After checking found the DDP is not worth it for us

[myjourney]

After getting all our ressies I went back and pulled up the menus and figured the most expensive thing on each, and it is just not worth it for us. If we ate the most expensive TS, CS and snack we might save $20 each. I think a big part of this is that we have several character meals and they are not that expensive.

[Singinglizzie]

Good for you for taking the time to double check that it will or will not work for you. If it doesn't make sense, don't do it. Have a great trip too!!!

[Mommy2SabrinaJeremy]

Everyone's experience is unique so it's good you checked it out.

For us, we did the dining plan last year and we saved about $325 over the cost of the plan. 2 adults & 2 kids

[catne]

yeah, if character meals & buffets are big on your list, then chances are you will not see big $$$ savings on the dining plan. The other planning feature that tends to narrow the value of the DDP is planning a lot of breakfast & lunch table service meals...those tend to be lower cost meals anyway, so if those are your choices the dining plan might actually cost you more.

We eat few buffets, though, and do tend to prefer the higher-end entrees (and higher-end counter service choices, too.) So we save a pretty penny with the dining plan.

Good for you running the numbers, though...much better to do that in advance than to think you're going to save a bunch of money only to be disappointed with the reality.

Either way, enjoy your vacation!

[DrD]

Yeah, I didn't get it last time for that reason, also I didn't want to have to make ADR's for everything.

This time I'm doing it because it's free!!! So probably worth it. doubt I'll use all the table service because I don't know where I'll be every day.

This is the one thing I wish they did better, who wants to decide where to eat 3 months in advance?

[dd50]

Good for you on running the numbers. I did that also and will just about break even and only staying with it because we are meeting my grown daughter and her two children and she will do much better than paying OOP. We are doing mostly character meals and they aren't that much.

[raider97]

Originally Posted by myjourney

After getting all our ressies I went back and pulled up the menus and figured the most expensive thing on each, and it is just not worth it for us. If we ate the most expensive TS, CS and snack we might save $20 each. I think a big part of this is that we have several character meals and they are not that expensive.

Depending on when you are going make sure you add in the seasonal dining charges on you character meals. Most of December and some of November are now included in them.

[septbaby]

Are there children 3-9 in your group? If you are doing character meals or buffets ALL of those cost more than the child's daily rate.

Also did you add the 6.5% tax for the meals you pay for OOP? The tax is included in the DP fee.

Just one example using a not too expensive meal for one Adult and one Child.
Chef Mickey's breakfast, CS lunch, 2 snacks.

Snacks: $5.00
CS Lunches: $14.55
- Child meal $5.31
- Adult meal of $6.49 pizza and $2.19 drink
CS Breakfast:37.96
- Child $13.48
- Adult $24.48

Daily Total: $57.51
Daily DP Fee: $50.98

Keep in mind I chose the less expensive buffet, cheap ice cream novelty snacks and skipped dessert for the adult CS meal and selected the cheapest entree. With the DP you could have gotten a Pizza and salad meal as the entree. At Cosmic Ray's the entrees are much more expensive.

The DP definitely isn't for everyone, however when you indicated several character meals I figured there might be a child in the group and wanted to make sure the taxes were included in your calculations.

Finally, $20 could mean an extra smile for and my nephew. That's enough money to get his haircut at Harmony Barber shop or play mini golf, etc. I can see how for many it isn't a big deal, but for me it would matter.

Good luck with your decision or congrats on picking the choice that is right for you.

[purplebelle]

Originally Posted by myjourney

After getting all our ressies I went back and pulled up the menus and figured the most expensive thing on each, and it is just not worth it for us. If we ate the most expensive TS, CS and snack we might save $20 each. I think a big part of this is that we have several character meals and they are not that expensive.

How were you able to pull up the menus? I'd like to do this as well. Great research, Detective Myjourney.

[purplebelle]

Originally Posted by catne

yeah, if character meals & buffets are big on your list, then chances are you will not see big $$$ savings on the dining plan. The other planning feature that tends to narrow the value of the DDP is planning a lot of breakfast & lunch table service meals...those tend to be lower cost meals anyway, so if those are your choices the dining plan might actually cost you more.

That brings up an interesting point for me. I have free dining next month (instead of using the AAA discount) and we have mostly buffets and breakfasts:

Tusker House Donald Safari Breakast
1900 Park Fare with Mary Poppins Breakfast
Akershus Royal Table w/Princesses at 3pm
Captain's Grille 7pm
(on all different days)


Are the restaurants I selected on the more economical end? I guess having only one dinner, maybe I'm not using the free table service meals to the best deal. ?

Advice from the experts?

[mwatson011]

Originally Posted by purplebelle

That brings up an interesting point for me. I have free dining next month (instead of using the AAA discount) and we have mostly buffets and breakfasts:

Tusker House Donald Safari Breakast
1900 Park Fare with Mary Poppins Breakfast
Akershus Royal Table w/Princesses at 3pm
Captain's Grille 7pm
(on all different days)


Are the restaurants I selected on the more economical end? I guess having only one dinner, maybe I'm not using the free table service meals to the best deal. ?

Advice from the experts?

Let's see...you chose what your family will enjoy the most...sounds like the best value out there!

[septbaby]

Originally Posted by purplebelle

That brings up an interesting point for me. I have free dining next month (instead of using the AAA discount) and we have mostly buffets and breakfasts:

Tusker House Donald Safari Breakast
1900 Park Fare with Mary Poppins Breakfast
Akershus Royal Table w/Princesses at 3pm
Captain's Grille 7pm
(on all different days)


Are the restaurants I selected on the more economical end? I guess having only one dinner, maybe I'm not using the free table service meals to the best deal. ?

Advice from the experts?

You have two wonderful character breakfast, a lunch which I believe is plated, but all you can eat and full service dinner. The best deal on the DP is to eat what you want and not worry about price. If you've done that you're getting great value out of the plan. By the the Princess meal you've selected includes a photo package so that really adds to the "value" of the meal too.

[myjourney]

I forgot about the tax, I will run the numbers again. I am just figuring for my husband and I, but there are actually 14 of us, my kids and grandkids. We are going Oct 18 for 5 nights. I rented DVC points for four studios. We got all the ressiees we wanted including several we will pay OOP for, I am going to let my kids run their numbers and see if it is worth it for them.



purplebelle here is the link to the menus

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

[candielips]

Originally Posted by DrD

Yeah, I didn't get it last time for that reason, also I didn't want to have to make ADR's for everything.

This time I'm doing it because it's free!!! So probably worth it. doubt I'll use all the table service because I don't know where I'll be every day.

This is the one thing I wish they did better, who wants to decide where to eat 3 months in advance?

So are you saying that you are going during Free Dining without any ADR's?

[Tiger926]

Excellent points in regard to your figures - need to include tax in your figures (DP does), plus add in surcharges if applicable.

We just returned from 14 days, and saved over $600.00 using the DP for 2 adults and DD6 (our baby DS2 is free, but eats more than I do!). We then took out desserts/beverages we wouldn't normally have ordered, and still got a savings of close to $400.00, but we then would have had to order the baby actual kids' meals, so it would have balanced out. Either way, we saved a bundle, and we only order what we can eat, drink water with meals, share desserts (sometimes no dessert) and don't order the most expensive items at all. Lots of character meals for us though.

Great for doing your research! Tiger