DDP My DH is not Convince

[Katiebell]

If he wants proof in black-and-white, if he's a numbers guy, then type "Disney Dining Plan Estimator Spreadsheet" in Google. Intercot has a spreadsheet you can fill out that will estimate how much your family would save on the DDP. It asks how many kid and adults in your party, number of nights' stay, how much you typically spend on food per day (make sure to calculate how much you would also spend on tax and tip -- for DH and I, I figured $4 for snack, $6 for breakfast, $10 for CS lunch, and $35 for TS dinner -- $55/day per adult), and has a list of pretty much every single TS and CS that accepts the DDP, including snacks. Then just plug in the number of child and adult credits you would spend at each restaurant, and it will tell you your percentage savings based on an average meal at those restaurants. It told me that I would save about 37% off the cost of purchasing individual items, that it would be a moderate value for our family -- and it also told me that if I paid OOP at the restaurants I selected, I would be paying more than $55/day per adult. HTH...

 

[alicat25]

I went with the DDP for DH and I's trip in May, mainly because the whole trip I would be stressed out about how much it costs and we would end up eating CS the whole time and not enjoying all the great food TS has to offer. This way I can pass on the chicken and get what I really want, the filet. The package has to be paid off 45 days before you go so it will be really nice to go and not have to handle any money for your meals.

 

[MickeysHouse07]

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. I was able to show him your postings and he loves that people were so helpful and making him rethink the idea. He is going to look at the menus. BIG HUGS to all. thanks

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

Well, I wasn't really going to do the DP either. We are going in May also. My hubby, my son and me ~ I started making character meal reservations and checking out the prices for snacks and meals and thought~ wow this really could add up.

Then DING! I remebered if I book the whole thing with my Disney Visa ~ 6 MONTHS 0%!!!!! That's what pushed me over. We had booked room only with AAA discount. We would have put all of our eating on the credit card and would have had to pay it off the next month. Mickey's Backyard BBQ was $116 by itself

The only thing that is a little bad about it is that you have to make the reservations and plan your day around it. But you know ~ we are spending all this money for the trip ~ I don't want to have to be worrying about what we may spend on food. Now we don't have to pick the menu up ~ look at the prices and order a salad and water. The hubby can have Lobster and Steak

What's so funny is that my husband keeps saying it sounds to good to be true Isn't he cute? I just say ~ It's Disney dear - really it's true!

 

[thunderbird1]

What's so funny is that my husband keeps saying it sounds to good to be true Isn't he cute? I just say ~ It's Disney dear - really it's true!

We had the same thought, and were concerned about being relegated to a special (lesser) menu. Fortunately, menu exclusions were few and far between (and were frankly understandable, such as an appetizer or dessert sampler platter for two). We were blown away by the way everything was included and how friendly and helpful almost all the CM's were in helping us figure out how to use our dining credits. We're hooked, and are hoping for a free dining offer again for this fall!

 

[toocooltobeMom]

I didn't mean to offend anyone who makes their lunch and bring them to the park. It was pure speculation in my part after seeing teenagers in that group clearly embarrassed by it.

 

[Katiebell]

I didn't mean to offend anyone who makes their lunch and bring them to the park. It was pure speculation in my part after seeing teenagers in that group clearly embarrassed by it.

Does WDW allow you to bring in food? DL has a "no outside food" policy. We've never brought in actual meals like sandwiches and stuff, but when the kids were little I sometimes packed snacks like trail mix in ziploc bags for them to carry in their pockets.