DDP vs OOP

[WendyisDarling]

I know most of us "run the numbers". Well, I haven't YET. I'm wondering if anyone who has found that DDP vs OOP is about the same cost or even less?

DH loves the DDP because of the idea of a pre-paid vacation. (Heck, though, I can just pre-pay my CC an estimated figure and have the same result).

I know I could go through and choose the cheapest menu items and try to share portions, etc. to keep the cost down. That isn't my intent.

I don't like to do QS everyday. I tried putting the DxDP into a schedule for us and even going to some 2 credit places, we won't use all the meals. Planning on staying club level so won't use all the snacks or mug either. Plus I have an 11 year old DS who will prefer kid menu type foods at most TS.

Does anyone have an example to share (or maybe their spreadsheet ) showing how the DDP or DxDP was NOT a money saver. OR does someone completely disagree wth me and can tell me that it I should purchase it.

BTW, don't have AP and not planning to get them so we won't have DDE card. (Although, maybe I should do that math, too).

 

[LizinSTL]

I know most of us "run the numbers". Well, I haven't YET. I'm wondering if anyone who has found that DDP vs OOP is about the same cost or even less?

DH loves the DDP because of the idea of a pre-paid vacation. (Heck, though, I can just pre-pay my CC an estimated figure and have the same result).

I know I could go through and choose the cheapest menu items and try to share portions, etc. to keep the cost down. That isn't my intent.

I don't like to do QS everyday. I tried putting the DxDP into a schedule for us and even going to some 2 credit places, we won't use all the meals. Planning on staying club level so won't use all the snacks or mug either. Plus I have an 11 year old DS who will prefer kid menu type foods at most TS.

Does anyone have an example to share (or maybe their spreadsheet ) showing how the DDP or DxDP was NOT a money saver. OR does someone completely disagree wth me and can tell me that it I should purchase it.

BTW, don't have AP and not planning to get them so we won't have DDE card. (Although, maybe I should do that math, too).

I like the dining plan for the same reason your dh does...but we visit disney in a way that works for the DDP. It sounds like you won't do much better than break-even using the DDP and you'd probably lose $$ on the DxDDP. I wouldn't bother doing the math on the AP- unless you're a FL resident and can get the DDE that way, IMO, it's rare for a once a year visitor to do better on the AP...I think it's pushing it for a twice a year visitor...jmo.

The only way that the DDP would be a better deal for you than paying OOP if if MOST of your TS meals are dinners AND fixed price since your son would have to pay the adult cost at those meals.

 

[luckytobeme88]

Do you really need to stay on the club level? That alone could save you some money to pay for the DDP. JMO

 

[honeymo78]

If you don't like eating QS, DDP may not work because you'll end up with some of them leftover. Depending on where you eat your TS though, it might be cheaper or break even just with the one meal. A meal at Le Cellier can easily come close to the daily cost of the DDP, but if you don't like the more expensive items and don't use your CS credits, OOP might be your best bet.

DDP doesn't work for us because we don't/won't eat CS more than 1 or 2 times per trip. Those credits would go to waste and we would spend extra to make up for those meals at TS locations. Even with DxDDP we would spend OOP b/c we like 3 TS a day including some 2 TS locations. Unfortunately the premium package is not available to DVC members so we make do with DxDDP and spending OOP.

 

[WendyisDarling]

Do you really need to stay on the club level? That alone could save you some money to pay for the DDP. JMO

A good point, but yes "I must" . I really like the planning services. I like the help getting ADR's (I know they have no magic wand, but I can just email them what I want and they do their best. I like that we can get easy help when we are there. I know it is over-rated, but I just feel less stressed. We use the lounge mostly for breakfast because we are definitely a sit down for breakfast family. We have drinks from the lounge but hardly any food.
I will consider your suggestion, though. Thanks for the input.

I've been fiddling with numbers. Honeymo, I think you are right about the DDP because I know we won't eat QS that much.

Disney is so smart to have that DP. A lot of people like the pre-paid idea.

 

[snykymom]

I haven't so much "run the numbers" as gone with my gut. I know that the regular DDP isn't the right option for us, since we often prefer appetizers to desserts.

And the DxDP is too much food - although I could easily find both appetizers and desserts at almost every restaurant we're eating at, I know form experience that we virtually never eat both. So leaving an appetizer or a dessert "on the table" so to speak will eliminate most, if not all, of the plan's savings.

And unless you eat the way the dining plans are structured, you don't save money.

I do like the "pre-paid" idea of the plan, but I don't like the idea of having to count credits, or having to run around to use any extra credits we may have. I'm "pre-paying" by escrowing the money I think we'll spend.

I'm going to buy what we want, where we want, and when we want it. No more, no less. I'm not going to worry about the prices; I'm on vacation! I'll buy the snacks that we want, and no one will have to share unless that's the desire. I think in the long run I'll spend more than the DDP (primarily due to OOP appetizers, etc), but less than the DxDP.

I'll keep you posted!

 

[Pirate Me]

If you stay club level, the DDP might be a lot of food. You can get breakfast and dinner from there plus snacks during the day. We thought it would be worth OOP because we choose appetizers over desserts, but that's just us.

 

[disneyfan55]

I know most of us "run the numbers". Well, I haven't YET. I'm wondering if anyone who has found that DDP vs OOP is about the same cost or even less?

DH loves the DDP because of the idea of a pre-paid vacation. (Heck, though, I can just pre-pay my CC an estimated figure and have the same result).

I know I could go through and choose the cheapest menu items and try to share portions, etc. to keep the cost down. That isn't my intent.

I don't like to do QS everyday. I tried putting the DxDP into a schedule for us and even going to some 2 credit places, we won't use all the meals. Planning on staying club level so won't use all the snacks or mug either. Plus I have an 11 year old DS who will prefer kid menu type foods at most TS.

Does anyone have an example to share (or maybe their spreadsheet ) showing how the DDP or DxDP was NOT a money saver. OR does someone completely disagree wth me and can tell me that it I should purchase it.

BTW, don't have AP and not planning to get them so we won't have DDE card. (Although, maybe I should do that math, too).

For some info on the AP, you can just purchase one and get the discounts/benefits. Look at the restaurants on DDE and see if you like them or they are where you want to eat. Don't forget it's 20% off the meal including liquor. I would think since you wouldn't use all the DxDP credits, you might do better to see if the AP works for you. Don't forget your son will be paying the adult cost for the dining plan.

 

[WendyisDarling]

For some info on the AP, you can just purchase one and get the discounts/benefits. Look at the restaurants on DDE and see if you like them or they are where you want to eat. Don't forget it's 20% off the meal including liquor. I would think since you wouldn't use all the DxDP credits, you might do better to see if the AP works for you. Don't forget your son will be paying the adult cost for the dining plan.

Wow, I didn't even think about buying just one AP. We might save money this way. Interesting idea. Thanks

 

[WendyisDarling]

I haven't so much "run the numbers" as gone with my gut. I know that the regular DDP isn't the right option for us, since we often prefer appetizers to desserts.

And the DxDP is too much food - although I could easily find both appetizers and desserts at almost every restaurant we're eating at, I know form experience that we virtually never eat both. So leaving an appetizer or a dessert "on the table" so to speak will eliminate most, if not all, of the plan's savings.

And unless you eat the way the dining plans are structured, you don't save money.

I do like the "pre-paid" idea of the plan, but I don't like the idea of having to count credits, or having to run around to use any extra credits we may have. I'm "pre-paying" by escrowing the money I think we'll spend.

I'm going to buy what we want, where we want, and when we want it. No more, no less. I'm not going to worry about the prices; I'm on vacation! I'll buy the snacks that we want, and no one will have to share unless that's the desire. I think in the long run I'll spend more than the DDP (primarily due to OOP appetizers, etc), but less than the DxDP.

I'll keep you posted!

I'm on the same page as you. I tried to plug in some possible usage of credits during our stay and no way will we use all of them. We might do one or two regular breakfasts, but we prefer to have something light in the lounge most days.

I toyed around with some numbers from different places and if just appitizers or desserts were left out there wasn't much if any savings. Add to that one DS is going to want the $8 kid meal.

We have used the typical DDP in the past and it was a good deal because the tip was included. But, as I wrote before, I just don't like QS much. We stayed club level and were always too full to taste the foods they had out other than breakfast. We might want to sample those this time.

I like the pre-paid idea, too. I like your explanation of escrowing the meal money.

OK, I am officially talked out of further consideration of DDP. We'll eat what we want and where we want (as on other vacations) and not be tied down to putting together a puzzle of credits.

Our trip is many months away, but I am going to keep track of all the meal costs (we just put everything on our room key, so it should be on the check out statement) and compare our "do as we please OOP" with the costs of the DDP's.

Thanks for all the input. It helps so much. I think I get hypnotized by Disney selling me stuff when I am planning. (Those marketing scoundrels... )

Thanks again

 

[klynn]

We are a family of 4 adults. Two weeks ago we did DDP for 7 nights. We saved $80.00 vs using our DDE card. However, by the end of the first week we were tired of all the desserts and snacks. This week we just used our DDE card for 7 nights. We ate where we wanted and what we wanted. (This included 7 regular TS meals and 1 Signature dining.) We saved $500.00 by not using the DDP and just using our DDE card. However, if you will be eating snacks every day and desserts twice a day, then the DDP is probably the way to go. We are starting our third week now and are very happy not being on the DDP.

Edited to add: My daughter is 11 and cannot eat a full adult entree. She always orders off the kids menu or her and I split and adult entree.

 

[WendyisDarling]

We are a family of 4 adults. Two weeks ago we did DDP for 7 nights. We saved $80.00 vs using our DDE card. However, by the end of the first week we were tired of all the desserts and snacks. This week we just used our DDE card for 7 nights. We ate where we wanted and what we wanted. (This included 7 regular TS meals and 1 Signature dining.) We saved $500.00 by not using the DDP and just using our DDE card. However, if you will be eating snacks every day and desserts twice a day, then the DDP is probably the way to go. We are starting our third week now and are very happy not being on the DDP.

Edited to add: My daughter is 11 and cannot eat a full adult entree. She always orders off the kids menu or her and I split and adult entree.

Thanks, that is very helpful. Exactly the think I was trying to figure out. We rarely choose to get dessert if left to our devices and the information about the 11 year old is right on target. I look at the menus and while my 13 year old has farily sophisticated tastes and will try new things, younger DS does not and will not. Many adult TS entrees would have no appeal to him.

So, you are at the world RIGHT NOW! And you are starting your third week! You lucky duck!

Thanks for taking the time to give me some input.

 

[disneyfan55]

Wow, I didn't even think about buying just one AP. We might save money this way. Interesting idea. Thanks

You are welcome! It might also give you incentive to come back within a year!! There are room discounts as well so I would check it out!

 

[Tricia1972]

I think that with your plan you are better off OOP vs any dining plan. If you weren't leaving your CS's on the table (so to speak) you may do better with the plan.



This made me laugh...

We are a family of 4 adults. Two weeks ago we did DDP for 7 nights. We saved $80.00 vs using our DDE card. However, by the end of the first week we were tired of all the desserts and snacks. This week we just used our DDE card for 7 nights. We ate where we wanted and what we wanted. (This included 7 regular TS meals and 1 Signature dining.) We saved $500.00 by not using the DDP and just using our DDE card. However, if you will be eating snacks every day and desserts twice a day, then the DDP is probably the way to go. We are starting our third week now and are very happy not being on the DDP.

Edited to add: My daughter is 11 and cannot eat a full adult entree. She always orders off the kids menu or her and I split and adult entree.

What is amusing to me is that your story is SO similar to ours.

We did the DDP in October 2007 and it didn't feel right to us. We went OOP for 8 days in March 2008 with the DDE card and we also saved $500 eating what we wanted when we wanted.

We also enjoyed not worrying about where our snacks were coming from and if that item was DDP approved.

 

[Mom2PrincessK]

We usually do 2 TS a day (late bfast or early lunch and a dinner), including several signature restaurants and character meals. I went through the menus and picked what we would normally purchase (normally we would not get appetizers or desserts or if we did we would split them).

The cost was almost even with the cost of the Deluxe Plan. We went with that option because while it won't save us money, we will get to try apps and desserts that we would not normally get for just the cost of the increased tip, plus some "free" snacks.