DDP vs DxDP

[kimomma]

disney experts...is it worth upgrading to the DxDP or is that too much food? we are a family of 4 and are debating about whether we should upgrade so that we can get a TS or CS breakfast each day in addition to a CS lunch and TS dinner.

thoughts? by my calculations it will cost us about $450 to upgrade...

 

[Faldred]

The price difference is $32/pp/day (adult), and I think $19/pp/day (child).

If the extra meal credit and snack are worth that much to you, then DxDP is a good deal, otherwise, it isn't.

The most common suggestion with DxDP (although I will note I'm not doing this myself for this trip) is to have a 1 TS breakfast (or early lunch!) and a 2 TS dinner, using snack credits mid-day (conversely, maybe a 2 TS CRT breakfast and a 1 TS dinner). This allows you maximum use of the credits with the minimum amount of time set aside for dining, and with only two big meals a day, you might not feel so "stuffed".

In my particular case, with 3 children under 4, I know that even a CS meal is likely going to take close to an hour to order, find a place to sit, scrounge up 2 high chairs, and have the kids eat. I'd rather just plan to set aside the time in a sit-down restaurant with an ADR than deal with the lunch time crowd hassle (and to keep the kids on schedule, which means peak lunch times). With older kids, or without kids, I might not have done the same plan.

 

[catne]

we've always thought the DDP was plenty of food and couldn't possibly do the DxDDP. Well, DH & I were going for just 2 nights in January, staying at monorail resort & just doing Epcot one day & MK the next. We've been several times, so this was just a little bonus trip during our Florida getaway from winter trip...we weren't super-focused on the parks this trip, so we decided to try the DxDDP.

All I can say is , thank heavens it was just 2 days! And we actually spread the meals out over 3 days -- lunch & dinner on check in day, breakfast lunch & dinner on day 2 and breakfast on checkout day. We were so full could not have done it one more day. We did not eat a single one of the snacks while we were there -- got 8 items to go with us when we left (didn't even want to buy water, we were that full.)

And the time is a very big factor...we were staying in monorail hotels, only going to the monorail parks & all our restaurant reservations were for those hotels & parks only so we had no delays with waiting for busses, multiple transfer points, driving or parking cars, etc. But it still takes a minimum of 90 minutes to get to a restaurant, get checked in & eat, even at a buffet. Many places will be longer (count on 2 1/2 hours for signature restaurants if you do the 2-TS version.) You could easily use up 4-6 hours of your vacation day running to/from & eating...

 

[TxRabbit]

We decided to upgrade to the Deluxe plan for our upcoming trip.

Remember, you only have to order what you feel like eating. What out for the buffet mentality. Just because you are entitled to each have an appetizer, doesn't mean that you each have to order one. If you would normally share, then share. If you would normally share dessert, then share. I bet, if you did the math, you would still find yourself ahead. You don't have to be stuffed beyond your britches to get your money's worth.

I find that the menus at TS offer the food that I am interested in eating. Same for DS. And with the appetizer options, we will have greater flexibility in getting food that makes DS8 as happy as his parents.

Also. I have to admit. I just like being served. It's the dining experience that I prefer. And while I am on vacation, I'm willing to pay for it.

 

[Magic2000]

We are trying the DxDP for the first time for our trip in June. (Actually, we are doing the DxDP for one week, and then the regular DP the following week)

We've never done either dining plan because my DD (13) is VERY PICKY. She really prefers to eat off the children's menu. We've been to Disney many times, and there are some trips when I swear all that child eats is chicken nuggets!! hahaha

Anyway, she's starting to try new things, so we thought we try the dining plans. DH doesn't really care for CS foods, so I thought the DxDP would be best to try for the week he is there. The second week, it will be just me and DD, so we're doing the regular.

I'm just thinking that I like the fact its paid for in advance. I've looked at some of the menus, and I think DH & I will come out a little ahead, not too sure about DD. It just depends on what she orders. But it doesn't matter to me - I just think we'll order what we want. If we don't feel like dessert, we'll skip it (or bring it back to the room for later).

We do usually order appetizers (most of the time - just a salad), and sometimes dessert. DD usually always saves room for dessert! So, I think it will work out ok for us. I guess it depends on how you usually order.

Can't wait til March when I can finally make some ADRs!!!!!!

 

[JACKNAG]

"We are trying the DxDP for the first time for our trip in June. (Actually, we are doing the DxDP for one week, and then the regular DP the following week)"

Can you do this?
Do you have 2 separate reservations ?, I didn't think you could have some days Deluxe dinning and some regular dining, Please let me know because we are going for 10 days and would like to do maybe half and half

Thanks
Jack

 

[Magic2000]

We have two separate reservations, since we are staying at two hotels. First week at Yacht Club, second week at CSR.

I don't think you can split it half and half.

 

[JACKNAG]

Thanks

 

[my2disneyboys]

The price difference is $32/pp/day (adult), and I think $19/pp/day (child).

If the extra meal credit and snack are worth that much to you, then DxDP is a good deal, otherwise, it isn't.

The most common suggestion with DxDP (although I will note I'm not doing this myself for this trip) is to have a 1 TS breakfast (or early lunch!) and a 2 TS dinner, using snack credits mid-day (conversely, maybe a 2 TS CRT breakfast and a 1 TS dinner). This allows you maximum use of the credits with the minimum amount of time set aside for dining, and with only two big meals a day, you might not feel so "stuffed".

In my particular case, with 3 children under 4, I know that even a CS meal is likely going to take close to an hour to order, find a place to sit, scrounge up 2 high chairs, and have the kids eat. I'd rather just plan to set aside the time in a sit-down restaurant with an ADR than deal with the lunch time crowd hassle (and to keep the kids on schedule, which means peak lunch times). With older kids, or without kids, I might not have done the same plan.

This is exactly why I upgraded to the DxDP! I have two little ones and last time we were there, it was so stressful with them trying to find a table- waiting in line and the kids hungry and fussy- I think this time, it will be much nicer to be able to show up for our reservation and have a table for us to sit and relax a bit. Also its nice to get out of the sun for a little bit too!

 

[Tam1067]

This is exactly why I upgraded to the DxDP! I have two little ones and last time we were there, it was so stressful with them trying to find a table- waiting in line and the kids hungry and fussy- I think this time, it will be much nicer to be able to show up for our reservation and have a table for us to sit and relax a bit. Also its nice to get out of the sun for a little bit too!

Yes! We're trying DxDP this time precisely for this reason. We had a really awful time at Pecos Bill's last August. I'd much rather sit down at the Plaza and be served!

To avoid the 3 meals a day feasting, we'll be doing two TS meals a day. Dinner each night (a few are going to be signatures), and then either a breakfast buffet (because my kids like them) OR a TS lunch.

My kids also like Disney pastries for breakfast because we never do that at home, so on the days we're not doing a buffet breakfast, we'll do things like muffins and cinammon rolls and fruit for breakfast.

 

[Colleen27]

We LOVED the deluxe plan and we're doing it again in May. We did a lot of signature meals and it didn't feel like too much food at all, though we did end up bringing quite a few snacks home with us.

We didn't mind the time either, for a couple of reasons. First of all, we go often enough that we don't feel any pressure to try to do it all every trip. Second, we haven't found counter service to be significantly faster than table service for in-park meals and it comes with a lot more hassle. And third, in a lot of cases Disney restaurants are attractions unto themselves, either for character interaction or fireworks viewing or an otherwise unique atmosphere that you can't find elsewhere.

 

[buzz1fan]

I am still debating on what to do for the 4 nights we will be at Disney. Our kids will be 25 months and 5. I wanted to do a TS breakfast or lunch each day, then a TS for dinner. I would like to try many 2TS places, but I worry about the kids from the comments I have read on the boards. We are staying at AK, so we really want to try Jiko. for the age of my youngest, you never know how he will behave.

I figure we have our last day to use 2 meals too, so we wont have to pay for anything OOP.