DDP for 2007 into 2008.

[disneyfan2kids]

I'm scheduled to be in WDW from 12/29 - 01/05. I'm unsure yet if we're going to do the DDP for this period (crowds will be crazy so I'm unsure if that will dissuade me from wanting to wander "the world" for TS meals - or if I may just want to go the cheaper route and eat in the room and more CS.)

Does anyone have first hand experience with crowd levels and DDP? If it's more crowded did you wish you hadn't gotten DDP so you could just eat as you please when the crowds weren't as crazy? Or did you find that you were glad you got DDP so you had guaranteed TS ADR's?

Anyway - if I added the dining plan now will that only be for 12/29, 12/30, 12/31 since they haven't announced the 2008 plan/prices (tip included?) yet? And if I don't agree with the new changes (if any) to the 2008 plan, will I be able to get the DDP for only those days of my stay in 2007? Or is it possible that any DDP plan changes for 2008 wouldn't effect my stay because the plan in effect at check-in lasts for length of stay?

Sorry so many questions... just wondering what to do about DDP for my stay that goes from 2007 - 2008.

When might they post DDP plan changes for 2008?

 

[Golden Rose]

We found that in more crowded times of the year, we REALLY preferred having several nice TS meals. (This was true even before DDP...) We felt like we spent so much time waiting in lines at attractions that it was really nice to be able to sit down someplace comfortable and be taken care of for a little while. It seemed like the CS lines were always long any time we wanted to be eating, even at non traditional times of day. We've always felt like having ADRs at nice restaurants just made things so much pleasant and gave us time to catch our breaths. I will say, we've always made some of those ADRs in hotels for dinner in case we didn't feel like dealing with the crowds in the parks.

The other thing we do is make the most ADRs we could possibly want (extras when we are on the DDP), and if we are just too tired when the time rolls around, we give them a quick call and cancel. It's no big deal to the restaurants and most of them don't take a credit card gaurantee and don't penalize you for not showing up...

 

[discruiser]

Bumping...

We will be at WDW 12/30-1/5, and I was also wondering how any changes to the price and/or terms of the DP (for 2008) would affect us. Would they change the price (or remove the gratuity) for us 3 days into our reservation, or would the 2007 price and terms apply to us for our length-of-stay (since we are checking in in 2007)?

 

[Spartangirl]

Bumping...

We will be at WDW 12/30-1/5, and I was also wondering how any changes to the price and/or terms of the DP (for 2008) would affect us. Would they change the price (or remove the gratuity) for us 3 days into our reservation, or would the 2007 price and terms apply to us for our length-of-stay (since we are checking in in 2007)?

We will be in WDW from 12/29/07 - 1/3/08 and have the Dining Plan. We were charged for our length-of-stay since we are checking in, in 2007. We also were in WDW last year around the same time frame (06-07) and did the Dining Plan. We were charged the 2006 prices...hope that helps!

 

[Spartangirl]

Does anyone have first hand experience with crowd levels and DDP? If it's more crowded did you wish you hadn't gotten DDP so you could just eat as you please when the crowds weren't as crazy? Or did you find that you were glad you got DDP so you had guaranteed TS ADR's?

For the last 4 years we have gone during the time frame that you will be in WDW. The DDP is worth its weight in gold when combined with TS ADR's. Sure it confines you to being in a certain park for the meal, but it is nice to know that you will be able to get into a great restaurant. We saw many people without ADR's being turned away because the restaurants were booked solid....some for up to a week or more. Even with all the crowds, we never felt rushed in the restaurants...we always felt comfortable in the environments. We are going again this year from 12/29/07 - 1/3/08 and WILL be using the DDP again.