Any tips, tricks, hacks with the DDP i should know of?

[HollowxBastion]

I'm thinking of purchasing the Quick Service dining plan with my resort stay and was wondering if there's a solid way to optimize and get the most out what i paid for?

So basically, my plan for the Quick Service DDP is to be used at resort, park days & Disney springs, If i get quick service, i don't mind paying out of pocket for Akershus & Storybook Dining considering my budget has a lot of wiggle room or at that point, should i just get the full-on dining plan to use for character dining? (willing to either pay out of pocket or spend both my credits for that day)

 

[MillauFr]

The best way to optimize your value is to not buy the dining plan.

 

[TexasJedi]

It's difficult--though not impossible--to come out "ahead" on any dining plan vs. paying out of pocket (although some of the current free dining promos for Disney kids would make it easier depending on party size). Are you/every adult going to want an alcoholic beverage with every prepaid meal? If not, that math gets much harder.

Honestly, people hate to hear it, but your best bet is to look at the menus of some of the places you'd like to eat and run the numbers yourself on what you'd pay out of pocket for what you'd like to order vs. what the cost of the dining plan you're looking at is.

The first time my family did that and realized that after our oldest child turned 10 it would never work for us because the adult dining plan cost factors in alcohol even when they're not old enough to drink, we haven't looked at a dining plan since.

Now, if you want convenience of prepaid and the "all-inclusive" feel, that can be a different story...but if you're truly looking for value/making the most bang for your buck, the overwhelming majority of the time, paying straight out of pocket will work out better.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm thinking of purchasing the Quick Service dining plan with my resort stay and was wondering if there's a solid way to optimize and get the most out what i paid for?

Order alcohol at every meal.
Order the most expensive entrees.
Use snack credits in Epcot at festival booths (if there is a festival going on).
Use your refillable mug at your resort often.

If you decide to upgrade to table service dining, be careful with the restaurants you choose. Check to see if they are two credit restaurants. Many 2 credit restaurants are not good value on the dining plan.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We just don’t find we get value out of the DDP any longer. I used to get it every trip but once they removed exchanging a QS for 3 snacks, it lost its value.

We’ve visited many times since they reintroduced the DDP and when I add up what we spend for food and drinks, we’re never close to what we would have paid for the DDP!