anthony2k7
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2007
So, here we were thinking with free dining our trip this year we would need far less spending money than last year when we didnt bother with DDP (and ate mostly on site).
Ohhhhhhh no. I dunno if its just because we didnt make the most of it - or maybe thats because its not flexible enough to suit us. Either way I think we ended up using up as much if not more spending money this year than last!
First issue was that we're not big eaters, and so only really eat one big meal a day, so the CS credits were a complete waste with us - I think we maybe only used 8 of the 28 credits.
Second issue was that if you spend long days in the parks, then we got through several bottles of water a day - and I hate the tap/fountain water. So we basicly had the choice of using snack credits, paying $2.75 per bottle, using a CS and binning the food just to get the drink, or driving off site buying bottles of water and carrying them around all day. Most days we ended up using snack credits AND buying a couple of bottles. Those 2 bottles a day soon add up ($6.50 a day * 14 = $91 just on bottled drinks). Drinks seem to have gone up at least $.25 since last year.
Third issue - at the end of the long day we want nice usually 3 course meal - especially at the signature restuarants. So those starters were also being paid for out of pocket. I also prefer an alcoholic drink with the meal - wine is paired with dishes for a reason, it complements it in a way coke just doesnt!
Forth issue - Disney world seems to have its own little hyper inflation going on. Everything over there seems to have gone up so much in just 12 months.
So overall, free DDP seemed a waste, didnt help save us any spending money over last year, but does seem a necessaty due to how much everything has gone up.
Maybe if you're willing to only eat what Disney will let you have free, can stomach the fountain water, are tight on your tips then it might be a good deal - but for us it was disappointing for it to still cost so much.
Ideally, it would be great if Disney could build some flexibility into it - say to allow 7 food credits a day where :
4 food credits = 1 TS meal
2 food credits = 1 CS meal
1 food credit = 1 snack
In addition you could even say 2 food credits = 1 alcoholic drink (glass of wine/cocktail).
Then allow you to use those 7 credits a day however you wanted - but I guess thats never gonna happen.
Ohhhhhhh no. I dunno if its just because we didnt make the most of it - or maybe thats because its not flexible enough to suit us. Either way I think we ended up using up as much if not more spending money this year than last!
First issue was that we're not big eaters, and so only really eat one big meal a day, so the CS credits were a complete waste with us - I think we maybe only used 8 of the 28 credits.
Second issue was that if you spend long days in the parks, then we got through several bottles of water a day - and I hate the tap/fountain water. So we basicly had the choice of using snack credits, paying $2.75 per bottle, using a CS and binning the food just to get the drink, or driving off site buying bottles of water and carrying them around all day. Most days we ended up using snack credits AND buying a couple of bottles. Those 2 bottles a day soon add up ($6.50 a day * 14 = $91 just on bottled drinks). Drinks seem to have gone up at least $.25 since last year.
Third issue - at the end of the long day we want nice usually 3 course meal - especially at the signature restuarants. So those starters were also being paid for out of pocket. I also prefer an alcoholic drink with the meal - wine is paired with dishes for a reason, it complements it in a way coke just doesnt!
Forth issue - Disney world seems to have its own little hyper inflation going on. Everything over there seems to have gone up so much in just 12 months.
So overall, free DDP seemed a waste, didnt help save us any spending money over last year, but does seem a necessaty due to how much everything has gone up.
Maybe if you're willing to only eat what Disney will let you have free, can stomach the fountain water, are tight on your tips then it might be a good deal - but for us it was disappointing for it to still cost so much.
Ideally, it would be great if Disney could build some flexibility into it - say to allow 7 food credits a day where :
4 food credits = 1 TS meal
2 food credits = 1 CS meal
1 food credit = 1 snack
In addition you could even say 2 food credits = 1 alcoholic drink (glass of wine/cocktail).
Then allow you to use those 7 credits a day however you wanted - but I guess thats never gonna happen.