Anyone think the DDP ISN'T too much food?

[MEK]

I was talking about the regular dining plan, although Dh and I were considering the deluxe plan for our anniversary trip!

My DH and I did this for an anniversary trip. It was a 4 night trip and we did three signature meals throughout the course of the trip. Because I had the DxDP I did do all Table Service meals and spread them over 5 days. It worked out really great and the signature places gave us champagne. We ate at Flying Fish, Narcoossee's, and Artist Point. The signature meals really were wonderful and we were treated very VIPish with our anniversary buttons.

So, even though I felt like I ate way too much, I totally think this is the way to go for an anniversary.

Here's the other thing - and I know this about myself - I may start off by finishing my meal when I'm full, rather than when my plate is clean, but after a few days I sort of turn into a gluton. It's like my "full" switch turns off and I overeat. I know I have this tendency, so that's why DX is not good for me on a regular basis. For people who have normal satiety signals, its great.

 

[faindrops27]

I don't get it when people say the regular Ddp is way to much to eat.But then again it may be that not everyone eats three meals per day. I know for my family and I we usually eat every last credit, but we usually have a few snack credits left which we just pick up last day to take home.

 

[Greenfield1984]

We always go with the free QSDP. This year we were 4 people eating and only 3 people on the plan (DD was 20 months). We always use up all our credits easily. However we do think its too much in that each meal comes with a dessert which we really don't need, and portions are huge! We feel bad because at every meal at least 1/3 gets throw out. So I think the # of meals/snacks is OK, but portions could stand to be cut down.
DH and I also used the regular DDP on our honeymoon and that was when it still included appetizer and tip (oh the good old days). Again, the # of meals was good but portions were unnecessarily large.

 

[skylilly]

We were at Disney the week after thanksgiving on the deluxe dining. It was just me and husband. We loved it and did not feel like it was to much food. We did one sit down and usually a 2 credit dinner. Plus Candle light processional was two. We did have extra snacks when we checked out but those are great gifts for little ones friends at home. If you are able to do deluxe enjoy!!! We will be doing it again next year.

 

[tricia]

I find it just perfect for our traveling habits. I always like a sit down dinner when I vacation cause that is part of the holiday for me. Lunch is usually an on the go type thing, so that takes care of the CS credit. And forget sharing, we all want different things and even if we didn't, I don't find the CS options are big enough to satisfy 2 adults.

As for the snacks, the kids always need something extra to get them through the day and I would use them for beverages too, so there were no left over.

 

[bdklein]

I don't think it's too mcuh food, nor do I think it offers any financial value.
And the Deluxe Plan is too much food at one time. OOP for us is the way to go.

 

[Ds4angels]

This is our 1st time to do the DP we're on the QSDP and I've been looking at the menus planning out our course of attack as it were. Since most think the meal is kind of on the large side w/ a desert we're planning on eating 4 small meals by splitting the meals.
I'm looking forward to the snack credits the most.I think I've got most of them already planned out, so I don't see many of those credits being left over

 

[DanInMN]

This will be our first time on the dining plan too. I can't imaging having extra credits! Bring granola bars for breakfast, counter meal for lunch, table service for dinner, and one snack... that's only ONE snack! With all the goodies at WDW how do you limit yourself to just one snack per person per day?

One attraction of the DP for me is everyone can get what they want without further thought about cost (by me, since I'm the only one concerned about such things!). And with the S/P/D plan the dining is "almost free".

 

[lynypixie]

It will be my first time on the dining plan in february. We're taking deluxe, because

1- we don't want to eat fast food all the time
2- the "down" time will be great for the kids (and us too!)
3- We do a lot of caracter buffets
4- I have 3 kids. 6-4-2. Kids pay less and my little one doesn't pay at all and will share.

We'll see in two months how it will all work out.

 

[Ccann]

We went in Nov. for 7 nights. We're a family of 4 DD6, DS3... And did the DXDP. We had 3 meal credits left and 14 snack credits which the kids enjoyed picking out a whole bunch of candy to bring with us.

My DH went golfing one day so he didn't use a meal then and me and the kids slept in one day so didn't eat breakfast a day. We did order room service once which I didn't order my 3 year old anything, we just shared. Knowing what I know now about the DXDP... Heck ya I will be doing it again. We got our money's worth though we had a sit down 2 times a day. I know for some that's a lot but I truly think that is what saved me and
My family my kids needed that break and pick me up. As far as snacks go we used it for drinks etc and on the snacks we shared most of everything because I didn't want to be stuck carrying 4x everything.
The only down side is we never eat 3 meals a day like that we're snackers in general... So when we got home we were hungry all the time lol... We had to retrain out bodies. but yes we ordered what we wanted and oh the cakes and pies were wonderful. It was a lot of food but loved every bite.
My mom always told me if you can't do it right don't do it at all. I applied that to this! Lol

 

[sammysmom]

We actually get the deluxe plan every year--we upgrade from regular dining during free dining--and have never thought it was too much food. If I don't feel like getting an appetizer or dessert somewhere, I don't and don't feel like I am wasting money as we still get our money's worth for what we pay. We usually eat a signature for dinner and have a table service for breakfast or lunch. I love the deluxe plan as it allows me to eat wherever I want and leaves me with plenty of snacks too

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I don't think the QSDP or the DDP is too much food. How can 2 meals a day be too much food? Most ppl eat 3 meals a day at home.

The only dining plan I think might be too much food is the deluxe dining plan because it is 3 TS meals a day AND 2 snacks. I don't think ppl will actually eat 3 TS meals a day AND 2 snacks, but who knows. I could be wrong about that.

But no, when we have used the QSDP or the DDP we ended up paying OOP for some meals because the plan doesn't cover 3 meals a day.

 

[Nixie]

I will probably get flamed for this, but I didn't think the DxDP was too much food. Hubby and I only scheduled two ADRs a day. One being either a sit down lunch or breakfast and the other being a lateish siggie resturant. Our snack credits were used for either breakfast, lunch, or snacks while watching things like parades and such. I walked away from each meal feeling satisfied, but never sickly stuffed. I didn't think the portions from any of the resturants (minus O'hana's but that is kinda the nature of that whole place) were over the top. The apps were usually a bite or two which is exactly what they should be; just enough to get a taste of what is to come. Entree's were reasonablely sized. Desserts were small, personal sized portions. I really enjoyed the DxDP and plan on using it again next Oct. when hubby and I go down for the Food and Wine Festival.

 

[MomofCKJ]

We've done the regular DDP numerous times and never found it to be too much food. We use the CS usually for an early lunch and the TS for a dinner. We all love TS (I have foodie kids, last trip with just the middle DD she loved sushi and filet at Cali Grill, her birthday dinner choice) and look forward to a nice sit down each day. The most we've been left with is a snack credit or two and we just get some Rice Krispie Mickey's to take home.

Allyson

 

[dawnhaze]

I've never had "too much food" on the regular dining plan... I would use my snack for breakfast, my CS for lunch, and my TS for dinner. I was never hungry but I was never overstuffed either.

I was a little worried when I booked the DxDP for my next trip, but I made 2 ADRs a day for a character breakfast and signature dinner, so I think it will be okay. I don't know what I'll do with the snacks, but I'm sure I can find little bites to have for a "lunch" scattered here and there

 

[catdance23]

We did the regular dining plan last time we went it wasn't too much food. In fact, we are going to do the deluxe dining plan on our next trip. We'll have one meal credit leftover but I think it will be worth it. I don't care for the quick service at Disney except for breakfast and they don't have an option for 1QS and 2TS. We are a 3 meal a day family and even if I have snack credits left over I will just stock up on items I can take home.

Also, we may eat a lot at Disney but we are also walking a lot so I don't feel guilty.

 

[My sister's princess]

We are thinking about going out of pocket this next trip because the dining plan isn't the right kind of food, and in some ways isn't enough.
We tend to eat 3 meals a day, and it only provides 2, but it also provides desserts we wouldn't get if they weren't paid for already.

We did the deluxe on trip, that was amazing, and fantastic, and way too much food in the best of ways

 

[MeeskaMooshka]

We always do the DDP. Never have any credits left over. We space everything out and take full advantage of the credits. Character breakfast are a great way to start the day. I personally think chef mickeys is super expensive but on the DDP I don't mind going. My little ones hardly eat. We eat a normal amount of breakfast and have a great experience. We also stay a full day on our last day so we spread it out to have a meal or 2 on that last day. if you think you are going to have to many try Le Celliar or Brown Derby which is 2 credits each. Both amazing restaurants.

 

[Srbright]

We have had the DxDDP plan both times we went to WDW and have it purchased for our next trip.

We do not think it is too much food. The only way it is too much food is if you eat past the point that you are full. For 8 nights we figure that we will about break even on the DxDDP without a discount and without ordering dessert. If we have a discount or order any desserts then we will be plus what ever those values are.

I know for the DDP people talk about wanting an appetizer instead of a dessert. Even without ordering a single dessert on the DxDDP we will still be better off.

We don't lick our plates clean and I don't feel bad leaving food on the plate because we would leave food on the plate regardless of where we go.

And for us it isn't so much having too much food. I love the option of having everything paid for so that if I want something unusual and don't like it, I don't beat myself up over having spent the money on it. This way I, and the kids, can try new things. The first time we went we had dinner at the Coral Reef and I tried the mahi mahi and hated it. It wasn't the restaurants's fault, I don't like seafood but am trying to find new things. It was easier for me to pay on the DxDDP for the meal than it would have been to shell out $25 in cash. Yes, it is semantics, but by that time the money is a sunk cost and I couldn't have done anything else with it.

We never have snack credits left, even to by treats to take home with us. We use them to buy snacks. One Dole Whip and a bottle of water is two snacks. The kids alone go through 1-2 bottles of water a day. We are from Michigan and they aren't used to the heat so we are constantly filling them with water. We don't get a chance to be left with snack credits.

Stacy

 

[kristen2276]

We like the DXDP, because we do not like counter service for the most part- Most of it is poor quality and not that great. I would love it if they offered a plan that was 2 TS a day and 1 or no snacks, but that doesn't exist- when we have gotten the DDP, we usually have CS left over, but nothing else, I use snacks for waters, and other stuff, I don't count that into my $ comparisons, We like to get appetizers, we dont' always get dessert, we like to eat at signature places, so we do breakfast, then maybe a snack at lunch and a nice dinner- not sure how that is too much food. Plus, our kids still share the one kids meal since our youngest is not 3 yet, so that works out great too!
We really like it for the prepaid factor-