Seems like there's a lot of knowledge on this board, thought I would try to find a place to throw this question out...
We just got back from our first ever trip to Disney World. 10 days, and we bought the dining plan. We used a travel agent who assured us the dining plan was the way to go and was the best value. We informed her that we aren't big on desserts and really didn't want to be eating junk food, she reiterated that the dining plan was still the way to go. We stated that none of us drink alcohol (2 adults 1 child on the trip), and we mainly drink water. Our son only drinks water or milk, so it seemed between the alcohol allowance and the re-fillable resort mugs, we might be paying for a ton of things we will never use. She assured us the mugs were "worth their weight in gold."
The trip is now over and I can report that we brought 3 brand new mugs back with us in our luggage. Never filled any of them with anything. We used Amazon Prime groceries to deliver 3 cases of water to our room and for the low cost of $24 we had 105 bottles of spring water. The dining plan included desserts at all the table service meals which we declined, and it took me until the mid point of the trip before I found a place where I could use my snack credits for things like vegetables and couscous. I don't feel like the travel agent was listening, instead trying to sell me on Dole Whips and funnel cakes...neither of which I ever tried.
However, looking at the insane cost of food on the menu, it is possible the dining plan was still the way to go...although I think I could have come out of it cheaper. The mugs, desserts, and alcohol allowance were a non factor for us, yet seem to be the three biggest selling points, leading me to believe I could have been better off without the plan.
Anyway, as I said there appear to be a ton of Disney experts here so I wanted to get some post trip feedback if anyone has any thoughts on the dining plan and how it may have worked better for us. Thanks!
We just got back from our first ever trip to Disney World. 10 days, and we bought the dining plan. We used a travel agent who assured us the dining plan was the way to go and was the best value. We informed her that we aren't big on desserts and really didn't want to be eating junk food, she reiterated that the dining plan was still the way to go. We stated that none of us drink alcohol (2 adults 1 child on the trip), and we mainly drink water. Our son only drinks water or milk, so it seemed between the alcohol allowance and the re-fillable resort mugs, we might be paying for a ton of things we will never use. She assured us the mugs were "worth their weight in gold."
The trip is now over and I can report that we brought 3 brand new mugs back with us in our luggage. Never filled any of them with anything. We used Amazon Prime groceries to deliver 3 cases of water to our room and for the low cost of $24 we had 105 bottles of spring water. The dining plan included desserts at all the table service meals which we declined, and it took me until the mid point of the trip before I found a place where I could use my snack credits for things like vegetables and couscous. I don't feel like the travel agent was listening, instead trying to sell me on Dole Whips and funnel cakes...neither of which I ever tried.
However, looking at the insane cost of food on the menu, it is possible the dining plan was still the way to go...although I think I could have come out of it cheaper. The mugs, desserts, and alcohol allowance were a non factor for us, yet seem to be the three biggest selling points, leading me to believe I could have been better off without the plan.
Anyway, as I said there appear to be a ton of Disney experts here so I wanted to get some post trip feedback if anyone has any thoughts on the dining plan and how it may have worked better for us. Thanks!