DDE vs. DDP thoughts please...

[ktbugsmom]

Or maybe a little cost analysis for me!

I am making 2 trips in the next 6 months - so decided to get an annual pass, which allows me to get the DDE if I want to pay for it.

I am going in August for 4 days with my sister and our kids. Most likely won't do many sit down meals (and we missed out on free dining - but got a great CR rate - so no worries).

But, I am then going in January for 7 days with DH and DSD and DD. For January, I have reservations at Coral Reef, Le Cellier, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Sci Fi and Teppanyaki. The only one not on the list for 2007 now is Teppanyaki... so I suppose I could switch that to something else.

I was going to do the DDP for the January trip, but looked at the changes and am not happy about them at this point since we love the WS restaurants for CS meals. We are staying at BWV and BCV - so that is very convenient for us.

However, the DDE allows 20% off alcohol... and I will admit, my husband and I always have a glass of wine (okay, most times a bottle of wine!) or a cocktail with dinner. We probably could not eat all of the food on the plan, but would feel "obligated" to order it all...

So - the big question - should I get the DDE card for the upcoming August trip and use it for both or do you think the DDP is a better deal given my reservations?

 

[las3888]

I personally would just do the DDE card if I were you, but I admit there is something tempting about that dining plan. We crunched numbers twice and kind of broke even with our plans so we figured we would have more flexibility with DDE than with the dining plan. You might consider the dining plan for January since you are doing some nice TS meals. You can still use the DDE card for the 20% off alcohol in addition to the dining plan. That is also a nice perk with the DDE card!!!

I guess I would look at your dining patterns and if you are doing a TS meal and CS meal everyday, for us it breaks even, but if you do the snacks, that probably tips the car in the dining plan's favor. We stay at DVC and have breakfast in the room most days so we are covered.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Mickey1122]

Remember that with the Disney Dining Experience Card you get free valet parking at all of the resorts. It is extremely convenient.

 

[patsal]

Remember with the DDE you have to spend $300 before you realize any savings because of the fee. It is only good for sit down restaurants in MK, MGM and Epcot, If the resort has a sit down restaurant then it is not good at the fast food area of that resort.

It is good for CS at AK.
It is good on alcohol.
You get the valet parking for free at those resorts where valet parking is available.
If you are going to spend greater than $300 at TS/eligable CS then it is worth the investment.

Based on where you are eating and that Teppanyiki (SP?) still may participate, I'd consider adding the DDP to your DVC reservation. We saved about 37% using the DDP. BUT we do eat the way the plan is designed. CS lunch in the park, three course dinner and a snack so the DDP fit us well. I would also add hat you dont' have to decide until three or four days before arrival, you can always call MS and add it before you arrive if your still unsure.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think the DDE would work better for you.

 

[Shelby5514]

We had the DDP for our May trip and decided it is NOT for us...while we had PLENTY of food, it was just too much. We felt like we HAD to order everything to get our money's worth and like alot of people we were STUFFED and very uncomfortable the rest of the day. While the idea of the plan appeals to us, in all reality we just ate WAY too much. We're gonna stick with the DDE for our next trip.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks all for your thoughts. I am SO torn! I was almost happy that the DDP changed and omitted some places because it would make my decision easier to not do it.

Part of me says to just do the DDE since then I will have more flexibility. I can use it for our discount on Coral Reef, Le Cellier, Sci Fi and Yachtsman steakhouse... I can skip Teppanyaki (did it last year - so no big deal). I can stop at a couple of the lounges on the list and get a discounted cocktail (always a bonus after a long day!). Just a couple sit down meals with 4 people should cover the $60 fee...

But, part of me says to do the DDP and I can tell my kids "Order what ever you want!" and not worry about the cost.

My dilema is that if I am going to get the DDE, I would want it before August - just in case we decide to use it. Decisions decisions... I will get out my spread sheet tonight and run some numbers!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

When I go to WDW, I do not want any restrictions on where I eat or how much..That whole counting the credits thing would make me insane. I do, however, have the Disney Dining Experience card as I am a passholder and it works for us. Saving 20% on food and alcohol is absolutely terrific and if you tip 20%, you just add it back on as the tip.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks again all... I meant to crunch some #s and talk to my hubby last night but he gets tired of what he calls "Disney math" since it confuses him! So - we did not get into it and I know whatever I chose will be fine with him. He is a saint!

Today, I am leaning towards the DDE. One reason I have all of the TS meals planned for January is because of the dining plan... but, last year, we went in January for 9 days. By the end of the trip, the last thing we wanted to do was sit and have a huge meal. We had some nice meals in the beginning of the trip, but then we had hot dogs on the Boardwalk, slices of pizza from Spoodles, maybe just an appetizer and a beverage at ESPN etc. It just made things quicker and easier for us. We also rarely get dessert after a big meal - and I can see us ordering it just because we could. Not a good plan since I really don't need the extra calories!

So - I may call and order the DDE card today and see if I can get some use out of it for my August trip. Probably not - but who knows. Maybe I can take my sister for a cocktail at the lounge in the CR (where we are staying) for some down time... that would be nice. Or, maybe she will want to have one nice dinner...

Thanks for all of the thoughts and recommendations. I love planning and I love these boards. People wonder why I know so much about Disney... but I don't know that much - I just have a HUGE resource of "Disney friends" that do!

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

Are you staying onsite for either of your trips? You can use the DDE card at the value resorts food courts.

I just ordered a DDE card for myself. Taking a trip in two weeks (staying at Pop) and another in Feb.

herc.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Depends.... what type of menu are you interested in?

DDP and DDE are different. DDE is the same menu you get from the restaurants before DDP was in place. But, if you don't want it, than DDP would be fine.

For us, we chose DDE. We were in WDW 16 days (4 on Concierge) this past year and it paid for itself in the first 4 days (concierge stay). The next trip, we were with two other families and used it every night/meal. We also enjoy our wine (as our friends do), so it saved us over $592. for 16 days. We ate at CA GRILL, JIKO, FLYING FISH, SPOODLES, CITRICO'S more than one time a trip and thoroughly enjoyed every meal.

We think it's the best thing WDW has offered regarding meal plans. We love our DDE and would not consider DDP.

 

[rcraw45425]

Another vote for the DDE. We are a family of four and DH and I tend to share food with our kids. They prefer the adult menu options to what the kids menu offers so it works for us. Also, would feel obligated to stuff ourselves to get our money's worth. Last year was our first DDE, and we actually broke even after our first trip, but the cost was less also. We have only made one trip this year since renewal but it paid for itself then too. When we go in October we are staying at Portofino Bay (bringing our pet) but will do the Halloween party and will be using it for our dinner that evening. I agree with PP's about the confusion with counting credits, that is too much work for me when I am on vacation!

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks all for the suggestions...

hercamore - In August - we are staying at the Contemporary. Legally sleeps 5 and my sister and I are splitting the great AP rate I got - $175/night. For a quick trip (only 3.5 park days), we thought the kids (Ages 9, 8 and 6) would want mostly Magic Kingdom - so that was the plan. My sisters kids MUST go to Rain Forest Cafe one day - which is not on the DDP or DDE - so I will skip DDP for this trip. It is just too quick to then try and fit in 4 TS meals.

In January, we are at BWV (2 nights) and BCV (4 nights). However, we always do one adult meal - so I figure the DDE card will pay for itself with that meal - especially since we are taking friends to dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse. (The card says discount up to 10 people - so that seems legal) Then if I keep Le Cellier and Sci Fi - the discount will work there too. I may then just drop the other reservations...and skip the plan..


Or - the other "Disney math" idea that I came up with... Get the dining plan for the first reservation I have at BWV, which is 2 nights. (I have two separate reservations - one at BWV and one at BCV) This might be smart because I believe the adult meal could cost as much as the plan for those 2 nights - and I would still get CS and snacks.

My husband is going to love me when I try to explain this Disney math!

 

[ktbugsmom]

I went ahead and ordered the DDE card. And... I may still do DDP in January. After running some numbers, if we only did 4 sit down meals, it would pay for the plan and the rest is gravy! I got the DDE card just in case - and for our beverages.

I have a few months to plan for January... but in case I wanted to use it for August, I went ahead and got the card.

Wish me luck and thanks again!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I think you'll get your payoff with DDE. Will you do any character meals on Aug trip?

I am doing DDP for the first time in just 12 days. I also have DDE. I've never done DDP because it wasn't worth my having to purchase park passes and give up AP discount on the room. But with free dining it was worth purchasing the pass. I purchased DDE for a quick 3 night trip last Aug. We stayed at ASMo so I could use DDE at the food court there. We had only 2 TS meals-Sci Fi and CP for breakfast. I saved the then $50 cost of DDE on that quick trip alone. I used the card for our family trip in Oct, and I went with adult friends in early May, took just my oldest in late May and will use it again in Aug for another family trip. SO...DDE was well worth the investment.

Enjoy!

Have a great trip with you Dsis!

 

[princesspwrhr]

I was going to put in another vote for DDE but I see you've already ordered it.

Also I wanted to let you know that Teppenyaki will be closed from Jan 15 until May.

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/restnews.htm

 

[BCV23]

We love DDE but also think the DDP potentially offers better savings and that is without doing any of the manipulations some people try to do.

We used both last trip....our 5th since we were able to join DDE. The first part of the trip we were at AKL and used the DDE on our meals during that portion of the trip. When we moved to BCV we used the DDP but also used the DDE for wine, etc as well as for B&C. Since my DH was leaving early and also because we have family in the area who were not on the plan, we used almost all of our TS credits for lunch and almost all of our CS meals for breakfast. Our savings for our TS meals was a little over 20%, the same as the DDE discount. So our CS and snacks were "free." Had we used those TS credits at dinner and CS at lunch, I'm sure the savings would have bested the DDE savings.

Plus if you use the credits as intended you really don't need to count anything. Every receipt tells how many credits you have left. If you make dining reservations for as many TS restaurants as you have nights on the plan, you're set for TS.

To me the determing factor is how you plan to eat. If one CS and one TS meal/night fit your plans then the DDP will save the most. If like us you really prefer TS at all meals out, the DDE is a better fit.

But I'm just grateful to be able to purchase either or both.

 

[rkujay]

As a passholder I got a discount on the DDE. It was a no brainer for me, since we go to WDW at LEAST once a month and always eat at a restaurant. I can't remember what it was supposed to cost, but I paid $65 for the card. I can get a 20% discount on food and beverages (wine, beer and cocktails), and it's good for up to a party of 10. Plus, it is like my annual pass...a one year deal.
We met with my Sis and her DH and three kids for four days... it more than paid for itself just then.

By the way, don't forget you still get discounts with your annual pass. Not the least of which is merchandise at Downtown Disney and discounts at the Downtown restaurants as well.

 

[eliza61]

Remember with the DDE you have to spend $300 before you realize any savings because of the fee. It is only good for sit down restaurants in MK, MGM and Epcot, If the resort has a sit down restaurant then it is not good at the fast food area of that resort.

It is good for CS at AK.
It is good on alcohol.
You get the valet parking for free at those resorts where valet parking is available.
If you are going to spend greater than $300 at TS/eligable CS then it is worth the investment.

Based on where you are eating and that Teppanyiki (SP?) still may participate, I'd consider adding the DDP to your DVC reservation. We saved about 37% using the DDP. BUT we do eat the way the plan is designed. CS lunch in the park, three course dinner and a snack so the DDP fit us well. I would also add hat you dont' have to decide until three or four days before arrival, you can always call MS and add it before you arrive if your still unsure.

How'd you come to the $300 figure (even though for us it's very easy)?

 

[rcraw45425]

eliza61, 20% of $300 is $60, close to the cost of DDE