Time for yet another dining plan discussion! I really need input on whether to add the Dining Plan or the Deluxe Dining Plan to our trip ... and I have to decide this week.

A little background: This trip involves two adults and two children. One child is two and a half -- not old enough for the plan, but old enough to eat a lot! We also have a 5-year-old. Our trip is five nights. My husband and I have been to Disney many times, but never with children. We've never done the dining plan before.

I've made 9 ADRs thus far, but I am willing to adjust that.

It seems from running the numbers that the basic Dining Plan definitely makes sense for us. I'm wondering if anyone with children has had experience with the Deluxe Plan. In one sense, I think it would be helpful: The appetizer on the deluxe plan could be a meal for our youngest, and he could consume one or two of the extra snacks each day.

On the other hand, I don't want to spend the whole trip worried about (1) using all our credits or (2) whether we're getting max value out of the credits by eating in sit down places vs. table service places. I'm guessing flexibility will be essential with the children.

Running the numbers on the Deluxe Plan, it seems some days we'd come out ahead, while others might be a wash. We like room service breakfast and think the credits could be handy for that.

So what should we do? I now leave it to the pros to help me decide! :) A million thanks in advance.

Time for yet another dining plan discussion! I really need input on whether to add the Dining Plan or the Deluxe Dining Plan to our trip ... and I have to decide this week.

A little background: This trip involves two adults and two children. One child is two and a half -- not old enough for the plan, but old enough to eat a lot! We also have a 5-year-old. Our trip is five nights. My husband and I have been to Disney many times, but never with children. We've never done the dining plan before.

I've made 9 ADRs thus far, but I am willing to adjust that.

It seems from running the numbers that the basic Dining Plan definitely makes sense for us. I'm wondering if anyone with children has had experience with the Deluxe Plan. In one sense, I think it would be helpful: The appetizer on the deluxe plan could be a meal for our youngest, and he could consume one or two of the extra snacks each day.

On the other hand, I don't want to spend the whole trip worried about (1) using all our credits or (2) whether we're getting max value out of the credits by eating in sit down places vs. table service places. I'm guessing flexibility will be essential with the children.

Running the numbers on the Deluxe Plan, it seems some days we'd come out ahead, while others might be a wash. We like room service breakfast and think the credits could be handy for that.

So what should we do? I now leave it to the pros to help me decide! :) A million thanks in advance.

I did the 2007 DDP and we LOVED it. However, it was an adult and a teen. You have to have a dining plan for each of the people on the plan, so it's not like the youngest can eat a portion of your meal. He'll have his own plan too.

It's not a big deal to keep track of the credits, but as I'm looking at your post, are you really going to do NINE sit down (ADR/TS) eats in 5 days? While I am an AVID supporter of one sit down meal per day, it does take quite a chunk out of the touring day. Add to that some down time for rest time or nap time and you've taken another few hours out of your day.

I don't want to be a downer, and I know that we really enjoyed our gastric adventure through WDW, but it's not something I would do with the younger (under 13) kids, I don't think.

No matter what you decide, I know you'll have a GREAT time! Hopefully, others will chime in and give you some advice on the other side. I don't want to burst your bubble!!!

Thanks ... I appreciate your perspective and candor!

Maybe I'm reading the info wrong, but I thought the 2 year old didn't need a plan. The child's plan starts at age 3, so I thought younger children were supposed to either eat off parents' plates or purchase a kids meal off plan.

I made 9 ADRs mostly as a precaution since we weren't sure where we'd be when. I wanted to make sure that if we did the deluxe plan, we had good options!

Our meals span five nights but six days -- we'll have only dinner on the evening we check in, and we'll need one or two meals the day we check out. As I said, I am very flexible about dropping or reshuffling a few of them.

Just my opinion but I can't see how anyone is ever going to get value for money out of the deluxe plan - that's just too much food in any one day for anyone, let alone when eaten on consecutive days. I think you are correct that the plan doesn't kick in for an infant of less than three, and I'm SURE if you were ordering two adult and one child's meal there would be more than enough to share with your little one. The portions are quite enormous.

Thanks ... I appreciate your perspective and candor!

Maybe I'm reading the info wrong, but I thought the 2 year old didn't need a plan. The child's plan starts at age 3, so I thought younger children were supposed to either eat off parents' plates or purchase a kids meal off plan.

I made 9 ADRs mostly as a precaution since we weren't sure where we'd be when. I wanted to make sure that if we did the deluxe plan, we had good options!

Our meals span five nights but six days -- we'll have only dinner on the evening we check in, and we'll need one or two meals the day we check out. As I said, I am very flexible about dropping or reshuffling a few of them.
Oh yeah--I forgot that the little one was under 3. That portion of your plan will work well, then.

When you decide on your final plans, will you cancel the other ADRs?

Thanks for the insight on the portions. I wasn't in Mommy mode the last time I had a meal at Disney World, so I couldn't remember if there was enough to share.

I definitely will cancel any ADRs we don't need -- and very soon if we decide to go with the basic plan. That's how I'm leaning.

I tend agree with you, scoobydooby ... it seems the best you can do is break even with the Deluxe plan. Has anyone had a different experience?

Here's my concern: I'll feel guilty if we don't use all the Deluxe credits; if we use too many for counter service meals (thus reducing the value of the Deluxe plan); or if we make absolute pigs of ourselves solely for the sake of using up the plan. (We'll probably make pigs of ourselves regardless, but I don't want the plan to make it worse!;))

Of course, if we get the regular plan and end up paying a ton out of pocket for room service breakfasts and munchies, then I'll be upset, too. It's a $370 difference in the plans ... could we really spend that much on top of the regular plan to justify the additional expense?

I'm still especially interested in hearing from anyone who's done the Deluxe with little children, or from anyone with little ones who can give me insight into how their eating habits change (or don't) at the parks.

If you think you're going to do many room service breakfasts, that might make your decision right there.

Unless you're going at a time of the year that the hours are really extended, a TS lunch plus an afternoon break (I can't imagine not doing an afternoon break with two young kids!) is going to take up a TON of touring time.

And if you ARE going when the hours are really extended, that means the crowds are bigger, and then the additional time away from the crowds might be good, if you are able to take advantage of the extended hours with your little ones.

Our family went in June and did the Dining Plan. I had a 2 year old and 4 year old at the time. Most of the time, my 2 year old would just eat off of my plate or eat with her sister. They are big fruit eaters, so i would get a bowl of fruit as a snack and they would share it. I guess it all depends if your kids are big eaters or not. I also made all of my ADR's for lunch, it gave them at least a 2 hour break from all the running around. Although we never did make it back to the room to rest.....they slept in the strollers. I have to say that we did love the dining plan last year and we do have a trip booked for October 2008 and added the new dining plan to it, so we will see how the new one is. I have heard so many mixed reviews about it. I loved the convenience of not having to pull out cash all the time to pay for meals and snacks.

Thanks for the input, everyone. We called today and added the basic dining plan.

I expect to pay for a couple of TS meals out of pocket, but I still think we will come out better -- both mentally and financially -- than we would have with the deluxe plan. I will keep track of it all and report back!