As to "everything" being covered under the deluxe plan. You get 3 meal credits per day, plus 2 snacks, but the resort mug. The meal credits all include appetizer and dessert. So it's true, that you probably will find just about everything covered. That said, even with the deluxe plan, there are some exclusions (not many). For example, you will find that some snacks are not covered. It's recently been reported that the Ice Cream Sandwich, as Main Street Bakery, are no longer covered.
Finally, it is technically possible to use as many as 6 meal credits per day -- If you did a signature breakfast, lunch and dinner! Even the deluxe plan, wouldn't give you enough credits to do all that.
But other than these footnotes, yes, the Deluxe Plan covers everything.
My analysis did lead me to believe that the Deluxe plan gives you value, IF you really want a LOT of table meals, and you want at least some appetizers. (Which is my personal preference on vacation).
I find the deluxe is a very good value, IF you are going to use the bulk of your 3 meal credits per day and you are using at least 2/3rd for TS meals. (You can leave a few over and still have value).
So, you get great value if you do 1 signature meal + 1 TS meal per day..
Or 3 TS meals..
Or even 2 TS meals + 1 CS meal.
Look at it this way, the Dx costs about $30 more than the basic plan.
The basic plan comes with 2 meals per day -- 1 TS and 1 CS. (and no appetizers)
With the deluxe -- For an extra $30, you are getting appetizers.... 1 extra meal, and the ability to convert that CS meal into a TS meal. For me, personally, that's a good value for $30.
As to the pros and cons, of juggling the points, etc, on the basic plan. It's really not that hard, especially if you plan it in advance --- Make advance reservations for your TS meals, and use your CS meals as you go. I don't think it's so confusing, but it can definitely be confining.
ksb -- You mentioned you have 8 nights. So if you want exactly 8 TS credits and 8 CS credits per person, the basic dining plan can work. But if you actually only wanted 5 TS meals, and 13 CS meals, then you would find better value paying OOP for everything.
If it's just a matter of wanted 1 or 2 extra TS meals, you may be best off paying for the dining plan, and then paying OOP for those 1 or 2 TS meals. But as the number of TS meals you want increases, the Deluxe plan starts to become the way to go.
The basic DDP does limit your flexibility-- and for most adults, the savings is about $5-$10 per day --- So is $5-$10 per person, per day, worth limiting your flexibility? That's up to each individual.
As to PixieDust, is it worth paying up front? Many people think so. If it was really paying upfront, I would agree. But the reality is, you are still paying for your tips OOP. And there is a good chance you would still add items OOP. (For example -- If you want coffee and a bagel for breakfast, plus a CS lunch, plus a TS dinner, you will have to pay OOP for 1 of those breakfast items).
For me, the sole question with the DDP and DxDP, is will it save you money, for things that you want.
For adults on the meal plan -- The basic plan has loads of desserts -- Really up to 3 desserts per day, if you use your snack credit for a dessert. The DDP also assumes you get fairly expensive entrees or character meals.
So if you want all those desserts, and planned on character meals plus $30 entrees, etc... Then the DDP absolutely will save you money.
But... if you weren't going to eat all those desserts, if you were going to get a lot of $12-$18 entrees... Then it would be cheaper just to pay OOP.
A word on kids -- If your kids eat off the children's menu, and they are under 9 -- Then the DDP saves a good amount of money for them.
If your kids are over 9, and still order off the children's menu, then the DDP is a waste for them (you are required to pay adult prices).
If your kids are under 9, and they want to eat "grown up" food, then the DDP can be a great value with using lots of buffets -- They can still pay kids prices, but eat the regular food. And using the buffet easily makes the kids DDP a value.
And finally -- On the buffets -- The buffets are good values on the DDP -- They typically run $30-$35. Food is unlimited, you can get appetizers, etc.
On the DxDP, the buffets are slightly wasteful of your credits -- Since you are forfeiting your "extra" appetizer. That said, you can still get value on the DxDP and use buffets-- but the value will be a bit less.
) that money we saved help us by our APs
. I will continue to save our receipts and make sure it is still working for us. When it no longer works, I will leave it behind...Cheers!
