DDP or OOP for this trip?

[momof2twinboys]

We'll be there 7 full days and one late evening - we have 9 nights booked - only spending 6 in the parks to do day trips to Kennedy and a beach. Family of 4 - 2 7 year olds

Our plus Dining is $1198.08; our 35% discount was $651.90

We're planning to do 5 or 6 Character meals - dh wants a real breakfast each day

5 CM is $520; snacks are approx $32; breakfast ($30 each) $180; CS - $240 =$972

I don't think we would want dessert with every meal but I could see us having more than one snack a day - cold drink, Epcot F&W, treat, etc. With not being in the park for 2 days I'm not sure it makes sense to have the plan - there are 3 days we wouldn't be using it due to late arrival on day 1 - 7pm MCO. We could use those days for 2 TS on some days and use CS for breakfast 3 days - it seems like a lot of food to eat and then go on rides.

Do you need a dining plan to make ADRs?

Thanks! This is all new to us - not sure whether to do the plan or OOP

 

[Dizneydaz]

We've only paid for the DDP once so I don't have this problem but we do not go in the parks every day of our trip. We were there for 11 nights last Fall and I believe we did the parks, inc. TL and BB, 6 days. We were able to use our credits though by visiting DTD and resorts. We have our own rental car so that makes it easier to resort hop.

You don't need to have a DDP to make ADRs. You don't even need to be a Disney guest.

As far as how the money breaks down-that's really a personal decision. I'm not sure I follow your numbers.Sorry, maybe it's too late in the day to do math.

 

[we3travellers]

I'm not sure I get your math either. The snacks alone are worth way more than you have calculated. You have 4 people, 7 days, that's 28 snacks at approx. $4 each. That's $112. Also, 4 people for character meals is surely more than $520 for 5. Don't forget tax is included with DDP, so you need to add that to your OOP totals. Also, you may be hard pressed to get breakfast for 4 people for $30, but that could depend on where you are staying. I guess it depends if your boys are big eaters. I find the DDP a good value for Disney kids the age of yours, but that depends on the kids.

 

[StuckInKS]

We'll be there 7 full days and one late evening - we have 9 nights booked - only spending 6 in the parks to do day trips to Kennedy and a beach. Family of 4 - 2 7 year olds

Our plus Dining is $1198.08; our 35% discount was $651.90

We're planning to do 5 or 6 Character meals - dh wants a real breakfast each day

5 CM is $520; snacks are approx $32; breakfast ($30 each) $180; CS - $240 =$972

I don't think we would want dessert with every meal but I could see us having more than one snack a day - cold drink, Epcot F&W, treat, etc. With not being in the park for 2 days I'm not sure it makes sense to have the plan - there are 3 days we wouldn't be using it due to late arrival on day 1 - 7pm MCO. We could use those days for 2 TS on some days and use CS for breakfast 3 days - it seems like a lot of food to eat and then go on rides.

Do you need a dining plan to make ADRs?

Thanks! This is all new to us - not sure whether to do the plan or OOP

If it is only $200 more to do 9 nights with 1 TS, 1CS and 1 snack than do this "5 CM is $520; snacks are approx $32; breakfast ($30 each) $180; CS - $240 =$972", then i would just go with DDP. First, you will get 36 snacks, which you said you are likely to use. You said $32 for snacks, but that is only 8 snacks total. Then you said 5 or 6 CM, but that $972 only includes 5, so you will spend more than $972 if you decide to do the 6th CM. With the plan, you will also have some extra TS to play with for a sig or something. To top it off,
you will have 9 CS so your hubby can have breakfast every day, even the day you venture off WDW property.

If you were to add in the snacks you will really use, breakfast every day for your DH and add in the extra CM, I think you will at least come out even -- if not save money -- with DDP.