Hi Stephanie!
There are many facets in determining whether the Disney Dining Plan is worth it for families. We have used it for my family or just my husband and I on a few trips, and loved it when we had it. I find it cost beneficial for families that like to eat dessert at every meal or want to dine at a table-service restaurant every day of their trip. My family does not eat a lot, especially when it is really hot outside. We like to eat a quick breakfast in the room and get to the theme parks as early as possible. We, like you, would spend more money on snacks and beverages. A couple of character meals and/or buffets are good for us, but we do not like to have dining reservations every night. So right now, I do not find it monetarily worth it for my family of 7.
However, aside from the money-saving aspect, many families do find it beneficial to have their food essentially pre-paid prior to their vacation. This helps with sticking to a budget and a lot of people like the freedom of eating what they want without worrying about the cost. That peace of mind adds a lot of value to the Disney Dining Plans for families.
I also like to get a rough estimate of what I think I will spend on food by checking out the menus and prices on the
Disney Dining page and doing a cost analysis of the savings. I do not recommend looking at the menus while hungry. It always makes me extra hungry and extra sad that I'm not in Walt Disney World right now eating all the delicious food.
I hope this helps! If you have any other questions, please come back and visit us again at the Disney Parks Moms Panel. Good luck with your decision!
Tania