Reviews of Disney Dining Plan
Reviewed by lizzie1974 Review Date: 02/11/2013
Rating: (6) Recommended
We've just returned from our 5th trip to Disney and it is the 1st time that we opted out of the Dining Plan.
We saved about $300 by not using the dining plan this time. Basically what we have found out (and it's no secret) is that the portions are too large for each person to get their own meal each time.
The table service restaurants don't mind at all if all you'd like to get is an appetizer and 1 entree to split. You can't do that on the dining plan. We never felt hunger or too full. It was just right.
The best time to utilize the dining plan is if you are basing your trip around the food. We did that a few years ago and were able to eat at Le Cellier, Coral Reef, Akershus, Rose and Crown, Crystal Palace, and several others. Out of pocket these would have been outrageous. It was worth it but the downside is that you must plan your whole day/trip around the table service. Minimum you dedicate 2 hours to each table meal between getting there and the meal itself.
If you prefer a more relaxed trip, skip the dining plan and you'll open up so many more options for yourself.
Pros:
you can try places you've never eaten at beforeCons:
schedulingReviewed by disneyhorsefan Review Date: 01/22/2013
Rating: (6) Not Recommended
On previous trips, I have always been a huge fan of the dining plan. After my most recent trip, I'm not so sure.
I just came home from a 6 night stay at AoA with my sister. Both of us are in our early 20s and are fairly light eaters who occasionally like to indulge.
We had table service reservations for each day, and enjoyed being able to have that many, something we never would have done had we been paying out of pocket. Had I been paying out of pocket, I also would have most likely chosen some of the cheaper entrees rather than the ones I enjoyed on this trip.
That being said, since we are not HUGE eaters we split several counter service meals and snacks to avoid paying out of pocket for ANY food at all during our trip. While it was nice to not pay for any food there, we kept track of how much we "spent" and found it to be about $70 less than what the dining plan cost us. We actually enjoyed splitting the meals since we got so much food anyways, and didn't have to pay for breakfast (or whatever we would have been lacking a CS credit for). Between splitting meals and choosing smaller options that we wanted anyways, it would have been much cheaper to just pay out of pocket.
Lesson learned.
I enjoyed having the refillable mug simply to be able to drink free coffee every morning, lemonade or anything besides water at night, and to have something to fill up at water fountains in the parks. In addition, it is making a great souvenir now that I am home!
While I enjoyed the dining plan in the past, the price increase has made it not worthwhile for us.
Pros:
Convinience, get to try restaurants we wouldn't want to pay for out of pocketCons:
would have saved money paying out of pocket, too much foodReviewed by maze4 Review Date: 10/02/2016
Rating: (7) Recommended
We have been using dp since 2006. It has changed through the years and not all for the good. I do like the fact that meals are prepaid for but doesn't include tips so you still have to either carry $ with you or charge them. Also having an alcoholic drinks also isn't included so have to pay oop or charge. What I really don't like is when servers get confused when you order extra items not included and they bring out separate bills with tips on both. I just wish it was all inclusive. Or Ala Carte also make recommendations for F&W should have plan just for festival where you could be able to use those credits. We did use our snack credits which worked but wasn't enough
Pros:
ConvenienceCons:
Doesn't include tips, alcoholReviewed by Conte Review Date: 12/04/2014
Rating: (7) Recommended
I purchased the Disney Dining plan for our latest trip. Since we are a family of 5 I thought it would save us money. The problem is that when you have a sit down meal you are limited to what you can order. Usually it is a main entree which is normally fine but there were times we would have liked to get just a salad and soup or an appetizer for the meal. The food was good but I felt that the variety was limited it seemed like we had more to choose from last time we used the dining plan 5 years ago. Plus the dessert is a waste. Most of the time we barely ate it and yes we did bring some back to the room only to throw it out untouched. I feel instead of entree and desert they should give you the option of either an appetizer or dessert and entree. Since the tip is not included we spent around $35 in tips for every sit down meal. Next time we go I won't bother with the dining plan because our family would not spend $1500 for meals in 5 days. By not being on the dining plan we will have more menu options during a sit down meal. I have to say the snacks and counter service meals were fine.
Pros:
Huge PortionsCons:
Limited menuReviewed by Time2Talk Review Date: 06/15/2014
Rating: (7) Recommended
My group had the dining plan with one quick service, one table service, and one snack per day. After reviewing our trip, we decided that we will get a quick service only plan for our next visit. We will pay for two table service meals out of pocket for our next visit. A table service meal each night ended up being way too much food.
The tips for a group of four really add up and you need to take this into consideration. Tips added about $10 for each person for a table service meal.
Pros:
PrepaidCons:
TipsReviewed by BacksideOfWater1971 Review Date: 01/26/2014
Rating: (7) Recommended
My recent trip I was given a free quick service dining plan so I paid a small up-charge to get the standard dining plan.
The standard plan allows you 1 Table Service meal, 1 Counter Service meal, and 1 snack per night of your stay as well as a refillable mug you can use at any resort during your stay.
After 5 sit down meals, 5 counter service meal, and 5 snacks I never felt so full in my life.
All the food (with one notable exception. See my Chef Mickey's review for that) was very good but it got to be to much. I had to force myself to use all my counter service meals and snacks to keep them from going to waste and ended up bringing a lot of food home with me.
The refillable mug is nice if you spend a lot of time at the resort, but I don't and you can't fill it at the parks. Also when you come home what are you gonna do with it? I have 4 of them just sitting around now.
Also keep in mind appetizers and tips are NOT included and reservations are required for the table service meals so plan ahead.
The dining plan is not for everyone, but something nice if you eat a lot.
Pros:
Prepaid MealsCons:
Almost to much food, no appitizers, tip not includedReviewed by Hannah1230 Review Date: 08/07/2013
Rating: (7) Recommended
There are some good aspects to the DDP. We have used it for quite a few trips. Some complain of having to make some reservations so far out and you have to plan too much. I kind of find that fun. Planning park and restaurant visits so far ahead of time feels like the vacation lasts longer.
As others have said, however, it was a much better value when we could have an appetizer rather then dessert and when the tip was included.
We would much rather have a nice appetizer then a heavy sweet dessert....most times.
Our trip this November, we are not using the DDP. Instead, we are having a couple table service meals at a favorite restaurant and the rest will be at favorite QS places. I am really looking forward to this for a change. I still have my plans on what parks we will visit each day and the QS we will aim to that day, but this way we can change our mind at the last minute, if we want and we can have great appetizers if we want and no dessert just because we feel we have to eat it because we paid for it with the DDP.
The DDP has it's place but not for every visit.
Pros:
Lots of choicesCons:
too much dessertReviewed by jannielane Review Date: 05/07/2019
Rating: (8) Recommended
We did not use the dining plan this visit, as we stayed at Orange Lake Resort. I missed the dining plan, and we found that we spent far more on food without it. Even with the price per day rising, the dining plan is a bargain, if you use all the credits. Granted, you have to use two sit-down meal credits to eat at a signature restaurant, but even so, it is still a bargain. My husband and I went to Disney World for six days of table service meals, fast food lunches, beverages and snacks, and budgeted $750 for all of it. We blew through that by breakfast on our fifth day, and we were not ordering the most expensive meals. We ate fast food lunches, and dinners were at: Raglan Road, Boma, Mama Melrose's, Citricos, Tiffins, and Tokyo Dining. So, we did eat at two signature restaurants. Spending cash on beverages at the theme parks is mind-bogglingly expensive when you are used to getting a beverage with a snack credit. With the dining plan now including some alcoholic beverages, it is even more distressing to pay full-price for a beer or glass of wine.
In the past, we used snack credits for breakfast at our resort food court, ate a fast food lunch, and a table-service dinner. We felt over-fed sometimes, but other than that, the dining plan worked well. I wish Disney offered some version of a dining plan for people who stay off-property.
Pros:
Good valueCons:
Only available if you stay in the WorldReviewed by morgaa2 Review Date: 09/30/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
We love that the dining plan means we don't need to spend time crunching numbers and picking the lowest cost option. However, to make the dining plan worth the bang for your buck you need to be judicious about where you choose to use your credits. A "snack credit" on an apple is not going to give you the value that a $6.00 pretzel is. If you like to do character meals and ever attend during the food and wine festival the dining plan is worth it. It is also worth it when "free dining" is available. I wouldn't bother if you are not a big eater or have small children. I recommend looking at menus and prices before you go and deciding if you are really going to be saving any money. The dining plan goes up in price every year so although we love the convenience it may not be worth it next visit.
Pros:
Convenience and ability to choose options without considering price. Can be good value if you plan properlyCons:
Prices increase every year, and is not worth it for those with small appetites.Reviewed by annat856 Review Date: 09/28/2018
Rating: (8) Recommended
The Dining plan is flexible and a great feature to add or get for free for those people who like to have their vacation paid in advance. You get a table service and a counter service meal each day. There is also 2 snacks that if you plan right you can use one of them as a snack credit breakfast saving the meal credits for your other meals. We enjoy having it but it's not essential.
