Advice from those who have done the math?

[myjourney]

My husband and I and two grandchildren that are over 10 will be spending 5 nights at Disney at March 13-18. We are staying onsite in DVC and have annual passes and Tables in Wonderland. We usually eat breakfast in our room but like a TS once a day at places like Bomas, Tapen Edo, Tusker House, Liberty Tavern, House of Blues, Mama Melrose . Lunch will likely be QS. Do you think it would be a bigger savings to do the regular dining plan or just pay out of pocket and try to go were I can use TiW?

My 15 year old grandson is a big eater while the 11 year old grandaughter does not eat much. One side would be no worries about how much the meal costs while on the other side I do not want to have to eat something I do not want because it is not on the plan.

 

[gerows]

I would say pay out of pocket. Just as an FYI, I'm an accountant, so I always look at the cost of meals 100 different ways each time we go.

For the following, I did not factor in Tip since DDP no longer includes it, nor did I factor in alcoholic drinks. In addition, I assumed that you will eat breakfast in your room.

For the DDP, you would be paying $168 per night that you stay. In order for the DDP to make sense your out of pocket spending would have to be over $40 per person at each sit down meal and $10 for each person for lunch. Looking at the list of places you plan to each, you certainly might have a meal that reaches the $40pp threshold, but not at all likely that you will hit it each meal since Boma, Tusker House and LTT are all around $30pp. At Mama Melrose, entrees are around $20 each, then figure $8 for app (if everyone gets their own) and maybe split a couple deserts and you’re at $30 without drinks. Teppan Edo is a place you would probably hit the $40 if you’re doing full meals with app & desert, not just sushi (which I believe isn't on the DDP anyway). I'm not 100% sure, but I beleive that HOB is not on the DDP.

 

[2Tiggies]

I think your TIW card and paying OOP may work out better for you. Since one member of your party is an 'adult' but not a big eater, if you are paying OOP she will be able to order off the kids menu or just get an appetizer as a meal. While you can often do this on the dining plan, you pay for her 'adult' portions in advance, whereas OOP you only pay for what you order. Add to this the TIW discount and you are set to go.

As you say, the DDP will limit you to DDP restaurants. For many this is not a problem as it covers the majority of them, but for some they feel it is restrictive.

 

[mjp12831]

Did the math - ddp saved us over 30% over cost in a 7 night stay with the following TS meals (all dinners except Donald's):

Momma Melrose, Askershaus, Boma, Chef Mickey's, Donald's Safari Breakfast, Cinderella's HEA @ 1900 Park Fare, LeCellier

I used actual cost at the TS and estimated costs per CS and snack to figure it out.

I believe that's better than the 20% you'd save with TIW, BUT it's pretty dependent on where your TS are. These were some of the pricey TS meals.

 

[kdfogliano]

The thing about the dining plan that is nice, is that you dont think about what you are ordering and how much it costs...

So u can order the most expensive things on the menu and not worry about it, that is how you maximize and will come out ahead with the meal plans.

My husband and I tend to go for the most expensive dishes always...
do u guys? then it may be worth it

If u do it, do the regular dining plan though, i am not sure the DeluxeDP would be worth it unless you like to eat at the signature restaurants

 

[ChefColette]

I would just pay OOP. The DDP just isn't worth it if you have TIW.

 

[missminniemouse]

For us the TiW Card has always been the better value.

We used the DDP twice when we got it for free. I did cost comparisons and found that TiW is better for us overall. We are in the same boat as you, two kids that are now counted as adults for the DDP.

The biggest problem for us is that we normally like to order a couple appetizers for the table (which are not covered under the DDP anymore), and the same with dessert. We don't all order our own individual dessert. Sometimes we don't order any dessert at all. Our DD likes to share and not order her own entree since she isn't a big eater. For CS lunches we get 2 or 3 entrees and split them between us. Snack credits went unused until the last day we could use them and we ended up getting a whole lot of Mickey shaped crispie bars to take home to our DD's friends.

TiW saves us much more than buying the DDP ever would. Since you already have the TiW card, I'd definately go that route.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I am an accountant also and it is prob better to pay OOP and use TIW.

I've run the numbers on several trips and come out better with TIW, of course every situation is different and different families have varying ordering habits.

 

[Anthony1971]

pay OOP I am able to save $ just using the DVC discount much less TIW... Once you take the dessert out of the CS which no one seems to eat anyway the savings are little. When you add in a disiount the savings are negative and you can eat when, where and what you want.... with DP you need to make reservatons 180 days out be at place at a specific time and eat the most expensive thing on the menu EVERY NIGHT see how that flies with the kids before you do it...

 

[eliza61]

We did the DDP once, it saved us exactly 7 bucks. And now that it doesn't cover appertizers (which we always get) and it does cover desserts (which we eat once in a while) it's a waste for us.

Throw in the fact that we also are dvc'ers the TIW is more flexible. When we were on the DDP we almost forced ourselves to eat lunches simply because we did not want to waste the cs credits.

Lastly, it was great having the TIW card since occasionally Dh & I do enjoy a beer or a glass of wine at dinner. the discount is on the entire bill including alcohol which we had to pay oop on the ddp with no discount.

 

[Pakey]

Another accountant here and we always do the TIW and pay OOP because crunching the numbers based on what we eat, the DDP would never come out ahead.

The DDP may save you money but only if you aleady planned to order the way the dining plan structures your meals. For us it doesn't work as we are not entree and dessert eaters.

 

[gerows]

There you have it, 3 out of 4 accountants recommend paying out of pocket.

 

[Jetta8300]

I actually did the math for my trip and it will be cheaper for us to pay OOP. We are going to do breakfast in the room most days, QS lunch, and Table service dinner. Because we would rather get salads before our meals at dinner instead of desserts, and wouldn't want dessert with lunch EVER, OOP was about $50 cheaper overall. AND get this...we are doing 2 signatures out of the 5 nights, and it's STILL CHEAPER than if we were to pay for some apps OOP on the dining plan.

We are going to buy a giant gift card to sort of "prepay" for the food. This way, we will get to order what we want, and the food will be paid for in advance still!!! Hello Jiko and Flying Fish...

 

[disneystick]

I agree that OOP with TIW card would work best vs DDP. However it is the opposite if you go during peak times when the TIW is black out. Which is the case for us. We are going to DW Dec 29 to Jan 2. So we decided to just go ahead and do DDP.

 

[mjp12831]

There you have it, 3 out of 3 accountants recommend paying out of pocket.

hold on, I'm an accountant too (see post 4) and we saved significantly (30%)on DDP this July - I have the spreadsheet to prove it as well.

 

[gerows]

hold on, I'm an accountant too (see post 4) and we saved significantly (30%)on DDP this July - I have the spreadsheet to prove it as well.

Sorry, didn't realize you were one also, I updated the post.

Just out of curiousity, do you do your analysis before your trips, to drive your decision, or after to see how actual results compared to forcast (or both)?

How were you able to save so much? I'd love to see your spreadsheet if you don't mind, I'm not doubting you, I'm just curious to see if there was something that I'm not taking into account (I know I didn't amortize the cost of the TIW card, but would only count for about $4 pp per day with 4 people eating 5 TS meals).

 

[BriarRosie]

I would love to see the comparison to the DDP and what they force you to eat vs. ordering how you would normally order a la carte at the same restaurants.

I am also someone who works in accounting (just had to mention it!), and I know I don't eat like the DDP dictates when I pay OOP with TiW. I like TiW better because I had soup and salad as my meal at Brown Derby in July for my lunch. It would have been a waste of 2 TS credits if I didn't pay OOP for it.

 

[sharadoc]

We did the DDP once, it saved us exactly 7 bucks. And now that it doesn't cover appertizers (which we always get) and it does cover desserts (which we eat once in a while) it's a waste for us.

Throw in the fact that we also are dvc'ers the TIW is more flexible. When we were on the DDP we almost forced ourselves to eat lunches simply because we did not want to waste the cs credits.

Lastly, it was great having the TIW card since occasionally Dh & I do enjoy a beer or a glass of wine at dinner. the discount is on the entire bill including alcohol which we had to pay oop on the ddp with no discount.

Yep, what she said!! I did the exact comparison for our December trip, since we are eating out more during this trip. The TIW option was significantly better for us. We have a Disney adult who eats small portions or kids meals, and we don't usually eat dessert unless we're celebrating a special occasion. DH and I like to get a drink or beer with dinner, too.

TIW is what makes it worthwhile, though. I think if we had to pay full price OOP vs. the Dining Plan, the difference would be significantly less.

 

[Pakey]

I would love to see the comparison to the DDP and what they force you to eat vs. ordering how you would normally order a la carte at the same restaurants.

I am also someone who works in accounting (just had to mention it!), and I know I don't eat like the DDP dictates when I pay OOP with TiW. I like TiW better because I had soup and salad as my meal at Brown Derby in July for my lunch. It would have been a waste of 2 TS credits if I didn't pay OOP for it.

Exactly. I never order dessert when I eat out and most of the time, I prefer to have 2 appetizers rather an an appetizer and an entree. We've tried to make the dining plan work a few times (both the regular and the deluxe) and I found that I was having to eat food I really didn't want. So even if it cost me MORE money to eat OOP (which it doesn't), I'd still prefer TIW because some value has to be placed on flexibility.

And I will state again that I'm an accountant.

 

[gerows]

I am an accountant also

Another accountant here

hold on, I'm an accountant too

I am also someone who works in accounting (just had to mention it!)

I think we need to start a DIS Accountant group. If we're all here posting, then who's watching the books?