Basic or Upgrade to Deluxe???

[Bekah21]

We are going on the Kids Stay and Play. Not holding breath for FD. I have added the basic dining as the kids are 6 and 4 and we do sit down character dining every night. Currently we have:

Fantasmic at HWV
International Illuminations
Chef Miceky
1900 Park Fare
Crystal Palace
CRT
Akershus

This totals 9 TS meals. We have 7 so will still pay for 2 of these. Should we just upgrade to Deluxe dining? My hubby eats ALOT and can't skip breakfast. Also can't have only cereal like the kids. I worry about upgrading kids, but not with him or myself. I know we all upgrade or nobody does. Here's some figures I did.

Planned 9 TS
Chef Mickey's 1900 Park Fare Total
Basic (7) $811.72 $103.96 $103.96 $1,019.64
Deluxe (7) $1,413.72 $- $- $1,413.72
Difference $394.08

So it will cost about $400 more for deluxe but would allow for 5 more CS or TS meals OVER and ABOVE what we will already have (we will have 7 QS with current plan). We will have 7 MORE snacks OVER and ABOVE what we currently have with the basic. Not sure if the extra snacks and meals are worth the $400 which is bascially $56.30 more per day for the 4 of us. I can't remember last year if we spent that a day on extra snacks and breakfast items. There were times in the later evening at the hotel that we got extra kids meals to split for a larger snack that we paid for.
Thanks for the help!!!

 

[Wendy5055]

I would go with the DlxDp. I prefer not paying OOP on vacation if I can help it (notwithstanding souvineers). For me, it isn't so much about how I can use the plan the "best"...but how I can use the plan the "best for my family". Everyones focus is different...for some it is the meals...for some it is the money factor...still others it is time. It is all in how you perceive the best use for YOU.

Honestly, if your Hubby cannot skip breakfast (neither can I), then you will need to do SOMETHING for breakfast. We always do character breakfasts before park opening times (my DD9 even at age 5 never slept late anyway)...no waiting in lines at the parks in the hot sun for photos and autographs. You could also get early entry into the park if you have an early breakfast scheduled at places like Crystal Palace and Donalds Breakfastasaurus...it is fun to go early. They are buffets so your Hubby will be able to eat what he needs to start his day on a happy note.

Unless you are planning on doing breakfast at counter service (in which case you will have the credits available for it) or on the fly, you will need those ADRs.

Best of luck with your decision!

 

[Wendy5055]

Also, there are times we order Pizza through room service and sometimes get something from the Quick Service to eat while swimming later at the pool. My Mother (67 and is spoiled) likes having 3 meals a day...for her it is partly about the break from the heat.

We neve seem to have enough credits on the DlxDP!!!! I think our trips to Disney are like a week long party!!!

 

[tinacaplan]

Let me start off by saying that I NEVER thought I would be saying this, but for us, we have decided that DxDP is just too much food. Yes, we love having everything paid for in advance. It makes me feel like everything I'm ordering is free. That said, we lefit credits on the table this last trip. I think the DxDP is just too much food!

On our first trip with the deluxe plan, it was an anniversary trip for my DH and I, so no kid. We ate either a TS breakfast or lunch, early, and then did a signature for two credits almost every night. In this scenario, I think it was worth it because the signatures are very pricy and were able to sample almost all of them on our trip.

On this most recent trip, we took our three year old son and got the DxDP again. I knew it would be a lot of food and a bit of a challenge to spend all those credits, as we would be going to a lot more 1 credit places. I just don't think it was worth it. I also did not enjoy being that tied to a schedule I had made months in advance when touring with my three year old, as his whims and desires did not always match what my plans were. We cancelled several ADRs, unfortunately, in favor of staying at the resort.

Now, I could definitely see that once Max becomes a teenager, and if he has a big appetite, that going deluxe again might make sense. But we're going without dining plan on our upcoming trip and I'm really excited about it. I can plan whatever I want!

 

[Bekah21]

Thanks for the thoughts and your opinion. Last year we purchased OOP breakfast at QS for hubby. Kids did cereal, pop tarts, etc in the room, but then needed an early snack. We did some cinamon rolls at HS one morning with snack credits. We did pay OOP for some snacks too, but I didn't keep track of how many or the $$. I agree it's nice to have an ALL INCLUSIVE package and not pay OOP for anything except gifts. My parents are going with 3 adults (neice is 12) and 1 child (other neice is 8 turning 9 while there). For them I don't think the upgrade will be worth it, but they are in another room with different reservation so we should be fine. Not sure about character breakfast we did CRT for breakfast last year. Kids are early risers, but we like to hit the EMH at the respective parks and start the rides!!! We would love to not be limited especially if eating dinner at 7pm and getting hungry again by 11 or so...it would be nice to grab a CS on the way back to the room or something.

 

[Bekah21]

Let me start off by saying that I NEVER thought I would be saying this, but for us, we have decided that DxDP is just too much food. Yes, we love having everything paid for in advance. It makes me feel like everything I'm ordering is free. That said, we lefit credits on the table this last trip. I think the DxDP is just too much food!

On our first trip with the deluxe plan, it was an anniversary trip for my DH and I, so no kid. We ate either a TS breakfast or lunch, early, and then did a signature for two credits almost every night. In this scenario, I think it was worth it because the signatures are very pricy and were able to sample almost all of them on our trip.

On this most recent trip, we took our three year old son and got the DxDP again. I knew it would be a lot of food and a bit of a challenge to spend all those credits, as we would be going to a lot more 1 credit places. I just don't think it was worth it. I also did not enjoy being that tied to a schedule I had made months in advance when touring with my three year old, as his whims and desires did not always match what my plans were. We cancelled several ADRs, unfortunately, in favor of staying at the resort.

Now, I could definitely see that once Max becomes a teenager, and if he has a big appetite, that going deluxe again might make sense. But we're going without dining plan on our upcoming trip and I'm really excited about it. I can plan whatever I want!

Thanks for your thoughts also. I just am still torn as we were paying OOP last year with regular dining. This year with some of our TS we KNOW we will have to pay OOP for at least 2 of them. We only do ADR's for dinner now not lunch or breakfast. We went without breakfast alot last year to use CS for lunch, but ended up paying OOP for extra things in the AM for hubby to eat breakfast or extra snacks. This will be our last trip for a few years as I start the BSN (nursing) the day after we get back. No break until Graduation 5/2013. So we can't go next year and I want this year to be special. I was trying to determine if I spent or will spend the extra $57 dollars a day OOP. If so it is worth upgrading, if not then I will leave it as is.

 

[3pletprincesses]

That's exactly why we are doing Deluxe in 11 days. Also when you calculate your difference in price, don't forget that with deluxe, you don't need to pay for the mugs as they are included which you would pay for regular dining. Also don't forget to factor in the tips... lots more tips to pay. We are mainly doing characters breakfast and signatures in the evening. I'm sooo looking forward that our trip.

 

[Bekah21]

That's exactly why we are doing Deluxe in 11 days. Also when you calculate your difference in price, don't forget that with deluxe, you don't need to pay for the mugs as they are included which you would pay for regular dining. Also don't forget to factor in the tips... lots more tips to pay. We are mainly doing characters breakfast and signatures in the evening. I'm sooo looking forward that our trip.

Thanks I forgot about the mugs. The kids REALLY want them as we did NOT get them last year!!

 

[Bekah21]

Another question,

Can I upgrade to deluxe and not lose my Kids Stay and Play Free offer??

 

[mickeynut1]

We decided to try the DlxDDP this past December after I went back and forth about whether or not to upgrade . We always had the basic DDP and did fine, but I have always wanted to try the deluxe plan but thought it would be too much food. After taking the plunge, the only bad thing about it is we liked it so much we can't go without the DlxDDP now . I did the math and what it would have cost to pay OOP for a few meals vs. upgrading, we were better off upgrading . Plus we always get the refillable mugs so it's nice (for us) that they come with the deluxe plan .

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I voted Deluxe! I love getting the appetizers. They are often my favorite part of the meal. I love splurging. You may be able to watch your pennies and do everything for less without upgrading. But if you do upgrade, you will be able to splurge whenever and wherever you want! It's a nice feeling!

 

[smiths02]

If you want deluxe, get deluxe...but if you are happy with your choices and don't want to add more...it doesn't really seem worth it to me, at least for my situation it was not.

You are eating at mostly buffets, so the appetizer is not really important as you won't be using it. So you have not saved money there.

According to most on the boards, you need to use 2/3 of the credits at table service...so you would have to plan about 5 more (TS) credits worth of meals...do you really want that? Do you really want to tip on that or spend time on that?

Couldn't you just pay for CRT OOP and not worry about the other meals and be within your credits?

Also, deluxe means you HAVE to use your credits in a predetermined way (or it goes to waste). We opted not to get it and to pay OOP for extra meals/snacks b/c I might want to eat at T-Rex or get a candy apple from Goofy's or something that is not a snack credit....and if I have paid for Deluxe, I would feel silly doing anything OOP

And would you really spend $56 a day extra on snacks and breakfast items? If you do a QS breakfast...that seems high to me

 

[3pletprincesses]

Another question,

Can I upgrade to deluxe and not lose my Kids Stay and Play Free offer??

Absolutely! that's what we did. However, if you decide to change it make sure you change it at least 14 days before arrival or they will charge you $15.

 

[Bekah21]

If you want deluxe, get deluxe...but if you are happy with your choices and don't want to add more...it doesn't really seem worth it to me, at least for my situation it was not.

You are eating at mostly buffets, so the appetizer is not really important as you won't be using it. So you have not saved money there.

According to most on the boards, you need to use 2/3 of the credits at table service...so you would have to plan about 5 more (TS) credits worth of meals...do you really want that? Do you really want to tip on that or spend time on that?

Couldn't you just pay for CRT OOP and not worry about the other meals and be within your credits?

Also, deluxe means you HAVE to use your credits in a predetermined way (or it goes to waste). We opted not to get it and to pay OOP for extra meals/snacks b/c I might want to eat at T-Rex or get a candy apple from Goofy's or something that is not a snack credit....and if I have paid for Deluxe, I would feel silly doing anything OOP

And would you really spend $56 a day extra on snacks and breakfast items? If you do a QS breakfast...that seems high to me

I don't know if we would spend the extra $56 a day. Hubby got a breakfast sandwich last year at HS one time and I think it was around $6-8 just for it. We didn't let him do the meal as I hated paying OOP for it. If we would have had deluxe he could have gotten a meal deal with it.

Actually after subtracting the mugs that we will be getting (or buying) we would need to spend $48 more per day on food. I could see us easily spending that on snacks and QS breakfast...it's Disney after all right??

 

[3pletprincesses]

if I remember correstly breakfast at POR was around $9 per adult meal and $5 for kids meal but I could be wrong. Snacks are around $3-4 each. the other thing is with Deluxe, appetizers are included with lunch and dinner therefor you really have no out of pocket to pay. When on DDP with order an appetizer to share which is another $9-14. With 2 adults and 3 kids, we easily spend an extra $42 per day just for breakfast and an appetizer during our dinner TS meals or around $50 for lunch at QS for all of us

 

[Bekah21]

if I remember correstly breakfast at POR was around $9 per adult meal and $5 for kids meal but I could be wrong. Snacks are around $3-4 each. the other thing is with Deluxe, appetizers are included with lunch and dinner therefor you really have no out of pocket to pay. When on DDP with order an appetizer to share which is another $9-14. With 2 adults and 3 kids, we easily spend an extra $42 per day just for breakfast and an appetizer during our dinner TS meals or around $50 for lunch at QS for all of us

So for us after subtracting $14 times 4 for 4 mugs (not considering tax), we would pay $338 more for deluxe. Using your figures for breakfast estimates at our resort for the 2 adults and 2 kids for 7 days we would pay OOP $196 for breakfast. Figuring $3 per snack with an extra 7 snacks per day for the 4 of us we would pay OOP $84. This brings our total to $58 MORE for the deluxe plan. However, I'm sure the QS breakfast in the parks ect could be more then the guess on POR. I'm not thinking it will save money necessarily, but maybe break even but be paid for in advance without us having to worry about when the kids want the mickey ears shaped ice cream!! They could easily have two of these a day!!!

 

[StuckInKS]

If the $400 + extra tips aren't going to take a hurtful bite out of your vacation budget, then I'd upgrade. Of course. I'm not a fan of park CS food, so that factors into my decision.

I really wanted to do DxDDP this trip, but it was stay at AS Movies all 7 days with DxDDP or have the convenience of the staying on the monorail line at CR on our MK and EP days. I choose to sacrifice the DxDDP. Maybe in December!

 

[vllygrrl]

Why not switch to deluxe, and consider switching some of the character dinners to character breakfasts....you could then add on Hoop De Doo or one of the other dinner shows. I also think that an early dinner at California Grill would be fine for your kids...the view is amazing, and there are always lots of children there. If you're gonna go deluxe, then you should at least get one amazing meal out of it!

 

[Halloweenluv03]

Sounds like the deluxe will work for you. I broke everything down for our honeymoon, and unless free dining is offered, we're going with the basic. I'm such a bird when it comes to food, and he can pack some food away. We'll definetely get our money's worth with the basic, and loose money on the deluxe, unless they offer free dining and we upgrade.

 

[AggieTexan]

We're trying Deluxe in June, but our circumstances are very different than yours. This is an adults-only trip, we're doing a signature for dinner each night, and no CS. When I plugged everything in to a dining calculator my savings by choosing the DxDP was about $300.