DDP Dilemma

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

Now that we have changed our ressie to an AKL CL room I removed the DDP. After talking with my DFi we have decided that since it is our honeymoon we want to try as many signature dining options as possible. But now i'm not sure which DDP to add - regular, or deluxe. The restaurants we want to try are as follows:
CRT (b)
California Grill (d)
Citricos (d)
Jiko (d)
Artist Point (d)
Coral Reef (d)
Mama Melrose (d)
Tusker House (b)

So I can either cut all my signature TS down to 3 and pick one non-signature TS (for the regular dining plan) and then pay OOP for any others we choose OR go with the DxDDP and pick a few more options incl. some CS for lunch. WWYD? Keeping in mind that we will have a few options for some breakfasts and evenings in the CL lounge....

 

[MissBritt]

I would suggest you go for the DXDDP. We did it last month, no signatures, but it's a lot of food/credits. It's your honeymoon- I figure you should do the best you can afford to at the time, as you only do it once!

 

[TDC Nala]

Unless your interest in the dining plan is primarily the convenience of having meals prepaid, add up what it would cost you to eat at these restaurants if you paid cash and what it would cost you for the deluxe dining plan. There isn't anything wrong with going without a dining plan if your main interest is saving money and it turns out the plan won't really save you money, especially since you're going to have a club level lounge.

 

[ShannonMB]

I would SOO do deluxe for your honeymoon! You should be wining and dining to your heart's content on your special first-trip as a couple (if you can afford it, of course!) I always think the deluxe plan would be too much UNLESS we were going to a signature dinner every night, and then it would be perfect! Use all those extra snack credits to get special treats to take home with you if you can't use them all!

But then, most likely with the deluxe plan you won't make any good use of your CL booking. I would probably get rid of that and do deluxe, but that's just MHO!

 

[rlovew]

After having a concierge room and the regular dining plan for 5 days we found it was just too much food. I would follow TDC Nala's advice and figure out if it will save you money.

 

[Pumbaa_]

For each meal, do you want an appy entree and dessert? Or do you share appys and desserts? DXDP is A LOT of food. Add to that, the CL offerings, and it can be overwhelming. Not to mention the time involved

I would not get any dining plan and just pay as you go. Or better yet, upgrade someone to an AP and buy the TiW card and get 20% off

The nice thing there is you can change your plans without worrying about losing credits.

Have a great time! AKL is a gorgeous resort!

 

[TDC Nala]

I haven't been there for awhile, but I used to love the AKL club level lounge - they had great food. If they still do and you have deluxe, you may not end up trying any of it. Some friends and I once spent an entire evening up there playing Haunted Mansion Clue and eating the snacks and drinking the drinks, which we would not have been able to do if we had to run out to go to a restaurant.

 

[rubato]

I think I'd pay out of pocket. Your plan looks alot like what we want to do on our next plan. We are doing all characters, and buffets and things on this trip with DDP and then, on our next trip, we'll do mostly signature, and pay as we go. It will save us money with the way we eat.