DDP vs DDE whats best for my family?

[tooncanator]

10 day trip, 2 adults, 2yr old, 7 month old. Dad & Mom will
get Annual Passes & the kids are free. We will do character
meals or TS at least once a day. If it was going to be all dinners
I would go for the DDP, but we may wind up with at least half
TS for lunch & maybe 1 Breakfast. Looks like DDE might be better,
i'm looking for opinions from the experts. Thanks Toon

 

[Marc A.]

would like to hear answers too

 

[mikesmom88]

I would like to hear opinions also

Thanks

 

[disneylaurie]

I am very interested in this too -- we're going in December and have been debating about DDP vs. DDE. We'll have 4 adults and a 1-year old. We typically aren't realy heavy eaters - one CS a day, and MAYBE one TS per day depending on where we're at. Even TS meals typically don't involve an app or desert, but we do like to have a couple cocktails with our meal. We'll also be doing one character breakfast.

Best I can figure so far is that the DDE discount will be much better for us, especially with the recent changes in 08 DDP regulations. Our parents that will be going with us want to try to DDP because they think they'll eat at places they normally may not try, and eat things they normally wouldn't order (more expensive things)...so I am torn.

 

[missycj96]

I've done DDP (both free and paid) and have a DDE card. My past few vacations we've done DDE. Especially for the longer vacations - and with little kids - I think DDE is much better. Here's why.

First of all, with kids under 3 unless you are at a buffet or a family style type place, you will need to order for the kids - or at least the 2 year old unless they eat what you eat. Its not much money, but it would be totally OOP on DDP because there is no plan for under 3.

Second, you have much more flexibility with DDE - do you just want a soup and salad or a cheese plate one night or do you always want a full meal? And if you want to do a sit down breakfast, it is not a good deal on DDP but with DDE you get a nice discount. We like to go out for breakfasts sometimes - such as to the Grand Floridian Cafe. On DDP, its not such a great use of TS credits, but you'll get the discount with DDE.

Also, I find that the longer you stay, the harder it is to have to go for a full dinner every night. After all, its a lot of eating and a lot of sitting in restaurants. To get the best value from DDP, you need to really go to the good restaurants for dinner. Sitting with a 2 year old in a restaurant every night (we have a 2 year old) can be quite a challenge.

One more point, I don't know where you are staying but at certain hotels, you can even use the DDE card in the food court (I know POFQ and POP). We have stayed at POFQ and you save a little at each meal. Even if DDE comes out to be just the same as DDP or even a little more, you had the benefit of not being locked into 1 table service, 1 counter service, 1 snack each day. I think that when we stayed at POFQ, we saved money using DDE because a few nights we ate dinner at the food court (didn't feel compelled to have TS dinner every night). The upside to the DDP is that it is prepaid and you can freely go out every night. On balance, I think that DDE is the better deal.

One more thing about little kids- I had looked forward to character meals with my DD but it turned out she was afraid of the characters and wouldn't sit through a character meal. After one bad experience, I cancelled the rest of my character meal reservations (sadly, even Cinderella's Royal Table breakfast).

Finally, if you are driving to other hotels for meals, you can valet park for free while you dine using the DDE. Its a luxury I probably wouldn't otherwise pay for.

I think that with kids, the DDE is the better way to go. You'll get more flexibility and not spend any more than on the plan. Those are my thoughts. I'm interested to hear what others think.

 

[disney's daughter]

Then...Which would be better if we have six adults, five children...ages 16,12,11,9, and an infant? (plus my sister and her husband) Should I get an Annual pass again..( I didn't renew) and purchase the DDE card to get the 20% off for our sit down meals or get the DDP?

Whenever we went before, I had an Annual Pass..and purchased the DDE card to get 20% off the meals...I was also able to reserve three rooms with my annual pass at a discount starting at the discounted price all the way through the weekend...If it started during Value seaons...no matter what..I paid the same price all the way through...So many changes...I don't know what is best to do any more...

Also, we always fly...and take a limo service (which is banned from the forum now)..stop at the grocery...(and used to take a "second baggage" which was a vinyl cooler filled with food from home...which we won't be able to do any more...But, we always eat our breakfasts in our room...have counter service for lunch and ate at a sit down dinner in the evening...

I always paid for everything before, but I can't afford it now...But, I wll pay for $1,500 towards my kids and grandchildren's expenses...What do you suggest?

 

[Harmonysmomma]

I am trying to decide the same exact thing right now!!

 

[Marriedmyprince]

I completely agree with missycj96 and I will offer you a few other things to think on.
I loved the DDP before and did it for free and paid for it. We usually had 2 kids that were under 3 and therefore had no credits. I booked family style or buffet for them most of the time. Then there was plenty of food, also with the appitizer included there was enough food to share. I loved having everything pre-paid and not worrying about it, sign and go.

Well, this time we are going to use DDE instead. I would rather have greater control and eat what I want each time if I have to fill out a tip and transaction everytime anyway. We will probably do a little less table service but will be more open to daily plans. If we can't find a table service, then we will do counter. THe last times I had one meal everyday set months in advance; this time only 2 ADRs. My family also likes table service breakfasts, so that saves us $$ and "looses" value on the DDP. We love food and used up all our credits on the DDP but we even got tired of the desserts. Plus, when you get back it is hard to break the habit of dessert every meal, I'm serious!

The DDE will work well for us because we have little kids and grandpa and grandma, so 4 adults and 3 kids. We are unlikely to be split up for meals, so we only need one card for all of us. And SSR counter service takes DDE too.

And be honest with yourself, if you are a frequent consumer of alcoholic beverages, then DDE is definatly the way to go. You pay OOP with the DDP on alcohol.

Hope some of this helped, Marriedmyprince

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used the DDP several times as a DVC owner. I also have the DDE card, have had it for two years now. Every single time I go to WDW, especially on points at DVC, I sit with the menus. I 'compute' what my family would eat and the cost. Then I compare the costs with DDP vs DDE. One time I came out about $40 more with the DDP but took it anyway. I was traveling with another family and it made it much simpler to just have each family pay for it's own share of DDP.
But, most times, I have found the DDE has worked out best for me. We tend to eat one big meal a day, with counter service added in on occasion. We eat in our villa for breakfast most days, with some lunches there especially during the hot months because we go back to the villa for a swim midday. That way we can have quick sandwiches in the villa.

 

[missycj96]

That's a good point about if you are traveling with other people and it is easier not to have to split the bill. Makes a lot of sense. I just want to add that I have never done DDP the new way - where you have to pay for tips and no appetizer. I am thinking about it and probably if I had to pay the tips compared to when I used DDE, DDE would end up being less expensive. Of course, ordering the lobster at Narcoosees on the DDP was a great experience!

 

[kfalsey]

ddp is disney dining plan, what is the other?

 

[missycj96]

DDE is Disney Dining Experience. Annual Passholders can pay $65 for a card that gives 20% off the total cost of meals (including drinks) at most table service restaurants and some food courts at hotels that do not have table service restuarants. The card can be used for up to I think 9 people so if you go to one good restaurant with a group (especially if people drink) you get your savings pretty quickly.

 

[trivial]

The DDE can be applied for up to 10 people, and only one card can be used per table. Also, the DDE automatically adds a mandatory 18% gratuity, so you'd end up paying a bit less than the menu prices. I'm curious to see a DDE/DDP comparison as well, especially since only one person needs to have an Annual Pass to get the DDE. I'd guess that the DDE would win by a landslide with a group of 10.