How do I convince my dh we don't need deluxe dining?

[memy26]

The four of us were at Disney August 3-10th and while we ate very well we still had tons of our deluxe dining credits left (our first family trip so it was a learning experience)

We left with about 13 dining credits left and 30+ snacks in our suitcases. So for our next trip I would like to go down to regular dining but dh wants to stay at deluxe dining. I personally can't think of one single reason to stay at the deluxe.

He says we should because we all get appetizers, entree and desserts on the deluxe. Plus he says what if we decide to do any signature restaurants (which ones are these anyway?). I say we don't all need that much food anyway, I'm doing WW and he needs to loose weight too, and whats the likely hood of doing signature restaurants with 2 children? (we did CRT last trip so not sure it would be done again)

Help, please!!

[septbaby]

You have to decide on an angle for your decision:

1. You know weight loss isn't the reason. Even if he agrees there will be some :rolleyes1 , snack sneaking etc.

2. If its money then you'll need to show him the $: cost of DP plus extras (appetizers, etc.). vs Deluxe

3. Time spent away from the park

4. Wildcard...you decide what that would be

But, you have to have a strategy

As for Signatures or 2TS: HDDR might be perfect for a 13yos bday(you can have beer or wine too), Narcoossee's is a great meal and comfy enough for a family (we took a 5yo and they celebrated his bday, he loved it).

The one thing with the snacks don't be afraid to use them for drinks in the parks; we can all use more water (weight loss secret too).

[Shleedogg]

I would just do the math and show him how much money you lost by having all those credits left unused. I would love the deluxe just for the appetizers, but I know it's way too much food for us. My DH is a numbers guy, so if I showed him that we lost a lot of money, he would probably change his mind. Good luck!

[ginnibobb]

If having the appetizer is an important factor in his wanting the deluxe plan, but it is not important to everyone else in the family, than it would be much cheaper to go with the basic DDP and just pay oop for his appetizer at each meal.

[memy26]

If having the appetizer is an important factor in his wanting the deluxe plan, but it is not important to everyone else in the family, than it would be much cheaper to go with the basic DDP and just pay oop for his appetizer at each meal.

That's what I tried to explain to him. At home when we go out we all will usually share one appetizer and the kids might get a dessert to share. I really don't see why we can't just do that there too.

Oh well we will see. I keep running different numbers by him hoping that I can change his mind.

[justplaingoofy]

do what works for you....

My logic for keep the basic ddp is that for the difference in the ($60 something dollars per night for 2 adults) we could pay out of pocket for an appetizer.

Also, if you want to do a signature meal if you are paying the difference of $60 plus per night x 6 nights thats $360! You could easily pay oop for another table service and still do your signature...


For us..... its just too much food and we were raised to finish everything on our plates... So we do better with the ddp, and if we are still hungry pay oop. (which we've never had to do!)

[septbaby]

OP has to understand why DH really wants the plan and then put he arguement against it in terms that he can agree with. I think I hear an "easy/effortless/all included preference from DH". Come up with an argument against that. If you think money is the reason not to do the plan then it becomes about timing. Wait until money is a real factor for something then say, "well if you only got the Basic DP" we'd have the money for...XXY, but use that just once otherwise you become the nag...:rotfl2:

[Bell30012]

If the spouse insists on the DxDP then I would sit down with a planning spreadsheet (I use Excel for this) and ensure that I've booked enough signature/CRT/show meals to use those up.

I've went on the DDP before and I felt that it wasn't enough. I am going on the DxDP this time and feel it is too much. Why can't Disney go back to the old voucher system? Oh yes, that's right because people were selling them on e-Bay left and right and Disney didn't make money on the people that failed to use them up during their vacation.

[snykymom]

How about skipping the DP entirely? Then you can eat the way your family eats (appetizers instead of desserts, sharing desserts, 2 appetizers instead of entree, etc.). You can eat at exactly the same places, and you can get ADRs at all of them. You can ignore the prices on the menus. You can get the snacks you want. And you'll probably save money to boot - you won't have paid for all those credits you didn't use.

That's what we're doing. The DP only saves money if you actually use all the food.

[luckytobeme88]

Why don't you think about getting the Deluxe package for one less night of your total stay? If you are going for a total of 7 nights, book a six-night package plus one night only stay after the package. You will have less deluxe credits to maneuver, but you will still have plenty to eat too.
We have done this for two times already. We used the credits for lunch and dinner (a few signatures restaurants) There should never be an issue of too much food. Your kids are teens, right? They will enjoy California Grill, Narcoosee's, or HDDR etc. TS lunch ADR's are not really needed unless you want Sci-fi or 50's Primetime. A good planning will save you a lot of headaches or unwanted pounds, JK

[Disney Mommy 3]

We are a family of 5---our oldest son is 12, so he is on the adult meal. We do the DDP because for the cost of one day,we would be out far more $$$$ just at one resteraunt like Cinderella's Royal Table, or Nine Dragons. It really works for us. We do breakfast in the room and use snax for water or Mickey bars/fruit. I tried to figure if the DxDP would be cheaper, but I can't see that it will be. For us, we may (this next trip) be one TS short--but it's going to be far cheaper to pay OOP than for the whole Deluxe upgrade!!

Figure up the meals --per meal, per day using a sample menu off the boards, and show him the $$$ difference. I think maybe he isn't seeing how much money ya'll wasted with all those credits left. That $ could have went toward souvies or the money spent on the room!!!

[ReneeA]

I would never do DxDP because I do not want to spend that much time in sit down restaurants.

One TS meal a day is plenty for our family. Any more than that and it starts cutting into pool time, resort time, relaxation time (Sorry, but I don't find sitting in a nice restaurant 2-3x a day with little kids fun or relaxing), and park time.

It would not be for our family.

[RACHELSMOM1]

I would like your dilemma...My DH tries to convince ME that we don't need the deluxe plan. After our April trip, however, he did say it was a good value. He still thinks it is pricey, though.

[buzz1fan]

Why don't you think about getting the Deluxe package for one less night of your total stay? If you are going for a total of 7 nights, book a six-night package plus one night only stay after the package. You will have less deluxe credits to maneuver, but you will still have plenty to eat too.
We have done this for two times already. We used the credits for lunch and dinner (a few signatures restaurants) There should never be an issue of too much food. Your kids are teens, right? They will enjoy California Grill, Narcoosee's, or HDDR etc. TS lunch ADR's are not really needed unless you want Sci-fi or 50's Primetime. A good planning will save you a lot of headaches or unwanted pounds, JK



We are thining of doing this, 6 nights on the deluxe, and the last night room only. Did you have to move rooms if staying at the same resort.

[luckytobeme88]

No we didn't change room at all. When I checked in at AKL, I simply told the CM that we have an 1-night room only stay after the package. But you will be asked to get new KTTW room card.......make sure you keep your other KTTW cards because your DDP credits and park tix(if any) are still valid. Don't turn those in!!

[t1lersm0m]

The only problem is you need to use your credits by midnight the day your package ends...so if you went Sunday to Saturday with a deluxe dining plan and Saturday to Sunday room only, you need to use the credits by midnight (I believe midnight is the time) Saturday.

[luckytobeme88]

We have no problem using all of our credits by mid-night after we "checked out" of our package "room". With good planning and judgement, you should not have any left-over credits. We used all of those credits for lunches(mostly w/o ADR's) and signatures dinners(2x Cali-Grill, Narcoosee's, Jiko). We only used our snack credits for drinks and breakfast pastries.

[Cookie Princess]

I would like your dilemma...My DH tries to convince ME that we don't need the deluxe plan. After our April trip, however, he did say it was a good value. He still thinks it is pricey, though.

I too would love this dilemma. I am trying to figure out how to con...I mean convince DH that we need to upgrade from the basic to the deluxe plan. We love the basic plan, but I would like to give the deluxe plan a try!:confused3

[PaulaSB12]

I too would love this dilemma. I am trying to figure out how to con...I mean convince DH that we need to upgrade from the basic to the deluxe plan. We love the basic plan, but I would like to give the deluxe plan a try!:confused3

How about darling we have the deluxe dining plan or its boiled cabbage for every meal for a month.

:lmao:

[asmit4]

Well- you said that you had 13 credits for meals left and 30 snack credits. Assuming 4 people, that's roughly 3 credits for meals per person and 7 snack credits left per person.

Did you use your snack credits for just food items or did you buy drinks too? I think it would be very easy to use up 1 more credit per day for a water per person or a soda.

In addition- how many 2 credit places did you go to? All you would need to do is book 2 more 2 credit places instead of 1 credit places and you'd use up 2 of your credits leaving only 1 credit on the table.

Another way to do this would be to do a split reservation. Say you are staying for 7 nights...book 6 nights deluxeddp and book the last night- NO DDP at all. You'd have 3 less credits per person. You'd also have all your credits to use before midnight on your 2nd last day.

For example- say you fly in Sat to Sat. You'd have til midnight on Friday to use your credits. We ALWAYS fly out early so we don't use any of the credits on the last day at all.

That would save your family 1 days Dlxddp. cost.

[Tricia1972]

I think that the best way to convince your husband to not do the DxDDP next time is to show him how it works for you NOT doing the plan.

Figure out what your dream Disney trip is for dining. Money is no object. Where would you go and what would you eat there?

Add that up.

Add up the cost of the DxDDP.

How close is it for you? If it's clear that you'd save money by not using the plan - then don't.

Every single person can make a killing on the DDP and the DxDDP if they try. The point isn't making a plan work for you, the point is to make it the most magical vacation for you and see if a dining plan can save you a little money (or offer you convenience/comfort)