Do I do the dining plan or not?
About This Page: This is a discussion on Do I do the dining plan or not? within the Feasting and Snacking: The Eateries at Walt Disney World, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; Still sorting this out for our next trip. Actually contemplating doing a split stay so I can do part DDPD, ...

Hugmonster · 12-29-2012, 12:50 PM

Still sorting this out for our next trip. Actually contemplating doing a split stay so I can do part DDPD, part DDP.

HollyH · 12-29-2012, 01:46 PM

The DDP works for some in some circumstance, not for others in other circumstances. Personally, we haven't used one for years. It hasn't been a good fit with how we eat or how we tour. And instead of relaxing me so I don't have to worry about prices on vacation, I find it does the opposite and stresses me out: "Is this a good use of a credit? Will we use all of our credits? What if we have to cancel a meal?" We just order what we want, when we want and charge it all to the room. We usually find we spend less money than a dining plan would have cost us.

2Peanuts · 12-29-2012, 05:46 PM

(Pardon if I echo what someone else has said --- I haven't read through all the responses. Got only a few minutes till I have to give the kids a bath!)

We decided to do without a dining plan for our upcoming trip. We just didn't want the hassle of making ADRs all the time --- with 2 young kids, we found that running around the parks just to make our dining reservation was more disruptive than "peace of mind." So, we were going to do QSDP this time, but we realized we wanted even more flexibility than that.

So, we loaded the equivalent of 4 QSDPs onto a Disney gift card (2 adults, 2 kids) and will use that to pay for our meals. It's peace of mind in that everything's already paid for. It's a new experience for us, as we've never done WDW without a dining plan. I'm looking forward to the freedom and hope we end up feeling like it doesn't break the bank to feed our family.

Good luck with your decision!
Carol

**dutchdisneyfamily** · 12-29-2012, 07:59 PM

Thanks everyone for weighing in on this. You opinions and thoughts I take very seriously. At the moment we've decided we are going to do the dining plan. We are going in June and it's so hot. I don't want to end up passing out like last time and a nice air conditioned meal is needed. We'll end up paying for two meals out of pocket this way, but that's okay. Just knowing I don't have to worry about my son ordering the steak makes me feel better. We may not do as many TS places on our next trip, but for now it's hard to narrow it down! Thanks again!

**chezp** · 12-30-2012, 08:34 AM

We regularly get the Deluxe Dining Plan and I have to be honest one of the big reasons is the first pro you list - not having to worry about the cost while we're there. That makes a big difference, and really helps me to relax while we're there.

crazybus · 12-30-2012, 07:09 PM

After reading everyone's posts on dining, I am more confused now then I was! I feel that the DDP is too much but I'm afriad that the SDP wont be enough. I wish they had one in the middle, with 2 table and 1 quick. If we can get free dining sometime during the year before we go then I wont feel bad if I upgrade to DDP. We are planning our trip the end of Oct. 2013

**dutchdisneyfamily** · 12-30-2012, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazybus

After reading everyone's posts on dining, I am more confused now then I was! I feel that the DDP is too much but I'm afriad that the SDP wont be enough. I wish they had one in the middle, with 2 table and 1 quick. If we can get free dining sometime during the year before we go then I wont feel bad if I upgrade to DDP. We are planning our trip the end of Oct. 2013

I know! I wish they had that too. Though I have to say, their portions are so huge you really don't need three meals a day.

MichaelF · 12-31-2012, 10:03 AM

We have not bought the DDP since they included the gratutities with the plan. We now pay out of pocket and save a lot of money over what it would cost us to buy the DDP. We still eat at the same restuarants we would with the DDP and last trip we saved over $600 for six people on a week long trip. In my opinion the benefit of the DDP is having your meals pre-paid. As far as being a bargain the DDP is not a money saver.

Luv2golf · 12-31-2012, 10:21 AM

[QUOTE=
So, we loaded the equivalent of 4 QSDPs onto a Disney gift card (2 adults, 2 kids) and will use that to pay for our meals. It's peace of mind in that everything's already paid for.[/QUOTE]

That is a really good idea! It gives you the flexibility and the peace of mind since it's already paid for. Good thinking

notjustamom · 12-31-2012, 11:03 AM

Quote:

There are ways to "work it" and make your money go a little farther, but that's more effort than I want to do on my vacations.

That's EXACTLY my thinking too

Have a great trip and I don't think you can wrong either way. Personally, we don't do the DDP anymore because the kids are now adult prices but still eat next to nothing

angiek1024 · 12-31-2012, 11:14 AM

We usually do the dining plan just to have the food paid for ahead of time. We enjoy a table service meal each day so honestly we end up saving a small amount every trip over what we would have paid (on average $100-150) but I wouldn't do it probably if we didn't do the table service meals every day.

Another thing for us is our teenage son (almost 15)....that child is hungry 95% of the time these days and it is easier for us to be able to feed him from the dining plan because it keeps him full

. If it were only my husband and I then we would probably do things differently because we can snack and be fine.

I think it all depends on your family dynamics and what is easier for you.

oldmom · 12-31-2012, 11:21 AM

we usually do the dining plan but did OOP this last trip. honestly, i missed the dining plan. we normally did the TS meal for dinner (the most expensive meal) and didn't have to worry about what we wanted to try on the menu. We did use gift cards and didn't find much difference between that and having cash or credit card. OOP and DDP are two different mind sets--we were much more conscience of the cost of our choices when it was cash or credit card. With the Dining plan, we were free to choose that steak or experiment with a new appetizer.

oldmom · 12-31-2012, 11:22 AM

and we used any extra points left over to get food for the drive home or snacks to hand out when we got home.

crazybus · 01-01-2013, 08:13 PM

I was talking to someone who just got back from Disney and they told me that when you have a dining plan you have a special menu with only a few items on it. Is this true?

dolphin041599 · 01-01-2013, 08:20 PM

We have done the QS dining plan before and it was okay, but limited. We aren't doing it this time, because unless we order the single most expensive thing on the menu at every meal, it won't pay for us. My DD and I can often split a meal and we certainly don't need dessert at every meal. Plus, in June, I'm worried the heat will make me not hungry.