DDP was new to us....

[crash2000]

we just got back from disney, used the DDP, only complaint we had, like others also mention, we found we ate to much, and at the end of the trip were down grading TS credtis for CS credits, at par...


we also got a current balance print out daily, and found the last few days we had to really step up the snacks we used, I didn't know water in the park was good for the snack.. duh !

 

[storybookmum]

That's my only concern, that we didn't quite manage at our last trip to get to a TS dinner every day; I had to cancel a couple of ressies because we were too busy. I hate to waste those credits...I already know that we'll have a little extra from our first and last days, arrving at midday, and leaving mid-afternoon...

We decided to go for it, but we'll have to think things through carefully to make the most of it. This is all very new territory for us!

 

[happymommy]

We are looking forward to our first time using the dining plan next month.

I am worried about it being too many sit down meals also. Did they let you use a TS credit for CS? Do you mind telling me where? I am thinking the kids may be too tired to do that many sit down meals - they'd rather grab something quick. Me too!

Thanks.

 

[crash2000]

yes happy mommy you can downgrade TS to CS meals...

 

[bangzoom6877]

I think this is why they added in a new CS plan option for 2009, but of course this is only good beginning this January, not next month. It was designed for those who prefer CS meals and not necessarily one TS meal daily. Some people just prefer the quick service meals and snacks instead because then they have more time on rides, plus it saves them money over a pricey TS restaurant, whether paying OOP or for the basic DDP. The CS plan costs less than the basic DDP and will include 2 CS meals, and 2 snacks per person per night of stay.

For us we still prefer the basic DDP. Our habit on vacation is to have a sit-down dinner every night so this fits right into our normal plans. We loved it in July when we had it. We looked into the DxDDP and it is way too much food for us, especially since we prefer to have a quick breakfast in the room, a CS lunch so we have more time enjoying attractions, and 80 snack credits among the 4 of us over a 10-night stay is just way too much! Even 40 will be a lot but with staying at BWV and having the Bakery right there we will have no problem using 40 snacks in 10 days! But 80 just seemed way too excessive, in addition to the fact that we eat at 1 TS credit places, so the deluxe plan is just way too much for us! Perhaps in the future but not now when the kids are still little!

 

[happymommy]

yes happy mommy you can downgrade TS to CS meals...

Wow - we are getting free dining next month with the Disney Visa special.

I don't know if we can do a sit down meal every day - but the cast members have told me conflicting things. One said it was up to the CS restaurant. The other said you couldn't do this.

Do you mind telling me where they let you do this?

Thanks!

 

[storybookmum]

For us, the table service is our chance to sit down and catch our breath. I think last long trip, we only missed one day at a sit-down meal (which would work nicely, that gives us one night for the places that count as 2 points, I guess!).

Quick question, because I think I misunderstood. We're staying 7 nights, but in the park 8 days. I had to purchase the 8-day park plan, but I thought I was also going to be on an 8-day dining plan. I am now realising I was probably wrong - my dining plan is going to match the number of nights we stay, isn't it? That's ok, it's not a problem, I just need to know.

 

[shannn]

Quick question, because I think I misunderstood. We're staying 7 nights, but in the park 8 days. I had to purchase the 8-day park plan, but I thought I was also going to be on an 8-day dining plan. I am now realising I was probably wrong - my dining plan is going to match the number of nights we stay, isn't it? That's ok, it's not a problem, I just need to know.

Yes, your plan matches the number of night you stay not the number of days in the parks. That's the reason I'm going back and forth between the basic plan and the deluxe plan.

 

[storybookmum]

Ah, ok....reworking my credit thoughts, then (I have almost nothing mapped out yet, though, because we just started this planning late last week).

 

[BoosGram]

DH and I really like having the sit-down TS meal at the end of the day and a CS for lunch. We never end up w/any credits left, since we always go to our resort's quick service area and get a fruit salad for the next morning's breakfast. All gone! We've found the basic DDP is almost a perfect fit for us, anyway.

 

[crash2000]

Wow - we are getting free dining next month with the Disney Visa special.

I don't know if we can do a sit down meal every day - but the cast members have told me conflicting things. One said it was up to the CS restaurant. The other said you couldn't do this.

Do you mind telling me where they let you do this?

Thanks!

I can't remember the exact places but we did it a few times, first you use up the CS credits, then goto any CS restauarant, and use your card they will tell you you have no CS credits left , and ask if you would like to use TS credits...

note TS credits are worth more so your losing money.

and on the last night, we used the hotels restaurants and used up all the snack credits we had left at the end of the trip ( food for the plane)

 

[mousiemom]

i learn something everytime we do the free dining. the 1st yr we made the mistake of doing 2 ts in 1 day. a big no-no! we did le cellier for lunch and then kona for dinner. well, we all had take out boxes with us that night. last sept, instead of doing a ts everynight, we did 2 (2ts) during our week and that was great! we ususally like to do our ts for dinner around 6:00, well, in dec, i made all of our ts for around 2:00 for lunch so we can enjoy the parks at night for all the decorations. we don't do any sit down breakfasts either cause we like to get to the parks when they open and hit all the rides. we usually grab a muffin or some type of pastry.
good luck planning!
mousiemom

 

[mkycrzy1971]

Wow - we are getting free dining next month with the Disney Visa special.

I don't know if we can do a sit down meal every day - but the cast members have told me conflicting things. One said it was up to the CS restaurant. The other said you couldn't do this.

Do you mind telling me where they let you do this?

Thanks!

You can go the front desk of your resort and ask them to convert the amount of TS credits you want to CS....BEWARE, once they are "converted" they can not be "converted" back to TS credits...just be sure you do not have more converted than you wish.

 

[happymommy]

You can go the front desk of your resort and ask them to convert the amount of TS credits you want to CS....BEWARE, once they are "converted" they can not be "converted" back to TS credits...just be sure you do not have more converted than you wish.

Wow - thanks! I may need to do that sometime during our next visit.

We may do some TS, but not one a day. We really like the flexibility of CS!

Thanks again.

 

[mkycrzy1971]

Wow - thanks! I may need to do that sometime during our next visit.

We may do some TS, but not one a day. We really like the flexibility of CS!

Thanks again.

You are very welcome!

 

[Mrs D]

We may do some TS, but not one a day.

You may choose to do 2TS credit restaurants then. For example CRT, Hoop De Doo, Mickeys Backyard BBQ and Spirit of Aloha are all 2ts credits. That way you are getting what you paid for, but not spending every night eating. Plus you are selecting truly unique experiences that perhaps you wouldn't do if paying OOP.
There are plenty of signature restaurants as well.
Here's a list of DDP restaurants. The column on the right is all 2ts credit locations.
http://allears.net/pl/packages08a.htm#rest

HTH!

 

[happymommy]

Thanks, but we got the "free dining", and prefer to be more flexible.

We generally do 2 or 3 TS meals a trip, sometimes more, one trip we did none (that was just the kids and me). We tend to be early birds, and enjoy relaxing in the room at night.

I did look into Hoop Dee Doo, but think we'll pass this trip. Only 5 nights, so I'd rather do that during a longer stay.

Even with CS, we would be getting a great value for what we paid! Plus, we don't have to worry about timing or tips so much. We'll still do some TS, but maybe switch a few to CS.