Average cost of meals versus Disney Dining Plan

Hi All,

I am still undecided about the DDp and would really like some further advice is poss.

I know the plan has changed for this year, so with this in mind can anyone answer the following questions?

1. With all the changes to the 2008 plan, is it staill worth doing?

2. What would you say it costs (on average) to feed a family of 4 per day within the resort/parks if you are not on the plan?

3. We are staying at All Star Movies, but had planned to get a taxi to International Drive one or two nights during our stay to go somewhere different to eat which is why we worried about the DPD being wasted - Is this a viable option?

4. Is there anywhere close by when we can buy cheap food (sandwiches etc) to take into the park to save a few pennies, or is this a waste of time?

I am pushing for the plan, but as it will cost us an extra 拢860 , I just don%26#39;t want to get out there and think I wish we had/hadn%26#39;t done it!

Any help would be very gratefully received

Average cost of meals versus Disney Dining Plan

What are kid ages and are they big eaters if so do the plan if there not big eaters budget yourself for the meals that%26#39;s what I do.

Average cost of meals versus Disney Dining Plan

Disney does not allow you to bring in ';picnics';. Snacks are ok, but not meals.

If you want to do all counter service, then allow about $7-10 per person. That will depend on what you order of course. If you want a dessert, add a little more. Counter servcie is not all cheeseburgers. If you look around, you can find grilled chicken ceasar salads, grilled steak %26amp; veggie kabobs, mexican food, soups in bread bowls, ham sandwhiches, etc.

The only change in the dining plan is that it no longer includes an appetizer or tip. It doesn%26#39;t effect us much, we don%26#39;t need an appetizer EACH, with our meal , and a dessert EACH at every meal. I have had the deluxe plan as well as an in between plan before. They were always cost effecient for us.

If you go to a table service restaurant, then expect $15-30 per person. For example, at Cinderella castle, I think the prime rib meal is about $30, not including the drink and dessert is extra if you want it. (Now there prices are fixed I think....)

Kids meals are cheaper, but are only for kids under 10. (Like MOST American restaurants).

How many meals a day will you eat? Some families are a 3 meal a day kind, others are good with just one big meal and a snack.

The meal plan for 8 days cost me an extra $900. For the places we%26#39;ll eat, it%26#39;s cheaper. We will still pay for a couple of table service places as we prefer those over counter service and have our favorites.

The Character meals are fun. My kids are almost too big for them.....however, we like the food so I have 4 planned while there. Chef Mickeys%26#39;, Crystal Palace, Cinderella Castle, %26amp; Tusker House. On the days we eat the big breakfast, we%26#39;ll just do a snack and skip lunch, then eat an earlier dinner. The basic plan will still supply plenty of food. In my opinion, not too much food. The plan gives you 2 meals %26amp; a snack. We typically eat 3 meals a day, however, when it%26#39;s hot our appetites aren%26#39;t as good. We have 2 in the family that have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) so eating regularly is important for us.

when are you planning on travelling

I found a little more information for you...

Crystal Palace Character Breakfast Adults 18.99

kids (age 3-9) 10.99

Crystal Palace Character Dinner Adults $27.99

kids 12.99

Cinderella Dinner (2 table credits) adults $44.99 kids $27.99

counter service El Pirata y el Perico (mexican)

2 tacos with beans %26amp; rice $5.79

kids quesadilla meal $3.99

Main Street Bake Shop assorted breakfast items $1.49-5.99

MGM Sci Fi Dine In lunch

Baby Back ribs meal $18.99

Reuben sandwhich with fries $10.99

Mama Melroses Dinner

Chicken Parmesan $17

Animal Kingdom Kusafiri Coffe Shop

muffins $1.79-3.99

coffee 1.89

coke 2.09 %26amp; 2.39

fruit cup 2.99

Check out the www.allears.net website. Click on the right ';dining';. Then down the left side you can click on menus. Most of the menus give you prices.

Hope this makes it easier. Good luck. :)

You can get an idea of how much you would spend by taking a look at the menus on www.wdwinfo.com. You%26#39;ll have to make reservations for ALL of your table service meals which means you%26#39;ll have to plan that ahead of time which means that you%26#39;ll have to plan what park you%26#39;ll visit on what day which also means you%26#39;ll have an idea of where you%26#39;ll be eating your counter service.

Sounds tedious and it is, but the good news is that all that planning means you%26#39;ll get an introduction into the restaurants and gives you an idea of what type of eating you will do. We%26#39;ve found that we don%26#39;t like making reservations and so we don%26#39;t do many table service restaurants. That means the dining plan doesn%26#39;t work for us and especially since our eating habits end up being cheaper than the expense of the dining plan.

1. The DDP is worth doing if you eat a table service meal each day of your visit or want to do character meals or dinner shows.

2. If you didn%26#39;t get the plan, but still ate the same amount of food, you would spend more $$ individually, unless you only ate appetizers at the table service places. Most meals are at least $25 per person and that%26#39;s on the low side; many are $30 or $35 for just one meal.

3. If you purchase the DDP, don%26#39;t bother with going outside Disney to eat. This would make you loose money on the deal. If you want to eat out of Disney for several meals, forego the DDP.

4. You can ';bring in'; small amounts of food, but not enough for a full meal. If you want sandwiches and such, it%26#39;s just better to buy counter service at the parks.

Thank you all so much, this is great advice and just what I was afetr. As we are visiting with another family, I will have to speak with them and see what they want to do also. We are not big eaters so a snack at lunch time is fine for us, the girls are 7 and 8 and really don%26#39;t eat that much.

From what I have read, it seem that the plan would suit me as it%26#39;s one less thing to think about, I just need to convince the others. I guess making the reservations before we go would help us with our plan for the 2 weeks too.

We leave in 17 days (not that I%26#39;m counting or anything!!)

Thanks again for all the tips.

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