DDP or Not

[DisneyQueen1320]

So we are leaving next month for a DVC stay and I'm not sure if I should get the plan.

So the Basic Plan about $46 an adult but I can get a meal at a sit down for about $30 and have a lite lunch or breakfast at a sit down for about $15 per adult. I know that doesn't include lunch but we are a family of four and we can eat a snack or share lunch so very little cost there. Plus the dining plan only gives you two meals anyway.

I used to love the dining plan but now I don't know if it's worth it, I know if I pay oop I'll save by not having desert, and that's fine with me, but I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do.

It kinda feels I can pay oop and eat a little better. Is this true or are my numbers incorrect.

Please help

 

[havoc315]

Your numbers are correct. The benefit of the ddp is the extra desserts and ability to order the most expensive entrees.
But if you are willing to skip desserts, and skip some beverages, you can eat better, for less money, than the ddp.
You can easily do a ts breakfast for $15 and ts dinner for $30.
If stuck to the ddp, you wouldn't have that ts breakfast covered. You could do cs breakfast, but that's only about a $10 value. But then you get dessert and soda with your dinner.

 

[sharonabe]

You're really the only one who can decide this for your family, and it will take a bit of time and research.

I've gone over the menus at the places we like to eat and we can definitely do better than the DDP. We are a family of four (all considered Disney adults) and we can do 3 meals a day, one of which is TS and at least 2 buffets, and a snack for less than what the DDP would cost us.

BUT, the reason we can do this is we don't drink sodas and only two of us really eat dessert, so if our TS is not a buffet, I "budget" in a dessert to share.

So, go on a virtual Disney dining vacation and order for your family from the menus and see what you come up with. It can be FUN!

 

[Huff]

Yes, its possible to eat for less than DDP but DDP allows us to dine at more expensive restaurants and not have to worry about ordering budget entrees. Also, DDP includes taxes.


For instance,

Coral Reef Dinner for two adults.
Salmon $24
Steak $32
Dessert $16
Drinks $6

Total with tax about $85

Port Orleans Riverside CS Lunch for two adults
Create Your Own Pasta $21
Dessert $7
Drinks $6

Total with tax about $37

So for dinner and lunch we're at $122 for two adults and we still have the snack credits to add. We do not dine at the buffets except perhaps Boma. If you intend to dine at breakfast buffets or at lower priced restaurants then you certainly can dine for less than DDP. For us, we enjoy being able to dine at nicer places than we would otherwise.

 

[sharonabe]

Yes, you can maximize the DDP, but it can also be very restricting.

If I go to Coral Reef, I'll feel I have to order the steak or salmon in order to make the value, but what I really want is the chicken (because I LOVE spaetzle). Since it is only $21, I probably wouldn't order it. And while none of the desserts really strikes my fancy, I'd love to have a ceaser salad or some soup with my meal, but alas, the DDP doesn't cover any apps.

So, if I eat what I WANT to eat, I'm only spending $28 for my dinner (I also prefer water with my meals, but I would get something to drink if on the DDP because I PAID for it).
That means I still have almost $20 for the rest of my day. I could eat at another TS at Epcot instead of eating CS for that amount!

So, OP, you really need to look at the menus and decide how YOU want to eat. There is enough variety out there to fit everyone's unique style!!

 

[ElizabethG]

So, go on a virtual Disney dining vacation and order for your family from the menus and see what you come up with. It can be FUN!

So, OP, you really need to look at the menus and decide how YOU want to eat. There is enough variety out there to fit everyone's unique style!!

I agree. It depends on where you intend to dine and what you would like to order there. Also, the age of the people in you group play a big part! We have two adults and two children under 10. The total cost per day is about $116. We like character meals. A breakfast at Chef Mickey is going to cost about $108. There is no way we could all get a CS meal for a total of $8. We will come out far ahead that day. With our intended destinations. We will save quite a bit of money. If my kids were Disney adults, I don't know if we would. I recalculate every year before I decide on the DDP, or not.