Anyone do regular DP wish they did DDDP?

[Superspectral]

I was on the DxDDP for 8 nights/9 days and spent about $8 OOP for a cheesburger at Cosmic Rays on my departure day when I ran out credits. That was it. I saved a lot more money than I predicted. My only regret is that once or twice I could have blown off a TS that ADR that had been inconvenient, done CS instead, and even still saved a lot of money

 

[angelmav]

I got rid of the DxDP today. This is why:

My family is a 3 meal a day family. But thinking of getting up and making ourselves eat those three meals each day was driving my bananas! Instead of getting to an early breakfast, it seemed much less stressful for us to stay in our room, eat cereal bars and fruit, and then go straight to the parks. We're going to be there in the summer, but I think if we spend our time at a good CS meal, and get ice cream in the afternoon, we'll be fine during the day. Then a nice sit down TS in the early evening. To me, that seems just less stressful than worrying about where we are supposed to be when and when the next ADR is. I've actually thought of keeping only 2 of our ADRs and dropping the DP altogether (LeCellier and Crystal Palace). Seems like there are some great CS locations that might fit our needs better.

Great points! While most folks eat three times a day, how many really eat three full sit down meals a day? Plus snacks? I really think the 'more inclusive' nature is what lures alot of folks in. For me, all the extra money burned up in tips is also an additional consideration, if not for that, it would be less of an issue to sample at will!

 

[aubriee]

I'm doing the DxDDP in both May and Sept. I like the all inclusive factor of knowing that all of our meals are paid for before we arrive (except tips). We also prefer appetizers, which of course the regular DDP does not include. I am using it different on each of my trips. In May I am going solo and will be eating an early TS lunch, then doing a 2 credit Signature restaurant every night. I'll probably have alot of snacks left over, but will go to Goofy's Candy Factory to get stuff to bring home. For my Sept trip I am taking my diabteic mom who must eat three meals a day and my ex who LOVES to eat. We will be eating three TS meals a day and doing alot of character meals for my 74 y/o mom, who loves the characters more than any kid. We probably won't eat everything we are entitled to, but who cares if we eat only a bite or two of dessert. We have been enough times that we don't spend the whole time in the parks and really enjoy taking our time.

 

[torian]

Good points on either side...

We were thinking of doing the DXDDP, but I was worried that:

1. it was too much food
2. we'd spend all our time at TS and no time in the parks

That said, I really want to do a few sig dining experiences (artist point and brown derby) and I want to do a few character buffets for the kids. And my H is an app fiend!

So I re-vamped the dining plan and cut many of the TS meals and switched them for CS ones. When I was done calculating, there was no real difference in price between the DXDDP and OOP for us (DDP is too restrictive for us, so not an option), and I had not even factored in the cost of snacks or the cost of the refillable mugs.

 

[JACKNAG]

If it was Just me and my wife we would have done DxDDP, But a family of 4 with teens is $280 a day. If it was just my wife(140.00) and I we would do the buffets for breakfast like 1900 PF or crystal palace, no lunch or a snack , then do a lot of signatures, Artist point, Jinkos, Yachtsman, California grille etc,. Im gonna miss those appetizers any way just a thought

 

[hannaconda]

Now if you don't eat the desert, can you get it to go and take it back to your room or save it for later?

 

[danielle.st]

Now if you don't eat the dessert, can you get it to go and take it back to your room or save it for later?

You can at sit down table service, because I have seen lots of people say they have done that in their reviews. You wouldn't be able to do that with a buffet though.

 

[bluslag]

Even with the delux don't you have to pay for the tips? It seems like an awful lot of money to me. We're going to try the reg DDP this year again and see if we still like it. We have someone going with us that watches pennies so I couldn't see him paying for the delux.

 

[wdwhereicome]

Can someone tell me what they are budgeting for tips for DP and DDP?

 

[hannaconda]

It depends. I tip 15-20% usually. Depends on the Server. His/her tip is determaned by the service and attitude they bring to the table. I've done 5%before but thats a different story.

 

[blondinkaya]

As for budgeting for tips, I went through the menus at allears and picked the most expensive stuff, added the cost of drinks and tax, then took 18% of that, rounding up to the nearest dollar. I did that for each TS we'll be eating at. Since we plan to pay with cash, I've been "nickel and diming" over the amount when paying for something at the store w/my debit card. I now have my cash for our tips at the World. Honestly, I don't plan to order the most expensive dishes, as the dxdp is more for my convenience of being prepaid, but that's how I budgeted to make sure I have enough cash. If we have money left over, we can either put it back in our account or buy an extra souvvie. I'm leaning towards souvvie, though, lol

 

[NMW]

We have done the regular DDP in the past and really, really wished the deluxe was available. So much so, that I emailed Disney several times requesting one!

With the regular DDP we paid cash OOP every day for our character/resort breakfasts. We paid cash OOP for a few TS lunches that we did. Also, several times we were eating CS lunches to use those credits we were really, really wishing we were eating a TS lunch! I practically had to drag DH away from Rose and Crown one day and get him to go do a CS place!! We are not really CS people. We paid cash OOP for extra snacks (mostly bottled water/soda). We did use the plan for dinners but paid cash OOP for one dinner so we could do a signature the next night.

This is the way we always eat at WDW. All and all, with the regualr DDP we paid A LOT of money OOP. We would have SAVED money if we had had the deluxe plan. So, of course our family is looking forward to that. It is a bummer about the tips no longer being included. That would have made the deluxe plan absolutely perfect instead of almost perfect.

 

[vascubaguy]

I can't say that I think the DDDP will save us money. I mean it will - depending on how you look at it.

Doing the DDDP, we will be eating more costly meals. We would normally only do 1 or 2 signature restaurants, not 5 or 6. Not to mention, we wouldn't be getting individual appetizers and desserts at each meal (we might get 1 of each and split).

The DDDP is just giving us a nicer experience. We can splurge a little to enjoy better meals and try new things.

We could just as easily get by on the regular DDP, but not have the experience.

You really have to look at how you will use it. As I mentioned previously, if you will be doing a lot of CS meals because you don't want to be restricted by TS ADRs, then the DDDR might not be your best route. It could cost you more $$$.

As for tips, I'm suggesting $100 per person extra for tips. I based this figure on 20% tips and spending $100 per person per day for 5 days. It will most likely be less than that because if I have similar experience as I have in the past, some will not be getting 20%...

One other thing, for those concerned about the appetizers not being covered on the regular DDP.... I had heard that they would allow you to get either an appetizer OR dessert (just not both). So perhaps you could split appetizers and desserts? I haven't kept up with reviews of the new plans so I don't know if this is possible, but it seems reasonable.

 

[LillersMom]

Ok...well I thought I knew what to do now I am more congfused!!!!

We are doing a split stay with AP so now I am thinking I will split do the DDP for 3 nights and DxDDP for 5 nights and change our ADRs around to make the best of both. What do you think?

 

[poohfriend]

Ok...well I thought I knew what to do now I am more congfused!!!!

We are doing a split stay with AP so now I am thinking I will split do the DDP for 3 nights and DxDDP for 5 nights and change our ADRs around to make the best of both. What do you think?

split stays allow you to do both!!!

hooray for you.

 

[vascubaguy]

Ok...well I thought I knew what to do now I am more congfused!!!!

We are doing a split stay with AP so now I am thinking I will split do the DDP for 3 nights and DxDDP for 5 nights and change our ADRs around to make the best of both. What do you think?

It might depend.... how do you plan to use the DDDP?

Value-wise, you might be better off using the DDP and the DDE.
(Use the TS credits for the more expensive sit-down meals, pay OOP using the DDE for the less expensive TS meals like breakfast or lunch)...

Of course now that has me thinking I need to figure that out for myself... I'm going to be getting an AP again this year, so the DDP + DDE might be better for us... (gah, things are never easy are they?)

 

[aubriee]

As for budgeting for tips, I went through the menus at allears and picked the most expensive stuff, added the cost of drinks and tax, then took 18% of that, rounding up to the nearest dollar. I did that for each TS we'll be eating at. Since we plan to pay with cash, I've been "nickel and diming" over the amount when paying for something at the store w/my debit card. I now have my cash for our tips at the World. Honestly, I don't plan to order the most expensive dishes, as the dxdp is more for my convenience of being prepaid, but that's how I budgeted to make sure I have enough cash. If we have money left over, we can either put it back in our account or buy an extra souvvie. I'm leaning towards souvvie, though, lol

I'm doing the exact same thing. At some restaurants I'm pretty sure I know exactly what I want, but I'm still figuring my tips on the most expensive item anyway, just in case I change my mind or in case I happen to get superior service and want to tip over the 20% amount I have budgeted. I plan to place my tip money in envelopes marked for each day, so I will have the exact dollars that I need. Any left over is extra spending money!

 

[Pirate's Princess]

I wish I had done the deluxe plan, but then again it's just me and my DBF. Also I want to try a bunch of signature restaurants. Now I dont know if I'd use the plan if I was staying 9 days like I did last time, but for a 5-6 day trip I want to try the deluxe. I like the idea of getting signature meals and the appies. I figure one signature meal and two snacks covers the $70 a day. Plus you get another meal (anywhere from $15 for CS to $45 for a decent TS) and mugs. It doesn't work for everyone but I'd want to try it. Of course if I had an AP, I'd totally get the DDE.

 

[sarahcor]

First time poster, hi! Am I correct in thinking that the deluxe dining plan comes with fastpasses that have an open expiration window, like the ones pictured in this thread?
Nevermind, I see it says "fatpass", I missed that on first glance!

 

[poeticdiabetic]

For my family, the regular DDP is perfect for us. We are not big eaters. Plus, we eat dinner early (always before 6PM.)

So if we ate big breakfasts and killer lunches, we wouldn't even eat dinner. Or vice-versa. Plus, with the money that we are saving in plan costs, coupled with the costs of tips, we can afford to stay an extra day!

But we go to Disney every year. Next year, we plan on taking the Disney Cruise, IF the MIL doesn't make the family take a Gathering at WDW. So we're less prone to price splurge.

If you plan on making WDW a habit, and you are looking at the price- you may want to reconsider the DxDDP. But if you eat hearty for 3 meals a day, or if this is the trip that must last you a few years, Splurge!

Me? I have to make this trip last until 2009. And if it gets too bad, we'll take a small 3 or 4 day trip to keep the Disney jones off us.