Swinging for the fences

[NoWayJose]

Hey everyone,

So as the title says, I'm going for it all on this trip. I'm bringing my parents down for their anniversary. We're spending a week, so I really have a list of restaurants I plan on hitting. The big 3= Victoria and Alberts, Cali Grille, and Yachtsman (along with others).

Now my question is, is it worth it for me to purchase a dining plan? I know V & A is only covered on the premium plan, so i'd have to pay that out of pocket for that in all likelihood. However, with the Deluxe plan, would it benefit me for all the other meals besides V & A? I'm aware some cost 2 table service credits, but we can live with that for some meals.

 

[luv]

Whether the various dining plans will cost you more or less depends on how many people are in your party, where you stay and what you eat.

The only way to figure it out is to decide where (at what) you want to eat and then do the math.

I know it sucks, lol, but it's true.

 

[Monty]

Dining Plan is rarely worthwhile IMO. You practically have to conscientiously order exclusively the most expensive entree on each menu to save money. Depending on when you're planning to go and how many people per room, it might be worth considering one person getting an AP [and associated room discounts] or if you're a FLA resident and getting the TiW card, which saves 20% on whatever you order, including drinks.

I find the Dining Plans good for convenience or pre-budgeting for some people who want that, but even when they're "free" they don't save me any money.

 

[englanddg]

Dining Plan is rarely worthwhile IMO. You practically have to conscientiously order exclusively the most expensive entree on each menu to save money. Depending on when you're planning to go and how many people per room, it might be worth considering one person getting an AP [and associated room discounts] or if you're a FLA resident and getting the TiW card, which saves 20% on whatever you order, including drinks.

I find the Dining Plans good for convenience or pre-budgeting for some people who want that, but even when they're "free" they don't save me any money.

Yeah, this is well put.

If you eat table service every meal every day, you can easily make the most of Deluxe credits. But, without that, it's very easy to fall behind. I have crunched the numbers each year since 2011, and in theory, I come out way ahead. But in practice, I find that I lose a little or break even.

However, I fall into the "pre-budgeting" category, so that's why I like it. When price is a concern at every meal, I'll unconsciously swing myself towards cheaper menu items and I'll skip things like appetizers and desserts. What I've enjoyed about the plan is that it removes any and all price concerns, and forces me to choose an app or dessert which has led to some amazing experiences I probably would never have shelled out for had I not been on the dining plan.

 

[NoWayJose]

Thanks for the replies guys. We're going to be a party of 3, and staying at the YC. Were also from PA, so were out of luck with AP and TiW stuff. I've been to WDW a ton of times and have only done the dining plan once years ago and didnt think much of it. I figured since i was aiming for all the elite restaurants maybe i could justify it this time around.

 

[Monty]

People from PA can get APs.

I go down from Canada. The savings with an AP discount can pay for the AP, a ticket for my son, the TiW card and all the food both of us eat.

Getting an AP makes you eligible for room discounts, shopping discounts and a number of other benefits, including buying the Tables in Wonderland card. My son and I stayed 8 nights at Beach Club and with a 42% AP discount on the room, our savings covered the AP that got us the discount, his ticket and a TiW card and every bite of food and drink we had. The only downside was the AP burning a hole in my pocket so I blew all those savings by taking a bunch more trips to WDW!

Only need one AP for all of that to work.

 

[luv]

Thanks for the replies guys. We're going to be a party of 3, and staying at the YC. Were also from PA, so were out of luck with AP and TiW stuff. I've been to WDW a ton of times and have only done the dining plan once years ago and didnt think much of it. I figured since i was aiming for all the elite restaurants maybe i could justify it this time around.

The dining plan has changed over the years. Long ago, it covered the WHOLE meal as well as tax and tip. This is no longer the case. So, depending on how long it's been, you might want to brush up on what all is (and isn't) included.

I'm sure you'll make the right choice for you and your parents.

 

[NoWayJose]

People from PA can get APs.

I go down from Canada. The savings with an AP discount can pay for the AP, a ticket for my son, the TiW card and all the food both of us eat.

Getting an AP makes you eligible for room discounts, shopping discounts and a number of other benefits, including buying the Tables in Wonderland card. My son and I stayed 8 nights at Beach Club and with a 42% AP discount on the room, our savings covered the AP that got us the discount, his ticket and a TiW card and every bite of food and drink we had. The only downside was the AP burning a hole in my pocket so I blew all those savings by taking a bunch more trips to WDW!

Only need one AP for all of that to work.

Interesting. For some reason I thought you had to be a Florida resident. We typically visit once a year for a week, so I suppose I have some research to do!

 

[Ariel484]

When are you going? V & A will be blacked out from Tables in Wonderland starting in (I think) July.

 

[coachwnh]

When are you going? V & A will be blacked out from Tables in Wonderland starting in (I think) July.

I think the block outs for V and A begins August first

 

[Monty]

Victoria& Albert’s will honor Tables in Wonderland discount through July 31st, 2014. As of August 1st, 2014 the restaurant will no longer participate in Tables in Wonderland.

 

[NoWayJose]

Heading down mid November...Guess I'm SOL haha.

I anticipate V&A breaking my bank anyways.

 

[Ariel484]

Heading down mid November...Guess I'm SOL haha.

I anticipate V&A breaking my bank anyways.

Right, that was my point. Before you get TiW do the math and make sure it's worth it for you. You'd need to be spending $500 to break even.

 

[Mukta]

I tried the deluxe plan and it was a lot of food. I did a TS breakfast or early lunch and a Signature for dinner. The problem was having an appetizer, entree and dessert each time. I had to order all 3 to make paying for the DxDP worth it, but after a few days, I didn't want to eat all 3 twice a day.

 

[NoWayJose]

I tried the deluxe plan and it was a lot of food. I did a TS breakfast or early lunch and a Signature for dinner. The problem was having an appetizer, entree and dessert each time. I had to order all 3 to make paying for the DxDP worth it, but after a few days, I didn't want to eat all 3 twice a day.

I figured this may be an issue id run into. Ideally we'd like to eat a small breakfast, so/so lunch, and a signature dinner. If we ate huge every day, Id think we'd be full pretty quick. Guess there's no easy solution.

 

[Mukta]

If the prepayment of the dining plan is appealing to you, put the amount you would have spent on the dining plan on a prepaid visa. That way if someone gets sick or someone just feels like eating 3 appetizers at a particular restaurant, you have flexibility.

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

If the prepayment of the dining plan is appealing to you, put the amount you would have spent on the dining plan on a prepaid visa. That way if someone gets sick or someone just feels like eating 3 appetizers at a particular restaurant, you have flexibility.

or get a disney gift card. you can order them (personalized even) from disney's gift card website. then you can stop in a disney store to add funds if you have one, or just keep buying more gift cards.

 

[Mukta]

or get a disney gift card. you can order them (personalized even) from disney's gift card website. then you can stop in a disney store to add funds if you have one, or just keep buying more gift cards.

That works too, but if you get Disney gift cards and someone in your party gets sick, you still have to spend the money at Disney. I like the Visa because you can spend that money anywhere.

 

[DanStat]

Hey everyone,

So as the title says, I'm going for it all on this trip. I'm bringing my parents down for their anniversary. We're spending a week, so I really have a list of restaurants I plan on hitting. The big 3= Victoria and Alberts, Cali Grille, and Yachtsman (along with others).

Now my question is, is it worth it for me to purchase a dining plan? I know V & A is only covered on the premium plan, so i'd have to pay that out of pocket for that in all likelihood. However, with the Deluxe plan, would it benefit me for all the other meals besides V & A? I'm aware some cost 2 table service credits, but we can live with that for some meals.

For those restaurants I would say no. I flip-flop on my emotions towards the DDP. It's a lot of food, and it's very convenient to have the food paid for in advanced. The stigma of the DDP in a Signature restaurant can be off-putting sometimes. For example, at Jiko last October, the waiter assisting the table behind us said they were "saying all of the right things" when they answered that they weren't on a Dining Plan, ignorant to the fact that my table was on the plan.

If you like to eat and want your food paid for in advanced, go for it. For a couple of Signature restaurants, pay OOP.

 

[NoWayJose]

I appreciate the good ideas everyone. Especially the gift card/disney gift card. Thats probably the best route to take here. I thought I could "beat" the Disney system some way, but as we all know thats impossible. Haha!