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Dining Plan at WDW
Posted: Apr Sat 17, 2010 12:44 pm
by MmeLeota
Hey everyone!
DH and I are thinking about a possible WDW trip (but it will be quite a while before we would be able to go) and I was wondering about the dining plan.
Is it worth purchasing the dining plan?
Posted: Apr Sat 17, 2010 3:12 pm
by kcarts
We had a long debate on this somewhere on here......
I think it is, others, not so much.
viewtopic.php?t=6150
Posted: Apr Sat 17, 2010 3:34 pm
by MmeLeota
I have no clue as to why I completely missed this topic. Thank you so much for posting it for me.
I will have to do some further research to see if it might be a good fit for us, but the opinons expressed are a huge help!
Posted: Apr Sat 17, 2010 5:40 pm
by kcarts
It really depends on the person and what you have planned. I was down there with friends and we had ADRs for every night we were there. So it really made sense for me. I was guaranteed to use all my sit down meals on the plan.
Posted: Apr Sat 17, 2010 7:29 pm
by momeja
Kind of depends on how much you eat and what you like to eat. Appys are no longer included. Also depends on whether you want to be tied down to ressies all the time.
Posted: Apr Sat 17, 2010 9:07 pm
by Amy
momeja wrote:Kind of depends on how much you eat and what you like to eat. Appys are no longer included. Also depends on whether you want to be tied down to ressies all the time.
I would think that would be the major drawback, planning your day around and committing to be at a certain place at a certain time...
Posted: Apr Sat 17, 2010 9:19 pm
by MmeLeota
Thnak you for all of your input everyone! I will have to continue research to find the right option for us.
Posted: Apr Sat 17, 2010 10:56 pm
by Len90
As everybody else here said, it really comes down to how you plan your days. IF you are eating every dinner at a Disney restaurant and are spending the days in the parks, then it might pay off. In order to come out ahead on the dining plan, you need to think about how, when, and where you will be eating. Also, the plan I think can still be added and paid for 72 hours prior to check-in. It is not something that you will have to do at time of booking.
Posted: Apr Mon 19, 2010 12:21 am
by MmeLeota
Len90 wrote:As everybody else here said, it really comes down to how you plan your days. IF you are eating every dinner at a Disney restaurant and are spending the days in the parks, then it might pay off. In order to come out ahead on the dining plan, you need to think about how, when, and where you will be eating. Also, the plan I think can still be added and paid for 72 hours prior to check-in. It is not something that you will have to do at time of booking.
I didn't know that you can add it on after booking...thanks Len!
I was kind of figuring that because we're most likely going to go during the "off-season" and the parks aren't open as late, we figured most of our sit-down meals will be outside of the parks/or near closing time.
We're still just researching a trip to see if it will be feasible or not...but I definitely appreciate everyone's input.
Re: Dining Plan at WDW
Posted: Apr Mon 19, 2010 2:32 am
by wdwparksgal
MmeLeota wrote:Hey everyone!
DH and I are thinking about a possible WDW trip (but it will be quite a while before we would be able to go) and I was wondering about the dining plan.
Is it worth purchasing the dining plan?
Hands Down the Dining Plan is worth it. My family and I keep track of what we spend on food each day and we get more than our money's worth with the dining plan. Now that there is a counter service plan that has to be the most convenient one there is. No worries about credit cards or cash as the plans include snacks. It is easy to use, generous to a fault, and value-worthy. My family has gotten it several trips and at the end of the trip there were always leftover dining options, which we cashed in for snacks at the resort gift shop.
Re: Dining Plan at WDW
Posted: Apr Mon 19, 2010 1:21 pm
by MmeLeota
wdwparksgal wrote:MmeLeota wrote:Hey everyone!
DH and I are thinking about a possible WDW trip (but it will be quite a while before we would be able to go) and I was wondering about the dining plan.
Is it worth purchasing the dining plan?
Hands Down the Dining Plan is worth it. My family and I keep track of what we spend on food each day and we get more than our money's worth with the dining plan. Now that there is a counter service plan that has to be the most convenient one there is. No worries about credit cards or cash as the plans include snacks. It is easy to use, generous to a fault, and value-worthy. My family has gotten it several trips and at the end of the trip there were always leftover dining options, which we cashed in for snacks at the resort gift shop.
Thank you wdwparksgal! Everyone is so helpful!!!

Posted: Apr Mon 19, 2010 1:59 pm
by NaCler
OR, if you are leaving and you have credits left you can use them on the person behind you in line as a good gesture... Last time we stayed at Pop Century we were in line at the Food Court and the lady in front of me says, "my family is leaving tonight and we have a bunch of food credits left, do you want a free meal?" That was awesome, especially since we had 4 of us eating dinner. It's amazing how nice people can be in The Happiest Place on Earth.
Posted: Apr Mon 19, 2010 2:10 pm
by Amy
NaCler wrote:OR, if you are leaving and you have credits left you can use them on the person behind you in line as a good gesture... Last time we stayed at Pop Century we were in line at the Food Court and the lady in front of me says, "my family is leaving tonight and we have a bunch of food credits left, do you want a free meal?" That was awesome, especially since we had 4 of us eating dinner. It's amazing how nice people can be in The Happiest Place on Earth.
That is so nice! You were in the right line at the right time

I'm guessing that gave the family a good feeling as they were leaving the resort to be able to do something nice for another family...
Posted: Apr Mon 19, 2010 3:03 pm
by NaCler
Amy - It saved us about $40 that night, so we were extremely happy about it. I think she was a little upset that she had spent so much on it and not used it all.
Posted: Apr Mon 19, 2010 3:21 pm
by MmeLeota
NaCler wrote:OR, if you are leaving and you have credits left you can use them on the person behind you in line as a good gesture... Last time we stayed at Pop Century we were in line at the Food Court and the lady in front of me says, "my family is leaving tonight and we have a bunch of food credits left, do you want a free meal?" That was awesome, especially since we had 4 of us eating dinner. It's amazing how nice people can be in The Happiest Place on Earth.
WOW! That's awesome! God was looking out for you and your family that night!
