The Dining Plan WAS a good deal but not anymore

[deltableh]

I'm going down to Disney in December, and my entire party signed up for the Deluxe Dining Plan, and we all think it's well worth it. We're off peak, and we all don't mind spending time at TS meals all the time. We don't feel like we have to run around 24/7. Having the three course meal, for each meal, paid for in advance, we love that. And when we looked at prices and menus, the price we paid per person (~$500) is more than reasonable!

 

[Computer Magic]

All I know is that with the peak price of $47 - it's the first time we've been able to calculate that having the meal plan vs. paying cash, even in a best case scenario, gives us little to no incentive to justify it. Even in best case scenarios we might break even or come within a dollar or two.

Counter Service
Yak and Yeti Shrimp Lo Mein $10.99
Coke 2.49
Chocolate Chip Cookie $2.99 (can eat later)

Table Service
Le Cellier
King Salmon Two Ways - $23.99
coke 2.99
Maple Creme Brulee $6.99

Total $50.44 + $3 for a snack+ tax for the day. So that is a leasts a $5.00 savings and I didn't even pick the most expensive meal at LeCellier. That would be at least $10 per day savings for the two of us or $100 over 10 days. I'll take that any day.

So the savings is there the question is, is that too much food to eat.

 

[tomm4004]

...So the savings is there the question is, is that too much food to eat.

Again, it depends. I don't drink Coke, just water. Maybe Perrier or San G - but that's extra. And dessert every night at a TS? I'd rather have an appetizer some nights - again extra.

Saving money has two components. First, can you get the same for less money? Second, can you get more for the same money? Let's say my budget for a new computer is $500. I pick one, get to the store and discover it's on sale for $400. Yeah! I save 100 smackers. Ooh, but there's a spiffier system on sale for $500. So I fork it all over and get a better mousetrap. Many DDPers say they eat at places they would never eat, but possibly spend more in total. So the plan may not actually save money overall, but give a better experience. That's another way to approach it.

 

[Computer Magic]

Again, it depends. I don't drink Coke, just water. Maybe Perrier or San G - but that's extra. And dessert every night at a TS? I'd rather have an appetizer some nights - again extra.

Saving money has two components. First, can you get the same for less money? Second, can you get more for the same money? Let's say my budget for a new computer is $500. I pick one, get to the store and discover it's on sale for $400. Yeah! I save 100 smackers. Ooh, but there's a spiffier system on sale for $500. So I fork it all over and get a better mousetrap. Many DDPers say they eat at places they would never eat, but possibly spend more in total. So the plan may not actually save money overall, but give a better experience. That's another way to approach it.

No question it depends. My point is the plan can save you money. People should go to allears and do homework to see if that plan works for them. A big part of the Disney experience for us is enjoying the TS.

BTW many places will allow you to get a smoothie as well.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Counter Service
Yak and Yeti Shrimp Lo Mein $10.99
Coke 2.49
Chocolate Chip Cookie $2.99 (can eat later)

Table Service
Le Cellier
King Salmon Two Ways - $23.99
coke 2.99
Maple Creme Brulee $6.99

Total $50.44 + $3 for a snack+ tax for the day. So that is a leasts a $5.00 savings and I didn't even pick the most expensive meal at LeCellier. That would be at least $10 per day savings for the two of us or $100 over 10 days. I'll take that any day.

So the savings is there the question is, is that too much food to eat.

No doubt the plan can save money. To me, it's a savings if you eat everything you're given at a restaurant. The one trip we used the dining plan I gained 10 lbs. over our 10 day trip. It was waaaay too much food. If I eat the way I normally do, add up the total for what I get, and take off the discount for my TiW at the table service restaurants I come out far better without the plan.

It totally depends on what & how you normally eat. That's the key.

 

[Now Is The Time]

Counter Service
Yak and Yeti Shrimp Lo Mein $10.99
Coke 2.49
Chocolate Chip Cookie $2.99 (can eat later)

Table Service
Le Cellier
King Salmon Two Ways - $23.99
coke 2.99
Maple Creme Brulee $6.99

Total $50.44 + $3 for a snack+ tax for the day. So that is a leasts a $5.00 savings and I didn't even pick the most expensive meal at LeCellier. That would be at least $10 per day savings for the two of us or $100 over 10 days. I'll take that any day.

So the savings is there the question is, is that too much food to eat.

Sorry my dear, but you can't list a one day scenario and say, "See? There you go." :lol: Let's say I go with what you ordered for each, only I don't want dessert. That's 10 bucks back - so obviously it's not an open and shut case. I could also go over to the Liberty Inn and get chicken fingers and fries for $7 - that's another 3 bucks off what you ordered. Just saying :wave:

 

[Computer Magic]

Sorry my dear, but you can't list a one day scenario and say, "See? There you go." :lol: Let's say I go with what you ordered for each, only I don't want dessert. That's 10 bucks back - so obviously it's not an open and shut case. I could also go over to the Liberty Inn and get chicken fingers and fries for $7 - that's another 3 bucks off what you ordered. Just saying :wave:

We could go back and forth, I just didn't want your post to seem like a shut case to others as well. There are many variables, I could have ordered a 32.00 new york strip steak and got that $10 back. :ROFLOL:All is good as it depends like my last post. :wave:

 

[Computer Magic]

No doubt the plan can save money. To me, it's a savings if you eat everything you're given at a restaurant. The one trip we used the dining plan I gained 10 lbs. over our 10 day trip.

I go on a diet before our vacation, so I equal out when I return. :ROFLOL:What was bad, is when they had the Plat, Gold, Silver Plan where there was no QS option. You had two TS per day. Now that was crazy. Yes I have 15 years of some kind of food plan.

 

[plaz10]

Free dining is great for me because normally I only eat CS to save money (splitting meals, buying kids meals, etc.) but with free dining I get a chance to eat at some of the fabulous places I hear so much about without breaking the bank.

I would not pay for the regular dining plan because in all honesty I won't eat that much, but since it's free...why not? I would not normally spend that much money on a trip for food alone.

But for those of us who are full time college students (like myself) with a boyfriend in medical school (like myself), I could use any help to make the trip a little cheaper and my experience a little better with some better foods.

 

[Now Is The Time]

We could go back and forth, I just didn't want your post to seem like a shut case to others as well. There are many variables, I could have ordered a 32.00 new york strip steak and got that $10 back. :ROFLOL:All is good as it depends like my last post. :wave:

Very true. I think at the very least, in order for something to have real value and savings as an alternative to paying cash, personally I would need the dining plan to be a clear cut choice. It just isn't anymore.

 

[jeffk410]

hmmm. I can see both sides, but for my upcoming trip I did the homework and math. For myself the DDP will be about 290. I did the math about what I will probably buy and totaled it all up by restaurant and considering quick service and what not. I am planning to save about 80-110 dollars for two ppl so about 40-50 dollars a person.

 

[padlock]

When I did the math, I found that the DP is pretty much a wash for my wife and I (since we tend not to eat dessert very often) but it represents a significant savings for my 2 kids. We're going to quite a few character meals and the DP at $12.00 a day (we're not going in peak season) will more then pay for itself with just the TS meals.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Its been a good deal when its been free, but only if I ignore the decline in quality, choice and service levels.

 

[tomm4004]

WDW CS have two kinds of pizza - cheese or pepperoni. That's it. I recall more selection in the past. By contrast, Disneyland CS have several choices of pizza. Is this a result of the DDP? Or is it a contract Disney has with Puck and others to stay away from fancy pizza? I'm sure it's all just frozen from a truck so it can't be a big deal to have more variety.

 

[betteratmk]

Its been a good deal when its been free, but only if I ignore the decline in quality, choice and service levels.

Do you normally eat off site then? Any place you recommend?

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

We always have a couple of meals off site during our stay. Nothing fancy just a couple of steak houses, Longhorn, Lone Star, The Mining Co. Landrys was OK for fish. The Palm at HRH was better than the California Grill but the price matched. The Cattlemans used to be real good but Ive read in the last year that things have slipped.

I have a few friends that are keen on a couple of places on I Drive but Ive never eaten there. Good Chinese in Kissimmee.

 

[WDWcouple]

The wife and I are going back up in October and going all out with the Disney Premium Plan 2010 Disney Premium Plan which includes the Deluxe Dining.. We did the same plan on our honeymoon when it was called the "Dream Maker Gold" plan and look forward to going all out again.

We did the math the first time around and although we didnt really care it was nice to add up all the recipts. I believe we ended up racking in a food tab over the course of 7 days of around $1,800. Damn that was a great time, and I look forward to doing it again 7 years later.

I understand my financial circumstance may be different than others on the forums, but we prefer to pay the extra (if it is extra) for the convience and one less thing to worry about during our stay. We spent a good 4 hours yesterday on an Excel spreadsheet planning our sit down, character, and dinner show meals for our stay (6 months is right around the corner) and had a blast doing it.

Sure the trip, to a certain level is planned around meals, but we plan out our days so that there is little inconvience and it's not even an issue. If you work hard to save and splurge then what the harm.... If you can swing it, the go for it.

PS Let me also say that my wife and I don't have children, so this type of plan/package may benefit us more than others since we dont have to worry about feeding any rugrats, early bedtimes, naps, etc.

 

[deltableh]

I might have to add up the reciepts from my trip... just to see. You're right. I just figure look, I can easily burn $60 to $100 on dinner at the Califoria Grill for an app, entree and dessert. That's one fifth of what I'm paying for dining. Therefore, I'm probably getting a good deal.

 

[lebeau]

Just got back from our trip, Here's what I e-mailed my brother on the subject of the meal plan this morning:

The meal plan definitely wasn't worth it. We found ourselves ordering way more food than we would have just to use up our credits. We ate meals when we weren't very hungry just because we had them scheduled. Even with us trying to use our credits, I still brought home 5 desserts in a to-go bag to burn up our residual snack credits.

Yeah, what we ordered probebly cost us less than we would have paid if we ordered the same amount of food and paid out of pocket. But if I was paying out of pocket I would have ordered about 1/2 the amount of food.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Just got back from our trip, Here's what I e-mailed my brother on the subject of the meal plan this morning:

The meal plan definitely wasn't worth it. We found ourselves ordering way more food than we would have just to use up our credits. We ate meals when we weren't very hungry just because we had them scheduled. Even with us trying to use our credits, I still brought home 5 desserts in a to-go bag to burn up our residual snack credits.

Yeah, what we ordered probebly cost us less than we would have paid if we ordered the same amount of food and paid out of pocket. But if I was paying out of pocket I would have ordered about 1/2 the amount of food.

Same experience here the one time we tried the DDP.
Tks.