Dinning Plan costs?

[Mrs Bus Driver]

Can someone help me with the costs/charges per day of the dinning plans? Need this info for cost comparison for DD and future trip. I believe the regular plan (1ts, 1cs and a snack) is $55 but can't seem to find the cost for other plans. Am looking into Tiw which may work better for us but need to be able to show the numbers. Thanks

[VWL Mom]

Here you go:

Quick-Service Dining Plan
(all year long)
$37.58 per night ages 10 and up
$14.32 per night age 3 to 9

Standard Dining Plan
(Value and Regular Season)
$55.59 per night ages 10 and up
$17.16 per night age 3 to 9
(Peak Season)
$56.94 per night ages 10 and up
$18.16 per night ages 3 to 9

Deluxe Dining Plan
(Value and Regular Season)
$99.97 per night ages 10 and up
$26.84 per night ages 3 to 9
(Peak Season)
$102.27 per night ages 10 and up
$28.91 per night ages 3 to 9

[WRWDisney]

According to the Disney Food Blog, as of Saturday (6/22/2013)Disney Dining Plan prices have increased.

Here’s what you can expect for Dining Plan costs going forward (remember that seasonal pricing may vary by a dollar or two):

Quick-Service Dining Plan
$39.64 per night ages 10 and up (no seasonal pricing)
$15.75 per night age 3 to 9 (no seasonal pricing)
(Increase from earlier 2013 pricing of $37.58 and $14.32)

Standard Dining Plan
$58.66 per night ages 10 and up (may be a dollar or so lower depending on season)
$18.88-$20 per night age 3 to 9 (depending on season)
(Increase from earlier 2013 pricing of $51.54 and $15.02 during standard seasons and $56.94 and $18.16 in peak seasons)

Deluxe Dining Plan
$102.94-$104 per night ages 10 and up (depending on season)
$28-$29.51 per night ages 3 to 9 (depending on season)
(Increase from earlier 2013 pricing of $99.97 and $26.84 during standard seasons and $102.27 and $28.91 in peak seasons)

If the Disney Food Blog prices are accurate, this represents an average increase of 18.5% since 2012.

Note that the article emphasizes:

I’ve called Disney reservations about four times trying to get exact costs, but I keep getting different answers.

[BigB]

Regardless of the cost if you do not eat a lot or don't like to eat the expensive items it may not be worth it to you. For example, when I order my appetizers and entrée I choose the most expensive item (that I'm willing to eat). It helps to pad the bill.

[Mrs Bus Driver]

Regardless of the cost if you do not eat a lot or don't like to eat the expensive items it may not be worth it to you. For example, when I order my appetizers and entrée I choose the most expensive item (that I'm willing to eat). It helps to pad the bill.

I am with on this but DD is convinced it is the way to go. However neither of us wants desert twice a day and would prefer an appetizer and adult beverage at dinner. Also am not sure of DBF's eating habits. Long story short knowledge is power. If I can show her the different options then we can work something out for everyone.

[WRWDisney]

Mrs. Bus Driver, we have done both and wouldn't consider doing the DDP again. For us, TiW is the only way to go

Best case, you won't do much better than break even with the dining plan. As long as you spend at least $500 with TiW, you will be ok. And that is in 13 months (the card is good until the end of the month following the month you buy it in; for ex., we will be arriving on July 1 and I will buy our card then. It will be good until August 31, 2014 (thus will cover our summer, X-mas, Spring Break, and next summers trips). Given our eating habits, I would guess it will save us, at the very minimum, $300 (only eating a couple of meals per trip on site and not being drinkers).

If you all like appetizers, like a drink with your meal, and especially if you will be returning within the next year, it is a no brainer for me. Plus, it allows us to feel good about ordering the way we like to (appetizers and salads, split entrees, etc.).

Give it a try and track your receipts. See how much you save (and this is real savings--ordering what you want vs. what some people order when trying to "maximize" the DDP value).

[Mrs Bus Driver]

Just saw your post WRWDisney, thank you. I couldn't find the information on the Disney site either. Not surprised about the increases but expect that out of pocket is also up. Will be checking into costs of meals to compare.

[Mrs Bus Driver]

Thank you again, especially about TIW surely food for thought.

[Mrs Bus Driver]

I remember reading someone's post about getting gift cards for the amount of dinning plan cost and using them to pay for food. I may combine this with TIW. Since DD wants meals paid ahead.

[WRWDisney]

That's a great idea. Target sells Disney gift cards and while I am not a card holder, others have reported that using the Target card to buy them will get you some kind of rewards value/rebate. I am sure someone more familiar with that program can chime in with details.

No matter what you do, have fun! We are headed down Sunday. Taking our current foster child on his first trip--he won't know about it till we get there. Taking foster children has added a new way to see the parks for all of us (DD17, DS14 and DW and I). It is always fun to see the parks through a child's eye and to enjoy the parks with first time guests--this accomplishes both.