what dining plan is for you?

[LuLaSue]

Hmm,Your waistline maybe,but not your wallet.This is where your snack credits come in handy.

This is where my food plan lacks, I only get one a day. LOL With the QS plan don't you get 2 snacks a day?

 

[Crush Dude!]

Only this year, its back to 1 next year like the US

 

[real mad hatter]

This is where my food plan lacks, I only get one a day. LOL With the QS plan don't you get 2 snacks a day?

For UK residents only the 2 snack applies for 2012 but in 2013 it drops to one,unless your from the soviet union.Now where did I put that fur hat and leather boots.

 

[bethymouse]

Well, we always get the DDP ( regular). We tried the QS dining plan, and my husband hated it ( limited food choices- no sit down/waiter meals). it's plenty for a family of 4. We always seem to have some extra snacks for the trip home.

 

[BamaDisneyFan]

My Disney Family always book the dining plan: 1- snack/1-counter service/1-table service. In 2009 when we arrived at the Wilderness Lodge, I had booked a court yard room, and they upgraded us to concierge level. This was awesome, unfortunatley, I couldn't afford it. However, when I retire from my job in 4 years I will go during the holidays and either book concierge level or the deluxe dining plan.

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

We have done both the QS and the 1snack/1CS/1TS plan. We like both and our chosing depends on a couple things. If we are only there for a few days - we do QS so we are not spending hours in resturants. We have found that if you look hard enough you can get a wide variety of food. (We love the Mexican QS) If we are there for a week - we do the TS plan. We also choose the TS plan when we bring someone with us who hasn't been there before.

 

[The Incredible Schmulk]

This is probably the only reason I'd ever choose the deluxe dining plan in the future- for the extra dining credits to use at some signature restaurants. Other than that, the deluxe just sounds like way too much food, but some do not realize that you can use the credits any way you choose.

We have only ever done the regular dining plan so that is the one that I'd have to say works for us. Its really only affordable if its free.. if we don't get Free Dining, we will usually skip on it altogether. I'd like to try the Quick Service Plan sometime in the future, that may be more relaxing and less hectic than having to get to an ADR everyday.

Yeah, when I answer questions like this, I usually say that the dining plan isn't right for us in any form because it's simultaneously too much and not enough. I'm usually speaking of the deluxe plan when I say this, since it's the one that gives us the most flexibility to eat where we want, but the deluxe plan simultaneously offers too much food and not enough flexibility for what and how we like to eat. What if we want to sit in a lounge and eat three appetizers? What if we don't want any appetizers and only want to share a single dessert? What if we want to eat at bluezoo? There's just so much that we like to do that's not covered by the dining plan, even in it's highest iteration, and I just feel like I'd be wasting money by not using it as it's intended.

Were we to ever actually do the dining plan, it would definitely be the deluxe plan, but it's not likely.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

when we do the dining plan it's usually when we do our all adult trips in the fall/winter and we do the deluxe dining plan. it's the one with 3ts/day BUT we go through and book all (usually 2 credit signature) dinners later in the evenings then use the remaining credits for early lunches and the snacks fill in the gaps but often get used for drinks more than anything else. i don't look at it thinking i'll save over paying oop but when, for instance, it's a trip with my sisters and i it's easier to say the trip is $xxx per person and includes meals. that way everyone budgets out in their own way for that amount and there's no drama or uncomfortable moments on vacation. we have one sister who is single and doesn't make a lot of money so i've paid for part or all of her trip in the past but with the plan no one else at the table knows. but with that said it's still a lot of food!

 

[Monty]

when we do the dining plan it's usually when we do our all adult trips in the fall/winter and we do the deluxe dining plan. it's the one with 3ts/day BUT we go through and book all (usually 2 credit signature) dinners later in the evenings then use the remaining credits for early lunches and the snacks fill in the gaps but often get used for drinks more than anything else. i don't look at it thinking i'll save over paying oop but when, for instance, it's a trip with my sisters and i it's easier to say the trip is $xxx per person and includes meals. that way everyone budgets out in their own way for that amount and there's no drama or uncomfortable moments on vacation. we have one sister who is single and doesn't make a lot of money so i've paid for part or all of her trip in the past but with the plan no one else at the table knows. but with that said it's still a lot of food!

The convenience argument makes much more sense to me than the value argument. Yours is a perfect example.

Since I'm paying for both my son and I anyway, the convenience argument doesn't wash. Pre-paying just means Disney has my money sooner rather than later.

 

[jpittore1]

If I didn't have the Deluxe Dining Plan earlier this month, I would have gone broke trying to feed my 15 and 13 year olds. Many times my 13 year old son ate my appetizer, too.! We do most of the Signature restaurants and enjoy the food!

 

[sgtmgd]

We chose the regular plan (1 TS, 1 QS and 1 Snack). Typically we travel all adults and book club level. Booking Club level allows us to free ups some Dining credits and put them toward at least to signature dining experiences durning our weeks stay.

This August we travel with my brother and his wife and 3 beautiful girls. We chose the regular plan with club level on the same premise. Works out really well and we don't go into our pocket for any of the character dining experiences and get all the great perks of club level.

Club level Im assuming the free food is just dinner or is there a club level breakfast as well?

 

[LuLaSue]

Club level Im assuming the free food is just dinner or is there a club level breakfast as well?

The Continental Breakfast breakfast consists hard boiled eggs, cereal, fruit, oatmeal, juice, coffee danish....

Tea and Sweets included all sorts of yummy delights with sammies...mini sized...but plenty to be had.

Wine and Cheese was much more...Wine, beer, all sorts of horderves. Many of the food offering were Indian inspired when we were there, delicious.

Cordials and desserts was nice, we always had a night cap with a little sweet and then to bed.

Here is the time table:

Continental Breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m.; Refreshments from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tea and Sweets from 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Wine and Cheese Selections from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and Cordials and Desserts from 7 to 9 p.m.

 

[sgtmgd]

The Continental Breakfast breakfast consists hard boiled eggs, cereal, fruit, oatmeal, juice, coffee danish....

Tea and Sweets included all sorts of yummy delights with sammies...mini sized...but plenty to be had.

Wine and Cheese was much more...Wine, beer, all sorts of horderves. Many of the food offering were Indian inspired when we were there, delicious.

Cordials and desserts was nice, we always had a night cap with a little sweet and then to bed.

Here is the time table:

Continental Breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m.; Refreshments from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tea and Sweets from 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Wine and Cheese Selections from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and Cordials and Desserts from 7 to 9 p.m.

Thanks..Im deciding now between 2 adjoining rooms (club level) at the Boardwalk or a 2 bedroom Villa for Xmas 2013...cant book til August 17th...foor the rooms at least...Villas maybe longer....are the Villas incorporated into these or not?

 

[LuLaSue]

Thanks..Im deciding now between 2 adjoining rooms (club level) at the Boardwalk or a 2 bedroom Villa for Xmas 2013...cant book til August 17th...foor the rooms at least...Villas maybe longer....are the Villas incorporated into these or not?

How many people are you?

 

[Weather_Lady]

We're doing the DDP for our upcoming trip, for the first time, just to see how we like it. In the past, we've always paid out-of-pocket, averaging 2-3 table service meals, the rest quick-service, and all breakfasts in-room from food we brought, or lunch/dinner leftovers. When paying out-of-pocket, we also try to save money by doing TS lunch instead of dinner, looking for buffets with the best value, and at non-buffet restaurants sharing entrees or ordering a salad or appetizer as our meal, with no desserts, and just ice water to drink. Using menus for our ADR restaurants and guessing that we'd order entrees at the higher price points, I did the math for the upcoming trip to see if we could expect the 20% or so of savings WDW projects with the DDP.

Based on my calculations, it looks like we'll be breaking even -- that is, spending almost exactly as much for the standard dining plan as we would have paid out-of-pocket for the same items (including the snacks, drinks and CS meals), even though 3/5 of our ADRs and all of our planned CS meals came from the list of "good value on the DDP" recommendations. The upside: we are eating 5 table-service meals instead of the 2-3 we would plan on otherwise, and can feel free to order whatever we like from the menu, including high-ticket entrees, and drinks, desserts and snacks we wouldn't ordinarily buy if we were paying out-of-pocket. The downside: we're eating more food than we need, and instead of saving the 20% WDW says you'll save on the DDP, we're paying 20% MORE than we'd pay if we ordered as we usually would and paid out of pocket (although clearly we ARE getting much more food in exchange, and won't have to fret about the menu prices).

It will be nice not to have to agonize over the menu prices -- but I'm reserving judgment as to whether that's worth the added cost. Also, this will be our kids' first visit to WDW (ages 4 and 6), and we have yet to find out whether our daily TS meal proves to be a relaxing and enjoyable break from touring, or whether we'll wish we'd spent less time dining and more time seeing attractions. Time will tell!

 

[flavious27]

We like the deluxe one that gives us the 3 TS. We balance out the points by going to hoop dee doo and at least one or two other "experiences" that use 2 TS points. I wish that they had a plan that is just a step down where it is 2 TS and 1 CS. I know that you could use a TS point for a CS, but it seems like a waste of money then. Oh and we just use up all of the snack points the last day to take stuff home for the car ride and week later.

We like to sit down and have a better meal when we are on vacation, this is why we like to have the deluxe plan. Also, hoop dee doo, can't miss that.

 

[sgtmgd]

How many people are you?

For that trip 6 for sure..my daughters Best friend would make 7

 

[sgtmgd]

We're doing the DDP for our upcoming trip, for the first time, just to see how we like it. In the past, we've always paid out-of-pocket, averaging 2-3 table service meals, the rest quick-service, and all breakfasts in-room from food we brought, or lunch/dinner leftovers. When paying out-of-pocket, we also try to save money by doing TS lunch instead of dinner, looking for buffets with the best value, and at non-buffet restaurants sharing entrees or ordering a salad or appetizer as our meal, with no desserts, and just ice water to drink. Using menus for our ADR restaurants and guessing that we'd order entrees at the higher price points, I did the math for the upcoming trip to see if we could expect the 20% or so of savings WDW projects with the DDP.

Based on my calculations, it looks like we'll be breaking even -- that is, spending almost exactly as much for the standard dining plan as we would have paid out-of-pocket for the same items (including the snacks, drinks and CS meals), even though 3/5 of our ADRs and all of our planned CS meals came from the list of "good value on the DDP" recommendations. The upside: we are eating 5 table-service meals instead of the 2-3 we would plan on otherwise, and can feel free to order whatever we like from the menu, including high-ticket entrees, and drinks, desserts and snacks we wouldn't ordinarily buy if we were paying out-of-pocket. The downside: we're eating more food than we need, and instead of saving the 20% WDW says you'll save on the DDP, we're paying 20% MORE than we'd pay if we ordered as we usually would and paid out of pocket (although clearly we ARE getting much more food in exchange, and won't have to fret about the menu prices).

It will be nice not to have to agonize over the menu prices -- but I'm reserving judgment as to whether that's worth the added cost. Also, this will be our kids' first visit to WDW (ages 4 and 6), and we have yet to find out whether our daily TS meal proves to be a relaxing and enjoyable break from touring, or whether we'll wish we'd spent less time dining and more time seeing attractions. Time will tell!

Ill be interested on your take when you return. Im a converted DDP fanatic...I love the flexibilty of knowing the "fixed" cost of my trip. IMO a good sit down meal for 90 minutes is a great break from long days in the park..gives you a chance to get your second wind..a

 

[LuLaSue]

For that trip 6 for sure..my daughters Best friend would make 7

Oh...I see! Nice big group. I asked only because we stayed in the Garden Suite, bi-level, it was lovely but, it won't accomodate your group size. Sorry...

 

[real mad hatter]

Well, we always get the DDP ( regular). We tried the QS dining plan, and my husband hated it ( limited food choices- no sit down/waiter meals). it's plenty for a family of 4. We always seem to have some extra snacks for the trip home.

QS limited food choices,tut,tut. Some ones not done their homework,go sit in the corner and elbows off the table.You can sit down at lots of counter service,oh and Iam the waiter,I bring the food to my DW & DS tho I never get a tip.