DDP was worth it, I added it up!!!

[Disneyof3]

I was worried about the DDP this year, considering all the changes. We booked it and went with the flow. We just returned 2 weeks ago hard to believe it has been that long already, and I added it all up. For our family of 5, 3 adults and 2 children on the regular DDP for 7 nights the total came to $937.65. We actually spent $1222.31.
So there is a difference of $284.66, we likely spent almost $200.00 in tips. So the story for us when we return in a couple of years is, if it is still available we would jump at it again. We liked the convience and the fact that we could choose anything on the menu. We tried many new restaurants this year and enjoyed them all. I only carried the tip in my pocket for that day TS, since we basically knew what we were ordering before we left and we went to alot of buffets. We had no problems what so ever with the DDP or the servers that served us. The only thing that bothered DH and I was the lack of variety on the kids menu and the dessert selection compared to the adult menu. This has got to change in a major way.

 

[jrandtysmom]

Did you do the Basic DDP? If so, what did you do for breakfast? Could you have done the Deluxe Dining? Everyone recommends eating in your room for breakfast but I really am thinking that for this vacation I want no worries and don't want to have to bring a suitcase full of food for breakfast so I was thinking of doing the Deluxe.

 

[minniekissedme]

Did you do the Basic DDP? If so, what did you do for breakfast? Could you have done the Deluxe Dining? Everyone recommends eating in your room for breakfast but I really am thinking that for this vacation I want no worries and don't want to have to bring a suitcase full of food for breakfast so I was thinking of doing the Deluxe.

My family is identical to OP and we did the DDP in Feb and saved even more!

I wouldn't consider the Deluxe and we didn't eat in the room. We do bring snacks and I brought two cases of water this year (paid $2.99/case rather than $2/bottle).

Here's how we did it...
Breakfast was usually three QS meals shared between the five of us. More than enough food from the POR food court. Might be supplemented with a cinnamon roll or some other snack.
Lunch was the same thing...usually QS in the parks. Pizza Planet was three pizzas, tiny salads, drinks, dessert. Cosmic Rays was three double cheeseburgers, fries, drinks, dessert. It was always more than enough food.
Dinner was the splurge for TS every evening. We did Les Chefs de France, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Narcoossee's, Kona, Coral Reef, and Marrakesh. Fantastic meals each and every nite.

Having said that...the DDP isn't perfect and doesn't work for everyone. I personally would prefer a choice of app or dessert. I love the desserts but I wouldn't do it every nite if I'm paying OOP. Nor would I do an app every nite...I'd simply prefer the choice.

That's my two cents...we'd likely do it again!

 

[Disneyof3]

Did you do the Basic DDP? If so, what did you do for breakfast? Could you have done the Deluxe Dining? Everyone recommends eating in your room for breakfast but I really am thinking that for this vacation I want no worries and don't want to have to bring a suitcase full of food for breakfast so I was thinking of doing the Deluxe.

Our plan like last year was to hit a grocery store and buy cereal and milk, bagels and cream cheese etc for breakfast. Except our plane was delayed and we ended up arriving 11 hrs late and had no time to shop. So instead we used our snack credits for breakfast in the POR food court. We bought fruit danish, cinnamon buns, fruit bowls, yogart parfaits, muffins etc. I thought my family wouldn't like this but they did. The fruit bowls were big and filled you up quite nicely. The yogart parfaits were filled with your choice of fruit and nuts and plain yogart. They were so filling that I couldn't eat the whole thing. Your questions about the deluxe dining plan is NO. We were so full from dinners that in the morning the above is all we could eat. I choose alot of buffets due to having 2 kids and the lack of kids menu choices, so we would eat breakfast at around 8:00 - 8:30. We ate lunch no later than 12:30 and all my ADR's were booked for around 7:20pm. We were never hungry for dinner and hardly ate the desserts at the restaurants. We mostly took them back to the room. I feel that this plan was enough for us. Now my family can eat alot but my DH even at the size he is being 5'6" and 135 pounds short and stocky thought there was way too much food.
If the plan is still around when we return (2011) I would still go with it again like I said before.