DDP, or just use $750 disney GC?

[happyjen]

Hi, This will be my families first trip to Disney!! So excited! We have 2 rooms, 5 adults, on child (4). My question is about the DDP. We haven't decided if we "need" it or not, we booked and received the $750 Disney Gift Card, one for each room. If we use that for food, do you think we will also need the DDP. We are planning to do a few character meals (hopefully we will be able to get reservations for April). We are also staying on the club level of our resort, so we will have options for snacks etc. Please, any advice would be helpful! I think we have until 72 hours before check in to add the DDP to our package.

 

[happyjen]

moving this to the other thread, sorry

 

[cranleys]

My advice would be to go to allears.net and look at their menus. The menus include prices, which might help you to decide how expensive your meals might be.
If I were you, I would book the DDP and use the $750 for the meals which are not included. Disney dining is VERY expensive. When we travel we always use the DxDDP and have found that we always save money, but we really like to eat while on vacation.
Good luck

 

[OhThePain]

Depending on when and how long you are going, there is a room discount that might work out to be cheaper (if you are staying delux it's either 40% or45% off room only, depending on how long you are there). You would probably save more than the $750 that the gift card is worth and then re-invest the savings into the dining plan and it might come out as a better deal. That is depending on if you want the hastle of canceling your reservation and re-book with the room discount. I was origionally booked to get the $500 GC but ended up saving another $50 with the room discount. $50 isn't much, but it is still $50.

If you are doing a lot of character breakfasts and not many other ADR's then I would advise not to do the DDP because the breakfasts don't have enough value to be worth a TS credit.

 

[marcielm]

$1500 is more than enough for 5 adults & a child to eat on at Disney, IMO. I do agree to go check out allears.net and see what the menus look like (along with the pricing) for the places you are thinking about eating.

As for the dining plan not being a good deal for character meals... not ALL character meals are breakfasts. We did all dinners (except 1 breakfast) on our last trip, and they were all character meals.

Also, know that most of the character meals ARE buffets, and the pricing is flat rate. However if you go to another resturant you can easily share a meal (the portions are HUGE) and save some $$ that way. Plus, the CS meals can easily be shared as well, and by being CL you have snacks at your disposal, so the snack credits would be futile if you were on the DDP (unless of course you wanted something while inside the parks).

Another option would be to get the QSDP rather than the DDP, and use your GC's to pay for a couple of sit down meals (and the tips, and a bunch of other fun stuff as well). Don't forget that you can upgrade your park tickets at the ticket gates once you've arrived (to add the park hopper option, additional days from the base 5 day that is required for the GC offer, or the water park option) and use your GC that way as well.

I hope this helps you! If you are going for more than 8 days, you might be stretching it on $1500 (that's less than $200/day) if you were wanting 1 sit down meal each day. If it is 7 days or less, I really think you will be fine.

 

[lizandjason]

Let's say you're there for six nights. If you choose the DDP, you'll be paying $42 per adult and $11 for the child per day x 6 days, which will cost you an additional $1,326 for meals. So, you'll pay this out of pocket and have the $1,500 to spend on non-food items like souvenirs and gratuities for sit-down meals.

If you choose to spend the $1,500 as you go on your meals, you won't have to shell out $1,326 for the DDP. If you're smart about your meal planning and enjoy all of the great free food on the concierge level, you shouldn't go much over $1,500. Sure, you won't have that $1,500 to spend on souvenirs...but you'll be saving lots of money on dining...the gift card practically makes it free. It all depends on your budget and your spending priorities.

I also urge you to consider the room discount instead of the gift card as suggested above...you might save even more than $1,500.

I hope you have a very magical first trip, you're going to have a blast!

 

[jeepgirl30]

We opted for the gc. we are staying 5 nights. The main thing was the ddp is entree and dessert. We are more apps and entree or apps and more apps! also with the ddp you still pay tip out of pocket. I really wish you could choose dessert OR appetizer.