DDP vs. DDE Our experience

[jodifla]

Even the 2 "adult" kids isn't absolute. If your family tends to dine at fixed price or buffet meals, then the DDP is probably a better deal for a family w/ 10-15 yos than the DD. Side by Side...meal by meal... the DDP tends to stomp the "deal" on the DDE if you compare apples to apples. Even figuring conservatively, it's hard to not break even on the DDP (ordering only entrees, no desserts, water for snack). If you don't do an average of 1 TS meal per night of vacation. If you don't do CS meals. If you rarely, if ever get a snack. then duh...don't do the DDP. But, IMO, the ages of kids is not an issue- it costs $ to feed 'em regardless of their age. The difference between a MYW park hopper 7 day ticket and an AP is about $200, add in the $65 for the DDE card and you are already in the hole a couple character meals.

To me, that's a lot of the many problems of the DDP. IT TOTALLY TAKES OVER YOUR VACATION!

Who wants that? I have my APs, go a few times times a year, stay in my DVC unit where I eat about half my meals in leisure, then use the DDE card to drink and dine in style, WHAT I want, not what "the plan" says I should get.

I don't stuff myself, and I don't congratulate myself on what a deal I'm getting, when I wouldn't have ordered half that food if I wasn't on the plan. And my kid isn't stuck with just the kids meals, or just the adult meals. I can order an APPETIZER or TWO as my meal.

WIth the DDE, I order exactly what I want AND I get 20 percent off.

THat's a deal. THe DDP is just a cross between a pyramid scheme and a loss leader.

 

[webray]

Annual Pass holders or Florida residents can buy a DDE card. For a once-a-year (or less) visitor the DDE isn't really cost effective but (glancing at the name of this particular message board folder) the DDP can be

Depending on what/where you like to eat/drink, the DDE card can pay for itself in a couple of meals. Ours always pays for itself the first weekend we have it. Works great for us!

 

[lillygator]

Depending on what/where you like to eat/drink, the DDE card can pay for itself in a couple of meals. Ours always pays for itself the first weekend we have it. Works great for us!

I have to agree, ours definitely pays for itself over the course of the first few days.

 

[LizinSTL]

To me, that's a lot of the many problems of the DDP. IT TOTALLY TAKES OVER YOUR VACATION!

Who wants that? I have my APs, go a few times times a year, stay in my DVC unit where I eat about half my meals in leisure, then use the DDE card to drink and dine in style, WHAT I want, not what "the plan" says I should get.

I don't stuff myself, and I don't congratulate myself on what a deal I'm getting, when I wouldn't have ordered half that food if I wasn't on the plan. And my kid isn't stuck with just the kids meals, or just the adult meals. I can order an APPETIZER or TWO as my meal.

WIth the DDE, I order exactly what I want AND I get 20 percent off.

THat's a deal. THe DDP is just a cross between a pyramid scheme and a loss leader.

Ah.... it didn't take over our vacation...it enhanced it. We had fun with the DDP. We loved having more TS meals than we probably would have had without it. The 20% savings of the DDE (throwing out the additional cost of an AP and DDE card) wouldn't have even covered the tax and tip that the DDP covered.

We eat more than one meal a day anyway so I don't see how it "controls" the vacation!

 

[WETWHISTLE]

I don't see how it could "control" the vacation either. We are going for 1 week and we got the DDP. I didn't have to sit with the list of restaurants that accept the DDP to decide where we wanted to make our ADRs for. Every single place we wanted to eat accepted the DDP, so there were no problems at all. And I made our TS reservations for a bit later so that we don't lose any time in the park. We are an appetizer/entree/dessert couple so this will work out great for us. We'd normally split an appetizer and dessert, but this is vacation and we are going to take advantage of the DDP!

 

[jodifla]

I don't see how it could "control" the vacation either. We are going for 1 week and we got the DDP. I didn't have to sit with the list of restaurants that accept the DDP to decide where we wanted to make our ADRs for. Every single place we wanted to eat accepted the DDP, so there were no problems at all. And I made our TS reservations for a bit later so that we don't lose any time in the park. We are an appetizer/entree/dessert couple so this will work out great for us. We'd normally split an appetizer and dessert, but this is vacation and we are going to take advantage of the DDP!

It controls your vacation because it forces you to eat a TS every night, even if you'd really rather just go back to your room and relax.

And since you'd normally share appetizer and desserts, those aren't really a savings, because it's not how you'd normally order. It may be a treat, but it's not a savings.

 

[lsteadman]

It controls your vacation because it forces you to eat a TS every night, even if you'd really rather just go back to your room and relax.

And since you'd normally share appetizer and desserts, those aren't really a savings, because it's not how you'd normally order. It may be a treat, but it's not a savings.

Nothing forces you to eat TS everynight. You have to chose to purchase the Dining plan. I am surprise so many people feel Disney is forcing them to do something when the choice to purchase the plan is optional. Actually you don't have to do a table service every night. On Christmas Day 2006, I used a TS for breakfast (GrandFloridian Character Breakfast) and CS for Lunch and a TS for Dinner (GrandFloridan Character Dinner).

Disney didn't force me to use 2 TS that day. It was my choice. I knew when I booked the plan. I was going to use 10 TS, 10 CS, and 10 Snacks over the course of those 10 days. You plan an eat your meals whenever; however, and at whatever restaurant accepts the plan.

Disney can force me to eat. We had 2 snack credits left before we left so we got snacks for the plane. Disney didn't make me use the credit in a certain amount on each day. Somedays we had 2 CS/2 Snacks. Other days we had 2CS/1TS.

The way you would plan your trip might require you to eat TS everynight when you just want to go back to your room and chill. My advice would be to schedule your trip so you make sure you have enough chill time. Don't use your TS for dinner ever night. Make a few of the CS for dinner. That is the great thing about the dining plan you can use those credits however you choose. Just use them up before you leave....then again...you don't have to use them up before you leave...its okay to leave a few... You will still get your money's worth.

Have a great trip regardless of using the dining plan or not using the dining plan. The food is delicious either way!

 

[jodifla]

Nothing forces you to eat TS everynight. You have to chose to purchase the Dining plan. I



Have a great trip regardless of using the dining plan or not using the dining plan. The food is delicious either way!

Alas, that's part of the problem with the DDP. It's slashing the quality of menus and meals across WDW.

 

[DisOrBust]

Their are also other considerations with the DDP. It does force you to eat. Many times we just wanted to spend the night wandering BUt we didn't want to waste the TS credit.

Also consider if someone gets sick, its non refundable. We had the stomache flu go thru our party and it played hell with our ADRs and making sure all the TS were used.
It is controlling but that may not bother some. I doubt we ever do it again.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I think it is a bargain if you are only going to pay rackrate at a value. One you hit the deluxe prices it is almost always better to go with the DDE then the DDP.

Not necessarily. What may save you money may not be the most cost efficient for others.

AP Discounted room ($$) + Annual pass ($$) + the DDE ($$) + the cost of food ($$) = not a huge savings for my group.

I have never paid rack rate for the room portion of my package (always gotten a discount through Disney).

Discounted Package (Deluxe room) including the DDP ($$$) = savings for my group.

Each person/family needs to evaluate their circumstances and what they want and expect from their vacation.

For many, the DDP added to their package is the best deal.
For many others, the DDE combined with an annual pass is the best deal.
For some, neither would save them money.

 

[disneymom2one]

To me, that's a lot of the many problems of the DDP. IT TOTALLY TAKES OVER YOUR VACATION!

Who wants that? I have my APs, go a few times times a year, stay in my DVC unit where I eat about half my meals in leisure, then use the DDE card to drink and dine in style, WHAT I want, not what "the plan" says I should get.

I don't stuff myself, and I don't congratulate myself on what a deal I'm getting, when I wouldn't have ordered half that food if I wasn't on the plan. And my kid isn't stuck with just the kids meals, or just the adult meals. I can order an APPETIZER or TWO as my meal.

WIth the DDE, I order exactly what I want AND I get 20 percent off.

THat's a deal. THe DDP is just a cross between a pyramid scheme and a loss leader.

I think that's totally subjective. We did the DDP for the first time in December and LOVED it. We're frequent visitors and have used the DDE in the past but the DDP was incredible. To be able to order and not look at prices was wonderful! We just felt like we were on a cruise. We didn't overeat and we didn't stress about credits. We had a blast and can't wait to use it again.

 

[PaulaSB12]

To me, that's a lot of the many problems of the DDP. IT TOTALLY TAKES OVER YOUR VACATION!

Who wants that? I have my APs, go a few times times a year, stay in my DVC unit where I eat about half my meals in leisure, then use the DDE card to drink and dine in style, WHAT I want, not what "the plan" says I should get.

I don't stuff myself, and I don't congratulate myself on what a deal I'm getting, when I wouldn't have ordered half that food if I wasn't on the plan. And my kid isn't stuck with just the kids meals, or just the adult meals. I can order an APPETIZER or TWO as my meal.

WIth the DDE, I order exactly what I want AND I get 20 percent off.

THat's a deal. THe DDP is just a cross between a pyramid scheme and a loss leader.

I never felt like the DDP took over my holiday. I can only go once a year because of work commitments an distance so having an annual pass is not viable so no DDE for me any way. I ordered what I wanted with my meals and tried food that normally I woulnd't eat (lobster) for people who only go once a year the DDP makes sense if you have an ap and dde card that would make sense. Its not you are right and I am wrong but for youDDE is better for me DDP is better, now I had better get on with tickling the tabby girl on my lap before I get punished!