DDP & DVC disagrement..

[disneynutz]

You call her a friend!

Your points, your rules. If you really need her in your life, split the rooms and let her have the DDP, hopefully she won't upset your vacation. Because of her attitude, this would be her last vacation with me if she were my friend.

Bill

 

[dianeschlicht]

I too think the best solution for this is to split the rooms up. That way her family can have DDP on their room, and you don't need to have it for your family.

In reality though, I think you SHOULD figure out the costs with TIW and compare to DDP for the same meals. Of course, that wont work if it's her thought to only do signatures on the DDP and CS without it.

 

[dis-happy]

I too think the best solution for this is to split the rooms up. That way her family can have DDP on their room, and you don't need to have it for your family.

In reality though, I think you SHOULD figure out the costs with TIW and compare to DDP for the same meals. Of course, that wont work if it's her thought to only do signatures on the DDP and CS without it.

Doubt they'll be able to change a BCV ressie at this late date. Plus, it would cost the OP more points to book a studio+1 BR as opposed to a 2 BR. Hope the friend gets a clue, and quickly! Good luck OP, can't wait to read your T/R!!!

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

This would be the last trip I invited that person on. How ungrateful! She doesn't have to pay for a room so she'll complain about the DDP? Ridiculous. Hopefully she gets over it and you guys all have a great time.

 

[BeesKnees]

In thinking about this more the only way her attitude can be justifiable is if she reciprocates in some fashion and that would not be too easy considering how valuable those rooms are.

We have only ever had guests stay in our room with us once and I decided that was plenty. I like taking people with us but I don't want them to feel like they have to do what we are doing or vice versa. Instead we plan meet-ups at parks, restaurants, etc. that allow us to spend time with them but at the same time allow everyone to plan and have the vacation they want. While I recognize the huge savings the people we treat get by free rooms I also understand they are still spending quite a bit of money so I don't want to get in their way if they want to park all day anymore than I want them to be in my way if I want to spend time by the pool.

 

[BeesKnees]

Doubt they'll be able to change a BCV ressie at this late date. Plus, it would cost the OP more points to book a studio+1 BR as opposed to a 2 BR. Hope the friend gets a clue, and quickly! Good luck OP, can't wait to read your T/R!!!

It is probably too late but if not I would charge the guests the difference in points at the going rental rate.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Doubt they'll be able to change a BCV ressie at this late date. Plus, it would cost the OP more points to book a studio+1 BR as opposed to a 2 BR.

While that's true (about the points), if she talks to her friend and discovers that the DDP is extremely important to them, then I would try to change the reservation, even if it has to be to a different resort. I'm guessing OKW and SSR might be possible.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Maybe a happy medium at this point would be to segment the reservation and do DDP on a few days of the trip. I know this may be difficult to do, since the TS ADR's are spread across the week, but it might appease the friend and keep the peace. We have recently started using TIW, and we have spent less $$ than using the DDP for the three of us (Me, DW and DS5). Even without TIW, we would probably spend less (and eat less), even with doing all meals at the parks.

I agree with the others, that this friend should be more accommodating, since they have no lodging costs. When we have taken other friends and family, and they follow our lead with these kinds of decisions. Most of them can clearly see the savings of not doing DDP.

 

[LoveToDisney]

...she can pay for your DDP as a thank you for providing the room.

I like this idea....they can have DDP and you get it for free because they will pay the total amount. Problem solved.

 

[bobbiwoz]

She thinks because her kids are big eaters the DDP is the way to go but they are all under 10 so they only get the kids meals.
We will figure it out, we have 4 dinners book together at buffet type places so we will all get the TIW discount, at least there the kids can eat till the pop.
This same family and I did the DDP plan back in 2008 so we all now how it works and it's just to much food when you have a full kitchen back in the room.

We will get over this hump, we have been best friends for 25 years.
That may be the problem we are more like sisters..LOL

There were no ADR's left at this point to make the DDP work..LOL

I hope your long lived friendship can survive this bump! My thoughts are with you as you try to make peace in your "family!"

Bobbi

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Sounds like you're getting some pretty consistent advice from everyone. Mine will follow along the same lines.

Remind your friend that you've already purchased the TIW card, that your family's experience in the past has been that DDP doesn't work for you, and that there's no way to purchase the DDP for only part of the group. Ask her to please respect your decision not to add DDP to the room. They'll still have a wonderful dining experience, and she'll get savings through your TIW.

If that still doesn't resolve the issue, I think you just need to be blunt and lay it on the line for her. Point out to her that she seems to be forgetting that she's already gotten a fantastic discount by not having to pay thousands of dollars for a room, and that your plan to use the TIW will still get her discounts on food.

 

[dis-happy]

While that's true (about the points), if she talks to her friend and discovers that the DDP is extremely important to them, then I would try to change the reservation, even if it has to be to a different resort. I'm guessing OKW and SSR might be possible.

I like how you think!

 

[cel_disney]

On our trip last december, we opted for TIW instead of DDP for the first time and it cost us SOOO MUCH MORE in food than it would have if we had the DDP and paid OOP for appetizers and drinks! It annoyed me greatly!! The biggest annoyance was by far my son - as 2 kids meals a day (we had breakfast in the room) was way more than the DDP would have cost for him! While on previous trips we were able to share meals more, at this age, it just didnt happen like it used to!

Anyway - maybe a solution would be to calculate an idea of how much you would be spending on food and then ask her if she would be willing to pay the increase betwen your calculations and the DDP cost...then you get the best of both worlds because you will keep your costs low and still have the option to use the TIW card for things that are purchased above adn beyond the DDP costs?

I'm sure that you guys will work something out....and still manage to be sister friends after!

 

[dmoore22]

This same family and I did the DDP plan back in 2008 so we all now how it works and it's just to much food when you have a full kitchen back in the room.

The DDP of 2011 is not the DDP of 2008. It was a much more cost effective option back then. It's been so diluted since that you come out ahead using TIW.

 

[OhioDVC]

Leave them at home and take ME!

 

[briangib]

just leave them home

Agreed

 

[dianeschlicht]

The DDP of 2011 is not the DDP of 2008. It was a much more cost effective option back then. It's been so diluted since that you come out ahead using TIW.

I agree. We calculated several trips, 2 with DDP, and 2 with TIW. We kept every reciept from all 4 trips. On the DDP trip that occured in 2007, we thought we got a reasonable deal. The other one after 2009, not so much. The removal of the tip from the DDP and dictating ONLY desserts instead of a choice between dessert and appetizers were the killers for us. We discovered that even with the cost of the TIW card, we came out a couple hundred dollars ahead using TIW over the DDP.

 

[disneynutz]

I agree. We calculated several trips, 2 with DDP, and 2 with TIW. We kept every reciept from all 4 trips. On the DDP trip that occured in 2007, we thought we got a reasonable deal. The other one after 2009, not so much. The removal of the tip from the DDP and dictating ONLY desserts instead of a choice between dessert and appetizers were the killers for us. We discovered that even with the cost of the TIW card, we came out a couple hundred dollars ahead using TIW over the DDP.

The current best DDP deal is the Deluxe DDP for only a couple of days during your stay. You get 3 TS credits with appetizers and 2 snacks per day per person and a resort drink mug. Using it next month we saved $200 compared to paying OOP for the same food at the same restaurants.

Bill

 

[dianeschlicht]

The current best DDP deal is the Deluxe DDP for only a couple of days during your stay. You get 3 TS credits with appetizers and 2 snacks per day per person and a resort drink mug. Using it next month we saved $200 compared to paying OOP for the same food at the same restaurants.

Bill

But did you also have the TIW card?

 

[tjkraz]

I agree. We calculated several trips, 2 with DDP, and 2 with TIW. We kept every reciept from all 4 trips. On the DDP trip that occured in 2007, we thought we got a reasonable deal. The other one after 2009, not so much. The removal of the tip from the DDP and dictating ONLY desserts instead of a choice between dessert and appetizers were the killers for us. We discovered that even with the cost of the TIW card, we came out a couple hundred dollars ahead using TIW over the DDP.

Still think it depends a lot on the makeup of the party. A family with 2 or 3 children age 9 or under can do pretty well on the DDP.

Some buffets are now more than $17 per child. Add in the cost of a counter service meal plus the daily snack and each child can have $26-27 worth of food per day. The DDP fee is a flat $12 per child.

Add up the savings and it will run about $100 per child over a 6-7 night stay.

Even if the adults are close to break-even on the DDP, a family with kids can still save a couple hundred dollars.

As for TIW, depends on how it's used since you first have to cover the $75 fee before any savings are realized, and most counter service locations are excluded.

We've done the DDP and TIW. The best value depends upon the makeup of our party, how many trips it will cover and how we plan on dining. Now that our son is 10 and a Disney adult, I can't see us doing the DDP again anytime soon. It worked well when we had two adults and two children--not so good for 3 "adults" (one of whom would be content eating off the childrens' menus) and one child.