We usually pick the dining plan with a snack, Quick Service and Table Service option. Most of the time, this is out of convenience for us, rather than what might be more cost effective. For the veteran Disney members, " How do we tell when it's better to forego the plan and just pay as we go"?
"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved." — Pooh, Winnie the Pooh
For my wife and I, it typically depends on our length of stay. As you might have figured out or heard from Cathie, we tend to be foodies. So, with that being said, here how or what we choose. If we are staying between 1 - 3 days, we found it best not to get a dining plan and just pay as you go. If we are staying between 3 - 5 days, then we will typically get the My Way Plus Dining (or what is sometimes called "Regular Dining Plan"). This includes the refillable mug, 2 snacks per person per day, 1 quick service and I table service per person per day. If we are staying longer than 5 days, we tend to get the Deluxe Dining Plan. This includes the refillable mug, 2 snacks per person per day, 3 meals per person per day (either quick service or table service). We chose this plan for longer stays because we would typically eat a breakfast, snack for lunch and then a signature dining option for dinner. With the Deluxe Dining Plan it is easier to do signature dining because you combine the meal credit for lunch with the meal credit for dinner (as it takes two credits for signature dining).
I hope this helps but all-in-all it is more of a personal choice so there is no right or wrong answer.
Prior: Offsite most every other years from 1972 - 2000
Most recent: Offsite 2001 & 2003 / ASM 2006 / Offsite 2009 / Poly 2011 / POR 2013 / CR 2014 / GF 2015 / DS Hotel 2017 / BC 2017 / POR 2018
Thanks Doc! I know on some sites, everyone talks about their favorite plan or why they never get a plan. It helps having a little guidance on why visitors pick their plans. We are usually there for 5-7 days and use the "regular" plan,too.
"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved." — Pooh, Winnie the Pooh
Thanks Doc! I know on some sites, everyone talks about their favorite plan or why they never get a plan. It helps having a little guidance on why visitors pick their plans. We are usually there for 5-7 days and use the "regular" plan,too.
Because I live local and go for a day, we never use the dining plan.....but when my son, wife and granddaughter come down for their week stay in Sept 20-8 we are talking about whether or not to use a dining plan because we will stay in a DVC 2 bedroom 2-1/2 bath with a complete kitchen.....so still discussing dining plan or not just to utilize some more of the specialty dining/character meals....I'm going to screen shot Docs reply and send it to daughter in law cuz I can't explain it any better than that!
second star to the right and straight on till morning
I actually edited my "question" and took out the 10 days since it is at the top of the thread. My daughter always tells me when it's time to do these things....
"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved." — Pooh, Winnie the Pooh
Post by DisneyfanDean on Dec 20, 2016 17:38:43 GMT
We buy Tables-in-Wonderland. Its available to DVC, Florida residents, and Annual Passholders. ~20% off food and beverage including alcohol for parties up to 10 people. ~Complimentary Resort Valet and Theme Park parking for Dining purposes. ~It's 150$ and good for 13 months. Last 4day trip for 2, saved us 160$. So its already paid for. ~Also has automatic 18% gratuity. (which saves me money)
I actually edited my "question" and took out the 10 days since it is at the top of the thread. My daughter always tells me when it's time to do these things....
There is also a very convenient website that gives you the calendar of when to do things.... pscalculator.net/
Prior: Offsite most every other years from 1972 - 2000
Most recent: Offsite 2001 & 2003 / ASM 2006 / Offsite 2009 / Poly 2011 / POR 2013 / CR 2014 / GF 2015 / DS Hotel 2017 / BC 2017 / POR 2018
We buy Tables-in-Wonderland. Its available to DVC, Florida residents, and Annual Passholders. ~20% off food and beverage including alcohol for parties up to 10 people. ~Complimentary Resort Valet and Theme Park parking for Dining purposes. ~It's 150$ and good for 13 months. Last 4day trip for 2, saved us 160$. So its already paid for. ~Also has automatic 18% gratuity. (which saves me money)
Having Tables when the kids were here back in Sept....that trip alone I recouped the expense,plus I had added Sara onto the card for $50 extra so if she's over without me, she can use card too.....sometimes I'm home with Milo while she and her sister go together....usually that's twice a year
second star to the right and straight on till morning
I actually edited my "question" and took out the 10 days since it is at the top of the thread. My daughter always tells me when it's time to do these things....
There is also a very convenient website that gives you the calendar of when to do things.... pscalculator.net/
The encyclopedia strikes again!
second star to the right and straight on till morning
Lol! Doc, my husband is the "word" person and the spell check....I guess it comes from years of being on radio and "rip & reading" the news. One misspelled word or grammatically incorrect word could totally change everything! Anyway...my comment was first and didn't want to be the one leading people astray!
"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved." — Pooh, Winnie the Pooh
We usually pick the dining plan with a snack, Quick Service and Table Service option. Most of the time, this is out of convenience for us, rather than what might be more cost effective. For the veteran Disney members, " How do we tell when it's better to forego the plan and just pay as we go"?
To have the Dining Plan or not to have the Dining Plan...that is the question!
For our first couple of trips we had the plan. (1qs, 1ts, 1snack) As newbies, it helped us to plan the trip - choosing restaurants in or near parks we were visiting on certain days. We also planned lots of character meals which I think made it a winner (cost effective) for us! We liked the idea of having the meals already paid for and not having to worry about the prices when ordering.
On our last trip, several members of our party had food allergies and one was a vegetarian. We were also more familiar with what we wanted to do/see. We chose to go without the plan in order to be more flexible with our dining choices and schedules. Disney is very accommodating and we were able to find food to please everyone in all of the parks.
As for saving money, there are many variables. We could definitely spend less than the plan, share meals, etc. If you are planning lots of character meals, the plan works in your favor. I'd say you should consider the ages of your party, (under 10 is great and under 3 even better!) and their eating habits. Look over menus to see what appeals. There is no right or wrong, just what's best for your family!
I liked all your comments on the dinning plan, I wasn't going to add mine but thought why not. When our children were young we drove and brought food with us, ate at quick service only, never had the opportunity for a sit down meal. My wife and I started coming back to Disney 8 years ago without the children who were now adults.
The meal plan was offered for free and we totally enjoyed eating at different restaurants. We looked forward to eating at all the different sit down meals. Our problem was we were now forced to be at a certain park or resort at a specific time. Our entire life was spontaneity we changed our minds and did whatever we wanted to do when we wanted to. For the first 3 years we had a great time eating at sit down restaurants, we thought the signature restaurants (2 dinners) was terrible and would not do them. I always check receipts to make sure I am not being cheated and finally one day I added up the receipts and what we would have paid if we had no meal plan and found that getting a free meal plan was not worth it. We would not eat that much food if we did not have the plan, some nights I ate two quick serves because my wife couldn't eat anymore. Growing up I was told that it was a sin to waste food and I wanted to use the entire free plan. It's a wonder I'm not a lot bigger than I am.
So, now we use the signature meals to get rid of 2 each.
Last but not least, Disney's main ingredient is SALT............now that I remember this I need to complain to them. Our meal at Le Cellier was so salty we couldn't eat it. I asked at Tony's to have my dinner without salt and they said it was already in it. Maybe it was our server who didn't care, I will find out.
DisneyMike, always add comments! Someone might have a question that you have the answer ! Salt is something we are trying to watch, and someone might have an answer on how to get you more of a salt free or low sodium meal.
"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved." — Pooh, Winnie the Pooh
DisneyMike, always add comments! Someone might have a question that you have the answer ! Salt is something we are trying to watch, and someone might have an answer on how to get you more of a salt free or low sodium meal.
Put that in the area reserved for allergies....low sodium diet or salt free options.....however you word it and the chef will treat it as an allergy and come out to your table
second star to the right and straight on till morning
we are talking about value perception. understanding that people apply value very differently, this is my take.
First question I would ask is if Food is a focus? Seems like an odd question but I have found many people tend to not focus on the food as much when the kids are fantasy land age. burgers hot dogs snacks usually fit the bill. If this is the case, I would say No.
Second question would be, where ya staying? If youre staying off property or on property with a kitchen, and you plan to make your own food, I would say No.
Okay, now let us answer this question with the understanding that you are doing a plan
Food is a big cost, whether QSL or artisan, you're paying a bit, so preplanning the cost within a prepaid budget is a good idea if you ask me. It makes planning meals easier as well so your ADRs are more organized.
The question I have is, do you like to eat? I mean that in a way where eating is an event, not just something you do to feed the motor and get running. If you're a feed the motor type, QSL's are fine. You get pretty good food, pretty fast.
If you're like me, and food is an event that should be savored and celebrated, I like the plan you have chosen. It gives you that 1 meal that gives good food fast, and that 1 meal that you take your time and make an event of it.