2012 DDP vs OOP

[kdawg8762]

What i don't get is when you see people who say here is how we normally eat....guess i'm just odd as i don't eat normally on vacation, i tend to splurge. Also, you see people who split drinks.....normally? What the.......Lastly, as for deserts, its your chance to branch out, each order one and split that (sounds a heckuva lot less gross than splitting drinks)

Generally we get the DxDP because we want to splurge and its the cheapest way to do it. Its how my wife came to be a fan of calamari, its how i began to like some deserts. As for the value of the snacks, my kids love it (not old enough to go yet) when we bring back a bunch of fudges and stuff for them.

 

[kdawg8762]

Havoc, good God, and you call yourself an economist?

Gift Card is not the same as Pre-paid via DDP. For example, a gift card will run out, prepaid DDP is good as long as you are there. She seems to indicate she enjoys being able to say "what the hell" and order something without looking at the price on the menu. With a gift card, you'd still have to do so.

 

[JimmyV]

What i don't get is when you see people who say here is how we normally eat....guess i'm just odd as i don't eat normally on vacation, i tend to splurge. Also, you see people who split drinks.....normally? What the.......Lastly, as for deserts, its your chance to branch out, each order one and split that (sounds a heckuva lot less gross than splitting drinks)

If there is one thing that is true it is that the math is personal to each person's habits and needs. I sense that a lot of what you posted is in response to my post above. Not that I need to explain, but here is a little illumination. I am an accomplished cook, though I do not earn my living that way. I do teach cooking classes to friends and neighbors for free, and I assist another friend who is a caterer when she needs a hand. But that is all in my spare time. We eat very well at home. I do not consider Disney dining to be a "splurge" compared to what I eat at home, so I don't go overboard when I dine there. I try to stick to a fairly normal routine. It is a vacation that gets me out of the kitchen, for sure. And for that I am grateful. And all out-of-the-home dining experiences allow me to get a sense of new trends and different preparations. But a "splurge"? No. If I want to "splurge" on food on vacation, there are dozens of places I would go before I went to WDW. And I have. (That does not take into consideration our meals at Victoria & Albert's, which is a "splurge" even by my definition. But since it is not on the DDP, it doesn't much matter.)

So in trying to stay as true to form as possible to normal dining habits, we eat as I described above. Do you really think that it is odd, or "gross" for two people to each put a straw into a 32 ounce bucket of soda to share it? I find it more odd that any one person would drink an entire "large" soda. And as for "branching out" on desserts, why would this be "my chance" to do so? Why wouldn't my chance come at home when I try out new recipes? I could just as easily ask why would 3 people want to consume a total of 6 desserts per day? It is not how we eat. If that is what you want on vacation, then more power to you. I simply posted that I cannnot get a meal plan to work for the way we eat. If anyone out there dines similarly to the way we do on vacation, then use my math as a guide. If our eating habits are foreign to you, then ignore it. But please don't call me "gross".

 

[havoc315]

What i don't get is when you see people who say here is how we normally eat....guess i'm just odd as i don't eat normally on vacation, i tend to splurge. Also, you see people who split drinks.....normally? What the.......Lastly, as for deserts, its your chance to branch out, each order one and split that (sounds a heckuva lot less gross than splitting drinks)

Generally we get the DxDP because we want to splurge and its the cheapest way to do it. Its how my wife came to be a fan of calamari, its how i began to like some deserts. As for the value of the snacks, my kids love it (not old enough to go yet) when we bring back a bunch of fudges and stuff for them.

Different people have different habits. There is nothing wrong with splitting drinks. Usually, I drink water. If my wife and I are ordering drinks, we get our own. But we may have the kids split a drink (especially if it is bottled).
For desserts -- chance to branch out? You mean a chance to get fat?
If the DDP came with cigarettes, would you feel compelled to smoke a pack per day?
If people want to eat desserts, go for it. It's a free country. But are you actually criticizing people for *not* wanting to have 2-3 desserts per person, per day?
Usually, we skip desserts in a restaurant. But if we do order a dessert, we will always share it 2-4 ways. Often, the dessert is more caloric than the entree.

Being on a vacation is definitely a time to perhaps live a bit differently. Not having to cook your own meals, eating things you wouldn't normally eat. But IMHO, it's a bad idea to toss conscious healthy eating out the window for a week, just because you're on vacation.

 

[DisneyFive]

Honestly, the bickering back and forth between havoc and kdawg is getting a little old in this thread and others.

Dan

 

[havoc315]

Havoc, good God, and you call yourself an economist?

Gift Card is not the same as Pre-paid via DDP. For example, a gift card will run out, prepaid DDP is good as long as you are there. She seems to indicate she enjoys being able to say "what the hell" and order something without looking at the price on the menu. With a gift card, you'd still have to do so.

A gift card is far more pre-paid than the DDP.
On a gift card, you can load up a sufficient amount to cover ALL your food, ALL your tips, including any extras you might need.
The DDP -- Still *requires* you to pay OOP for tips, and OOP for any items that aren't covered.
A gift card does run out --- when you run out of money on it. The DDP runs out, when you run out of credits.
If I have a 1 week trip, and I want to "pre-pay" for 2 regular TS meals, 1 signature meal, and 15 CS meals... I can do that with a gift card. I can NOT do that with any of the Disney meal plans.
If I have a 1 week trip, and I want to "pre-pay" for 5 regular TS meals, and 3 signature meals, and 5 CS meals, there is no dining plan that allows for that combination to be efficiently pre-paid, but can do it with a gift card.
If I have a 7 day trip, and plan on eating signature meals every night, plus lunch and dinner every day... The DDP absolutely will run out, within the first few days. But I can load up a gift card with a sufficient amount, to make the entire trip pre-paid.
With the DDP, if I have left over credits at the end, they are basically wasted. (Yes, I suppose I could trade a TS credit for 3 pieces of fudge.. not exactly getting value there). If I pre-pay a gift card, I can continue to use the gift card even after I check out!

In terms of "looking at the price on the menu" -- That's a choice. You can be on the DDP, and choose to look or not. You can be OOP, and choose to look or not.
Plenty of people here, feel *more* pressure to look at the price when they are on the DDP, to make sure they get value.
I almost never look at specific prices when I'm OOP -- I always order what I want. But when on the DDP, I feel *more* pressure to look at the price, so that I don't waste credits.

There is no 1 size fits all.
For people who are truly saving money under the DDP, it makes sense.

For people who wouldn't save money on it, but are still looking for pre-payment, a gift card may make much more sense.

 

[havoc315]

Honestly, the bickering back and forth between havoc and kdawg is getting a little old in this thread and others.

Dan

I actually agree. I really shouldn't feel the need to respond when baited.

 

[DisneyFive]

Let me balance that by saying that I appreciate the good advice and help you are giving others regarding the DDP. I'm hoping that they offer free dining next year if we go, but if not, I also look forward to having a little more freedom in our eating habits at Disney.

Dan

 

[havoc315]

Let me balance that by saying that I appreciate the good advice and help you are giving others regarding the DDP. I'm hoping that they offer free dining next year if we go, but if not, I also look forward to having a little more freedom in our eating habits at Disney.

Dan

I feel the same way. If I can get free dining for my next trip, and can't get a good room discount, then I wouldn't hesitate about taking the free dining.
But I doubt I'd ever pay full price for the DDP. (If I got the DDP free, I would consider upgrading to deluxe, as I prefer TS meals).

 

[OhdahLolly]

Good analysis, and all very true.
So, you're looking at a possible savings of about 8%.
But, you had to make some changes from your preferred way of eating, to get that 8%. You had to nix a breakfast because it was a poor value under the plan, you had to add desserts and beverages which you don't ordinarily order. I'm guessing if you changed 1 of your dinners to that breakfast, and nixed some of your sodas/desserts, you would be looking at more like break-even.

I understand the psychological advantage of pre-paid... Have you considered just getting yourself a gift card of about $800-900? (That way, even the tips are "pre-paid.")

If I nix all the sodas I am getting, and change CRT to breakfast instead of dinner. Total savings comes to around 17.37.

That's something that I just realized we can do! It is probably the way that we'll go if we choose to do OOP. I think I'd be a bit nervous to do this though, especially having a card or multiple cards with so much on them! This is one thing to the KTWC. If it is lost, it can be replaced and you don't have to worry about your meals.

What i don't get is when you see people who say here is how we normally eat....guess i'm just odd as i don't eat normally on vacation, i tend to splurge. Also, you see people who split drinks.....normally? What the.......Lastly, as for deserts, its your chance to branch out, each order one and split that (sounds a heckuva lot less gross than splitting drinks)

Generally we get the DxDP because we want to splurge and its the cheapest way to do it. Its how my wife came to be a fan of calamari, its how i began to like some deserts. As for the value of the snacks, my kids love it (not old enough to go yet) when we bring back a bunch of fudges and stuff for them.

Sometimes, I like a couple of sips of soda, but I don't want an entire one to myself. And my kids do not get soda as an option, ever. They already get enough sugar at Disney. Same thing with dessert. I am often really fully by the time we get to the end. Most of the time they go back to the hotel with us, or we end up splitting it right there.

The value for everyone is going to be different, because families are different.

Most of our 2 credit expenses would be character meals, not fine dining. Our kids love to be commandos in resturants. Get through them and go, unless there is something distracting like characters or fireworks!

it is always interesting me to see where people find savings, and I really apperciate you ladys and gents who take the time to post your Disney math to show how things work for you!

 

[DisneyFive]

Yeah, we pay to upgrade to the regular DDP due to the table service as well. We did two table services in one day last year and it just filled us up too much. If we were to do the deluxe plan, we would have to choose very carefully what to eat for each TS. We are fairly healthy eaters and don't do huge portions, so it doesn't take much to fill us up anymore.

Regarding TS meals, I definately find that non character meals tend to have the upper hand in food quality. I'm sure many others would agree... ...but the kids do like the character meals so we end up doing quite a few each trip.

Dan

 

[nurtz]

If there is one thing that is true it is that the math is personal to each person's habits and needs. I sense that a lot of what you posted is in response to my post above. Not that I need to explain, but here is a little illumination. I am an accomplished cook, though I do not earn my living that way. I do teach cooking classes to friends and neighbors for free, and I assist another friend who is a caterer when she needs a hand. But that is all in my spare time. We eat very well at home. I do not consider Disney dining to be a "splurge" compared to what I eat at home, so I don't go overboard when I dine there. I try to stick to a fairly normal routine. It is a vacation that gets me out of the kitchen, for sure. And for that I am grateful. And all out-of-the-home dining experiences allow me to get a sense of new trends and different preparations. But a "splurge"? No. If I want to "splurge" on food on vacation, there are dozens of places I would go before I went to WDW. And I have. (That does not take into consideration our meals at Victoria & Albert's, which is a "splurge" even by my definition. But since it is not on the DDP, it doesn't much matter.)

So in trying to stay as true to form as possible to normal dining habits, we eat as I described above. Do you really think that it is odd, or "gross" for two people to each put a straw into a 32 ounce bucket of soda to share it? I find it more odd that any one person would drink an entire "large" soda. And as for "branching out" on desserts, why would this be "my chance" to do so? Why wouldn't my chance come at home when I try out new recipes? I could just as easily ask why would 3 people want to consume a total of 6 desserts per day? It is not how we eat. If that is what you want on vacation, then more power to you. I simply posted that I cannnot get a meal plan to work for the way we eat. If anyone out there dines similarly to the way we do on vacation, then use my math as a guide. If our eating habits are foreign to you, then ignore it. But please don't call me "gross".

Well said.

My husband and I sometimes split a drink, too. Guess I have never thought it was gross to share a drink with someone you kiss.
We are rarely ever hungry enough for a dessert to share after a big meal. Why would we want to prepay for a dessert for each of us...twice a day?

 

[havoc315]

Yeah, we pay to upgrade to the regular DDP due to the table service as well. We did two table services in one day last year and it just filled us up too much. If we were to do the deluxe plan, we would have to choose very carefully what to eat for each TS. We are fairly healthy eaters and don't do huge portions, so it doesn't take much to fill us up anymore.

Regarding TS meals, I definately find that non character meals tend to have the upper hand in food quality. I'm sure many others would agree... ...but the kids do like the character meals so we end up doing quite a few each trip.

Dan

We try to be healthier eaters, sometimes fail, sometimes succeed.
We were definitely a bit over-full on our last trip. That said, I'd rather have a light lunch at a TS restaurant, then a CS lunch. And for dinner, we definitely prefer the signature restaurants.

We have tried 3 character meals -- CRT, Chef Mickey, and Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace was the only one where I appreciated the food quality as "good." Chef Mickey was horrible. CRT was passable, but the only reason I'd return is because DD loves the Princesses.

 

[kdawg8762]

Havoc, i can agree with you on that one. I would rather eat a salad at a TS meal than eat anything CS.

We actually eat very healthy at home, but vacation is a time for crab legs, steak, prime rib, lobster, etc.....maybe we are just different in that regard, but I don't want to have baked chicken, tilapia, etc...on vacation as i have it year round.

 

[JimmyV]

We actually eat very healthy at home, but vacation is a time for crab legs, steak, prime rib, lobster, etc.....

There is nothing inherently unhealthy about crab legs, steak, prime rib, or lobster (provided that you do not have a specific health issue, such as off-the-charts cholesterol). Just eat those things in moderate portions and be frugal with the sauces, such as butter (crab legs, lobster) and hollandaise or horseradish cream (for meat dishes). The proteins aren't what gets you, per se. It is the size of the portion and the sauces that you have to watch out for. And the fries!

 

[havoc315]

There is nothing inherently unhealthy about crab legs, steak, prime rib, or lobster (provided that you do not have a specific health issue, such as off-the-charts cholesterol). Just eat those things in moderate portions and be frugal with the sauces, such as butter (crab legs, lobster) and hollandaise or horseradish cream (for meat dishes). The proteins aren't what gets you, per se. It is the size of the portion and the sauces that you have to watch out for. And the fries!

Actually, lobster is low calorie and low cholesterol -- it's the butter that gets you in trouble.
The red meats are okay in moderation. It's people who eat it every meal, every day, that get themselves into trouble.

But yes, the big trouble is the portions, the sauces, the fries!, the desserts, the soft drinks.

 

[whacked]

Havoc, i can agree with you on that one.

I just fell out of my chair!

I have degrees in economics, political science, and phychiatric nursing. (Since it appears we are supposed to list them in this thread).

The latter seems the most useful for parts of this thread.

I would add that much of the economic value is gone from the DDP unless you work to maximize it, or you go with "free" dining.

That being said, I totally understand those that chose the plan to either pre budget, or for preceived simplicity (though that's a double edged sword).

What inflation really means is that Disney will continue to try to maximize ALL revenue from all aspects of the theme parks (and all other Disney revenue streams) just as they always have.

Disney continually tinkers to try to figure out the maxium people will pay for anything. Over the last several years revenues were down due to the economy, therefore incentives were up and prices were down. Travel has significantly picked up, and as such Disney's prices will go up accordingly. Disney's prices are set according to what people will pay.

Ask the airlines (or anyone in the travel industry) who could not sell seats for what they cost after 9/11. They'll tell you we price what consumers will pay, not what the cost is to us. We just want to try to stay in business and maximize revenues when possible.

 

[kdawg8762]

There is nothing inherently unhealthy about crab legs, steak, prime rib, or lobster (provided that you do not have a specific health issue, such as off-the-charts cholesterol). Just eat those things in moderate portions and be frugal with the sauces, such as butter (crab legs, lobster) and hollandaise or horseradish cream (for meat dishes). The proteins aren't what gets you, per se. It is the size of the portion and the sauces that you have to watch out for. And the fries!

I understand that, but I am not willing to pay for those things, at least not as often on vacation. Seriously? You understood what i meant, i splurge, i get entrees, because of the DxDP that i would normally frown upon due to cost. Also, because of the 3 TS, lunch is usually and exploration into food i've never had or thought i wouldn't like.

 

[DaniB]

This was interesting math. Last year we had FD. If we go this year, it's FD. No brainer there.

However, I started wondering if we were to pay for the DDP - would it really work for us? Ideally, we would prefer 2 TS meals a day (breakfast & dinner) with a snack or two in between.

So I decided to revamp our current ADRs as if we were paying OOP instead and plan our meals according to what we'd prefer with our intenary.

14 TS meals, 6 CS meals, 36 snacks (4 of us) = $1,697.23 including taxes.
DDP = $1,349.64
Difference is $347.59 extra

If I take those same ADRs and apply them into the DDP format, and pay OOP for the extra TS meals, that OOP difference is $321.84 with 3 CS credits unused. (Though we would convert those into 9 extra snacks at the resort before we left).

However, for that $25.75 savings - I would rather pay OOP (assuming no FD) than have the headache of caculating everything in a spreadsheet for our meals!!!!

 

[havoc315]

This was interesting math. Last year we had FD. If we go this year, it's FD. No brainer there.

However, I started wondering if we were to pay for the DDP - would it really work for us? Ideally, we would prefer 2 TS meals a day (breakfast & dinner) with a snack or two in between.

So I decided to revamp our current ADRs as if we were paying OOP instead and plan our meals according to what we'd prefer with our intenary.

14 TS meals, 6 CS meals, 36 snacks (4 of us) = $1,697.23 including taxes.
DDP = $1,349.64
Difference is $347.59 extra

If I take those same ADRs and apply them into the DDP format, and pay OOP for the extra TS meals, that OOP difference is $321.84 with 3 CS credits unused. (Though we would convert those into 9 extra snacks at the resort before we left).

However, for that $25.75 savings - I would rather pay OOP (assuming no FD) than have the headache of caculating everything in a spreadsheet for our meals!!!!

Good math. And a good example. The ddp can certainly work for people who want *exactly* 1 TS and 1 CS per day. And the DxDP certainly can work for people that want to use 2-3 TS credits every day. But for any other preference, the ddp doesn't really work. Want 2 meals per day, mostly TS, a handful of CS meals... That just doesn't work on any of the plans.