For me it was worth the "value" when we used our TS for character or resort buffets. Thanks to the DP that we got with FDing, we were able to enjoy, Boma, Ohana, Chef Mickesy, etc... I think we did all the charater and WDW buffets., here the average costs is over 50 per person.. Also we spread the Nigts over days.... ex. 5 night plan lasts 6 days when you include checkin and out..
for me paying for the DP would only make sense if you do such dinners... A kona sit down averages between 20-30 meal.. So your OOP is also lower..
Please keep in mind having the DP forces you to enjoy more TS and more expensive meals.. meaning add-on about 30-40 dollars in tips for a family of 4 at a character meal. With a DP, you do such meals every day.... that adds up..
We no longer "need" the DP and feel "FREE" not doing it,, saving on tips, more time for parkts as each TS was a min. of 2 hours a day for that ressier.. Some days we only do QS or snacks... our OOP is cheaper..
My suggestion a family doing WDW the first time, it might make sense as then you try all the buffertts, character dining... We have been there and done that.
For me it was worth the "value" when we used our TS for character or resort buffets. Thanks to the DP that we got with FDing, we were able to enjoy, Boma, Ohana, Chef Mickesy, etc... I think we did all the charater and WDW buffets., here the average costs is over 50 per person.. Also we spread the Nigts over days.... ex. 5 night plan lasts 6 days when you include checkin and out..
for me paying for the DP would only make sense if you do such dinners... A kona sit down averages between 20-30 meal.. So your OOP is also lower..
Please keep in mind having the DP forces you to enjoy more TS and more expensive meals.. meaning add-on about 30-40 dollars in tips for a family of 4 at a character meal. With a DP, you do such meals every day.... that adds up..
We no longer "need" the DP and feel "FREE" not doing it,, saving on tips, more time for parkts as each TS was a min. of 2 hours a day for that ressier.. Some days we only do QS or snacks... our OOP is cheaper..
My suggestion a family doing WDW the first time, it might make sense as then you try all the buffertts, character dining... We have been there and done that.
At this point, for my family, I absolutely agree with this.
Last week, was our first trip without the dining plan, but we have had 5 trips using the dining plan when the kids were younger. Free Dining promos were more frequently offered, and an incredible value, when my kiddos were little. Some of these trips were way back when the
DDP included tip & appetizer too! We have, likely, seen most all of the character meals and many other fun WDW restaurants: 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's (several times), Ohana b'fast, O'hana dinner (several times), Kona, Cinderella's Royal Table (breakfast and lunch), Liberty Tree Tavern during the
MNSSHP (when characters used to be there & in Halloween costumes), Crystal Palace (breakfast and dinner), Boma , Ohana, Whispering Canyon Cafe (several times), Rose & Crown, Teppanedo, Biergarten, Via Napoli, 50s Primetime, Sci-Fi, Beaches and Cream, Mama Melrose / Fantasmic dinner, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show at FW, Rainforest Cafe...etc. We still enjoyed several TS meals on this OOP trip, including O'hana and Via Napoli, but my teens also preferred to visit the TS restaurants that offered less "value" on the DDP, such as Sci-Fi and Beaches & Cream, on this trip. We probably would've paid OOP for these restaurants if we were on the DDP this time, thus using the 2 additional credits for Yachtsman and CG. That would have meant even more time at a restaurant(s) each day, which didn't fit our touring style on this trip. The kids wanted to snack around the world, park hop on a whim/chill at the pool, and have more flexibility. It really depends on what you wish to do on your Disney trip. On our next visit (with just my husband) for our 20th anniversary, we'd like to visit some nicer restaurants such as CG and Yachtsman Steakhouse but I'm thinking that paying OOP will still be our best option with these 2 credit restaurants on the itinerary.