2008 DDP ..I'll take it! or You can have it!

[patsal]

I just spent the greater part of the day going over DDP, DXDDP and OOP with various discounts--AP, DVC

I found for the way we eat--an appetizer or two to share, four entrees and dessert, maybe--these were my totals

I did round the DDP to $40 and the DXDDP to $70 for ease of math! 4 people all considered adults

DDP $1920 plus about $300 for tips $2220
DxDDP $3360 plus $600 for tips $3960

OOP with discounts $1593--10TS, 2 Signature TS, 12 CS--I figured an 18% tip in though would adjust up/down accordingly

We do not do buffets for the most part, we do not all need our own appetizer or dessert, we do not use the desserts at CS and with DxDDP we would use all meals as TS Breakfast and Signature dining dinner. Overall we do not usually stop for snacks that are covered on the DDP--Pastries in France and maybe a dolewhip float .
This allows for eating where we want, what we want and no craziness of spending the last day rushing around to get snacks and CS credits used up.
I think differnt scenarios would maybe shnge things a bit--like if just DH and I were going for lie three days for our anniversary then DXDDP would be a good thing. If we were travelling with extended family and their children wanted to do character dining--buffett prices would warrant a regular DDP for a five day vacation with extended family. But for a 13 day just our family vacation no dining plan works best for us!

 

[patsal]

How does the math work?

Free dining plus how much to get the upgrade?

I booked a package today... and they said you get what amounts to a 40% discount on the Deluxe plan when you buy the package compared to pricing it out seperatly

this totally throws off my calculations on cost benefit analysis

As far as free dining--if (when) it is offered to the general public then it will only include the basic DDP. However, when the bounceback was offered to those on free dining in 2007 for 2008 they were allowed to upgrade the plan by spending the difference between the cost of the two programs, so take the cost of the regular dining plan and subtract that from the cost of the deluxe plan and that is how much per person per day you would need to spend to upgrade from Free DDP to deluxe DDP.
What they mean by that (40% savings) is for every member of the party ordering an appetizer, entree and dessert and beverage with each meal, eating each of the three meals at TS and ordering all the food you are entitled to--basically if you consciously max out the plan you can save 40% as compared to someone not using the plan. By maxing out the plan you will also max out the amount you spend on tips so be prepared for the plan to cost more OOP as well.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Yep, we love it so much that we are going with Deluxe from now on. Did not surprise me that so many would go for deluxe plan!! We love dining at Disney, and the deluxe plan is made to order for us!!

 

[Colleen27]

For us, there are situations where each of the options would work best. In January, we're trying out the deluxe plan. It is a long trip, so the time factor isn't a big deal (and is actually a plus - TS lunches work better than midday breaks with my kids), and we like a variety of sit down meals when we travel.

If we were planning a summer trip this year, we'd go with the standard plan, because the heat has a huge appetite suppressing effect for us and the standard plan would be plenty of food even without the appetizers.

When we go in Dec for a Christmas lights trip, we'll have an infant and we'll be in a villa, so we'll likely skip the dining plans entirely, pay OOP for a few special meals and take advantage of the kitchen in the villa for the rest.

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

We are going in March and we have the Deluxe Dining plan. This will be our first time, but it sounds perfect for our family. I have made several ADR and we are super excited.

 

[PatsMom]

We've done the old dining plan and enjoyed it but probably won't be purchasing in the future. We do very few buffets, maybe one per trip. And for other TS meals, we enjoy the apps much more than the desserts. We frequently skipped dessert even on the dining plan. So we would end up paying OOP for apps, or soup or salad. When I did the math, for us it will work out better if we just use the DDE.

 

[wendypooh]

We are going in Feb. and have the Deluxe Dining Plan. It works for us as we like to do a lot of Character meals and some signature dining!!!

 

[battricia]

I guess no one really cares about the tip situation? Or maybe it has changed since I last read. The main reason I don't think we'll be visiting this year is because of that. With the overinflated disney meal prices, adding a tip to the plan with those prices to me is crazy. I'd rather travel somewhere else a little more laid back where i can just walk up and get a seat and not be charged insane prices for vegetarian meals.

tricia.

 

[patsal]

I guess no one really cares about the tip situation? Or maybe it has changed since I last read. The main reason I don't think we'll be visiting this year is because of that. With the overinflated disney meal prices, adding a tip to the plan with those prices to me is crazy. I'd rather travel somewhere else a little more laid back where i can just walk up and get a seat and not be charged insane prices for vegetarian meals.

tricia.

I do care about the tip situation for us it would add about $300 to the basic, $600 to deluxe, no thanks, that really cuts out the value for me. When I figured the old DDP was saving me about 35-40% that was based ont he 18% tip--now the savings is closer to 20% and since food I dont' want is included and food I do want is excluded the 20% is further deminished. Save me $1.00 and charge me 18% more makes the DDP less appealing to me, therefore I will not purchase it. The Deluxe DDP just kind of cracks me up since so many complained about too much food--yet many are going to getting that--either not too much food for most people or a whole lot of nonsense. Deluxe DDP is too much food for us and I can hardly imagine anyone getting the max out of the plan and tipping as well. For us (4) signature dining usually amounts to about $300 so $54 per meal times 12 days is well over the $600 I predicted especially after an addional TS breakfast that will be around $120 so about a $21 tip. I guess I was off by a good amount tipps on DXDDP for us would be closer to $900. After spending $3390 for the plan that adds a considerable chunk. I dont' think many have truely thought about hte additional expense of the DDP--even with free dining and paying for the upgrade I doubt I'd want to fork out an additional $900 in tips!

 

[guelde96]

I am really surprised by all of the deluxe dining planners out there. When Disney came out with this I thought it would not be a well accepted plan. We have done the dining plan twice and will not be doing it again. The changes to the plan do not make it cost effective for my family. Especially adding tip.

Our first experience with the dining plan we had 18 snacks left at check out.

Our last experience with the dining plan on the night before checkout we had 17 CS meals and 22 Snacks remaining for a family of 5. The regular dining plan is so much food. I felt stuffed the entire time we were there. I can not imagine 2 TS and 1 CS a day.

I do not think the new dining plans are cost effective.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My main concern is the psuedo price increase ; why not just increase the price & be done with it?

Maybe (my guess, NOT supported by anything released by Disney; not that Disney would feel the need to let the public know why they chose to make this change): Even if Disney were to increase the price of the Dining Plan by a flat 18%, this would probably not accurately reflect the impartial-source recommended tip range.
This would raise the price to $44.82 per night.
Working backwards, figuring an average snack cost of $3.18 with tax, and an average counter service price of $13, leaves a table service credit value of $28.64.
As long as your meal - drink, entree, dessert - totals $24.27, everything works fine.
If your entire meal costs less than than that, you're tipping more than the 18% (fine with the server, not so great for the diner).
If your entire meal costs more than that, the server's tip gets reduced - to the point that, once your order reaches $28.64, the server gets stiffed. Go over this amount, and your server is technically (or actually) paying to wait on you.

Add in the natural displeasure from DDP Guests who rightfully feel there should not be an 18% surcharge on counter service and snack credits.

Wouldn't work.

 

[Colleen27]

Deluxe DDP is too much food for us and I can hardly imagine anyone getting the max out of the plan and tipping as well. For us (4) signature dining usually amounts to about $300 so $54 per meal times 12 days is well over the $600 I predicted especially after an addional TS breakfast that will be around $120 so about a $21 tip. I guess I was off by a good amount tipps on DXDDP for us would be closer to $900. After spending $3390 for the plan that adds a considerable chunk. I dont' think many have truely thought about hte additional expense of the DDP--even with free dining and paying for the upgrade I doubt I'd want to fork out an additional $900 in tips!

I worked up a spreadsheet with our restaurant and probable menu choices to really look at the cost and the tip expense. The bottom line for us is that the deluxe plan + tips works out to about $100 less than I was budgeting for meals when we were planning on paying OOP, and includes more/nicer meals, so I'm really looking forward to trying it. I like having the tip at my discretion, though, so paying it OOP isn't a significant drawback, and I love the all-inclusive aspect of having all our meals, snacks and drinks prepaid for the whole trip!

 

[jmlaw]

I am going with two teenagers in August and we have booked the Deluxe plan. The two of them love Disney restaurants and both have big appetites, so it seemed perfect to go with the Deluxe plan this trip.

 

[Colleen27]

I am really surprised by all of the deluxe dining planners out there. When Disney came out with this I thought it would not be a well accepted plan. We have done the dining plan twice and will not be doing it again. The changes to the plan do not make it cost effective for my family. Especially adding tip.

Our first experience with the dining plan we had 18 snacks left at check out.

Our last experience with the dining plan on the night before checkout we had 17 CS meals and 22 Snacks remaining for a family of 5. The regular dining plan is so much food. I felt stuffed the entire time we were there. I can not imagine 2 TS and 1 CS a day.

I do not think the new dining plans are cost effective.

A lot of people, myself included, have been begging Disney for something like the deluxe plan for quite a while - a plan that is all-inclusive for meals & snacks, but without all the recreation that comes with the platinum and premium plans. So I'm at all surprised that many people are excited about it.

Obviously it depends entirely upon personal eating habits. We like TS and don't care for most CS options, so we're excited about being able to eat 2 real meals each day. Our plans are mostly 2 meals per day - a TS breakfast or lunch, and a signature dinner. And since we have a 9yo who counts as a kid but eats like an adult, we don't run into the "too much food" issue very often - he eats his kids meal and then shares our appetizers and entrees. We probably won't have more than a couple CS meals over the entire 11 night trip and we'll probably bring some snacks home, but that's not a problem. The plan is cost effective based on our ADRs alone, so even if we don't eat any CS and don't use our snack credits or mugs (not likely - Disney has the best snacks, and we always buy the mugs because we get a ton of use out of them), the plan makes sense for us.

 

[angelmav]

Maybe (my guess, NOT supported by anything released by Disney; not that Disney would feel the need to let the public know why they chose to make this change): Even if Disney were to increase the price of the Dining Plan by a flat 18%, this would probably not accurately reflect the impartial-source recommended tip range.
This would raise the price to $44.82 per night.
Working backwards, figuring an average snack cost of $3.18 with tax, and an average counter service price of $13, leaves a table service credit value of $28.64.
As long as your meal - drink, entree, dessert - totals $24.27, everything works fine.
If your entire meal costs less than than that, you're tipping more than the 18% (fine with the server, not so great for the diner).
If your entire meal costs more than that, the server's tip gets reduced - to the point that, once your order reaches $28.64, the server gets stiffed. Go over this amount, and your server is technically (or actually) paying to wait on you.

Add in the natural displeasure from DDP Guests who rightfully feel there should not be an 18% surcharge on counter service and snack credits.

Wouldn't work.

I really wish you would quit repeating the 'server paying to wait on you mantra.' The IRS sets this at 8% so you would have to go well above your $28.64 example for that to happen. Even average servers that arent guaranteed a percentage have no problems averaging 12-15% across the US and thats accounting for all the cheapskates and stiffs.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I am sure I will be corrected if this is incorrect, but.....I have read on this board, more than once, that the gratuity for the DDP was figured on the cost of the food ordered, not the cost of the plan.

 

[Colleen27]

I am sure I will be corrected if this is incorrect, but.....I have read on this board, more than once, that the gratuity for the DDP was figured on the cost of the food ordered, not the cost of the plan.

Yep, which is why it was such a huge expense for Disney. My meal at Kona came to about $45 last time we were there - that's an $8 tip that Disney is paying out before even thinking about the actual food involved in the dining plan, leaving only $30 to cover that $45 meal plus a CS and a snack. It really isn't surprising at all that they'd choose to eliminate the tip from the plan when you think about it.

 

[patsal]

A lot of people, myself included, have been begging Disney for something like the deluxe plan for quite a while - a plan that is all-inclusive for meals & snacks, but without all the recreation that comes with the platinum and premium plans. So I'm at all surprised that many people are excited about it.

Obviously it depends entirely upon personal eating habits. We like TS and don't care for most CS options, so we're excited about being able to eat 2 real meals each day. Our plans are mostly 2 meals per day - a TS breakfast or lunch, and a signature dinner. And since we have a 9yo who counts as a kid but eats like an adult, we don't run into the "too much food" issue very often - he eats his kids meal and then shares our appetizers and entrees. We probably won't have more than a couple CS meals over the entire 11 night trip and we'll probably bring some snacks home, but that's not a problem. The plan is cost effective based on our ADRs alone, so even if we don't eat any CS and don't use our snack credits or mugs (not likely - Disney has the best snacks, and we always buy the mugs because we get a ton of use out of them), the plan makes sense for us.

That really is what is beautiful about the dining plans. When they work out for you they are great! If I had young children, I would more than likely get the plan. Loved TS breaks in the afternoon with the kids, and character meals. Even on the old plan we couldn't eat all the snacks they gave us and overall it was much more food than we would normally order and consume. For me the all inclusive nature is lost with the tips not included, but I don't really mind one way or the other. Economically I will skip the DDP, but for others the economics might fare better with use of the plan.

 

[kimis]

My dh and me went with the deluxe plan so we can eat at more signature resturants. We have always used the DDP so this will be good also.

 

[Marc A.]

We will stick with the regular DDP for now due to the fact that we will be bringing our youngest with this trip (he'll be 2). If the kids were older we would do Deluxe but to have them sitting for TS's more than once a day would take up too much time for naps and the parks.
We enjoyed the DDP in October but wished they would have either kept the tip or the app on the plan.