2008 DDP ..I'll take it! or You can have it!

[kathyg]

Now that we've all had some time to digest the 2008 DDP changes, I think it's time for another vote.

This is our chance to show Disney what we really think of the 2008 DDP.

Will you or won't you purchase the plan?

[karen l]

We'll be on the Deluxe Plan this coming April. The standard plan doesn't work well for us because it only covers 1 TS a day. We'll see how this plan works for us. Great idea for a poll!

[jenjersnap]

I wish the poll included the option of choosing the deluxe plan.

The standard plan does not work for family vacations anymore ... unless Disney was offering a substantial room discount in conjunction with the dining plan.

[kathyg]

I really did think about including the Deluxe Plan, but having been on the DDP plan before and thinking of the amount of food it entailed and the cost involved, I didn't think that many visitors would opt for it. I guess I was wrong. Sorry I can't edit the poll.

[WildernessBride]

I am also continuing to purchase dining...and we also upgraded to the Deluxe Dining Plan. We wanted to be able to go to more restaurants which we haven't tried in the past and regular dining didn't cut it anymore. I can't wait to experience a lot of new restaurants on our upcoming trip:goodvibes

[TDC Nala]

I have DDE and it will work out much better than DDP would this year.

[Markstudy]

I wish the poll included the option of choosing the deluxe plan.

Yep :surfweb:

DDP is no good since changes. :coffee:

But I can't be mad at Disney, deluxe looks just perfect for us :dogdance:

[twoeeyy]

we are booked for the bounceback free dining but will purchase the delux plan

[NMW]

I voted for still getting the plan, but really the standard plan is not right for our family and we are getting the Deluxe Dining Plan. So, I'm not sure if I posted correctly, since that wasn't an option.

[Pirate's Princess]

I voted, it's not quite YAY, but I'm going to try the basic plan. I'll let you all know how it works out

[Bete]

the deluxe one or premiere. The basic plan doesn't do it for me anymore.

With the deluxe we can have three lighter meals each day and we won't feel like we have to cram it in all two meals to get our monies worth. We still have an appetizer with the meal which is my favorite part. Finally, I'll go to those 2 credit signature meals if I do two meals a day. You get an extra snack; so, you don't have to decide between drink or food anymore. Also, the refillable mug idea is a nice touch with the better plans.

I still think it's too much food and too much time devoted to eating.

[TLSnell1981]

We will be bringing the grandkids this trip and will be on the deluxe plan. We really don't care for counter service. We will only be having two meals a day...spreading our twelve credits over five days. Some meals we will use two credits. The only reason I purchased the DxDP was because it was more economical for us. I added up the probable cost of all our ADRs and came out ahead on the DxDP. If it was just DH and myself, we wouldn't be doing all the character meals.....so it probably wouldn't work out the same way.

[jjohnson]

I was completely against using the plan in 2008 but I pulled out my old receipts from 2006 & 2007 and the DP is still a good deal for our family.

[Disneyof3]

:thumbsup2

I voted yes and will use the DDP again this year. Adding up the price it will cost us to pay for it all without the DDP is about the same price it will cost of us to pay for the DDP for our family of 5. Buying the Deluxe won't be cost effective for us and plus for us eating is part of WDW but not the most important thing.

[pepperw23]

I dunno. It does not seem like the regular dining plan is much of a value for us anymore. We will probably go with the deluxe. My DH and DS are big eaters and enjoy the appy's. Maybe with them having two snack credits per day, I will get at least ONE of my snacks haha.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

We purchased the Deluxe plan for our late Jan into Feb trip. With our character meals, it is saving us enough money to justify the purchase.

[CinderellyCinderelly]

We are doing the DDP for 08. We are staying Concierge so we will take advantage of that for breakfast, use CS for lunch, and use our TS for dinners!

[keishashadow]

We'll be there:) - IMO

*the appetizer selection has gone downhill since the DP became popular; no great loss.

*way too much food in the 1st place, rarely use all our counter serves (tried to buy a meal for next in line last trip & was told it was forbidden:confused3 ) and tend to use up the snack credits on last day for mickey krispie treats or bottled water

My main concern is the psuedo price increase:rolleyes1 ; why not just increase the price & be done with it? Still think the CMs/servers will suffer in the long run. Would be a shame, many times they make or break the dining experience for us. Supposedly, WDW will revisit the issue if it does happen & reopen the contract...we shall see.:wizard:

[wezee]

We are bouncing back in Sept. and have upgraded to the deluxe plan. With just DH and I, we are really looking forward to a 2TS each day and either an early lunch or late breakfast. I do believe many Mickey/Minnie couples are very interested in the deluxe plan. We feel very comfortable with having all our ADR's well booked in advance, and look forward to ending the evening with a glass of wine and relaxing evening at one of the great TS restaurants that WDW offers.

[Markstudy]

We are bouncing back in Sept. and have upgraded to the deluxe plan.

How does the math work?

Free dining plus how much to get the upgrade?

I booked a package today... and they said you get what amounts to a 40% discount on the Deluxe plan when you buy the package compared to pricing it out seperatly :confused3

this totally throws off my calculations on cost benefit analysis

[patsal]

I just spent the greater part of the day going over DDP, DXDDP and OOP with various discounts--AP, DVC

I found for the way we eat--an appetizer or two to share, four entrees and dessert, maybe--these were my totals

I did round the DDP to $40 and the DXDDP to $70 for ease of math! 4 people all considered adults

DDP $1920 plus about $300 for tips $2220
DxDDP $3360 plus $600 for tips $3960

OOP with discounts $1593--10TS, 2 Signature TS, 12 CS--I figured an 18% tip in though would adjust up/down accordingly

We do not do buffets for the most part, we do not all need our own appetizer or dessert, we do not use the desserts at CS and with DxDDP we would use all meals as TS Breakfast and Signature dining dinner. Overall we do not usually stop for snacks that are covered on the DDP--Pastries in France and maybe a dolewhip float:confused3 .
This allows for eating where we want, what we want and no craziness of spending the last day rushing around to get snacks and CS credits used up.
I think differnt scenarios would maybe shnge things a bit--like if just DH and I were going for lie three days for our anniversary then DXDDP would be a good thing. If we were travelling with extended family and their children wanted to do character dining--buffett prices would warrant a regular DDP for a five day vacation with extended family. But for a 13 day just our family vacation no dining plan works best for us!

[patsal]

How does the math work?

Free dining plus how much to get the upgrade?

I booked a package today... and they said you get what amounts to a 40% discount on the Deluxe plan when you buy the package compared to pricing it out seperatly :confused3

this totally throws off my calculations on cost benefit analysis
As far as free dining--if (when) it is offered to the general public then it will only include the basic DDP. However, when the bounceback was offered to those on free dining in 2007 for 2008 they were allowed to upgrade the plan by spending the difference between the cost of the two programs, so take the cost of the regular dining plan and subtract that from the cost of the deluxe plan and that is how much per person per day you would need to spend to upgrade from Free DDP to deluxe DDP.
What they mean by that (40% savings) is for every member of the party ordering an appetizer, entree and dessert and beverage with each meal, eating each of the three meals at TS and ordering all the food you are entitled to--basically if you consciously max out the plan you can save 40% as compared to someone not using the plan. By maxing out the plan you will also max out the amount you spend on tips so be prepared for the plan to cost more OOP as well.

[RACHELSMOM1]

Yep, we love it so much that we are going with Deluxe from now on. Did not surprise me that so many would go for deluxe plan!! We love dining at Disney, and the deluxe plan is made to order for us!!

[Colleen27]

For us, there are situations where each of the options would work best. In January, we're trying out the deluxe plan. It is a long trip, so the time factor isn't a big deal (and is actually a plus - TS lunches work better than midday breaks with my kids), and we like a variety of sit down meals when we travel.

If we were planning a summer trip this year, we'd go with the standard plan, because the heat has a huge appetite suppressing effect for us and the standard plan would be plenty of food even without the appetizers.

When we go in Dec for a Christmas lights trip, we'll have an infant and we'll be in a villa, so we'll likely skip the dining plans entirely, pay OOP for a few special meals and take advantage of the kitchen in the villa for the rest.

[brightvalleyjrts]

We are going in March and we have the Deluxe Dining plan. This will be our first time, but it sounds perfect for our family. I have made several ADR and we are super excited.

[PatsMom]

We've done the old dining plan and enjoyed it but probably won't be purchasing in the future. We do very few buffets, maybe one per trip. And for other TS meals, we enjoy the apps much more than the desserts. We frequently skipped dessert even on the dining plan. So we would end up paying OOP for apps, or soup or salad. When I did the math, for us it will work out better if we just use the DDE.

[wendypooh]

We are going in Feb. and have the Deluxe Dining Plan. It works for us as we like to do a lot of Character meals and some signature dining!!!

[battricia]

I guess no one really cares about the tip situation? Or maybe it has changed since I last read. The main reason I don't think we'll be visiting this year is because of that. With the overinflated disney meal prices, adding a tip to the plan with those prices to me is crazy. I'd rather travel somewhere else a little more laid back where i can just walk up and get a seat and not be charged insane prices for vegetarian meals.

tricia.

[patsal]

I guess no one really cares about the tip situation? Or maybe it has changed since I last read. The main reason I don't think we'll be visiting this year is because of that. With the overinflated disney meal prices, adding a tip to the plan with those prices to me is crazy. I'd rather travel somewhere else a little more laid back where i can just walk up and get a seat and not be charged insane prices for vegetarian meals.

tricia.

I do care about the tip situation for us it would add about $300 to the basic, $600 to deluxe, no thanks, that really cuts out the value for me. When I figured the old DDP was saving me about 35-40% that was based ont he 18% tip--now the savings is closer to 20% and since food I dont' want is included and food I do want is excluded the 20% is further deminished. Save me $1.00 and charge me 18% more makes the DDP less appealing to me, therefore I will not purchase it. The Deluxe DDP just kind of cracks me up since so many complained about too much food--yet many are going to getting that--either not too much food for most people or a whole lot of nonsense. Deluxe DDP is too much food for us and I can hardly imagine anyone getting the max out of the plan and tipping as well. For us (4) signature dining usually amounts to about $300 so $54 per meal times 12 days is well over the $600 I predicted especially after an addional TS breakfast that will be around $120 so about a $21 tip. I guess I was off by a good amount tipps on DXDDP for us would be closer to $900. After spending $3390 for the plan that adds a considerable chunk. I dont' think many have truely thought about hte additional expense of the DDP--even with free dining and paying for the upgrade I doubt I'd want to fork out an additional $900 in tips!

[guelde96]

I am really surprised by all of the deluxe dining planners out there. When Disney came out with this I thought it would not be a well accepted plan. We have done the dining plan twice and will not be doing it again. The changes to the plan do not make it cost effective for my family. Especially adding tip.

Our first experience with the dining plan we had 18 snacks left at check out.

Our last experience with the dining plan on the night before checkout we had 17 CS meals and 22 Snacks remaining for a family of 5. The regular dining plan is so much food. I felt stuffed the entire time we were there. I can not imagine 2 TS and 1 CS a day.

I do not think the new dining plans are cost effective.

[kaytieeldr]

My main concern is the psuedo price increase ; why not just increase the price & be done with it? Maybe (my guess, NOT supported by anything released by Disney; not that Disney would feel the need to let the public know why they chose to make this change): Even if Disney were to increase the price of the Dining Plan by a flat 18%, this would probably not accurately reflect the impartial-source recommended tip range.
This would raise the price to $44.82 per night.
Working backwards, figuring an average snack cost of $3.18 with tax, and an average counter service price of $13, leaves a table service credit value of $28.64.
As long as your meal - drink, entree, dessert - totals $24.27, everything works fine.
If your entire meal costs less than than that, you're tipping more than the 18% (fine with the server, not so great for the diner).
If your entire meal costs more than that, the server's tip gets reduced - to the point that, once your order reaches $28.64, the server gets stiffed. Go over this amount, and your server is technically (or actually) paying to wait on you.

Add in the natural displeasure from DDP Guests who rightfully feel there should not be an 18% surcharge on counter service and snack credits.

Wouldn't work.

[Colleen27]

Deluxe DDP is too much food for us and I can hardly imagine anyone getting the max out of the plan and tipping as well. For us (4) signature dining usually amounts to about $300 so $54 per meal times 12 days is well over the $600 I predicted especially after an addional TS breakfast that will be around $120 so about a $21 tip. I guess I was off by a good amount tipps on DXDDP for us would be closer to $900. After spending $3390 for the plan that adds a considerable chunk. I dont' think many have truely thought about hte additional expense of the DDP--even with free dining and paying for the upgrade I doubt I'd want to fork out an additional $900 in tips!

I worked up a spreadsheet with our restaurant and probable menu choices to really look at the cost and the tip expense. The bottom line for us is that the deluxe plan + tips works out to about $100 less than I was budgeting for meals when we were planning on paying OOP, and includes more/nicer meals, so I'm really looking forward to trying it. I like having the tip at my discretion, though, so paying it OOP isn't a significant drawback, and I love the all-inclusive aspect of having all our meals, snacks and drinks prepaid for the whole trip!

[jmlaw]

I am going with two teenagers in August and we have booked the Deluxe plan. The two of them love Disney restaurants and both have big appetites, so it seemed perfect to go with the Deluxe plan this trip.

[Colleen27]

I am really surprised by all of the deluxe dining planners out there. When Disney came out with this I thought it would not be a well accepted plan. We have done the dining plan twice and will not be doing it again. The changes to the plan do not make it cost effective for my family. Especially adding tip.

Our first experience with the dining plan we had 18 snacks left at check out.

Our last experience with the dining plan on the night before checkout we had 17 CS meals and 22 Snacks remaining for a family of 5. The regular dining plan is so much food. I felt stuffed the entire time we were there. I can not imagine 2 TS and 1 CS a day.

I do not think the new dining plans are cost effective.

A lot of people, myself included, have been begging Disney for something like the deluxe plan for quite a while - a plan that is all-inclusive for meals & snacks, but without all the recreation that comes with the platinum and premium plans. So I'm at all surprised that many people are excited about it.

Obviously it depends entirely upon personal eating habits. We like TS and don't care for most CS options, so we're excited about being able to eat 2 real meals each day. Our plans are mostly 2 meals per day - a TS breakfast or lunch, and a signature dinner. And since we have a 9yo who counts as a kid but eats like an adult, we don't run into the "too much food" issue very often - he eats his kids meal and then shares our appetizers and entrees. We probably won't have more than a couple CS meals over the entire 11 night trip and we'll probably bring some snacks home, but that's not a problem. The plan is cost effective based on our ADRs alone, so even if we don't eat any CS and don't use our snack credits or mugs (not likely - Disney has the best snacks, and we always buy the mugs because we get a ton of use out of them), the plan makes sense for us.

[angelmav]

Maybe (my guess, NOT supported by anything released by Disney; not that Disney would feel the need to let the public know why they chose to make this change): Even if Disney were to increase the price of the Dining Plan by a flat 18%, this would probably not accurately reflect the impartial-source recommended tip range.
This would raise the price to $44.82 per night.
Working backwards, figuring an average snack cost of $3.18 with tax, and an average counter service price of $13, leaves a table service credit value of $28.64.
As long as your meal - drink, entree, dessert - totals $24.27, everything works fine.
If your entire meal costs less than than that, you're tipping more than the 18% (fine with the server, not so great for the diner).
If your entire meal costs more than that, the server's tip gets reduced - to the point that, once your order reaches $28.64, the server gets stiffed. Go over this amount, and your server is technically (or actually) paying to wait on you.

Add in the natural displeasure from DDP Guests who rightfully feel there should not be an 18% surcharge on counter service and snack credits.

Wouldn't work.

I really wish you would quit repeating the 'server paying to wait on you mantra.' The IRS sets this at 8% so you would have to go well above your $28.64 example for that to happen. Even average servers that arent guaranteed a percentage have no problems averaging 12-15% across the US and thats accounting for all the cheapskates and stiffs.

[TLSnell1981]

I am sure I will be corrected if this is incorrect, but.....I have read on this board, more than once, that the gratuity for the DDP was figured on the cost of the food ordered, not the cost of the plan.

[Colleen27]

I am sure I will be corrected if this is incorrect, but.....I have read on this board, more than once, that the gratuity for the DDP was figured on the cost of the food ordered, not the cost of the plan.

Yep, which is why it was such a huge expense for Disney. My meal at Kona came to about $45 last time we were there - that's an $8 tip that Disney is paying out before even thinking about the actual food involved in the dining plan, leaving only $30 to cover that $45 meal plus a CS and a snack. It really isn't surprising at all that they'd choose to eliminate the tip from the plan when you think about it.

[patsal]

A lot of people, myself included, have been begging Disney for something like the deluxe plan for quite a while - a plan that is all-inclusive for meals & snacks, but without all the recreation that comes with the platinum and premium plans. So I'm at all surprised that many people are excited about it.

Obviously it depends entirely upon personal eating habits. We like TS and don't care for most CS options, so we're excited about being able to eat 2 real meals each day. Our plans are mostly 2 meals per day - a TS breakfast or lunch, and a signature dinner. And since we have a 9yo who counts as a kid but eats like an adult, we don't run into the "too much food" issue very often - he eats his kids meal and then shares our appetizers and entrees. We probably won't have more than a couple CS meals over the entire 11 night trip and we'll probably bring some snacks home, but that's not a problem. The plan is cost effective based on our ADRs alone, so even if we don't eat any CS and don't use our snack credits or mugs (not likely - Disney has the best snacks, and we always buy the mugs because we get a ton of use out of them), the plan makes sense for us.

That really is what is beautiful about the dining plans. When they work out for you they are great! If I had young children, I would more than likely get the plan. Loved TS breaks in the afternoon with the kids, and character meals. Even on the old plan we couldn't eat all the snacks they gave us and overall it was much more food than we would normally order and consume. For me the all inclusive nature is lost with the tips not included, but I don't really mind one way or the other. Economically I will skip the DDP, but for others the economics might fare better with use of the plan.

[kimis]

My dh and me went with the deluxe plan so we can eat at more signature resturants. We have always used the DDP so this will be good also.

[Marc A.]

We will stick with the regular DDP for now due to the fact that we will be bringing our youngest with this trip (he'll be 2). If the kids were older we would do Deluxe but to have them sitting for TS's more than once a day would take up too much time for naps and the parks.
We enjoyed the DDP in October but wished they would have either kept the tip or the app on the plan.

[kimsuenew]

We are, and will continue to get, the DDP! :goodvibes For us it works, even with the loss of the appetizer and gratuity! It is convenient!

I don't think we will ever go to deluxe, mainly because TS restaurants take up a lot of park time and while we are willing to give that up once a day, we would not want to do it twice (well since I don't ride very much due to mobility issues I might but DH and DS hate to even do TS once)! Plus, it is pricey (for us that is).

That is what is so great about Disney... there are choices! :thumbsup2 What works for us, might not for others!

[NMW]

I am really surprised by all of the deluxe dining planners out there. When Disney came out with this I thought it would not be a well accepted plan. We have done the dining plan twice and will not be doing it again. The changes to the plan do not make it cost effective for my family. Especially adding tip.

Our first experience with the dining plan we had 18 snacks left at check out.

Our last experience with the dining plan on the night before checkout we had 17 CS meals and 22 Snacks remaining for a family of 5. The regular dining plan is so much food. I felt stuffed the entire time we were there. I can not imagine 2 TS and 1 CS a day.

I do not think the new dining plans are cost effective.

I'm not surprised so many people are excited about the Deluxe plan. I have been asking Disney for a plan like this for years. An all-inclusive food plan with NO CS meals that doesn't include all that recreation/tours/child care centers into the price. I'm thrilled they finally listened to me! I knew I couldn't be the only one out there that wanted this plan.

When we did the regular dining plan, we had to pay so much money OOP for our TS/Character breakfasts every day. We also paid cash for a couple TS lunches. I was sick of CS food by the 3rd day of it. When I look at our costs we spent last trip-cost of the basic dining plan, cost of all OOP food-we would SAVE money with the deluxe dining plan. Also, I don't have to step foot into a CS place!

[WildernessBride]

I am really surprised by all of the deluxe dining planners out there. When Disney came out with this I thought it would not be a well accepted plan. We have done the dining plan twice and will not be doing it again. The changes to the plan do not make it cost effective for my family. Especially adding tip.

Our first experience with the dining plan we had 18 snacks left at check out.

Our last experience with the dining plan on the night before checkout we had 17 CS meals and 22 Snacks remaining for a family of 5. The regular dining plan is so much food. I felt stuffed the entire time we were there. I can not imagine 2 TS and 1 CS a day.

I do not think the new dining plans are cost effective.

I am just curious, why did you even get a dining plan when it seems clear that by having 17cs and 22 snacks remaining at the end of your stay, that you didn't use it very much. Did you pay out of pocket or did you just not eat? My family and I decided after having the DDP for our 2007 vacation, that in 2008 we'd try the deluxe plan. We used all of our credits last year easily, it wasn't a thing like we forced ourselves to get snacks or other foods, we used it all. This year I am looking forward to dining as a part of the whole disney experience. I too prefer ts dining to cs, it's nice to have the ability to do both. In my family's case, I am glad we have 2 snacks per person per day because we can get candy to take home from the Merchantile at WL, we can go to Goofy's candy co. and raid the snack bar for that midnight snack. I really love the idea of a comprehensive meal plan, I am really not suprised so many folks have decided to go deluxe.

[RACHELSMOM1]

I'm not surprised so many people are excited about the Deluxe plan. I have been asking Disney for a plan like this for years. An all-inclusive food plan with NO CS meals that doesn't include all that recreation/tours/child care centers into the price. I'm thrilled they finally listened to me! I knew I couldn't be the only one out there that wanted this plan.

When we did the regular dining plan, we had to pay so much money OOP for our TS/Character breakfasts every day. We also paid cash for a couple TS lunches. I was sick of CS food by the 3rd day of it. When I look at our costs we spent last trip-cost of the basic dining plan, cost of all OOP food-we would SAVE money with the deluxe dining plan. Also, I don't have to step foot into a CS place!

I am also looking forward to Deluxe dining in April. CS places get old very fast, like an obligation to go just because we have the credits, and the food becomes less and less appealing each time in the CS places. We plan to do character bfsts and signature dinners with later ADRs so there is no real park time taken up (as I have read others complaining about). The complaint about "too much food on DP" has always left me laughing - we have to eat when we go to WDW, our kiddos especially have problems with low blood sugar if we skip meals or wait too long to eat our next meal. I have never complained about DP (always loved it), and now I am absolutely thrilled with the Deluxe plan!! 13 weeks to go till our trip!!!

[letthewookiewin]

We are doing the DDP for the first time on our next trip. We will be at WDW from Dec. 18th - 27th. We are getting the Deluxe DDP b/c we are planning on eating at a lot of TS we have been wanting to try. Also we are planning on eating at CRT twice, doing the Luau at the Poly, and almost every breakfast is a character one. I did have a plan already for all our ADR's, but I changed the dates of the trip and extended it a day. I haven't been able to makes any changes b/c my laptop went down and I had to ship it back to HP.
Rachelsmom1 - I love the picture in your siggy. It is too precious. :hug:

[n2mm]

I've been reading threads of returning guess that used the new DDP and it appears that the snack credits have been realigned and the options are now changed. I wonder how many folks figured some of the snack credit options into their decisions.

[SnowWitch]

We used the old plan numerous times and enjoyed it with the exclusion of appetizer and tip we will no longer purchase the plan dining plan. If they had given the customer the option of choosing app or dessert we probably would have continued to purchase it. That being said we will on occassion purchase the deluxe plan. However, not during warmer months, we struggled with the reg dining plan on summer trips so we will pay as we go during summer months.

[jjohnson]

I've been reading threads of returning guess that used the new DDP and it appears that the snack credits have been realigned and the options are now changed. I wonder how many folks figured some of the snack credit options into their decisions.

I know I did. I may have to rethink the DP again. We used many of our snacks for breakfast for the 6 of us.