Dining Plan Question

GoDuke#1 · #1 05-07-2010, 11:42 AM

We already have our tickets from a previously cancelled trip, got a great discount on our room (thx MJ), but wonder if the dining plan would work for us. We would have to buy 1 ticket each (3 adults) to get the plan, and we're not huge dessert eaters, so is it worth the extra 250.00 (approx) for tickets we don't need, and we'd have to pay to get dining plan? I keep crunching the numbers and I'm still not sure. Sometimes seems good, other times, seems like convenience (as entire trip would be paid off b-4 we arrive). We leave in 31 days!!
Any help??

Pocahontas · #2 05-07-2010, 12:12 PM

I love the dining plan, but in my family we are all big eaters and we love dessert! With that said, counter service meals you also get a dessert, which we would never get if not for the ddp and we also end up having extra snack credits inwhich we end up getting snacks that can be carried home, again which we wouldn't have gotten if not for the dining plan.

I've added it up and even with the extras (things we wouldn't have gotten if not for the ddp) we have come out ahead. I can't really remember how much ahead, but it was over $100 for 7 night stay.

I agree that it is nice to have it all paid for before you go and then only need to worry about the tip.

Have fun whatever you decide!

SBETigg · #3 05-07-2010, 12:26 PM

No, once you're paying for tickets you don't need, and if you're uncertain about use of the plan in the first place, I would say that it is probably not worth it for you. Besides, I think you can't get the plan if you just buy the one ticket now. I believe, could be wrong, that they have changed the way that works and you now have to buy tickets for length of stay, with everyone on the same plan.

DizneyRox · #4 05-07-2010, 12:29 PM

It sounds like you can save by NOT getting the DDP and paying OOP. I've never found the DDP to be a value, and that's just the cost of the plan. Since you will need tickets as well, I can't see you saving. I don't think the convenience is worth giving Disney extra money to play with.

cer · #5 05-07-2010, 01:33 PM

Yeah, I would never buy a day of park tickets just to be able to purchase the dining plan.

WelshieLover · #6 05-07-2010, 02:52 PM

I say don't buy tickets you don't need just to get the dining plan.We have done the dining plan once on our recent trips and paid out of pocket the remaining. It was nice having it, but we never felt we saved any money. We prefer to share desserts if we are going to order any at all. We also prefer to get a salad or appetizer to share. I compared what we spent on the DP to our meal charges for the most part they are not too far off form each other. With the DP we found we had desserts we did not neccesarily want and were scrambling to use snack credits our last couple of days. If the plan allowed you to choose an appetizer or a dessert then we may consider using it again, for now paying OOP works for us.