21 days of DDP ?

[TinkerChelleBell]

Hello :)
Im just wondering we are looking to go next year to Disney for 3 weeks and will be having the 21 day hopper pass and be staying on site. Im wondering would people advise that we make all our reservations for the TS's before we go? As in 21 days worth? Or book the ones which we most want and then leave some until we are there and see how we feel? We will be there last week of May for 3 weeks so not sure how busy restaurants will be :) .

Anyway advise would be appreciated, thank you in advance

[imthatgirl]

have you already booked? i dont think you can get 21 days hoppers? youll need 2 10 day hoppers and a single day hopper.

if i were going for that long on the dining plan i would still make them all. anything can be changed or rearranged.

[TinkerChelleBell]

Hiya
Im from the UK so we can get the 21 day park hopper :)

Think then what I will do is spend the next few months reading reviews etc and see which ones we fancy and then get them booked when its the open window for us to book and then if we change our minds we still have time to rearrange.
Not going till May but so excited looking at all the food etc LOL!!! :rotfl: :surfweb:

[LizinSTL]

Hello :)
Im just wondering we are looking to go next year to Disney for 3 weeks and will be having the 21 day hopper pass and be staying on site. Im wondering would people advise that we make all our reservations for the TS's before we go? As in 21 days worth? Or book the ones which we most want and then leave some until we are there and see how we feel? We will be there last week of May for 3 weeks so not sure how busy restaurants will be :) .

Anyway advise would be appreciated, thank you in advance

That's a really long time on the DDP, but if you think about it in terms of the value over the entire trip, I think you'll be ok. Make your ADRs and then be willing to change them while you're there if you want.

You may want to space things about a bit every 6 or 7 days...make a 2 TS reservation so you don't have a TS every single day. I'd recommend sharing CS meals with others in your party to stretch those out. It's a lot of money spent on food to begin with, but if you need to pay out of pocket also, that could "hurt!"

[TinkerChelleBell]

Hiya
Thank you for your reply in £'s its just under £1000 with Disney direct for me, my boyfriend and our son. So I suppose when we spread that over the 3 weeks the breakdown isnt that bad :)

I think like you said we were thinking of having a couple of the 2xTS meals and then spreading out our CS's as to be honest after a big lunch we would probably get by on 1 adult CS and then 1 child CS between us all :)

I kinda like the idea that I've paid for the majority of food before we go and know then any money we take will be extras like tips, presents, other days out etc
:)

[LizinSTL]

Hiya
Thank you for your reply in £'s its just under £1000 with Disney direct for me, my boyfriend and our son. So I suppose when we spread that over the 3 weeks the breakdown isnt that bad :)

I think like you said we were thinking of having a couple of the 2xTS meals and then spreading out our CS's as to be honest after a big lunch we would probably get by on 1 adult CS and then 1 child CS between us all :)

I kinda like the idea that I've paid for the majority of food before we go and know then any money we take will be extras like tips, presents, other days out etc
:)

You are right...it's not a lot on a per night basis and you'd probably spend that anyway. I like the budgeting aspect of the DDP myself, also!

[TinkerChelleBell]

:) Yeah I think knowing that for the 3 weeks the majority of our meals are paid for makes me feel better, also means now I can spend the next few months planning and look at the reviews, pictures etc :rotfl2: thats half the fun before we get there ha ha!

Also I think it means because we have already paid for it, we will try restaurants maybe we would have avoided before to save pennies but because we have the credits Im pretty excited about planning and using them :mickeyjum

[World Bouncer]

Being there for 21 days sounds great!!

I do believe the previous poster is correct in saying that you cannot purchase a park hopper for the full 21 days. The max you can purchase them for is 10 days at a time.

If it was me going for that long I would stay at one resort for 10 days and get the park hopper, then move to a new resort just to explore WDW a little more and get a 10 day hopper there. I would not suggest buying a hopper pass for the extra day, that will save you some money and give a day that is just relaxation by the pool or something like that.

Have a great trip:wizard:

[Tricia1972]

Can you buy an AP if you're from the UK? It's generally much cheaper to pay for the AP once you stay more than 10 days. Though I thought I heard something about AP's being only for US residents.

If you can do the AP's, there is a new program that those with AP's can buy the DDP without a base ticket. It may be something to look into.

[Portugal1000]

We were there for 3 weeks last Xmas and on the dining plan for the last 8 nights. I made all my ADR's before I went but changed a few when we were there due to plans changing. I am back again same time this year and have booked all ADR's again but will no doubt chnage a few. I have never had a problem getting ADR's at short notice even at Xmas. We also have 2 weeks booked during UK free dining next August 10-24. I will probably book about half my ADR's as we are staying at SSR and we love the restaurant there and never seems to be a problem getting a reservation. I would defintely consider some 2 TS meal if you are on the plan for 21 days. We were struggling with the amount of food and we only had 8 days!

[Portugal1000]

Can you buy an AP if you're from the UK? It's generally much cheaper to pay for the AP once you stay more than 10 days. Though I thought I heard something about AP's being only for US residents.

If you can do the AP's, there is a new program that those with AP's can buy the DDP without a base ticket. It may be something to look into.

A UK 21 day ticket still works out much cheaper than an AP. I paid around $600 for an AP but could get a 21 day ticket for £189. However as I am visiting twice in the same 12 month period, AP works out best for me.

[TinkerChelleBell]

WOW thank you for all your replies :)

Yeah the 21 day hopper works out cheaper than an annual pass for me - oh how I wish though we could have to consider the annual because we would be returning in 12 months BooHoo! no such luck:( LOL!

Think then I will have a good few months stalking the food reviews and pictures :rotfl: and then get ready to make some ADR's and make sure we get some good meals booked in

Thanks again for all your replies and suggestions :cool1:

[jsp@disney]

Have you been to any of the other disney resorts?

[TinkerChelleBell]

Have been to florida twice before :)

[disneynutz]

Hello :)
Im just wondering we are looking to go next year to Disney for 3 weeks and will be having the 21 day hopper pass and be staying on site. Im wondering would people advise that we make all our reservations for the TS's before we go? As in 21 days worth? Or book the ones which we most want and then leave some until we are there and see how we feel? We will be there last week of May for 3 weeks so not sure how busy restaurants will be :) .

Anyway advise would be appreciated, thank you in advance

You need to make your ADRs. For us we wouldn't do the DDP for 21 days. It would be way too much food and a waist of money. That's over $3000 US per adult. We tried the DDP for 5 or 6 days once and we were tired of eating. We also go to WDW to see WDW not to see how much food we can eat.

[TinkerChelleBell]

Im slighty confused over $3000 per adult? That seems a lot higher than what we are paying?

For me, my boyfriend and my son its just under £1000 which to me over 21 days seems pretty on par with what we were expecting to spend if we did it OOP - for the 3 of us it works out at £47 a day for us all , which would seem viable and not too much?

:)

[disneynutz]

Math never was my best subject in school. I think that it is about $83 per day US or $1743 for the trip. The cost isn't so bad but that is still a lot of food.

[TinkerChelleBell]

:) :thumbsup2 LOL! Im no good at maths either LOL!! Left other half working out per days etc

Its a lot of food but I think I feel better knowing that I've paid before hand if you know what I mean as with flights hotel etc it adds up quick and I think knowing the rest of the money is for tips, presents etc makes it a bit easier to not over spend while there.

Thanks again to you all for all your advice :)

[LizinSTL]

Math never was my best subject in school. I think that it is about $83 per day US or $1743 for the trip. The cost isn't so bad but that is still a lot of food.

That's the deluxe plan. The regular DDP is about $40/night or $840/adult for 21 nights.

[catne]

Hello :)
Im just wondering we are looking to go next year to Disney for 3 weeks and will be having the 21 day hopper pass and be staying on site. Im wondering would people advise that we make all our reservations for the TS's before we go? As in 21 days worth? Or book the ones which we most want and then leave some until we are there and see how we feel? We will be there last week of May for 3 weeks so not sure how busy restaurants will be :) .

Anyway advise would be appreciated, thank you in advance

We were there the last week of May 2008, and found the restaurants were not completely booked up. I'd called for reservations in Feb 2008, and was able to get dinner ressies for 7 nights at the times & places we wanted. When I called back to change one of them a month later (party of 4 split to two different restaurants) my daughter's ressie had to be for very early (4:30) because that was all they had left in the MK for that night (this was about 8 weeks before arrival.) The reservation clerk at that time told me there was virtually nothing left for that week of May 2008.

However, when we got there, we found that there had been a lot of cancellations and most restaurants were taking walk-ins. I think a lot of that was due to economic pressures in the U.S. so who knows what next year will be like.

I would get reservations, just to have your choices available when you want them.

[TinkerChelleBell]

:) Thank you - from reading these think I will make my reservations from TS's we've decided we want to try and then at least we know we have got them :)

I guess thats the thing we've no idea how the economy etc will be next year but wouldnt want to risk it and not make ADR's and then not be able to make full use of the DDP

[disneynutz]

That's the deluxe plan. The regular DDP is about $40/night or $840/adult for 21 nights.

In post 16 the OP stated that the DDP would cost them 47 British Pounds per day for the three of them. 47 Pounds is roughly $83 US.

[TinkerChelleBell]

Yeah when booking via disney.co.uk this is the prices that we are quoted :-

Disney Dining Plan: £19.99 per adult, £5.99 per child, per day

1 Table Service meal, 1 Quick (Counter) Service meal and 1 Snack per guest, per day.

Total: £965.37

:)

[missmun52]

If I were you I would make all my reservations. If you want later you can change them but at least you know you have them. Chances are this probably only happens during times like free dining but it would be a shame not to be able to get into any places after you already paid for it!

21 days is a long time, dont know if I could do it unless I am in a condo and I can cook some days. No matter how clean or good someone always gets sick from eating out so much even in the world; Not to mention I gained a few pounds last year during free dining:) (You would not have to pull my arm too hard to get me to go however :lmao: )

[rsimon]

Hello :)
Im just wondering we are looking to go next year to Disney for 3 weeks and will be having the 21 day hopper pass and be staying on site. Im wondering would people advise that we make all our reservations for the TS's before we go? As in 21 days worth? Or book the ones which we most want and then leave some until we are there and see how we feel? We will be there last week of May for 3 weeks so not sure how busy restaurants will be :) .

Anyway advise would be appreciated, thank you in advance

Well.. I did post you couldnt' get a 21 day pass..However, I didn't know about this super duper deal that the UK gets..

Interesting..

[TinkerChelleBell]

Hiya - yeah we are lucky with the 21 day pass :)

Its £577 for me. my boyfriend and my 3 year old son.

[TinkerChelleBell]

Not to mention I gained a few pounds last year during free dining:) (You would not have to pull my arm too hard to get me to go however :lmao: )


Im starting my diet now, preparing for those extra pounds ( or for 21 days should I say stones :rotfl2: )

[Shooby doo]

Tinker going from experience,although we have still to go,I would make a quick plan of what you are doing each day then look at what you might want to eat.For instance we have planned a few 2TS meals,these have been freed up by days at Universal,Seaworld,Busch etc,because they say that park attire isn't suitable we have scheduled these for Waterpark or pool days so that we don't have to rush to get changed.I think it is a good idea just to get the ADRs you really want & play the rest by ear, because of Free Dining I've had to nearly plan everyday down to the milisecond:scared1: & it's taken some of the spontaniety out of our trip.
HTH SD:thumbsup2
By the way you are confusing our American cousins,you have a 21 Day Ultimate pass not a hopper!;)

[TinkerChelleBell]

ooppss LOL!!! about the 21 day pass/hopper thing :rotfl2: :)

Yeah we have said that we think days where we want to do sit downs etc we will make sure its when we are on resort/park so we have time to sort out getting ready and not having to rush. I get stressed when Im rushing around LOL!!

OH.... Im so excited and I have what seems like forever before before we can even do our ADR's :rotfl:

[LizinSTL]

In post 16 the OP stated that the DDP would cost them 47 British Pounds per day for the three of them. 47 Pounds is roughly $83 US.

Forgive me.... :confused:

You seemed confused in prior posts stating that it would cost $3k for 1 adult on the DDP for that long. In no way would it cost that much, I thought you were still confused about the DDP/costs/conversion issues.

[TinkerChelleBell]

:rotfl: I think I'va caused confusion with all this LOL It was my fault confusing people with 21 day pass/hopper. Then think with currency conversion things got mudded :goodvibes

In terms of value I've used the dining spreadsheet and it will work out good value for the restaurants we want etc :) So think in the advice of the posters on here ( thank you :flower3: ) think we will makes our ADR's alongside our park plans and that way we know we have the places we want and then can use counter services in between


Sorry again for me confusing matters :dance3:

[s.and.s]

Hi

We were at Pop Century last Sep/Oct for three weeks on the DDP (just fell right for us for the free DDP offer). We did a lot of planning and made around 18 reservations shortly after the 180 day mark (including 2 non DDP venues). Some required 2 Table Service credits which was fine since we had some non-Disney days (Universal etc). We used up all the Table Service and Snack credits but did have a number of Counter Services ones left over (perhaps we should have had a few more breakfast platters).

In the end we only made a couple of changes to reservations while we were there but were glad that we had made all the ADR's as we might have struggled to get to eat where and when we wanted. For example waiting for our table outside Le Celier at Epcot we witnessed a steady stream of people asking if there were any free tables and being turned away.

So some advanced thinking required but it was a great opportunity to eat in a variety of settings.

Cheers

[iluvpluto27]

We had the DDP for 21 nights last September and it was great. I planned all our ADRs and made it to them all.

We did 5 signature restaurants and a few lunches so we weren't having a big meal every evening. We managed to use all our credits and enjoyed some great meals.

[TinkerChelleBell]

We had the DDP for 21 nights last September and it was great. I planned all our ADRs and made it to them all.

We did 5 signature restaurants and a few lunches so we weren't having a big meal every evening. We managed to use all our credits and enjoyed some great meals.


Do you feel that it was good value :) Glad to hear from someone who did 21 days of it like we are considering. Do you think you spent much OOP while on it? We're guessing budget wise minimum we could have $120 a day for gifts etc we're not sure if this is enough?

[iluvpluto27]

Do you feel that it was good value :) Glad to hear from someone who did 21 days of it like we are considering. Do you think you spent much OOP while on it? We're guessing budget wise minimum we could have $120 a day for gifts etc we're not sure if this is enough?

I thought it was great value but at the time tips and appetisers were included, which increased the value considerably. We rarely spent OOP, aside from a few bottles of water so I think your $120 a day is fine. We had about 12 snack credits left on our last day.


Our usual routine was split a CS for breakfast, one for lunch then used our TS for dinner. We're using the DxDDP this year and I honestly couldn't imagine going to WDW without some type of pre-paid plan. I've looked at the menus and budgeted around $500 for tips, and about the same amount for alcohol. Aside from that we don't plan on spending much else OOP, apart from gifts for family.

[TinkerChelleBell]

Thank you for your reply - sounds like it worked well for you :)

Just waiting to get sorted and booked - the suspense is killing me ha ha! :rotfl:

Think my son would probably use the snack credits as an in between he's not a big eater and would probably pick at our CS meals and then have a little something in between before dinner so should work well as long as we plan and keep track of our credits :)

x