DDP.. AWESOME, but NEVER AGAIN!

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Just returned from 8 days with the DDP.

I spent half my time in the bathroom. OK, so I'm not perfect. I cant look at a plate of perfectly crispy pan seared Salmon and NOT eat it. If its on my plate, and its hot (or cold) and fresh, and its REALLY REALLY good, I just dont have the ability to not stuff myself and eat every bite. I wish I did. At home, I can put it in the fridge, and I know I can eat it later, so overeating isnt a problem. I was raised poor. I just cant waste food. I ate too much at EVERY dinner, and most of the lunches. I found it EXTREMELY hard not to eat every bite of a flan (my favorite dessert by far) or a cheesecake.
I had LOTS of SERIOUS stomach problems this trip. This is MY fault, not Disney's. I posted this so those of you who are like me, and cant turn down an expensive, fresh, delicious meal might take a second and consider this point before getting the DDP.

Next trip (whenever that may be) we will do our usual and bring in PB&J sandwiches, fresh fruit, and tuna kits. We will eat light, eat FAST, and be back on the rides feeling full, but not STUFFED in about 10 minutes flat!

We spent 2 hours in Chef's du France. The food was superb, but I remember looking out the window thinking I'd rather be on Soarin than sitting in a crowded noisy restaurant waiting on food.

now, before you attack me, I agree the DDP is AWESOME! Its an EXCELLANT VALUE, the food is SUPERB, and overall we had NO problems with ANY of the restaurants or staff, and ALL the food we got was DELICIOUS! I cant remember saying to my wife that ONE SINGLE thing was bad (except the children's pizza at Morocco, and it was still edible, just not that good)
I highly recommend it to ANYONE. But as for me, I cant control myself from eating every bite. If your the same way (considering the average weight in the US, I dont think I'm completely alone here) you might want to reconsider.

JMHO.

 

[Aimeedyan]

LOL

I don't think you're alone I, too, cringe at wasting food. Because of that, DH and I ended up splitting a credit almost every meal (except 3 - big mistake!). Even then, I left behind food. It's SO much! Those meals that I got my own, I had to repeat in my head that it was okay to leave it behind... the guilt nearly killed me. It actually sorta helped some that my Crohn's was acting up and I physically couldn't handle the pain of eating much so it alleviated some of my guilt

DDP is a great value - but it's not for everyone. Glad you had a chance to try it!

 

[robinb]

Next trip (whenever that may be) we will do our usual and bring in PB&J sandwiches, fresh fruit, and tuna kits. We will eat light, eat FAST, and be back on the rides feeling full, but not STUFFED in about 10 minutes flat!

Ewwwww. At least there will be more ADRs for the rest of us and everyone will be happy. Just don't eat those tuna kits while in line behind me . I'll be the one heading for the bathroom .

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

I, too, can't waste food. But I might have to let it go on this trip.

 

[deide71]

I have the same problem. I think we will plan on splitting many meals on this trip.

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that food is not going to waste: It's contributing to your reveling in that feeling of abundance and plenty -- and beyond that, don't worry: The American farmer is poised ready to "make more" food. (Really, it's already made -- they just need folks to be willing to buy it from them, before it goes bad.)

 

[jjohnson]

Ewwwww. At least there will be more ADRs for the rest of us and everyone will be happy. Just don't eat those tuna kits while in line behind me . I'll be the one heading for the bathroom .

Worse is sitting next to someone on the plane eating a fried fish sandwich . I made my DD switch seats (bad mama)

 

[Muushka]

Dear OP. I feel your pain. I also have trouble with too much food and stomach problems. I was dreading (well, I am exaggerating a little bit here) the DDP this past Sept. I was also brought up poor, so finishing your plate was a survival technique!

But because it was free, I had no problem leaving my plate with food on it. I have had many more stomach problems when we didn't do the DDP because I felt I had to eat it because I paid so much money for it!! Like the fries with the burgers, that sort of thing. My sister and I shared many CS meals and that worked out great. By the time the TS for dinner came, I was hungry!

We are paying for it this Dec, and I am not afraid!!

I know that what happened for me may not happen for others, I just wanted to share that I too have the same problems that you have.

 

[dixiedizfan]

At home, our family usually doesn't order appetizers, but if we do we split one between the four of us. Same with dessert. We just didn't have the appetites to each get an appetizer and dessert with the dining plan either, since we didn't want anything to go to waste. And at lunch we would usually all forego the dessert. So we really didn't get our money's worth out of the plan; would have been a lot cheaper paying OOP.

 

[Heidict]

Are the meals that they serve you really large? If so, I think I might be splitting some of them with a family memeber. I hate to see food go to waste, all though I won't force myself to eat everything on my plate.

 

[Luv4Disney]

We're doing the DDP for the first time and have no idea how we're going to eat so much! Especially at dinner with an appetizer, entree AND dessert! I'll let you know how we make out! LoL.

 

[bicker]

Some (but not all) of the restaurants pile on the food to make it look like you're getting a better value than you are. Food is plentiful in this country, and generally cheap, at least as compared to the other costs of running a restaurant.

 

[beeayekay]

DH and I must be in the minority. We didn't think the amount of food was tremendously huge in comparison to eating out while at home. Actually, the timing of the dining had more to do with how we felt than the amount of food we ate. We used our CS for breakfast, used snack credits for water and drinks and had a moderatly late dinner (7:30ish). We didn't OD on Dole whips or any other snack. We actually didn't snack at all other than water for me and fountain beverages for him. The list was tempting, but I would rather spend my calories on real food!!! Besides I felt it was the sugary stuff with the heat that would do me in. The breakfasts we had at Tusker House, ABC Commisssary and Mara were a good size, but not any larger than what we get at home at King's without pancakes or waffles. Considering we ate at 9AM and then not until 7PM or later, that good size breakfast had to last. At dinner, our appetizers were ususally salads, sometimes shrimp cocktail or crab claws which were only large enough for one. The entrees we got really were not large enough to share - REALLY!!! If the palm of your hand is a protein serving, the fish we got at Coral Reef was just a little larger, although rather thick. The desserts we got were not huge. It is hard to share a four bite piece of cake.

In comparison, we frequent a little Italian restaurant near here which serves soup, salad, bread service and ice cream with its dinner entrees.

We enjoyed the dining plan and would probably pay for it the next time we go.

Babs

By the way, neither of us gained any weight during the week we were there!!!!

 

[momto1disneyfan]

We were on the Dining Plan in August. Yes I found it a lot of food, however we never shared a meal and harldy had any food that was wasted. We just didnt order everything. For example. At Sci Fi, I ordered the burger and told them to forget the fries since I got the onion rings as an appetizer. I think the dining plan is a great deal. You just have to remember that you dont have to order everything. If you want an appetizer, just ask them to bring it out with your meal and tell them you dont want the potoates. Disney is great with doing things the way you want. The deserts we would most times take back to our rooms and of DS would eat them for breakfast. We never had breakfast the entire time we were there excpet when we had chief mickeys. We just ate lunch and supper.

 

[n2mm]

We have used the DDP 3 times now and will continue to purchase it. We think it fits our needs perfectly. We like to have a sit down meal once a day. We don't think it's too much food. We think it's a great deal for the value. Once you get past the "gotta get the best deal for the money" idea, you'll get comfortable with it. We break it down like this:

$38, minus $4 snack, minus $14 counter service, which leaves $20 left to account for. We could not buy the cheapest thing on the menu, a drink, tax and leave a tip for $20. So why pay out of pocket, when for $20 we can choose whatever we want, we can pass on the appetizer and even pass on the desert, buy some ice tea, and once you add the tax and tip, it's still going to be over $20. So we see the DDP as prepaying and relaxing at a meal knowing the bill is covered regardless of what we get. Of course, like most of you, the first time we did the DDP I struggled to get the more bang for the buck method, but that gets old and now we just get the DDP as a prepaid meal package. We still always do our sit down meals for a late lunch or dinner, and never a breakfast. Like most folks, CS meals are the hardest for us to use, but we have started using them for breakfast sometimes too. The DDP is a great deal and well worth the month! I'm so glad it's an option for DVC members now.

 

[NMW]

Dining has always been a huge part of our vacations-to Disney or anywhere else. We always do TS meals for dinner, some lunches and most breakfasts. I think the CS will be the hardest for us to use! No one in our family eats peanut butter and jelly and I have no idea what a "tuna kit" is but it sounds scary to me! I'd take a wonderful TS dinner anyday over those choices.

 

[Tinkerbellz]

We have used the DDP 3 times now and will continue to purchase it. We think it fits our needs perfectly. We like to have a sit down meal once a day. We don't think it's too much food. We think it's a great deal for the value. Once you get past the "gotta get the best deal for the money" idea, you'll get comfortable with it. We break it down like this:

$38, minus $4 snack, minus $14 counter service, which leaves $20 left to account for. We could not buy the cheapest thing on the menu, a drink, tax and leave a tip for $20. So why pay out of pocket, when for $20 we can choose whatever we want, we can pass on the appetizer and even pass on the desert, buy some ice tea, and once you add the tax and tip, it's still going to be over $20. So we see the DDP as prepaying and relaxing at a meal knowing the bill is covered regardless of what we get. Of course, like most of you, the first time we did the DDP I struggled to get the more bang for the buck method, but that gets old and now we just get the DDP as a prepaid meal package. We still always do our sit down meals for a late lunch or dinner, and never a breakfast. Like most folks, CS meals are the hardest for us to use, but we have started using them for breakfast sometimes too. The DDP is a great deal and well worth the month! I'm so glad it's an option for DVC members now.

I have to say I agree with you on this point. I love the DDP. I love the fact that I don't have to carry large amounts of cash to pay for food, and I don't have to pay interest on cheesecake! It works for our family. We are doing a Vow Renewal at Disney next year and I am currently working on the comparisons for our guests and definately recommending the DDP. You don't have to overeat to enjoy the DDP!

 

[OneMoreTry]

What about getting fewer meals on the DDP by combining for the Signature Meals or Dinner shows? Then eat less on the off days?

Since we stay in a DVC condo, we are able to eat small meals in the room if we don't want to eat out.

I agree with the above that eating at WDW is a big part of the experience. I'm not sure how much we'd save over our usual dining habits, but we'd eat at fancier restaurants and get to see some shows.

 

[Muushka]

Dining has always been a huge part of our vacations-to Disney or anywhere else. We always do TS meals for dinner, some lunches and most breakfasts. I think the CS will be the hardest for us to use! No one in our family eats peanut butter and jelly and I have no idea what a "tuna kit" is but it sounds scary to me! I'd take a wonderful TS dinner anyday over those choices.

I am not sure where you are thinking of getting your CS meals, but rest assured, we did not eat PB&J or "tuna kit" .
A few times I enjoyed the CS more than some TS (see below!).

What about getting fewer meals on the DDP by combining for the Signature Meals or Dinner shows? Then eat less on the off days? Since we stay in a DVC condo, we are able to eat small meals in the room if we don't want to eat out.

I agree with the above that eating at WDW is a big part of the experience. I'm not sure how much we'd save over our usual dining habits, but we'd eat at fancier restaurants and get to see some shows.

That is what we did. We eliminated 2 TS each with the intention of doing 2 signature meals. We ended up only using one (at Cali Grill) and then using the other for a regular TS and traded in a TS for a CS (plus the 2 snacks). That last TS was one of the places we ate at that I actually enjoyed less than the CS, in addition to one other TS! I really enjoyed a lot of those CS meals.

 

[NMW]

I am not sure where you are thinking of getting your CS meals, but rest assured, we did not eat PB&J or "tuna kit" .
A few times I enjoyed the CS more than some TS (see below!).



That is what we did. We eliminated 2 TS each with the intention of doing 2 signature meals. We ended up only using one (at Cali Grill) and then using the other for a regular TS and traded in a TS for a CS (plus the 2 snacks). That last TS was one of the places we ate at that I actually enjoyed less than the CS, in addition to one other TS! I really enjoyed a lot of those CS meals.

LOL! I know they do not have PB&J and tuna kits for CS meals at Disney. I was refering to the OP's stated preference for these items OVER all the food on the dining plan. Even though I am not a huge fan of CS we ate it almost every day for lunch this past Dec. My kids were always starving from all the walking. It was pretty cool too, so we didn't get that "too hot to eat feeling."