Anyone do DxDDP just for convience?

[billnang]

Ok, I just decided to do the Deluxe plan, but 17 restaurants x gratuity = a lot more $$$

back to the drawing board.

 

[Trina7020]

I am right there with you! If Gratuity was included it would be a no brainer!

I go back and forth every single day.

Now I have filled in Tricia Speadsheet... I just stare at the numbers! lol

 

[Markstudy]

The increased tips kills any savings.

I also have a reward card that pays double the Disney one

So with double the rewards compaired to our Disney cards, you can cover the tips like their nothing, no problem

Sorry, I'm just having fun with you.

I never had a "rewards" credit card (debt card for me) But I got the Disney Visa for the rewards to offset my tips....seems like free money to me LOL ( I realize that people who have used credit card rewards for years are much more advanced in working this system)

I do agree with you, the tip has taken the savings away. Problem is high-demand for seating in the parks... Disney sloves the problem by raising the price. The problem is limited tables and seats and huge demand... price goes up.

 

[mefordis]

I went back and forth on the deluxe dining plan vs ddp as well. Here is my conclusion:

Going with the DDP because....

1. If I use the dxddp, I'd be spending roughly $100 more. Maybe for convenience that would be worth it, but...

2. I have to pay gratuities no matter what, so it's not all inclusive (which we discussed in the thread)

3. Most importantly, I KNOW I would eat more than I need with the dxddp. I don't feel like I need to clean my plate, but instead of getting an appetizer to split, of course we'd each order one! With the regular ddp, for the oop meals, for example Beaches & Cream, my mom will split a burger then each order a sundae. Not so if I was on the dxddp. We'd each get our own burger because it is paid for. For me that is overeating. I know I can just order, take a bite, then throw it out. But I'd rather share and keep my $100.

4. Even with 1 signature restaurant, we still come out saving by doing ddp and oop.

5. What if someone in my family gets sick? That would be a huge waste of $$. With the regular ddp at least it isn't that huge of a loss, and you would probably only lose a few credits, but with the dxddp it would be a much greater loss.

I know the dxddp would work for us if we did a couple more ts or 1 more signature restaurant, but I don't want to add anymore adrs just to make the dxddp work.

One more thing: I always set out to have a mickey bar or dole whip on my trips, but with all the ts desserts I don't have room for them. I'm looking forward to paying oop for a couple of meals and getting my dessert elsewhere this time.

That's my situation.

 

[patsal]

Yep, you have a good point.

I still get around this last loop-hole by using my Disney Visa rewards dollars (my free money) to pay the tips now

Pain-in-the-butt, that Disney is making me jump threw more hoops ....but I'm still holding on by the skin of my teeth that- its nice, not to have to look at the prices on the menu while I'm there for a week

I use my Disney Visa Rewards to pay for my AP's. But even using that card to pay the tips it isn't like the convienience that it used to be.

 

[kermer]

I am getting the Deluxe Plan for convenience.

We are going in 20 Days and invited my DM along.
I got the Deluxe plan so she will not worry about price. She is the kind of lady who would order the least expensive item on the menu, if someone else is paying, instead of what she really wants. With the Deluxe it is all "prepayed" so she ( i think ) will be more likely to order what she wants.

 

[JoanneNC]

I am getting the DxDDP because I want it and I can

Not everything is about saving a penny

My time is worth much more then a few dollars...

 

[mickey2000]

 

[kermer]

 

[patsal]

I am getting the DxDDP because I want it and I can

Not everything is about saving a penny

My time is worth much more then a few dollars...

OK, but how does this save time? DXDDP eats up your park time in restaurants and isn't all inclusive so you will still need to spend more money? If your rationale is that you don't want to think about food expenses than I can see that to an extent, but less so since you have to deal with paying out the tip. I know that everyone has a different situation or different view on what is easier/cheaper/less time consuming, so purchasing it for the convienience of not thinking about menu prices I can see, but saving time--I really don't see that

 

[mefordis]

OK, but how does this save time? DXDDP eats up your park time in restaurants and isn't all inclusive so you will still need to spend more money? If your rationale is that you don't want to think about food expenses than I can see that to an extent, but less so since you have to deal with paying out the tip. I know that everyone has a different situation or different view on what is easier/cheaper/less time consuming, so purchasing it for the convienience of not thinking about menu prices I can see, but saving time--I really don't see that

Yes, good question. I don't see it either. I'd do it in a minute if it did save time. I just can't rationalize doing it. Even though I love ordering appetizers, I factored those in oop and STILL would be losing about $100 if I went with the dxddp. I'm not the most frugal person -- don't use coupons and can be pretty wasteful with my money sometimes, but this I really can't see doing. Like I said, if gratuity was included I would do it in a heartbeat -- even if it were a bit more $$, but since I have to pay gratuity oop anyway, it's not all inclusive.

 

[62travelDisney]

We decided on the dxddp because I already had planned to have dinner at signature restaurants for my family of 6 (5 of us considered "adults" even tho 1 is 10) and when I looked at the prices ($30+ for entrees alone) I figured it would save us overall. (Thanks Tricia for the spreadsheet!) Granted, we could do WDW cheaper, but our stay is short and we are foodies and want great food to be part of our experience. It is probably too much food for DH and me but it will be nice for kids to have as much as they want, desserts and snacks. Our plan is to use 1 Ts in late am for lunch/brunch and 2ts for our signature dinners. We enjoy the dining breaks after all the running around and we have been to WDW enough times (never on a dining plan) to not feel like we have to go on every single ride. A sample day will be use snack credit for muffins in the early am, go for lunch at places like Tusker House, Crystal Palace, and dinner at places like Cali grill, Jiko, Flying Fish (my fave). Either way, with my size family, we will spend a fortune on food, and this seems to simplify that process. What do y'all think?

 

[pigletforever]

We are going next January and the parks tend to close a little earlier. I am scheduling our dinners later than normal and plan on a snack in the afternoon to get us thru if needed. Plus we are there 11 days so I figure there will be plenty of time to do/see everything and still enjoy the food.

 

[Mississippi Mamma]

I decided to do dxddp for many of the same reasons. I think if you're a "foodie" who sometimes finds yourself not ordering your preferred items because of cost, and if you can afford it, the dxddp is a good idea. We got wine too. It would make me crazy to try and figure out which is the best deal, or what I would have to order to get my "money's worth." But I know I am going to enjoy not listening to DH complain about the prices on the menu, and I am looking forward to the restaurants, especially the signature ones we have scheduled (Hoop-de-doo, Jilko, Hollywood Brown Derby, California Grill). And, although Tutto Italia is not a signature, based on the prices I've seen, I'm sure there would be a revolt at the table if we had to pay OOP there. Not every plan is right for every family; I'm sure that's why there are so many choices. A lot just depends on how important food is to your vacation. My husband and I have been known to take a four-day trip to New Orleans where all we do is eat, digest & rest, and eat again. We spend a lot of time teaching our three children restaurant manners, and we think this will be a great opportunity for them to really experience some places they would never see in our tiny Mississippi town.

 

[patsal]

I decided to do dxddp for many of the same reasons. I think if you're a "foodie" who sometimes finds yourself not ordering your preferred items because of cost, and if you can afford it, the dxddp is a good idea. We got wine too. It would make me crazy to try and figure out which is the best deal, or what I would have to order to get my "money's worth." But I know I am going to enjoy not listening to DH complain about the prices on the menu, and I am looking forward to the restaurants, especially the signature ones we have scheduled (Hoop-de-doo, Jilko, Hollywood Brown Derby, California Grill). And, although Tutto Italia is not a signature, based on the prices I've seen, I'm sure there would be a revolt at the table if we had to pay OOP there. Not every plan is right for every family; I'm sure that's why there are so many choices. A lot just depends on how important food is to your vacation. My husband and I have been known to take a four-day trip to New Orleans where all we do is eat, digest & rest, and eat again. We spend a lot of time teaching our three children restaurant manners, and we think this will be a great opportunity for them to really experience some places they would never see in our tiny Mississippi town.

While food is an important part of our vacation, and many days the plans center around it, it is unfortunate, but the DDP has really changed the menus so they are not the great foodie experience they used to be. Sure DDP makes some venues look like they are best served by it, and as you mentioned Tutto Italia is one of those, but many have become poorer values than they once were and many of the finer dishes served by the upscale restaurants have been compromised as a result of the DDP. And I absolutely agree that WDW is a great place for the kids to put on their best manners and enjoy places they would never experience at home! If your children are in the under 10 crowd, the DXDDP is a great deal if that is the way you eat while on vacation!

 

[patsal]

We are going next January and the parks tend to close a little earlier. I am scheduling our dinners later than normal and plan on a snack in the afternoon to get us thru if needed. Plus we are there 11 days so I figure there will be plenty of time to do/see everything and still enjoy the food.

Just don't be surprised if there is another round of changes in the DDP before you arrive in January. Be sure to hang around here in November to see what happens for 2009!

 

[graygables]

I just added the DxDDP to my June 3 night DVC stay. It will be me, 12yo and 9yo DDs. There are some places we've always wanted to try, but have put off for various reasons, penny pinching, 2 TS credits, wait 'til hubby's along, whatever. This time, I said to heck with it, we're going to eat where we want. We made a list and I made our ADRs. With Signature meals, plus a breakfast on our last morning, we'll be eating 7 TS meals over 4 days. We will share an appetizer and a dessert and have the other boxed up for us to save for another meal. We will most likely have a Mickey bar or two , but most snacks are cashed in on the last day for our trip home. I have a scrapbook show to do straight after our trip, so leftovers will come in handy (we don't mind them and do have a fridge) for food for the weekend, too. I calculated what we will most likely be eating, plus tax (didn't consider gratuity, it is what it is OOP or otherwise), plus the mugs, and snacks (at $2 each) and figured we'll be saving $185 over the 3 night stay, PLUS, we'll have at least 3 "extra" meals from the saved appetizers/desserts.

This trip is less about the parks and more about relaxing and splurging, so we don't mind the schedule of the ADRs. There is plenty of time to hit all our favorite attractions in between and take an easier pace. Will I use it every time? Not likely, but this trip, it's definitely going to be a savings.

 

[cmwade77]

While food is an important part of our vacation, and many days the plans center around it, it is unfortunate, but the DDP has really changed the menus so they are not the great foodie experience they used to be. Sure DDP makes some venues look like they are best served by it, and as you mentioned Tutto Italia is one of those, but many have become poorer values than they once were and many of the finer dishes served by the upscale restaurants have been compromised as a result of the DDP. And I absolutely agree that WDW is a great place for the kids to put on their best manners and enjoy places they would never experience at home! If your children are in the under 10 crowd, the DXDDP is a great deal if that is the way you eat while on vacation!

I never got to go to WDW before DDP was implemented, so my view may be a little bit different, but I honestly think that in general WDW has some of the best theme park food I have ever had (although Sea World San Diego ranks up there too).

 

[pigletforever]

Just don't be surprised if there is another round of changes in the DDP before you arrive in January. Be sure to hang around here in November to see what happens for 2009!

I am always here. And I do expect there to be another round of changes. It should be really interesting. We arrive December 31 and leave Jan 11. I am taking my laptop to keep everyone posted as to the changes while we are there.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I would love to get the DxDP just so I can eat at every restaurant I want to, have it already paid for before I get there, and not have to worry about extra expense, except, of course, tax. We've done the DDP when we went two years ago and I did have to pay OOP for a few meals because it wasn't enough credit when you add it a luau and a Cindy castle breakfast. However after looking over menus for my kids (ages 8 and 9) I find I wouldn't be able to use up 3 credits a day. Lunches would be counter services wherever we are that day and the kids menus give no choices at all. I will be buying at least one and sometimes two meals from the adult menu each day because they won't want chicken nuggets more than once and don't eat the other selection offered.