DDP or OOP

[Danielle1971]

I found this web page that will give you a rough idea of cost without having to do all the math yourself. Maybe it will help. http://www.distripplanner.com/ For us the dining plan works, the cost of CS and TS meals alone are enogh to equal to cost without adding in the mug or snacks, that being said we have 3 kids(one still free) and do almost all TS character buffets.

Thank you very much for that site! It really helped! I think it might be best to do DDP but will wait & see!

 

[ashleighbass06]

I recommend going to allears.net and look at the prices of the places you are looking at. Consider the fact that you get a dessert with EVERY meal on DDP.

Personally, DH and I would never get 2 desperate desserts with both lunch & dinner. After looking it over, that $60 per person per day was WAY more than we plan to eat OOP. Add in the fact that alcoholic beverages would be extra anyway and we decided to skip the DDP this trip.

 

[alan_renfroe]

IMO, simply put: it's marginally cheaper to pay out of pocket...but the freedom to order ANYTHING on the menu gives our vacation more of an all-inclusive feel. We saved up a little extra and do the deluxe dining plan. My 17-yr-old son LOVES it! Lobsters for everybody!

 

[shadeauxe]

I like everyone's ideas but not into doing all the math calculations! I just don't know what I'll be in the mood for or at what park? I don't want to stress myself out & just enjoy my trip! I'm the only one that doesn't drink soda & the desserts can be brought back to room to eat enjoy later! I do have 6 TS with 1 being a character so I think these will be expensive OOP! I'm just so confused but I have 1 more month to figure it all out!

What are these Disney GC people are talking about? I have to purchase these right?

If people have the Disney Visa it helps because u get a % off room & get cash rewards, etc!

You can buy them in lots of places (Lowe's, BJs, Target, etc). If you buy them at Target with a red card, you get a 5% discount. So it's like getting a 5% discount on everything you buy at Disney. If you can get Tables in Wonderland, as a previous poster mentioned, it's another 18% off the meal.

I don't know if the Disney VISA discount on purchases requires that you pay with it.

I buy a ton of gift cards, charge everything to my room and pay the room off with the gift cards.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I used to be on the DDP bandwagon but recently left it when my one daughter was ill most of the time, and we ended up having to cancel a lot of our reservations for her. Had we been doing OOP, the silver lining would've been that we didn't spend a lot on food. But as it was, we spent a whole bunch on food we didn't even eat!

Most of the savings with the DDP is earned by having children on the plan. The cost of the adult plan is MUCH more expensive, so if you have a Disney Adult who is still a kid, there's a good chance they're not going to make up for the cost of the plan. The savings is also seen when choosing certain types of restaurants-- like if you're going to all character meals, which are typically more expensive. Another consideration is what you order. Do you always get a dessert? If you don't, it might not be worth it. Do you sometimes like to get appetizers? If you do, it might not be worth it. When on the DDP, I always tended to go for the more expensive item... even if I didn't want it, just to get my money's worth!!

We found that the last time we went, we saved much more money going OOP and would never do the DDP again.

 

[scrappinam]

DDP vs. OOP is always a huge debate. The bottom line is the decision depends on how you and your family want to dine.

The plan works for us for several reasons. One we eat a lot of character meals. These tend to be more expense. Second, we only eat one TS breakfast and one TS lunch on our vacation. The majority of our TS meals are dinner which is also more expense. Third we have a 9 yr old, a 6 yr old, and a 2 yr old. The cost of a dinner character meal for a child is usually more than the cost of the child's dining plan for the entire day. Also the amount if food at both CS and TS meals allow us to share with the two year old and not order her an additional meal. Lastly, we have a 14 yr old boy who is a huge eater. He wants dessert at every meal. He and my husband often order the most expensive things on the menu. If we pay out of pocket, the budget minded person in me tries to steer everyone toward cheaper options.

For now the dining plan works for us. We always save some money even if we have to pay for the plan. However, when my 9 yr old turns 10 and becomes a disney adult, we might have to reevaluate.

 

[meljean]

I found this web page that will give you a rough idea of cost without having to do all the math yourself. Maybe it will help.

http://www.distripplanner.com/

For us the dining plan works, the cost of CS and TS meals alone are enogh to equal to cost without adding in the mug or snacks, that being said we have 3 kids(one still free) and do almost all TS character buffets.

I used this website to see if it would be worth it for us to upgrade to the regular dining plan. Could you explain how to read the results? It says:

Using No Plan
$1218.98

Using Dining Plan
$1430.83 (Additional Cost: $211.85)

Does this mean that I should not upgrade?

 

[ibela]

I used this website to see if it would be worth it for us to upgrade to the regular dining plan. Could you explain how to read the results? It says:

Using No Plan
$1218.98

Using Dining Plan
$1430.83 (Additional Cost: $211.85)

Does this mean that I should not upgrade?

Yes, dining plan price for your eating habits exceeds the average menu price on the items you'd order so you'd probably save money by paying OOP.

For my family, the normal dining plan makes most sense since I have a $90 savings and 1 more meal for us to get. But I have 2 children and several fixed price meals. And at a la carte restaurants we like to order soda/coffee/chocolate milk and desserts.

Using No Plan
$1296.91

Using Quick Service Dining Plan
$1600.52 (Additional Cost: $303.61)
Quick Service Entitlements Remaining: 32

Using Dining Plan
$1207.69 (Savings: $89.22)
Quick Service Entitlements Remaining: 4
Table Service Entitlements Remaining: 0

Using Deluxe Dining Plan
$2004.43 (Additional Cost: $707.52)
Entitlements Remaining: 32

 

[meljean]

Yes, dining plan price for your eating habits exceeds the average menu price on the items you'd order so you'd probably save money by paying OOP.

For my family, the normal dining plan makes most sense since I have a $90 savings and 1 more meal for us to get. But I have 2 children and several fixed price meals. And at a la carte restaurants we like to order soda/coffee/chocolate milk and desserts.

Using No Plan
$1296.91

Using Quick Service Dining Plan
$1600.52 (Additional Cost: $303.61)
Quick Service Entitlements Remaining: 32

Using Dining Plan
$1207.69 (Savings: $89.22)
Quick Service Entitlements Remaining: 4
Table Service Entitlements Remaining: 0

Using Deluxe Dining Plan
$2004.43 (Additional Cost: $707.52)
Entitlements Remaining: 32

Sorry for more questions Since we have "free dining" we upgraded to the regular plan. Is this still saving us money? I'm not sure on the price difference, I would have to ask. I have 2 children also and I know they say that with kids the dining plan is the better deal, but it doesn't look to be that way this time.

So where it says additional costs, that's how much I am away from the dining plan cost correct? And if it says savings, this is how much you are spending over the dining plan correct?

 

[sharonabe]

Sorry for more questions Since we have "free dining" we upgraded to the regular plan. Is this still saving us money? I'm not sure on the price difference, I would have to ask. I have 2 children also and I know they say that with kids the dining plan is the better deal, but it doesn't look to be that way this time.

So where it says additional costs, that's how much I am away from the dining plan cost correct? And if it says savings, this is how much you are spending over the dining plan correct?

That site is not calculating based on free dining and then upgrading. Your upgrade cost per night is $44.30. Multiply that times the nights your staying and I bet it's less than the $1200 OOP cost.

However, you could keep your free QS plan and pay OOP for fewer TS and come out cheaper, but that's a personal choice of how you want to eat while on vacation.

 

[ibela]

Sorry for more questions Since we have "free dining" we upgraded to the regular plan. Is this still saving us money? I'm not sure on the price difference, I would have to ask. I have 2 children also and I know they say that with kids the dining plan is the better deal, but it doesn't look to be that way this time.

So where it says additional costs, that's how much I am away from the dining plan cost correct? And if it says savings, this is how much you are spending over the dining plan correct?

With free dining, in general if you plan on doing a TS every day or almost every day, you'll more than likely be better off with the upgrade. If you only plan on 1 or 2 TS throughout the week, pay OOP. You should review the menu prices to be sure. That tool doesn't take free dining into account so it's comparing based on the total cost of the dining plan which doesn't apply to you in this case.

With 2 children, if you do a character meal or other fixed price meal per day that will cost more than the difference you're paying to upgrade. Hope that makes sense...

 

[LSUfan4444]

In jan of 2013 this was my example in response to a thread comparing ddp and non ddp:

We ate and drank what we want when we wanted, and I wanted to see how that compared to the dining plan. Now, these costs are based basically on two adults and Molly (my daughter who was under three and free), but I compared them to what the meal plan would have cost us. I think the only way you can judge the value of the dining plan is after you dine without it because it is too hard to know what you would have ordered if you weren't on the meal plan. Alot of people see their receipts and think, "wow, look how expensive that is, good thing we're on the meal plan", but would you really have ordered a dessert for everyone at the table? Would you really eat a counter service, a snack and a table service meal each day? Anyway, for us the meal plan for 2013 is $55 per day. That comes out to $880 for both of us for eight nights.

In total we spent $1,058 on food and dining. Now, maybe you're asking how could I come out better not on the dining plan when I spent more. Well, this is why. That $1,058 included all of our groceries from Publix, which included a case of beer and two bottle of wine, plus other non food items for the room. That $1,058 also included alcohol that we ordered with our meals, AND gratuity we spent, both of which you have to pay extra for with the meal plan. Most importantly, it allowed us to order what we want when we wanted it. It isn't like we ate cheap. We ate at Ohana, California Grill, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review, Be Our Guest, Wishes Dessert Party (also not included on the dining plan), Mama Melrose, Big River Grill and did the Dine with Shamu experience at Sea World. Another benefit of not having the meal plan is it doesn't cost you any more money to dine at any of the Swan and Dolphin restaurants (Blue Zoo, Kimonos, Shulas, etc). At the California Grill, the night before the marathon, we ordered an app, two sushi rolls and a salad and it was MORE THAN ENOUGH food....thats impossible on the meal plan, no matter how full you are.


Notes by Cliff:
-Dining Plan would have cost wife and I $880 (no gratuity, no apps, no salads, no alcohol, etc.)
-Opted for out of pocket and spent $1058 (included all alcohol, all gratuity, all apps, salads and a grocery store strip which included alcohol for the room snacks and cleaning supplies)
-We ate at Ohana, California Grill, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review, Be Our Guest, Wishes Dessert Party (also not included on the dining plan), Mama Melrose, Big River Grill and did the Dine with Shamu experience at Sea World

 

[mcconnellfam96]

The DDP made sense for us when our kids were actually considered kids at Disney! The children's price for the plan is very reasonable - which helps offset the higher adult price. Plus, when they were young almost every table service meal was a character meal for us.

Now, it just isn't a financially smart option. My kids can not eat $60 worth of food per day inside the parameters of one TS, 1 CS and 1 snack credit. Especially when they are choosing to go to places like Beaches and Cream and Planet Hollywood for dinner and Kona Café for breakfast.

The other thing - I feel like on the DDP we ate so much more food than we would typically consume in a day. We would never eat a dessert for lunch and certainly wouldn't have a dinner dessert every night! So, in the past on the plan, we end up not ordering desserts (lost value), ordering desserts and stuffing ourselves (LOL) or taking desserts back to our room and throwing them away a few days later (because when do you find time to eat them when you are on a daily cycle of Disney overeating? LOL).

So for our family (myself, DH, DD17 who eats like a toddler!, and DS10), we pay out of pocket. Over a 11 day/10 night vacation, with 10 TS meals, we save over $600 total and approximately 10,000 calories each.

 

[Aristocath]

The DDP made sense for us when our kids were actually considered kids at Disney! The children's price for the plan is very reasonable - which helps offset the higher adult price. Plus, when they were young almost every table service meal was a character meal for us.

Now, it just isn't a financially smart option. My kids can not eat $60 worth of food per day inside the parameters of one TS, 1 CS and 1 snack credit. Especially when they are choosing to go to places like Beaches and Cream and Planet Hollywood for dinner and Kona Café for breakfast.

The other thing - I feel like on the DDP we ate so much more food than we would typically consume in a day. We would never eat a dessert for lunch and certainly wouldn't have a dinner dessert every night! So, in the past on the plan, we end up not ordering desserts (lost value), ordering desserts and stuffing ourselves (LOL) or taking desserts back to our room and throwing them away a few days later (because when do you find time to eat them when you are on a daily cycle of Disney overeating? LOL).

So for our family (myself, DH, DD17 who eats like a toddler!, and DS10), we pay out of pocket. Over a 11 day/10 night vacation, with 10 TS meals, we save over $600 total and approximately 10,000 calories each.

This is a great summary. I'll never forget our 2006 trip which was our first with the dining plan. It was so much more food back then since it included an app, too. After a week of Disney Dining we loaded up in the car for the trip back home. Normally riding in the car for twenty hour makes me hungry out of boredom. My DH and I couldn't eat for the whole day- we were just stuffed!

 

[lizzyb]

When I calculated the costs for our trip it would costs us more to have the dining plan.

 

[mcconnellfam96]

This is a great summary. I'll never forget our 2006 trip which was our first with the dining plan. It was so much more food back then since it included an app, too. After a week of Disney Dining we loaded up in the car for the trip back home. Normally riding in the car for twenty hour makes me hungry out of boredom. My DH and I couldn't eat for the whole day- we were just stuffed!

I know exactly what you mean! Towards the end if our stays on trips when we have done the dining plan - I don't even want to go to our dinner reservations because I am so sick of eating! LOL

 

[Danielle1971]

So I've been doing some research & decided to do OOP!
Even though my boys are considered adults, can I still order off kids menu for them @ TS restaurant?
The only thing is the ADR's for the buffet breakfast & Ohana dinner they will be charged adult prices!
Since I eat pretty healthy it's going to be challenging finding good places to eat for CS! I don't want the kids living off of chicken nuggets, burgers & fries!
Allears. Net allowed me to look up the menus & pricing which is very helpful! It gave me a somewhat idea of where to go but I don't have a full itinerary yet!
I'm not sure which park I'll be at each day! I'm trying to plan it according to my ADR's! I still have FP + to figure out & can't do that yet! This is just so much work to do!
Anyone have an easy plan so I don't stress out! Lol!

 

[mcconnellfam96]

So I've been doing some research & decided to do OOP! Even though my boys are considered adults, can I still order off kids menu for them @ TS restaurant? The only thing is the ADR's for the buffet breakfast & Ohana dinner they will be charged adult prices! Since I eat pretty healthy it's going to be challenging finding good places to eat for CS! I don't want the kids living off of chicken nuggets, burgers & fries! Allears. Net allowed me to look up the menus & pricing which is very helpful! It gave me a somewhat idea of where to go but I don't have a full itinerary yet! I'm not sure which park I'll be at each day! I'm trying to plan it according to my ADR's! I still have FP + to figure out & can't do that yet! This is just so much work to do! Anyone have an easy plan so I don't stress out! Lol!

Do you like to do the Extra Magic Hours? What do you prefer your first/last park of the trip to be? Will you stay at the parks all day? Are there any restaurants that are must do's for you or nee/favorite places to try? I always start with these factors in mind and then start deciding/checking on ADRs. Once those are secured, then focus on Fastpasses. (Which you can't select until 60 days out.). Hope this helps!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We did the DDP once and ended up with about 6 CS and 20 snack credits left over for the 8 of us from a 10 day trip. Way too much food. Each year we pay OOP and I keep all the receipts - when we get home I figure out the difference if we would have gotten the DDP. We have saved money each time.

Lets say you eat dinner at Ohana - this is the break down.
DDP - $60.00
Ohana - $41.00 for dinner
CS - $12.00 the most
Snack - $4.00
The total for the meal is $57.00 while you would have paid $60.00 for the DDP. If you ate at Tusker House the most for dinner is $35.00 - then your total for the day would be $51.00 while you paid $60.00.

So for us it never saves us money. Figure out where you want to eat and figure out the cost.

 

[Danielle1971]

Do you like to do the Extra Magic Hours? What do you prefer your first/last park of the trip to be? Will you stay at the parks all day? Are there any restaurants that are must do's for you or nee/favorite places to try? I always start with these factors in mind and then start deciding/checking on ADRs. Once those are secured, then focus on Fastpasses. (Which you can't select until 60 days out.). Hope this helps!

Unfortunately, I didn't take into consideration the Extra Magic hours when I booked my ADR's! We do take advantage of them when we can especially @ night! We do like to park hop so we are usually gone from morning 2 night! We do like 2 break it up & go back 2 swim! I will be able to do My Fast Pass + really soon, this is when I need 2 know for sure where I'll be!!!! With 2 of my ADR's @ Epcot, I just hope I don't miss Wishes! I have one @ 750 & 710 pm! This is when I should of planned accordingly with Extra Magic! I'm sure it will work out!