DDP vs. DDE Our experience

[ppiew]

Ok, we are one adult and one child. Just back from a week at WDW and we are DVC members. DDP would have cost $505.82 for 7 nites. We spent $559.50 with DDE. BUT and here is the big difference - we would have used 12 TS credits (which the plan wouldn't allow) each plus the Hoop de Doo Cat 1! We didn't use anywhere near the snacks that DDP would have allowed - just a couple of waters, 1 smoothie, 2 ice cream bars. Here is where we ate:

Olivias - 1 Dinner, 1 late Lunch, 1 brkfst
Crystal Palace - Character Breakfast
Coral Reef - late Lunch
California Grill - Dinner
Whispering Canyon - Dinner
Prime Time - Lunch
Trails End - Dinner
Cosmic Rays - Lunch
Citricos - Dinner
Liberty Tree Tavern - Lunch
Hoop de Doo (cat 1) - Dinner


For us, the DDE card was more beneficial and allowed more choices. Also, the child could order from adult menu occasionally as the childrens choices are so repetitive at each restaurant. As we will returning next month, I was interested in seeing the cost comparisons. For us, the DDE card is what we would care to do.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Glad the DDE card worked for you. We don't visit as often so we don't have a DDE card. I wish sometimes because your style of eating is more to our liking. Oh well... I guess we'll stick with the DDP choice.

 

[jakenjess]

Thanks for sharing that info. We did the dining plan for the first time last week, and though I liked the convenience of prepaying and using the credits especially for counter service and snacks, it was just way too much food. Also, we were a large party in three different rooms, and when the adults had alcohol or anything was paid out of pocket it took forever to get the bill. It seems like it's a time-consuming process for the servers.

Next trip we'll be using our DDE card, and I'll be curious to see how it comes out.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We used our DDE card on the past 2 trips and we came out better both times than we would have with DDP. DS10 still eats from the kid's menu at TS places, but on DDP he would be charged as an adult. Plus to get DDP we would have lost the AP discount on the room. DDE definitely works better for us!

 

[hsmamato2]

can anyone do DDE? or is it just for DVC members? It's where you buy a card,and get discounts,right?

 

[LizinSTL]

can anyone do DDE? or is it just for DVC members? It's where you buy a card,and get discounts,right?

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

 

[LizinSTL]

Thanks for sharing that info. We did the dining plan for the first time last week, and though I liked the convenience of prepaying and using the credits especially for counter service and snacks, it was just way too much food. Also, we were a large party in three different rooms, and when the adults had alcohol or anything was paid out of pocket it took forever to get the bill. It seems like it's a time-consuming process for the servers.

Next trip we'll be using our DDE card, and I'll be curious to see how it comes out.

Did you not use your DDE in conjunction w/ the DDP for any OOP costs? That's an option.

The DDE is a 20% savings. (doesn't even cover the tax and tip) We didn't order everything we were "allowed" to order on the DDP and still came out ahead in the end.

I'm sorry, unless you never order entrees, never have CS meals, only drink alcohol, I don't see how you can compare the DDP and the DDE.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

I'm so glad to hear this, ive be debating on wether or not to try it but always come back to the feeling we are better off staying with the DDE Card

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Ok, we are one adult and one child. Just back from a week at WDW and we are DVC members. DDP would have cost $505.82 for 7 nites. We spent $559.50 with DDE. BUT and here is the big difference - we would have used 12 TS credits (which the plan wouldn't allow) each plus the Hoop de Doo Cat 1! We didn't use anywhere near the snacks that DDP would have allowed - just a couple of waters, 1 smoothie, 2 ice cream bars. Here is where we ate:

How did you get this total?

1 adult = ~$38 a night
1 child = ~$11 a night

total = $49 a night x 7 nights = $343

Is your child considered an adult?

We are debating on the DDP or DDE for our next two trips and I like how you were able to have more TS than your DDP credits would have allowed.

Our kids love to snack though and can't live without Mrs. Potts ice cream

 

[DaisyD]

I too added up what we spend on normal dining with the DDE and compared it to the DDP. There is no way we would save on the DDP. For a normal meal we share an appetizer, each get an entree and usually only two of us get dessert. The other person never gets dessert. We couldn't eat anymore if we tried! For CS DD and I always split a meal because there is no way we could be able to stuff ourselves with anything else. The DDP just seems to be too much food and when you add up everything you COULD get from it and compare it to what you would have actually ordered normally you usually end up spending more for the plan. Add in the fact that you need at least a one day ticket per person AND pay rack rate it gets to be way too much. Especially when I'm saving around $200 a night with a rate at the Poly. I'll stick with the DDE.

 

[ppiew]

Sorry my notes are scribbled all over the place and I did make an error. It should be adult @$38.99 and Child @ 11.99 = $356.86 for 7 nites. (at least i HOPE I am right this time!) The big difference for us was we used table service so frequently and counter service only once and only 5 snacks. Also Hoop de Doo was a CAT 1 which isn't covered by the dining plan.

The total we spent OP also includes some wine and some alcohol - none covered under DDP but do get the 20% on the DDE. I can break it down into day by day, restaurant by restaurant, if you want to. Sorry I rushed without rechecking my stuff. Also, at one of the restaurants I ordered 2 appetizers and no entree so that would also would differ from the DDP.

I am sure it would be cost effective if you consumed all that you were entitled to - it just didn't work that way for us.

 

[JimMIA]

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...

I respectively disagree. When we first got the DDE, we paid for the card on the first day of a five day trip. It is cost effective for any length of stay, or you simply don't buy it.

The fact that it is good for 13 months and we go 2-3 times a year made it even better for us, but it still works very well for folks who qualify (FL residents or AP holders). If you have to buy one AP to qualify, then the math changes considerably, but it may still be a good option for many people

The DDE is a 20% savings. (doesn't even cover the tax and tip) We didn't order everything we were "allowed" to order on the DDP and still came out ahead in the end.

I'm sorry, unless you never order entrees, never have CS meals, only drink alcohol, I don't see how you can compare the DDP and the DDE.

Very simple. Take several people to WDW and use DDE. DDE is good for up to ten people at a single meal, as long as you're all on the same check. For groups where some want DDP and some don't, DDE may be the better choice. For people with kids who are picky eaters, it may be a better choice. There are a lot of people for whom DDE may be a better choice than DDP.

You really need to be aware of ALL of the options, do the math for your family, and then choose the one which suits you best.

For us, it's DDP if we go alone (2A, 1C), but DDE if we take Grandma and Great Aunt -- or if we're meeting relatives from the Frozen Northland who are staying offsite/don't want DDP/don't get it -- which is most of them, and also why they live in the Frozen Northland.

 

[LizinSTL]

Quote:
Originally Posted by LizinSTL
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...

I respectively disagree. When we first got the DDE, we paid for the card on the first day of a five day trip. It is cost effective for any length of stay, or you simply don't buy it.

The fact that it is good for 13 months and we go 2-3 times a year made it even better for us, but it still works very well for folks who qualify (FL residents or AP holders). If you have to buy one AP to qualify, then the math changes considerably, but it may still be a good option for many people

) AP holders or FL residents...frequent visitors.... I mentioned them in the category of those who'd save $ on DDE. I can not fathom how we'd have saved money on our 1 trip of the year if we'd bought a single AP, the DDE card and all our food/tickets/lodging oop. I know that we'd have spent significantly more on park admissions alone and the savings on our table service meals would have been nothing between DDE and DDP. (20% is the tax/tip) Since nearly all of our meals were fixed price- there's no wiggle room on what you order.

You are right, you need to do the math- but I haven't been convinced by anyone that you actually LOSE $ on the DDP unless you are staying deluxe and giving up a significant discount on the room. Even then you need to figure the cost of the AP/DDE card into your calculations, IMO.

 

[lillygator]

thanks for the review....for someone who has only used DDE.....it's interesting to see the differences in $$....

 

[jakenjess]

One reason I think we'll come out fine with just the DDE next time is both our children will be "adults" (they'll be 10 and 12) and there's just no way it makes sense to get them adult meals at table service. DH and I couldn't eat all that food, there's no way the kids will. We'll also be taking my parents, and it would drive them crazy to waste all that food! They're the kind that eat a big breakfast and then a very late lunch and call it good. I'm sure they'll be doing some sharing at the TS meals.

 

[JimMIA]

You are right, you need to do the math- but I haven't been convinced by anyone that you actually LOSE $ on the DDP unless you are staying deluxe and giving up a significant discount on the room. Even then you need to figure the cost of the AP/DDE card into your calculations, IMO.

I think there are two situations where DDE may be better. One is if you have people in your party for whom DDP doesn't make sense -- like the poster with two "adult" kids who would not normally order adult meals. Another example would be if you had some people in your party who didn't want DDP (because it was too much food, they were planning to do several non-Disney days, they were only joining you for part of your trip, etc, etc.) DDP doesn't help you at all in those cases, but DDE gives you 20%.

The other situation would be, as you noted, if there were a significant difference in room cost with DDP. If you're staying at a value, that would probably not be the case, but it might be with a mod, and it probably would be with one of the top-of-the-line resorts.

You just have to do the math -- and you have to do the math based on what you REALLY would order if you were paying cash, not menu prices. I use a very conservative method of evaluating, and even doing that I come out ahead with DDP.

But not everyone will find DDP to their benefit. It's not designed for everyone, and it doesn't fit every single situation. For many, DDE is a good option.

 

[ppiew]

Just my husband and I will be going back in March and again DDE will make more sense for us as we also 'share' entrees and dessert. We may have guests several times also, so DDE will prove to be more cost effective in the long run. We eat most meals at TS restaurants and rarely, if ever utilize the snacks. Guess it just depends on how/what you eat.

 

[LizinSTL]

I think there are two situations where DDE may be better. One is if you have people in your party for whom DDP doesn't make sense -- like the poster with two "adult" kids who would not normally order adult meals. Another example would be if you had some people in your party who didn't want DDP (because it was too much food, they were planning to do several non-Disney days, they were only joining you for part of your trip, etc, etc.) DDP doesn't help you at all in those cases, but DDE gives you 20%.

But not everyone will find DDP to their benefit. It's not designed for everyone, and it doesn't fit every single situation. For many, DDE is a good option.

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 DDE. 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.

 

[JimMIA]

If you don't do an average of 1 TS meal per night of vacation.

I think that's the real key for us. If you normally eat one TS onsite per night when paying OOP, you will save money with DDP. That, in fact, is the calculation I make -- the cost of what we really would order for one TS per day (not DDP menu price) vs. the $38.99 per adult (2 of us) and $10.99 for children (1 - DD4).

Enjoying Disney dining is an integral part of our normal Disney vacation plan, and we always do either a nice dinner or a character meal each day. Even completely disregarding the value of the CS and snack credits, we save $75 or so for each 4-5 day trip. I don't consider CS/snack credits, because we would rarely spend money for those things OOP, but we do use them on DDP. If I added in the value of those credits, I'm sure we'd save $200-300 per trip with DDP.

However, many people never eat one TS per night. For example, neither of my adult daughters dine the way we do at Disney. First of all, they just don't eat that much. Secondly, although they stay at DVC resorts onsite, they always have cars and are perfectly happy going offsite to eat. They have their favorite places offsite, and they look forward to those as much as we look forward to Le Cellier. They also usually do a Universal day on each trip, so that further reduces the value of DDP to them.

To me, the key to making a sensible decision about DDP is to objectively evaluate your normal eating habits and then see how DDP fits those. If DDP saves you money, get DDP. If the cost is about the same, you will eat WAY better on DDP. If DDP looks like it will cost you more than you want to spend, pass on it.

 

[DaisyD]

We do eat one TS a day but the DDE is still cheaper for us. We are two adults and one child. We also stay at the Poly. We got a rate of $200 off a night. There is no way we would eat $200 of food a day even if we ate at TS twice a day. 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.