Dining Plan Convenience???? Where's the Convenience?

[quandrea]

That is a great savings and it is awesome that the plan works for you! It works so well because the plan fits how you eat. For instance for my husband and I this would be a very typical day for us and you can see how it would not fit in well with any of the dining plans.

Breakfast: QS breakfast sandwich plus drink and a kids mickey waffle meal split between us (this would be covered but getting a kids meal would be a bad use of a credit, we could get a second adult meal but we don't need that much food, and it would cost more money than if we had gotten exactly what we wanted).

Lunch: In park lounge with a couple cocktails each and multiple shared appetizers or tapas type food (lounges are not covered by the dining plan so nothing here would be covered).

Dinner: Signature dinner, usually I would get an app and my husband would get an entree and we would split a bottle of wine (only my husband's entree would be covered on the regular dining plan, or entree and app if we did the deluxe plan, bottle of wine not covered anywhere on the ddp). We generally don't eat desserts with dinner so that would be lost on us and we don't drink soda so we would just get glasses of water with our bottle of wine so we wouldn't even use the drink portion of the plan either, even if we did cocktails over the bottle of wine it still isn't making the plan worth it for us.

we usually get one snack a day to split, maybe a Starbucks drink two times over the course of a week long trip (these would be covered but we would have a ton of snack credits left).

You can see how the plan would not work for us unless we totally changed how and where we eat to conform. I will sometimes do the deluxe plan for one night if we have a split stay with a one night reservation for day one, (we can eat according to the deluxe plan for the two days it is active for a one night plan and be happy, but we cannot sustain it any longer than that without changing our habits too much and getting way more food than we would ever normally need or want). This is why I always suggest that people look at where they like to eat and how they like to eat for a specific trip before deciding if the plan fits for them, if it does, great, if not, that's fine too.

Completely agree. On our last trip, my daughter and I ate anything and everything we wanted—no compromises—for half of what the dining plan what have cost. I end up with similar numbers when the whole family of five travels. It just doesn’t suit us.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I could be wrong, but, I think the difference is, with or without children.
It seems the plan doesn't work for a family with children as it's too much food and too expensive.
If you travel as only adults it's good value and convenient.

Actually for many it works when they have kids. But the caveat is it's child price vs adult price since you are considered an adult at age 10 at Disney with the Dining Plan.

Even as adults only it still wildly varies. No way can my husband and I justify the cost, the feeling of locked-in, etc. For another couple it could totally work.

 

[Summer2018]

I basically agree with the premise of the thread. Originally, DDP was actually a way to save money, and in some cases the free dining promo can still be a decent discount opportunity, otherwise it isn't generally a great deal or all that convenient.

With one exception...

With a large family group, the DDP can still be a helpful way to avoid some of the hassles of dining as a large family group. Since everything is prepaid, there is just less whining/anxiety about food costs, and less bickering over the bill and the tip. Anyone who wants to complain about WDW food costs gets it all out of their system well before the trip ever starts.

Since meals are pre-paid, everyone focuses on maximizing benefits or just ordering what they really want to eat.

I agree.

When my MIL took my DH and I to Europe, all expenses paid, we couldn’t have been more grateful.

We, of course, brought spending money for souvenirs and meals. Mom insisted on paying for meals, but insisted that we only drink water. I really wanted to have wine with dinner. We were in Europe for Pete’s sake, but she felt it was a waste of money. We kept trying to give her money, but her pride took over and she wouldn’t accept a dime. On our last day in London, we wanted to eat at a fancy restaurant, and we were going to treat her. Again, she refused, and we ended up at this awful “Italian” restaurant where the tomato sauce tasted like Chef Boyardee out of the can.

I can’t imagine what eating with her in WDW would look like, but we certainly would have done the DDP for sure to avoid the debates over what food we were allowed to eat and whether or not we might splurge on a glass of wine.

 

[MrsInsG]

I love the dining plan and have been using it, in some form, since 2006. When our kids were little (especially the money magical trip where the oldest was days from her 10th b-day and the youngest was 3 weeks from her 3rd), the dining plan worked because they loved character meals. Paying $30 or so (those were the days!) for the kids meal plan was a steal when used on character meals. Now we're five Disney adults and I still love it. The girls (including their mom!) still love character meals. We have one daughter who survives on air and the occasional bagel; I only use a meal credit on her at all-you-care-to-eat places as the price is the same regardless. I have a 14 year old daughter who eats like a trucker with a tapeworm; she is hungry from the time she wakes up until the time she closes her eyes. My 18 year old daughter is done growing and so eats reasonably. We usually use four credits at a sit-down place (youngest gets her order of air or an appetizer and takes a few bites off my plate). The snacks are used and never left at the end of the trip (even if it means middle dd is getting something to hold her over from second breakfast to first lunch!) Regardless, the plan works for us. I find it convenient to have the food portion of our trip paid for in advance (there's always some additional) and have found not having the dining plan severely curtails what I will order in a Disney restaurant. This is our experience and I don't expect everyone to think similarly. To each their own, as it were!

 

[Toolulu22]

We’ve never used any of the Dining plans, at any level. We are trying (and paid for) the DDP (one Table service/one QS) this trip for a few reasons:

1. I want to try it. I’ll keep track of how much our meals cost and see how we do at the end of our trip. If we don’t get close to our money’s worth, we’ll know for the future.

2. As a PP mentioned, I am glad to not worry how much each meal will cost us. Food at WDW is way over priced for what you get (in most cases). On our last trip in February, we ate at a few TS and one Character meal that made us cross eyed when we got the bill. At least now- it somehow takes the sting out of that. We planned this trip to specifically try new TS, so I immediately realized we would do the Dining Plan. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take advantage of free dining because we booked a Bounceback room discount package.

3. It will make our meals easier than in the past, where we typically cook more. I don’t feel like it this trip. I. preplanned our meals and snacks according to our habits. We’ll stop to get some basics. We are staying in a one-bedroom Villa and can cook B’fast if we want, I can make some protein shakes, and we can store cold drinks and leftovers, if need be. I am not a ‘snacker’, but plan to use my credits on coffee.

4. Alcohol is included. This is a biggie. My husband will fully indulge in both his and my allowances, while I sip my snack credit water.

We’ll see how it goes is my feeling. So the convenience factor is that I don’t have to worry about cooking or budgeting for meals for our trip (other than tips). A win - win in my opinion.

 

[Christine]

We’ve never used any of the Dining plans, at any level. We are trying (and paid for) the DDP (one Table service/one QS) this trip for a few reasons:

1. I want to try it. I’ll keep track of how much our meals cost and see how we do at the end of our trip. If we don’t get close to our money’s worth, we’ll know for the future.

2. As a PP mentioned, I am glad to not worry how much each meal will cost us. Food at WDW is way over priced for what you get (in most cases). On our last trip in February, we ate at a few TS and one Character meal that made us cross eyed when we got the bill. At least now- it somehow takes the sting out of that. We planned this trip to specifically try new TS, so I immediately realized we would do the Dining Plan. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take advantage of free dining because we booked a Bounceback room discount package.

3. It will make our meals easier than in the past, where we typically cook more. I don’t feel like it this trip. I. preplanned our meals and snacks according to our habits. We’ll stop to get some basics. We are staying in a one-bedroom Villa and can cook B’fast if we want, I can make some protein shakes, and we can store cold drinks and leftovers, if need be. I am not a ‘snacker’, but plan to use my credits on coffee.

4. Alcohol is included. This is a biggie. My husband will fully indulge in both his and my allowances, while I sip my snack credit water.

We’ll see how it goes is my feeling. So the convenience factor is that I don’t have to worry about cooking or budgeting for meals for our trip (other than tips). A win - win in my opinion.

Can't wait to see how you do financially when it's done. I tried the plan last year because I just wanted to try it.

Already, based on what you've written about using your snacks for coffee and water, you'll fall behind financially on the snack credits. That was something that really bugged me personally. I knew that to break even with the DDP charge to me, I needed to order snacks of $5 or more. Fortunately, you don't sound as obsessive as I was about "getting my money's worth" but you did say you were going to track to see how it goes, so I guess there is some concern. Can't wait to hear how you do as your eating style sounds a lot like mine.

 

[Toolulu22]

Can't wait to see how you do financially when it's done. I tried the plan last year because I just wanted to try it.

Already, based on what you've written about using your snacks for coffee and water, you'll fall behind financially on the snack credits. That was something that really bugged me personally. I knew that to break even with the DDP charge to me, I needed to order snacks of $5 or more. Fortunately, you don't sound as obsessive as I was about "getting my money's worth" but you did say you were going to track to see how it goes, so I guess there is some concern. Can't wait to hear how you do as your eating style sounds a lot like mine.

Yes, my DH and my eating habits differ considerably- he’s 6’5” and a fuel-burning machine (but not glutenous) and I’m 5’8” - health conscious with food allergies. But we’ve eaten together for 14 yrs, lol.

I’m definitely not going to obsess about the plan and, for example, force us to eat if we’re not hungry or order a less desirable/more expensive item on a menu. But, a tally of the meals and drinks we have planned as of now, I’m not stressed. Not worried about maximizing snack credits, we’ll be maximizing alcohol ‘credits’. At an average cost of $10 a drink- between the two of us, it’s $40 to in some cases $60 (breakfast mimosas) per day. Times 5 days.... I’m not a big drinker, but will have some on vacay, and DH will not waste the chance.

 

[boscoast]

My family loves the DxDDP because typically there are enough of us that we have 2 rooms. I haven't seen that really enter into this debate, but it's a major factor of value. For my family, the bigger eaters will all be in one room and get the dining plan. The lighter eaters are in the other room and don't get the dining plan. With the Deluxe plan, you actually have the lowest "cost per meal" - it's a ton of food that is logistically hard to eat unless you are sharing.

We all share the apps and desserts, and occasionally my mom will eat someone on the plan's appetizer for her meal. Some places, like Wine Bar George where the menu of comprised of small plates, are highly shareable and we don't use a credit for every single person with minimal/nonexistent OOP ordering. One room with the plan one one room without gives us flexibility to use credits and order off the menu. Sometimes, like at a buffet or AYCTE, we will use a credit to cover everyone which is a significant savings. We all drink at each meal and like to sit for lunch and dinner - that is not everyone's style but we love take a break from the punishing Florida heat to have a cocktail and share some food. We love seafood and meat.

So for us, the DxDDP is a huge savings. For just myself for a trip, see attached; the effective cost per meal is $35, LESS than just an entree and a cocktail at every restaurant (except Cali Grill, which we would skip if paying out of pocket) so the appetizers and desserts to share make it all the more worth it. I have never found myself in a situation where the plan was "restrictive" and didn't allow me to order what I wanted.

Bottom line, different people like different things; one single non-drinker, vegetarian, or picky eater can shatter a family's financial benefit. For us, it's "convenient" to know that the food is paid for, our price is locked in, and we don't have to think about what we are spending.

 

[Christine]

My family loves the DxDDP because typically there are enough of us that we have 2 rooms. I haven't seen that really enter into this debate, but it's a major factor of value. For my family, the bigger eaters will all be in one room and get the dining plan. The lighter eaters are in the other room and don't get the dining plan. With the Deluxe plan, you actually have the lowest "cost per meal" - it's a ton of food that is logistically hard to eat unless you are sharing.

We all share the apps and desserts, and occasionally my mom will eat someone on the plan's appetizer for her meal. Some places, like Wine Bar George where the menu of comprised of small plates, are highly shareable and we don't use a credit for every single person with minimal/nonexistent OOP ordering. One res with the plan one one res without gives us flexibility to use credits and order off the menu. Sometimes, like at a buffet or AYCTE, we will use a credit to cover everyone which is a significant savings. We all drink at each meal and like to sit for lunch and dinner - that is not everyone's style but we love take a break from the punishing Florida heat to have a cocktail and share some food. We love seafood and meat.

So for us, the DxDDP is a huge savings. For just myself for a trip, see attached; the effective cost per meal is $35, LESS than just an entree and a cocktail at every restaurant (except Cali Grill, which we would skip if paying out of pocket) so the appetizers and desserts to share make it all the more worth it. I have never found myself in a situation where the plan was "restrictive" and didn't allow me to order what I wanted.

Bottom line, different people like different things; one single non-drinker, vegetarian, or picky eater can shatter a family's financial benefit. For us, it's "convenient" to know that the food is paid for, our price is locked in, and we don't have to think about what we are spending.

This is the one area of the dining plan that I think, financially, makes the most sense.

When I booked two rooms a few weeks ago, the CM was trying to tell me that getting the Deluxe plan and "sharing" it between the two rooms could work out to be a very good deal. I didn't book it because it all came at me at once, but I've certainly given it some thought and do have time to add it. I think the deluxe plan does give a better "value" for the credits.

 

[boscoast]

I think the deluxe plan does give a better "value" for the credits.

Oh for sure. I mean, most places have entrees for $35 before you get a drink or anything else from the menu. Even if you "waste" snack credits on water or a piece of fruit, the financial and flexibility benefits of the table service credits still work out to saving money. The meal savings prevent us from feeling like we're "wasting" a snack credit on a banana if what we want to eat is a banana. We don't have to worry about carrying around a water bottle that will get warm, and we know we are still significantly saving.

 

[Maggie Gallagher]

Yes, my DH and my eating habits differ considerably- he’s 6’5” and a fuel-burning machine (but not glutenous) and I’m 5’8” - health conscious with food allergies. But we’ve eaten together for 14 yrs, lol.

I’m definitely not going to obsess about the plan and, for example, force us to eat if we’re not hungry or order a less desirable/more expensive item on a menu. But, a tally of the meals and drinks we have planned as of now, I’m not stressed. Not worried about maximizing snack credits, we’ll be maximizing alcohol ‘credits’. At an average cost of $10 a drink- between the two of us, it’s $40 to in some cases $60 (breakfast mimosas) per day. Times 5 days.... I’m not a big drinker, but will have some on vacay, and DH will not waste the chance.

Remember that you can get coffee in your free mugs. You can use snack credits for many other things.

 

[LovePug]

But it can make sense even from a pricing stand point. The cheapest character dinner buffet is $55 for adults and $33 for kids. The kids plan is only $30/night. Families with the 7-9 yr olds who can really eat, can EASILY push the value of the dining plan just by eating at 2 or 3 of the character buffets. $33 buffet + 2 snacks @ $5 ea + an adult QS meal and specialty drink avg $20 and you've just "spent" $63 with a plan that only cost you $30. That adds up to a lot of money.

With the addition of alcohol, if you know you want them, you now have to work at it to LOSE money on any of the plans. I think the cheapest alcoholic drink at a QS is around $10 and even more at the TS.

THIS exactly, in our case. We did the DDP, for the first time, last trip and easily came out ahead. Even at the adult price, if you enjoy a TS meal each day and alcoholic or specialty beverages, we ended up just about having the plan pay for itself just with the dinner TS. The QS, snacks, and mugs were basically free. We really enjoy a TS dinner per day to relax a bit, so it totally works for us.
I don't understand what people don't understand about it. If you don't like a TS per day or the alcoholic/specialty drinks, it may not make sense for you.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

THIS exactly, in our case. We did the DDP, for the first time, last trip and easily came out ahead. Even at the adult price, if you enjoy a TS meal each day and alcoholic or specialty beverages, we ended up just about having the plan pay for itself just with the dinner TS. The QS, snacks, and mugs were basically free. We really enjoy a TS dinner per day to relax a bit, so it totally works for us.
I don't understand what people don't understand about it. If you don't like a TS per day or the alcoholic/specialty drinks, it may not make sense for you.

We did several TS meals (Skipper Canteen, Mama Melrose and 50s Prime Time) and we had alcohol several times BUT we wouldn't have drank alcohol with our meals aside from Mama Melrose. We had alcohol at Nomad Louge and shared a beer flight from the Food & Wine Festival. It was September with the heat and humidity, water was the name of the game to keep hydration during other meals.

Nomad Louge isn't counted on the DIning Plan nor is items from Food & Wine Festival. So again I'd have to be locked into what's available on the Dining Plan. For some that's just not how they want to do it.

 

[BingoJoe]

The dining plan works out brilliantly if you are taking someone else to Disney as a gift.

It is much easier to tell them you got them X number of credits than it is to tell them to eat whatever you want and you will pay. Even though it is the same thing the second method makes people feel repeatedly awkward the entire trip and watch what they are eating.

I actually don’t think I would take anyone else to Disney with us unless we could easily gift meals as well because of the dining plan, it would mean we would probably have to go around eating quick service every day because lots of our friends and family don’t have too much cash. I can’t stand two weeks of quick service!!!! Eating TS is my favourite part of Disney.

 

[Christine]

THIS exactly, in our case. We did the DDP, for the first time, last trip and easily came out ahead. Even at the adult price, if you enjoy a TS meal each day and alcoholic or specialty beverages, we ended up just about having the plan pay for itself just with the dinner TS. The QS, snacks, and mugs were basically free. We really enjoy a TS dinner per day to relax a bit, so it totally works for us.
I don't understand what people don't understand about it. If you don't like a TS per day or the alcoholic/specialty drinks, it may not make sense for you.

Could you give me an example of where you ate on the DDP? If it's valued at around $76 per day; where did you go and what entree etc did your order to get your dinners up to about $75 per person. Given that the one alcoholic beverage is anywhere from $12-$15 and a dessert is, let's say, about $8. On the lower end, that leaves with needing to get an approximately $55 entree or if the drinks/dessert were especially high priced, then maybe around $45 for the entree. Personally, I had trouble hitting that amount for an entree at the places I went, but would be interested in where you dined to break even with your dinner meal. Just some general ideas if it's not too hard. Thanks! I know the character buffets will easily get you there.

 

[LovePug]

Could you give me an example of where you ate on the DDP? If it's valued at around $76 per day; where did you go and what entree etc did your order to get your dinners up to about $75 per person. Given that the one alcoholic beverage is anywhere from $12-$15 and a dessert is, let's say, about $8. On the lower end, that leaves with needing to get an approximately $55 entree or if the drinks/dessert were especially high priced, then maybe around $45 for the entree. Personally, I had trouble hitting that amount for an entree at the places I went, but would be interested in where you dined to break even with your dinner meal. Just some general ideas if it's not too hard. Thanks! I know the character buffets will easily get you there.

I don’t know if it makes a difference, but we went over Easter. Not sure if the price varies during busier times. Our meals were mostly the character buffets and Storybook Dine. Alcohol and specialty drinks at each meal. Every meal total was around $220 for the 3 of us, so just a little under the $75 each to have it pay for itself (Don’t forget the DDP includes the tax). Totally freed me up to not worry about the best bang for my buck on the snacks (although eating snacks at the F&G festival was a great use of them). We ate QS breakfast at the resort. Easily came ahead by a couple hundred. Keep in mind, we didn’t alter where we were planning to eat after I finally decided to purchase it. I made the adrs BEFORE I purchased the plan. I think that makes a difference because you don’t want to force yourself to try to eat what you normally wouldn’t want.

 

[Farro]

Could you give me an example of where you ate on the DDP? If it's valued at around $76 per day; where did you go and what entree etc did your order to get your dinners up to about $75 per person. Given that the one alcoholic beverage is anywhere from $12-$15 and a dessert is, let's say, about $8. On the lower end, that leaves with needing to get an approximately $55 entree or if the drinks/dessert were especially high priced, then maybe around $45 for the entree. Personally, I had trouble hitting that amount for an entree at the places I went, but would be interested in where you dined to break even with your dinner meal. Just some general ideas if it's not too hard. Thanks! I know the character buffets will easily get you there.

It's $78 a day per person. That's including counter service with alcohol, 2 snacks and a sit down with alcohol. That is so easy to hit. I'm not sure what you mean that you need to hit $75 just for dinner?

15 - lunch and say 9 (cheap side) for cocktail - that's 24
2 snacks - say 5 each - 10
1 entree - say 23, 1 drink - say 11, 1 dessert - say 8

That's $76 w/out tax included and on the cheaper side of things.

It will be very easy for us (two adults) to come out ahead. Especially using snack at flower/garden kiosks.

 

[alex9179]

I appreciate everyone's experiences. We've never used the plan before but decided to take advantage of the Visa FD offer a while back. It will be my 3 Disney adult kids and myself. All with adventurous, adult palates. Hot weather tends to dampen appetites so I wondered how credit utilization would go. I added a night at Gran Destino, so that'll give us an extra day to use up any credits remaining. I can guarantee that all of the dedicated snack credits will be gone, since they graze at WDW and are really excited about using them!
Money-wise, the FD offer is a larger discount than any RO would be, because of the kids' ages. I can't imagine ever paying for the plan since our past spending is always less than DDP costs and we order differently than DDP's outline. I much prefer to plan two trips within the year and buy myself an AP and TiW. That's totally selfish because my second trip has never included DH and the kids!

 

[Christine]

It's $78 a day per person. That's including counter service with alcohol, 2 snacks and a sit down with alcohol. That is so easy to hit. I'm not sure what you mean that you need to hit $75 just for dinner?

15 - lunch and say 9 (cheap side) for cocktail - that's 24
2 snacks - say 5 each - 10
1 entree - say 23, 1 drink - say 11, 1 dessert - say 8

That's $76 w/out tax included and on the cheaper side of things.

It will be very easy for us (two adults) to come out ahead. Especially using snack at flower/garden kiosks.

Re the bolded. The poster said that they hit their daily dining plan costs at dinner alone, thereby, making the QS, snacks and refillable mug free. I used $75 as an approximate knowing that, last time I checked, it was around $76 per person.

I was just interested how that poster was hitting those amounts at dinner (we never really got close to that). I can see now that it was done primarily with character meals, which for sure are values on the DDP.

One thing we never really got the advantage of was cocktails at lunch. Some places we went didn't have them, or we'd get a beer which was a little cheaper than a cocktail.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I will be using the dining plan for the first time next month. We usually eat at 1 table service restaurant a day. We enjoy trying the different snacks. It seems like a great choice for us. However, the convenience put it over the top for me. I like that my food is paid for before I even arrive. I enjoy not thinking about prices on vacation. With all the different Disney vlogs we've been watching, we are kind of obsessed with snacking at WDW. I will not be "doing the math" after my trip to see if I saved or lost money. I don't even care!