DDP 2008...The Positive Side?

[gohogs34]

Could I have used it somewhere else, maybe so, but we have used our Disney visa card for the past five years for everything we could, college payment, bills ect. and may add that we have NEVER paid interest on any due to paying it off each month. We had $556.00 of what we consider free money to deduct from the total of our trip and added with the Disney visa code of hotel and park hopper passes + options it made it a VERY good deal for us to try and see if the dinner plan will work. Yes if not on the plan we would not eat at the restaurants we are going too, but here we go.

 

[disney-super-mom]

this doesn't make sense to me... I agree with LSchrow... when comparing the two plans, you have to assume you pay tip in both scenerios.

Total food costs for the day: $116 + $15 tip = $131
Total DDP for 2 adults: $76 + $15 tip (assuming 18% on the true cost of the meal) = $91
Total savings on food for the day: $40

The tip doesn't play into the equation since you pay the same amount of tip regardless of how you pay for dinner. This is a comparison situation....

This is NOT correct.

If you pay for the tip by adding it to the cost of the DDP, then you don't add it to the OOP food total because the tip has already been paid.

$76 (DDP) + $15 (tip) = $91

$116 (food) + $0 (tip) (already paid above) = $116

Total savings = $25


The DDP only covers food right? Not the tip, right?

Food costs = $116
DDP costs = $76

Total savings $40 (if you don't tip).

 

[Unseen-Unheard]

This is NOT correct.

If you pay for the tip by adding it to the cost of the DDP, then you don't add it to the OOP food total because the tip has already been paid.

$76 (DDP) + $15 (tip) = $91

$116 (food) + $0 (tip) (already paid above) = $116

Total savings = $25


The DDP only covers food right? Not the tip, right?

Food costs = $116
DDP costs = $76

Total savings $40 (if you don't tip).

i believe you are misunderstanding the point. the point they are trying to make is that you are going to leave a tip with or without the plan.
lets try it this way, 2 seperate groups of people are in the same restaraunt at different tables and order the exact same things, and BOTH groups decide to leave a $15 tip. group A pays with DDP (their total comes to $76+$15=$91) while group B pays with cash OOP (their total comes $116+15=$131). now $131-$91=$40
that is why they are saying the tip isn't a factor it is left either way(hopefully)
Paul

 

[apostolic4life]

I think I understand where the train has jumped track......reading back over the posts the $116 was for the whole day not just the TS meal. That would lessen the overall value, since it also included the CS meal. I think we were all seeing the $116 as the cost of the TS only. If that were the case, when you add in a CS and a snack the savings would increase. We normally spend around $250-$275 before tip at many TS for 3 adults and 1 child so that is why $116 automatically seemed like only TS to me.

Either way, you will still need to add the same tip to each equation to be equal since you now have to pay the tip no matter how you pay for the food.

 

[apostolic4life]

so onto the "analysis":
example of an "average" day's meals (numbers are rounded):
coral reef (mid-priced ~ we actually eat at more of the higher-priced tho; using items we used on our last visit):
steak $32
shrimp pasta $24
2 chocolate waves $16
2 drinks $6
total $78, $83 with tax
WPE (love their food!)
2 speciality pizzas $18.50
2 brownies $5
2 drinks $4
$26 with tax
2 iced mochacinos at writer's stop $7
$7.50 with tax

$116 total for the day, DDP cost $76 (2 adults)
$40 savings per night

Just had to look at the numbers again to see if the tip was added. It was not so the savings should remain the same since the tip needs to be added to both DDP and OOP.

 

[TLSnell1981]

How did such a simple analysis become so complicated?

The gratuity will cost the same whether DDP or OOP. Plain and simple. It does not factor into the OPs equation.

You eat $116 worth of food for the day.....it only costs $76 (the cost of the DDP for 2 adults).....you save $40.

Supermom, the tip is no longer included in the DDP.

 

[tnmomof4]

I think the new dining plan is going to save me money. Last year I used the DDP. This year I am getting the DlxDDP. I have two boys who are going to be 12 and 10 when we go. I also have twins that will be 5.

The older boys are so excited about getting adult meals. They are bottemless pits!!! Last year they got kids meals and were always still hungry. They also got tired of eating chicken nuggets, pizza or PB&J all the time. They love steak and chicken breast and others things and are glad that if they want steak or other things they can get it.

Many times last year I had to pay for extra bottles of water in the parks when they all were thirsty and had already used their snack credit. Many times they were hungry, and I had to buy a couple CS meals for them to share when they got hungry. Even at the resort I spent extra money buying snacks and drinks. So this year they will each get two snacks. And they all will get a mug to use at the resort. And I will be able to get a CS meal whenever they get hungry.

I absolutely see the positive in this new dining plan.

 

[LSchrow]

This is NOT correct.

If you pay for the tip by adding it to the cost of the DDP, then you don't add it to the OOP food total because the tip has already been paid.

$76 (DDP) + $15 (tip) = $91

$116 (food) + $0 (tip) (already paid above) = $116

Total savings = $25


The DDP only covers food right? Not the tip, right?

Food costs = $116
DDP costs = $76

Total savings $40 (if you don't tip).

supermom, i think if you look at what you wrote (in red), you'll see where the confusion is coming in.......
try looking at it as eating the identical meals on two different days, one day using DDP, & the other using OOP (using 2 Adults for the sake of consistancy).
day 1 (DDP):
ate: 2 snack, 2 CS, 2 TS
total day's cost: $76 (DDP for 2A) plus $15.60 tip (20% of what TS meal would have cost OOP - pretax) = $91.60 DDP

day 2 (OOP):
2 CS ~ $26
2 snacks ~ $7.50
2 TS ~ $83 (with tax) plus $15.60 tip = $98.60
total day's cost is $132.10 OOP
this is where your statement in red comes into play: even tho we tipped the day prior, that previous day's gratuity does not apply to the current meal ~ they are 2 totally seperate checks, & the waitstaff is tipped on on each check.

you can change the scenerio to 2 seperate parties of 2, or other variations, but the numbers would be the same: the tip is added regardless of payment method.
i hope that helped clear it up

 

[disney-super-mom]

supermom, i think if you look at what you wrote (in red), you'll see where the confusion is coming in.......
try looking at it as eating the identical meals on two different days, one day using DDP, & the other using OOP (using 2 Adults for the sake of consistancy).
day 1 (DDP):
ate: 2 snack, 2 CS, 2 TS
total day's cost: $76 (DDP for 2A) plus $15.60 tip (20% of what TS meal would have cost OOP - pretax) = $91.60 DDP

day 2 (OOP):
2 CS ~ $26
2 snacks ~ $7.50
2 TS ~ $83 (with tax) plus $15.60 tip = $98.60
total day's cost is $132.10 OOP
this is where your statement in red comes into play: even tho we tipped the day prior, that previous day's gratuity does not apply to the current meal ~ they are 2 totally seperate checks, & the waitstaff is tipped on on each check.

you can change the scenerio to 2 seperate parties of 2, or other variations, but the numbers would be the same: the tip is added regardless of payment method.
i hope that helped clear it up

Okay, that did clear it up for me.

I think I was getting confused because I'm trying to plan a future trip using the 2008 DDP, and on our trip expense sheet, tip money per day is a new column that I didn't need to have last year. It's completely messing me up!

I'll say this to myself for everyone's benefit.....DUH Disney-super-mom!

Sorry everyone.

 

[LSchrow]

Okay, that did clear it up for me.

I think I was getting confused because I'm trying to plan a future trip using the 2008 DDP, and on our trip expense sheet, tip money per day is a new column that I didn't need to have last year. It's completely messing me up!

I'll say this to myself for everyone's benefit.....DUH Disney-super-mom!

Sorry everyone.

pls don't feel sorry (i'm one of those "abstract thinkers" that tend to skip links & assume everyone can follow along, & i thought i was doing it again lol).
the good news is that you really can save money with 2008 DDP, & even significantly more than what i showed if you wanted to. the even better news (for us, at least) is that the restaurants will prob be much less crowded b/c there are quite a few still only looking at the new DDP in comparison to its predecessor & miscalculating b/c they cannot get out of the "no appy, no tip" mindset ssst: lol)
have a great trip!!

 

[TLSnell1981]

I was beginning to think I was missing something. Glad we finally got it all worked out.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

we are on day 8 of the plan and LOVE it. I feel like I am getting my money's worth and then some. Plus its so nice to have it all prepaid.

 

[Annabelleasb]

I think the fact that we have 3 children under age 9 makes it a great deal for us! One character meal alone would be at least $12.99-$16.99 OOP for each child. With the basic dining plan, at $9.99 per day, they get that character meal plus a counter service and a snack!

I agree & that's exactly why I chose the DDP......just for the character meals!!! I was originally going to do 2 meals but figured w/ the DDP I'd be saving so we're now doing 4.

 

[sandym718]

I look at the new DDP a couple of ways.
If you tally up the bills you have incurred and compare it to the amount you paid out of pocket, you are likely ahead...you used to be way ahead...now you are just plain ahead.

ITA!! On our 2007 trip, we saved over $310 on the plan. If the 2008 plan remains the same for 2009, based on my calculations we will save about $244 on what the plan covers. (This is also with paying for an add'l child, she was only 2 last time and shared everything, now she'll be getting her own meals)

Even figuring the approimate cost of tips for the TS plus the appetizer I really want (cheese soup at Le Cellier), that comes to just over $100. Paying that OOP either way, obviously. So the true savings for the 2008 plan for us would be $244. If you want to compare to the 2007 plan, we would still save about $140. Certainly not as great as over $300, but that's still a really good savings, plus the convenience!!!

I think it all depends on each individual family configuration plus your choices. I doubt if we go once DS (who eats like a bird) turns 10, that it would be a very good deal for us. for now, definitely still is!

 

[pepperw23]

I think the fact that we have 3 children under age 9 makes it a great deal for us! One character meal alone would be at least $12.99-$16.99 OOP for each child. With the basic dining plan, at $9.99 per day, they get that character meal plus a counter service and a snack! I could not do all of the character dining we would want to do and fill in with other meals for $10 per child. We tried it on our first trip and spent about $400.00 more than we spent the next year purchasing the dining plan!

I respectfully disagree. Have you ever seen a teenage boy eat? Heck a teenage girl for that matter. When we went last my DS 19 literally ate his way through the world lol. He even dipped in to my snacks.

At WCC he ate his appy, mine, his meal, his dessert, and half of mine lol. He is 6'2 but not overweight....oh to have that metabolism. DD (16) put a serious dent on her "chow" (As DS refers to it lol) too, and this kid is 5'4 and 119 soaking wet. Yep, the plan IS worth it with teens too...at least my teens haha....

The point is, without the DP he would have broke us.

 

[gobo2]

My family has always been to 4 or 5 TS restaurants on our yearly 8 day trips and before the DDP we usually each ordered an entree and a drink or tap water so that it didn't feel so expensive.

My favorite thing about the old plan, which we did in Jan 2007, was the extravagant feeling of getting an drink, appetizer, entree and dessert and even giving a decent tip without even considering the cost. The prepaid cost fit nicely in our budget and we saved a lot of money.

Without the app and the tip, the new DDP loses the extravagant feeling.

We just got back home yesterday and I have not added up the tip and the extras (salads and apps). to see the actual total for dining for the week.
I love a salad or soup before dinner and my DH and 8 year old DD love appetizers. I would say that we didn't need 2 desserts each every day, but they may disagree.

I am guessing that if the plan stays the same and unless we do all or mostly buffets so that we soups and salads, we will be better off without the plan.
We would still go to Le Cellier and Kona Cafe with or without any plan.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.
I hope this helps.