DDP-my game plan & vent

[AdventureGuru]

Well, I've decided that I'm not going to try to get more than what I can eat...or try to figure out how to get the most for my money...if you look at my ticker I'm going during free dining and honestly, now that I look back on our last trip...we didnt eat that much-mostly counter service and TS for breakfast.

It upsets me to see that people try to pull as fast one with the meal plan-try to get more or whatever. Some of the stories here on the board make me sad to think that people try to pull a fast one. And at first I was trying to figure out how to get the most for my money too-then I realized something-I'm getting food for FREE! This would have eatten (no pun intended) a good chunk of our budget. Last time we only had TS for breakfast (like I mentioned above) and well everything else was based on where we were and what we wanted at that time. We eat late most of the time...so who knows how that will figure out....maybe we'll be able to eat at TS for diner when we want it....I guess we will see

MY game plan...is to appreciate what I'm getting for free...I may even go to TS for lunch and see if I can order dinner (well b/c we either eat really late or get a big lunch) but that is the craft-iest I'll get.

Thank you Disney for making my trip budget a little less b/c you're giving us free dining. I might not eat $38 of food a day but I will enjoy the thought that my meal is free. Thank you.


*this is purely my opinion-don't flame me for sharing my thoughts

 

[Henlady]

Well put AdventureGuru. Disney made this trip possible for DH, DD(23) and I by offering the free dining. We can afford to pay for our food, but by not having to, we were able to offer our daughter a "free" trip. We will use the meals as designated and don't feel the need to "share" to get the most out of the plan/Disney. If I/we don't want a dessert or appetizer, I/we won't order it. We have never shared meals at a restaurant, and honestly don't recall of ever seeing this in any of the establishments we frequent.

 

[Kteacher]

We're going with the same mindset as you. We were lucky enough to be able to travel during the free dining promotion this year, but I'm not stressing out over which restaurants give me the best deal on the DDP.

 

[AdventureGuru]

I'm soooo glad I'm not the only one! I've read so much on other posts RE: sharing, getting the most...and I tried to figure out how to get the most for my $ and found I was stressing over it. So, I decided that I'm just going to go to the places I want to go to...order what I want and call it good.

I was just starting to feel like I was the only one out there that felt this way. Don't get me wrong I love the fact that we are getting food for free...and like henlady-we could afford it but it helped cut our costs significantly (we are looking at buying a house when we got home-or well start looking-so saving money was a BONUS! We actually traded our 3land/4sea in Jan for 5 days parks only in Sept AND CUT OUR COST IN HALF!

I'm just glad that there are people out there with a kind heart that are just happy with getting a meal. No matter what that meal is.

 

[LegoMom3]

.....I'm just glad that there are people out there with a kind heart that are just happy with getting a meal. No matter what that meal is.

So well-said!!! And that would be me

We are getting to go to so many TS restaurants that we otherwise couldn't have afforded, so this is such a treat for us and I'm just plain grateful!!

.

 

[ReneeA]

We went with the mindset that we were going to maximize the plan last year - eat at the nice restaurants, order the most expensive meals, etc.

HA! It lasted 2 days out of our 9 day trip. After that, we ate what we wanted, cancelled some ADR's and made some so that running around to meals was minimal, only ordered dessert if we weren't going to burst, and left the world with 6 snack credits and 3 TS credits still on the card.

We still came out WAY ahead. We were there on the free dining plan, but figured it would have cost us $650.00 if we had to pay for it. Our receipts totalled $992. - without going crazy to "maximize" the plan. We just had a good time, ate when we wanted to, what we felt like.

We had a GREAT time, and are doing it again in a month.

 

[dodukes]

Yeah I try to look at menus and see where the best would be to eat, but I think that we (ok well I ) do that mostly cuz im very picky (my dbf could care less). I figured I cant go wrong with steak and we like it so we ARE trying some of the most expensive places (i thought so but then im cheap..lol) we are only there fo pin event and we are going to try spoodles for first time and go back to le cellier for unch cuz we loved it. We are also going back to one of our faves Cape May. I realy dont understnad the sharing aspect of this, i am not starting debate i could care less who does, but I LOVE to eat and so does dbf and if we can each try and appt, entree and dessert. we are not goint to pass up that opportunity to try to scrimp thru our meal and make it to another one. In 4 years almost hat we have been together we have never shared a meal, (ok maybe once as a snack of something) so i'm not about to start at disney just to try to get one more meal. The way i view the plan is, we usually do only cs cuz i am not paying $100 for a meal for both of us, (just not doing it) so the plan is allowing us to try new things and have a good time eating (which we enjoy). So the things i have stressed over have been which restaurant we wanted to try only cuz we had only 3 TS's. Thats my view of the plan. And i love it cuz everything is paid for when we get there in sept. and dining is FREE!!!

 

[photobob]

You sound like you are going to handle DDP like the way I handle going out to eat with someone who is paying for my meal. I only order what I would order if I were paying myself. Actually if someone else is picking up the tab I tend to under order..

 

[AdventureGuru]

I'm not saying I havent looked at menus-I have...but now I look at them for what is where. I'm a picky eater and there are some places that I would like to try...but then even then I've looked at the menu and thought *ew...I'm not interested in anything on the menu*

If I happen to end up somewhere that is expensive and there isnt a huge wait-or maybe even if there is...I'm going to go in know what I want (or have a rough idea of what they have) and enjoy. Even if all I am in the mood for is an appetizer and desert.

Life is too short..eat what you want...when you want...if you want and enjoy your vacation!

 

[bnorm27]

It's funny when you hear folks complaining about sharing and using kid credits for adult meals. IT'S FREE!! Leave it to some people to complain about everything, even things they get for free!!

Having free dining is saving my family at least $500 during our six night stay. Thanks Uncle Mickey!!

 

[Tam1067]

We just got back and therefore paid for our DDP. I did not try to maximize anything. I had the kids eat CS kids' meals at lunch even though I could have sneaked some adult meals in there if I'd really tried. I paid OOP for most breakfasts. I ordered what I wanted at dinner and we went to the restauarants we would have eaten at regardless of the DDP. And you know what? We had fun and still saved money. I'm not sure we'll do it next time because my oldest will be an "adult" and I'm not sure if he'll eat his share of the price by then, but really, everyone who's on the DDP should just relax, order what they want, pay OOP for what's not covered, and have a great time. You'll still save money.

 

[jsmla]

It's funny when you hear folks complaining about sharing and using kid credits for adult meals. IT'S FREE!! Leave it to some people to complain about everything, even things they get for free!!

Not everyone on this board is dining free. Some of us are simply trying to decide if it is cost-effective for our party to purchase the dining plan. To do this we need to gather information on how the DDP can legally be used and if that legitimate use will suit our WDW dining style. We're not trying to cheat the system, simply trying to learn what the system is. It would be nice if Disney had a unversally consistent policy regarding things like sharing in table service resturants, but since there doesn't seem to be one, some of us need to gather information from those DISsers who have already experienced the DDP. Hubby and I have decided to go ahead and pay for the dining plan since he will be able to enjoy his steaks and desserts without worrying about the bill but, if it turns out that I can just order my <$20 pasta entree and use my TS credits later at different meal, I will. It just makes for an even better trip! I was one of the people who took the time to ask questions, look up menus and spend quite a bit of time with my calculator. It wasn't the most enjoyable use of my time, but now we can go on our trip comfortable in the fact that we're spending our money wisely. For instance, I've learned from reading this forum that I that I would never chose the DDP for a mother/daughter trip. It would be a huge waste. I just don't think that people should be considered cheap or obsessive just because they are trying to legally maximize the value of their already very expensive Disney vacation. The DIS is a wonderful resource for the gathering of information but I can see where some might be scared off from asking a question for fear of being ridiculed or criticized. JMHO

 

[AdventureGuru]

Not everyone on this board is dining free. Some of us are simply trying to decide if it is cost-effective for our party to purchase the dining plan. To do this we need to gather information on how the DDP can legally be used and if that legitimate use will suit our WDW dining style. We're not trying to cheat the system, simply trying to learn what the system is. It would be nice if Disney had a unversally consistent policy regarding things like sharing in table service resturants, but since there doesn't seem to be one, some of us need to gather information from those DISsers who have already experienced the DDP. Hubby and I have decided to go ahead and pay for the dining plan since he will be able to enjoy his steaks and desserts without worrying about the bill but, if it turns out that I can just order my <$20 pasta entree and use my TS credits later at different meal, I will. It just makes for an even better trip! I was one of the people who took the time to ask questions, look up menus and spend quite a bit of time with my calculator. It wasn't the most enjoyable use of my time, but now we can go on our trip comfortable in the fact that we're spending our money wisely. For instance, I've learned from reading this forum that I that I would never chose the DDP for a mother/daughter trip. It would be a huge waste. I just don't think that people should be considered cheap or obsessive just because they are trying to legally maximize the value of their already very expensive Disney vacation. The DIS is a wonderful resource for the gathering of information but I can see where some might be scared off from asking a question for fear of being ridiculed or criticized. JMHO

There has been some chat of sharing meals and getting adult meals with kid credit. Some of which is either against the rules or trying to cheat the system and they are doing it during free dining. I'm not trying to start anything. Its just sad that people feel they have to cheat the system...I actually feel bad for disney for having the sheets pulled over their eyes. They bend over (for the most part) for teh consumer...but when the consumer abuses the system (sharing and cheating) then it ruins it for the rest of us in the end.

We all ask questions...I've asked my share. I think that those that are paying for the plan should get their $38/day worth-absolutely. But cheating the system is just wrong. Its stealing. Isnt it?

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Well, I've decided that I'm not going to try to get more than what I can eat...or try to figure out how to get the most for my money...if you look at my ticker I'm going during free dining and honestly, now that I look back on our last trip...we didnt eat that much-mostly counter service and TS for breakfast.

It upsets me to see that people try to pull as fast one with the meal plan-try to get more or whatever. Some of the stories here on the board make me sad to think that people try to pull a fast one. And at first I was trying to figure out how to get the most for my money too-then I realized something-I'm getting food for FREE! This would have eatten (no pun intended) a good chunk of our budget. Last time we only had TS for breakfast (like I mentioned above) and well everything else was based on where we were and what we wanted at that time. We eat late most of the time...so who knows how that will figure out....maybe we'll be able to eat at TS for diner when we want it....I guess we will see

MY game plan...is to appreciate what I'm getting for free...I may even go to TS for lunch and see if I can order dinner (well b/c we either eat really late or get a big lunch) but that is the craft-iest I'll get.

Thank you Disney for making my trip budget a little less b/c you're giving us free dining. I might not eat $38 of food a day but I will enjoy the thought that my meal is free. Thank you.


*this is purely my opinion-don't flame me for sharing my thoughts

I agree with you. We were going to pay for the dining plan until the free plan came around, but we are using it as we want...and appreciate every minute that we are there Its saving us quite a bit of $ (I've got a dh and ds that are huge eaters..believe me, this will help, lol). Great post!

 

[LizinSTL]

There has been some chat of sharing meals and getting adult meals with kid credit. Some of which is either against the rules or trying to cheat the system and they are doing it during free dining. I'm not trying to start anything. Its just sad that people feel they have to cheat the system...I actually feel bad for disney for having the sheets pulled over their eyes. They bend over (for the most part) for teh consumer...but when the consumer abuses the system (sharing and cheating) then it ruins it for the rest of us in the end.

We all ask questions...I've asked my share. I think that those that are paying for the plan should get their $38/day worth-absolutely. But cheating the system is just wrong. Its stealing. Isnt it?

It's been said on other threads and I'll say it again here. Sharing meals is in no way, cheating disney. The CS meals are huge, especially on a hot day. There is NOTHING wrong or dishonest with sharing CS meals and using the unused credits for another CS meal. It's not pulling the sheets over the eyes of Disney. Disney makes its money on your hotel, your out of pocket expenses, your park admissions, your souvenier purchases, the fact that you are a "captive" on the property because of the dining plan (gotta use those credits), magical express (hey, who doesn't want a free ride from the airport), etc. Disney is NOT losing money on the dining plan even if every single guest used their kids' credits for meals at the California Grill (which is not happening, obviously for every guest).

Is it wrong to buy your child an adult meal rather than a child's meal? According to Disney's literature, yes. Is it wrong to share your adult meal with your child? Nope. Not even close- especially at Counter service!

 

[AdventureGuru]

I agree with you. We were going to pay for the dining plan until the free plan came around, but we are using it as we want...and appreciate every minute that we are there Its saving us quite a bit of $ (I've got a dh and ds that are huge eaters..believe me, this will help, lol). Great post!

thankyou