6 day ph + ddp or AP,WAP + DDE card?

[dlstc]

I've been crunching the numbers and here's what I've come up with:

AP + Water AP (583.57) + DDE ($65) = 648.57
good for one year (not a factor really), comes with potential room discount and 20% off food for entire bill (up to 10)

or

1 day w/dining plan for 1 adult with separate 5 day w+ph tickets = $678.21
no room discount and only for people on plan

I will also be travelling with my children (8 and 6 and 1 year old I would have to share or oop for) and would add them to the dining plan and tickets. My husband would not be on the plan (in a conference) so I could use the DDE discount for his diinners with us too.

Given there is at least one meal a day not covered by the plan (probably counter service breakfast or lunch), that would be covered by the DDE discount, wouldn't be a better idea to go with the AP/DDE than the MYW/DDP?

Thanks for your input.

Diana

 

[patsal]

It really depends are you loking for all inclusive or for future savings? You're very close to a break even either way. Things to cinsider if you have not yet: Could you fit anotehr trip in within the one year--it would be like free parks and only payig for trnsportation and lodging so it might be worth it.

How does your family eat. If it is really three meals per day, not liking CS much and preferring TS then the DDE may be a good bet. In 2008 an automatic gratuity of 18% will be added to your pre discount total for all TS when using the DDE. You will not break even from the 65. fee until you have spent $325.00. The DDE is not accepted everywhere, and even less CS places.

If you like the all inclusive nature of a package you might prefer the DDP, but you lose some freedom of choice and will have OOP expenses.

If I were you I'd go with the AP's, but I would try to figure out how much you'll be spending on food--the AP has some food discounts with it--to be sure you'll actually be saving money above the cost of the DDE card. SInce resorts that have both CS an d TS only let you use the discount at the TS you won't save at all on those CS meals, and CS in the parks are excluded from the DDE discount as well--AK used to let us use the discount at the CS locations, but I'm not sure now that the change has happened at Tusker House. If you are staying at POR FQ, Any fo the AS or POP then the DDE is good at the foodcourt. Most Downtown Disney locations are not part of the DDE either. So, just be sure you'll save money before you commit to it.

 

[canwegosoon]

You also have to consider that DDE is not accepted on Holidays like Easter and Christmas. Also sometimes AP rates are usually not substantially better than discounts that become available to everyone via a package or room discount(There was a point when this wasn't true). A perfect example was the free dining(the DDP optium advantage) VS the AP rate that was available...sure the rate was a few dollars cheaper, but to get the free dining I have to keep my room tickets and apply them to next year's AP(have you seen my house-I am so afraid I will loose these tickets). Also getting an AP (to me atleast) implies that you will be back within the year(if this is true-and you are 100% sure you will be completed your second trip before it expires-also your DDE-well then that might be the way to go). Hard to know 100% without a few more facts like if there are children(because the children's price really swings the benefit), when you plan on traveling, length of stay, and how many AP's you plan on doing and if you are doing PAP or not. Also you must consider your target accomodations-if you are only happy staying Deluxe- than the AP /DDE might be for you or at a value or moderate you might make out much better with DDP. Trust me there were a lot or "upgraded POP free DDP" that had better accomodations than I did at a deluxe with free dining and a 1 day mwy ticket.

Personally I use 1/2 of my snack credits for breakfast items. I buy a bag of bagles(toast in room or food court), doughnuts and fruit. I can not eat 3 full meals walking all day. Many times I save the fruit from my CS or kids meals for later as a snack. So this saves a lot on the OOP items. I also usually manage to save a CS meal or 2 for a CS breakfast treat.

 

[HaleyB]

I've been crunching the numbers and here's what I've come up with:

AP + Water AP (583.57) + DDE ($65) = 648.57
good for one year (not a factor really), comes with potential room discount and 20% off food for entire bill (up to 10)

or

1 day w/dining plan for 1 adult with separate 5 day w+ph tickets = $678.21
no room discount and only for people on plan

AP+... will give you 20% off. You need to add in the 80% you are paying for your meals (less the value of the discount on others meals).

MYW+DDP price includes all the food for 6 days for $30 more.

6 nights for one adult on the DDP is $240. So you are paying $210 more for the AP combo. You would break even after you spent $1050 at places included with the DDE card. Which is not most CS or Snacks unless something has changed.

2 adult and 2 kids on DDP for 6 nights is ~$610.

IF you get a room discount with the AP that might be worth something, but you CAN get the AAA room rate if you book through AAA and still add the DDP. The AAA discount is often close to the AP offers, except for the Deluxe resorts where the AP is better.

 

[JimMIA]

I presume you know that if your room is your husband's conference-rate room, you almost certainly will not be eligible for DDP.

If your room rate qualifies for DDP and the whole family is in the same room, your husband will have to pay for DDP for all nights of his stay whether the conference provides food or not.