Word from someone who has totally changed her mind on the Dining Plan....

[PopPhan]

True. Which is why I said "especially if".

Sorry if it sounded like I was "beating on you" about this, but there are still those who read the threads that do not know, or understand, the way Tables in Wonderland works. Just wanted to make it clear to those readers.

[Disney Doll]

As far as costs, the DDP has always saved me money vs the meals I would be eating each day anyway. I've got 4 people in my paying family - 2 adults and 2 kids. So a free DDP saves me $133/day and $1330 on my next trip. A 25% discount on my moderate would only be about $430 for the whole trip. So for those who think discount rooms are a better deal, explain that to me. I see a $900 difference on my trip with the free DDP, and that's the biggest reason we're going on this trip.

It just depends. To really know if you have the best value you need to look at your dates, your level of accommodations, and how you would prefer to eat- table service every day, character meals, dessert, etc. Sometimes free DDP might be the best you can do. The problem is that people often see the word free and don't bother to do the math for their particular situation. You can never assume that free DDP is the best deal.

[IfUHadWings]

I agree that you must run the numbers on all offers. I enjoy the DP, but always feel like I'm chasing reservations and not just enjoying the day. We always over eat and have snacks left over. Guess it could be worse, such as not tenough food! we are going in 3 weeks and I'm relieved to know were 'on our own' for food.

[joonyer]

It just depends. To really know if you have the best value you need to look at your dates, your level of accommodations, and how you would prefer to eat- table service every day, character meals, dessert, etc. Sometimes free DDP might be the best you can do. The problem is that people often see the word free and don't bother to do the math for their particular situation. You can never assume that free DDP is the best deal.

Correct!
To get a proper understanding of the "savings you get with the DP (free or not) you have to compare it to what you would have spent OOP for meals if you had not purchased it (or paid extra for rooms to get the "free" DP.

For instance, we go to WDW on a very tight budget (only way we can afford to go), and stay at a value resort. We bring our own breakfast snacks from home to eat in our room (still a cost, but way, way cheaper than buying food at WDW), eat mostly CS meals, often sharing a meal between two of us, and enjoy maybe 2 to 3 TS meals during a 7 night trip. On our last trip this meant we spent about $700.00 on food, including 3 TS meals, ('Ohana, Teppan Edo and a breakfast buffet). To purchase the reg. DP would have cost us $1,287.00 (family of 4, w/ 2 kids over 10 yrs.). So we spent $500 less on food that we would have spent on the DP. Eeven the QS plan would have cost us $979.00 and we would have had no TS meals. So, not a good deal for us to buy the DP.
We have purchased the DDP isn the past by the way, when it included appetizers and gratuity. A better deal then, but we still spent more than we normally would on food.

If we had been able to go during a free dining offer this year, we would have had to pay bout $500.00 more for lodging to qualify for the free TS plan. This would have saved us a little, about $100.00 overall from what we would spend going to a value and buying food ($600) our normal way, so that would have been a small discount for us. But it's not "free". Problem is, with school schedules, we can't ever go during free dining promotions.

[Gator]

So I guess it just depends on your situation. If you always go to a value, the free DDP doesn't offer a whole lot. But I always stay at Moderate anyway (once at an AllStar and never again). And we love to have a big meal each day - especially the character meals. So the DDP makes sense for people like me, and the free DPP is just too big of a pull for me to resist. If you don't want a nice meal each day, then it doesn't really work for you. But on my vacations, food is very important.

[TheVBs]

In our case the free DDP is worth it because we stay in a value off season. Saving 20% off $100 or less for a 10 night stay comes out to be less of a savings than the amount of food credit we get for four people with the free DDP, even with it being quick service. We would have spent more in food than we would have saved with the room discount. And, being the first time we've used the QS plan, it was perfect for us because we mostly ate CS and booked the TS restaurants we really wanted, when we wanted them and ordered what we wanted. Paying out of pocket for those TS meals was far less than what we would pay for the regular DDP. So, yes. Without a doubt you have to run the numbers. The free DDP may not exactly be "free" but depending on where you stay and other factors it can definitely save you more money than a room discount.

[disneydeb]

I have to agree that one has to run their own numbers and it used to be a better deal, but we have been going during value season staying at a Moderate the last few years and been blessed with a pin code or other great blessing for free dining. We do character meals, Hoop De Doo, etc. It is great for us in our situation and I like the all inclusive feel of it. I would not do it though unless it were "free".

[twinboyz]

We tried the dining plan once because it was "free"(i use that term loosely cuz i know it wasn't free.) We went with our twin boys at that time age 11. It was a nice experience, but we aren't big eaters so I felt as though it was wasteful. We do plan on eating at a TS everyday and we also eat out for lunch. However having said that we also share ALOT of meals. We are DVC members so we usually eat breakfast in our room. We have the Tables in Wonderland discount that we ususally time to last us two trips so it definitely pays for itself. I've heard that some prefer the cash outlay up front so they don't have to worry about paying for meals here and there. I budget our meals everyday because we have been there so often and usually we come in under budget. I think the dining plan is a preference issue. It just didn't seem to save us any $$ so i didn't bother. Sometimes sharing a few appetizers works for all four of us so a meal for each of us always ended up with wasted food. just my Gotta do what works for you!

[r4kids]

How many days are you going for? Are you all big eaters? I figure $40 per day per person is what we actually spend.

8 days, 7 nights, we are not big people and don't eat a ton. With the exception of a teenage boy. My oldest daughter and I are fine with kid sized meals, as are my youngest girls. Plus it was free during December.

[r4kids]

Just as a side note, we do not typically eat out. Schedules just don't allow it. Its nice to slow down and enjoy a meal that is covered for the most part beforehand. Plus we typically eat somewhere we don't have at home. I guess its part of the experience for us too. BUT it was much nicer when tips were included!! App, entree and dessert are wayyyyy to much food but the tip included was nice. I would rather have the tip included and pay OOP for a dessert or app if I so needed one.

[MrPeetrie]

I am definitely withthe OP on this one.

Last year, we tried the Disney Dining Plan. We already had our room paid in full by taking advantage of an Annual Pass discount when I called and asked if it was too late to add the dining plan. I was told it was not, but Disney would have to refund everything I had paid to date, and re-bill me WITH the DDP added. It would have to be included and I received a new reservation number. It added approximately $1,100 to my bill for 10 days. I kept all my receipts from meals paid by the DDP and they totaled $1,204 so it saved about $100 or so.

However, and here's the most important point: I would NEVER have purchased that much food if I was paying out of pocket. We wasted so much food it was upsetting. I'll give examples.

I like Coke in bottles and I HATE fountain drinks. Each time we'd go to eat, I'd grab a Coke before we'd go to a counter service restaurant. But the DDP MAKES me receive and drink. So we would get another drink we didn't want. The DDP also makes us get a dessert. None of us wanted a dessert. We wanted a Mickey Bar or some other "goodie." That's part of the fun of being on vacation, but we were forced to get a dessert anyway.

Also, my DD9 was always forced to order from the kids menu. If we went to a nice restaurant, she couldn't order something she liked. She was locked in to a few items.

We vowed never to use it again and I doubt if we will. This trip,we were there for 10 days again and we tried the Tables in Wonderland card. I highly recommend this. As an AP member, we purchased it for $75 and it saved about $140. And, if I had been more thorough, I could have used it at more locations, like The Earl of Sandwich or the Sassagoula Floatworks, our foodcourt. (I did used it there, but it took a few days for me to check if it was accepted.)

TIW allowed us to order what we wanted. It saved 20 percent off the entire meal. If we went to counter service, we ordered only what we wanted and we weren't forced to get more than we needed.

That's my opinion.

[TinkerbellT421]

However, and here's the most important point: I would NEVER have purchased that much food if I was paying out of pocket. We wasted so much food it was upsetting. I'll give examples.

I like Coke in bottles and I HATE fountain drinks. Each time we'd go to eat, I'd grab a Coke before we'd go to a counter service restaurant. But the DDP MAKES me receive and drink. So we would get another drink we didn't want. The DDP also makes us get a dessert. None of us wanted a dessert. We wanted a Mickey Bar or some other "goodie." That's part of the fun of being on vacation, but we were forced to get a dessert anyway.

We vowed never to use it again and I doubt if we will. This trip,we were there for 10 days again and we tried the Tables in Wonderland card. I highly recommend this. As an AP member, we purchased it for $75 and it saved about $140. And, if I had been more thorough, I could have used it at more locations, like The Earl of Sandwich or the Sassagoula Floatworks, our foodcourt. (I did used it there, but it took a few days for me to check if it was accepted.)

TIW allowed us to order what we wanted. It saved 20 percent off the entire meal. If we went to counter service, we ordered only what we wanted and we weren't forced to get more than we needed.

Exactly! AND if you took OUT the desert and drink costs off the receipts you saved to calculate your savings, you would probably see you ended up paying more for the DDP because the cost of the drinks and deserts you wouldn't have otherwise wanted was on those receipt totals. So exclude what you wouldn't/didn't want off those receipts and you will see you probably lost about $300.00 (guessing). But, thats IMO

And the limitations for what you can order when your children are a certain age, with different tastes than other children their age, must be frustrating. If your child isn't a chicken nuggets/pizza kid, but likes to "explore" other dinning options, your stuck with the DDP.

For those that can use TIW, that's definitely the way to go

[MrPeetrie]

Exactly! AND if you took OUT the desert and drink costs off the receipts you saved to calculate your savings, you would probably see you ended up paying more for the DDP because the cost of the drinks and deserts you wouldn't have otherwise wanted was on those receipt totals. So exclude what you wouldn't/didn't want off those receipts and you will see you probably lost about $300.00 (guessing). But, thats IMO

...For those that can use TIW, that's definitely the way to go

Tinkerbell, I think you are exactly correct. That was my assessment.

[azcavalier]

My DW and I are going in April for four days (Sunday through Wednesday). We contemplated getting the DDP, but decided against it. We were curious how it would change our dining habits by NOT having the DDP. The first time we went, we didn't have it, but we were only there for two days. We have had the DDP every visit since then. Also, on this trip, we plan to eat in at least one Signature restaurant, and that would require two TS credits, meaning that we would be paying OOP for another TS meal (that we would definitely be planning) anyway...

Sorry if it sounded like I was "beating on you" about this, but there are still those who read the threads that do not know, or understand, the way Tables in Wonderland works. Just wanted to make it clear to those readers.

We looked at getting the Tables in Wonderland card, but did some math and figured out that, since we would only be there four days (in our minds, that equals four TS meals) the card would just break us even. So, for us, to get the value from the TIW card, we would have to have a longer stay than just four days.

[DizneyRox]

We looked at getting the Tables in Wonderland card, but did some math and figured out that, since we would only be there four days (in our minds, that equals four TS meals) the card would just break us even. So, for us, to get the value from the TIW card, we would have to have a longer stay than just four days.

If your signature is correct, the TiW will still be active for your April 2013 trip, so you'll enjoy savings on that trip as well. If you're at a break even on a 4 day trip, I'd serioously consider getting it. We used to break even well before day 4 of a trip, not counting the extra expense of the AP to get eligibility. We got two/three trips out of the pass, so we never counted that towards the cost of the TiW program.

[BigRedDad]

I hate the dining plan for 2 reasons: structure and cost. We do not eat enough food to make it worth the money. We are also forced to be on a schedule which is not what I want on vacation. The 2 times I have had it (once free and once paid for), I ended up loading up on snacks for the credits. I would have about 15 Mickey rice krispy treats.

There are usually 3 of us. I can pack bagels, other breakfast items, and snacks in a suitcase. We usually by at least 1 resort mug. My DW/DD and I can share a meal because portions are usually huge. We have snacks and buy the occasional ice cream or whatever. If I had counter service meals, the quality of the food does not warrant the cost. I also do not want to have to race around because I have to be at a restaurant at 6PM and I have been waiting in line for 30 minutes already for Pooh or something.

[TinkerbellT421]

My DW and I are going in April for four days (Sunday through Wednesday). We contemplated getting the DDP, but decided against it. We were curious how it would change our dining habits by NOT having the DDP. The first time we went, we didn't have it, but we were only there for two days. We have had the DDP every visit since then. Also, on this trip, we plan to eat in at least one Signature restaurant, and that would require two TS credits, meaning that we would be paying OOP for another TS meal (that we would definitely be planning) anyway...



We looked at getting the Tables in Wonderland card, but did some math and figured out that, since we would only be there four days (in our minds, that equals four TS meals) the card would just break us even. So, for us, to get the value from the TIW card, we would have to have a longer stay than just four days.

If your signature is correct, the TiW will still be active for your April 2013 trip, so you'll enjoy savings on that trip as well. If you're at a break even on a 4 day trip, I'd serioously consider getting it. We used to break even well before day 4 of a trip, not counting the extra expense of the AP to get eligibility. We got two/three trips out of the pass, so we never counted that towards the cost of the TiW program.

Keep in mind that the TiW card also counts towards alcohol purchases (don't know if that is worth it to you or not, figured I'd throw that out there) and like DisneyRox stated. Keep in mind that the TiW is good for a solid 13 months (not 12 like the AP) from date of activation. So if you arrive lets say 11/1/12 and activate it on 11/1/12, it is good until 13 months there after.

[azcavalier]

If your signature is correct, the TiW will still be active for your April 2013 trip, so you'll enjoy savings on that trip as well. If you're at a break even on a 4 day trip, I'd serioously consider getting it. We used to break even well before day 4 of a trip, not counting the extra expense of the AP to get eligibility. We got two/three trips out of the pass, so we never counted that towards the cost of the TiW program.

Except that we already have free dining for this upcoming trip. So, we wouldn't use the TIW card for November at all. We are DVC members, and so we can get the Deluxe Annual Passes for a *huge* discount, which we plan to do when we get there in November. That would allow us to buy the TIW card for $75, I believe. I don't know, we'll have to sit down and run the numbers again. I believe that we figured that out before we decided where we wanted to eat, and certainly before we decided to get the AP.

Keep in mind that the TiW card also counts towards alcohol purchases (don't know if that is worth it to you or not, figured I'd throw that out there) and like DisneyRox stated. Keep in mind that the TiW is good for a solid 13 months (not 12 like the AP) from date of activation. So if you arrive lets say 11/1/12 and activate it on 11/1/12, it is good until 13 months there after.

No, we don't drink. If we did, I imagine that would just tempt me further!

[Dulcee]

As some others have said it really depends on your vacation. We booked our room during the "fall" season at a moderate. Even with a decent room discount we'd save between $200-400 on a room only reservation.

By adding free dining we have $735 worth of food that's "free" for our 9 days. Then we upgraded to the deluxe dining, essentially giving us every meal we could imagine for about $500 that we actually pay for. Since we always do a sitdown meal for dinner and prefer signatures we were looking at easily $1000 just for dinners. That right there, on just dinners alone, makes it worth it to us.

With the "free" dining plus our upgrade we end up with all our meals and snacks for about $500. We just can't beat that. Sure we still need to bring money for tips and alcohol, but at the end of the day for people who like to eat, it still seems to work.

[WDWgoofy]

I ran the numbers using rack-rates vs discounted room rates and the actual cost of meals vs the dining plan and the numbers were close, but in my case the discounted room (no dining plan) won out.

Furthermore I prefer the flexibility I have not having the burden of the dining plan.

However I'm certain others prefer knowing the bulk of expenses are paid and appreciate the eating experience more than I.

It's great that Disney offers the option for people to choose the plan they prefer,