DDP - Do you love it or hate it?

[TDC Nala]

Duriing Peak weeks - like Easter or Christmas - the DDP can save money because of the TS price increases of $4 to $5 per adult meal.

We will be at WDW Easter weeks.
Just hoping for a 4/3 deal for room only.
DD wants the YC and it's the only way we can afford the YC resort

The holiday or peak price increases are only on buffets and restaurants that serve all you can eat family style meals, not all WDW restaurants.

 

[moparop]

We really like it! We love eating out and like the idea that we've already prepaid for the meals and can just enjoy ourselves. To us, it's not about bang for the buck (although, I think we come out ahead every year).

 

[foulkfamilyof5]

Can't figure out if it is worth it. We have stayed at Shades of Green in the past (military hotel on WDW) but you can't get the DP with that. Now we are staying on the property with a 40% discount and I want to try it but I'm not sure. If our hotel stay is 8 nights how many days do we get the plan. I'm thinking that the 5 of us cannot possibly eat all of that food if the first night in the hotel starts the meal plan. Please help

 

[MinnieNurse]

We used to love it when we used it in 2005 and 2006. Since the changes we like it, not so sure it is really a saving or not now but like the convenience of it. Paying ahead for meals allows us to do more table service meals than we would probably do without it. We did deluxe on our last trip and really did not find the value for us, it was way to much food for us and doing that many table services we really payed a lot in tips. So we are going back to the regular plan for the next trip. Can't say we really still love it, just like the convenience.

 

[Tinkbells BFF]

We love the DDP. We've had it twice before and will have it again this August.

When our kids were little, it was included by the package you ordered from gold to platinum. Now our youngest DD is 19 and she eats alot more

I liked that the apps and tip were included. This will be the first time I've had to pay the tips. But it still makes it worthwhile for us b/c DH has to eat 3 meals a day no matter what and DD eats like she has a hollow leg so in the end it's a money saver for us.

I'm actually worried I'll have to pay for some meals with the basic plan - I guess I can afford to skip a couple of meals

I will miss the lobster though!!!

 

[talulabelle]

I loved it when all of my 4 kids were under 10 and not "adults" on the plan and it included everything (appetizer and tip) it was great for us. Now, that 2 of the kids are over 10 adn I have to pay tip on top of it, and no appetizer, it just doesn't work for us. I don't feel like I need to go during free dining, because rack rate is 40% more for the hotel, and ends up being $1000 more for us for that time, and the dining plan costs my family about $1000 a week. SO free dining really isn't free for us. It costs us the same total during free dining as it does to go during the 4/3 deal and pay for dining.

This time we are going during 4/3 deal and staying in a cabin so I will have a kitchen for some meals. We got the $1000 off the package, and didn't buy the $1000 dining package. SO I am going to try to keep our eating around $500 for the week. Then that is truly savings for us, and we will eat at TS restraunts, but just eat the normal amounts we are accustomed to. THe small kids will slpit things (which didn't happen on the DDP). My husband and I will split things. The kids are older and don't need character meals. I'm looking forward to not feeling tied to the credits. I got so sick of saying "no, thats not included on the plan!" before.

 

[Carol23]

Can't figure out if it is worth it. We have stayed at Shades of Green in the past (military hotel on WDW) but you can't get the DP with that. Now we are staying on the property with a 40% discount and I want to try it but I'm not sure. If our hotel stay is 8 nights how many days do we get the plan. I'm thinking that the 5 of us cannot possibly eat all of that food if the first night in the hotel starts the meal plan. Please help

I believe it goes by the number of DAYS not nights as we just got back and had to "rethink" one of our TS's and unfortunately had to pay out of pocket for one of them as we thought it was the number of NIGHTS...

 

[Dreamfinder2]

We did indeed love it when it included the apps and tips. This time around, I think we'll "like" it.

After doing some anal number crunching, I found that even if we add a couple of apps to share at two or three spots, we're still coming out ahead. So that's a good thing.

 

[SINYMom]

We love the dining plan as we really like to sit down for a table service meal once a day. We got it in 2006 twice, once for a short trip and we didn't really know how to use it and again for a longer trip in August (free dining).

We own DVC and went in 2007 without the plan, rented a car, went shopping, cooked (well hubby did), cleaned and shopped some more. We also ate some CS meals while in the parks and had a few TS meals as well. I kept all of our receipts, including the cost of the car as that was the only way we shopped and, the cost was same as the dining plan for with more of the work!! (Not a vacation IMHO.)

In 2008, we stayed DVC again at the Boardwalk and got the dining plan. We also had a few groceries delivered - breakfast foods, drinks, snacks, this was much better. We enjoyed breakfast in our room, a CS for lunch and had a TS for dinner each night.

We also have 3 boys, 2 that like to eat and 1 that eats because I make him . The one year that the younger ones became adults for meals, it wasn't as great a deal but, being able to have DESSERT EVERY DAY and, SNACKS (read ice cream) is a big plus. Most times, we really don't need an appy, but if we want one, we do get it.

I also know my DH and without the plan, he would be pressing everyone to eat the least expensive thing, even if it wasn't what they wanted and, my oldest loves steak, so that would be a problem.

I'm looking forward to making my ADR's in a few weeks for our upcoming trip, kind of gets everyone in groove.

 

[kaybird]

I believe it goes by the number of DAYS not nights as we just got back and had to "rethink" one of our TS's and unfortunately had to pay out of pocket for one of them as we thought it was the number of NIGHTS...

Correct but backwards, it is credits per night.

We love the DDP, have participated in nearly every evolution of it since 1975, love not having to worry about how much food costs, and telling the kids they would have to share a drink! It's a vacation after all!

 

[Dizney73]

We use the DDP some trips and not on others. We enjoy eating out at the table service restaurants, especially over the summer when it is so hot. It is nice to enjoy an hour or 2 in the ac. It is also nice to just know that our meals are already taken care of and I can order the most expensive thing on the menu if I want and not have regret. We have always made out in the deal though I ust admit that I do lots of planning to be sure we get our money's worth!
Sometimes, though, we just like to go with the flow, and not be bothered by all of the ADR's and so we go no dining plan and use our Tables in Wonderland card. Of course, now there is the new CS dining plan... maybe I need to check into that!