Please help me do the math

[OrlandoHelp]

I have been trying to figure tis out and keep going back and forth. We are currently on the basic dining plan and not sure if it is worth going deluxe.

On the basic plan we will get 5 TS meals total but I have several more TS restaurants reserved. Please help me decide if it would be worth going delux of to go OOP? Which TS restaurants would you suggest for OOP.

Hoop Dee Doo
Cape May -B
Whispering Canyon - D
Sci Fi - L
Ohana's - D
Crystal Palace - L
Chef Mickey's -B
1900 Park Faire - D
Coral Reef - D

This equals 10 credits for a 5 night stay. I am leaning towards deluxe dining but that will leave us with alot of extra credits that I don't think we will use. :confused3

[Faldred]

Rule of thumb is that 2/3 of DxDP credits used for TS will work out for you financially.

Otherwise, I've figured the "cost" of a DxDP meal credit is $22/adult and $5/child. If you're coming out far enough ahead on those 10 meals, then you're probably breaking even or better already.

[iheartdolewhips]

If you're going to pay anything OOP, your best bet is to pay for one or both of the breakfasts. Cape May is cheaper than Chef Mickey's so if you're only going to pay for one it should be that one.

[squirrel]

Sci-Fi is one to pay out of pocket for the adults and the children.

If you don't want to narrow down your list, I think the DxDP will be cheaper. You can use the other credits as a CS or another TS meal.

If you decide on the DxDP add in another 2TS dinner show or signature dining. You can always do a TS breakfast, have a snack or two for lunch and use the other two TS credits for dinner. Also if you are arriving early and leaving late you can spread out the credits a bit more.

[Faldred]

You can also use "leftover" meal credits for room service (where available) and pizza delivery at your resort.

[DisneyFamily123]

Deluxe is the way to go... if you want all of the TS you listed. We were in the same situation... because we wanted to do more TS than the regular dining plus DDP allowed, our OOP costs were almost equal to the additional cost of going deluxe DDP.

The Plus Dining (regular) DDP covers 5 TS and 5 CS credits per person if you're staying for 5 nights. Your list of TS restaurants is 10 TS credits.... So you have to pay OOP for 5 credits per person. Your least expensive meals are probably Sci-Fi if you stick to burgers and fries, and your breakfasts. For an adult, I'll estimate an average of $25 per meal credit for those, including tax. So, for 5 meal credits, that's $125 OOP (5x25).

Now add some out of pocket costs that are included with the deluxe DDP. You might order some appetizers at Coral Reef, Sci Fi, or Whispering Canyon Cafe. So, just add $15 per person total for appetizers. Add $13 per person for the refillable resort mug (if you buy them). So, your total OOP cost is $153 (125+15+13).

Now compare that to the additional cost of just going deluxe. The cost may be a little different depending on when you're going to WDW, but for September 2010 (used as an example), the additional cost of going deluxe for a 5 night stay is $150 more per adult (compared to regular dining plus). So there is only a $3 difference.

So, for the same amount of money you are paying OOP, you could go deluxe. With deluxe, you will have 5 more meal credits per person in addition to the 10 you already planned. Under the regular DDP, those would have to be CS. With Deluxe, those can be TS or CS. With deluxe, each person gets an appetizer with every lunch and dinner meal that is not buffet or family style. You can do more TS if you want instead of CS. You also get more snacks with deluxe. If 3 TS meals a day is too much... you can do more shows or signature restaurants for dinner that charge 2 meal credits per meal.

Some other details are that tax is included when you use the DDP. But, if you plan to do more TS... tips add up too which are not included.

Maybe do Coral Reef for lunch and choose another show or signature restaurant for dinner to replace it?

Maybe add another character breakfast? Or more lunches? Will you arrive early enough on your 1st day to enjoy a meal? Or leave late enough to enjoy a lunch on your last day?

Enjoy your Trip!!!

I have been trying to figure tis out and keep going back and forth. We are currently on the basic dining plan and not sure if it is worth going deluxe.

On the basic plan we will get 5 TS meals total but I have several more TS restaurants reserved. Please help me decide if it would be worth going delux of to go OOP? Which TS restaurants would you suggest for OOP.

Hoop Dee Doo
Cape May -B
Whispering Canyon - D
Sci Fi - L
Ohana's - D
Crystal Palace - L
Chef Mickey's -B
1900 Park Faire - D
Coral Reef - D

This equals 10 credits for a 5 night stay. I am leaning towards deluxe dining but that will leave us with alot of extra credits that I don't think we will use. :confused3

[OrlandoHelp]

Deluxe is the way to go... if you want all of the TS you listed. We were in the same situation... because we wanted to do more TS than the regular dining plus DDP allowed, our OOP costs were almost equal to the additional cost of going deluxe DDP.

The Plus Dining (regular) DDP covers 5 TS and 5 CS credits per person if you're staying for 5 nights. Your list of TS restaurants is 10 TS credits.... So you have to pay OOP for 5 credits per person. Your least expensive meals are probably Sci-Fi if you stick to burgers and fries, and your breakfasts. For an adult, I'll estimate an average of $25 per meal credit for those, including tax. So, for 5 meal credits, that's $125 OOP (5x25).

Now add some out of pocket costs that are included with the deluxe DDP. You might order some appetizers at Coral Reef, Sci Fi, or Whispering Canyon Cafe. So, just add $15 per person total for appetizers. Add $13 per person for the refillable resort mug (if you buy them). So, your total OOP cost is $153 (125+15+13).

Now compare that to the additional cost of just going deluxe. The cost may be a little different depending on when you're going to WDW, but for September 2010 (used as an example), the additional cost of going deluxe for a 5 night stay is $150 more per adult (compared to regular dining plus). So there is only a $3 difference.

So, for the same amount of money you are paying OOP, you could go deluxe. With deluxe, you will have 5 more meal credits per person in addition to the 10 you already planned. Under the regular DDP, those would have to be CS. With Deluxe, those can be TS or CS. With deluxe, each person gets an appetizer with every lunch and dinner meal that is not buffet or family style. You can do more TS if you want instead of CS. You also get more snacks with deluxe. If 3 TS meals a day is too much... you can do more shows or signature restaurants for dinner that charge 2 meal credits per meal.

Some other details are that tax is included when you use the DDP. But, if you plan to do more TS... tips add up too which are not included.

Maybe do Coral Reef for lunch and choose another show or signature restaurant for dinner to replace it?

Maybe add another character breakfast? Or more lunches? Will you arrive early enough on your 1st day to enjoy a meal? Or leave late enough to enjoy a lunch on your last day?

Enjoy your Trip!!!

Thank you, we are going with deluxe. :cool1:

[squirrel]

Are you going to add in some more ADR's?

I'd pick Donald's Breakfast at Tusker House (either an hour before the park opens or a later breakfast 10:30, don't do it too late or it will be lunch), 'Ohana for breakfast with Lilo&Stitch, Mickey and Pluto and Crystal Palace or CRT to get into the MK one hour before the park opens.

[OrlandoHelp]

Are you going to add in some more ADR's?

I'd pick Donald's Breakfast at Tusker House (either an hour before the park opens or a later breakfast 10:30, don't do it too late or it will be lunch), 'Ohana for breakfast with Lilo&Stitch, Mickey and Pluto and Crystal Palace or CRT to get into the MK one hour before the park opens.

Not sure, maybe one more (CRT). I am not sure where to fit in more. I don't want to be running from ADR to ADR.