Disney Dining Plan questions

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Ohana. It is one of our must do meals, though they got rid of that wonderful salad.

If you liked V&A then you need to try The Yachtsman Steakhouse. It was by far our favorite place last year. We did the all signature dining route last October and had a blast. My pants buttons did as well. I left 8 pounds heavier from that trip

You generally can't go wrong with any of the signature restaurants.

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What is the best way to maximize your plan?

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The only way you're going to come out ahead is if you planned on doing single credit character meals just about every day. Using two table credits for signatures is a bad value..doesn't mean the places are bad, but you're usually better paying for those OOP rather than using two credit on them.

If you weren't planning on doing that much single credit character dining, then you already see the effects of the DDP. It plays into where you want to eat so you can get the best value rather than eating what you want, when you want.

I put this together as en example a few years ago so something have changed (especially if you're going in 2017) but the sentiment remains true.

Overall, the DDP is entirely too limiting on what you can get and what you end up paying extra for. There are too many good snacks and options not on the DDP (Swan & Dolphin) that you just won't get to. Because the DDP is so much food you won't get the fruit and nutella waffle from Sleepy Hollow Refreshments because you know if you do you won't be hungry for dinner. Same thing with the cronut (with, then without ice cream) or the PB&J milkshake from Tune in Lounge. We have found we spend less and at better places as soon as we stopped the DDP.

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In jan of 2013 this was my example in response to a thread comparing ddp and non ddp: We ate and drank what we want when we wanted, and I wanted to see how that compared to the dining plan. Now, these costs are based basically on two adults and Molly (my daughter who was under three and free), but I compared them to what the meal plan would have cost us. I think the only way you can judge the value of the dining plan is after you dine without it because it is too hard to know what you would have ordered if you weren't on the meal plan. Alot of people see their receipts and think, "wow, look how expensive that is, good thing we're on the meal plan", but would you really have ordered a dessert for everyone at the table? Would you really eat a counter service, a snack and a table service meal each day? Anyway, for us the meal plan for 2013 is $55 per day. That comes out to $880 for both of us for eight nights. In total we spent $1,058 on food and dining. Now, maybe you're asking how could I come out better not on the dining plan when I spent more. Well, this is why. That $1,058 included all of our groceries from Publix, which included a case of beer and two bottle of wine, plus other non food items for the room. That $1,058 also included alcohol that we ordered with our meals, AND gratuity we spent, both of which you have to pay extra for with the meal plan. Most importantly, it allowed us to order what we want when we wanted it. It isn't like we ate cheap. We ate at Ohana, California Grill, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review, Be Our Guest, Wishes Dessert Party (also not included on the dining plan), Mama Melrose, Big River Grill and did the Dine with Shamu experience at Sea World. Another benefit of not having the meal plan is it doesn't cost you any more money to dine at any of the Swan and Dolphin restaurants (Blue Zoo, Kimonos, Shulas, etc). At the California Grill, the night before the marathon, we ordered an app, two sushi rolls and a salad and it was MORE THAN ENOUGH food....thats impossible on the meal plan, no matter how full you are. Notes by Cliff: -Dining Plan would have cost wife and I $880 (no gratuity, no apps, no salads, no alcohol, etc.) -Opted for out of pocket and spent $1058 (included all alcohol, all gratuity, all apps, salads and a grocery store strip which included alcohol for the room snacks and cleaning supplies) -We ate at Ohana, California Grill, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review, Be Our Guest, Wishes Dessert Party (also not included on the dining plan), Mama Melrose, Big River Grill and did the Dine with Shamu experience at Sea World

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This is how it works for our family also. We almost never order apps and desserts anyway and order alcohol when we dine outside of the parks. We eat whenever/wherever we want and have never come out worse than what the dining plan would cost. Just doesn't work for our family. Plus I budget a certain amount for dining so whether I pay ahead or not doesn't bother me. We also eat at least one table service meal per day.

savings are not at all what I a after. It's just nice knowing that at this point the only thing not paid for is the gas in the car.

I did do the math and I know I would save by buying. But this way we just eat and not look at prices.

Also not doing any expensive date night meals this trip. Strictly kids.


But I would be lying if I said I wasn't starting to question the plan.

The pickiest eater is 10, and I see she was charged as an adult, but she only eats salad and chicken and maybe a hot dog. We do plan on doing a few character meals. I guess I have to get the plan one time so I can say "it's not worth it"

I think the plan added like $600 to the trip.

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But this way we just eat and not look at prices.

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The thing is..you will still look at prices. You will look at the prices of all the things you want NOT on the DDP and don't want to buy because you've already paid for your food and most people look at the prices because they want to order something expensive to feel they are getting their moneys worth.

The DDP is the biggest mind frick The Mouse has ever pulled off..

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The pickiest eater is 10, and I see she was charged as an adult, but she only eats salad and chicken and maybe a hot dog.

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In my opinion, when you have a "10 year old adult", the DDP is not worth it. There is no way that kid will eat approximately $60 worth of food every day.

Next time we go, I will have 2 girls in that age range. I will not do DDP. For our previous two trips, we did the DDP. From those two experiences, I don't have any major complaints about it.

For my next trip, I plan to put aside the cost of the DDP for my family on a prepaid credit card. I will use it for our food/drink purchases. That way, whatever is left is still mine. I figure it's a good way to see if the DDP is a good deal.