Disney Math: Can you break even with the Deluxe Dining Plan?

I remember when Disney first introduced their dining plans.  I also remember scoffing at the idea thinking that it would limit my options.  There were a couple more family trips taken before we decided to test it out.  The "test run" happened 1) because my then-new-husband had done it before with good success, and 2) Disney was savvily incentivizing the Dining Plan option by noticeably increasing menu prices all around.

On that "test run" trip we had the middle of the road plan allowing each person 1 counter service meal/1 table service meal/1 snack per night of our stay, and a Rapid Refill mug.  The inclusions for each level of the plan have stayed fairly consistent, though now each level of the plan includes 2 snacks daily and the options of either an alcoholic beverage or specialty drink (e.g., milkshake, smoothie) with each meal.  I would argue that the increase to 2 snacks was a game changer planning wise, though the alcoholic drink option definitely helps when you are making an effort to do better than just breaking even on your Dining Plan investment.

My husband and I have referred to our Disney trips as "Fat Camp with Great Food" since we first splurged on the upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan a few trips ago.  We are determined to make the most of our dining plan and not leave money on the table, but we also walk upwards of 8 miles a day and seem to use half of our snack credits on things like Venti Shaken Iced Tea with Lemonade at Starbucks to stay hydrated.  With the Deluxe Plan, we rarely use snack credits for actual food, with the exception of brining back an occasional pastry from EPCOT's World Showcase for breakfast the next morning.  Usually though, we are burning through the other half of our credits in the resort store on items that will pack and travel home for the kids.

Enough about Snack Credits though, the meat of the Deluxe Dining Plan is in those 3 meals credits per day that can be used at counter or table service restaurants, or combined for the 2 credit Signature restaurants.  Each table service or Signature meal includes an appetizer, entree, dessert, and drink.  That is A LOT of food if you are eating 3 meals a day.  I would venture to guess that 99% of people who book the Deluxe plan do it so that they can eat at a Signature restaurant each day.  Still that means 2, 3-course meals a day, if you aren't routinely wasting your credits on counter service meals.  On this most recent trip, those 2 meals a day still felt like too much food as we worked to ensure we were going to come out ahead on our Dining Plan $$.

Here is how it broke down:

5 - 1 Credit Table Service Meals for 2
         Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, Cocktail
         Total Cost with Tax - $617

1 - 1 Credit Counter Service Meals for 2
      Combo Meal with Cocktail
      Total Cost with Tax - $64

6 - 2 Credit Signature Dining Meals for 2
      Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, Cocktail
      Total Cost with Tax - $1341

24 - Snack Credits
       Total Cost with Tax - $132

Deluxe Dining Plan for 2 adults, 6 night stay (18 credits each) - $1428
       Total for what we ate/ordered/bought if paid out of pocket - $2154
                                                                         Relative Savings - $726!

What we learned:

We tried to eat A LOT of food, so much so that we were pretty uncomfortable on a few evenings.  In the end, it wasn't really worth it.  If we had only used snack credits and had one big meal a day at a Signature Restaurant we still would have done better than break even with the Deluxe Dining cost.

Between these numbers and the very recent introduction of the new Plus Dining Plan, we definitely have some new Disney Math to work out before our next trip!
       
Disney Dining Details & Pricing 2020