants to see a bunch of kids in line to prove its for them.

 

[November Girl]

Buy individually boxed Parmalat milk for cereal and coffee. It doesn't need to be refrigerated, and is reasonably priced when on sale at the supermarket. It's easy to pack as it comes in rectangular cartons. Buy pudding cups, there are a few brands that don't need to be refrigerated. Split counter service meals and load up on lettuce, tomato and other condiments!!!

 

[Philo]

I've never used the dining plan (althugh I would if it were free dining). One reason for this is because you are not able to change resorts whilst on the DDP (not sure why). The main reason though is quite simple. We only ever go as a couple, we don't eat a lot and we like the flexibility of being able to eat off-site if necessary (i.e. when visiting other parks).

Last time I did the calculation I figured we would only save money if we used every single credit to the fullest (i.e. always order deserts etc). As we rarely have deserts etc it just didn't work out for us and would have cost us more money.

 

[mommy2two]

Thanks!! I don't normally carry snacks around either BUT with a toddler and DH who gets grumpy at the first hunger pain, I'd rather have them than not! LOL Also, I do need to save any penny we have as we're not coming with lots of money so it's something I really don't mind saving on. I'll def. look into maybe getting a LATE breakfast at a buffet but I'm thinking I'm wayyyy too late for that, with only 10 days to go! YAY! Thanks for all the help!!

 

[MichWolv]

Over many trips, I've developed the following plans to save on meal costs at WDW. Of course, the biggest savings would be leaving WDW for meals, but I generally don't do that becuase of the time it takes to drive off-property and then back -- I'd prefer to stick closer to the parks.

1. If you want to have a table-service meal, do it at lunch. The restaurants are less crowded, tables are easier to get, and most of the food is the same at a price of about 30% less. This is particularly true for in-park all-you-can-eat meals at places like Biergarten, Garden Grille, Crystal Palace, and it also true at most of the table-service places.

2. At many of the quick service park restaurants, there are combos that are larger than the norm that can easily be split. The Chicken and Ribs combo at Cosmic Ray's, for example, is more food that anybody in my family can eat. One of those and a salad feeds my wife, my son (5) and I.

3. Bring boxes of snacks, pop-tarts, granola bars, etc. As a rule (which I do sometimes break, particularly for dole whips), I don't buy snacks in the parks.

4. Bring a water bottle and fill it from fountains. There isn't much free in the parks, so take advantage of what is. I rarely buy a (non-alcoholic) drink in the parks.