DDP for signatures

[dadschum]

Wondering if this could work or if it is a good value:
This would be for 2014 so let's assume 2013 prices.

3 Women staying DVC during F & W. Thinking of the DDP regular - which I believe is 1 TS, 1 QS and 1 Snack and mug at $55.59 each. Total $389.13 each.

So that's 7 TS, 7 QS, and 7 Snacks

I'd order groceries for our DVC - mainly easy breakfast foods, water, adult beverages and some snack stuff to nibble on when we get ready to out for dinner - chips, dip, cheese crackers etc.

So breakfast in the room everyday. Don't need a credit for that.

The QS credits would be mainly for lunch, snacks could be used at F & W and TS for dinner. Don't think we would use the mug at all. At F & W if we each used 1 SN credit and we could share, I think.

Itinerary would be something like this: Assume all breakfasts in room.

Day 1 Arrival -

Dinner - Signature restaurant (2 TS)

Day 2 MK

L - QS (1 QS)

D - Not sure

Day 3 Rest Day

L - QS (1 QS)

D - Signature (2 TS)

Day 4 Epcot

L- Snacking our way through F & W

D- may not need it

Day 5 Rest Day

L- QS (1 QS)

D- Signature (2 TS)

Day 6 Epcot

L- Snacking our way through F & W

D- may not need it

Day 7 MK

L - QS (1 QS)

D- Not sure

Day 8 Departure, possibly late

L - QS and that's it (1 QS)

By my calculations that is 6 of 7 TS and 5 of 7 QS. Not sure how many snack credits we would use, depends on how F & W goes.

When we go out at home, we often share appetizers or desserts.

I am missing a few dinners. We could use our remaining TS for a 1 TS restaurant for one dinner and then do OOP for another TS. On F & W days we may not need dinner at all if we snack our way around the world. If we want something else we can do QS OOP somewhere or use our remaining 2 QS credits.

Does this make sense? Is it a good use of money? Also, I believe I can double up on the TS credits and use 2 for a Signature. If that is the case, do we then get app, entrée and dessert as with the DxDP or do we still just get entrée and dessert and have to do OOP for an app? As I said, we often share so 2 apps may be enough. I realize we each get a dessert.

Or does it make more sense to do the DxDP? I am just afraid it will be way too much food for us. Especially since we often share things. However, having 2 snacks per day might help at F & W. I am sure we will do 3 signatures, maybe a 4th if we had the credits for it. The mug we would not use at all.

Thoughts folks? Thank you!

 

[smiths02]

On DDP, you get beverage, entree, and dessert at any TS location (obvious exception would be dinner shows, buffets or prix fix menus/all you can eat)...so eating at a signature doesn't give you an app. Signatures are generally not the best use of credits on the regular DDP.

If you like signatures but would do a lot of sharing and are all Disney adults...I would venture to guess that none of the Dining Plans will be a great fit.

There is a spreadsheet somewhere by Cafeen that does a good job of helping to break it down.

 

[abdgeek]

Wondering if this could work or if it is a good value:
This would be for 2014 so let's assume 2013 prices.

3 Women staying DVC during F & W. Thinking of the DDP regular - which I believe is 1 TS, 1 QS and 1 Snack and mug at $55.59 each. Total $389.13 each.

So that's 7 TS, 7 QS, and 7 Snacks

I'd order groceries for our DVC - mainly easy breakfast foods, water, adult beverages and some snack stuff to nibble on when we get ready to out for dinner - chips, dip, cheese crackers etc.

So breakfast in the room everyday. Don't need a credit for that.

The QS credits would be mainly for lunch, snacks could be used at F & W and TS for dinner. Don't think we would use the mug at all. At F & W if we each used 1 SN credit and we could share, I think.

Itinerary would be something like this: Assume all breakfasts in room.

Day 1 Arrival -

Dinner - Signature restaurant (2 TS)

Day 2 MK

L - QS (1 QS)

D - Not sure

Day 3 Rest Day

L - QS (1 QS)

D - Signature (2 TS)

Day 4 Epcot

L- Snacking our way through F & W

D- may not need it

Day 5 Rest Day

L- QS (1 QS)

D- Signature (2 TS)

Day 6 Epcot

L- Snacking our way through F & W

D- may not need it

Day 7 MK

L - QS (1 QS)

D- Not sure

Day 8 Departure, possibly late

L - QS and that's it (1 QS)

By my calculations that is 6 of 7 TS and 5 of 7 QS. Not sure how many snack credits we would use, depends on how F & W goes.

When we go out at home, we often share appetizers or desserts.

I am missing a few dinners. We could use our remaining TS for a 1 TS restaurant for one dinner and then do OOP for another TS. On F & W days we may not need dinner at all if we snack our way around the world. If we want something else we can do QS OOP somewhere or use our remaining 2 QS credits.

Does this make sense? Is it a good use of money? Also, I believe I can double up on the TS credits and use 2 for a Signature. If that is the case, do we then get app, entrée and dessert as with the DxDP or do we still just get entrée and dessert and have to do OOP for an app? As I said, we often share so 2 apps may be enough. I realize we each get a dessert.

Or does it make more sense to do the DxDP? I am just afraid it will be way too much food for us. Especially since we often share things. However, having 2 snacks per day might help at F & W. I am sure we will do 3 signatures, maybe a 4th if we had the credits for it. The mug we would not use at all.

Thoughts folks? Thank you!

You can definitely do FW with DDP. For 7 days, you will have to pay for 1 dinners OOP if you use your QS and remaining TS for dinner. You could use your snacks for FW and then pay for any other things you want to eat.

I have purchased the DxDP for FW this year because I don't plan on doing any of the ticketed events. Since this is my first time, I'll concentrate on those next time. I plan to use my two snacks each day to sample food at the kiosks. I'm eating breakfast early and dinner late(signature restaurants) so that I don't get food overload.

 

[Cafeen]

If you're getting in under the FDP (Free Dining Plan) promotion, then what you are looking at is fine.

However, if you are paying for the dining plan, you're going to want to watch out. Typically, with the exception of top end CG and dinner at CRT, 2-credit places aren't really worth it on the dining plan. They'll work ok if you limit it to say, 1 per week or so, but the can quickly tank any value you expect to see from the plan.

This is due to the pricing, credit, and entitlement structure of the plan itself.

Due to the way things work out, using a roughly $3.50 snack and $14 CS meal, each TS credit "costs" roughly $35.00. This $35.00 gets you an entree, a dessert, and a drink at each TS location (or it gets you admission to the 1 price locations). Now, a $35.00 meal isn't all that difficult to do, you DO have to make an effort, but it can be made to work without TOO MUCH hassle.

Things change when looking at signatures.

Since a signature costs 2 TS credits, we're now looking at a $70 meal, still with entree, dessert, and drink, so double the "cost". Unfortunately, most signature/2 TS meals do not cost twice as much as their 1TS counterparts, thus value is lost in the "translation". This typically will mean that you're paying more by using the credits than you would have OOP (ordering the same food!). Obviously, that's not an ideal case.

Now, again, doing this once or twice in a lengthy trip isn't a big deal. You'll make up for it elsewhere. However, doing it for all your TS meals can cut away any potential savings you'd see by using the plan in the first place. In this case, you very well may be paying more by being on DDP than you would if you just bought the SAME stuff OOP.

This changes for DxDDP, due to the entitlements and credit count mostly. Since you get more credits overall, and they are good for both TS and CS, the calculation is pretty easy and comes out to around $28 (or so, I'm doing this all from memory) per meal credit. Along with this cheaper per-credit cost, comes an extra course. So it's much easier and more likely to spend $56 on app, entree, dessert, and a drink, than it is to spend $70 on an entree, dessert, and drink. This, coupled with the amount of credits (since it's very difficult to eat 3 full meals a day while touring), lends support to utilizing DxDDP for heavy signature dining.

Of course, this is a very long-winded way of saying, do the math . Figure out what the DDP will cost, and figure out what you'd order, and check to see if it makes sense or not. Since you're planning on doing a lot with F&W, your average snack value will go up, which will help quite a bit. My gut is telling me that you're going to come out ahead, with the same orders when paying OOP, but my gut is wrong as often as it is right.

 

[Sparkie]

OP: If you are a DVC member, you also get 10% off some places with your DVC member card and you are eligible to purchase the Tables in Wonderland card which cost $100 for DVC members and $75 for Annual pass holders. With the Tables in Wonderland you will save 20% off all food and adult beverage purchases at TS places. Also without being constricted to the dining plan rules it would allow you to get appetizers or deserts to share. There isnt much discount on CS meals only one I know of is Flame Tree at AK- you get a TiW discount there. But some of the CS meals are large enough to share as well and again without DDP you wont have to get desert with your CS meal.

Just thought I would complicate things a bit

Cafeen: I never could get the spread sheet to work but my gut feeling is I would have saved more money by using the TiW or DVC discount and skipping the DDP all together. There were some meals that we did not order 35.00 per meal and we used it for Hoop Dee Doo and burned 2 credits that night. I made up my cost on TiW card when I paid for 10 people at CRT, Chef Mickey, apps and beverages at Mama Melrose, San Angel, Rose and Crown. Plus.... DH and I are headed to F&W in October and will use our TiW card again.

 

[bdklein]

If you're getting in under the FDP (Free Dining Plan) promotion, then what you are looking at is fine.

However, if you are paying for the dining plan, you're going to want to watch out. Typically, with the exception of top end CG and dinner at CRT, 2-credit places aren't really worth it on the dining plan. They'll work ok if you limit it to say, 1 per week or so, but the can quickly tank any value you expect to see from the plan.

This is due to the pricing, credit, and entitlement structure of the plan itself.

Due to the way things work out, using a roughly $3.50 snack and $14 CS meal, each TS credit "costs" roughly $35.00. This $35.00 gets you an entree, a dessert, and a drink at each TS location (or it gets you admission to the 1 price locations). Now, a $35.00 meal isn't all that difficult to do, you DO have to make an effort, but it can be made to work without TOO MUCH hassle.

Things change when looking at signatures.

Since a signature costs 2 TS credits, we're now looking at a $70 meal, still with entree, dessert, and drink, so double the "cost". Unfortunately, most signature/2 TS meals do not cost twice as much as their 1TS counterparts, thus value is lost in the "translation". This typically will mean that you're paying more by using the credits than you would have OOP (ordering the same food!). Obviously, that's not an ideal case.

Now, again, doing this once or twice in a lengthy trip isn't a big deal. You'll make up for it elsewhere. However, doing it for all your TS meals can cut away any potential savings you'd see by using the plan in the first place. In this case, you very well may be paying more by being on DDP than you would if you just bought the SAME stuff OOP.

This changes for DxDDP, due to the entitlements and credit count mostly. Since you get more credits overall, and they are good for both TS and CS, the calculation is pretty easy and comes out to around $28 (or so, I'm doing this all from memory) per meal credit. Along with this cheaper per-credit cost, comes an extra course. So it's much easier and more likely to spend $56 on app, entree, dessert, and a drink, than it is to spend $70 on an entree, dessert, and drink. This, coupled with the amount of credits (since it's very difficult to eat 3 full meals a day while touring), lends support to utilizing DxDDP for heavy signature dining.

Of course, this is a very long-winded way of saying, do the math . Figure out what the DDP will cost, and figure out what you'd order, and check to see if it makes sense or not. Since you're planning on doing a lot with F&W, your average snack value will go up, which will help quite a bit. My gut is telling me that you're going to come out ahead, with the same orders when paying OOP, but my gut is wrong as often as it is right.

Back in the "old" days, when a lot more was included on the regular Dining Plan (such as Gratuity, Appetizer, etc.), I could see the value in the DP. But these days, I just don't see it. Plus you have to follow the rules so diligently, and spend time making sure you order to get the most value, and not necessarily ordering what you want to eat, that I just don't see the benefit in paying for it. I imagine that most people would do better paying OOP (especially if they have kids 10 or older who won't get the value). They would pay less, and get what they want. Sure there might be some exceptions. And to those who use it to say "they don't want to get a bill at the end", they have paid for it prior to using it (so Disney has your money) and don't defintively know if they will get the value (due to how the trip actually goes).

Just like Magical Express, the Dining Plans are another way to get guests to spend their money at Disney (and not Sea World, Universal, etc.)

 

[dadschum]

Thanks for all the replies folks. Math was never my strong suit.

A few things:

1 We are all Disney adults - 3 women

2. Breakfast will be in the room

3 We will want adult beverages with our meals

4. We are not DVC members - just renting points so no TIW etc for us

5 Don't think we can get free dining with renting points, right?

6 Signatures being considered include Artist Point, Cal Grill (whatever it will be in 2014) Yachtsmant, Citricos, Le Cellier maybe HDDR for a laugh after a coupla adult beverages. Will probably do 3 or 4 Signatures in a 7 night trip

7 QS will be either in MK or Epcot or maybe our resort, whatever DVC that will be


TS could be BOG, Kona. LTT, San Angel, Wave. etc

I did a quick check of AP, CG. YS and Citricos. Apps are around $15, expensive entree $42 and up and desserts average $12.

We are meat eaters for sure but also like chicken, fish and pasta. I could forsee us ordering the beef (most expensive) at times, other times the lower cost entrees.

Do any of the plans make sense or am I just better off putting some $ on gift cards and using those for our dinners. We went in Dec 2010 and ate at Narcoosees. I remember my bill was $99 and that was for an app I shared so I paid half, the fliet mignon, dessert, 2 glasses of wine, tax and tip. 2014 will cost more of course.

We do share apps and desserts when we go out at home. If we had the DxDP perhaps everyone would order what they wanted, take 2 bites to taste and that would be it. Or not order app or dessert at all because it is just too much food.

If we did not do the dining plan in any form, we could branch out to Shulas or Blue Zoo or Il Mulino, which I understand are all superior to the other similar choices available on the DDP.

That might not be a bad idea as this is a special birthday trip.

Also is there a list out there of what quilifies as a snack credit at F & W? Last years info will do for now.

What do you folks suggest?


Thank you!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

If we did not do the dining plan in any form, we could branch out to Shulas or Blue Zoo or Il Mulino, which I understand are all superior to the other similar choices available on the DDP.

You just found your winner. This is the best way to go. It really doesn't sound like any of the dining plans would work for you. You would be eating what the plan required instead of eating what you want. Adult beverages would be OOP on either plan & appetizers would be OOP on DDP. I don't think DDP would save you any money, & DxDDP would be more than you typically eat. Don't forget to add in the additional gratuity for dishes you wouldn't normally order.

 

[dadschum]

I tried to download your spreadsheet but I am still living in the dark ages on excel 2003 and it only loads to a read only version. Is there any way to get it to me in 2003 version so I can play with it?

Thanks.

And I have to tell you you are brilliant when it comes to these dining plan calculations. And Havoc too. I follow both of your posts closely when it comes to DDP issues. Thanks for all you do to help us.