Question regarding Dining Plan vs paying for food separately

[baloofigment14]

Free dining is the way to go!

 

[sxeensweet]

We usually opt for free dining when it comes out. I don't think I will ever actually buy a dining plan.

Kind of comes out in the wash. When you choose Free Dining you are forgoing the room discounts they usually have so you really are not getting the dining plan totally free (you are technically buying it or part of it) being you are paying the full rack rate for the rooms. For us we always bought the dining plan and took a room discount instead which saved us more money than getting the free dining offer. Almost saved double or triple each time but we always stay in Deluxe of Deluxe Villas. We also don't buy the dining plan to save money. We do it so its paid for
In advance and we don't have to worry about anything. We usually save a little or come out even from what we paid. We never do free dining and now we are DVC members so we will probably always still purchase the dining plan each trip.

 

[LucyK]

This year we went for 11 days. Had the DDP for 3 adults. Went to dinner at Chef Mickey's, Ohana, Boma, 50's Prime Time, Tutto Italia, Be Our Guest, San Angel Inn, Japan Hibachi Grill and a breakfast at Crystal Palace. Our Table service tickets were used on those, then one night we went to DTD to splitsville.Then of course we used our counter services daily and our snacks as well. After doing the math when we got home, our spending which included breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinners... we saved about $960.00
We think the plan is worth it all the way.

I save around $200 on the DDP this past trip and I thought it was fantastic, I can only imagine saving almost $1k!

I do agree the DDP is a great choice and I can't see myself paying OOP. I rather prepay all my meals and deal only with tips and apptizers once we're there.

 

[dreamfinder]

Kind of comes out in the wash. When you choose Free Dining you are forgoing the room discounts they usually have so you really are not getting the dining plan totally free (you are technically buying it or part of it) being you are paying the full rack rate for the rooms. For us we always bought the dining plan and took a room discount instead which saved us more money than getting the free dining offer. Almost saved double or triple each time but we always stay in Deluxe of Deluxe Villas. We also don't buy the dining plan to save money. We do it so its paid for
In advance and we don't have to worry about anything. We usually save a little or come out even from what we paid. We never do free dining and now we are DVC members so we will probably always still purchase the dining plan each trip.

It all comes down to the numbers. I personally despise the dining plan, and think it brings nothing good with it. But for a traditional family of 4 staying at a value, free dining is a much better deal than the room discounts many times. For instance, the late fall discounts just released only had a 15% discount at a value, so savings of like $15 per night. But 4 people on the dining plan would be like $100 worth of savings per night. But a deluxe resort offering 30% off, a couple could easily end up having more savings on the room discount than if they had free dining. It's all about the numbers.

 

[sxeensweet]

It all comes down to the numbers. I personally despise the dining plan, and think it brings nothing good with it. But for a traditional family of 4 staying at a value, free dining is a much better deal than the room discounts many times. For instance, the late fall discounts just released only had a 15% discount at a value, so savings of like $15 per night. But 4 people on the dining plan would be like $100 worth of savings per night. But a deluxe resort offering 30% off, a couple could easily end up having more savings on the room discount than if they had free dining. It's all about the numbers.

Yes and I always put in my posts to run the numbers because it varies on where you stay and how many people also. We are only 2 adults that always stayed in the highest priced rooms so it was always a lot better to do the room discount instead and pay for the dining plan. To others that's not necessarily the case. Always do the math both ways is the best advice to anyone wondering what to do.

 

[kamr211]

there are dining calculators on line that can help you price it. For us t is a wash, but we prefer having our meals prepaid and not have to worry about how much money we will be spending. We never have done the deluxe, just the regular dining plan.