My girlfriend actually spent a couple of hours of research building a spreadsheet doing a comparison calculation of how much we might spend on meals ourselves out of pocket vs. using the dining plan. Turns out there was very little difference either way.
Best is when you can get it for free! Booked our trip in August (even though it will be hot) but agreed we like to drink and get desserts/ apps at almost every meal so we will wind up spending similar amounts !
This is exactly what I needed, thank you! I was talked into the DDP against my better judgment. Since I've already paid for it, I'm going to drain every penny that I can out of it.
Bummed that they aren't going back to the old tiers. Our family always went with the 3-table meal plan so we could do multiple "signature" meals / character meals without using up all the credits. They'd usually let us turn the leftover credits into snack take-away on the final day for souvenirs.
Same here! ☺️👍 Hoping they’ll bring it back as an option. (A Disney employee told us they call it the Jabba the Hut plan bc it’s so much food 😂) The freedom that tier allows is unmatchable. The option to go to any signature or character dining, eat anywhere DDP is taken at any time of the day, without the stress of how many credits each takes adds so much ease to the vacation.
DFB great video. I have seen that most people are looking at DDP as a discount service which it is not. It is just a service that simplifies meal payment. As long as you understand that you will be fine. Is DDP the best for a family of simple common food eaters,, No. But if you have a group that is coming to try out new foods then it is perfect.
I will never stop speaking out against the DDP. The relative "value" of a table-service meal on the Plan is approximately $65. IF you have alcohol and dessert every single time, you "only" need to find an entrée that costs around $40 before you break even. Many are less than that, but I will grant that it is possible to come out ahead. However, the two-credit restaurants just made you pay $130 for your meal and you are never going to recoup that.
But it does give the purchaser the peace of mind of ordering whatever they wanted without having to worry about cost. That’s what I want on vacation. I’m not sure why so many folks worry so much about how others spend their money 🤷🏻♀️
I have calculated so many times how much we spend food wise on trip and we get what we want and snacks and we ALWAYS spend so much less than we would for a DDP. I would never get the DDP unless it was a free offer. I pay with my apple watch so I dont even need to pull out a card.
Completely understand your point about DDP and have no doubt the cost ends up being higher. We love the DDP because it’s convenient and because we don’t have to consider the actual price for each meal, snack etc. We lose money, yes, but during the trip it’s not as stressful for us to have the “credits” to use rather than dealing with the costs. It’s not, admittedly, common sense but what we pay extra for towards the DDP is worth the money, because it has it own value to our vacation overall.
The only reason to get the DDP is you want to "feel like" you're at an all inclusive resort or cruise setting and you dont have to break out your wallet. It doesn't work out that way and gets uber complicated if you're drinking alcohol, going to 2 credit meals (of which there are many), or SIMPLY PAYING THE TIP ! Pro tip...get a disney Visa and carry a slim wallet at Disney -- ID and credit card only. You're bank account and waist line will thank you.
@@mikeymutual5489 Decent suggestion but not very "magical". I'd suggest join DVC or rent the points. Stay in a 1 bedroom deluxe resort w/ full kitchen. Order a few Stoufers family size frozen meals and a pizza or two to be delivered plus some sandwich & lunch time fixins. Go to character breakfasts w/ the kids as they are less expensive and kids are full of energy and excitement early instead of being worn out and ready for nap time. Crystal palace, chef Mickey's, Garden Grill, Cinderellas Table, etc. will never fail to please a little and Disney breakfast is always pretty good and standard fare. Pro tip is to bring a grandparent along to watch the kids a couple nights so mom & dad can go to a couple fancy dinners in the parks / resorts. Keep the fun and magic alive without breaking the piggy bank for mid-quality food that the kids may not even eat or enjoy.
Will your wallet actually thank you tho? Because you still have to pay off the credit card after your trip and then you have to deal with interest on top of all that if you can't pay it all off in the next month & depending on how long of a vacation you are going on that can be even more expensive than just getting the DDP before your trip (at least then you can gradually pay the trip off up to I think 30 days before your vacation but don't quote me on that). My philosophy with the DDP is if your trip is a week+ get the dining plan (even if it's just the quick service one) that food costs adds up quickly, you can avoid many unnecessary payments in Disney like not getting the memory maker or Genie+ but you can't avoid food costs because you need food to live. Although you do have a good point with the waist line thing.
@@wickeddisney55 In my experience, only if you dont pay the bill will the credit card company charge you intrest. Maybe not the right time to visit Disney if youre charging everything and not able to pay for it. So if you pay directly for your meals you will pay less overall vs DDP, choose more appropriately where and what you will eat, not feel obligated to eat big when youre not as hungry, and not feel as wasteful at the end of the day/ vacation. These are my two cents having tried the DDP once before and left feeling a bit disgusted with myself (wasteful & indulgent) and disappointed in the cost and overall DDP dining experience.
@@wickeddisney55 Maybe you have a point about the quick service DDP -- never considered it and the aggravation of paying for the tip is eliminated b/c its just for QS meals and snacks. Might do some mathing and possibly try it next time. Thx
I didn't know they served breakfast. I was talking about lunch & dinner being 2 table credits. I just looked on their site after reading your comment & it is 1 table credit for breakfast.
Hey AJ today was the 60 day mark we made ADR’s trip is from January 8th-14th park days are 1/9-1/13 decided to just make ADR’s rather than getting DDP it’s better . I’m hyped for Space 220 we got in and I was like yes !!! These are the ones we have booked for now Yak and Yeti lunch AK Rainforest Cafe dinner Disney Springs , Crystal Palace lunch MK , Space 220 Epcot, Sebastian’s Bistro dinner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort(where we are staying) Sc Fi Dine in lunch at Hollywood Studios and Be our Guest lunch MK. What shocked me was that Garden Grill and Cinderella’s Royal table were sold out before space 220 edit 5 days till Disney now 1/6/24-1/14/24 added an extra park day and taking some time to relax and spend at Disney Springs
The formula to make it work seems to center around ordering the signature cocktail…. We are light drinkers.., and with the family in Disney…, ordering a drink every time just to make the plan work from a dollars and cents perspective isn’t the path at least for our family. Will keep reviewing.., but non-stop character buffets to make the cost work would also get tiring…
Are the credits for the quick service and table service interchangeable? The day limit is 90 dollars. If I go to quick service for breakfast, does that take away from the price I'm allotted for a table service meal? If I skip breakfast, can I spend all of it at a table service dinner? I'm planning my first Disney vacation and I'm very overwhelmed, PLEASE HELP.
Disney is amazing at providing delicious options for those with dietary restrictions. My party includes a vegetarian, pescatarian and diabetic. We are all Disney foodies.
At 'Ohana, even if you have a fireworks view table, it is possible/likely that someone will just walk in and stand between your table and the window. Aside from pummeling said person senseless, there's nothing you can do about it.
Question: Can Disney gift cards be used at table service establishments? If so,can the gift card be used to add a tip onto payment as well? If these two things are the case maybe buying gift cards ahead of time would be the best of both sides of the DDP SPECTRUM
No thanks on the DDP. Suppose you get a cold or upset stomach from being around thousands of germy people all day long at the parks. Trust me you are not going to eat all that food and you’ll feel even worse after wasting all that money.
I would love an updated snack video specifically for DDP! I love you best snacks of 2024 vids, but you don’t differentiate if a snack is DDP eligible or not…
And guests complain that Genie+ is too complex to figure out and make worth the cost! Unless the DDP is an automatic savings, no matter which menu item you order, I'll never understand why guests are so eager to lose money on this.
I honestly think a lot of ppl don’t understand how to maximize it and I also think a lot of ppl don’t have to worry about cost the way my family does. Which I honestly think is awesome for them! Tiny bit jealous 😂
I don’t even know how we are supposed to get the dinning plan we arrive for our stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort on January 8th late at night by the time we check in it will be midnight on January 9th and we come back home on January 14th our park days are 1/9-1/13 edit we decided not to get the Dinning plan we made ADR’s for those 5 days instead and shockingly we got into Space 220 I’m hyped
I suggest that you call Guest Services. They will listen and figure out the best way to accommodate. DDP is more for simplifying your payment method. It is not a discount plan. As long as you understand that you will be able to enjoy DDP.
😭Sadly, no premium dining plan anymore. That was the one we loved. I don't see us using the DDP anymore. We usually do a character meal everyday and several signature meals during our visits. We're not quick service diners so the value is just not there for us with these 2 plans. Maybe they'll eventually bring it back. 🤞 Or even better would be a Tables in Wonderland return.
@TheGoofy1932 I tried the premium back in 2014 for a 9 day trip, but we were pretty much overstuffed after day 3, we got tired of eating so many rich meals all the time. I remember barely being able to taste the PB&J shake from 50s Prime Time. Plus dining took up SO much of our time and limited our ability to get on some of the attractions we wanted.
I understand that this is Disney Food Blog, so it's your job to educated people about the DDP, but it seems like the pupblic opinion has soured on this.
Oh but it is, if you're coming from the UK. Because at the moment, if you book a Disney World holiday from the UK by 9th November, with nearly all of the resort hotels, you'll get a dining and merchandise credit included with your booking. The value depends on what type of resort you stay at, for example, a value resort will give you $500 worth of dining credit, a moderate resort will give you $1000, and a deluxe resort will give you $1200. Also, you'll get a free $100 gift ($200 if you booked a flight inclusive package). Add the DDP, and you won't need to take much spending money at all, because with all I just mentioned, you're pretty much covered. That's why the dining plan is still worth considering
@@jackwilkinson4911the dining plan has no affect on you getting the promo card. The dining plan just costs you money. You would still be ahead by just using the dining gift card that’s included with your package. Also OP never indicated they were from the UK, no need to give them a spiel on how it’s worth it (when it isn’t) when you don’t even know if it applies to them 😂
@@EmmaGranger99When I looked at how much the dining plan cost in pounds, I saw that it was actually less than how much spending money I took with me this year. So I chose to add it to my booking for that reason and when I combine that with the $1000 dining and merchandise credit, as well as $200 gift card, I've saved myself money
Can we please get a video like this of ONLY the quick service and snack locations ?
My girlfriend actually spent a couple of hours of research building a spreadsheet doing a comparison calculation of how much we might spend on meals ourselves out of pocket vs. using the dining plan. Turns out there was very little difference either way.
Best is when you can get it for free! Booked our trip in August (even though it will be hot) but agreed we like to drink and get desserts/ apps at almost every meal so we will wind up spending similar amounts !
This is exactly what I needed, thank you! I was talked into the DDP against my better judgment. Since I've already paid for it, I'm going to drain every penny that I can out of it.
Bummed that they aren't going back to the old tiers. Our family always went with the 3-table meal plan so we could do multiple "signature" meals / character meals without using up all the credits. They'd usually let us turn the leftover credits into snack take-away on the final day for souvenirs.
Same here! ☺️👍 Hoping they’ll bring it back as an option. (A Disney employee told us they call it the Jabba the Hut plan bc it’s so much food 😂) The freedom that tier allows is unmatchable. The option to go to any signature or character dining, eat anywhere DDP is taken at any time of the day, without the stress of how many credits each takes adds so much ease to the vacation.
Disney has become a MASTER at F'ing their customers! Trust me, it's NOT COMING BACK!
Please can we get thia exact video but for the Quick Service plan please
DFB great video. I have seen that most people are looking at DDP as a discount service which it is not. It is just a service that simplifies meal payment. As long as you understand that you will be fine. Is DDP the best for a family of simple common food eaters,, No. But if you have a group that is coming to try out new foods then it is perfect.
The best filet we ever have in WDW is at Teppan Edo. So tender, so delicious.
I will never stop speaking out against the DDP. The relative "value" of a table-service meal on the Plan is approximately $65. IF you have alcohol and dessert every single time, you "only" need to find an entrée that costs around $40 before you break even. Many are less than that, but I will grant that it is possible to come out ahead. However, the two-credit restaurants just made you pay $130 for your meal and you are never going to recoup that.
But it does give the purchaser the peace of mind of ordering whatever they wanted without having to worry about cost. That’s what I want on vacation. I’m not sure why so many folks worry so much about how others spend their money 🤷🏻♀️
@@melodystader1318Hey, if you're okay with getting ripped off, have at it. Others might appreciate the heads-up though.
I have calculated so many times how much we spend food wise on trip and we get what we want and snacks and we ALWAYS spend so much less than we would for a DDP. I would never get the DDP unless it was a free offer. I pay with my apple watch so I dont even need to pull out a card.
@@SarahSmile6 Everyone does not have a 500 to 800 dollar watch. But hey make sure you tell them how to save money. Lol
Completely understand your point about DDP and have no doubt the cost ends up being higher. We love the DDP because it’s convenient and because we don’t have to consider the actual price for each meal, snack etc. We lose money, yes, but during the trip it’s not as stressful for us to have the “credits” to use rather than dealing with the costs. It’s not, admittedly, common sense but what we pay extra for towards the DDP is worth the money, because it has it own value to our vacation overall.
The only reason to get the DDP is you want to "feel like" you're at an all inclusive resort or cruise setting and you dont have to break out your wallet. It doesn't work out that way and gets uber complicated if you're drinking alcohol, going to 2 credit meals (of which there are many), or SIMPLY PAYING THE TIP !
Pro tip...get a disney Visa and carry a slim wallet at Disney -- ID and credit card only. You're bank account and waist line will thank you.
Better yet - pack a lunch and bring it with you to the parks and then eat dinner off property.
@@mikeymutual5489 Decent suggestion but not very "magical".
I'd suggest join DVC or rent the points. Stay in a 1 bedroom deluxe resort w/ full kitchen. Order a few Stoufers family size frozen meals and a pizza or two to be delivered plus some sandwich & lunch time fixins. Go to character breakfasts w/ the kids as they are less expensive and kids are full of energy and excitement early instead of being worn out and ready for nap time. Crystal palace, chef Mickey's, Garden Grill, Cinderellas Table, etc. will never fail to please a little and Disney breakfast is always pretty good and standard fare.
Pro tip is to bring a grandparent along to watch the kids a couple nights so mom & dad can go to a couple fancy dinners in the parks / resorts. Keep the fun and magic alive without breaking the piggy bank for mid-quality food that the kids may not even eat or enjoy.
Will your wallet actually thank you tho? Because you still have to pay off the credit card after your trip and then you have to deal with interest on top of all that if you can't pay it all off in the next month & depending on how long of a vacation you are going on that can be even more expensive than just getting the DDP before your trip (at least then you can gradually pay the trip off up to I think 30 days before your vacation but don't quote me on that).
My philosophy with the DDP is if your trip is a week+ get the dining plan (even if it's just the quick service one) that food costs adds up quickly, you can avoid many unnecessary payments in Disney like not getting the memory maker or Genie+ but you can't avoid food costs because you need food to live.
Although you do have a good point with the waist line thing.
@@wickeddisney55 In my experience, only if you dont pay the bill will the credit card company charge you intrest. Maybe not the right time to visit Disney if youre charging everything and not able to pay for it.
So if you pay directly for your meals you will pay less overall vs DDP, choose more appropriately where and what you will eat, not feel obligated to eat big when youre not as hungry, and not feel as wasteful at the end of the day/ vacation.
These are my two cents having tried the DDP once before and left feeling a bit disgusted with myself (wasteful & indulgent) and disappointed in the cost and overall DDP dining experience.
@@wickeddisney55 Maybe you have a point about the quick service DDP -- never considered it and the aggravation of paying for the tip is eliminated b/c its just for QS meals and snacks.
Might do some mathing and possibly try it next time.
Thx
I'm bummed that the 3 meals plan didn't come back. 🤞🤞 that is does in the future.
For those of you watching in March 2024, Akershus is now 2 table credits vs 1.
for breakfast too? I thought lunch/dinner was 2 and breakfast was 1 table credit.
I didn't know they served breakfast. I was talking about lunch & dinner being 2 table credits. I just looked on their site after reading your comment & it is 1 table credit for breakfast.
Hey AJ today was the 60 day mark we made ADR’s trip is from January 8th-14th park days are 1/9-1/13 decided to just make ADR’s rather than getting DDP it’s better . I’m hyped for Space 220 we got in and I was like yes !!! These are the ones we have booked for now Yak and Yeti lunch AK Rainforest Cafe dinner Disney Springs , Crystal Palace lunch MK , Space 220 Epcot, Sebastian’s Bistro dinner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort(where we are staying) Sc Fi Dine in lunch at Hollywood Studios and Be our Guest lunch MK. What shocked me was that Garden Grill and Cinderella’s Royal table were sold out before space 220 edit 5 days till Disney now 1/6/24-1/14/24 added an extra park day and taking some time to relax and spend at Disney Springs
The formula to make it work seems to center around ordering the signature cocktail…. We are light drinkers.., and with the family in Disney…, ordering a drink every time just to make the plan work from a dollars and cents perspective isn’t the path at least for our family. Will keep reviewing.., but non-stop character buffets to make the cost work would also get tiring…
Do you have a similar video but for people using the Quick Service Dining Plan?
Makes me want another visit soon!
Ive never done the dining plan! would like to do it at least once to give my two credits about it!
Can you add credits to your DDP plan???
Are the credits for the quick service and table service interchangeable? The day limit is 90 dollars. If I go to quick service for breakfast, does that take away from the price I'm allotted for a table service meal? If I skip breakfast, can I spend all of it at a table service dinner? I'm planning my first Disney vacation and I'm very overwhelmed, PLEASE HELP.
At a family style buffet, how do you go about different diets? I’m vegetarian but my husband is not
They’ll bring out both options in smaller portions
Disney is amazing at providing delicious options for those with dietary restrictions. My party includes a vegetarian, pescatarian and diabetic. We are all Disney foodies.
I have a random question. My niece will be joining us for a couple of days while we are there. Can I use one of our extra TS credits for her?
At 'Ohana, even if you have a fireworks view table, it is possible/likely that someone will just walk in and stand between your table and the window. Aside from pummeling said person senseless, there's nothing you can do about it.
If I dine mostly at signature restaurants that use up two credits. Is the standard Dining Plan still worth it for me? Can anyone advise ? Thanks.
Do you have one of these for Disneyland California
What about California Grill? Is that two dining credits?
Question: Can Disney gift cards be used at table service establishments? If so,can the gift card be used to add a tip onto payment as well? If these two things are the case maybe buying gift cards ahead of time would be the best of both sides of the DDP SPECTRUM
On the website it says California Grill does not accept dining plan at all
Will any unused credits on either plan convert to snack credits before you leave like they did prior to the 2020 closing?
They always had to be converted by a CM, we'll be testing to see if this is still the case when it comes back
Do you have to eat the items they mentioned or do you get a choice?
No thanks on the DDP. Suppose you get a cold or upset stomach from being around thousands of germy people all day long at the parks. Trust me you are not going to eat all that food and you’ll feel even worse after wasting all that money.
Love allllll of if your videos!!
I would love an updated snack video specifically for DDP! I love you best snacks of 2024 vids, but you don’t differentiate if a snack is DDP eligible or not…
And guests complain that Genie+ is too complex to figure out and make worth the cost! Unless the DDP is an automatic savings, no matter which menu item you order, I'll never understand why guests are so eager to lose money on this.
I honestly think a lot of ppl don’t understand how to maximize it and I also think a lot of ppl don’t have to worry about cost the way my family does. Which I honestly think is awesome for them! Tiny bit jealous 😂
Sadly without the Deluxe DP , my family of 3 teens and I just wouldn't have enough value to eat, so we just dip out a pocket now
Let me hear this right? Is the alcohol drinks covered by the dining plans?
You get one and an entree. That’s it. They’re playing mind games.
I don’t even know how we are supposed to get the dinning plan we arrive for our stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort on January 8th late at night by the time we check in it will be midnight on January 9th and we come back home on January 14th our park days are 1/9-1/13 edit we decided not to get the Dinning plan we made ADR’s for those 5 days instead and shockingly we got into Space 220 I’m hyped
I suggest that you call Guest Services. They will listen and figure out the best way to accommodate. DDP is more for simplifying your payment method. It is not a discount plan. As long as you understand that you will be able to enjoy DDP.
Also tomorrow is the 60 day mark for our trip we can make ADR’s tomorrow
Will they still have the premium dining plan?
Only 2
😭Sadly, no premium dining plan anymore. That was the one we loved. I don't see us using the DDP anymore. We usually do a character meal everyday and several signature meals during our visits. We're not quick service diners so the value is just not there for us with these 2 plans. Maybe they'll eventually bring it back. 🤞 Or even better would be a Tables in Wonderland return.
@TheGoofy1932 I tried the premium back in 2014 for a 9 day trip, but we were pretty much overstuffed after day 3, we got tired of eating so many rich meals all the time. I remember barely being able to taste the PB&J shake from 50s Prime Time. Plus dining took up SO much of our time and limited our ability to get on some of the attractions we wanted.
Wont use it unless it becomes free again for uk
I understand that this is Disney Food Blog, so it's your job to educated people about the DDP, but it seems like the pupblic opinion has soured on this.
Not worth it
Oh but it is, if you're coming from the UK. Because at the moment, if you book a Disney World holiday from the UK by 9th November, with nearly all of the resort hotels, you'll get a dining and merchandise credit included with your booking. The value depends on what type of resort you stay at, for example, a value resort will give you $500 worth of dining credit, a moderate resort will give you $1000, and a deluxe resort will give you $1200. Also, you'll get a free $100 gift ($200 if you booked a flight inclusive package). Add the DDP, and you won't need to take much spending money at all, because with all I just mentioned, you're pretty much covered. That's why the dining plan is still worth considering
@@jackwilkinson4911the dining plan has no affect on you getting the promo card. The dining plan just costs you money. You would still be ahead by just using the dining gift card that’s included with your package. Also OP never indicated they were from the UK, no need to give them a spiel on how it’s worth it (when it isn’t) when you don’t even know if it applies to them 😂
@@EmmaGranger99When I looked at how much the dining plan cost in pounds, I saw that it was actually less than how much spending money I took with me this year. So I chose to add it to my booking for that reason and when I combine that with the $1000 dining and merchandise credit, as well as $200 gift card, I've saved myself money
The prices are prohibitive and most guests are overweight! Welcome to Disney!
What a tacky way to talk about other humans
Never budget for tips ,because I don't do tips
Then you really shouldn't eat at restaurants where gratuity is the expected societal norm.