DDP vs DxDDP vs OOP = STRESS + a drink ?

[JoanneNC]

This is my first trip as an adult/parent of a 5year and 18mth old and a very hungry - finer food preference DH and I swear - this part of the trip is really stressing me out.

We are going from a Sat to Sat
We are arriving early Sat and leaving after Breaksfast on Sat.
We have 7 park hopper tickets
We will be doing the PP&P party
We don't really care for shows -
We don't expect to see everything
This is what we have planned

It's the darn eating that is driving me insane... DH and I eat out often at home and when we do - it's typically an app for DH - entree for both - Dessert for me - wine/beer for both as we enjoy the act of dining out and eating well. When we travel - prices are irrevlant to DH as he sees it as a vacation and if you need to skimp - that isn't enjoyable. So if he wants something - he will buy it, etc

Because of this - I am leaning towards the DxDDP and while I know to get "ahead money wise" is to eat TS 3x a day - even some being signatures, etc - I hate the idea of forcing the family to eat at such a such time, especially with a baby. But even without any plan - ADR's are still needed since we don't typical like the CS food/concept- carrying food for 4 people - pushing a stroller - looking for a table doesn't sound like fun.

I really just wanted to get my thoughts out - I do actually have a ?

Drinks on "any" plan. I know beer/whine excluded - what drinks are included. How much are they normally at resturants? I saw juice is included at Breaksfast - is that in addition to coffee/milk?

If you are still reading - THANKS..lol

 

[Elmo888]

Here are menus with prices, including drinks...

http://www.allears.net/menu/menus.htm

It does say juice and another beverage on the brochure. That is confusing to me, too.

Eating 3 TS meals per day is time consuming. If that works for you, then go for it. From what I understand, you can use TS credits on the Deluxe plan for CS if you like.

We went with a 2 yo and 6 yo last year. At CS places, my 6 yo and I would go get the food, and DH would take our 2 yo in her stroller and find a table. It worked well. Of course, it was January, so crowds weren't bad. If you are going at a more crowded time, it might be a different story. Also, we ate CS breakfast at our resort many days. I would shower, go get breakfast, and bring it back to the room while DH got ready. Sometimes, DD6 would go with me and help. Breakfast is breakfast at many places.

Have a great trip!

 

[Superspectral]

You do not have to eat 3 TS a day to break even on the DxDDP. Breakeven is at using just under half of your meal credits on TS or 2 credit options. If you use just over half on TS or 2 credit options, you will save money on the DxDDP vs. the DDP. I think if you do plan to eat 3 meals per day on Disney property, and were planning regardless to eat 1 TS or more per day, you should consider the DxDDP.

Based on my cost analysis I did recently, here is how I'd choose OOP vs DDP vs DxDDP basing on what one was planning if the dining plans didn't exist:

less than 2/3 meals on Disney property OR far fewer than 1 TS / day -> OOP

about 2/3 meals on Disney property and 1 TS/ Day or just under -> DDP

over 2/3 meals on disney property and just over 1 TS/Day -> DxDDP

Actually, I think that the sweet spot for DDP is pretty narrow, and that most people who are willing to pay for the DDP may actually have been better of with DxDDP

 

[septbaby]

this part of the trip is really stressing me out.

It's the darn eating that is driving me insane...

Because of this - I am leaning towards the DxDDP

I know beer/whine excluded - what drinks are included. How much are they normally at resturants? I saw juice is included at Breaksfast - is that in addition to coffee/milk?

If you are still reading - THANKS..lol

First of all its time for a paradigm shift. Planning your meals at Disney is part of the FUN so put on your HAPPY FACE and let's get to work.

You will be able to get 2 beverages at breakfast, so if its juice and coffee, have at it. Meals will include non alcoholic choices. Soft drinks, milk, juice, coffee or tea. At some places smoothies, milk shakes and certain specialty drinks are allowed. You just have to ask at each place. I had a smoothie at one place and my mother had a strawberry stinger(I'm not sure if that was an error but they automatically refilled it too).

You must make ADRs before arriving. You can always cancel them if you decide not to go (please don't be a no show), but you are not likely to get a seat if you don't make an ADR. That would be really tough for anyone, but especially with a hungry 5yo, starving DH and crying baby; you think you're stressed now, lol! If you decide to cancel but still need to get a meal with the Deluxe plan if your hotel has room service that would be an option (2TS credits, but a definite option). We cancelled a TS meal during our trip and had a CS breakfast at the resort instead. There was just no way we could have enjoyed a breakfast buffet, we were just too full.

As for the nightmare you think CS will be, it doesn't have to be that bad. At your resort, one of you can go down and get breakfast and bring it back to the room for the family to eat in private. Do this for any CS meal you decide to have at your resort; room or pool side eating. In the park sending one adult or letting the 5yo tag along is probably a good strategy as well.

Restaurants I'd suggest (we had a 5yo with us last summer)

Chef Mickey's would be his #1 recommendation, we had breakfast there just after 11am so it worked as lunch; that strategy might work well for you as your kids will probably be up early so you can hit the park at a less crowded time, grab the early all you can eat lunch then head back for pool and nap time. It would be a quick monorail ride or if you prefer walk from MK to the Contemporary for this meal. The characers are awesome here (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald). They take a family portrait there too. Its extra, but optional. We were celebrating a birthday, so I bought our package.

Coral Reef We had a great lunch there (park in AM, 1 or 2pm lunch) The underwater feel was awesome and my nephew loved the sea life in the wall to wall aquarium. Be sure to take in the Nemo and Crush rides/attraction either before or after your meal. They are all in the same complex.

1900 Park Fare Not sure where you are staying, but it is so nice to go over and take in the Grand Floridian. This is another buffet, but with really good food. Breakfast has Mary Poppins, Tigger, Pooh and some Alice in Wonderland characters. Dinner has Cinderella and her Step family.

Boma At the Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you are not staying there be sure to go early enough to spend time at the lookout points to see the animals. The pager they give you is supposed to work all around the pool area. There is an observation area at the far end of the pool deck; right next to the playground, very useful for a 5yo. The meal is again a buffet, but a very unique one with American and African inspired dishes. We loved dinner there after our day at the Animal Kingdom. We will be returning on our next trip.

Narcoossee's This was our first night meal and wow what an introduction to the dining plan! I had the surf and turf, but substituted the scallops for the turf. Even our 5yo loved his Mickey shaped pasta. Of course at that age we had the sauce on the side, picky, picky! Its a 2TS meal, but so so worth it. If you can eat late enough to be there during Wishes you won't regret it. There is an electric parade on the Seven Seas Lagoon right outside the restaurant just before Wishes and our 5yo absolutely loved seeing the brightly lit floats (animals, flags, etc.) pass by the window. The food and service should meet or exceed your husband's preferences. We had appetizers and entrees, but I was too full for dessert! I didn't even finish my meal. I had a mango smoothie as my beverage and my tummy must have thought it was dessert. My mother ordered the Almond crusted cheesecake, trust me get it you will not be disappointed in the presentation (jaw droppping) or taste (magical) and I dont' even really care for cheese cake! My mother makes them from scratch, so she knows good cheesecake and this made her eyes roll back in her head!

The Plaza It's right on Main Street, not far from the places a 5yo is going to love at the Magic Kingdom, so a great location for a casual meal in the park. The entrees are salads and sandwiches, but that's a really good thing because you go to the Plaza for the ice cream desserts!

Hope this helps. The key is to think of your meals as an extension of your vacation. Try some fun places as well as higher end dining.

Are you having fun yet?

 

[Colleen27]

I agree with the previous poster - planning the meals is part of the fun! We're going to be on the deluxe plan for 11 nights, and most days we have 2 ADRs. I only have one day planned where we're eating 3 meals, and I only have 2 CS meals figured into the budget. I also have 7 adult and 8 child credits unaccounted for, which we may or may not use. By my rough calculations based on our likely menu choices, we'll come out about $500 ahead on the deluxe plan, and after the "OMG this is overwhelming" feeling passes, going over the menus and restaurant locations to plan our days was a lot of fun.

 

[PaulaSue]

I am so sorry but I have to ask...IF I understand this we could get the newer plan and eat all 3 meals at a table service rest all 7 days and it would be covered plus 2 snacks a day for $70 an adult person???? We would not have to eat at any counterservice meals the whole week?

 

[septbaby]

I am so sorry but I have to ask...IF I understand this we could get the newer plan and eat all 3 meals at a table service rest all 7 days and it would be covered plus 2 snacks a day for $70 an adult person???? We would not have to eat at any counterservice meals the whole week?

Yup.

 

[Colleen27]

I am so sorry but I have to ask...IF I understand this we could get the newer plan and eat all 3 meals at a table service rest all 7 days and it would be covered plus 2 snacks a day for $70 an adult person???? We would not have to eat at any counterservice meals the whole week?

Exactly! The meal credits can be used for either TS or CS, whichever you like, in any combination you like. Signature restaurants and dinner shows still require two credits, so depending on how you use the plan, it might not even mean 3 meals/day. We're planning mostly 2 TS meals and snacks in between, in order to try most of the signature dining that Disney has to offer.

We don't like the whole CS package, so the lack of dedicated CS credits was a big draw of the DxDDP. Disney does a decent job of varying the CS food beyond the typical burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches, but we just don't like the CS routine. Sitting down and being waited on is so much nicer, especially during/after a long day in the parks.

 

[PaulaSue]

THANK YOU! I heard it at AAAs Disney Days today but I just couldn't believe it. I just had to check with the Dis to be sure.

I think this is what I need to plan our meals and not worry about anything but tips since my Dad is flying and not hauling our food and snacks this time. (The rest of us flew last time)

 

[JoanneNC]

I spent hours last night crunching the #'s and if we do what I have planned (ADR wise, etc)- we will come ahead maybe $150 and I am OK with that or even breaking evening.

The way I have come to think of DxDDP and DDP vs OOP is like going to a buffet. I know there are times I eat more at buffets then at other times but the charge is still the same. So I may get my $$'s worth from the DDP's in the end and maybe I won't but I am done second guessing.

I will pay my balance today since I am 47 days out- WOOT and look forward to my ADR's.

Thanks again

 

[Melissa_E]

You do not have to eat 3 TS a day to break even on the DxDDP. Breakeven is at using just under half of your meal credits on TS or 2 credit options. If you use just over half on TS or 2 credit options, you will save money on the DxDDP vs. the DDP. I think if you do plan to eat 3 meals per day on Disney property, and were planning regardless to eat 1 TS or more per day, you should consider the DxDDP.

I absolutely agree with this! I have 12/21 meals planned, there are two 2TS meals and the rest are 1TS meals. So we have 14/21 credits accounted for. I am already ahead by $8 based on what I think I will eat those days. There is one day with only one meal planned and another day with zero meals planned. So I know there is more eating to be done! Plus, I didnt account for any snacks yet.

 

[Bride In The Attic]

We are also interested in the DxDP as we love to eat at disney as well. We have 3 adults (my DD is 10) and 1 Child and eating at 1 TS for breakfast or lunch and a signature dinner every night would be great. The oop tip charge is where I'm getting hung up. I know when we go to Narcoossee's we spend at least $200 on food - that's $50 tip. Couple that with $20 tip for breakfast or lunch and that's running about $70/day for tips oop. For our 7 days that adds up to almost $500 in tips.
If I add that to the cost of the plan for 7 nights it totals just over $2100. Granted, I've not added in the value of the snacks.

While it would be nice to eat like that the whole trip I don't know in reality that we would if we were paying OOP for everything. We used to do the all inclusive plans years ago and it was way too much food by day 3 or 4.

But, I need to add - I agree with those who say half the fun of planning a WDW vacation is planning where you are going to eat! So true!

Whatever you decide - have fun!

 

[Superspectral]

We are also interested in the DxDP as we love to eat at disney as well. We have 3 adults (my DD is 10) and 1 Child and eating at 1 TS for breakfast or lunch and a signature dinner every night would be great. The oop tip charge is where I'm getting hung up. I know when we go to Narcoossee's we spend at least $200 on food - that's $50 tip. Couple that with $20 tip for breakfast or lunch and that's running about $70/day for tips oop.

Narcoossee's and other signature dining is likely to be the worst case scenario for tipping. Since signature dining is also a 2 credit, I think it also reduces average tip amount. In the plan I've recently made for our 8 day DxDDP trip, I am averaging about $60 in tippable amounts, or about $12 per person per day tip. The other CS and snacks and resort mug aren't tippable, of course.

The way I decided to do the DxDDP was to figure out what restaurants I was going to do anyway even if I was going to pay OOP. I'd have to pay that tip regardless. Since I figured I'd save about 15% using the DxDDP OR the DDP, and I could even throw in more character meals which the kids love on the DxDDP and it would be more convenient, I chose the DDP.