DDP vs DDE

[LSchrow]

i just am not seeing the value of DDE vs DDP....here are my figures, someone pls find the flaws in my reasoning (note that i priced entrees very conservatively ~ we tend to order what winds to be the higher priced; just our tastes, i guess ).
btw, we stay at a DVC resort, so there is no pass requirement, & we already receive free theme park & valet parking.

Dinner:
avg entree $26
dessert/drink $9
$35
-$7 20% DDE discount
= $28
plus $2 tax = $30
(tip is added either way so not included in calculations)

Counter Service
$13-14 (entree, drink, dessert) + tax = $14 (no DDE discount)

snack (love those Mochacinos in MGM! ) $4 (avg w/tax)

sooooooo, DDE OOP is $48 plus the cost of the $65 card (amoritized over time of usage, of course) vs DDP $38 ~ so at the minimum (cos i low-balled the TS ), DDP costs us $10 LESS per day than DDE.

we've used the DDP 4x in the past & loved it (i know it'll change for 2008 ~ while not an "awesome deal", still appears to be decent ). we certainly don't find having to plan a nuisance....& we have AP's so it is no prob just strolling from BWV to EPCOT for dinner (& always have a car, so oft just do "stuff" off-site, then come back for dinner ~ niiiiiiice ). not big drinkers ~ we might have 1 or 2 over the entire trip.

so, what am i missing?

 

[NancyIL]

It sounds like the dining plan works best for the way you like to eat at WDW. I stay at the Swan or Dolphin, so I can't get the dining plan. However, I usually drink water at restaurants, and I prefer to have my dessert as a treat between meals rather than after a meal.

I had the DDE card the past 2 years, then opted to not renew it after it expired at the end of October. My family of 5 at WDW Thanksgiving weekend turned into 7 when the in-laws joined us, so I would've broken even (after paying $65 for the card) just on that trip! Oh well.

 

[LSchrow]

It sounds like the dining plan works best for the way you like to eat at WDW. I stay at the Swan or Dolphin, so I can't get the dining plan. However, I usually drink water at restaurants, and I prefer to have my dessert as a treat between meals rather than after a meal.

I had the DDE card the past 2 years, then opted to not renew it after it expired at the end of October. My family of 5 at WDW Thanksgiving weekend turned into 7 when the in-laws joined us, so I would've broken even (after paying $65 for the card) just on that trip! Oh well.

see, now that makes sense!
i only drink water with meals too, but need my coffee/cappacino, etc afterwards . & if we don't eat the dessert, we just put it in the villa fridge. quite a few ppl have said that we should get the DDE instead, but my math seems to make the DDP a better deal for us (we can get a few drinks, and still be less OOP).......interesting
ty for your input, nancy (thought i had to be misssing something lol)

 

[NancyIL]

Another reason the dining plan probably wouldn't be my preference is that I don't like to make more than a few dining reservations in advance, and even then I often change my mind when I get to a park. I would prefer to not have to keep track of dining credits and reservation numbers. On the other hand, maybe I would feel differently once I tried the dining plan. In that case, I would probably conclude that the dining plan was a very good value for the amount of food received, and then I'd spend the next few months trying to lose the weight I gained from eating all those desserts!

 

[robinb]

Comparing Apples to Apples, I think the DDP still comes out ahead of using your DDE card. By "apples to apples" I mean that you assume that you will eat 1 CS with dessert, 1 TS (entree and dessert) and 1 snack per day.

I did a ranking of the top 25 restaurants for both table service and counter service here:
http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/DisneyDiningRanking2008.htm

If you take average of the the top-25 table service average-priced meals (in the right column) you get $31.58 which includes tax. The average for the top-25 counter service average-priced meals is $14.25 (also in the right column). I usually use $2.75 as my snack average because that's a box of popcorn. $4 is the maximum amount for a snack.

So ... for the DDP I end up with
$31.58 - 1 TS
$14.25 - 1 CS
$2.75 - 1 snack
Total = $48.58

The DDE would save you 20% on the pre-tax TS meal . Take the average TS meal price of $31.58 and remove the tax, you'll get $29.65. The DDE discount would be $5.93, so the average meal would be $23.72 per-tax. Add the tax back in and you get $25.26.

So ... for DDE plan I end up with
$25.26 - TS with DDE Discount
$14.25 - 1 CS
$2.75 - 1 snack
Total = $42.26

Of course, every family is different. Like NancyIL, not everyone eats dessert. People will also share meals, or at least appetizers and desserts. Once you put your own spin on your eating patterns the DDE card may be a better deal.

FWIW, one meal at V&A's and our DDE card was paid for! Everything else is just gravy . We get the DDP, but use our DDE card for discounts on alcohol.

 

[JimMIA]

Comparing Apples to Apples, I think the DDP still comes out ahead of using your DDE card. By "apples to apples" I mean that you assume that you will eat 1 CS with dessert, 1 TS (entree and dessert) and 1 snack per day.

Without doing any math, if one makes those assumptions, you certainly should do better with DDP. DDP is designed to show nice savings if you eat all that is offered.

If I were trying to figure out DDP/DDE, I'd use the same method I use for DDP/OOP. I would figure out what my family was likely to actually eat if we were paying cash. If that expenditure is greater than the cost of DDP, DDP saves me money. If the numbers are close, I would look at the perceived value of the food on DDP and also the convenience of DDP (although not everyone considers it convenient to be tied to DDP).

The only change I'd make comparing DDE would be to subtract the 20% discount at those venues which accept DDE. Another consideration with DDE is that there are some blackout dates with DDE, so if you're traveling during those periods you need to check the dates.

There are two other benefits that weigh in favor of DDE. One is that the DDE card is good for 12-13 months, not just one trip. So, if you're going to make two trips during that period, you'd want to split the DDE cost in half for your financial estimates. The last year we used DDE, we made three trips on that card.

The other benefit with DDE is the fact that the card is good for up to ten people at one meal. One trip when we were on DDP, we had a meal with eight other family members who were not on DDP. We used the DDE card for their meals and saved a small fortune.

Another non-financial factor for us is that we just get tired of Disney food after 3-4 days. I don't think I'd ever use DDP longer than 5 days, and certainly not longer than 7 days.

 

[TDC Nala]

I order wine or cocktails (DDE discount includes alcoholic beverages) and I will eat at lounges or signature restaurants, so as of January for sure I am far better off with DDE.

I don't like to eat a lot during the day, either. I don't mess with breakfast and one big meal can be enough.

 

[ADP]

The argument of DDE vs. DDP is an interesting one. The one that suits you best is determined by a number of factors:

1. What are your dining habits. Do you like counter or table service dining.
2. How often do you eat table service during your vacation
3. How often will you visit WDW over the course of a year
4. Do you drink alcohol
5. Do you like to valet park your car at non-DVC resorts
6. When dining at table service restaurants do you order the most expensive entree on rthe menu or the cheapest
7. Do you like to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.
8. What type of table service restaurants do you dine at. Buffet or menu type.

After you've answered these questions you will have a better idea if the DDE or DDP is better for you and your family.

For our family the DDE works better for us.