Thinking of putting ddp$ on gift card

[sto6917]

Anyone ever put the amt. They would spend on ddp on Visa gift card instead of purchasing the ddp?

I wonder if I would come out ahead?

 

[catne]

I suppose it is possible you could come out well, especially if you're not exactly wanting to be eating the way the plan works (for example if you rarely eat desserts so don't order them on your gift-card-version of a dining plan.) If you're trying to eat exactly the way the plan works (ordering entree/drink/dessert with your counter service & dinner every time) then I suggest you just buy the plan because you will probably save money on the plan vs. paying cash. I think you'd find the gift card in the amount of the dining plan would not cover the amount of food you could actually get if you were on the dining plan. Putting cash on a gift card is a popular way of pre-paying some of your vacation expenses, though...people have reported doing that.

But hey, if you do try this, come back & give us a report how it worked vs. buying a dining plan...I for one would like to hear about your experience

 

[Luv2Roam]

If you would come out ahead just depends on your eating habits.
Having the money on a gift card doesn't offer any kind of discount of course. No different than paying with a debit card or cash.

 

[rnorwo1]

I am very ashamed to admit how many brain cells I have wasted on these calculations, but here are my thoughts

We usually get the DDP because my DH loves to try all of the different TS restaurants. I think it's way too much food, and we usually are trying to blow snack credits the last day. So what I did to convince him that it is not worth it is I looked at all of the menus of the restaurants where we usually like to eat and I priced the separate items that I thought we were likely to order, being extremely generous. We saved several hundred dollars by not doing the DDP, and that is NOT sharing meals or doing things like that that I normally do. I found that the only way to come out ahead with the DDP is if you eat at the more expensive restaurants and you choose the most expensive things on the menu, in addition to the desserts. So, it only worked out for us on days when we do the buffets like Boma or O'Hana, and then we're really only getting the snack for free, so it's not that much of a savings. Since we're DVC, we can do split stays, and I'll get the DDP for just two days or so and have the ADRs for those places on the days that we have DDP. Although I have never done the QSDP, if you have several children, it actually may save quite a bit for you because they are so cheap on that plan... and you get two snacks a day which is awesome, I love Disney's snacks more than the meals!

So, if you do not typically order the most expensive things at the most expensive restaurants, or do not order dessert with every meal, or snack alot, then you will definitely come out ahead paying with cash or using the prepaid card. If you do really want to splurge, and everyone should on vacation when they can afford it, then definitely go for the DDP... there is also something to be said for that psychological freedom of being able to say "yes" to everything, and for some people that's priceless!

 

[Sandisw]

This is what I am doing next summer. We decided last summer that I just don't want to eat the way the DDP forces me to eat. So, we are going to take the amount of the plan, put it on the card, and see what happens.

I am going to allow everyone to have the same amount of "credits" as if we were on the plan so not to limit things.

My belief is that we will still have money left over or my OOP expenses for the "extras" will be covered with the savings.

For example, last summer, we all wanted smoothies in Epcot that were not covered under the plan and paid OOP for those. Next summer, I won't have to worry as everything will come off of one card so any snack and/or drink we want will be "covered".

We even ended up throwing out at least 4 desserts that we simply did not eat. We took them back to the room thinking we would, but just didn't need them as we were so full. And, on the last day, we had 3 CS meals left for breakfast but hardly ate much of them at all. It was then that we realized it wasn't needed.

 

[larryz]

This is what I am doing next summer. We decided last summer that I just don't want to eat the way the DDP forces me to eat. So, we are going to take the amount of the plan, put it on the card, and see what happens.

I am going to allow everyone to have the same amount of "credits" as if we were on the plan so not to limit things.

My belief is that we will still have money left over or my OOP expenses for the "extras" will be covered with the savings.

Good plan, just don't force people to low-ball their orders based on the cost of the items ordered. That's one bennie of the DDP -- everything (except lobster) is available on the plan and a TS credit is a TS credit regardless of cost. Please post when you get back and let us know how it went.

 

[Sandisw]

Good plan, just don't force people to low-ball their orders based on the cost of the items ordered. That's one bennie of the DDP -- everything (except lobster) is available on the plan and a TS credit is a TS credit regardless of cost. Please post when you get back and let us know how it went.

Yes, we have already discussed that anything that is available will be eligible. No one will be limited to choosing the cheapest option, etc. The great part is that things that were not covered under the plan will also be covered so in a sense, some extra flexibility with snacks, etc.

For example, the money that won't be spent for a dessert after my TS meal will still be there the next day to cover something else!

Based on the way that we ate last summer, I think we are going to have money left but I will definitely post what happens!!!

 

[patsal]

I'm getting a Disney gift card in the amount my DDP would have cost. No one will have any limitations on their food choices, I believe I will do better by the end than any form of DDP would since I will have full flexibility, no time limits and spend no time chasing credits at the end of the trip to use them up. I'm going in July and will share my findings when I return.

 

[bjscheel]

I'm thinking of doing this too. One question- will they tell me at each purchase what my gift card balance is so I can keep track?

It's questionable this year whether the QSDP is worth it paying for 3 adults and one child. Next year when my youngest is 10 I am not paying adult prices for her for sure- we will go OOP. I just thought a gift card would still provide the convenience and feeling of "everything is prepaid".

 

[sdmom]

One question- will they tell me at each purchase what my gift card balance is so I can keep track?

The balance should print on the bottom of your receipt.

 

[patsal]

The balance should print on the bottom of your receipt.

Yes it does, and I just keep my last reciept wrapped around the giftcard until the next time I use it so I can keep track.