DDP Dilemma

[vascubaguy]

Ok, all you number crunchers... what would you do?

We are going to WDW for 5 nights, staying at SSR, starting 12/31/06.

We currently have ADRs for:
Alfredo's, Boma, GFCafe, Raglan Road, and V&A's

We also have the DDE card.

Now the question... should we get the DDP for DVC members?

These are just estimates and do not include V&A or alcoholic drinks, but I figured that just using the DDE we would end up spending around $240-250 just for TS meals. Then add in at least $100 for breakfast/lunch, then another $25ish on snacks... we'd be talking about $375 on food... the DDP would be around $390 and we could then "upgrade" one of the meals to one of the signatures and be able to sample more appetizers/desserts.

I'm leaning towards doing the DDP, but what do you folks think? Any flaws in my logic?

Thanks!

 

[MommaX03]

Before I joined DVC, I experimented with whether or not the DDP was worth it. My family found it totally worth it. The one vacation we went without the DDP we kept saying, if only we were on the DDP. It is nice not to pull out your wallet for food money.

I agree with your logic. You are right about V&A's and the alcohol not being included on the DDP. Also, if you want, check out the WDW restaurant menus on the internet, and realistically see what you would want to order, and add it up. That helps with the number crunching.

If you do the DDP, I would do a signature meal for the 2 TS credits. After all, you will be eating at V&A's one night, so you can combine two TSA credits for another lovely meal. I have eaten at several signature restaurants, and they were wonderful! I am not sure if the DDE also accounts for the 18 percent tip and tax that the DDP does on the TS meals as well as the tax on the snacks and the CS meals. That may be a deciding factor. I vote DDP personally.

 

[Ed T]

Personally I would bag Boma if you are thinking DDP. While I'll be the first to say that it has a great buffet but you are not getting the biggest bag for the buck if using the DDP at Boma's. 2 of use eat at Concourse Steak House, try the Buffalo tenderloin, and with appetizer, entree, and desert it was a little over $ 100.00 with gratuity . We had lunch at the Land and that was another $ 28.00 for 2, and the two snacks for another 7.00. Total for that one day $ 135.00 vs the DDP at $ 76.00. We eat at Alfredos and it was just about the same and then at Chefs de France and it was a little more. For the 3 nights it cost us $ 228.00 for the DDP and we had it well paid for after 2 days.

Ed

 

[Dean]

It depends on how you eat. I can tell you that my wife and I can eat two sit downs per day on less than you would spend for the DDP. In addition, the restaurants you mentioned would not be the best values for the plan. Given your specifics including that you have V&A and already have the DDE, I would not get the DDP. If you do, consider changing your restaurant choices to more expensive single coupon options. For Signature, the only one that will give you a comparable value is Narcoossee's and only for entree's with lobster. Again, it depends on how you eat. If you will order an appy and dessert for each person most every meal, the DDP is fine. If not, I think you'll find you're better off without it.

 

[byoung]

I think the DDP is well worth it.

 

[kmc33]

We just got back from WDW and since we were in a studio over the weekend and then in a 1 bedroom for three nights, we decided to book the DDP for the 3 night stay. I didn't track exact costs to the penny, but I would say that had we ordered exactly the same things we ordered on the DDP, but paid cash instead, we would have spent more than paying for the DDP. HOWEVER, I think we ate more food. We usually have a sit-down dinner and stop at a counter service for lunch even when we don't have the DDP. But we don't usually order dessert with lunch, as is included on the DDP. When I used snack credits, it usually was for bottle water, which is $2 (can use a snack credit up to ~ $4). I did use some extra snack credits to get cookies in the gift shop to bring home. I think without the plan, we would have still had a table service dinner, but would have eaten lighter during the day.

So, from a value standpoint, I would say we got the value. But, I think we would have spent the same or less -- and saved some calories without the DDP. Another point for me, which is just my personalilty, but I felt like I was constantly trying to plan and make make sure I was using the credits so I wouldn't waste them which was less relaxing than if I didn't have the plan. This probably wasn't a major problem and woudn't even affect those with more relaxed personalities than myself.

At any rate, it's a good deal if you plan well. Personally, I don't think we will do it next time. If I had a DDE I wouldn't use it -- but an AP is not cost effective for us.

Good luck and have fun either way!!!!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Nudge, nudge...there you go. I think that was the final little push you needed to get the DDP! Seriously, if you are going to eat primarily at table service restaurants, the DDP will end up being a better deal. Especially when you have the added benefit of using the DDE for your alcohol purchases.

 

[Boston5602]

I went this August for 6 nights with my 10 year old niece. I checked out menus online to what I thought I would order. I added it all up and compared to DDP. We didn't get it , I thought it wouldn't save $$$

My niece is 10 so had to pay for two adults and I knew she would ONLY eat off of the kids menu ( and thats exactly what she did) She does not eat apps and sometimes gets dessert , I am exact opposite and get an app or salad and sometime get a dessert.

One of our dinners was the Kitchen Sink at BC that we shared so I won't count that meal in regards to comparing. I also have the DDE and used that.

We ate a TS every night for dinner. WolfGang Pucks , Flying Fish , La Cellier, Mexico, and ESPN.

Between beakfast lunches and snacks we ate everywhere from the hot dog cart on the Boardwalk to Chrystal Palace for one of our other meals of the day.


When I got home I had saved all of the reciepts and realized I had been wrong , I would have saved money if I bought the plan. Not a ton of money but still would have been a savings for us.

If you havent done the plan before I would say try it this time and see how things work out for you .

 

[MILLZ]

DDP was a better deal for our family b/c we like sitting down to eat however i will tell you bring you bring your appetite. The one thing we liked is we could try alot of things and not worry about the money. For us it was a 7 day stay spent 618 on the ddp and and the food bills totaled 1150

 

[jfinke]

I actually just made a spreadsheet the other day for my wife and I comparing the different discounts. I can send it to you, but right now it is not very user friendly. It is essentially for adults only. I also made some assumptions on the average cost of the meal by browsing through the menus here (not allears because I believe those are little out of date).

Here is what I got out of it. If you actually eat all of that food - namely app/entree/dessert/person at TS and entree/dessert/person at CS, the DDP is hands down the most bang for your buck.

However, if you don't, that is where the numbers start to change. Plus, if you plan on eating at any offsite restaurant (like sushi at the S/D), those are obviously not covered under the DDP, but you do get a discount under the DVC discounts.

Alot of the discussion really centers around your personalized eating habbits.

I calculated out that with TS having just one app, two entree, two drinks, and one dessert the non discounted price for 14 (7x2) CS and 6 (3x2) TS Lunch and 8 (4x2) TS Dinner with tip and tax was about $683. Using the DDE, it came out to $597 + $60 + AP. Using DVC it was $660. And the DDP was $546. It is hard to argue with the DDP. Plus, you get an extra app/dessert + "snack". But, you are restricted to only Disney restaurants except Puck Express, I believe.

Like I said, I made some assumptions on where you eat in that not all restaurants have discounts for the DVC. Some people may eat only where there is a discount.

 

[DVC Grammy]

For those who like a lot of food, or are traveling in a group, it's certainly worth the money, if not all those extra calories . My DH and I tried it last month, and for just the 2 of us, we wound up eating way too much , so when it's just DH and me, we won't get it. But when any of our family joins us, we probably will get the DDP, since someone is bound to volunteer to be "human garbage disposal"!

 

[vascubaguy]

I just realized something I neglected to factor in... our first 2 days/nights we can't even use the DDE because it's NYE and NYD. That's one of the reasons we have Boma up there on NYD. Plus, GFC and Boma are supposed to have holiday menu items, which isn't the case at all places.

We had the DDP early last year for a Grand Gathering and everyone loved it (of course we didn't have DVC, APs, let along the DDE to consider). It made it really easy, we tried lots of things, and didn't have to worry about what we were ordering.

DP and I used the DDP to split a cS for breakfast, then another for lunch, and then had our own dinner items. We'd get different appetizers and share, and different desserts (and sometimes share... depending on how good the one we ordered was ).

I think I might call Monday and see about adding the DDP... then I'll have to check on adding CA Grill one night. I know we racked up about $150 or so for the two of us last trip. We did have 2 apps, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts that night... plus a few drinks

Thanks everyone!

(Might as well start 2007 off with a few extra pounds by using the "evil" DDP!)

 

[senecabeach]

vascubaguy....

Good for you in making your decision and have a "wonderful" trip!!

I'm having the same thoughts/questions revolving around my solo May 07 trip.

I'll usually have breakfast in my unit, snacks, fruit, H2O available...AH, DVC ....might need a dole whip or ice cream now and then ...but in my case ...think the DDP might be "food suicide" and a "weight watcher nightmare" for me

Personally...the DDE has worked best for me...I like 1 nice table service meal daily, or not, and with wine(s) or a beer(s) and have in the past saved $175. on a 10 day (solo) trip. In May 06, with DP and extended family (2-adults,3-kids), saved $340. all with the DDE card.
Just depends on how you eat on vacation I guess!!

 

[LauraLea]

I just realized something I neglected to factor in... our first 2 days/nights we can't even use the DDE because it's NYE and NYD.

We are arriving on 12/31 as well and decided to do both DDP and DDE for this very reason. We've upgraded our NYE and NYD meals to signature meals or may do room service NYE.

Laura

 

[FLYNZ4]

DDP was a better deal for our family b/c we like sitting down to eat

We feel just the opposite... but also because we like sit down dinners.

We usually only eat at sit down restaurants period... and pretty much never use counter service restaurants. We generally do not order... nor do we want appitizer/entree/dessert with every meal.

On our last trip... we ate at 2 TS restaurants/day... ordering whatever we wanted... and it was about the same as the DDP. However... with the DDP, we would only have 1TS restaurant/day.

/Jim