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

[Farro]

I could not possibly care less whether someone uses the DP or not. We have used it in the past and enjoyed it, but find that it does not work for the vast majority of our trips for reasons previously outlined.

I only post in these types of threads to counteract the way too simplistic and incorrect statement that anyone can eat whatever they want on the dining plan and have it covered in advance, I know what the vast majority of people that say this mean, but it is objectively false information, the plans are more complex than that.

I came to the Dis when planning my first trip about 10 years and 25+ trips ago, I remember how overwhelming it was to plan that trip, with all the different choices regarding hotels, packages vs room only, dining plan or oop, ticket options, etc. and how helpful the information on the Dis was to me, and how valuable of a resource I still find this site. My goal is to add to the good information and positive discourse on this site, and I think that stating that the DDP is a bit more complex and nuanced than is sometimes presented is important.

It's absolutely important when someone needs some help deciding if they want dining plan.

But in threads like this, we are being asked to convince someone why we like the plan, for what reason? I may be way off base, but I don't think this was a case of a newbie looking to see if they should get the dining plan.

 

[gillep]

It's absolutely important when someone needs some help deciding if they want dining plan.

But in threads like this, we are being asked to convince someone why we like the plan, for what reason? I may be way off base, but I don't think this was a case of a newbie looking to see if they should get the dining plan.

Not to derail the thread, but just because a thread doesn't start a specific way doesn't mean that people won't use it for information, so I think it is important to present as complete a picture as possible based on our experiences with trips on and off the plan. I think that someone who is looking at whether a dining plan may work for them may be drawn to a thread that discusses the convenience of the plan, regardless of the original intent.

 

[Disneyliscious]

It really depends on your style of eating. For some styles its cost effective, for others, its not. I have been going to Disney for 30 years and never once saw the value in the dining plan so we have never gotten it.

However, NOW, I have grandchildren. I want to take my granddaughter to Akershus, Chef Mickeys, Ohana, BoG, etc. The dining plan will cost us $377 per person for our stay. Akershus is $60, Chef Mickeys is $60, Ohana is $60, BoG is $20 (lunch), 10 snack credits to be used at Food and Wine Festival is a value of $75. So for another $100 I am getting 4 more counter service meals and 2 more table service meals. We get one TS and 1 CS per day plus 2 snacks per day. So for this trip its DEFINITELY saving us money even though it has never even come close to saving us a penny in years past.

It just depends on your eating plans.

 

[CanadaDisney05]

It's not that people don't understand, they just feel the need to explain to us why we are wrong.

It doesn't take the food budget/tracking out though.

You still have to budget for:

Tax
Tip
Credits remaining

In fact, its probably way more tracking than just looking at some menus ahead (or using one of the many online calculators) of time and putting that money aside. No thinking on vacation. Just pay off the credit card bill with the money you would have used on the dining plan.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Many people seem to agree with you with respects to discussing the Boards that at least in part the driving force to increasing in pricing is the availability of the Dining Plan.

I've seen over even just the relatively short time (in comparison to many other posters who have been on the DIS for 10+years) the type of compaints people have. One thing is the buffets, AYCTE and character dining----a feature that is often touted as making it worth it for people--which the pricing listed on the DIS was just updated a few weeks ago: https://www.disboards.com/threads/buffet-character-shows-aycte-pricing-rev-06-30-2019.3108466/

For some people they discuss the Dining Plan with "oh but now I don't actually pay $66 per adult for the Akershus Princess Storybook experience for lunch or dinner it's just 1 credit" just to use an example. That's great but I'm skeptical that these places could garner that much interest at that OOP price point if there weren't people who thought about it in the sense of just credits/rolled into the cost.

I agree with this. We have 2 daughters who eat like little birds and are technically Disney "adults". I would never pay that price OOP. I just did a spreadsheet of the regular dining plan and attempted to put on several dinner buffets to make it "worth it" and it was still $300-400 more than what I would I pay OOP, and even more because I wouldn't eat at all those buffets without the DDP. I would only be doing it to make it "worth it".

I realize most people don't analyze that much, but our family can spend $1000 on food in 5 nights OOP and $1800 with DDP because we would pay $1560 for DDP, plus have to pay OOP anyway for all QS breakfasts since it's includes 1 QS and 1 TS only. I do get the idea of wanting things to be prepaid because I enjoy that aspect as well on cruises and all-inclusives, but at Disney I just can't do it!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Have done both the CS and deluxe plans. Just way to much food for us.
The last few trips we’ve looked at menus of where we might want to eat. Take the most expensive meal and add everything up. Add our snack budget for the day. Add tips and a little extra. Put it all on gift cards. I can get one every month to help spread out the costs. I do the same for our souvenir budget too and keep them separate. I’ve never over spent going this way either!

 

[Maggie Gallagher]

I will never understand why people who don't want to use the dining plan need people who do use the dining plan to explain why they use it. Or need to tell these people why it's a waste of money.

Who cares?

I don't care why you don't use the dining plan, in fact, it wouldn't even cross my mind to ask you about it.

I think my favorite posts are when posters try to imply that we on the plan are either too lazy or too dumb to figure out the pricing before we go.

We may use it some trips, some trips we won't. This trip we will because we want a sit down dinner each night, snack credits to be used at flower/garden, and now with one alcoholic drink with lunch and dinner, um, bonus! The two of us will definitely come out ahead this trip.

Maybe when I activate my AP on the next trip, we'll try TIW.

Agree 100%

 

[Bjkandma]

Tax is included on the dining plan. Each receipt you get will have a suggested amount for a tip. It is,at your discretion how much to leave. However, I will say a tip is definitely appreciated for any service you receive in the Unit ed States.

if you are paying out of pocket or using the dining plan. A tip "should" be given. No difference there.

each receipt you get either snack, quick service or table service will tell you how many of each credit you used in that transaction, and then how many credits the reservation has left.

 

[Elephantay]

If you have the ability to purchase Tables in Wonderland I think that beats a DDP in most cases. All depends on eating habits. We enjoy sit down dinners every night, and it works great.

This has never worked for us, as it really only adds a 10% discount above our DVC discount ( free), and doesn't apply to QS meals.

 

[Elephantay]

We've almost always used the DDP on the first leg of our split stays, stretching our credits into our switch day is easy as on arrival day we don't have both meals. We find it convenient because we plan accordingly- scheduling more expensive dinners on the plan, and then for the second part of our trip we eat more CS meals and only schedule a couple of TS. This also gives us the mugs. We also find it convenient to track our credits ourselves and don't like to have to do the daily check in at our resort desk to be sure our credit cards are billed/paid correctly.

 

[nightwing12]

This has never worked for us, as it really only adds a 10% discount above our DVC discount ( free), and doesn't apply to QS meals.

tables also works at some resort food courts (basically if the resort doesn't have a table service, typically the counter service will accept tables)

 

[Maggie Gallagher]

I just got done doing the math for our spring break trip.

My family of five will be doing the Deluxe Dining Plan.

I can hear the naysayers gasping for breath right now.

My boys and husband are BIG eaters, and my daughter and I have no problem indulging on vacation. We do a lot of character meals and signature dining. Basically, we have outgrown the DDP. After doing the math, we still come out ahead with the Deluxe Dining Plan.

Believe me. I get it. Most people couldn't possibly eat this much food on vacation. But us? Oh yeah, we can and will!

 

[Summer2018]

I just got done doing the math for our spring break trip.

My family of five will be doing the Deluxe Dining Plan.

I can hear the naysayers gasping for breath right now.

My boys and husband are BIG eaters, and my daughter and I have no problem indulging on vacation. We do a lot of character meals and signature dining. Basically, we have outgrown the DDP. After doing the math, we still come out ahead with the Deluxe Dining Plan.

Believe me. I get it. Most people couldn't possibly eat this much food on vacation. But us? Oh yeah, we can and will!

LOL

You go girl!

 

[babesboo99]

Last time we went we had the DxDP and came out ahead we are a family of 4 DH ,myself and 9 yr old twins we saved about $ 500 give or take. This FALL we are the DxDP again its alot of mobey but we did the math and when we are on vacation we let loose so if the math is correct we will come out ahead again.

 

[Elephantay]

I get it! This trip we are taking another kid who's not a big eater so I can't justify the plan. But if it was just our family, it would be a definite. We are doing it the first leg of our split stay and saving almost $100 dollars! The clinchers for us are the mugs and snacks.

 

[Maggie Gallagher]

Last time we went we had the DxDP and came out ahead we are a family of 4 DH ,myself and 9 yr old twins we saved about $ 500 give or take. This FALL we are the DxDP again its alot of mobey but we did the math and when we are on vacation we let loose so if the math is correct we will come out ahead again.

Awesome!

 

[Akck]

We initially booked the DDP for our trip. As I was making reservations, I realized cost of meals played a more important part than where we ate. We’d feel obligated to eat the most expensive entree on the menu. So, after some thought and watching a few YouTube videos, I cancelled all reservations and switched to the QsDP. I figure we’ll likely come out ahead when all is said and done. Plus, dinner reservations are no longer ruling our planning and taking hours of our time. We’ll still do a couple of OOP dining reservations, but now it’s where and when we want.

 

[Smoomoo]

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.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

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.

 

[TravelandLeisure]

This is our last year where are daughter will be considered a “child” on the DDP. I doubt we’ll be able to justify using it after this.