Thinking OOP

[Marionnette]

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

It is good for the entire day. They return the card to you after it has been scanned at the register.

 

[robinb]

It is good for the entire day. They return the card to you after it has been scanned at the register.

Hmmm ... I'll have to remember that when I do my gift-card-a-palooza in mid December.

 

[JVig]

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.

Or you could buy a Visa or Mastercard gift card that you can use ANYWHERE.

 

[bdklein]

Or you could buy a Visa or Mastercard gift card that you can use ANYWHERE.

Isn't there a fee? And if you lose a gift card, you stil may be out the money anyway.

 

[Marionnette]

Or you could buy a Visa or Mastercard gift card that you can use ANYWHERE.

Isn't there a fee? And if you lose a gift card, you stil may be out the money anyway.

I can get no-fee Visa GCs at my bank (TDBank). They come with the same protection for loss and theft that any Visa branded card does.

However, I choose to buy the Disney GCs from Target for my trips and to pay my DVC dues because I get close to 10% off of the face value of the GC. It's like getting an automatic 10% discount on anything that I buy at Disney when I'm on vacation.

 

[lauradis]

Isn't there a fee? And if you lose a gift card, you stil may be out the money anyway.

No fee mastercards at firstmerit if you have an acct.. Plus we have never lost one in like tons of years of vacations.. I would rather lose gift card (ok not really) then my visa or my bank card while on vacation!

plus if you just charge everything to your room key you dont have to carry it around with you leave them in safe in hotel

 

[HubbDave]

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.

Yeah, we hope to do that combo but right now we don't use enough prescriptions.

Just cancelled DDP tonight

 

[Ashleyfaz]

W did DDP last trip and it worked out for use because we did a lot of character meals. This time we are not using the plan. It still felt like a lot of food because we don't usually eat dessert every time. Also, my kids did not like the CS kids meals. The chicken nuggets and pizza do not taste as good as the adult chicken strips or pizza. They are young and are not big eaters and could have split an adult CS meal. Also, we were scrambling to finish our snack credits on the last day. And anytime we ate a CS, we would try to spend the most instead of just getting what we wanted. The mugs did not work out for us either because our kids do not drink soda (they were 3 and 5 when we visited). I used it for coffee everyday and sometimes for hot chocolate so it worked for me.

This time we are trying OOP. I will buy 2 mugs and just order what we want. I refuse to purchase any "kids" meald at CS. I'm going to set aside the money we would have spent on DDP and put it on my account when we get to WDW.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

W did DDP last trip and it worked out for use because we did a lot of character meals. This time we are not using the plan. It still felt like a lot of food because we don't usually eat dessert every time. Also, my kids did not like the CS kids meals. The chicken nuggets and pizza do not taste as good as the adult chicken strips or pizza. They are young and are not big eaters and could have split an adult CS meal. Also, we were scrambling to finish our snack credits on the last day. And anytime we ate a CS, we would try to spend the most instead of just getting what we wanted. The mugs did not work out for us either because our kids do not drink soda (they were 3 and 5 when we visited). I used it for coffee everyday and sometimes for hot chocolate so it worked for me.

This time we are trying OOP. I will buy 2 mugs and just order what we want. I refuse to purchase any "kids" meald at CS. I'm going to set aside the money we would have spent on DDP and put it on my account when we get to WDW.

I doubt we will buy any kids meals at CS either. My DD is 7 and likes trying new things and isn't a very picky eater. The only time I can see her having a kids meal at CS is if they offer the Smuckers uncrustables. Most days I think I'll share with her and just get an extra side. Or my kids can share an adult CS meal.

DS is 13 and at TS he likes to do kids meals and he'll do two kids meals. Then he has his moments where he wants an adult steak.

I will also purchase two mugs. My kids love soda but rarely to never have it. Only when we eat out. If I bought them their own mug they would drink soda all day!

 

[Zooshoveller]

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.

This our thought/plan for our next time!

Silly question - Can we use gift cards anywhere on property that takes debit/credit and KTTK cards?

 

[bdklein]

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.

Really, I'd love to see what was ordered and the math to see how you really spent more OOP vs the Dining Pkan, assuming you are comparing apples to apples (or Mickey bars to Mickey bars).

 

[mommyrosa2]

Really, I'd love to see what was ordered and the math to see how you really spent more OOP vs the Dining Pkan, assuming you are comparing apples to apples (or Mickey bars to Mickey bars).

While I may not have been a Math major in college, I definitely can work a mean calculator . Based on last year, all of our dinners (with the exception of Yachtsman) averaged $170 each minimal (some were actually a little more). YS was right around $250 and at the YS, we ordered 3 filet mignon entrees & 1 28oz porterhouse, 4 drinks, 4 desserts. Lunches averaged $70 minimal (again some were more). Example: WPE and we ordered 1 BBQ pizza, 1 meatloaf sandwich, 2 salmon entrees, 4 drinks, 4 desserts.

$170 x 5= $850
$250 x1x = $250 (2TS)

Total dinners, 7 nts = $1100

$70 x 7 = $490 (total CS)

$490 + $1100 = $1590

I was already over the DP cost and I hadn't included snacks or the mugs yet. Also, keep in mind that the numbers above are averaged, some dinners and lunches were actually more. The DP this year for our family of 4 is $1557 & once I tallied our ADR's (which I should also point out are all dinners), we were once again over & again I hadn't included the snacks or mugs yet. I've said it before & I'll say it again, the dining plan is not a "one plan fits all". Some folks like it, some don't. Some benefit from it, some don't...it's really a matter of personal choice & I get it. Heck, I'm going back to the world in October (just DH & I) and based on how we are planning that trip, only 1 dinner ADR, staying CL & "winging" it around F&W, the DP would not work in our favor, therefore we will go OOP and when the math for the DP no longer works in our favor or we decide to do Disney in a different way, we'll go OOP then too...

 

[hfarah]

we stayed

 

[hfarah]

we stayed off site and didn't do ddp. our kids are little (6 and under) and honestly, they eat like birds. We just brought some little snacks in our bags, bought popcorn along the way and ate a meal or two at the parks a day.

 

[hfarah]

sorry, hit enter a little too early that first time!

 

[dd50]

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.

That is what I do. When we did DDP I had one daughter that only ate a few chicken nuggets at the buffets and ice cream. I was paying $41 a day for her to eat that.

Last time we didn't do any TS and I kept my receipts. We ate the way we wanted and I still saved more than if I did the QSDP.