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nraboni
Uggh...
Member since 10/09 6905 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Disney Dining Plan
In your experience, do you think the Dining Plan is worth it?
I would choose the Quick Service Plan and then make reservations at some character dining restaurants for a few days.
My other option is to not choose a dining plan and have a grocery delivery of food for breakfast, lunch, snacks and water/juice. Then we could eat breakfast in the hotel and bring lunch/snack stuff to the park since they allow outside food.
What do you think?
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Posted 1/14/15 10:08 AM  |
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ThreeforTea
Girls just want to have fun..
Member since 5/12 7482 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Disney Dining Plan
I would only go for the dining plan if you are getting it for "free".
Do you plan on doing a lot of character dining?
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| Posted 1/14/15 11:05 AM |
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snowprincess
My happy babies
Member since 3/06 3428 total posts
Name:
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Disney Dining Plan
Dining plan is not really worth it for most people. Feel like you have food stamps with the credits
I choose to buy Disney gift cards with a target red card - save 5% there and then use those to buy food. Most meals you can estimate -
I did order food to the hotel - it worked great - if you order early there are discounts for garden grocer - plus they let you change the order up to 2 days in advance I believe - I was adding stuff last minute
even free dining does not usually beat the discount on rooms that are out there
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| Posted 1/14/15 11:27 AM |
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nraboni
Uggh...
Member since 10/09 6905 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Disney Dining Plan
I'm looking to book an economy resort so I don't think I would get a room discount anyway. When do they usually offer "free dining"?
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| Posted 1/14/15 11:45 AM |
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ThreeforTea
Girls just want to have fun..
Member since 5/12 7482 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
2014 Free Dining Dates:
August 31, 2014 – October 3, 2014
October 26, 2014 – November 1, 2014
November 9, 2014 – November 20, 2014
December 12, 2014 – December 23, 2014
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| Posted 1/14/15 11:53 AM |
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nraboni
Uggh...
Member since 10/09 6905 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
Posted by ThreeforTea
2014 Free Dining Dates:
August 31, 2014 – October 3, 2014
October 26, 2014 – November 1, 2014
November 9, 2014 – November 20, 2014
December 12, 2014 – December 23, 2014
Thank you!
Does anyone know how the crowds are the week before Christmas vs. the 1st week in December (which is when I wanted to go)
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| Posted 1/14/15 12:58 PM |
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ThreeforTea
Girls just want to have fun..
Member since 5/12 7482 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
Posted by nraboni
Posted by ThreeforTea
2014 Free Dining Dates:
August 31, 2014 – October 3, 2014
October 26, 2014 – November 1, 2014
November 9, 2014 – November 20, 2014
December 12, 2014 – December 23, 2014
Thank you!
Does anyone know how the crowds are the week before Christmas vs. the 1st week in December (which is when I wanted to go)
I heard from people that the 1st week in December is the perfect time to go. Low crowds.
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| Posted 1/14/15 1:17 PM |
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MrsM429
Mama x2 <3
Member since 12/10 4946 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
Posted by nraboni
Posted by ThreeforTea
2014 Free Dining Dates:
August 31, 2014 – October 3, 2014
October 26, 2014 – November 1, 2014
November 9, 2014 – November 20, 2014
December 12, 2014 – December 23, 2014
Thank you!
Does anyone know how the crowds are the week before Christmas vs. the 1st week in December (which is when I wanted to go)
One of the best weeks to go IMO. My family goes every year during this week, and we joined them 2 years ago. You could walk onto every ride. Here's a chart that was shared on another board ranking the best weeks of 2015
Message edited 1/14/2015 1:48:21 PM.
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| Posted 1/14/15 1:47 PM |
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DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9537 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
We go to Disney fairly often, and IMHO, the dining plan is worth it. This past October we actually kept track, dollar for dollar, on the costs, and came out ahead using the dining plan. This was for the regular dining, not quick service.
It is not, however, for everyone. When I'm on vacation, I want to sit down to a meal, and have table service. I don't want to stand on line and hunt around for a table while carrying a tray for every meal. I'm also not that big a fan of the counter service options. Honestly, how many days in a row can you eat hamburgers, and chicken fingers? That is not to say that you can't get some fabulous sandwiches or other choices - but those types of counter service choices are not available everywhere (and certainly not in Magic Kingdom - which IMHO, had the worst choices for meals anywhere in Disney). That being said, to have table service, you truly have to plan in advance. Make your reservations 180 out to get the "good" restaurants, and sort of micromanage your trip ahead of time.
I highly recommend checking out the menus at some quick service dining choices to see if that's really what you want to eat for the length of your stay.
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| Posted 1/14/15 10:07 PM |
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NewlyMrs
Laugh-Live-Love LIFE!
Member since 10/06 14432 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
I totally agree with DancinBarefoot!
Even my kids favorite restaurants were cal grill, & many other sit down ones. We itemized every meal we did this past vacation & even if we didn't order the free app/dessert, & ordered like we would have, we still saved with the plan. We typically don't eat every meal & then combine credits to go to signature restaurants. And we always have snacks to take home from the candy shops.
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| Posted 1/15/15 7:23 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
Check out this summary for a good overall explanation of whether or not it's worth it.
Josh's site
I haven't read his analysis in a long time but from what I remember the QS dining plan is supposedly very rarely a good deal based on the prices of a typical quick service meal.
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| Posted 1/15/15 8:45 PM |
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pumpkinmom
LIF Adult
Member since 5/12 2912 total posts
Name:
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Disney Dining Plan
We always end up eating at quick service restaurants, but I never love the food. I wouldn't want to pre-pay for it.
If you can get a better hotel price instead of the free dining deal, I would do that. Then you have more flexibility for meals.
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| Posted 1/16/15 6:10 AM |
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drewsgirl
My loves
Member since 5/05 3221 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Disney Dining Plan
honestly for us it is worth it bc I don't want to have to worry about money in the parks..having it all paid for in advance lets me enjoy the trip more and not worry about the cost of things..going this year with my little guy probably wouldnt have to get it, not the biggest eater but now I am not worrying about having enough $$ on me for the trip.
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| Posted 1/16/15 9:26 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
I LOVE the Dining Plan, it's worked out great for us every time we've used it. I love it even better when it's FREE!! 
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| Posted 1/16/15 11:48 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
Posted by drewsgirl
honestly for us it is worth it bc I don't want to have to worry about money in the parks..having it all paid for in advance lets me enjoy the trip more and not worry about the cost of things..going this year with my little guy probably wouldnt have to get it, not the biggest eater but now I am not worrying about having enough $$ on me for the trip.
I agree with this. We've only gone once as a family and we had "free" dining. We really liked it. I think the best part was not having to worry about how much we're spending on meals. It let us enjoy it more since you're not getting a bill at the end.
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| Posted 1/18/15 11:58 AM |
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nraboni
Uggh...
Member since 10/09 6905 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Disney Dining Plan
If I book my trip now and a free dining promotion is later offered for the time period that I am going, can I add it?
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| Posted 1/18/15 3:36 PM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
Posted by nraboni
If I book my trip now and a free dining promotion is later offered for the time period that I am going, can I add it?
Yes, that's what we did for our upcoming trip.
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| Posted 1/18/15 3:53 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Dining Plan
Posted by nraboni
If I book my trip now and a free dining promotion is later offered for the time period that I am going, can I add it?
we plan to do this for our trip. we want to go the first week of september, which is usually included in free dining.
we could make our dining reservations in March (180 days before) BUT free dining isn't announced usually until May. so we're just gonna book the room and tickets now and do our dining reservations- and then hopefully be able to add the free dining when it gets announced. we might end up having to change our resort, too if its not included in the free dining... but we would be ok with that
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| Posted 1/18/15 4:46 PM |
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