Considering adding disney dining plan - views please!

[chmurf]

That's a good point, at home I usually go for the cheapest thing on the menu, but at Disney if I want lobster or filet I'll have them. Not looking at the prices opens the whole menu up to you.

The catch is that if you go for the lobster or filet, the tip will skyrocket.

The whole menu is open, but when on the DDP/DxDP, guests need to remember that they'll need to add 18 or 20% of the pretax value of the meal.

What you say is valid, but it was even more valid when the tip was included in the DDP. Unfortunately it is no longer included, and it's something to include in the food budget.

for example, a meal at bongo's (DTD) where you go for the parillada de marescos (includes lobster for $40, 1TS credit) plus beverage + dessert, you're facing a $50 pretax bill. That's $10 in tips on top of what you've paid for, for the DDP (if you didn't get it for free)

those $10 you'll still need to pay, would have almost bought you a meal offsite. Not lobster, but adding the cost of the DDP and the tips, in the end it's quite expensive, and you probably could have had the same offsite for half the price

As is often said on this board, even a free dining plan ain't free.
Paying for the dining plan doesn't mean that all is paid for. It will still be at least $5 or $6 per person and per meal.

family of 4, 21 nights, DDP means over $400 in tips to pay on top of the DDP
family of 4, 21 nights, DxDP means over $1250 in tips to pay on top of the DDP.

 

[Elise79]

I would never pay for the DDP now and we have in the past.

I will eat what I want off the menu and being DVC we don't get free dining (unless like this trip when we are out of points and booked a cash free dining package). We always eat at YS and I know we won't walk out of there with a check for less than $150!

Not having the DDP also opens up other options like eating in the lounges. They don't take the DDP but can be a really nice evening.

 

[chmurf]

I would never pay for the DDP now and we have in the past.

I will eat what I want off the menu and being DVC we don't get free dining (unless like this trip when we are out of points and booked a cash free dining package). We always eat at YS and I know we won't walk out of there with a check for less than $150!

Not having the DDP also opens up other options like eating in the lounges. They don't take the DDP but can be a really nice evening.

And being DVC you can get Tables In Wonderland, shaving off 20% on the bill. (including alcohol, not covered by the DDP)

Doesn't that make the DDP even less worth it ?

 

[Elise79]

And being DVC you can get Tables In Wonderland, shaving off 20% on the bill. (including alcohol, not covered by the DDP)

Doesn't that make the DDP even less worth it ?

Yes our TIW card is great (had it for years as a passholder before they opened it to DVC members) and basically covers our tip.

The biggest thing against the DDP for us is that we just would not order all the food you get.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

The catch is that if you go for the lobster or filet, the tip will skyrocket. The whole menu is open, but when on the DDP/DxDP, guests need to remember that they'll need to add 18 or 20% of the pretax value of the meal. What you say is valid, but it was even more valid when the tip was included in the DDP. Unfortunately it is no longer included.

I pointed the gratuity in post #14.I think we were at Disney the first year of the dining plan, appetiser and gratuity included, but I was responding disneyholic family post about the "sticker shock" inside the parks, which is a different way of looking at DDP.

 

[disneyholic family]

I pointed the gratuity in post #14.I think we were at Disney the first year of the dining plan, appetiser and gratuity included, but I was responding disneyholic family post about the "sticker shock" inside the parks, which is a different way of looking at DDP.

yes, for people like me, it's something to consider.
The truth is, DDP is more expensive than paying out of pocket since i'm a vegetarian and nothing i order somes up to the price i'm paying for DDP.
But i just can't deal with the prices. I was much much much much much happier on the trip with all 6 of us (me, DH, DD and husband, DS and wife) when all it was costing us was credits and tips.

i know it's a fiction and that i had actually paid a lot for those credits, but i'd already paid for it. I no longer had to think about it.
and every time one of us bought a frozen coke or an ice cream bar or popcorn or a pretzel, it didn't eat at me.

so i figure the cost of my enjoyment was worth whatever premium i paid for the DDP.