Can you decline DDP at check-in?

[Antonia]

Currently DH and I (we are renters) are booked in a 1 BR villa with the DDP. If we decide we don't want it after all, can we just decline the DDP at check-in?

I keep reading about ALL this food and I'm afraid we'd be better off just ordering what we want and paying OOP. Sometimes we might even want to eat in the room.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[CMedley78]

My advice....get the DDP! For 37.95 a day, trust me, it is worth it. My husband and I aren't big eaters either, but meals and snacks and/or drinks do add up quickly. Also, if you are stuffed and can't handle eating a dessert, the restaurants will bag it for you. We love the DDP and will continue to buy it when we go to WDW. That was the best money we spent in a long time! Enjoy!

 

[CarolMN]

If you've changed your mind, just call the owner and ask him/her to cancel the DDP. It should be done before you arrive.

Best wishes -

 

[Stimpy]

I just added on the DDP for our November trip yesterday and MS told me that I must cancel atleast 24 hours prior to check-in if we decide not to do it. HTH

 

[Antonia]

We'll keep it. I guess I just don't want to feel like a pig! There's just the two of us on the trip and it does sound like a lot of food. We are planning to do 2 TS credits at Narcoossee's so that'll take up some credits.

 

[canwegosoon]

We'll keep it. I guess I just don't want to feel like a pig! There's just the two of us on the trip and it does sound like a lot of food. We are planning to do 2 TS credits at Narcoossee's so that'll take up some credits.

You can also split some CS meals and get items at MS bakery...Also I know people used to "Have a free dessert a non DPP near their table" and Give a CS to someone on line behind them...
With the DDP including tax and tip it covers many TS alone...I would keep it

 

[twinklebug]

After cranking the numbers 100 times over and looking at how my family prefered to eat, I called and cancelled DDP two days before arrival. The MS woman I spoke to didn't give me any trouble with it, but I suspect if you wait until check-in the desk CM may have a problem with modifying the reservation... not that they can't or won't, they just won't be used to it.

BTW - we saved over $140 by paying OOP and saved a bit of relaxation time in the AM and at the pool by having a few staples in our room with us (cereal, milk, english muffins & soup). We did however invest in 2 refillable mugs. The kids love them & they're great for coffee at home...

 

[manning]

Big time eating is behind me (more ways than one )

Because I have an AP I go with the DDE. $60.00 for a year and you get 20% off meals, including all drinks at participating establishments. The list is quite large.

Nice thing about it is you're not committed to eating, eating, eating.

 

[emma'smom]

Oh..but if you have DDP and you stay in a DVC, you can store your leftovers in the refrigerator for later (dessert at midnight was wonderful)! We paid OOP on our first day (before we checked in DVC) and every meal began with me scanning the menu for the "best deal" and ended with a BILL and me doing mental math about how much this was costing. With the DDP...it was all paid for and no worries during the trip itself!

 

[Ksp]

Can you wait till you check in to decide about taking DDP? We do already have DDE --- I hadn't planned on getting the DDP during our next visit. Guess I'll have to sit down and do some serious math and see if it will be worth it for us.
If we do decide to get the DDP, does anyone know if I have to call before we get there, or can we add it as we check in?

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Can you wait till you check in to decide about taking DDP?

The DDP must be arranged PRIOR to check-in. You pay for it at check-in but it must be on your ressie before you arrive.

 

[elk with mouse ears]

I also think the DDP is the best value seen in years... my only concern now is that I've signed up for the DDP during the Food & Wine Festival and I probably should be spending the cash at weight watchers.

I do so love vacation!

 

[KyleRayner]

What's OOP stand for? I didn't see it on the list of abbreviations used on this site. Thanks.

 

[LSchrow]

What's OOP stand for? I didn't see it on the list of abbreviations used on the this site. Thanks.

Out Of Pocket

hth

 

[KyleRayner]

Out Of Pocket

hth

Thank you!!!

 

[Dean]

Currently DH and I (we are renters) are booked in a 1 BR villa with the DDP. If we decide we don't want it after all, can we just decline the DDP at check-in?

I keep reading about ALL this food and I'm afraid we'd be better off just ordering what we want and paying OOP. Sometimes we might even want to eat in the room.

Any thoughts on this?

We are being told you can't change at check in but some have been able to and I don't recall anyone saying they were denied the changes needed. I've also spent a lot of time looking at options, $$$, choices and menu's. Given we're here and living it with the DDP for 2 for 7 days, I think the answer is IT DEPENDS. It is a LOT of food though. My opinion originally really hasn't changed. The DDP needs some type of angle for it to be a good choice for most people. Those possible angles include those that eat a lot, shorter stays, multiple units whe you can share, specific higher end restaurant choices. I'd say one should look at the menus with thier usual habits in mind. But even if it's a break even, one might take the opportunity to try other options they don't normally do like deserts.

We're likely going to have a few snack and counter service options left and are doing 3 signature options to use up the TS credits. But then our usual approach is to get soup or salad each (rarely a true appetizer), share an entree and rarely get a desert. If I had it to go over, I'd likely approach it differently. I'd likely go for two TS for some of the days rather than signature options. We did that to a degree for one day and used two credits for a character breakfast. In Dec, we'll be here for 5 days and we will have multiple units.

However, I think many are taking the dollars they can generate with the plan and using that as the sole measure of value, a mistake IMO.

 

[CarolMN]

We're giving the DP a try this December, too. I also worry about too much food and overeating. However, there is nothing that requires me to order more than I normally would. I just have to get past the "get the most bang for the buck" mentality.

FWIW, I'm quite sure that even if I only order an entree and coffee for the TS credit, I will still at least break even. The snacks & counter service meals add up and it will be nice to have our meals prepaid, especially since we are going right before the Holidays and don't plan to rent a car this time (so no grocery stop).

Best wishes -

 

[Dean]

FWIW, I'm quite sure that even if I only order an entree and coffee for the TS credit, I will still at least break even. The snacks & counter service meals add up and it will be nice to have our meals prepaid, especially since we are going right before the Holidays and don't plan to rent a car this time (so no grocery stop).

Best wishes -

Actually Carol, that was in part my point. I'm not sure it truly is a break even for an entree and coffee. My figures suggest that one needs to consistently order to the tune of $25 per adult for those options that require one TS credit and double that for the signature options. But it also depends in part on how one does with the other options as well (snack and CS). Another way to get value is if you have kids you pay the kids price for but eat more like adults though with the improved enforcement, this option has been reduced in value.

Plus, break even isn't good enough for most people because there is always the chance you'll miss your reservations or someone will be ill or won't feel like eating. But as long as one knows what their getting into, that's all we can do here.

 

[Deemarch]

I'm agreeing with most of the posters...You don't have to overeat with the DDP, but you have an opportunity to try things at the restaurants that you might not go for usually. I'm thinking that my desserts are getting bagged to go, 'cause I never eat dessert immediately after dinner. We normally eat a CS breakfast and go to a nice restaurant for dinners, so it may just be perfect for us! Looking forward to our first try with the DDP at the end of the month!!

 

[kristenrice]

I like the idea of the DDP because it makes it easier to budget ahead of time. If I tell the family that the only food we are eating is what we send ahead (breakfast) and what we can get with our credits, then I KNOW in advance EXACTLY how much to budget for food. I do not have to estimate or look at the prices on the menu to balance what looks good to my stomach vs. what looks good to my wallet. True, we might be able to save more if we went OOP, but with 2 kids (eating for the price of 1 ) the DDP makes it easier.