Thinking OOP

[Sappermont]

Hi Everyone!

My husband and I are planning a trip to WDW this fall! Although we've decided on a resort we are now thinking about Dining Plan (or not) options. We last went in 2011 and had the DDP. That was our first time on a Dining Plan. We certainly enjoyed it and thought it was a good value (although we never crunched the numbers). We also thought that it was a lot of food. I love the idea of everything being included and we also were thinking about trying some signatures and/or shows so we had started to think about the idea of doing DXDP. Given the cost and the fact that we were stuffed to the gills on DDP we are hesitant. Given some food restrictions that we have now that we didn't have in '11 we likely won't be getting dessert as much which makes DXDP appealing (appetizer option). Long story short - after all this back and forth I was thinking about going OOP! I started to crunch the numbers and honestly at some restaurants I'd prefer ordering a salad and appetizer over an entree.

So, thanks for listening and I guess my question to you is - have you ever done OOP and then regretted it? I know it's different for everyone but I'm just wondering if anyone ever really regretted not getting the dining plan. It seems like TIW would be an awesome option but we don't qualify!

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

 

[robinb]

I have heard people suggest to take the cost of the DDP and put it on a gift card. That way you have the feeling that it is all pre-paid, but you are not required to eat/order food that you would not usually eat (like CS desserts). I won't do the DDP now unless it's "free" because it's really not a good value for our family. We never order CS desserts, my DH rarely orders soda with his meals and my DD is a picky vegetarian who still happily eats off the kids menus at many TS places.

ETA: If you have money left over on the gift card it's a bonus and if you don't then you know the DDP may really be better for your family.

 

[jcieutat]

Our last 5 trips we have gotten the DDP free. Before that, we paid for it some and not for others. I never crunched the numbers but it was less OOP because we did not get all of the desserts and snacks. It is alot of food and we were almost miserable last trip we ate so much. During our next trip we will probably go OOP unless its free.

The DDP was awesome years ago when appetizers and gratuity were included!!!

 

[bdklein]

So, thanks for listening and I guess my question to you is - have you ever done OOP and then regretted it? Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

Not once!!!!

 

[bdklein]

I have heard people suggest to take the cost of the DDP and put it on a gift card.

But if the gift card is lost, aren't you out the money? Especially if someone finds it and spends it.

ETA: If you have money left over on the gift card it's a bonus and if you don't then you know the DDP may really be better for your family.

It's a bonus for Disney, no? Now they have your cash and you haven't gotten the value yet. Assuming you actually redeem the card and lose it for forget about it. And stuck being able to only use it for Disney stuff.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

We've done the QSDP, the DDP and OOP. OOP works out best for us. My kids have strange eating habits- they don't eat breakfast, ever. They like a big meal midday, and a small meal/snack later in the day. We've added up what we paid for dining plans, an out of pocket and always came out ahead OOP. We don't order appetizers or desserts, and one DS is so picky he sometimes just splits a meal with someone, just not to waste the things he won't eat.
I don't know how, but it works out cheaper for us.

 

[cluvsdisney]

We pay OOP and it works out so much better. We spend less and we eat less. And we don't worry about using all of our meal credits.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi Everyone!

My husband and I are planning a trip to WDW this fall! Although we've decided on a resort we are now thinking about Dining Plan (or not) options. We last went in 2011 and had the DDP. That was our first time on a Dining Plan. We certainly enjoyed it and thought it was a good value (although we never crunched the numbers). We also thought that it was a lot of food. I love the idea of everything being included and we also were thinking about trying some signatures and/or shows so we had started to think about the idea of doing DXDP. Given the cost and the fact that we were stuffed to the gills on DDP we are hesitant. Given some food restrictions that we have now that we didn't have in '11 we likely won't be getting dessert as much which makes DXDP appealing (appetizer option). Long story short - after all this back and forth I was thinking about going OOP! I started to crunch the numbers and honestly at some restaurants I'd prefer ordering a salad and appetizer over an entree.

So, thanks for listening and I guess my question to you is - have you ever done OOP and then regretted it? I know it's different for everyone but I'm just wondering if anyone ever really regretted not getting the dining plan. It seems like TIW would be an awesome option but we don't qualify!

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

We thought that the DDP was an awesome deal when it included an appetizer and the gratuity. The current incarnation isn't all that appealing. What sealed the deal for us was when we stayed at the YC on a convention rate and we couldn't get the DDP. We ended up paying OOP for all of our meals and to be honest, we preferred it that way.

Since then, I've done the DDP when traveling with others who wanted it and while I don't regret making those trips, I would have preferred to pay OOP for my dining instead of trying to manage my credits.

A lot of people say that they like the DDP because they know that if they didn't have it, they would choose the least expensive items on the menu or skip something they want because it was too pricey. Well, if I'm on the DDP, I'm thinking that I need to get the more expensive items on the menu in order to get my money's worth, even when the low-cost vegetarian option is what appeals to me.

We're going for 9 nights during F&W in the fall. We will be paying OOP. I will be buying GCs ahead of time but all of them will be placed on my room account shortly after we arrive so that we can just use our room card to snack our way around the World!

 

[robinb]

But if the gift card is lost, aren't you out the money? Especially if someone finds it and spends it.



It's a bonus for Disney, no? Now they have your cash and you haven't gotten the value yet. Assuming you actually redeem the card and lose it for forget about it. And stuck being able to only use it for Disney stuff.

You can photocopy the card and cancel it if someone finds it the same as a credit card. You can also use it to pay off any left over charges on your room when you leave or save it for the next trip as a deposit. Yes, Disney still has your money but that money is not all tied up in the DDP which expires at the end of your stay.

 

[Sappermont]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the quick and helpful responses. I appreciate you sharing your experiences and thoughts. We still have a few planning summits left but I think that I am definitely leaning towards OOP. Can we put a set amount onto our room account and use our Key to the World card to pay for meals?

Thanks again! Happy WDW planning!!!

 

[robinb]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the quick and helpful responses. I appreciate you sharing your experiences and thoughts. We still have a few planning summits left but I think that I am definitely leaning towards OOP. Can we put a set amount onto our room account and use our Key to the World card to pay for meals?

Thanks again! Happy WDW planning!!!

Absolutely. You can put the amount the DDP would cost you in cash and then charge against your room. If you have anything left over you can get a refund. You will probably go over if you do many TS meals because you'll be paying tips out of the "DDP" amount.

 

[Sappermont]

Thanks robinb! I talked with my husband about this tonight and we are definitely leaning towards OOP! So exciting!!! Thanks again everyone for your input and info!!

 

[lauradis]

If you dont like the idea of disney gift cards. We always get Visa gift cards from

bank without the fee. What ever is left over after vacation we just spend on

gas or food at home.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

On previous trips I went with XH. He liked the DDP because it felt all inclusive to him and he hated seeing the bill for those meals. It worked for us because both of our children were kids and that price drops. Also at the time I was a bit heavier and ate more. He's also a huge eater and can eat at any time. Hungry or not. We did tons of character meals so we got the money out of the DDP.

My last trip I did the DDP again (went with the kids). DS was a Disney adult. DD was a kid and then me (who lost weight and was eating differently). I noticed it was too much food this time around. DS isn't a big eater and didn't really want to eat adult meals all of the time. I was forced to order entrees when I would have been happy with an appetizer. I never ordered soda...only water. I could have easily shared adult CS meals with either kid or had them split an adult CS meal. All of the deserts I had to hide from the kids because I didn't want them bouncing everywhere. The kids started whining about the TS meals because they would rather be in the parks and just grabbing something quick at CS. I found myself irritated too because I couldn't cancel and lose a credit that I prepaid for.

This time I am going with SO and the kids. I do not think we will go with the DDP. DF isn't a huge eater. He has his moments but if he's not hungry he won't order at a TS meal or he'll just want something light. I don't eat as much and don't want to be forced to go crazy. I'm okay splitting with one of the kids. If I want to just get an appetizer for dinner I want to be able to do that. I want to be able to make TS ADR's and cancel if we don't feel up to it.

I am going to review my receipts upon our return and see if we made out.

 

[Sappermont]

Thanks Lauradis and MiVidaLoca! I'll be curious to hear how the OOP turns out for you. I'm definitely leaning that way! We'll see! I appreciate everyone's input!

 

[mommyrosa2]

Hi Everyone!

My husband and I are planning a trip to WDW this fall! Although we've decided on a resort we are now thinking about Dining Plan (or not) options. We last went in 2011 and had the DDP. That was our first time on a Dining Plan. We certainly enjoyed it and thought it was a good value (although we never crunched the numbers). We also thought that it was a lot of food. I love the idea of everything being included and we also were thinking about trying some signatures and/or shows so we had started to think about the idea of doing DXDP. Given the cost and the fact that we were stuffed to the gills on DDP we are hesitant. Given some food restrictions that we have now that we didn't have in '11 we likely won't be getting dessert as much which makes DXDP appealing (appetizer option). Long story short - after all this back and forth I was thinking about going OOP! I started to crunch the numbers and honestly at some restaurants I'd prefer ordering a salad and appetizer over an entree.

So, thanks for listening and I guess my question to you is - have you ever done OOP and then regretted it? I know it's different for everyone but I'm just wondering if anyone ever really regretted not getting the dining plan. It seems like TIW would be an awesome option but we don't qualify!

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

Our experiences have been like this (and we always crunch numbers before every trip): As a family of 4 (myself, DH and two teen DD's), we have always come out ahead using the regular DP (1 CS/1 TS/1 snack). Early on, we went without the DP as we thought for sure we'd spend less and the both times we did, we ended up spending a lot more than what the plan would have cost us, so to answer your question, yes, we regretted that decision both of those times. We have thought about going with the deluxe plan on a couple of occasions but quickly realized that would be way too much food for us so we scratched that. We do find the regular DP to be worth it for all of us and will be using it again in August for our family trip but we do eat as the plan is designed and when we don't want a CS dessert (which I normally don't), I end up getting something else to go like a bottle of water,fruit or yogurt. We also tend to use our snack credits for breakfast items as we are not big breakfast eaters. Now, I will say that DH & I are going back for a solo trip (no kids ) in October for 4 days & because it will be a much different vacation than we normally take with the girls (most likely only visiting Epcot for F&W), we decided to stay CL and not use the DP as it won't make sense for us. We are only planning 1 or 2 ADR's max...the rest, we will get from CL and snacking around the countries at the festival. You will really want to crunch some numbers to see whether or not the DP will make sense for you as it doesn't always work out to be the best deal. Good Luck!

 

[HubbDave]

You can always buy a bunch of. $50 gift cards thru Target and get 5% off...

A bit of a pain but still more $ saved

 

[Marionnette]

You can always buy a bunch of. $50 gift cards thru Target and get 5% off...

A bit of a pain but still more $ saved

Even better, combine the Target REDCard 5% discount with a 5% Target Pharmacy Rewards discount for 9.75% off of the price of the gift cards. I just picked up some yesterday for our upcoming trip.

 

[mommyrosa2]

Even better, combine the Target REDCard 5% discount with a 5% Target Pharmacy Rewards discount for 9.75% off of the price of the gift cards. I just picked up some yesterday for our upcoming trip.

Exactly what I'm doing to cover any OOP costs likes tips in August and getting extra to cover our food for the October trip

 

[robinb]

Even better, combine the Target REDCard 5% discount with a 5% Target Pharmacy Rewards discount for 9.75% off of the price of the gift cards. I just picked up some yesterday for our upcoming trip.

Is Target Pharmacy discount a one-time discount or can you use it with multiple transactions on the same day?