Downgrading from Deluxe to basic-- a little sad - The DIS Discussion Forums

Tara922c · 11-12-2009, 07:57 AM

Last night DH and I went from doing deluxe DDP to the basic plan. I am a little sad, but a little releived. Reasons being is one, my BIL and his family are now joining us, and their kids aren't restuarant experienced, so they are going with the basic dining plan. I would feel bad if my DD was playing with her cousins, and I said, "come on, it's time to eat, again". Another reason is we looked at all the ADRs we planned to make, and realised our whole trip was based upon where we were going to eat. Finally, I have friends who live in Orlando, and work at Disney, and we plan to spend a day with them at the parks. I don't want to be having a great time, and have to say, "um excuse us but we have to go eat dinner, and you can't come". They work different shifts, so it would be hard to include them on any ADRs. Last was the money issue. Not only would we be spending an extra 400+ on the plan (dd is only 2), but we would be spending a lot more money in extra tips. I did the math, and would probably be tipping well over 300 for the week in tips. DH and I decided if we ever go for a short trip, just the two of us we will definently do deluxe dining. Oh the decisions you have to make for Disney is going to drive me nuts for the next 6 months. Now I have to narrow my ADRs down to 7, so I can make them on Sunday.

koolaidmoms · 11-12-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tara922c

Last night DH and I went from doing deluxe DDP to the basic plan. I am a little sad, but a little releived. Reasons being is one, my BIL and his family are now joining us, and their kids aren't restuarant experienced, so they are going with the basic dining plan. I would feel bad if my DD was playing with her cousins, and I said, "come on, it's time to eat, again". Another reason is we looked at all the ADRs we planned to make, and realised our whole trip was based upon where we were going to eat. Finally, I have friends who live in Orlando, and work at Disney, and we plan to spend a day with them at the parks. I don't want to be having a great time, and have to say, "um excuse us but we have to go eat dinner, and you can't come". They work different shifts, so it would be hard to include them on any ADRs. Last was the money issue. Not only would we be spending an extra 400+ on the plan (dd is only 2), but we would be spending a lot more money in extra tips. I did the math, and would probably be tipping well over 300 for the week in tips. DH and I decided if we ever go for a short trip, just the two of us we will definently do deluxe dining. Oh the decisions you have to make for Disney is going to drive me nuts for the next 6 months. Now I have to narrow my ADRs down to 7, so I can make them on Sunday.

It sounds like you may be a little disappointed but you made the decision that was best for you and your family.

We desperately want to do the DxDP but are waiting until DD and DS are a bit older and can appreciate it a bit more. They are fairly adventurous eaters and well behaved in restaurants but right now it would be hard to take them away from the parks and pool time for 2-3 hours a day to sit and eat.

Good luck with your ADRs.

msce2 · 11-12-2009, 10:13 AM

The choice about DDP or DxDDP or doing a dining plan at all is always such a tough decision. Last night my sister and I were just discussing how nice it would be if they had something in between the two. Like 2 credits a night that could be used for TS or CS, and then 2 snacks a day. A step down from DxDDP but a step up from DDP.

At least you do have DxDDP to look forward to in the future and you will have a great time, and plenty of food on the DDP!!!

Have an amazing trip!

Tara922c · 11-12-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koolaidmoms

It sounds like you may be a little disappointed but you made the decision that was best for you and your family.

We desperately want to do the DxDP but are waiting until DD and DS are a bit older and can appreciate it a bit more. They are fairly adventurous eaters and well behaved in restaurants but right now it would be hard to take them away from the parks and pool time for 2-3 hours a day to sit and eat.

Good luck with your ADRs.

My DD is 2, and wonderful in restuarants. I am also worried about being in the park, and having an ADR at 7, but at 6 she is DONE for the day. As parents of young kids I am sure you understand. I would like to go one day, as an adult only trip, and do the DxDP

Amy&Dan · 11-12-2009, 11:25 PM

I think you did the right thing. I would love for my husband and I to do the Deluxe Plan someday, but right now with two kids, even two kids who enjoy eating out, are teens and love to try new things, I just don't see it happening. Even on the regular DDP, we feel like all we do is eat and there is just only so much my tiny 13 year old dd can hold in her small tummy! You lose a lot of flexibility when you do a Dining Plan, esp the Deluxe and it sounds like this trip you need to be flexible. And saving money is never a bad thing!

PrincessArlena'sDad · 11-13-2009, 12:06 AM

We've done both before, and we like the deluxe better (we love the TS meals, and with my daughter's allergies, she gets a lot better menu selection, and we like to go early, get home very late everyday without going back to the room, so we need the rest time anyway).

That said, this year we are doing the regular plan this year. Before, we only had DD9, but we now have DS9months. We figured park hopping would be too much, so that means no late night Epcot meals after the park of the day closed. Also, everything takes longer with an infant, so while we had enough time for the deluxe before, now it'd cut too much into the touring time we have left.

So, I feel your pain. When DS is a bit older, we'll go back to deluxe for sure.

Also, I always thought they should come out with a design your own dining plan. Something like $25/TS, $15/CS, $3/snack, $11/mug. Also, including tips would be an option to the plan, at a cost of $5/TS meal. You wouldn't save as much as you could on the regular plans, as people would probably use these more efficiently, but I bet people would love them, and overall, I bet more people would buy plans, and hence, eat more in the parks.

Calgary DISHeads · 11-13-2009, 02:51 PM

Now, this will be our first time doing the dining plan without apps but we always find there is WAY too much on the regular plan that I couldn't imagine doing the deluxe, especially since apps are included plus so much time is spent eating! We rarely use our snack and end up on the last trip in the hotel store using them to take things home. To be fair though, we do almost a combined plan. For the last two trips DD was on the adult plan but about half the time she either ate off the kids menu (and paid OOP) or we shared meals so we had extra credits to use. Always did this with 2TS meals. If you do the regular plan you can always pay OOP and add extra meals.

Disuser · 11-17-2009, 08:14 AM

Don't feel bad.

This summer we had DeluxeDP and when vacation was over we had lots of dining left on the cards and all our snacks. For us it was a waste.

wezee · 11-18-2009, 01:40 PM

DH and I did the DxDDP in Oct. and by day 5 we were burned out!!! We had a 1TS and a 2TS booked for each day and still got tired of eating and traveling all over to our scheduled ADRs. By the end of the week we started to cancel ADRs and relax for the last few days. BTW...the amount of $$ we spent for tips added up to ALOT of money on the DxDDP!!
Even with all the walking at WDW, I gained 5 lbs. in 8 days!!!!!
We are returning next March and will not be using any DDP. We want to explore some of the non-DDP restaurants and are willing to snack on CS if need be.

11-12-2009, 07:57 AM	#1
Tara922c Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cypress, Texas--- a suburb of Houston Posts: 492	Downgrading from Deluxe to basic-- a little sad Last night DH and I went from doing deluxe DDP to the basic plan. I am a little sad, but a little releived. Reasons being is one, my BIL and his family are now joining us, and their kids aren't restuarant experienced, so they are going with the basic dining plan. I would feel bad if my DD was playing with her cousins, and I said, "come on, it's time to eat, again". Another reason is we looked at all the ADRs we planned to make, and realised our whole trip was based upon where we were going to eat. Finally, I have friends who live in Orlando, and work at Disney, and we plan to spend a day with them at the parks. I don't want to be having a great time, and have to say, "um excuse us but we have to go eat dinner, and you can't come". They work different shifts, so it would be hard to include them on any ADRs. Last was the money issue. Not only would we be spending an extra 400+ on the plan (dd is only 2), but we would be spending a lot more money in extra tips. I did the math, and would probably be tipping well over 300 for the week in tips. DH and I decided if we ever go for a short trip, just the two of us we will definently do deluxe dining. Oh the decisions you have to make for Disney is going to drive me nuts for the next 6 months. Now I have to narrow my ADRs down to 7, so I can make them on Sunday.

11-12-2009, 10:13 AM	#3
msce2 DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: PA Posts: 586	The choice about DDP or DxDDP or doing a dining plan at all is always such a tough decision. Last night my sister and I were just discussing how nice it would be if they had something in between the two. Like 2 credits a night that could be used for TS or CS, and then 2 snacks a day. A step down from DxDDP but a step up from DDP. At least you do have DxDDP to look forward to in the future and you will have a great time, and plenty of food on the DDP!!! Have an amazing trip! __________________ Bay Lake Towers here we come! Me(30) DH(32) DS(10) DD(6) DS(3) BCV - May 2009 BCV - May 2003

11-12-2009, 11:25 PM	#5
Amy&Dan Huge, huge thongs of them I think Disney's main purpose in life is to drive us all crazy! Feelings are seldom about logic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Too far from Disney Posts: 12,126	I think you did the right thing. I would love for my husband and I to do the Deluxe Plan someday, but right now with two kids, even two kids who enjoy eating out, are teens and love to try new things, I just don't see it happening. Even on the regular DDP, we feel like all we do is eat and there is just only so much my tiny 13 year old dd can hold in her small tummy! You lose a lot of flexibility when you do a Dining Plan, esp the Deluxe and it sounds like this trip you need to be flexible. And saving money is never a bad thing! __________________ Have stayed at: Poly, OKW, CBR, CSR, POR, POFQ, Pop, ASMO, ASSP, ASMU, BWV, SSR, DLH, GCH & PP. And seven wonderful nights on the Magic! Upcoming Trips: March/April 2010: WDW, Pop Century

11-13-2009, 12:06 AM	#6
PrincessArlena'sDad Mouseketeer Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 164	We've done both before, and we like the deluxe better (we love the TS meals, and with my daughter's allergies, she gets a lot better menu selection, and we like to go early, get home very late everyday without going back to the room, so we need the rest time anyway). That said, this year we are doing the regular plan this year. Before, we only had DD9, but we now have DS9months. We figured park hopping would be too much, so that means no late night Epcot meals after the park of the day closed. Also, everything takes longer with an infant, so while we had enough time for the deluxe before, now it'd cut too much into the touring time we have left. So, I feel your pain. When DS is a bit older, we'll go back to deluxe for sure. Also, I always thought they should come out with a design your own dining plan. Something like $25/TS, $15/CS, $3/snack, $11/mug. Also, including tips would be an option to the plan, at a cost of $5/TS meal. You wouldn't save as much as you could on the regular plans, as people would probably use these more efficiently, but I bet people would love them, and overall, I bet more people would buy plans, and hence, eat more in the parks. __________________

11-13-2009, 02:51 PM	#7
Calgary DISHeads DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,069	Now, this will be our first time doing the dining plan without apps but we always find there is WAY too much on the regular plan that I couldn't imagine doing the deluxe, especially since apps are included plus so much time is spent eating! We rarely use our snack and end up on the last trip in the hotel store using them to take things home. To be fair though, we do almost a combined plan. For the last two trips DD was on the adult plan but about half the time she either ate off the kids menu (and paid OOP) or we shared meals so we had extra credits to use. Always did this with 2TS meals. If you do the regular plan you can always pay OOP and add extra meals. __________________ Me DH DS15 DD12 AKL/Portofino Bay CL - Christmas 2009 Poly/Beach Club - Christmas 2007 POP/Hard Rock CL-Oct 2006 CBR - Jan 2003 Disneyland - Jan 1999, AllSS Sept 1996 Disneyland - Sept 1991, Camping at DW 1976

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11-17-2009, 08:14 AM	#8
Disuser Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 480	Don't feel bad. This summer we had DeluxeDP and when vacation was over we had lots of dining left on the cards and all our snacks. For us it was a waste.

11-18-2009, 01:40 PM	#9
wezee DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 1,395	DH and I did the DxDDP in Oct. and by day 5 we were burned out!!! We had a 1TS and a 2TS booked for each day and still got tired of eating and traveling all over to our scheduled ADRs. By the end of the week we started to cancel ADRs and relax for the last few days. BTW...the amount of $$ we spent for tips added up to ALOT of money on the DxDDP!! Even with all the walking at WDW, I gained 5 lbs. in 8 days!!!!! We are returning next March and will not be using any DDP. We want to explore some of the non-DDP restaurants and are willing to snack on CS if need be. __________________ Next Magical Moment: March 2010 & Sept 2010 March 2007 POFQ, Oct. 2007 POFQ, Sept. 2008 POFQ, Oct. 2009 POFQ March 1995 Off site, Feb 2000 POFQ, March 2006 POFQ (25th Anniv.)

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