Talk me into it...

[1313WEBFOOTWALK]

I've looked at the DDP on a few websites and I don't think it seems like that good of a deal. Here's my reasoning:

In one respect, the Dining Plan mirrors our own choices in that we never eat more than one TS meal a day. We usually do that for lunch since the prices are cheaper and then do CS for dinner...or we do a big breakfast once during our trip and then CS the other two meals.

However, these are things that bother me:

1. I understand if we want to do a nice meal at California Grill, for example, we'd each have to use up two of our TS meals and this could get confusing to me. It also seems limiting.

2. Gratuity, Alcohol not included. So I'd have to budget extra money for these things any way, which cuts down drastically onthe 'convenience' of the plan.

3. While the DDP price for children is great (my kids will be 8 and 4), don't like that they can only choose from the Kid's menu, which is pretty crappy at most places. My kids are picky, yes, but when we're on vacation I like to make them try new things. When we went in 2003, I ordered two Appetizers as my meal and then shared w/ my 3 yr old son. Rarely did we order from the kids' menu for him. Next year, I was thinking it would make more sense (and be cheaper) to order one adult meal or app for our kids and let them split it.

4. The 'snack' allowance is pretty limiting. I don't think drinks should be included.

I'm going to do more reseaarch but please, I'll welcome any info that you guys feel would be helpful to me as well. :surfweb:

[karliebug]

I've done the DDP twice. Once it was during free dining so that was a no brainer. This trip (in 2 weeks) I am paying for it. I looked at menus and tried to figure out an approximate cost of what we would regularly eat without the DDP and added on tax and tip. It came out slightly more for the DDP but also included more food than we typically eat. (we rarely order appys or desserts). So for me it was worth it for this trip. Next year, with the removal of the appy and tip from the plan, I am not sure it would be worth it.

[melmlantz]

My reasoning may sound a little skewed, but it works for me.

Our trips are usually pretty budgeted, as far as money we go with. I mean it's plenty enough to get by, but we can't exactly buy anything and everything ;)

So, when we get the DDP and pay off the trip.... most of our food is paid for, too. The only spending money we need to concern ourselves with is gratuity (because we are going in January) and alcohol... and I'm glad the appetizers are off! As you can see from my weight loss ticker, I could do a lot of damage/undo a lot of progress that way :eek:

Really though, I think it all depends on your tastes and where you wind up eating. Prices can be very different at different restaurants, even if they are not signature. Half the reason for the trip, for both DH and I, is the food! :laughing: :cheer2: So we spend a lot on nice meals. Anything not out-of-pocket at the time is really appreciated. I'd rather be spending that money on pins ;)

Make sense?

[1313WEBFOOTWALK]

Yes. My problem is that I don't really think we BOTH need dessert and I actually think appetizers look better than entrees most of the time so end up ordering two of those instead of a meal. If we do get dessert, we usually share. And i KNOW my husband would rather have a good imported beer than a dessert anyway. So I really think that even if we pre-paid, I'd feel dissatisfied because I think we'd have ended up paying more than we would if we just budgeted food money like usual.

Thanks for your comments though

[TLSnell1981]

I have opted for the Deluxe DDP for 2008. We don't care for the CS meals. I added up what our probable meals would be and came out almost $400 to the good with the DxDP. You get 2 extra TS credits. They include the appetizer on this plan. You also receive an additional snack and a refillable resort mug. While the regular DDP would not have worked for us, the Deluxe will.

[angelmav]

I have opted for the Deluxe DDP for 2008. We don't care for the CS meals. I added up what our probable meals would be and came out almost $400 to the good with the DxDP. You get 2 extra TS credits. They include the appetizer on this plan. You also receive an additional snack and a refillable resort mug. While the regular DDP would not have worked for us, the Deluxe will.

While I wish that was the case for us, but for a family of 7 (5 disney adults) the DxDP works out to over $400 a day!:eek:

I just dont think the DxDP fits too well (but I sure wish it did!), and the OP would be looking at over $200 a day for DxDP.

As to the regular DP, OP, your plans make a case for NOT getting the 08 DP IMO.

[rcraw45425]

We booked the DDP this upcoming trip for the first time. THe main reason is the fact that we are going to be there during the "holiday season" according to Disney and my "surcharge" for a family of four was 16 dollars per meal. It became a no brainer for us. We'll see how well we like it.

[mdoc]

I think the 2007 DDP was a good deal for a lot of people, although not me. I think the number of people the 2008 DDP makes sense for economically is much smaller. DDP doesn't make sense for my family because we tend to eat more CS than TS and don't eat TS every day. We don't like being tied to ADRs, because for us WDW is not about the food. We tend to share CS meals. My 11 year old eats from the kids' menu, as she doesn't tend to like most of the adult meals - adult DDP credits would be totally wasted on her. We never eat dessert. DH enjoys his adult beverages, and the kids are grazers who eat more snacks during the day than the DDP covers. Our "eating style" just doesn't mesh with the DDP. Whether DDP makes sense for a family depends an awful lot on how they want to eat while they're at WDW.

[scottybnyc]

I have booked the 2008 DDP for my trip in January (the 6th to the 11th). I believe it is a great value considering it was only $300 more than what I normally paid for my last 2 trips to the World. When you factor in the price of a TS Meal, you realize that you are saving a great deal on meals that could run pricey. On this trip, it is me and my fiancee. We like knowing that our meals are paid for in restaurants we couldn't normally afford out of pocket.

If it suits you, do it. If you can't afford to want to worry about a food expense, do it, the earlier the better. If you book it early enough, when the time for the trip comes, it doesn't seem like you've spent so much so soon.

If you can afford meals by paying out of pocket, then by all means.

From the understanding I have about gratuity (and this is from not just a Dining Cast Member, but a Supervisor as well), The gratuity on the Dining Plan is now AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CUSTOMER That is what I was told word for word by the dining CM's.

I am inferring from that if you are not on the DP, then the automatic gratuity is already tacked on.

Putting it this way: if you have the Dining Plan, the gratuity expense can be put out of your mind (of course that's absolutely rude and pig headed, but you never know).

Hope this helps your decision

[TLSnell1981]

I have booked the 2008 DDP for my trip in January (the 6th to the 11th). I believe it is a great value considering it was only $300 more than what I normally paid for my last 2 trips to the World. When you factor in the price of a TS Meal, you realize that you are saving a great deal on meals that could run pricey. On this trip, it is me and my fiancee. We like knowing that our meals are paid for in restaurants we couldn't normally afford out of pocket.

If it suits you, do it. If you can't afford to want to worry about a food expense, do it, the earlier the better. If you book it early enough, when the time for the trip comes, it doesn't seem like you've spent so much so soon.

If you can afford meals by paying out of pocket, then by all means.

From the understanding I have about gratuity (and this is from not just a Dining Cast Member, but a Supervisor as well), The gratuity on the Dining Plan is now AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CUSTOMER That is what I was told word for word by the dining CM's.

I am inferring from that if you are not on the DP, then the automatic gratuity is already tacked on.

Putting it this way: if you have the Dining Plan, the gratuity expense can be put out of your mind (of course that's absolutely rude and pig headed, but you never know).

Hope this helps your decision

The 18% service charge is automatically added to all DDE and all parties consisting of 6 or more guests.....regardless of how the meal is paid for. (DDP or OOP)

[angelmav]

Putting it this way: if you have the Dining Plan, the gratuity expense can be put out of your mind (of course that's absolutely rude and pig headed, but you never know).


Thats no longer true, the gratuity and appetizer are no longer included in the Dining Plan in 08. Its all Out of Pocket.

[scottybnyc]

Putting it this way: if you have the Dining Plan, the gratuity expense can be put out of your mind (of course that's absolutely rude and pig headed, but you never know).


Thats no longer true, the gratuity and appetizer are no longer included in the Dining Plan in 08. Its all Out of Pocket.

The Appetizer is included on the Deluxe Dining Plan which is what I bought.

I was told by a Supervisor CM that gratuity (at least for those on the Dining Plan) is in fact up to the customer. So on a technicality, if we on the DP don't want to tip, we don't have to (which is what I meant by it being rude and pig-headed, but sometimes people don't want to factor that expense in a trip budget). I did not get clarification for those who aren't on a Dining Plan.

Put it this way: You can't be handed a bill just for a tip.

[disneyfav4ever]

As far as your individual points go.

1) Yes, CA Grill, and the rest of the signature restaurants, use up two TS credits each. It isn't a great value per credit, and if you do one TS meal a day, you would run out of TS credits, and have to start paying for meals OOP.

2) If you go in 2008 with the basic plan, you're right, tips won't be included, and neither will appetizers. Unless you're on the deluxe plan, in which case you'll get appetizers, but still no tip.

3) I don't have kids, so I haven't had any experience with the children's menu, but that is a good deal if you do a lot of buffets, since then they can eat anything off the buffet.

4) The snacks are a good deal, on the basic plan you get one per day, and on the deluxe plan (starting Jan 1,) you get two per day. I don't feel the snack credits are "limited."

Given your situation, I wouldn't do the DDP, unless you were able to get it for free, (or the deluxe plan for a discount.) I wouldn't even do the basic plan in 2008 myself if I had to pay for it, it would be more food then I would ever order OOP, and I like to have appetizers when I eat out. However, I was able to get the deluxe plan for $32 a night, so that is a good deal for me, since that inlcudes appetizers, and I can eat at a lot of signature restaurants without worrying about cost. The DDP is really just personal preference.

[TLSnell1981]

Our next trip will be split between off property for 3 nights due to buisness and 4 nights on property. For about $144 per day (on property, credits spread out over 5 days) I am feeding 4 people(deluxe plan). We are bringing our 2 DGDs, lots of character meals. You can easily spend $80-$100 for one meal. If it were just DH and I, we probably wouldn't do it, but who knows. I'll just have to crunch the numbers.

[angelmav]

Our next trip will be split between off property for 3 nights due to buisness and 4 nights on property. For about $144 per day (on property, credits spread out over 5 days) I am feeding 4 people(deluxe plan). We are bringing our 2 DGDs, lots of character meals. You can easily spend $80-$100 for one meal. If it were just DH and I, we probably wouldn't do it, but who knows. I'll just have to crunch the numbers.

Wait, how are you doing this and not having to pay for your DGD's? If they are not staying with you in the room, (or you havent mentioned they will), how can they use the credits? I thought Disney had closed that loophole, unless there is a whole new loophole for DxDP. If thats the case, I can see people getting the plan on one room and not the other then just using the credits as needed.

[TLSnell1981]

Wait, how are you doing this and not having to pay for your DGD's? If they are not staying with you in the room, (or you havent mentioned they will), how can they use the credits? I thought Disney had closed that loophole, unless there is a whole new loophole for DxDP. If thats the case, I can see people getting the plan on one room and not the other then just using the credits as needed.

I am paying for the kids. You pay for the dining plan based on 4 nights, $720. We will use these credits over 5 days, $144 per day. You can use the credits the day you arrive and until midnight on the day you depart. I have 12 credits per person to use over 5 days.

[angelmav]

Got it! Math was never my strong suite! Of course, that only works if you have a full 5th day before departure, wich I assume you do! I will be curious to hear your thoughts about the plan after your return!:thumbsup2

[IMGONNABE40!]

As far as your individual points go.

1) Yes, CA Grill, and the rest of the signature restaurants, use up two TS credits each. It isn't a great value per credit, and if you do one TS meal a day, you would run out of TS credits, and have to start paying for meals OOP.

2) If you go in 2008 with the basic plan, you're right, tips won't be included, and neither will appetizers. Unless you're on the deluxe plan, in which case you'll get appetizers, but still no tip.

3) I don't have kids, so I haven't had any experience with the children's menu, but that is a good deal if you do a lot of buffets, since then they can eat anything off the buffet.

4) The snacks are a good deal, on the basic plan you get one per day, and on the deluxe plan (starting Jan 1,) you get two per day. I don't feel the snack credits are "limited."

Given your situation, I wouldn't do the DDP, unless you were able to get it for free, (or the deluxe plan for a discount.) I wouldn't even do the basic plan in 2008 myself if I had to pay for it, it would be more food then I would ever order OOP, and I like to have appetizers when I eat out. However, I was able to get the deluxe plan for $32 a night, so that is a good deal for me, since that inlcudes appetizers, and I can eat at a lot of signature restaurants without worrying about cost. The DDP is really just personal preference.

How did you get the deluxe DP for $32? What is the typical price?

[npmommie]

Yes. My problem is that I don't really think we BOTH need dessert and I actually think appetizers look better than entrees most of the time so end up ordering two of those instead of a meal. If we do get dessert, we usually share. And i KNOW my husband would rather have a good imported beer than a dessert anyway. So I really think that even if we pre-paid, I'd feel dissatisfied because I think we'd have ended up paying more than we would if we just budgeted food money like usual.

Thanks for your comments though

I am not a big dessert eater, I left a fridge full of unopened untouched desserts when we left disney. it was a waste to me. even the kids did not eat their dessert everytime, they actually said no to it more than once.
we are not doing the dining plan next trip.

[disneyfav4ever]

How did you get the deluxe DP for $32? What is the typical price?The bounce-back promo.

[MrWixter]

Some friends of mine just went during the Thanksgiving week and have two children (9 and 6 I think). They did not get the DDP this time and regretted it. They said they spent more money without the plan then what the plan would have cost them. Next time, they plan on getting the DDP. Of course, this was with the 2007 plan.

As for as the kids go, the price of the DDP will cover TS for your children and the menu selections are better than CS. However, CS choices are terrible, most places having the same exact children's menu. I think even, if you did OOP for CS you come out ahead. My last visit (Feb. 2006) we discovered that if I went to the counter alone, I could buy four regular meals and not have to get my children something they were tired of eating. I can only assume this is fixed now.

My next visit will be Sept 28 - Oct 5, 2008 and I plan on getting the DDP. My oldest will then be 11 and will not have to worry with poor children menu choices and it will be easier on the budget to pay OOP for only one for CS.

Hope that helps.

[Grendalynn]

Subscribing! :wave: I amin this very same predicament right now. Had every ntention to do the DDP for our 4/08 vacation, but after chattingwitha friend who just got back yesterday, she said its not worth it! so now I am looking for some insight! :surfweb:

[Krmrr]

Basically, the DDP is still a good deal if you eat a TS each day. If you look at the spreadsheets posted here by Robinb, you will find that the average meal costs over $31 at any of the top 25 TS. Of course, you can always buy the cheapest thing on the menu (soup and salad), but we're still talking basic chicken and steak meals, not lobster. For 25 CS places, the average for all their meals is $14.25 and can go over $20. That's the price of the plan right there. And yes, I've seen dad order adult two meals and mom order the same to get around the kid's meal ordeal.

On our last trip, we averaged just over $110 (not counting tip) per day for food for the two of us a savings of $30/day. If we had tried to MAX out the plan, we could have done much better. In 2008 without the apps, our savings would be about $12 per day. That's still 10% and I feel no obligation to tell my DW, "Honey, why don't you try the meatless pasta at $16.99 rather than the Chicken Florentine at $23.99.

In my younger days, I did DW on the cheap, stayed off-site, ate a breakfast biscuit at Hardee's, went to Burger King for lunch and McD's for Dinner. My bill for my family of 5 was probably less than the DDP for 1 today. Did we enjoy it, Yes. Do I enjoy it more today, Yes. Hey, I don't have to stand around the DUMBO ride anymore! At least until, DGD grows up enough to enjoy DW.

Only you can tell if the plan is worth it to you and your family. I would recommend to try it. It makes the whole vacation more enjoyable.

[Grendalynn]

Basically, the DDP is still a good deal if you eat a TS each day. If you look at the spreadsheets posted here by Robinb, you will find that the average meal costs over $31 at any of the top 25 TS. Of course, you can always buy the cheapest thing on the menu (soup and salad), but we're still talking basic chicken and steak meals, not lobster. For 25 CS places, the average for all their meals is $14.25 and can go over $20. That's the price of the plan right there. And yes, I've seen dad order adult two meals and mom order the same to get around the kid's meal ordeal.

On our last trip, we averaged just over $110 (not counting tip) per day for food for the two of us a savings of $30/day. If we had tried to MAX out the plan, we could have done much better. In 2008 without the apps, our savings would be about $12 per day. That's still 10% and I feel no obligation to tell my DW, "Honey, why don't you try the meatless pasta at $16.99 rather than the Chicken Florentine at $23.99.

In my younger days, I did DW on the cheap, stayed off-site, ate a breakfast biscuit at Hardee's, went to Burger King for lunch and McD's for Dinner. My bill for my family of 5 was probably less than the DDP for 1 today. Did we enjoy it, Yes. Do I enjoy it more today, Yes. Hey, I don't have to stand around the DUMBO ride anymore! At least until, DGD grows up enough to enjoy DW.

Only you can tell if the plan is worth it to you and your family. I would recommend to try it. It makes the whole vacation more enjoyable.

Well said, great info and I think I am buying into it.... Our take isthat with our boys being into the Character meals as well, this is worth that too. So we can use 2 TS for a character meal and take it easy another day and only spend a few extra $$.... I like the fact that its similar to the Disney Cruise that we loved so much - you can eat whatever you want and have it all paid for (within reason). My question about the tip is - does it co on your tab/room account or do you pay cash out of pocket at the end of the meal?? Thanks!!

[MrWixter]

Well said, great info and I think I am buying into it.... Our take isthat with our boys being into the Character meals as well, this is worth that too. So we can use 2 TS for a character meal and take it easy another day and only spend a few extra $$.... I like the fact that its similar to the Disney Cruise that we loved so much - you can eat whatever you want and have it all paid for (within reason). My question about the tip is - does it co on your tab/room account or do you pay cash out of pocket at the end of the meal?? Thanks!!

Not all Character meals will use 2 TS. I took my son to Crystal Palace and only 1 TS was needed. Crystal Palace has all the Winnie the Pooh characters and has a buffet which is a great deal for the kids when on the DDP. Many of the resorts also have breakfast buffets with Characters and only cost 1 TS. With a little research you can find out where 1 TS Character meals are located and reserve some to keep the kids happy.

I wish the '08 DDP would give you the option of a APP or a DESERT. I found the current plan with both APP and DESERT is alot of food. Some places had great Deserts, but I would probably get the APP most of the time if they gave an option.

[disneyfav4ever]

Not all Character meals will use 2 TS. I took my son to Crystal Palace and only 1 TS was needed. Crystal Palace has all the Winnie the Pooh characters and has a buffet which is a great deal for the kids when on the DDP. Many of the resorts also have breakfast buffets with Characters and only cost 1 TS. With a little research you can find out where 1 TS Character meals are located and reserve some to keep the kids happy.

I wish the '08 DDP would give you the option of a APP or a DESERT. I found the current plan with both APP and DESERT is alot of food. Some places had great Deserts, but I would probably get the APP most of the time if they gave an option.You're correct, the only character meal that uses two credits is CRT.

[1313WEBFOOTWALK]

Okay, guys. After much deliberation, I've decided to try the DDP on our Oc 2008 visit. My reasons are as follows:

1. I had a talk w/ my SIL who used the plan last year. She said that w/ the APP, it was a 'no brainer' because of the value but it was WAY too much food. This way, we get just enough food. She said also that when it came to dessert, she ordered something that sounded good for the following morning's breakfast...a GREAT idea. That way, she didnt have to worry about breakfast the next day (I usually bring breakfast bars but this is also an option, I'll admit).

2. I did the math and the plan for 6 days would be 576.00 for a family of four (two adults, two children). When we went in 2003, I took 150.00 a day for our family of three and only came back w/ 300.00 that I saved (we did buy a few souveniers out of that as well). We aren't likely to come back w/ that much w/ the extra child so 150.00 a day comes to 1050.00> Even w/ gratuity, an extra day of food (our seventh day), and the occasional alcoholic beverage, I can't imagine that we'd spend that difference.

3. Children's menus arent nearly as limited as I remember. Almost every restaurant has more choices now and there is also buffets, as was mentioned before.

4. My SIL said if you ask your waiter personally about little things like getting two apps instead of an entree (if the apps don't come out to more than the entree would), or getting an app instead of a dessert, sometimes they will comply. She said they did this on occasion. The Rose and Crown Pub actually even gave them free alcohol (no, I'm not depending onthat...ha).

5.I figure we should at least TRY it once,and see what we think.


One quick question. Is the sushi bar in EPCOT on the list? And would tht be considered 'counter service' or sit down?

[MrWixter]

I've eaten at Japan twice. Once TS at the Hibachi grill and once CS. I remember the CS having California rolls and Tuna rolls. I think it was a combo with some other Japanese food. My son wanted Sushi instead of Hibachi and we ordered some for him OOP. There was Sushi TS there too, but I don't know if it was on the DDP.

There has been alot of changes since I last went (Feb 2006) to the restaurants at Japan, so I don't know. I believe there is a Sushi restaurant at either the Dolfin or Swan resorts but it is not on the DDP. I may go there for a OOP meal when there, since I'm staying close by (BCV).

[1313WEBFOOTWALK]

Has everyone read this great page from Mousesavers?

http://www.mousesavers.com/diningplantips2007.html