DDP Value?

[Magic Megadegs]

At the buffet meals the kids can choose from anything and as the kids options generally on the menu aren't necessarily fabulous, these are a good use of credits x

 

[tinkerpea]

No logical reason, I suppose. It's just a surprise that Disney doesn't insist (as they wouldn't benefit from kids ordering cheaper meals) that either everyone in the party uses DDP or pay OOP, not a mixture.

Do you mean they share meals you pay for? It is one of the "regulations" of DDP that you're not allowed to share meals paid for with TS credits. I daresay some places let it go though. We found side orders very random, some places charged for them and some zero'd out (so it wasn't a case of missing them off the bill) the cost.

Actually you can share meals on the DDP as long as everyone in your party is on the DDP! Not sure where you have read that you can't share if on the DDP,
We have been doing this for years.
Never had a problem and we do 3wks every/to every other year and have used the ddp ever since the plan came out.

 

[2Tiggies]

No problem sharing on the DDP as described above. I don't see Disney stopping folk from part paying and part redeeming credits at a meal. It actually works in Disney's favor because guests who do this are only using the number of allocated credits given to them over their stay but are paying additional costs OOP so it's a win win situation

 

[bobbins]

No problem sharing on the DDP as described above. I don't see Disney stopping folk from part paying and part redeeming credits at a meal. It actually works in Disney's favor because guests who do this are only using the number of allocated credits given to them over their stay but are paying additional costs OOP so it's a win win situation

It seems that's correct and you can share.

However adults are not supposed to use the child credits (from the 2103 DDP brochure):

Q. Can Guests ages 10+ use Guests ages 3-9 meal entitlements?
A. Sorry, meal entitlements cannot be shared between Guests ages 10+ and Guests
ages 3-9.

...however in practice Disney doesn't separate adult and child credits so if you had two kids there's nothing (apart from it being a bit naughty) to stop you paying for their kids meal OOP and using all the credits for adult meals.

They must know this goes on - it would be pretty obvious at the end of the trip when they matched meals taken to credits used (not to mention seeing all the paid OPP kids meals) - but they currently aren't doing anything about it.

So it's not a winning situation for Disney at all - they're potentially supplying twice as many adult meals as the typical package (2A+2C) allowed for.

 

[Elise79]

It seems that's correct and you can share.

However adults are not supposed to use the child credits (from the 2103 DDP brochure):

Q. Can Guests ages 10+ use Guests ages 3-9 meal entitlements?
A. Sorry, meal entitlements cannot be shared between Guests ages 10+ and Guests
ages 3-9.

...however in practice Disney doesn't separate adult and child credits so if you had two kids there's nothing (apart from it being a bit naughty) to stop you paying for their kids meal OOP and using all the credits for adult meals.

They must know this goes on - it would be pretty obvious at the end of the trip when they matched meals taken to credits used (not to mention seeing all the paid OPP kids meals) - but they currently aren't doing anything about it.

So it's not a winning situation for Disney at all - they're potentially supplying twice as many adult meals as the typical package (2A+2C) allowed for.

Yes, but that's only for CS meals. TS credits are split Adult/child.

At CS meals they probably aren't really losing that much - a typical child's meal is around $5.50 while adult would be $15 however the actual costs to Disney for those two meals is probably only a few bucks not the $10 in menu prices.

If the abuse was that bad Disney would do what they did with the TS credits and split them.

 

[2Tiggies]

...however in practice Disney doesn't separate adult and child credits so if you had two kids there's nothing (apart from it being a bit naughty) to stop you paying for their kids meal OOP and using all the credits for adult meals.

They must know this goes on - it would be pretty obvious at the end of the trip when they matched meals taken to credits used (not to mention seeing all the paid OPP kids meals) - but they currently aren't doing anything about it.

So it's not a winning situation for Disney at all - they're potentially supplying twice as many adult meals as the typical package (2A+2C) allowed for.

I hear what you are saying and can't argue that. I was responding to Tinkerpea's post and her children are Disney 'adults' so the credits would be interchangeable among the family. With QSDP it is a little more tricky, I agree. But that said, I upgraded DD 2 or 3 times before she was 10 and had her on the adult QSDP and we left more than a third of our credits left over at the end of our stays and nearly half our snack credits. There is a limit to what the average person can eat so I guess it does balance out to a point.

 

[tinkerpea]

It seems that's correct and you can share.

However adults are not supposed to use the child credits (from the 2103 DDP brochure):

Q. Can Guests ages 10+ use Guests ages 3-9 meal entitlements?
A. Sorry, meal entitlements cannot be shared between Guests ages 10+ and Guests
ages 3-9.

...however in practice Disney doesn't separate adult and child credits so if you had two kids there's nothing (apart from it being a bit naughty) to stop you paying for their kids meal OOP and using all the credits for adult meals.

They must know this goes on - it would be pretty obvious at the end of the trip when they matched meals taken to credits used (not to mention seeing all the paid OPP kids meals) - but they currently aren't doing anything about it.

So it's not a winning situation for Disney at all - they're potentially supplying twice as many adult meals as the typical package (2A+2C) allowed for.

But nobody on here has said they are using child credits to get adult meals!?
I think your getting confused,
What has been said is that the children are sharing adult credits " which is perfectly fine" or the child is having a child meal paid OOP and the adult is using the extra credit, which is an ADULTs credit as the child has been upgraded to the adult plan.
This way the child can eat what they like or share , and the extra credits can be used for signature meals.
A child is classed as an adult from 10 years but my children are 10,8,8 they however are all on the adult plan.
No restaurant though has ever stopped us from buying a kids meal OOP and us using the extra credit of the child's for our signature meals since the credit is an adult entitlement.

 

[bobbins]

A child is classed as an adult from 10 years but my children are 10,8,8 they however are all on the adult plan.
No restaurant though has ever stopped us from buying a kids meal OOP and us using the extra credit of the child's for our signature meals since the credit is an adult entitlement.

I'd have been lynched by my kids if I'd suggested kids meals for them while we were eating a signature meal!

With "free" (included in the holiday price) DDP, does Disney adjust the total depending on how old the kids are? I just looked at the US free dining offer currently running and it only makes a tiny difference to the package price on the standard (1QS +1 QS) DDP if you change the kids ages from under 9 to over 9.

 

[scousemouse09]

We're staying at CBR next year and have free didning - the first time I'll have had it! However, our little boy will be 2 so doesn't qualify for free dining as he doesn't require a park ticket. I'm relieved to see that we can use our credits but still pay for his meal, as I was envisioning having to go up twice to order food!

For me, the benefit is breakfast and lunch are paid for, and if we want to splurge on tea we can do

 

[tinkerpea]

I'd have been lynched by my kids if I'd suggested kids meals for them while we were eating a signature meal!

With "free" (included in the holiday price) DDP, does Disney adjust the total depending on how old the kids are? I just looked at the US free dining offer currently running and it only makes a tiny difference to the package price on the standard (1QS +1 QS) DDP if you change the kids ages from under 9 to over 9.

Again not sure why,
The kids meals at the signatures are great choices eg steak and way better, my children have no problem eating a kids meal as they are kids!! There 8 lmao
Plus they don't eat kids meals at every signature my oldest had the lobster and steak combo and shared with me at Narcoosees and my twins shared the adult steak meal, so it still freed up credits.
When we went to Flying fish the boys wanted kids meals as they wanted the chocolate puzzle so they had the kids steak meal and dessert and was very happy with it.
I only do the TS DDP, and the only difference in price is paying for an adult park ticket instead of a child one.
So if no difference in park ticket price then no difference in DDP price. If the DDP is not free then the price is a lot and so we don't change the kids ages.
We just buy them adult meals to share if they want them.

 

[Elise79]

We're staying at CBR next year and have free didning - the first time I'll have had it! However, our little boy will be 2 so doesn't qualify for free dining as he doesn't require a park ticket. I'm relieved to see that we can use our credits but still pay for his meal, as I was envisioning having to go up twice to order food!

For me, the benefit is breakfast and lunch are paid for, and if we want to splurge on tea we can do

Although you can go up once at QS restaurants they have to put through separate transactions depending on payment type - one for any items paid with meals credits, one for snack credits and one for cash. Its best to tell them at the beginning and they will have no problem helping you order

 

[Elise79]

Again not sure why,
The kids meals at the signatures are great choices eg steak and way better, my children have no problem eating a kids meal as they are kids!! There 8 lmao
Plus they don't eat kids meals at every signature my oldest had the lobster and steak combo and shared with me at Narcoosees and my twins shared the adult steak meal, so it still freed up credits.
When we went to Flying fish the boys wanted kids meals as they wanted the chocolate puzzle so they had the kids steak meal and dessert and was very happy with it.
I only do the TS DDP, and the only difference in price is paying for an adult park ticket instead of a child one.
So if no difference in park ticket price then no difference in DDP price. If the DDP is not free then the price is a lot and so we don't change the kids ages.
We just buy them adult meals to share if they want them.

I have yet to see the benefit in upgrading our DD to an adult plan for the way we eat.

Last month we had 16TS credits. 8 of those where used at fixed price restaurants - so DD could eat whatever she wanted anyway and having her as a child meant my tip was on the child price rather than the adult (and if she was charged the adult price I couldn't short change the server by under-tipping as its not their fault I have up-aged by DD).

Then 4 where used at Signature restaurants where the kids menus are good and as she can only eat a child portion are perfect for her.

The leaves 4 which we used on 1TS meals. We ate at Teppan Edo which has excellent childs menu anyway. So it was only the remaining 3 meals that would be considered to having limited children's menus.

For the extra tips I would have had to pay we could easily eat offsite for extra meals where DD can get children's meal with more variety. She loves pasta, chicken and steak which makes feeding her quite easy anyway.

Disney's restaurants are just not that good that I want to eat in them every night. Sometimes I like to relax over a meal and not feel like I am on a conveyer belt which you do at many of the 1TS restaurants

 

[tinkerpea]

I have yet to see the benefit in upgrading our DD to an adult plan for the way we eat.

Last month we had 16TS credits. 8 of those where used at fixed price restaurants - so DD could eat whatever she wanted anyway and having her as a child meant my tip was on the child price rather than the adult (and if she was charged the adult price I couldn't short change the server by under-tipping as its not their fault I have up-aged by DD).

Then 4 where used at Signature restaurants where the kids menus are good and as she can only eat a child portion are perfect for her.

The leaves 4 which we used on 1TS meals. We ate at Teppan Edo which has excellent childs menu anyway. So it was only the remaining 3 meals that would be considered to having limited children's menus.

For the extra tips I would have had to pay we could easily eat offsite for extra meals where DD can get children's meal with more variety. She loves pasta, chicken and steak which makes feeding her quite easy anyway.

Disney's restaurants are just not that good that I want to eat in them every night. Sometimes I like to relax over a meal and not feel like I am on a conveyer belt which you do at many of the 1TS restaurants

I understand where your coming from, but we don't upgrade the kids so they can eat whole adult meals, we upgrade them ( only when it's free DDP so it costs us nothing) so we can use the credits! And they if they want an adult meal choice can share a meal,
For example Trex they really loved the ribs combo and it was enough for the twins to share, every restaurant splits it and plates it up for them and adds a free drink for the other child,
So I'm only paying the tip for that meal around the same as the 2 kids meals anyways.
At other places the kids have chosen kids meal as that's what they have wanted ( normally for the dessert) I can still use the adult credit and I'm still only paying tip on the price of that kids meal.

It works really well for us as we like to do signatures or sometimes a buffet for breakfast then a TS meal at night.
We always eat onsite as we enjoy the menus and the atmosphere!
So we're not losing out in anything the kids are not wasting food, my oldest normally always shares what I'm eating as I eat very little more like kid meal sizes and so it works well for us.

And if the boys want a kids meal and we want the extra adult credit for something we have planned then we can pay OOP for the twin 8year olds meals.
win win

 

[scousemouse09]

Although you can go up once at QS restaurants they have to put through separate transactions depending on payment type - one for any items paid with meals credits, one for snack credits and one for cash. Its best to tell them at the beginning and they will have no problem helping you order

Thank you for the heads up Elise!

 

[duffdo]

Wow, the debate over DDP and OOP goes on. Personally, I would never buy DDP, I would only take it if it were free. I have paid to upgrade from QSDP to DDP before, but that was only because I like TS meals. I find DDP has too much food. We used all of our credits, but never ate any of the CS desserts and took a good amount of sweets home with us from snack credits! I think it is just a matter of deciding how you want to dine. Personally, I would be happy paying out of pocket for CS meals every day. If you hunt around, there is a decent selection and are never more than $10-$15 each. In fact, I would say that 2 adults could eat quite well on £50 per day, eating only CS meals. Compare that to the cost of even the QSDP and you are already saving money.

 

[zippy99]

When we ate at the Cali Grill last year our server suggested we pay OOP for the steak from the kids menu for DS 12 & DD 14 if the adult menu was too much - that way we had 4 additional TS credits that we could use for another family meal.

The kids both wanted the $48 steak though - so we never did this! But it shows Disney are fine with this as they suggested it.

The meals are just as much part of the holiday for us and having done one year offsite and paying OOP - I resented the cost. I like it all covered and love the analogy of the band aid!

In this whole debate no one is right or wrong - it is personal opinion and what is important to you and your family - we love the DDP and book deluxe so we can have it. Our dining reservations do not dictate our holiday as they are mainly in the evening and we do our main park activity in the morning and gradually journey over to our meal destination later in the day - we are a 2 park a day family so it is no hardship for us at all.

 

[higgy66]

I understand where your coming from, but we don't upgrade the kids so they can eat whole adult meals, we upgrade them ( only when it's free DDP so it costs us nothing) so we can use the credits! And they if they want an adult meal choice can share a meal,
For example Trex they really loved the ribs combo and it was enough for the twins to share, every restaurant splits it and plates it up for them and adds a free drink for the other child,
So I'm only paying the tip for that meal around the same as the 2 kids meals anyways.
At other places the kids have chosen kids meal as that's what they have wanted ( normally for the dessert) I can still use the adult credit and I'm still only paying tip on the price of that kids meal.

It works really well for us as we like to do signatures or sometimes a buffet for breakfast then a TS meal at night.
We always eat onsite as we enjoy the menus and the atmosphere!
So we're not losing out in anything the kids are not wasting food, my oldest normally always shares what I'm eating as I eat very little more like kid meal sizes and so it works well for us.

And if the boys want a kids meal and we want the extra adult credit for something we have planned then we can pay OOP for the twin 8year olds meals.
win win

Having read all your posts I think you have a great understanding of the DDP and have made this work perfectly for your family.

I have 2DDs aged 10 & 9 so one is still a child on the DDP this year but next year both willl be classed as adults. The youngest eats like a sparrow so I will have a look at how you work this as this could be something I consider doing to perhaps gain a couple of buffet breakfast as we're staying at the Beach club and there's is lovely..

 

[disneyholic family]

Best value is probably the quick service plan

 

[dixonsontour]

I can definitely see the sense of upgrading a child to adult plan during free ddp.

All it costs you is a few dollars more for an adult ticket for them.

We haven't so far as DD is happy with the kids food/portions but may consider it in future.

I'd agree that the kids meals at signatures are good - usually a smaller portion of the adult meal.

When we did deluxe last year DD usually had steak at the signatures - lots of photos of the kids meals in my dixons go deluxe dining review link in my signature.