Need Help - Dinning Plan

[pezgirlroy]

Hi all, we are heading to WDW from January 9th to January 15th. Myself, husband, 6 year old daughter and 10 month old daughter. We are staying at Beach Club Villas done through a Disney Vacation club member. Currently we have reservations at Cinderella's Table, Askerhus, and Tusker House. We are debating whether or not a dinning plan is worth it. Honestly I get very confused when I read up on the plan. Can you guys give me some pros/cons on this? Just need some direction. Thanks.

 

[Master Yoda]

Worth it or not for the dining plan is a simple math equation.

Simply compare the price of what you will be spending on the cost of food to the cost of the plan. Go with the better value.

Since it looks like much of what you will be doing are priced fixed buffets, the gray area of "do I order the cheep chicken or the expensive steak" is largely eliminated, but if those three restaurants are the only table service meals are the only you have planed over a 7 day trip, then the dining plan might not be the best choice.

 

[Abby's Daddy]

I agree with @Master Yoda. Whether or not the meal plan is worth it really depends on what you plan on doing. We actually take the deluxe dining plan when we go and most people would argue it is not worth it. It is a ridiculous amount of food that we would probably not order otherwise. However, we do not use the plan to have three table service meals a day. We use it on character meals and signature restaurants. So for instance on our next trip we have five character meals planned and five signature restaurants and most days we are only eating two meals. If you use it in that way it may make sense in some respect, though Disney still comes out ahead. After all, they wouldn't sell it if they didn't make money on it. Overall though it works for us. If you are going to only have 3 ADRs for a seven day trip then like Master Yoda said the dining plan may not be right for you.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

Remember too that some restaurants require two credits (such as Cinderella's Royal Table). I've found that when we do the DDP we try to book reservations for the more expensive, 1 credit, restaurants to make the plan worth it.

Akershus is on the pricey end, $60/person IIRC. But like Yoda said...if those are the only table service meals you have planned, then the DDP isn't worth it.

If you want to explore more dining options on your vacation, then simply look up the menu, look at what you'd order and its price. The DDP includes one quick service meal (with drink, entree and dessert included) and one table service meal (with drink, entree and dessert included) and one snack.

When you do your research...if you find that you'd end up spending more than $63/day per person, then go with the DDP.

 

[slappy magoo]

• This website, under "info," has a list of current menus for all onsite restaurants, including rough prices. You can also find them on disney's website and at allears.net/dining. Like @Master Yoda wrote above, check out menus of these restaurants and other places you'd be interested in booking. And rule of thumb, assume all your snacks will average to be about 3.75. Add 6.5% sales tax. Then you'll know.

 

[21stamps]

I did the DDP on our last trip, and have it booked again for our next one, although I may cancel it. I considered the Deluxe Dining Plan but ruled it out. I have too many "credits" for the DDP, but not enough for the Deluxe.

The same thing happened last time. We ordered room service twice, and will do the same again. In my opinion that is a complete waste of 2 credits pp, combined with the fact that I order off the adult menu for my son with room service, so it made/makes more sense to pay out of pocket. I did the same with the Luau show. 2 credits for one meal that isn't double in price just doesn't make sense to me.
I also made the stupid mistake of not realizing that I COULD use 1 credit for H&V F! dinner package, so I paid out of pocket for that as well. Months later I realized (from a message board) that I could in fact have used the DDP for that meal. Oops.

Be careful of the "dining plan calculators". If you really want to get an accurate comparison then you need to go thru the actual menus and choose what you think you will eat. I've been too lazy to do this...and honestly, I'll probably never do it.lol My reasoning for possibly removing the DDP is because we do not need all of the deserts, I wish the 2 snack thing was applicable in 2016, but oh well.

 

[Weather_Lady]

If you really want to get an accurate comparison then you need to go thru the actual menus and choose what you think you will eat. I've been too lazy to do this...and honestly, I'll probably never do it.lol My reasoning for possibly removing the DDP is because we do not need all of the deserts, I wish the 2 snack thing was applicable in 2016, but oh well.

Just chiming in to concur with your advice on looking at the menus, and considering your family's own preferences... With the DDP, you can order the most expensive entree at every restaurant and break even or maybe even save a few dollars -- but is that what you WANT to order and eat every time? (It isn't for me.)

FYI, as far as the snack entitlements, if you're referring to the ability to swap out CS desserts or drinks for a snack from the same menu, it is applicable in 2016 according to Disney, as is the ability to swap out TS desserts (at non-buffet venues) for salad/fruit/soup, where available -- https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...alog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2016Dining.pdf

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/07/08/2016-disney-dining-plan-changes-and-updates/

 

[21stamps]

Just chiming in to concur with your advice on looking at the menus, and considering your family's own preferences... With the DDP, you can order the most expensive entree at every restaurant and break even or maybe even save a few dollars -- but is that what you WANT to order and eat every time? (It isn't for me.)

FYI, as far as the snack entitlements, if you're referring to the ability to swap out CS desserts or drinks for a snack from the same menu, it is applicable in 2016 according to Disney, as is the ability to swap out TS desserts (at non-buffet venues) for salad/fruit/soup, where available -- https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...alog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2016Dining.pdf

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/07/08/2016-disney-dining-plan-changes-and-updates/

I think I read that in 2017 the DDP gets 2 snack credits instead of a dessert? Can't remember the exact details..just about the 2 snack credits. In my opinion that's more useful.

 

[JillC LI]

I think I read that in 2017 the DDP gets 2 snack credits instead of a dessert? Can't remember the exact details..just about the 2 snack credits. In my opinion that's more useful.

Yes, they will be giving us 2 snack credits instead of 1 snack credit plus dessert at the CS meal. I like that better.

And to the OP, if you plan to book 2 more table service meals (or 1 more signature table service meal), then the cost of the dining plan may be worthwhile to you. Plus, for us, there is something to be said for knowing that all food has been paid for and not feeling like I should stick with the cheap chicken at dinner instead of the expensive steak. I like to splurge on vacation. Others are just as happy putting some money aside on a prepaid Disney gift card to use for meals. To each his own.