DDP-When does it begin?

[skorpie]

Sorry if this has been asked many times but if check in is 4 PM does the dining plan begin on that eveing? That would mean that you do not get a full day to use the plan. We are due to check in on Aug.3 and out on the 7th. Will it run through all day on the 7th since out flight out of MCO isn't until 7 pm. Sorry if I do not quite get the DDP idea!

 

[gillep]

you can start using DDP credits once you check in (this can be before 4pm) and you get your KTTW card and they expire at midnight on the day that you check out.

 

[skorpie]

Thanks! No at least it mightmake sense to consider using the plan! But do you think it pays for DD18 and me(the mom)? Won't it be a lot of food?

 

[Chuck S]

Thanks! No at least it mightmake sense to consider using the plan! But do you think it pays for DD18 and me(the mom)? Won't it be a lot of food?

It really depends upon your personal dining habits. We never use the DDP, and have never spent what the the plan would cost us over the course of a trip. Some days we spend more, some days less, overall we save $ by paying for the meals rather than the DDP.

Now, as you are there for a relatively short stay of 4 nights, it could be to your benefit to use the DDP. Shorter stays tend to work better for the DDP than a stay of a week or more, as people tend to eat less over the course of a longer stay.

My suggestion would be to look over some of the menus, and price what you'd likely eat if paying cash...add up the total, and see how that compares to the cost of the DDP.

 

[bumbershoot]

Remember, your credits go along with the number of *nights* you stay, not the days. So if you're staying 4 nights, you get 4 "sets" of credits. You can use them from the moment you check in (which doesn't have to mean official checkin time) until midnight the day of checkout, but you won't have five days' worth of credits, if I'm making myself clear. You might run out, depending on how you've used the credits.

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks! No at least it mightmake sense to consider using the plan! But do you think it pays for DD18 and me(the mom)? Won't it be a lot of food?

If you would eat the same type of meals anyway, then the DDP makes sense. If you normally wouldn't eat a sit down meal every night that requires a ADR, and you don't eat the more expensive items on the menu, then the DDP might not be worth it.

You can get the QSDDP that has less food and no ADR required. We tried it last visit and it worked well for us.

Bill

 

[Anthony1971]

In general on shorter trip 3-4 nights we will get the DP.
it also depends on when and where you eat....and if you can get ADR's
you need to look at the menus -- ask if you do not know where the are there are several sites even here on the DIS boards.

 

[skorpie]

We already have some ADR's. I need to do the math to see if it will make sense. My sister liked the DDP but I guess I need to decide if it makes sense for the 2 of us!

 

[johnsbelt]

We already have some ADR's. I need to do the math to see if it will make sense. My sister liked the DDP but I guess I need to decide if it makes sense for the 2 of us!

We went down in May and stayed at the CR (not members yet, but close). It was DW, DD(19), and myself. As we had not been to WDW in almost 9 years (job issues, thankfully that is behind us), we went with the dining plan that gives you a sit down meal, a CS meal and a snack. We did save a little money over the course of 5 nights but not that much. The saving came mainly from DD going down and grabbing salads to eat late at night and using them as a snack against the plan! If DW and I go alone, I doubt we'd get the plan as we typically don't eat big meals and desserts which was the main portion of the savings. It was nice to bag a cookie at the CS meals and have them later though .

Just my .02 worth.

John

 

[tink too]

We have never used any variation of the DP's, but I am seriously considering it for our upcoming trip since we'll only be in WDW for 5 nights.

Since our stay will be split between 2 resorts, I'm also guessing that we can maybe mix up the DDP's. Like, maybe having the Deluxe DP at one resort and Quick Service at another.

 

[TDC Nala]

Since our stay will be split between 2 resorts, I'm also guessing that we can maybe mix up the DDP's. Like, maybe having the Deluxe DP at one resort and Quick Service at another.

Yes, you can do this, so long as you have two separate resort reservations.

 

[disneynutz]

We have never used any variation of the DP's, but I am seriously considering it for our upcoming trip since we'll only be in WDW for 5 nights.

Since our stay will be split between 2 resorts, I'm also guessing that we can maybe mix up the DDP's. Like, maybe having the Deluxe DP at one resort and Quick Service at another.

For our family there are only two occasions when we will use the DDP or the DDDP. Short stays or split stays.

The shorter the stay the better the value because you aren't tired of eating yet and you aren't waisting credits just to use them up.

The beginning of your vacation is the best time because you can use the credits until midnight of your check out day of the first part of your stay. We always have left overs and snack items to eat during the second half.

Bill

 

[saintstickets]

We just returned three weeks ago from our 5 night trip with 5 adults and we used the DP for the first time. IMO, it all depends on your eating habits. If you like a dessert with each meal and want to forego appetizers, then the DP is probably right for you. If you want appetizers, an occasional adult beverage and might split a dessert then TIW is probably better for you. You can easily look at the menus online and get a good idea of what it would cost to pay cash, DP or TIW. I did this for us after we returned and posted the numbers in our TR. There is a link below for more detail.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

Since our stay will be split between 2 resorts, I'm also guessing that we can maybe mix up the DDP's. Like, maybe having the Deluxe DP at one resort and Quick Service at another.

As Nala said, this is correct. I just want to add that any leftover credits expire at midnight after checking out. Your first segment's credits will expire that night, and don't carryover to your second segment.

Back to OP's question. Your credits start the second you receive your KTTW. We always checkin early, so we can begin eating right away. We elect to get a text when our room is ready.

 

[CADisneyMom]

When we were there last year for a week we didn't get the DP because we tend to not eat alot and we know this of ourselves. Does anyone know if Disneyland has the dining plan?

 

[Dean]

Sorry if this has been asked many times but if check in is 4 PM does the dining plan begin on that eveing? That would mean that you do not get a full day to use the plan. We are due to check in on Aug.3 and out on the 7th. Will it run through all day on the 7th since out flight out of MCO isn't until 7 pm. Sorry if I do not quite get the DDP idea!

DDP works for some and not for others. Depends on your eating habits, length of stay, age of kids, etc. IMO it's the best value for older kids that still count as kids, shorter stays, those that plan the higher end 1 credit options and big eaters. I can easily make it a value or a poor choice by our choices. Look at the menus where you do have reservations and see how it fits. I generally equate a value of $2.50 per snack, $10-15 per QS meal and $25-35 per sit down meal depending on the type of places I have reserved and the type of meals we'd normally order there.