DDP and How to Tell if Worth It?

[js]

How would I be able to tell if the DDP is worth it for my stay at BLT for a family of 5 "adults". We have ressies at California Grill (may cancel since already have been there), Citracos (sp?) in GF, Rose and Crown in EPCOT and Kona Cafe in Poly (although may change this ressie).

We do not have any ressies for breakfast or lunch. We have never done the dining plan and are all eaters and enjoy a few drinks at dinner (with the exception of the 2 teens).

We plan on eating breakfast in to get to the parks for RD, and lunch CS, but that could change if DDP would be worth it.

We will be at Disney and staying in a 2 bedroom at BLT from August 31 through September 5, 2011.

Thank you all very much!

 

[CajunMomof3]

Here is what we did...
Figured "average" cost of meal at each restaurant.
Multiplied by number of diners.
Added all meals up.
Compared to cost of DDP.

If you want to include snacks, add about $3.50 per person per day.
This will give you an idea if it a good deal for you or not.

 

[js]

Here is what we did...
Figured "average" cost of meal at each restaurant.
Multiplied by number of diners.
Added all meals up.
Compared to cost of DDP.

If you want to include snacks, add about $3.50 per person per day.
This will give you an idea if it a good deal for you or not.

Thank you VERY much! I have NEVER used the DDP before and never have even read anything about it although I have been going to Disney on average 1-2 a year for many, many years. Do I just google Disney Dining Plan to find the cost? I know I can find the menus and prices. I also know that I have to find out if each restaurant accepts DDP and see how many "credits" for each meal although I have no clue what that even means LOL

Did you find it was worth it for you and do most DVC owners find it is worth it? We always eat dinner out and usually CS for lunch so just not sure.

Thanks so much!

 

[canopynut66]

How would I be able to tell if the DDP is worth it for my stay at BLT for a family of 5 "adults". We have ressies at California Grill (may cancel since already have been there), Citracos (sp?) in GF, Rose and Crown in EPCOT and Kona Cafe in Poly (although may change this ressie).

We do not have any ressies for breakfast or lunch. We have never done the dining plan and are all eaters and enjoy a few drinks at dinner (with the exception of the 2 teens).

We plan on eating breakfast in to get to the parks for RD, and lunch CS, but that could change if DDP would be worth it.

We will be at Disney and staying in a 2 bedroom at BLT from August 31 through September 5, 2011.

Thank you all very much!

I take the discount for whatever resort want to stay at and then do estimate of what food we would eat. we are three adults and the free dining is best for us. We usually do the MYWD with 1 TS and 1 CS and snack as we have tried the deluxe and we had to do signatures a lot and dinner shows to use them all up. was a lot of food.Konas Grill was real surprise for us and turned out best steak we have had down there. used to be Le Cellier and last trip was not so good so sure would not waste 2 TS on dinner there now. we also liked Yachtsman steakhouse it is also 2 TS but again last trip meal there horror story. we also like character meals and breakfast with characters. is just part of the trip...

 

[castleri]

How would I be able to tell if the DDP is worth it for my stay at BLT for a family of 5 "adults". We have ressies at California Grill (may cancel since already have been there), Citracos (sp?) in GF, Rose and Crown in EPCOT and Kona Cafe in Poly (although may change this ressie).

We do not have any ressies for breakfast or lunch. We have never done the dining plan and are all eaters and enjoy a few drinks at dinner (with the exception of the 2 teens).

We plan on eating breakfast in to get to the parks for RD, and lunch CS, but that could change if DDP would be worth it.

We will be at Disney and staying in a 2 bedroom at BLT from August 31 through September 5, 2011.

Thank you all very much!

We will be at BLT from 8/30 to 9/2 and then move to OKW for three nights. We have the Deluxe dining for the first night at BLT. With this we have ADRs for Kona Cafe first night , Chef Mickey's for breakfast next morning and Coral Reel that night. This will definitely be a savings. We do not have any other dining plan booked for the rest of the trip.

I think you might make out if you had the Deluxe Plan for the night you are going to California Grill if you are going to one of the places that require just one credit the next night. That way you use two credits for CG and one for say Kona. The deluxe plan includes appetizer, entree, dessert and non alcoholic beverage and 2 snacks plus a refillable mug. I don't know how your adrs are spread out so that would make a difference.

We have APs and the TIW card which is a flat 20% off everything you order including alcoholic beverages so if we do any other sit down meals we will use that. Under normal circumstances we do not find the DDP to be worth it for the whole trip as it can get to be too much food and also trying to plan the day around the adrs is not always fun. We also don't always want dessert so if we pay OOP we come out ahead or at least even.

I look at the menus and try to figure out what would be an average cost for the entree, dessert and non alcoholic beverage and then compare to the cost of the DDP. If you get the regular one it includes one TS, one CS, and 2 snacks per night you have it.

It does make it easier if you get it from the standpoint that you don't have to try and figure out who spent what if you are with a group that includes several families or indivuals who are each paying for their part of the bill. I guess you could ask for separate checks. We have had it in the past and just divide the tip between however many are eating as it is not included in the cost. Some people like it just because they can prepay and all they have to pay is the tip when they eat.
I think there may be a sticky at the top of the dining forum that would also give you some additional info.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do and let's hope for really nice weather that week.

 

[js]

Here is what we did...
Figured "average" cost of meal at each restaurant.
Multiplied by number of diners.
Added all meals up.
Compared to cost of DDP.

If you want to include snacks, add about $3.50 per person per day.
This will give you an idea if it a good deal for you or not.

I take the discount for whatever resort want to stay at and then do estimate of what food we would eat. we are three adults and the free dining is best for us. We usually do the MYWD with 1 TS and 1 CS and snack as we have tried the deluxe and we had to do signatures a lot and dinner shows to use them all up. was a lot of food.Konas Grill was real surprise for us and turned out best steak we have had down there. used to be Le Cellier and last trip was not so good so sure would not waste 2 TS on dinner there now. we also liked Yachtsman steakhouse it is also 2 TS but again last trip meal there horror story. we also like character meals and breakfast with characters. is just part of the trip...

We will be at BLT from 8/30 to 9/2 and then move to OKW for three nights. We have the Deluxe dining for the first night at BLT. With this we have ADRs for Kona Cafe first night , Chef Mickey's for breakfast next morning and Coral Reel that night. This will definitely be a savings. We do not have any other dining plan booked for the rest of the trip.

I think you might make out if you had the Deluxe Plan for the night you are going to California Grill if you are going to one of the places that require just one credit the next night. That way you use two credits for CG and one for say Kona. The deluxe plan includes appetizer, entree, dessert and non alcoholic beverage and 2 snacks plus a refillable mug. I don't know how your adrs are spread out so that would make a difference.

We have APs and the TIW card which is a flat 20% off everything you order including alcoholic beverages so if we do any other sit down meals we will use that. Under normal circumstances we do not find the DDP to be worth it for the whole trip as it can get to be too much food and also trying to plan the day around the adrs is not always fun. We also don't always want dessert so if we pay OOP we come out ahead or at least even.

I look at the menus and try to figure out what would be an average cost for the entree, dessert and non alcoholic beverage and then compare to the cost of the DDP. If you get the regular one it includes one TS, one CS, and 2 snacks per night you have it.

It does make it easier if you get it from the standpoint that you don't have to try and figure out who spent what if you are with a group that includes several families or indivuals who are each paying for their part of the bill. I guess you could ask for separate checks. We have had it in the past and just divide the tip between however many are eating as it is not included in the cost. Some people like it just because they can prepay and all they have to pay is the tip when they eat.
I think there may be a sticky at the top of the dining forum that would also give you some additional info.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do and let's hope for really nice weather that week.

Thank you very much.
Can I ask where the heck I find this information about how much "credits" for each meal? We will not be getting seperate checks it is my family of 4, which includes 2 teens and my mother. Right now we have California Grill, Citrocos (will keep one and cancel other), Kona Cafe and Rose and Crown. I can make one more if it would benefit us but not sure. We are coming in late on Wednesday, August 31 so whatever we would get for that date, we can use towards other dates, is that correct?

 

[castleri]

If you click on dining at the top of this page you can then do a restaurant search- put in only yes for DDP. It will then list all the restaurants and whether they are quick service, table service, snack etc. It will list signature dining for those that require two DDP credits. The other TS ones will require one and counter service require one CS credit. There is also a section under the dining heading that explains what you get with each plan. With DVC you can use several different plans if you wish so you could start it the 1st if you will be arriving too late on the 31st. You may have to get new keys each time the plan changes and some people find this too much trouble but for some it is worth it for the way they want to eat. We have just the one night which is good from 8/30 to midnight 8/31. If you have several nights you will be able to use credits from the time you start the plan until midnight of the last day of the plan. We may add the counter service plan for the 1st and 2nd which would give us credits until midnight the 3rd but still need to do a little research to see if it will make sense for us.

 

[CajunMomof3]

Thank you very much.
Can I ask where the heck I find this information about how much "credits" for each meal?

When you make an ADR online it is on the confirmation page. Also, there was a downloadable PDF brochure on the Disney webite that had a special symbol for Signature restaurants (aka 2 credit restaurants).

Hope that helps!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I find the dining plan links on the member site to be very helpful when planning to see if the DDP will be worth it for us. I go between that site and the Disboards restaurant menues.

 

[Donna M]

It sounds like the plan would be good for your situation. We don't use it because we eat some meals in the villas and don't want to be tied to reservations each night. In your case you mention that you'll be eating out all main meals and it sounds like you would be enjoying using the credits to their fullest -ordering all you are entitled to; some people don't get the desserts.

The plan gives you a table service and a counter service along with a snack. There is a list somewhere that tells you all the available snacks that aren't listed on the official Disney site. I think the list is up on a sticky on the restaurants section.

Something else to consider is whether or not you all will want to order the most expensive items or not since that is where it makes it worth while.