Am I figuring this correctly (DP vs. DDP selections)

[MissMagnolia]

I need someone to look at this and tell me if I am thinking about it correctly. It is making my head spin. What I did was look at the menus of the restaurants (both counter service and table service) and planned out what we would probably order. It appears that the best choice for us would be the Deluxe Dining Plan (in which case I would probably change some of the counter service choices to table service ones). I also did not include any appetizer or dessert in the selections so the value is better yet (in either case). I know that the appetizer is not included in the regular DP. I also did not add in the total amount of snacks alotted nor in the case of the DDP, the refillable mug (which I am sure we would use).

So here goes:
Animal Kingdom Day
$170.05 (without taxes and tips)

Breakfast:
Donald’s Breakfastosaurus
37.98 (2 adult meals)
21.98 (2 child meals)
Total: 59.96 + tax & tip

Lunch:
Flame Tree Barbecue
7.99 (smoked ½ chicken)
7.99 (smoked ½ chicken)
6.99 (fruit plate)
3.99 (kid’s hot dog meal w/drink)
7.17 (3 drinks @ 2.39)
Total: 34.13 + tax

Dinner:
Boma
51.98 (2 adult meals)
23.98 (2 child meals)
Total: 75.96 + tax & tip


MGM Day 1
$113.22 (without taxes and tip)

Breakfast:
WCC
21.98 (2 all-you-can-eat skillets)
6.29 (kid’s skillet w/drink)
5.29 (pancake w/drink)
4.58 (2 juices)
Total: 38.14 + tax & tip

Lunch:
ABC Commissary
6.89 (fried fish)
6.69 (tabbouleh wrap)
3.99 (fried fish w/drink)
3.99 (chicken nuggets w/drink)
4.78 (2 drinks @ 2.39)
Total: 26.34 + tax

Dinner:
Mama Melrose’s
16.99 (spicy Italian sausage)
11.99 (grilled pepperoni flatbread)
14.98 (2 kid meals w/drink)
4.78 (2 drinks @ 2.39)
Total: 48.74 + tax & tip

MGM Day 2
$121.33 (without taxes and tip)

Breakfast:
ABC Commissary
5.99 (scrambled egg platter)
5.79 (buttermilk pancakes)
3.59 (2 kid’s meals w/drink)
4.78 (2 drinks @ 2.39)
Total: 20.15 + tax

Lunch:
50’s Prime Time Cafe
15.79 (old-fashioned pot roast)
13.99 (chicken pot pie)
14.98 (2 kid’s meal w/drink)
4.00 (2 drinks @ 2.00)
Total: 48.76 + tax & tip

Dinner:
Beaches and Cream
8.99 (chicken sandwich)
7.89 (burger)
14.98 (2 kid’s meals w/drink)
4.58 (2 drinks @ 2.29)
7.99 (fudge mud slide)
7.99 (banana split)
Total: 52.42 + tax & tip

Magic Kingdom Day 1
$171.64 without tax and tip)

Breakfast:
Main Street Bake Shop
11.98 (2 breakfast rolls)
6.00 (2 cinnamon rolls)
2.98 (2 orange juices)
3.98 (2 milks)
Total: 24.94 + tax

Lunch:
Cinderella’s Royal Table
71.98 (2 adult meals)
47.98 (2 child meals)
Total: 119.96 + tax & tip

Dinner:
Columbia Harbor House
13.98 (2 fried fish baskets)
7.98 (2 kid’s meals w/drink)
4.78 (2 drinks @ 2.39)
Total: 26.74 + tax

Magic Kingdom Day 2
$169.56 (without tax and tip)

Breakfast:
Crystal Palace
37.98 (2 adult meals)
21.98 (2 child meals)
Total: 59.96 + tax & tip

Lunch:
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
8.99 (BBQ rib meal)
5.89 (cosmic creation burger)
7.98 (2 kid’s meals w/drink)
4.78 (2 drinks @ 2.39)
Total: 27.64 + tax

Dinner:
Liberty Tree Tavern
55.98 (2 adult meals)
25.98 (2 child meals)
Total: 81.96 + tax & tip

EPCOT Day 1
$164.96 (without taxes and tip)

Breakfast:
Princess Storybook Breakfast
22.99 (adult)
22.99 (adult)
12.99 (child)
12.99 (child)
Total: 71.96 + tax & tip

Lunch:
Electric Umbrella
7.39 (bacon double cheeseburger)
6.89 (tossed island chicken salad)
3.99 (kid’s meal w/drink)
3.99 (kid’s meal w/drink)
2.39 (drink)
2.39 (drink)
Total: 27.04 + tax

Dinner:
Le Cellier
24.99 (herb crusted prime rib)
17.99 (heirloom squash ravioli)
9.49 (grilled steak kid’s meal)
7.49 (pasta kid’s meal)
3.00 (drink)
3.00 (drink)
Total: 65.96 + tax & tip

EPCOT Day 2
$143.20 (without taxes and tip)

Breakfast:
Roaring Fork @ Wilderness Lodge
7.99 (bounty platter)
5.99 (breakfast platter)
7.98 (2 kid’s meal)
6.76 (4 juices)
Total: 28.72 + tax

Lunch:
Teppan Edo
25.00 (New York Strip Steak)
20.00 (Scallops)
24.00 (2 kid’s meals)
9.56 (4 drinks @ 2.39)
Total: 78.56 + tax & tip

Dinner:
Rose and Crown Pub
26.36 (4 Fish and Chips)
9.56 (4 drinks @ 2.39)
Total: 35.92 + tax


7 nights (DP 37.99/9.99) (DDP 69.99/19.99)
1053.96 x 6.75% tax = 1125.10 (what we will spend with the above choices without tip added). I know that I have too many TS credits above and not enough for the DDP.

DP (7 CS; 7 TS; 7 snacks per person):
37.99 x 7 = 265.93 x 2 = 531.86
9.99 x 7 = 69.93 x 2 = 139.86
Total: 671.72

DDP:
69.99 x 7 = 489.93 x 2 = 979.86
19.99 x 7 = 139.93 x 2 = 279.86
Total: 1259.72

Help!! Input needed!
TIA

 

[septbaby]

Your process is fine. Did the tax rate recently rise, I thought it was 6.5%. We had an Oct 1st increase where I live, so maybe you show one for Orlando? Keep in mind that you pay the gratuity, so with the deluxe plan you will pay 15-20% on those TS checks. Since you are getting more food, that $ amount is higher. On a $100 check you might leave a $20 tip and almost $7 in taxes. Going to CS removes additional OOP tip expense.

The additional filter I would run is, are we really going to eat all those meals? If it suits your family, by all means go for it. However, eating those meals will take time, be sure your DP choice is right for your family and the kind of trip you are planning.

 

[MissMagnolia]

Thanks septbaby. I actually sat down with the menus and tried to plan out where we would eat regardless of being on the DP or not. We are a family that needs 3 meals a day or we have meltdowns (and I'm not just talking about my DS or DD! ).

Originally I thought about the fact that if we decide to do the DDP, that I would try and add in some more TSs - you make a good point regarding the added expense for the tips if I do that.

Thanks for your input! Any others?

 

[pilferk]

I think your logic works out fine...the numbers all make sense to me (other than the tax % being a touch high).

If I were you, I think I'd likely choose the Deluxe DDP given your choices, above. You've got 2 TS meals scheduled for many of those days....and the difference in OOP cost is 100 just on the meals.

Take your snacks (2 x 4 = 8 per day, 8 x $3.20 = $25.60, $25.60 x 7 = 179.20.

And your mugs (12.77 x 4 = 51.08).

Add those to your total out of pocket projected costs:

1125.10 + 179.20 + 51.08 = 1355.38

vs the DXDDP cost of 1259.72

Even without factoring in desserts, or changing some of those CS meals to TS meals....you're coming out slightly ahead. Not wildly ahead, but add those desserts in and change a CS meal or two around....and the value gets even better.

 

[suffolkprincess]

Last night DH and I started doing all that mind-bending math re: DP vs DDP!

So far for us it looks like getting DDP would be a wash, we might not actually save money because we are strictly doing 6 ADRs for a 6 night stay (previous experience, this is what we want.) So, a lot of our meals will be CS and the overall value $ wise isn't as great with the DDP BUT the convenience factor is HUGE. We love the idea that everything we are likely to consume, Food and Beverage-wise, will be pre-paid. All we have to deal with is bar bills (never huge for us when traveling with DD) and tipping. And those are the same whichever plan we go with.

However, we are still working on setting up a spreadsheet that we can use once we have our ADRs to get this whole thing decided once and for all. When its done, if it looks helpful, I'll post it in my pre-trip report.

 

[pilferk]

Last night DH and I started doing all that mind-bending math re: DP vs DDP!

So far for us it looks like getting DDP would be a wash, we might not actually save money because we are strictly doing 6 ADRs for a 6 night stay (previous experience, this is what we want.) So, a lot of our meals will be CS and the overall value $ wise isn't as great with the DDP BUT the convenience factor is HUGE. We love the idea that everything we are likely to consume, Food and Beverage-wise, will be pre-paid. All we have to deal with is bar bills (never huge for us when traveling with DD) and tipping. And those are the same whichever plan we go with.

However, we are still working on setting up a spreadsheet that we can use once we have our ADRs to get this whole thing decided once and for all. When its done, if it looks helpful, I'll post it in my pre-trip report.

Just a heads up:

There are 3 things that get missed, often, when planning out meal costs, etc. They're drinks, tips, and tax. Tips are less of an issue now, because they're not included in the DDP for '08, so.... Also, lots of people miss factoring in the snacks (whether you use them each day, or all at once before you check out, make sure you use them! You're paying for them! ) when working out their numberrs.

I love looking at other people's DDP breakdowns. They're always so cool and interesting....

 

[suffolkprincess]

Thanks for those reminders, pilferk!

I told my husband that we have to factor in the mugs because every day I bought a big huge coffee first thing in am (and didn't usually use snacks for that because some places wouldn't let me) so, the mugs could be a real money-saver for us, PLUS with hotter weather and thus more pool time we will use them then, too...

I love looking at DDP breakdowns, too.
My AAA travel agent sent my quote with the fax cover addressed to:
Disney Geek

and did my staff have trouble knowing who the fax was for?

No.

 

[pilferk]

Thanks for those reminders, pilferk!

I told my husband that we have to factor in the mugs because every day I bought a big huge coffee first thing in am (and didn't usually use snacks for that because some places wouldn't let me) so, the mugs could be a real money-saver for us, PLUS with hotter weather and thus more pool time we will use them then, too...

I love looking at DDP breakdowns, too.
My AAA travel agent sent my quote with the fax cover addressed to:
Disney Geek

and did my staff have trouble knowing who the fax was for?

No.

LOL.

Just don't make the same mistake Kevin Yee made over on miceage.com. He counted the mug price (11.99) EVERY day. Essentially, he would have bought himself 7 mugs for a 7 day stay.

When figuring out our DxDDP "scenario" I just broke the mug price down by day....so 12 dollars and something cents (with tax) divided by 6...about $2-something a day.

 

[septbaby]

Last night DH and I started doing all that mind-bending math re: DP vs DDP!

So far for us it looks like getting DDP would be a wash, we might not actually save money because we are strictly doing 6 ADRs for a 6 night stay (previous experience, this is what we want.) So, a lot of our meals will be CS and the overall value $ wise isn't as great with the DDP BUT the convenience factor is HUGE. We love the idea that everything we are likely to consume, Food and Beverage-wise, will be pre-paid. All we have to deal with is bar bills (never huge for us when traveling with DD) and tipping. And those are the same whichever plan we go with. QUOTE]

You can still do this on the DDP, now you can upgrade those ADRs to Signature restaurants and use your other daily credit for a CS meal. You can also use 2TS if you choose room service (though that depends on your hotel) or if you decide on a casual family night, pizza delivery for 2TS for your whole family. Lots of options on both these plans.

 

[suffolkprincess]

septbaby-- one of the things we love with the DDP is being able to use room service. That is such a fun treat on vacation (even if the food isn't stellar) and a great convenience!

 

[MissMagnolia]

Thank you so much for everyone's input. I feel much better now about going with the DDP knowing that I wasn't missing anything. Now I get to go back and RE-LOOK at the TS choices and appetizers and desserts!!!