DDP - where is the savings?

[APB513]

I am trying to figure out if I should do DDP. I calculated what each meal would cost if I was not using DDP (i.e., 1TS, 1 CS and 1 snack per person per day) plus any OOP expenses I would need (ex. meals to make up for two signature dining experiences).

Maybe my math is wrong but when I compared the cost of DDP to the cost of OOP, I only see about $70.00 savings.

Shouldn't my OOP costs be 30% more than DDP since Disney advertises that you save approximately 30% by using DDP?

Am I missing something?

 

[srdipert]

I think the savings would be more depending on what you are ordering at the more expensive places…there is more of a savings for example:



Lunch Flame Tree

1/2 Slab of St. Louis Ribs 8.49
Drink 2.09
Key Lime Pie 3.59
Sub Total 14.17
Tax 7% .99

Total 15.16


Dinner Le Cellier

Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mignon 34.99
Drink 2.50 (Estimated this)
Chocolate-on-Chocolate Whiskey Cake 7.99
Sub Total 45.48
Tax 7% 3.18

Total 48.66


Snack 3.50 Estimated


Total OOP 67.32
DDP COST 37.99

OOP would cost 29.33 more that would be a savings of 43%



Using the totals from a cheaper places.

Lunch Pecos Bills

2 Bacon Double Cheeseburger 7.39
Drink 2.09
PB Brownie 3.59
Subtotal 13.07
Tax .91

Total 13.98

Dinner Crystal Palace 27.99 (I think that includes the drink)
Tax 1.96
Total 29.95


Snack 3.50

OOP COST 47.43
DDP COST 37.99

Savings 9.44 that is a savings of about 20%


Either way any savings would be good to me!

 

[nyyankeegirl]

Thanks srdipert! That was quite helpful. I love it when someone else does the math for me!
I had just been thinking about it this morning, if it was actually worth it now that they have taken away an appetizer & gratuity.

 

[srdipert]

Thanks srdipert! That was quite helpful. I love it when someone else does the math for me!
I had just been thinking about it this morning, if it was actually worth it now that they have taken away an appetizer & gratuity.

Your welcome...I hope my math is pretty accurate.

I think the DDP is still a good deal if you are going to eat at least one TS meal everyday even with out the DDP which my family does. Of course it was a great deal with the apps and tips.

 

[APB513]

I think the savings would be more depending on what you are ordering at the more expensive places…there is more of a savings for example:



Lunch Flame Tree

1/2 Slab of St. Louis Ribs 8.49
Drink 2.09
Key Lime Pie 3.59
Sub Total 14.17
Tax 7% .99

Total 15.16


Dinner Le Cellier

Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mignon 34.99
Drink 2.50 (Estimated this)
Chocolate-on-Chocolate Whiskey Cake 7.99
Sub Total 45.48
Tax 7% 3.18

Total 48.66


Snack 3.50 Estimated


Total OOP 67.32
DDP COST 37.99

OOP would cost 29.33 more that would be a savings of 43%



Using the totals from a cheaper places.

Lunch Pecos Bills

2 Bacon Double Cheeseburger 7.39
Drink 2.09
PB Brownie 3.59
Subtotal 13.07
Tax .91

Total 13.98

Dinner Crystal Palace 27.99 (I think that includes the drink)
Tax 1.96
Total 29.95


Snack 3.50

OOP COST 47.43
DDP COST 37.99

Savings 9.44 that is a savings of about 20%


Either way any savings would be good to me!

Thanks srdipert for breaking it down for me!

 

[Katiebell]

Great examples. A really simple formula I use is:
$25 for TS (including drink, dessert, and tax)
$10 for CS (including drink, dessert, and tax)
$3 for snack

That's the break-even point, where the DDP wouldn't save you any money, but would just be a convenient way to pre-pay for your meals. Anything over and above that, though, is a savings.

Epcot Day:

Breakfast Snack Sunshine Seasons
Pastry 3.00 (just a guess)
7% tax .21

Total 3.21

CS Lunch Tangieriene
Chicken and Lamb Sharwarma Platter $13.95
Baklava (the only dessert offered on the DDP) 2.50
Iced Tea 2.09
7% tax 1.30

total 19.84

TS Dinner Chef's de France
Beef short ribs braised in Cabernet on a bed of polenta $26.95
Chocolate tart 6.95
Coffee 2.95
7% tax 2.58

total 39.43

total for the day 62.48
cost for DDP 37.99
savings 24.49

The only way this formula really works is if you don't select the most expensive items on the menus, but look at what you would actually order, even if you were paying OOP.

 

[APB513]

Great examples. A really simple formula I use is:
$25 for TS (including drink, dessert, and tax)
$10 for CS (including drink, dessert, and tax)
$3 for snack

That's the break-even point, where the DDP wouldn't save you any money, but would just be a convenient way to pre-pay for your meals. Anything over and above that, though, is a savings.

Epcot Day:

Breakfast Snack Sunshine Seasons
Pastry 3.00 (just a guess)
7% tax .21

Total 3.21

CS Lunch Tangieriene
Chicken and Lamb Sharwarma Platter $13.95
Baklava (the only dessert offered on the DDP) 2.50
Iced Tea 2.09
7% tax 1.30

total 19.84

TS Dinner Chef's de France
Beef short ribs braised in Cabernet on a bed of polenta $26.95
Chocolate tart 6.95
Coffee 2.95
7% tax 2.58

total 39.43

total for the day 62.48
cost for DDP 37.99
savings 24.49

The only way this formula really works is if you don't select the most expensive items on the menus, but look at what you would actually order, even if you were paying OOP.

Thanks, Katiebell!!

I'm so glad there are so many smart people on this board

 

[caroline1851]

I figured it out for my family also and it's not a HUGE savings, about $100 in a 7 day period, but.......i like the idea of it being paid for in advance so i wont' worry about the costs of an entree or whatnot. I tend to be cheap when it comes to ordering and i'd usually order something cheaper to save money. THis way, i'll order what i want, regardless of cost. Plus, $100 savings is better than nothing.

 

[tlriv5]

That's how we feel too, I'd probably make everyone drink water, share a drink at CS meals and snacks would be limited. This way my dining is all paid for before we even arrive and we all get to relax and enjoy our trip. My dd's and dh love being able to order whatever they want!

 

[Pumbaa_]

The only time it doesn't work is if you skip meals and/or don't use all the credits. If someone got sick for a day or two and you were unable to use 2 of your TS credits, then it is an issue.

Or if you didn't order any of the desserts, less of a value. KWIM?

And yes, I am one of the poor unfortunate souls that has been sick at Disney. Not fun

DDP can be a great way to prepay your meals and have some savings. Really helpful if you know you will look at the menu and not want to order what you really really want because of the price.

Have a great time!

 

[bicker]

The Dining Plan is no longer a "savings" program, but really just a pre-payment plan, for convenience. You can save a little money on it, if you use it wisely, but don't expect a big "win".

 

[Katiebell]

The only time it doesn't work is if you skip meals and/or don't use all the credits. If someone got sick for a day or two and you were unable to use 2 of your TS credits, then it is an issue.

Or if you didn't order any of the desserts, less of a value. KWIM?

And yes, I am one of the poor unfortunate souls that has been sick at Disney. Not fun

DDP can be a great way to prepay your meals and have some savings. Really helpful if you know you will look at the menu and not want to order what you really really want because of the price.

Have a great time!

Yep, DH got very sick about 2/3 of the way through and we didn't use 2 of our TS credits because we missed a dinner. We had an ADR for CP breakfast our last day, and he didn't have anything but coffee, and I just barely picked at my food -- it was miserable. The waitress brought the bill and wasn't going to charge for his breakfast since he didn't really eat anything, but I told her to go ahead and take both TS credits since we were leaving that day and they weren't refundable anyway, and I wanted her to get her full tip (this was of couse when the DDP included tips). Even so, I went over all of our receipts and we still came out ahead -- by a considerable amount.

The Dining Plan is no longer a "savings" program, but really just a pre-payment plan, for convenience. You can save a little money on it, if you use it wisely, but don't expect a big "win".

Well, just looking at the examples given in this thread, I think we will still save a lot. And there is an additional benefit that is hard to calculate...for example, paying OOP, I would be more likely to select the less expensive items on the menu, even if it's not what I really wanted to order, just because I'd be more conscious of whether my entree was going to cost 22.99 or 32.99. And I might really want dessert, but hesitate to shell out 6.95 if I was paying cash. So, yes, we could eat much cheaper if we went OOP (we do every single time we go to DL because they don't have a DDP), but wouldn't be as much fun.

 

[bicker]

Well, just looking at the examples given in this thread, I think we will still save a lot.

Everything is relative: Last year those examples would have shown a much more substantial savings, hence my characterizing this year's savings as smaller.

 

[abc999]

Personally, if I didn't get the DDP, I would be eating at CS all the time and be miserable.. I loved not having to worry about paying for meals, since it was already paid for.

 

[retire2disney]

I am another one that likes the idea that my meals are prepaid before I get there. I have less stress watching what I am spending while I am there. This way I am able to relax a little more. Our Best Friends are going with us this Dec and it will be their first time going. I pointed out to them how much easier it would be to have their meals paid ahead of time and they agreed it was a good idea.

 

[mom2aredhead]

The Dining Plan is no longer a "savings" program, but really just a pre-payment plan, for convenience. You can save a little money on it, if you use it wisely, but don't expect a big "win".

That's a great way to look at it.

You could definitely save money if you were on a mission to run all over WDW just to order the "best bang for a credit" things that pop up here so often. But if you just order what you feel like eating that day, you'll probably break even or maybe come out a little bit ahead. As long as you don't leave credits unused...like I did last trip.

 

[disneyfan55]

I guess the best way to really save with DDP is to go when it's free!! To be honest, without the free dining we wouldn't want all the structure and not eat at so many TS restaurants. Last year we did have the free dining and that was our most planned/structured WDW vacation ever. We didn't even make use of the park hoppers. I guess it all depends on your main reason for being at WDW. Ours really isn't eating in a TS restaurant each day. With the appitizer and tip not included, I personally don't see all that much savings. Last year we made our reservaitons well ahead of time and couldn't get many of the restaurants or times we wanted anyway. The dining planning took hours and many changes to try to get a few of our favorites. Maybe a few dollars but you also could just eat 1 or 2 more CS and not be so committed to reservations. Just my thoughts.

 

[mmmears]

Also, in the line of "you dont get anything for free," dont you have to pay more (rack rate) for your hotel room in order to get the "free dining?"

We've never paid full price for our room, and the savings per night may be more than the savings on the "free" dining plan.

All this just makes me spend more time planning things!

 

[disneyfan55]

Also, in the line of "you dont get anything for free," dont you have to pay more (rack rate) for your hotel room in order to get the "free dining?"

We've never paid full price for our room, and the savings per night may be more than the savings on the "free" dining plan.

All this just makes me spend more time planning things!

We, too, never pay the rack rate. We generally had an AP discount except for the trip last year. We would have never booked that, with the free dining, except for a Value Resort with a rate of 82/night. I felt a trip to WDW for the two of us for 7 nights, free meals and 8 day park hoppers for 1196 was worth it. We, in hindsight, would not have even purchased the park hopper since with all the dining we didn't even use that.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Also, in the line of "you dont get anything for free," dont you have to pay more (rack rate) for your hotel room in order to get the "free dining?"

We've never paid full price for our room, and the savings per night may be more than the savings on the "free" dining plan.

All this just makes me spend more time planning things!

Yes, you do have to pay rack rate. For larger families, free DDP is still a better option because the DDP cost would be more than most room discounts.

For us, (2 adults, 1 child under 10) the DDP for 7 nights cost about $600, which is about what we're saving off of our AKL froom for the 7 nights were staying in May, so it's a wash. It was literally about a $20 difference.