Worth two dining credits?

[cy1229]

Is Le Cellier really worth the two credits at dinner? As in...would it be cheaper to use 2 credits...or pay for the meal yourself and save those credits for other dining during your trip?

My theory on all this is that it is better to pay out of pocket. You don't want to be committing yourself and forcing yourself into eating things just so you don't feel like you are losing out on the money. The dining plan, IMO, will dictate your vacation.

Ok, so question, then. Has anyone looked at the menus for all the signature dining places / experiences (such as Aloha dinner show) and calculated if the $64 price tag is worthwhile? Because it sounds like it's not worthwhile anywhere. It might be worth the experience in true dollars, but in dining credits, something tells me no. Who has the free time to look at that? Maybe someone who's rehabbing from surgery?

It all comes down to making things equal out. The dining plan gives you a snack, QS, and TS credit each day for about $54 in peak season. The snack will be about $3-4, and the QS will cost you around $13-15 ($8+ for burger, $2.80 for soda, $2.20 for cookie). Therefore the TS is left about $35-$38 for either the entree, dessert, soda, or buffet. Now you book at a place like Le Cellier and the cheapest entree on the menu is the chicken for $34. HOWEVER, this is a steakhouse and of course you are going to want that strip steak or filet for $44. Add in the dessert and beverage which is another $12-13 more and you have a meal that would have cost close to $60+ tax. Hence the reason for the double credit as meals like this would be a steal. Consider you always have about $35-$38 of your dining plan devoted to dinner each day, then that meal at Le Cellier is really costing you $70-$76... a lot more than that $60+tax if paid out of pocket.

Now, let's look at some single table service credit places. First up is O'hana. An adult buffet is $33, still within that $35-38 range I figured out before. Say you want a meal at Tony's. The most expensive entree on the menu will be $29, dessert is $6, and a drink is about $3. Your bill total per person is $38+ tax.... virtually breaking even on this meal. Finally, a place like Prime Time where the most expensive entree is $21, dessert is around $6, and a drink is $3. Your bill will be $30+ tax and once again you come up short of that goal to spend I calculated.

I know I probably lost everyone with this breakdown, but if you look at it and follow my math you will start to see how the dining plan is no longer a good deal at all. It used to be pretty good so long as you stuck to the plan perfectly. Now it seems like living to the the plan will only let you break even. The plan will rule your life as you strive to spend the most amount so you don't lose out.

For me, part of the value of the dining plan is not having to worry, or budget, every little thing. We arrive, we have fun, and all we have to really consider is how much we spend on souvenirs for ourselves or friends/family. It's really hard to put a $$ value on that because it's an emotional, intangible thing that has no cost-analysis breakdown. However, Len, I appreciate you breaking everything out in total dollars and cents this way because now that I'm (finally) better at sticking to a budget, maybe not doing dining plan, OR doing just the QS plan and paying cash for a couple of TS meals, would be the way to go. Lots to think about for next trip, whenever that happens. Since Mom and Stepdad are paying for this one in October, we're more or less doing what they want to do, which is spend our inheritance with us before they die. And you know what? It's a better way to have the inheritance, with memories and shared family time, instead of a pile of money and no parents.

[momeja]

Unless the meal plan is included in your package deal as a free bonus. Then it is more than likely worth it, unless the room price is hiked up higher to offset the "free" dining plan they are including...right?

Well, again it depends. When they offer free dining, you're paying rack rate for the room, so in order to figure out which one is cheaper, you need to look at what the room only discount is to see if you're saving more money with "free dining" or by taking the room only discount.

The only two times I've ever used the DDP was in conjunction with the free dining promotion. If you've got several people in the room, then free dining may be the better way to go. If it's just you or you and another person, then you're probably better off with the room only discount.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the DDP and prefer the TIW card, which gives you 20% off all TS dining plus 20% off drinks, and no restrictions on what you order. To get it, though, you need either an AP or DVC card.

[theBIGyowski]

I'll put it this way...

If you have a family of 3+...and you can get the dining plan free...it is more than worth it.

If you have just 2 people in your room...and there is a room-only discount of 25% or more...take the room discount and pay for your meals out of pocket. It's actually even easier if you charge your meals to your room...so you don't have to keep quite as much of an eye on meal costs. You can have a credit card on your room...so everything gets paid for and there are no worries.

[Wizzard419]

I always put this huge caveat with "Free", since few things in life are free. Even if you get the meal plan for free with specific vacation packages, compare the price difference to those that do not qualify. In many cases the cost of that free package means an increased total price.

[Len90]

I've done the math on this too!

Now for a moderate resort it is around $200 a night... free dining offer is the better deal as you only get 20% off the rate for a savings of $40.
Value resorts are usually priced around the mid $100s and get 15% off. That would save just over $20 a night. The free dining offer gives you the quick service plan and it is definitely the better option.
Deluxe resorts are on average around $400 a night and the discount rate is usually 25%. It comes to an average savings of $100 a night. With the way everything books out for two people in that room you break even. IF you had 3 people in the room then free dining is the better offer in terms of potential dollar value you can save, so long as you stick to the plan and get the most out of it.

Conclusions: Always price out and weigh the options. The "free" dining plan is a great offer that can save you a ton, so long as you are willing to max out on it.

[Amy]

I've done the math on this too!

Now for a moderate resort it is around $200 a night... free dining offer is the better deal as you only get 20% off the rate for a savings of $40.
Value resorts are usually priced around the mid $100s and get 15% off. That would save just over $20 a night. The free dining offer gives you the quick service plan and it is definitely the better option.
Deluxe resorts are on average around $400 a night and the discount rate is usually 25%. It comes to an average savings of $100 a night. With the way everything books out for two people in that room you break even. IF you had 3 people in the room then free dining is the better offer in terms of potential dollar value you can save, so long as you stick to the plan and get the most out of it.

Conclusions: Always price out and weigh the options. The "free" dining plan is a great offer that can save you a ton, so long as you are willing to max out on it.

Thanks Len ~ I figured the free dining plan was the better option between that and a room discount on our past two trips. Now I'm even more sure that we chose correctly. I know F1gment has mentioned more than once about how much she loved being able to order her food without thinking of what cost more, or what was the better option, or whether she had any money with her. If there was no free dining plan included as part of the package, we would just buy out of pocket since we normally split a meal anyhow, but if they are including it "free"...we'll take it

[momeja]

It's good to always look at the discount, though. I've seen the discount for deluxes sometimes run as high as 35% in the off season. But regardless, if it's just you and F1gment, Amy, it's probably better to go for the free dining.

And I agree, too, that sometimes free dining is just easier. Of course, I liked it much better back when they included an appetizer, too. The lack of an appetizer now makes the deal much less appetizing, jmho.

[Len90]

It's good to always look at the discount, though. I've seen the discount for deluxes sometimes run as high as 35% in the off season. But regardless, if it's just you and F1gment, Amy, it's probably better to go for the free dining.

And I agree, too, that sometimes free dining is just easier. Of course, I liked it much better back when they included an appetizer, too. The lack of an appetizer now makes the deal much less appetizing, jmho.

35% off a deluxe room during value seasons would be a better deal than the free dining for two people in the room. The dining plan in the off season for two people is just over $100 while the 35% off a room rate on a weekday at someplace like the yacht club is over $115 (weekday rate is $335). First off you are better off taking the money upfront as it is more in terms of value and secondly you are guaranteed the $115 while with the dining you are hoping to eat that $100 worth each day.

The only place I see the dining plan being a huge savings is IF you have a 3-9 year old with a huge appetite and can really eat well. For $15-16 a day you are getting a steal.

[momeja]

35% off a deluxe room during value seasons would be a better deal than the free dining for two people in the room.

Agreed.

[Wizzard419]

I think I read this correctly, it sounds like some (or all?) of the locations also place you on a fixed meal like a banquet as opposed to allowing you to pick whatever you want off the menu. If you're fine with limited choices then that also makes it appealing.

[Belle1082]

It's good to always look at the discount, though. I've seen the discount for deluxes sometimes run as high as 35% in the off season. But regardless, if it's just you and F1gment, Amy, it's probably better to go for the free dining.

And I agree, too, that sometimes free dining is just easier. Of course, I liked it much better back when they included an appetizer, too. The lack of an appetizer now makes the deal much less appetizing, jmho.

I would agree about the appetizer. I would MUCH rather have an app than dessert. But I agree with everyone that you seem to overeat when the food is right there in front of you and you don't want it to go to waste. But at the same time, food prices add up quickly. So what we will do in October (there is not any free dining at this point) is do a lot of meal sharing. Some meals can be so big that you for sure can share with someone and split the cost that way.

[cy1229]

The only place I see the dining plan being a huge savings is IF you have a 3-9 year old with a huge appetite and can really eat well. For $15-16 a day you are getting a steal.

But 3-9 year old kids have to eat off the children's menu, and unless you're at a buffet place or Liberty Tree or 'Ohana, the amount served to a 9-year-old is not very much. When we went in 2008 my younger daughter was 9 and she got really sick of choosing between chicken nuggets etc. so she and I started deciding together what to order, and we split my food. We were on the deluxe plan (just craziness, imho) so there was no shortage of food to satisfy our appetites. I would say the dining plan with children in the 7-9 year old range is horrible because they're forced onto the children's menu and they can't get the variety of interesting choices that adults can get.

[Amy]

The only place I see the dining plan being a huge savings is IF you have a 3-9 year old with a huge appetite and can really eat well. For $15-16 a day you are getting a steal.

But 3-9 year old kids have to eat off the children's menu, and unless you're at a buffet place or Liberty Tree or 'Ohana, the amount served to a 9-year-old is not very much. When we went in 2008 my younger daughter was 9 and she got really sick of choosing between chicken nuggets etc. so she and I started deciding together what to order, and we split my food. We were on the deluxe plan (just craziness, imho) so there was no shortage of food to satisfy our appetites. I would say the dining plan with children in the 7-9 year old range is horrible because they're forced onto the children's menu and they can't get the variety of interesting choices that adults can get.

Don't some of the more expensive restaurants have a better selection for kids to choose from? I seem to remember momeja's kids having salmon and other exotic-type (at least for kids) fare at least once. Although perhaps they weren't on the meal plan though.

[Jacca5660]

I think I read this correctly, it sounds like some (or all?) of the locations also place you on a fixed meal like a banquet as opposed to allowing you to pick whatever you want off the menu. If you're fine with limited choices then that also makes it appealing.

Sometimes us 99% have to trade off to be able to enjoy one thing over the other. Although I can imagine one of your priorities would be the food (food pron) and drink. ;+>

[Wizzard419]

It is nice that they will basically run to wherever they need to go if your dining choice lacks a full bar.