After seeing 2012 DDP prices, is anyone rethinking it for their trip?

[havoc315]

I no longer have my spreadsheet with the exact figures because my laptop crashed a few months back but we easily saved over $1000.

We (2 adults and 2 kids) did 3TS meals per day for 7 days/8 nights (23 meals total). We had very few meals under $100 with many closer to $150 and a few around $200 (we had two meals at just over $250). When we broke down the price of the plan per person per day ($71.99 per adult, $20.99 per child), we reached the 'break even' point at lunch, so dinner, 2 snacks a day per person (which we used on bigger bang for your buck items on our last day) and the mugs were pure savings.

Interesting breakdown.... The "break-even" point under the 2011 DxDP pricing, was about $22 per credit. If your average meal, over 23 meals, was about $130+ (including tax, but not including tip), then you would have saved around $1000.
Sounds like you must have done a TON of character meals. Because I don't know many 1-credit TS restaurants where 2 adults and 2 kids could exceed $150. (2 $8 appetizers, 2 $28 entrees, 2 $6 desserts, 2 $2.50 beverages, plus 2 $8 kids meals-- That's pretty close to the max price of a 1-TS dinner -- And it's only about $120 with tax).
Mind telling us the restaurants where your checks were $150-$250?

 

[havoc315]

I would never want to eat three TS restaurant meals per day for a week. So the savings realized by the above poster would never be realized by me.

I firmly believe that a person can usually eat just as well, for cheaper than the dining plans. And that includes the DxDP.

But, in fairness... I'll also say that truly maximum DxDP savings do not come from 3 meals per day, as breakfasts tend to be cheap, unless you're doing character breakfasts every single morning. (and even then, they aren't *that* expensive).
The maximum value from the DxDP actually comes from a TS lunch followed by a signature dinner. (where a signature dinner can easily run $65-75 per person, as opposed to a $20 breakfast coupled with a $40 dinner).
Truly maximum value would be a character lunch followed by a above-average signature dinner. Under such a combination, so-called "savings" of $20-$40 per day would be quite realistic.

Not saying many people would/should want to eat that way.

 

[TDC Nala]

Now saying many people would/should want to eat that way.

I do signature restaurants all the time - but I am not interested in ordering appetizer and entree PLUS dessert. Used to be back before 2008, it was worth it to do DDP even though I wouldn't eat all the food (of course, before 2008 you got all the same allotments you currently get with the deluxe plan for about $35 a night, plus the tip was included) but now without the savings there really is no more reason for me to do DDP. With the price of DDP going up it appears others are coming to the same conclusion I came to back in 2008, that DDP is not worth it for me any longer. There will still be plenty of those for whom DDP is worth it, or who just like prepaying so much that the higher price doesn't faze them.

 

[SuzieQ811]

Also, if you are at a Concierge / Club level, where there are "free" snacks throughout the day, especially breakfast, maybe the DP is not worth it? I don't know, have never done it, but we are signed up for the next trip. Also, I did not see our favorite Epcot Restaurant Teppan Edo, on the list. Does anyone know if it is now excluded from the Dining Plan?"

 

[MSLRAC]

Interesting breakdown.... The "break-even" point under the 2011 DxDP pricing, was about $22 per credit. If your average meal, over 23 meals, was about $130+ (including tax, but not including tip), then you would have saved around $1000.
Sounds like you must have done a TON of character meals. Because I don't know many 1-credit TS restaurants where 2 adults and 2 kids could exceed $150. (2 $8 appetizers, 2 $28 entrees, 2 $6 desserts, 2 $2.50 beverages, plus 2 $8 kids meals-- That's pretty close to the max price of a 1-TS dinner -- And it's only about $120 with tax).
Mind telling us the restaurants where your checks were $150-$250?

Well first, we went in 2010 and I am pretty sure there was a price increase in 2011 so our break even point would be less for 2010. But anyway, we did at least one character meal per day with two a couple of days. Our most expensive 1 credit TS meals (as memory serves) were Tutto (over $200) LeCellier ($160ish), Teppan Edo ($150ish) and Coral Reef ($150ish). And we were at $250 at Narcoossee's and Cali Grill.

The bottom line is that the DxDP works for us, saves us a ton of money and there is no way that we could eat the same at WDW for less money OOP. It will take a huge price increase for us to balk at the DxDP.

 

[SuzieQ811]

And I just thought of something. If you share your lunch, or snack, (not table service meals), like DH and I do, does that make the DP less worth it??

 

[havoc315]

I do signature restaurants all the time - but I am not interested in ordering appetizer and entree PLUS dessert. Used to be back before 2008, it was worth it to do DDP even though I wouldn't eat all the food (of course, before 2008 you got all the same allotments you currently get with the deluxe plan for about $35 a night, plus the tip was included) but now without the savings there really is no more reason for me to do DDP. With the price of DDP going up it appears others are coming to the same conclusion I came to back in 2008, that DDP is not worth it for me any longer. There will still be plenty of those for whom DDP is worth it, or who just like prepaying so much that the higher price doesn't faze them.

We initially had free dining for our next trip, which we upgraded to deluxe. Then switched to a room discount, so had to figure out whether it was worth paying for the deluxe.
We agree with you in the sense -- we like to do signature almost every night, but we aren't going to each get all 3 courses most of the time. But we were generally going to do a TS lunch, and a signature dinner. Get appetizers most of the time, (but not all of the time), get moderate priced entrees, and occasionally get dessert (about half the time or less).
We found that with 2012 pricing, the adults were looking at approximately breaking even under the deluxe plan. I wouldn't keep a plan just to break even.. but we have 2 young children. And they each saved about $100 over 6 nights on the plan, so that tipped us in favor of keeping the plan.

I'm not expecting any grand savings... but likely $150-$300 for a family of 4, over 6 nights.

 

[havoc315]

And I just thought of something. If you share your lunch, or snack, (not table service meals), like DH and I do, does that make the DP less worth it??

Depending how you look at it, it can make it "more" worthwhile, or less. It can be "more" in the sense that you can easily stretch out 3 meals per day then, by sharing breakfast and lunch.

But yes, if you plan on sharing a lot of meals, and you can share TS meals too... then the plan starts to make less and less sense.

 

[havoc315]

Well first, we went in 2010 and I am pretty sure there was a price increase in 2011 so our break even point would be less for 2010. But anyway, we did at least one character meal per day with two a couple of days. Our most expensive 1 credit TS meals (as memory serves) were Tutto (over $200) LeCellier ($160ish), Teppan Edo ($150ish) and Coral Reef ($150ish). And we were at $250 at Narcoossee's and Cali Grill.

Sounds like 1, or both your kids, were actually adults?
Just trying to make the numbers make sense. As kids meals are only about $8 per meal.. It would be pretty difficult for 2 adults to spend $130 at Coral Reef..
Teppen Edo, kids meals cost a bit more, but would still be hard for 2 adults to spend $125..
Possibly your figures are including tip, which wouldn't be covered under the dining plan. Not saying your numbers are way off, the estimates mostly just seem a little high.
And if you did 2 2-credit meals... then you would have exceeded your credits? (You said you did 23 meals in 8 nights... 2 of 2 of those dinners were 2-credits, then you would be at 26 credits)

 

[MSLRAC]

Sounds like 1, or both your kids, were actually adults?
Just trying to make the numbers make sense. As kids meals are only about $8 per meal.. It would be pretty difficult for 2 adults to spend $130 at Coral Reef..
Teppen Edo, kids meals cost a bit more, but would still be hard for 2 adults to spend $125..
Possibly your figures are including tip, which wouldn't be covered under the dining plan. Not saying your numbers are way off, the estimates mostly just seem a little high.
And if you did 2 2-credit meals... then you would have exceeded your credits? (You said you did 23 meals in 8 nights... 2 of 2 of those dinners were 2-credits, then you would be at 26 credits)

Both kids were on the kids plan and I am not including tip as DH handled those. We also paid OOP for our last breakfast which I did not include the cost of in any of our figures as it was OOP.

Just as you think my estimates are high, I think yours are low. Yes, there were some kids meals that were around $8 total but most of their meals where not combo deals and cost $3-6 appetizers, $8-12 entrees, $3-4 desserts plus $2.95-3.50 sodas. I would also that our adult meals broke down more like $8-24 appetizers, $25-59 entrees, $6-10 desserts and $3.50-5 non-alcoholic drinks.

Trust me, I call my DH Scrooge McMike because he is beyond cheap, tight, frugal, whatever you want to call it. He was all about seeing penny for penny what our food cost us verses what we paid for the DxDP. There was no padding or even rounding of any numbers...sorry!

And honestly, why are you implying that I am lying about how much the DxDP saved us? Like I said, I had a spreadsheet that took it down to the penny (it's on my fried laptop if you'd like to attempt to have that fixed so you can take a look at it yourself). I would not lie about something so silly as a dining plan at WDW. It is either works for you or it doesn't and if it doesn't work for you, it is no skin off my back. Really, so sorry that it's so hard for you to believe that it saved us money and will save us just as much on our next trip.

 

[havoc315]

Both kids were on the kids plan and I am not including tip as DH handled those. We also paid OOP for our last breakfast which I did not include the cost of in any of our figures as it was OOP.

Just as you think my estimates are high, I think yours are low. Yes, there were some kids meals that were around $8 total but most of their meals where not combo deals and cost $3-6 appetizers, $8-12 entrees, $3-4 desserts plus $2.95-3.50 sodas. I would also that our adult meals broke down more like $8-24 appetizers, $25-59 entrees, $6-10 desserts and $3.50-5 non-alcoholic drinks.

I am not accusing you of lying. Not at all. Just determining the extent of your savings. I believe your savings were quite substantial, even close to $1000. But I think you've inflated things a bit in your memory.
For example-- You said you had 23 meals, including 2 signature meals, plus an OOP breakfast. Even paying for a breakfast OOP, you're still a credit short somewhere.
And most kids meals at most 1-credits restaurants are all-inclusive, you don't pay extra for dessert, appetizer and beverage. Same with your entree and appetizer prices -- At 1 credit restaurants, using 2010 pricing, there were very very few entrees above $30, and very few appetizers above about $12.

So let's see what the absolute maximum that you could have spent at Coral Reef:
I found Feb 2011 prices, so these prices may actually be higher than the prices you paid.
The most expensive appetizer is $11.99 -- So 2 adults get the most expensive app, that's $24.
The most expensive entree is $31.99 -- So if 2 adults both get it, that's $64.
The most expensive dessert is $7.99 -- so if both adults get it, that's $16.
I don't know the beverage prices, but assuming $3 per adult beverage, for a total of $6.

The kids menu is solely all-inclusive. They don't have separately priced kids appetizers or desserts at Coral Reef. It is $8.99 per all-inclusive kids meal. So that's $18 for the 2 kids meals.

Thus, the absolute maximum that a family of 4 could possibly spend at Coral Reef in Feb of 2012, would be: $128, without tax. Or $136 with tax. And that is the *absolute* maximum, if everyone ordered the most expensive items on the menu.

Teppan Edo-- Found the Jun 2011 menu:
Most expensive possible appetizer -- $9.50X2 = 19.
Most expensive entree -- $29.95X2= $60
Most expensive dessert -- $6.95 X2= $14
All beverages are $2.95X2= $6

Kids meals do run a bit more here:
The all inclusive kids meals are $13 each -- For a total of $26.

So the absolute maximum at Tappen Edo, would be: $125 without tax. Or $133 with tax. And it again assumes that everyone ordered the most expensive possible item.

I am absolutely not accusing you of lying. Some of your other pricing seems quite accurate. Just feels like you have slightly inflated numbers in your memory.

I made my own mistake in checking my numbers. My $130 average meal price was based on 4 adults. With 2010 pricing, 2 adults and 2 children, you could have saved $1000 over 23 meals, with an average meal price just $100-110.
And while it seems your memory may have inflated some of your individual meal costs, it seems quite likely that you crossed the $100-110 per meal threshold, on average.

I have no question, that the way you ordered, you saved around $1,000 on the DxDP.

 

[basketlacey]

We are getting ready to take our second trip on the DDP. Both have been under the "free dining" discount (and yes, I know its not free but with a family of 5, 2 of the 3 kids over age 10, it is by far the best discount for us).

However, I am thinking of upgrading our tickets this trip to annual passes which means booking free dining for next fall won't be the best choice for us. I did the math earlier today to try and see if I would purchase the DDP. It would cost $1548 under the 2012 pricing (not sure if that includes tax - it is from Nala's sticky post). I LOVE having our meals prepaid. However, I am not sure we will really spend $1500 on food for the week. So, I might consider just putting the money in an envelope and use that as my "prepaid" meals.

We will see. I am going to add up next week what we spend and that should give me a good idea.

 

[havoc315]

We are getting ready to take our second trip on the DDP. Both have been under the "free dining" discount (and yes, I know its not free but with a family of 5, 2 of the 3 kids over age 10, it is by far the best discount for us).

However, I am thinking of upgrading our tickets this trip to annual passes which means booking free dining for next fall won't be the best choice for us. I did the math earlier today to try and see if I would purchase the DDP. It would cost $1548 under the 2012 pricing (not sure if that includes tax - it is from Nala's sticky post). I LOVE having our meals prepaid. However, I am not sure we will really spend $1500 on food for the week. So, I might consider just putting the money in an envelope and use that as my "prepaid" meals.

We will see. I am going to add up next week what we spend and that should give me a good idea.

As an AP holder, I believe you would qualify for a TiW card, which you should price out. If you were to spend around $1500 on mostly TS food, you would probably save money with the TiW card.

 

[aubriee]

Prices for buffet, all you can eat and character meals have gone waaaay up, and fast. The other menus haven't increased so much. if you're interested in lots of character meals and/or have a bunch of kids, take a good hard look at DDP. Otherwise it may not really be worth it as a moneysaver.

We didn't even think twice about the price of the DxDP when we started planning our next trip. It saved us well over $1000 last trip and I project that it will do the same for our next trip. But what did stop us in our tracks and really got us rethinking our entire WDW vacation was the new policy about requiring a cc to book character and signature meals.

I firmly believe that a person can usually eat just as well, for cheaper than the dining plans. And that includes the DxDP.

As an AP holder, I believe you would qualify for a TiW card, which you should price out. If you were to spend around $1500 on mostly TS food, you would probably save money with the TiW card.

My TiW card is good until Oct 31, 2012. I used it for my Sept trip and will be using it again for my Nov/Dec, May, and Sept trips. However for my upcoming Feb trip we'll be taking my grand son for his first ever trip to WDW. We'll be using the DxDDP. We want him to go to all the character meals, but at the same time want a couple of nicer restaurants for my husband and me. I ran the prices all three ways ( OOP using TiW, DDP paying for several meals OOP, and the DxDDP). The DxDDP round up being cheaper. We don't mind doing alot of TS restaurants though and with a toddler know there'll be alot of things we normally do that we won't get to do on the Feb trip. When going by myself or with just my husband we prefer to skip breakfast, do an early TS lunch, and then a Signature restaurant for dinner. The TiW card works out better for those type trips. But for the Feb trip with a toddler and 1-2 character meals every day and several nicer restaurants, the DxDDP works out better.

I agree with MSLRAC about not liking the new policy that requires a cc guarantee. I had our ADRs for the Feb trip booked before the policy went into effect. After it was announced I went ahead and made a few more ADRs before the deadline. I usually make (and keep) alot of ADRs every trip, but still hate the idea of being charged if something happens and I can't show up.

 

[aubriee]

I go to TS restaurants but I want to order the courses I want to order, not the courses I've paid in advance for. I also like the option of going to the Swan/Dolphin restaurants. Couldn't even get a bar seat at Flying Fish last week without waiting 45 minutes, but Il Mulino had plenty of room. The other TS I went to was Kimonos (also at the Swan/Dolphin). just walked right in, no ADRs six months ahead needed, no credit card guarantees.

This is one of the reasons I went with the TiW card this year. I usually prefer a couple of appetizers over some of the entrees and don't always want desserts. I used the TiW card this past Sept while my three traveling buddies used the DDP. I loved being able to order exactly what I was in the mood for. I had ordered some Disney gift cards to use for meals, tips, and anything else I might want. I refuse to scrimp when I'm on vacation, so ordered exactly what I was in the mood for at each meal and knew that it was still prepaid. I spent less paying OOP with the TiW than they did with the DDP and still got appetizers, lamb, steak, and desserts when I wanted them. I loved feeling that I didn't have to order the most expensive thing on the menu, just to get the best value out of the DDP.

I'm glad you posted that you were able to get walk ups easily. I should have made ADRs for my May 5th-13th trip this past Monday, but due to the new policy that requires you give a cc guarantee at Signature restaurants, I have not done so yet. For my solo trips I usually dine at a Signature restaurant every night. I go to WDW several times a year and the only time I've missed an ADR at a Signature restaurant was a couple of years ago when I was too ill to go to Yachtsman one night (heat exhaustion). However, I am not willing to take the chance of booking eight Signature restaurants for my May trip (like I usually do) and take a chance of something happening. I usually book California Grill for my first or second night, when I know I'd definitely make it, but now all the Signatures are requiring a CC guarantee. I'll either try as a walk up when they first open or else go to the restuarants at the Swan/Dolphin or DTD now. I may make some early lunch ADRs at restaurants that don't require a CC guarantee, but won't be making any at the Signatures anymore.

 

[basketlacey]

As an AP holder, I believe you would qualify for a TiW card, which you should price out. If you were to spend around $1500 on mostly TS food, you would probably save money with the TiW card.

That's a good idea too!

Like I said, we are going next week on the DDP so it will be a good chance for me to really add up what we spend. The DDP is pretty close to how we would choose to eat so it will be a good comparison. Before we had the DDP, we only did one or two sit down meals per trip but now that we have gone to having 7-8 TS per trip, I can't see going back.

I also think we would be more apt to try a signature or two if we were paying OOP with TiW card. I just can't bring myself to give up two credits per person on the DDP so we haven't ventured to any of the signatures yet.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm glad you posted that you were able to get walk ups easily.

Note that I was able to get walkups easily at the Swan/Dolphin. The restaurants there don't take the dining plan. Many Disney guests don't know they exist, even though they are within walking distance of two parks (Epcot and DHS). The Disney restaurants I tried could not seat me in less than 45 minutes.

 

[aubriee]

Note that I was able to get walkups easily at the Swan/Dolphin. The restaurants there don't take the dining plan. Many Disney guests don't know they exist, even though they are within walking distance of two parks (Epcot and DHS). The Disney restaurants I tried could not seat me in less than 45 minutes.

Yes, I caught that. Thanks! I love the Flying Fish and usually try to eat there once or sometimes twice on my solo trips. I like the idea of trying to get into the FF as a walk up about the time they open, then if that doesn't work, can easily walk over to the Swan/Dolphin. Because I've used the DDP so much the last few years, I'm looking forward to trying restaurants that don't take the DDP and it seems like I may be able to get into most of them without worrying about ADRs that require a CC guarantee. I may not make any ADRs for my May trip and just take my chances as a walk up. I also love California Grill and Jiko, so may try them right at opening. I'd never try to get into a WDW restaurant right at prime dinner time. I feel like the TiW gives me more freedom to make plans on the fly than the DDP did. Even though I always keep most of my ADRs, I don't like having to provide a cc guarantee, so probably won't be making any ADRs that require that cc guarantee. I'll either take my chances as a walk up or else call the dining number that morning and just see what's available.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'll either take my chances as a walk up or else call the dining number that morning and just see what's available.

Even if you make the reservation the morning of the same day you plan to eat, you will have to leave a CC guarantee. However, at that time you may be more certain about whether you are going to show up for the meal.