Hi, Stefanie!
You'll find many Guests who are adamant that the
Disney Dining Plan is a fantastic value, while others disagree vehemently. I happen to one of those who loves the Dining Plan because of the money we save and the wonderful dining opportunities offered to Guests on the Plan.
We also usually eat breakfast in our room, and use the Quick Service entitlement for lunch most days. We'll then either book an early dinner in a park or a later dinner at our resort or Downtown Disney (the later time allows us to shower and change before dinner.)
If I pay out of pocket for a meal, I tend to be very frugal, and would never order the most expensive items on the menu, even if they are my favorites. I just can't bring myself to do it. If I'm on a DP, I don't even look at price, ordering whatever I like, knowing that I've prepaid and will be sure to get much more out of my DDP dollars than simply paying cash. With the included Resort-Refillable mug ($15.49, currently) and one snack per person, per day added, we save money using the Plan.
Here's an example. On a recent trip, we ate lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express, a Quick Service restaurant, where I ordered the $18 Oven Roasted Salmon, a freshly-brewed iced tea and creme brulee ($6). At dinner, we ate at Epcot's Coral Reef, where I ordered the $32 NY Strip Steak and The Chocolate Wave ($8.49) for dessert. Add up the cost of these meals, plus a snack and what I would have spent on fountain drinks at the resort and the total is well over $75, far more than the daily cost of the DDP.
Take a look at the menus online and add up what you'd most likely order, then compare a daily total to the cost of the Plan. This will help you decide if the DDP is right for you.
Send more questions as you think of them, Stefanie! We love to help!