Dining Plan and People in Rooms - question from Step-DD, never dealt with - help! About This Page:

[Teresa]

I know I've seen this here before, but I can't find it and I need to make sure I'm giving her the correct info.

Step-DD and her boyfriend are planning their first WDW trip. HIS brother and nephew want to go. Apparently the brother is a tight wad and wants to do it on the VERY cheap. SDD wants to do it economically, but wants to not have to worry about money for meals. Her BF wants to do the DxDP, and SDD wants to do the basic plan - 1TS, 1CS, 1snack. She and her BF will both do the same one, but wondering if the brother and nephew can stay in the room but not do the DDP.

I'm fairly sure that the entire room has to be on the same dining plan, yes?

[annc98]

You're right - everyone in the room has to have the same dining plan (and the same ticket options as well).

[bsblady01]

everyone in the room has to be on the same plan

[mechurchlady]

Correct, everyone must be on the same dining plan.
Also no sharing or giving anything to anyone not on your dining plan. If they are not on your dining plan even if they were in your room they could not use your credits or nibble on your fries. Have her tell the guy about buffets and the big meals he could get on the plan, wave a steak dinner under his nose and he will give in, lol.

[maleficent, esq.]

The Dining Plans were SO GOOD back in the day - it was quite a MUST HAVE when the appetizers AND tip were included for a lower price, sharing of credits was not verboten, and there were just two double-dining restaurants! Those days are gone forever though and the plan is no longer a value - you will NOT save money. I suppose it might make paying in-advance easier, but you could just over pay your credit card by $55 per person per day and make out better.

After a visit with three adults to WDW last week, we kept all receipts to measure how we fared against the plan, which would have been $55 x 3 x 5 = $825. We selected three table-service restaurants for our dinners, two were doubles which we really like (Fulton's and Canada) and also Cape May (a buffet). We chose plenty of snacks and standard counter service meals in the parks. We did NOT select the most expensive (nor cheapest) main courses/desserts, but did not shy away from cost either (I like the $45 filet at Le Cellier). We tracked our expenses for 15 snacks, 15 counters, and 9 tables (the 6 were doubles) excluding appetizers, alcohol and tips (which are not within the plan). We spent $605 for food that the plan WOULD HAVE covered. Sure our meal tab was higher because of extras not listed (or covered), but that was real money back in our pocket!

Ah, you say it would have been higher without those double-credit selections? Yes, but not by $220! And even if we got closer by picking the top $$ items, the maximum potential savings would be very small indeed.

It is also easy to miss a meal or snack and find oneself over-loaded at the last day. Once, not long ago (with our LARGE family), I went down to the "food frenzy" (i.e. the general dining area) at our resort on our final night and bought dinners for 4 families as they reached the registers (one cashier even helped me find folks paying cash to select as "winners"). This is the type of action that is now illegal on the plan - it was quite fun but did not save me any expense!

Now, imagine that you want to eat "off campus" a few nights (we like Perkins!), you have a vegetarian, prefer a lighter meal or you simply ask for a cup of water (free "for real") rather than a soda. Or try just appetizers with NO main course - well, then you really are controlling your own costs and SAVING money! BTW, staying at a DVC has gotten us 10% off the FULL tab (drinks too) on occasion (that was $20+ at Fultons)...

I know the plan may be included (not "free") with a vacation package, but that is for simplicity and NOT price! It is rather easy to book cheaper lodging in the park and cheaper tickets for $825 less than such a plan...

[tinker_me_happy]

I've done both and always come out ahead when paying out of pocket! I know it's just me, but I really don't understand the big hype with "free" dining since they charge you full price for everything else! I can get discounted tickets and discounts on rooms for the same time of year and pay out of pocket for my meals and save money! A friend at work is going in Sept with her DBF and his 3 year old DD. She was quoted $4000 for 4 nights at a value with free dining! (plus she still had to buy airfare). I found her tickets, a value room and showed her how to get meals and included airfare for under $2800 for the same time period! How is "free" dining a deal?