Disney Dining - Tell me whether we should get a dining plan

[BirdGirl]

Preface: Is it possible to add a dining plan after initial reservation? If not, then this is moot.


I keep going back and forth on whether we should get a dining plan. Relevant info:

- Two kids, but 1 under 3 so can't get a dining plan for him.
- We have 1 table service reservation for most days
- If we did the DP, it would be the Disney DP (1 snack, 1 table service, 1 QS)
- Cost appears to be about $700 (2 adults, 1 child)
- we have a suite with a kitchen and will get food delivery - mostly for breakfast/snacks


Thoughts? I was leaning toward no until I realized that I had 1 table service booked for each day. Now I'm thinking it might make sense.

[lala]

No, I rarely think it makes sense. It's not a deal unless you're eating the most expensive meals at the most expensive places/dinner buffets.

I would rather just get what I want - split an app and split dessert instead of the 2 desserts included.

Also, we aren't soda drinkers so all of the beverages are pointless for us.

With a kitchen & grocery delivery, makes even less sense IMO.

[panicked]

We did simply because we didn't have to think about meals at all. We ate whatever we want and didn't have to deal with cost at all.

[curbsideprophet]

I used one of the calculators to try and see if it would make sense. The calculator predicted that it was not worth it for us. I did not compare/add up all the receipts at the end so I do not know for sure.

[alleinesein]

Look at the menu prices for the places you have booked and do the math. Most of the casual FS F&B locations run $15-$30 and the nicer FS and buffet locations run $30-$60. If most of your FS meals are dinner and you are big beef and seafood eaters you might save a few $$ on the dining plan but if the majority of your meals are lunch it will be cheaper to do it on your own.

Basic Cost breakdown/examples (using EPCOT dining for examples)

Plan cost $61.82/pp

#1 More Bang for your buck

Snack @ Kabuki Cafe
Kakigori $3.75

Lunch @ Sunshine Seasons (QS)
Cuban Sandwich $13.49
Tiramisu $4.99
Iced Coffee $5.19

Dinner @ Chefs de France (FS)
Beef Tenderloin $35.99
Creme Brulee $8.99
Beverage $2.99

Total $75.39 ($13.57 'savings' before tax/tip)

#2 Losing $$$

Snack
Seasonal Fruit $3.19

Lunch @ San Angel Inn (FS)
Enchiladas Verde $18.95
Dessert $7.95
Beverage $2.99

Dinner @ Les Halles (QS)
Jambon Beurre $7.50
Napolean $4.25
Beverage $3.50

Total $48.33 (plan costs $13.49 more)

It all boils down to your eating habits.  If you eat dinner as your FS meal and lunch as your QS meal you can save some $$ if you order the more expensive items on the menu.  If you aren't a big eater the dining plan can be a huge waste of money.  

[lala]

Mar 21, 2016 18:32:17 GMT -5 panicked said:

We did simply because we didn't have to think about meals at all. We ate whatever we want and didn't have to deal with cost at all.

I will say, we link our card to our room/magic band and don't think about it at all. We still order whatever we want and I'm not pulling cash out. I guess it's just different styles of traveling - and with the dining plan you still have to pay the tip, so you're still dealing with paying to a degree. 

[lishie]

With little kids, I think the dining plan is a good deal if you're planning a lot of character meals/buffets.

The price for the kids dining plan is cheaper than the kids buffet prices, plus you get the QS and snack credit.

If you're not doing a lot of buffets, you may come out even.

We usually don't do the meal plan, but I totally see why some do it just to know their costs up front and to be able to pay for it in installments and not think any about cost while on vacation. That has some value as well.

[gardengal]

If you're not going to be cooking, then it may be worth it b/c I always used a snack credit for breakfast (sometimes planning ahead, like getting pastries from France for the next morning). But we aren't snackers during the day & brought water bottles to fill up in the park if we got thirsty.

I mostly liked it for the "it's paid for" and "not thinking about money" aspect. I came out marginally ahead, as well.

[ribollita]

Given our dining patterns (expensive 1cr meals) I think it would make sense for us if we didn't have access to the Tables and Wonderland card due to our annual passes. Paying upfront is so nice, even if you have the money sitting in the bank to pay the end of trip bill. I just got back from an all-inclusive and it was nice to have total charges for our time away of like $100, lol.

[CheeringCharm]

I don't think so in that situation. But if you think you might increase your reservations, then I might. Fwiw, the last time we went we did table service 2x a day with at least one or two snacks in between and we probably spent more than we would have on the dining plan. I think we will do it next time we go.

[Ashley&Scott]

Are your table service reservations for character meals? We did 5 character meals & came out ahead with our dining plan.

[bronxgirl]

Mar 31, 2016 15:32:06 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Are your table service reservations for character meals? We did 5 character meals & came out ahead with our dining plan.

On our first trip we got a dining plan b/c we were going to do a lot of character meals. We definitely came out ahead with the plan. However, if you just want to eat at normal restaurants then it doesn't seem worth it.