Moms going wild at DisneyWorld About This Page:

[moms3guys]

My friend and I are planning a September 2009 trip to DisneyWorld (no Hubbies or kids) and we are getting so excited about spending 9 whole days with the House of the Mouse. We have booked our flights but are still not sure about what package we want to do while there. We are definitely going to stay at the All Star Music Resort since we are not planning on spending any awake time there only to sleep. We are debating on whether to go with the dining plans and I'd like to hear your views on the pros and cons of it. Thanks

[Colexis Mom]

I would sit down and look at the menus on AllEars to decide if going with the dining plan would work for you or not (cost wise)! If you guys want a nice relaxing dinner every evening, it might work. If you're just gonna go with the flow, maybe not, or maybe the CS plan would be a better option!!

[roaminggnome]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

I would sit down and look at the menus on AllEars to decide if going with the dining plan would work for you or not (cost wise)! If you guys want a nice relaxing dinner every evening, it might work. If you're just gonna go with the flow, maybe not, or maybe the CS plan would be a better option!!

I would have everyone take a look at menu's and then see what everyone wants to do.

[eff051102]

I think it really depends on if you both eat 3 meals a day. It is alot of food
and while I think it's worth it for the restaurants alone, I was so stuffed
that most days I just couldn't eat much (we were there for 7 days on the DDP).
IMHO I would do the Quick Service Plan instead and pay OP for the few
main restaurants you really want to try.

Wow you are so lucky to be going for 9 days!

[chezp]

I agree with looking at the menus. Whether the dining plans will work for you depends on your own dining habits. For us, the Deluxe works well, as we like two table service meals a day and we just throw in some signature meals and we're away.

[MisplacedTraveler]

Have a great trip! I like to do a TS breakfast and dinner, then CS for lunch. The DDP is a lot of food (my in-laws did this when we all went together). It was nice for them because everything was all prepaid.

[tkm1005]

We also enjoy eating off site on occasion and for 9 days you may want to do the same. Sounds like an awesome trip!!!

[Dizziiney]

My daughter and I had the same problem deciding on the DDP. We are not big eaters so, we looked at the menus and figured out that if we wanted to eat at some of the table service restaurants, the DDP was the only way we could do it.

We are still in the planning stages. We read the menus, then marked all the places we would like to eat in the Passporter. Now we are planning out what park on what day with what meal/event. So far we are thinking about 3 different event meals that will "cost" 2 table service meals each. (For example we would love to dine at the California Grill but I cannot afford $100 and up for one meal. However, with the DDP I can.)
Basically, dig in, look at the menus, print up the interesting ones, or all of them, mark up your book and dream, then you have to start narrowing it down. Then you should have an idea of the cost with DDP or paying cash.

[disneyfreaks]

Every year we've gone, we've never tried the dining plan. We are not big eaters and kind of like to graze our way thru the parks and eat when we want to. We always thought that we didn't want to have our daily schedule run around meals. We often share meals to try different foods at different areas in the parks (Especially EPCOT).

This August, with the free dining, we're going for it! I can honestly say that these boards and my 'very loved' Passporter are my guides. We have changed our minds on whether to eat at Coral Reef, see Remy in France, try Cali Grill, etc. We'll have it narrowed down by May 19th for our ADR's. I am very excited about the dining plan and have a feeling we'll be using it on future trips. Whatever you decide..good luck with it! And like I've always done, do your research and what your 'gut' tells u. Then u can't go wrong!

Have a great trip!

[mcc0313]

We love the DDP as we enjoy having a TS each day as a break to just relax over our meal. We are two meal a day people, we enjoy either a late breakfast or early lunch and then a late dinner...we have always found that the DDP worked great for us. Now I would love to go the DxDDP one trip just so we can try more of the Signature dining places that we have always wanted to try but we are taking my neices this trip so it ends up being a lot of money.

If I was going on an adult trip without the kids I would probably go for the DxDDP and eat at a signature each evening

[guitardiva]

Like others said, I wouldcheck out the menus and such. add up the cost and see if it is worth it to you.
Personally with just 2 adults going I would consider wether you really want to be that scheduled. You may want to consider winging it . That would give you total flexibility to eat where, when and what you want at any time.

[Buffalogirl18]

Well, there are two ways you can look at it, since it's an adult only trip -

you can splurge, and since it's a 9 day trip, really take the time to enjoy some terrific TS restaurants and go Deluxe DDP. We are a family of 4, me, DH, DS7 and DS15, we love the DxDDP, it is a ton of food, and to get the most bang for your buck, and to save $ by using it, you really should do 3 TS each day. We normally do a character breakfast, and then a TS for lunch & dinner. It really doesn't take any longer to eat at a TS than at a CS restaurant, and many times you are going to get much better food, better quality, and if you're watching what you eat, it's easier to find things that are healthy as well - believe it or not.

The other way to look at it with two adults, is if you're not that big of eaters and you want to pick up and go during the day then do the basic DP - use your snack for breakfast, have a muffin or a bagel or something light and buy a juice or coffee OOP, then have a CS meal for lunch, and use your TS credit to have a nice relaxing dinner each night.

Personally, if I were going adults only - I'd go for the DxDDP - there are just way too many great places to experience to miss out on any! Especially at World Showcase.

[Luv2laff]

We have gone with DDP twice now and will never go any other way- I just like knowing that the food is already paid for. Although I wish the tip was still included.