DDP or OOP

[LovesTimone]

i'll be in Disney in August and trying to figure out whether to purchase the dining plan or pay out of pocket for our meals, I do already have 6 reservations made during our stay and we are a family of 4 with both boys being adults! It would cost us another $2100.00! DH believes it might be cheaper to go this way! I'm just not sure! What does everyone else do? Free dining is available after we leave

This is always a debate...

For us we prefer the DDXDP as have used it for quite a long time and for us it's well worth it. When our DD were little through say from about 3 years old thru 5th grade we did DDP and it work out great for us. But once we started adding appetizers and having to pay oop for another complete meal, we moved up to DDXDP, and for our family it works for us. DH likes knowing that everything is paid for up front, except tips and adult beverages. Also I like not worrying about what everyone is ordering. Just order and relax, really enjoy that family time.

Take a look at the menu's and what you think that everyone will order, now what would you like to order after all your on vacation.

So much depends on how you normally eat, and other variables.......... like for instance do you order appetizers when going out to dine? Do your boys normally share meals? Are you planning on breakfast in the room? What experiences are you looking for. Do they( your boys) normally eat 3 meals a day? You also have to take into consideration, the heat, all the walking, were you planning on enjoying the pool and taking a break?

There is not perfect answer for this..

 

[LovesTimone]

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.

We always have left over credits, here are some ways to use them up.

1) Use for Breakfast and lunch on check out day. Credits are good until midnight on check out day.

2) If you are leaving super early, get breakfast to go to eat on the way to the airport, while waiting for your flight, or even on the plane. We were allowed to grab a pastry, yogurt, or piece of fruit, and a drink for 1 CS entitlement.

3) On the last night head into one of the bakeries, or candy shops and use up the entitlements, for gifts for family, friends, or co-workers.

4) If your driving and have more flexibility when you have to leave. You can as we have in the past we have done for Breakfast - Chef Mickey's, Kona, GFCafe, for breakfast or in the food court then headed over to DTD for last minute shopping, we had lunch ressie a couple of trips ago at Raglan road, but after the appetizer we were full, so the server boxed up our salads, and desserts, we put them in the cooler and stop at a rest area later on... what a treat. Also Earl of Sandwich is another great spot to use up CS entitlements and take it to go.

5) Goofy's candy shop is great way to bring the magic home with you, and use up your snack credits.

 

[LSUfan4444]

This is always a debate...

For us we prefer the DDXDP as have used it for quite a long time and for us it's well worth it. When our DD were little through say from about 3 years old thru 5th grade we did DDP and it work out great for us. But once we started adding appetizers and having to pay oop for another complete meal, we moved up to DDXDP, and for our family it works for us. DH likes knowing that everything is paid for up front, except tips and adult beverages. Also I like not worrying about what everyone is ordering. Just order and relax, really enjoy that family time.

Take a look at the menu's and what you think that everyone will order, now what would you like to order after all your on vacation.

So much depends on how you normally eat, and other variables.......... like for instance do you order appetizers when going out to dine? Do your boys normally share meals? Are you planning on breakfast in the room? What experiences are you looking for. Do they( your boys) normally eat 3 meals a day? You also have to take into consideration, the heat, all the walking, were you planning on enjoying the pool and taking a break?

There is not perfect answer for this..

I think when making this decision it is important to remember that paying in advance, while might be a convenience, is often times not the best value. Which is one reason why Disney wants you to do it. If the meal is paid for, that $8 app, $5 salad and $6 beer doesn't seem so bad to add on, BUT adding on that on top of the meal you just ordered guides peoples decisions often times.

Paying in advance is a convenience that comes at a cost and the burden of "worrying about it" while actually in WDW and contemplating menu decisions is a good way to save money. You need to remember, even though your meal is paid in advance, you are still faced with the budget decisions of do you want that extra course, or do you even want your dessert from Be Our Guest or that cinnamon roll from Gaston's Tavern (which will now cost extra).

If the decision is boiling down to money, and money alone, almost every time you will be able to come out ahead by not purchasing the DDP and being aware of your purchases. If convenience is a cost you are willing to accept, but want to reduce your overall vacation cost you can always look for money in other areas (drive instead of fly, don't get memory maker, skip the hoppers etc.).

I honestly think the only way to truly know what works best for your family is paying attention and tracking your spending over two trips. One with the DDP and one without. Judging the value of the DDP by your receipt total vs the daily cost of the DDP is not a very good barometer because it isn't a true reflection of what you would have ordered had you not had the DDP.

It took us a few years to figure it out, but we eat better food now, spend less and have more freedom since moving past the DDP.

 

[SM101]

The dining plan doesn't work for us (myself and kidlet). Most meals are too big for us to have one each and I can't eat multiple desserts in one day. I wouldn't even use the drinks most of the time because I usually drink water.

Now...if they had a wine-and-appetizer plan, THAT might work!

 

[LSUfan4444]

The dining plan doesn't work for us (myself and kidlet). Most meals are too big for us to have one each and I can't eat multiple desserts in one day. I wouldn't even use the drinks most of the time because I usually drink water.

Now...if they had a wine-and-appetizer plan, THAT might work!

I agree completely. If they added flexibility to the plan I would be interested because I do like the idea of pre-paying. Especially since I can get some on interest months by putting it on my Disney Visa.

Maybe one app in lieu of two desserts. Two apps instead of one entree, etc. and I am with you as well on the soft drinks.

What I did last year at Be Our Guest was had them bring my coke with my dessert (scoop of vanilla ice cream) and I just made a float. I MIGHT drink one soft drink a month.....maybe.

 

[Ahodgson923]

For those using the dining plan calculator, but struggling with whether or not to upgrade on the free dining promotion, try the spreadsheet on this website. I am not sure how often it is updated or the accuracy, but I figured that it would probably be close enough to give me an idea.

Plus, I like spreadsheets. Lol

http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0