Cost of meals without DDP?

[sherreis]

Planning a trip for October. Last time we did the DDP and I'm trying to figure out what the cost difference would be if we didn't do DDP this time around?

For those of you who don't do DDP how much do you budget for food per day or per trip. We'll be there 5 nights. I figure if we don't do DDP, we'll do 2 TS meals.

 

[Tink888]

Planning a trip for October. Last time we did the DDP and I'm trying to figure out what the cost difference would be if we didn't do DDP this time around?

For those of you who don't do DDP how much do you budget for food per day or per trip. We'll be there 5 nights. I figure if we don't do DDP, we'll do 2 TS meals.

We've also done the DDP the last couple of trips. There is me, DH, DS12 and DS10 in my family. I would estimate about 40.00 for each CS you do, TS will vary depending on where you go and whether you will just have your entree or do apps, dessert or cocktails. A buffet for example will cost around 100.00. Then there are the snacks and drinks in between meals to think about too.

I reccomend checking out the menus pages of http://www.allearsnet.com. They have a list of menus & prices of all of the restaurants. This will help to give you a really good estimate of what you'll need. Have a great trip.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I am not at home or could tell you actual cost last year for nearly every meal. We had DDP, but I wanted to see if we saved. I watched the register to see for my own keeping track purposes, but I do think the pp was very close when she said $40/meal at cs for 4 people. Two are kids, but adults by Disney standards, so ate adult meals. I know Le Celler was over $200.

 

[figarofan]

What works for one family may not work for the next. For us we get one annual pass and the Disney Dining Experience card.

The main reason we do this is that we are vegetarians & vegans and the food we eat is usually less expensive than most items on the menu.

Also, not all of us can eat a cobbler or sundae after a meal.

What I like about the DDE is that it includes anything you eat or drink (or at least did last year)...which comes in handy when you have a person in your party that likes Margaritas and the fancy drinks.

I think if you have a family that goes for the higher fares on the menu the Disney Dining Plan is a great value...as long as you are big eaters.

 

[davinakb]

We also have the DDE card, but don't always eat on property. We eat a filling breakfast at the condo/timeshare before heading to the parks, pack a cooler with water/snacks, and budget on one sit down meal. Sometimes we do a big midday meal, then maybe buy a small snack at night; or after all day at the parks, we'll get cleaned up, then splurge on a nice signature dinner at a resort.

Other ideas: timed properly, buffet meals can go a long way; do your kids eat a lot or can they share with you? Splitting food can save $ (you can always order more food if still hungry, but if you over order, you're stuck), even at CS; plus you'll have room for dessert. Maybe just give yourself a budget per day then plan backwards. Hope that helps.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

on our 2006 trip we budgeted for $150 per day for spending and food for us 3 -- me, DH and ds(10) I like to overbudget so that there's extra money just in case we want to splurge on whatever.

After looking through our spending print out from the resort I totalled up just our food purchases, we averaged $96 per day for food. This is including a few TS, character meals (2) CS and lots of snacks, ice cream, drinks and etc. The lowest amount we spent in one day was about $60 which was the day we ate breakfast in the room then had sandwiches or pizza from the ASMo food court for lunch, ate at a CS in MK for dinner and had mickey bars during the parade. HTH!

 

[themudd4]

a couple of years back I save each reciept we used the DDP on. I kept track of everything. We only ordered what we wanted and did not insist on ordering the most expensive thing just becasue we could. I figure we saved around $200+ over the week. It just showed me that for MY FAMILY the DDP was worth it.
I hadn't planned on getting it this year with the changes then added up what we thought we might get and we were still going to come out ahead...especially on the kids.

 

[englishrose47]

a couple of years back I save each reciept we used the DDP on. I kept track of everything. We only ordered what we wanted and did not insist on ordering the most expensive thing just becasue we could. I figure we saved around $200+ over the week. It just showed me that for MY FAMILY the DDP was worth it.
I hadn't planned on getting it this year with the changes then added up what we thought we might get and we were still going to come out ahead...especially on the kids.

Not to mention the convenience!!

 

[sherreis]

Thanks for all the help. I still have my receipts from 2006 so I'll take a look at some of our CS meals to get a figure for what we chose - thanks for the idea!!!!! We'll have me, DH, DS13, and DS8. For DS13, to get our money's worth with a TS meal, especially, if it's a buffet, it needs to be dinner because he takes meds. for ADHD and he is able to eat a big meal at dinner time and not lunch time. DH is a big eater. I know with the DDP last time we got our money's worth for the choices we made. It was the first time I'd ever had a TS meal at WDW.

This would be the last trip for us that we'd be paying lower prices for DS8 (before he becomes an adult in Disney's eyes). You definitely get your money's worth with the DDP for him.

If we didn't do DDP, we would eat more CS meals and luckily there are now plenty that aren't just burgers and fries.

 

[divawife]

Hands down it is the convenience coupled with budget.

I took my family and it was a wonderful thing not to be concerned about what anyone was ordering. I do not like the dessert thing-they should have you choose between dessert and appetizer. They are trying to make us healthier with stupid food choices like whole wheat buns and encourage us to eat too much sugar. Stupid
but I would do it again because it was easier and I do believe cheaper.

 

[divawife]

Hands down it is the convenience coupled with budget.

I took my family and it was a wonderful thing not to be concerned about what anyone was ordering. I do not like the dessert thing-they should have you choose between dessert and appetizer. They are trying to make us healthier with stupid food choices like whole wheat buns and encourage us to eat too much sugar. Stupid
but I would do it again because it was easier and I do believe cheaper.

 

[septbaby]

The real decision is how many TS meals will you do? If it's less than 4 for your 5 night stay then stick with the OOP plan. If you are basically eating a TS a day then the DP will still work financially in your favor.

Adult CS meals are $10 for just the meal and drink, no dessert or snack. I'd add $3 for one of those. A child CS meal is $4-5 with everything included.

 

[TreesyB]

I'm going in October too. And plan to attend Food & Wine. It's our first time using the DDP, and I plan to EAT! And since snack credits can be used at the F&W kiosks, I think the DDP will be well worth it!

 

[bigbabyblues]

The last trip we didn't do the ddp, our food budget was $140 a day, and we used almost all of it. Some days we were well under that, but other days we went over, so it all worked out. However, that was when our youngest was 2 and still free at buffets and AYCE, so our budget now would be about $170-175 per day. That would be for one ts meal each day and a couple days we do two sit down meals meals.

Of course, your family may be different. The best thing it to check out the menus (either under the Dining link at the top of this page or on allearsnet) and come up with your budget from there. Obviously you don't know each person will order, but you can make a good guess.

 

[themudd4]

I'm going in October too. And plan to attend Food & Wine. It's our first time using the DDP, and I plan to EAT! And since snack credits can be used at the F&W kiosks, I think the DDP will be well worth it!

Well not to damper on your hopes...Becasue yes you can use your snack credits...ON SOME ITEMS. I would guess last year it was 50/50 DDP options. My DH loved the Shrimp on the barbie...was 2 pieces of "good" shrimp and it cost $5 or so.

 

[Amy&Dan]

It depends on a lot of things. If you aren't big eaters and like to occasionally share a meal, than you can save by not doing the Plan. Also, if you would never order dessert than that also figures into it. If you are like me and two of your adults are 11 and 13, thats a factor. If you eat TS more than half your trip, your kids are really kids and you would normally eat the way the DDP works (cs meal, ts meal, snack, desserts) by all means I think the DDP is great. For the convenience alone.

I go both ways, sometimes I just get irritated when my 11 year old pays the same as I do and ends up not ordering half of what we pay for. And also now that the gratuity is not included, its definitely not as good of a deal. Yet, for our next trip we are doing the DDP, last trip we didn't and my 13 year old eats so much, I couldn't keep him full! His appetite tanked my best laid plans, had we been on the DDP it would have been great, he could have eaten what his 11 year old sister didn't! So next trip, its 15 nights on the DDP.

I think if you spend the time to figure it out based on your families needs, wants and habits, you'll be able to come up with what is right.