Which costs less the Disney Dining Plan or paying Out Of Pocket?

February 26, 2015

Question: Which is less – The Disney Dining Plan or paying out of pocket?

Answer: This is a tough question to answer because it honestly depends on the eating habits of your travel party.

The standard Disney Dining plan includes 1 Quick Service meal, 1 Table Service Meal and 1 Snack Credit per person per night. The meals include a non-alcoholic beverage, entree and dessert for lunch and dinner (unless it’s a buffet then it’s all included!) and a non-alcoholic beverage and entree for breakfast. It also includes a Rapid Refill mug that can be refilled for free at any Disney Resort. The cost for 2015 is $60.04 per adult per night and $19.23 per child (ages 3-9) per night.

Now if after that you’re thinking – “Wow, that sounds like a lot of food!” or “Dessert at EVERY meal!?” then the DDP is probably not going to save you money and it will probably be more cost effective for you to pay out of pocket.

If you’re still with and thinking, “That still might be worth it…” let’s look a little closer at actual costs of meals and try and crunch a few numbers. **Please remember this is just an example to give you a better idea of OOP costs vs the Dining plan!

On our upcoming trip my family plan on having breakfast in our hotel room (we bring cereal and milk or yogurt to keep in the refrigerator) but grab coffee from the food court at around $2 each for 2 cups, lunch at Pecos Bill’s in Magic Kingdom and dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. We are a family of 3, but our son is only 2 so he is free at buffets! Now, my husband and I will most likely get burgers and I will share mine with my son since I’m not a huge eater and neither is he! We will also most likely stick to water for our drinks and get our son a yogurt. I’d estimate the total cost to be $24.57. Dinner is a buffet (and those prices tend to change based on season and sometimes even day of the week!) but my best guess is that the meal will cost us $80.00 (not including tip – which is not included in the DDP either). The total for the day is $108.57. This will be our last day in the parks so we will probably each grab a Mickey Bar to end the trip. At just under $4 each that would bring our total to $116.15. Paying OOP the dining plan would have cost us $120.08 for the day.

So maybe the DDP isn’t the best option for my family if we have to pay full price, but what about promotions?! Again, the same answer applies – it STILL depends on eating habits. Promotions that include the dining plan are often run along side a room only offer – allowing guests to chose one or the other. In many instances, 30% off of a deluxe resort is a bigger savings than taking advantage of a free dining offer. It is certainly worth taking a look to figure out where the biggest savings can be had!

Now, unlike me, you may not have more than one spreadsheet that helps you figure that out. This is where enlisting the help of a Travel Magician with World of Magic Travel, like myself, is a good idea. We understand the Disney Dining Plan and promotions that may or may not include it. We are more than happy to look at your family’s dining preferences and help you make the best decision for your budget!

A few other things to consider:

If you plan on enjoying most character meals/buffets/all-you-care-to-enjoy Table Service meals the DDP becomes a better value as those are the most expensive, non-signature dining experiences at WDW.
The cost between the DDP and paying OOP may end up being $0. If that is the case it can be nice to add it to your package because it can simplify things as far as carrying cash/credit cards on your vacation.
There is a Quick Service Dining Plan that includes 2 QS meals and 1 Snack per person per night that may be better for guests who don’t wan to miss a second of park time eating at a Table Service restaurant. Again, the costs should be weighed to determine if this is the best choice for your wallet!

Are you wondering if the dining plan is best for your upcoming trip? Want to make sure you’re getting the best deal available? Email me today at alissa@worldofmagictravel.com or find me on Facebook to start planning your next “Magical” Disney vacation!

Which costs less the Disney Dining Plan or paying Out Of Pocket? 1

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