To Use The Dining Plan or Not

[akirk18]

I need some help and my vacation is in about a month. There are three adults going for 10+ days. We are staying at the CSR on a room only discount (thru a pin i got in the mail) and we bought 6 day park hoppers thru UT and are also planning on going to IOA one day and US+HHN another day. For food purposes I added into our budget $500 for each person for the whole trip. So here is my problem now....

I was going over our trip plans and never really gave much thought to the DDP because I have always thought it wasn't that good of a deal. The more I read on here tho I see examples of where it is a great deal compared to paying out of pocket. So I looked on the Disney website to see how much a trip would cost using the free dining while still staying at our same resort and with everything added back up (flights, US, IOA, etc.) minus the $500 per person for food the total actually came out $600 less than my original plans. Since the money is already saved I would then just disperse the extra $600 evenly between the three of us to spend at US and on souvenirs and such.

In our current trip plans we only have three ADRs because we plan on eating around the world at the F&W festival a lot. But with the dining plan we might try and eat other places because we could then. So is it better deal for me to return my tickets to UT and call Disney and update my trip with the free dining plan? I understand I'll lose my pin discount then but I already factored that in earlier. Or should I just keep my current plans and just pay cash for everything?

I hope I made that clear enough. If I need to elaborate more on something or if something doesn't make sense let me know and I will try and make it make sense ha.

Thanks

 

[luv]

I'm a little confused, but the answer is the same no matter what the circumstances.

You do the math, figure out the best deal and go with that.

 

[kings&giants]

If I'm understanding you correctly, It's actually less money if you get the dining plan. I say get the dining plan! My theory is this - you are going to eat while you are there and if this way is costing you less, then go for it! The money you had saved can go towards extras not covered (tips, drinks, apps). Also too, I find you are more likely to try different restaurants on the DDP. Don't forget may of the offerings at F&W count as snacks!

 

[akirk18]

If I'm understanding you correctly, It's actually less money if you get the dining plan. I say get the dining plan! My theory is this - you are going to eat while you are there and if this way is costing you less, then go for it! The money you had saved can go towards extras not covered (tips, drinks, apps). Also too, I find you are more likely to try different restaurants on the DDP. Don't forget may of the offerings at F&W count as snacks!

Ya that's pretty much what I am thinking. How limited are the menus for the dining plan? I guess it comes down to it what would you rather have for 10+ days at Disney World, the DDP plus $200 cash or $500 to spend on whatever you want wherever you want?

 

[Nero the dog]

Just come back from a trip with the dining plan.
There was 5 of us, each meal at the Disney restaurants would have been approaching $200 if we had paid cash.
We didn't find any restrictions on the selection of entrees, but some deserts were off the list available.
I have to say that it is just too much food, we got to day 5 and still had 14 snacks left because we had been so full from the meals we just didn't feel like using them on the previous days.
In the end we just bought a load of candy and brought it home as gifts.

 

[minnielaw]

You may want to contact Disney first and see if they have any available room at your resort with the free DDP. With your trip being only a month away, there is a great possibility that Disney has filled all the rooms available with the free DDP promotion.

Second, it will probably be very difficult to book ADR's at most restaurants this close to your travel dates. I would also suggest that you go to the Disney website and check availability for the restaurants you think you would like to visit. Popular restaurants book up 180 days in advance, especially during the Free Dining promotion. There will always be restaurants that you can book and I suggest checking lesser known restaurants in resorts....many of these are my favorites...Boma at AKL, Sanaa at AKL, Kona Cafe at the Polyesian..

You can also use your snack credits for food at the F &W Festival. That''s what we plan to do!

The best advice on the DDP is to run the numbers and see what makes sense for your group. You say that the numbers will result in a $600 savings over paying out of pocket...so it's a no brainer to me! Did you consider the days at Universal and the fact that you will have to pay for those meals?

 

[kings&giants]

Exactly! We use the DDP every time now and we have never felt limited. You get 1 counter, 1 sit down (each typically includes an entree, desert and a drink or buffet meal) & then also 1 snack. The only thing you might want that's not included would be an app or alcohol. The "all you care to eat" places are especially good deals!

 

[Mainahman]

Maybe its just us, but we did it our first trip without the dining plan, and only ate at places that were listed as one $, like Cosmic Rays, and the Electric Umbrella, and ate breakfast in our room, and we had plenty of food, were gonna do the quick service dining plan this next trip, as we ate at all quick serve places, and in the long run for us its cheaper for us to bundle it in and pay over time for it, then pay in the parks. From the research we will gain more food by doing the dining plan over paying for it ourselves. We only ate one Sit down meal at 50s prime time, and find we don't eat as much on vacation as were so on the go in the parks.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

We are going through the SAME thing right now - so funny that you asked this!

We had a free dining + room booked. Then the fall discounts came out, and we switched to the discounted room & just bought the dining plan. The whole thing was $100 cheaper than free dining w/the regular priced room. Now we're debating on dropping the dining plan altogether. I keep trying to add up from menu's what we'd eat, and I keep coming up with appx a $50 difference either way. It's so hard though, because you never know when you get there if you'll want an appetizer, or drink or desserts, etc. Maybe we won't be hungry for a big meal. It's all a guessing game for me.

We haven't decided yet - I am back & forth. I don't want to force feed myself because I prepaid for it. But I also don't want to come home, add up my bills & see that the DDP would have saved me a ton. I feel like ultimately I'm going to cancel DDP. If I find that it would've saved me a lot, I'll book it for next years trip.

I'll check to see what you decided to do as well!

 

[DisneyAubs]

It sounds to me like you've done the math, so I say go for it! Just remember that you will need the money for tips at TS restaurants factored in too.

Dining plan snack credits are so useful during the food and wine festival. Those tasting plates can add up quickly! This is how we used nearly all of our snack credits on our last trip.

ADRs for the popular restaurants do go quickly so check for availability. Encore you switch over. That being said, however, there are always restaurants with last minute availability. They are just not always the mainstream choices, but that doesn't make them bad choices. Also, be flexible with your times when booking and more will be available.

 

[DsnySodec]

If you are saving money by utilizing the DDP got for it. Also only you know the manner in which your family eats. So if you like to have a sit down dinner and enjoy new thing the DDP is awesome. I used it on my last trip and for 4 of us we save d so much. We were at the opening of the new San Angelo restaurant and still spent close to 150 on app and alcohol. I could only imagine how much I would have paid out of pocket with out. Usually we get more food than we can eat, but that is because while on vacation we do not watch our eating habits to hard for dinner. We always want something nice. For breakfast and lunch its always something small.

 

[disneygirl76]

I need some help and my vacation is in about a month. There are three adults going for 10+ days. We are staying at the CSR on a room only discount (thru a pin i got in the mail) and we bought 6 day park hoppers thru UT and are also planning on going to IOA one day and US+HHN another day. For food purposes I added into our budget $500 for each person for the whole trip. So here is my problem now....

I was going over our trip plans and never really gave much thought to the DDP because I have always thought it wasn't that good of a deal. The more I read on here tho I see examples of where it is a great deal compared to paying out of pocket. So I looked on the Disney website to see how much a trip would cost using the free dining while still staying at our same resort and with everything added back up (flights, US, IOA, etc.) minus the $500 per person for food the total actually came out $600 less than my original plans. Since the money is already saved I would then just disperse the extra $600 evenly between the three of us to spend at US and on souvenirs and such.

In our current trip plans we only have three ADRs because we plan on eating around the world at the F&W festival a lot. But with the dining plan we might try and eat other places because we could then. So is it better deal for me to return my tickets to UT and call Disney and update my trip with the free dining plan? I understand I'll lose my pin discount then but I already factored that in earlier. Or should I just keep my current plans and just pay cash for everything?

I hope I made that clear enough. If I need to elaborate more on something or if something doesn't make sense let me know and I will try and make it make sense ha.

Thanks

You'll just have to call and see what they say. You can have them quote it before you cancel it. They you will know the exact numbers you are dealing with. Make sure your dates fall in the free dining. And just have them quote it out for you. PS - yes, we think dining plan is an excellent value and we always get it.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I suggest you read the following article:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/07/17/the-disney-dining-plan-exposed/

Also consider the following for the Free Dining Plan:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2011/02/18/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-free-dining-plan/

 

[DsnySodec]

I suggest you read the following article:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/07/17/the-disney-dining-plan-exposed/

Also consider the following for the Free Dining Plan:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2011/02/18/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-free-dining-plan/

The dining plan fits for certain people, people who travel to Disney and are not "foodies" obviously will be wastng money. People who eat like the majority of vacationers will save money whether its free or not. I have added up my cost both ways before, we saved more by using the DDP. It is not for everyone. However both your links bash something that could potentially save some one money when you have no idea about their eating habits. They might enjoy 3 sit down meal.

 

[bethymouse]

It's a prepaid plan basically for convenience. I feel you save money if you book buffets and/or shows/character meals. Those add up quickly! If you book a signature (2TS credits) then you will get your money's worth, or just order a NY Strip Steak. It's all in how you look at it. I love the DDP, and wouldn't go any other way!

 

[ParentsOf4]

When introduced in 2005, the DDP included the components in the 2012 plan plus 1 appetizer and 18% gratuity per TS meal at a price of $35.00 per night's stay. Since then, the price of the basic plan has increased an average of 6% per annum while the appetizer & 18% gratuity have been eliminated from the plan.

The standard DDP is $51.54 per night's stay in 2012, $55.59 in 2013. This includes:

• 1 QS meal (entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage)
• 1 TS meal (entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage)
• 1 snack
• 1 refillable mug for the resort ($14.49 + 6.5% tax = $15.43)

Since you are going for 10+ days (I assume 10 nights) in about one month, this comes out to $1.54 per day for the mug, leaving $50.00 per day for the remaining components.

The price of Disney snacks can vary greatly. The following link has some suggestions how to maximize the use of snack credits:
http://www.disneytouristblog.com/maximizing-snack-credit-value-on-the-dining-plan/

For the purposes of this calculation, let's assume an average of $3 per day, leaving $47 for 1 QS and 1 TS meal, excluding gratuity and appetizer. The question then becomes will you spend more than $47 per day for 1 QS and 1 TS meal. I suggest you look at the menus at:
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

and ask yourself how you intend to eat.

My experience is that I usually can eat at WDW for considerably less than $47 per day but I shy away from the buffets which are expensive and difficult to book on short notice. On the rare occasion that I do enjoy a buffet, I usually can't eat another full meal that day. If I'm having a dinner buffet, I tend to have a light meal early and then an early (perhaps 4 PM) buffet.

The challenge presented by the DDP is that you are forced into a certain eating pattern. In order to achieve savings, you have to use all of the plan's components. Thus, you have to have dessert with each meal. You have to have non-alcoholic beverages. You need to select the more expensive items on the menu. If you skip these components, select less expensive food options, or want something that is not covered by the DDP (e.g. appetizer) you'll quickly discover you could have spent less by not purchasing the DDP.

Another consideration is breakfast. Most reviewers agree that breakfast is not a good financial choice for the DDP. Breakfasts at WDW tend to be the least expensive meal and in order to achieve a savings, you need to go with the most expensive options. Thus, breakfast is viewed almost universally as a "bad" DDP choice.

If you purchase the DDP, you could find yourself eating foods that are not your first choice simply because you are trying to maximize your return on investment into the prepaid DDP. Personally, I find this too much of a hassle, having the DDP dictate what I eat because I need to make certain food choices to feel that I got my money's worth. Again, I never have a problem eating the food that I want at WDW for less than $47 per day.

Conversely, if you want to eat all of the plan's components and intend to always select from the more expensive food options, the DDP will save you money.

Again, I suggest you examine the menus (don't forget to include tax) and ask yourself if you think you will spend more or less than $47 per day per person on food.

 

[akirk18]

Thanks for all the responses! I crunched some numbers and called Disney to double check everything and I think I figured out the best deal. I am choosing to go with the DDP! I feel like with our eating habits it will turn out to be a good deal for us because we will eat a solid two to three meals a day. And it is also allowing us to eat at more places than i originally had planned! (I have already added two more ADRs!) And psychologically I feel better using a table service credit for a meal than paying ~$30 pp for one. And the snack credits will help out a lot at the F&W booths.

 

[akirk18]

And Parentsof4 your post helped with my decision with the numbers you laid out for me. Because I had already allotted $50 a day per person for the total amounts of days we are on vacation for a total of $1500 or $500 per person. Now that I will have everything paid for thru the DDP minus our two days off property I will have enough money left over in our budget to give everyone $200 each for food off property, tips, and whatever else we want to spend it on, mainly alcohol !

So in the end I won't really know how much money we are saving or losing with the DDP until after the trip is over, but for some reason i feel a lot better now just knowing that we don't have to worry about paying for food or trying to budget our per diem. Which from my understanding is pretty much the whole point of the dining plan.

 

[ParentsOf4]

And Parentsof4 your post helped with my decision with the numbers you laid out for me. Because I had already allotted $50 a day per person for the total amounts of days we are on vacation for a total of $1500 or $500 per person. Now that I will have everything paid for thru the DDP minus our two days off property I will have enough money left over in our budget to give everyone $200 each for food off property, tips, and whatever else we want to spend it on, mainly alcohol !

So in the end I won't really know how much money we are saving or losing with the DDP until after the trip is over, but for some reason i feel a lot better now just knowing that we don't have to worry about paying for food or trying to budget our per diem. Which from my understanding is pretty much the whole point of the dining plan.

Many people like all inclusive vacations because they don't have to worry about the cost of the components. The purpose of a vacation is to relax, to forget your worries. If the DDP helps you relax, then that's the best reason of all to go with it.

 

[OswaldTheRabbit]

Many people like all inclusive vacations because they don't have to worry about the cost of the components. The purpose of a vacation is to relax, to forget your worries. If the DDP helps you relax, then that's the best reason of all to go with it.

Thank you Parentsof4! Your breakdown of the costs was great! It helped us look at our numbers too when it came to the plan! I appreciate it!