DDP yes or no

[carolinacamper]

We are camping at FW on our next trip. This will be our 1st time at FW. I had imagined that we would eat the majority of our meals at the campsite, but I am wondering if this will hold true. Would appreciate other veterans input regarding the pros and cons of the DDP for campers. Thanks.

 

[Shannone1]

We are camping at FW on our next trip. This will be our 1st time at FW. I had imagined that we would eat the majority of our meals at the campsite, but I am wondering if this will hold true. Would appreciate other veterans input regarding the pros and cons of the DDP for campers. Thanks.

We used the DDP on our 7 night trip over Easter and we loved it. Normally when we camp we do most of our own cooking. This wasn't like traditional "camping" for us though, it was a resort vacation and we enjoyed not having to cook. In fact, we didn't make one meal the whole time we were there. We brought along breakfast foods since it isn't included in the DDP and the kids ate before heading out for the day.

There is so much to do at the Fort and the parks that it would be a shame to have to come all the way back to the site just for a meal. We didn't spend much time actually just hanging out at our site.

 

[CCIntrigue]

We have never used the DDP. Would consider it if staying in a hotel, but not camping. IMHO sitting down in a restaurant waiting for a meal takes up too much of my vacation time. We have an early breakfast in the MH, get to a park when it opens, stay there until 130 - 2, go back to FW to rest and eat a light lunch. Then have dinner at the MH and go back to the park till it closes. Much less stressful and tiring day if you break up your park time. Plus, save a lot of money not eating out so much so we can afford to stay longer. If you plan your meals carefully before you leave home, you can have dinner on the table in less time than it takes for the waiter to bring it to you.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

We just aren't that big eaters to warrant all the food on the dining plan. I would be forcing myself to eat more, and that just isn't fun to me. We prefer a nice, quiet meal at the camper, with the occassional meal at one of our favorite restaurants at WDW.

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

I couldnt imagine eating both a counter and table service meal a day, everyday. Might be able to do that once in a while; but not everday of my stay. Light breakfast in the camper...then a few snacks packed to take into the park. Back to the camper around 5pm for a simple dinner. Some days if we planned on dinning out in the evening we would take a camper break for lunch. The thought of "having" to eat everyday at a predetermined place because it was already paid for is not something for me. Too old for that! Our last trip we averaged 2-3 meals out a week.

 

[AuburnJen92]

We always seem to eat breakfast in the coach and most dinners. Most of the time, we eat our lunch at the parks if we are there. I don't think we could use all of the DDP. It is too much.

 

[DisCamper]

I don’t think the DDP is for us. I’ve’ looked at the plan, But the food we take on our trip most of it comes home with us. We get up about 6-7 am hardly eat breakfast, but eat a big late lunch. After some adult beverages, a day at the parks and a late snack it time for bed. So I can see spending the money.

 

[pamom65]

We were at FW in April for 7 days and I thought we would eat at the camper alot more than we did. We ate breakfast there every day, and 2 or 3 lunches, but we did end up eating at the parks just because it was faster than going all the back some of the days. I ended up bringing alot of food home with us.

 

[disneydance]

Just thought never camped a wdw always stayed in a hotel but you dont have 2 have 1cs 1ts and 1snack in aday instead you could have 1day of only 1meal inwdw and another a signature dinning just a thought

 

[magicforever]

yes!! It is vacation!! It is not time for me to cook!! or better yet, CLEAN!!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Just thought never camped a wdw always stayed in a hotel but you dont have 2 have 1cs 1ts and 1snack in aday instead you could have 1day of only 1meal inwdw and another a signature dinning just a thought

My high school English teacher is rolling in her grave.

 

[mamaloya]

Well, we have done it many different ways. One trip, on a tight budget, we ate all our meals at camp except 2. One trip, our splurge for quite a while, we did the DDP. The other trips, we eat breakfast at camp and all other meals out.

The DDP was nice for us because we had never really done character meals before and got to do one almost everyday. We also spent 2 credits on the HDDMR and loved it. We found that we wasted a LOT of food. We are not dessert eaters and always gave our desserts away at each of our counter service meals. dd and I also normally share, but each got our own. I hated wasting food. We also had like 20 snack credits left, we are not big snackers. (That is 20 when we were a party of 8.) I also did not like having to have ressies for our meals every day. I felt like I was rushing to get there even if we did not want to or weren't ready. Unfortunately, with the DDP, you can no longer walk up and get a seat, or at least it is rare.

That said, I am on vacation too and don't want to cook. We eat breakfast while getting ready. I bring muffins, yogurt, oatmeal if it's cold, breakfast sandwiches, etc. Once in the park, we don't really want to leave so we eat lunch and dinner in the parks. I do keep sandwich stuff and a couple of easy meals in the camper though, just in case. If we were on a tight budget though, we would eat most meals at the camp.

It really depends on your personality, budget and what you want on your vacation.

 

[kitamom]

We just got back and did not have DDP. We had one meal in a park (50's prime time diner) and the Mickey's Backyard Bar-B-Q. I would pack snacks and water in a bag and take to the park. That is a nice thing about WDW they alow you to take food and water in to the park. I saw many people with cold cut sandwichs. I guess they would pack them in a cold bag.

We were at Kings Island last summer and you could not even take in a bottle of water, let alone snacks. Then the cost of snack's and food inside was outragous.

 

[christinou]

Our kids are 10 and 12 and considered adult at WDW, so the DDP is not for us, there is no way we could eat that much food, we also generally like to go back to the camper at lunch time, eat lunch and rest. I think it all depends on who is going and your style of touring, if you spend all day in the park it might be worse it.

 

[auntie]

I think you might look at the menus...and check out the selections and the prices. If you plan to be eating a table service meal in either a park or resort each day..it might be worth it to add the dining plan. It really depends on how you plan to vacation. It is also convenient when in the parks to not have to go back to the camper..and schedule a meal in one of the themed restaurants. We ate at Prime Time Cafe in MGM..it was good fun. If you are planing to spend little time in the parks and more time in the campground..then it wouldn't make sense to add the plan. I have gone to Disney many times..and once stayed in the cabins at FW. Our last trip (just last week) at the Wilderness Lodge was our first time using the plan..and I have to admit..the dining plan was pretty darn great! Granted it is alot of food..but I've got all adult sized people to feed. My 15 year old son also tried many things that he might not ordinarily have ordered. We all had our own appeitizers and deserts..which frankly was fun to switch and try one anothers selections. We knew we would be eating at least one table service meal each day..and even eating counter service you are spending $50.00 at least for a family of 5. So the dining plan made sense. As it was $40.00 a day..including the gratuity. My husband and I plan a future trip to FW with the camper..and we aren't sure if we'd add the plan if it were just the two of us....but then again..we do enjoy a TS meal at least once a day. So, I'd probably be wrestling with the choice same as you are. I would really advise looking at the ages of those in your party and checking out the menus and prices. http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm At this point the plan still includes the gratuity..which is a good deal.

 

[GreatLakes5]

We do the DDP (basic one).

I ENJOY cooking - even on vacation (it's a sickness, I know)....

But with three children, two of whom are boys that are sprouting so fast, one on the verge of teen-dom....well, we DO eat that much, or at least the boys eat that much and we sit back, shake our heads and ponder the days when we could barely get them to sit still for a meal.

Couple the appetites with the fact that we were gone at parks all but two of our days....well, it made more sense in terms of timing. Otherwise I would be taking food into the parks, or we'd have to come and go more. Both possibilities, just not for us.

This February we're there just over 10 days & I do believe we'll still do the plan. Haven't committed to it yet, but as we figure out our (sort of) schedules for the days it still seems a whole lot easier.

If we don't use all the counter service, we "stock up" somewhere we like (like Earl of Sandwich in DTD) and then end up with a day at the trailer.

I can see that camping in the future, when perhaps going to the parks is not the primary goal scared1: ) we will move from dining plan to a variety of eating out and cooking more.

 

[Gillian]

I think you might look at the menus...and check out the selections and the prices. If you plan to be eating a table service meal in either a park or resort each day..it might be worth it to add the dining plan.

Do this, because it varies for every family. You need to plan your days a little bit, see where you'd like to eat and what. No one is forcing you to eat or order all of the food that is included, but it can still be a good deal if you'd normally have a table service meal every day.

We are signed up for the dining plan for december, staying in our popup. The general thought is we'll eat breakfast at FW and lunch/dinner at the parks or out. We have two kids under the age of 10, and because the dining plan is so cheap for them, it's worth it for us.

Last time we did this we did end up with leftover food, even though we were 4 people ordering food for 3 (one child was only 2). For this trip we'll just decline what we don't plan to eat (like the increasingly icky counter service desserts!).

We don't want to cook or clean at Disney.

 

[carolinacamper]

Thanks so much for everone's input. I picture us eating at least one meal a day in the world. However, it may not always be TS. The Food and Wine festival will be taking place during our stay. Does anyone know if you can use the DDP towards any of these vendors?

 

[Gillian]

Thanks so much for everone's input. I picture us eating at least one meal a day in the world. However, it may not always be TS. The Food and Wine festival will be taking place during our stay. Does anyone know if you can use the DDP towards any of these vendors?

oooh, that's a good question! I believe the answer is yes, but I know the specifics are over on the restaurant board, in the DDP section.

I have been looking at the menus, and prices are very high, making the dining plan a good deal for us. For example, we always try to eat at Boma, in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The dinner price is:

Adults - $25.99; Children 3-9 - $11.99
Tax and gratuity additional

Even before tax & tip, the kids break even, and the adults get pretty close. I thought I read that the plan includes 18% tip, which is probably what we would leave for a buffet.

 

[auntie]

I have been looking at the menus, and prices are very high, making the dining plan a good deal for us. For example, we always try to eat at Boma, in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The dinner price is:

Adults - $25.99; Children 3-9 - $11.99
Tax and gratuity additional

Even before tax & tip, the kids break even, and the adults get pretty close. I thought I read that the plan includes 18% tip, which is probably what we would leave for a buffet.
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We did the same thing..when I looked at the menu prices..I realized that if we are eating at least one table service meal a day..the plan is well worth it, as you can easily spend that much per person on just one meal, add to that a counter service lunch or dinner meal and a snack and you are well over the $40.00. Having the gratuity included made it an even better value.
Now..some say the restaurants are over priced for what they offer...and they well may be, but those are still the prices one would be paying out of pocket for. This was our first experience with the Dining Plan..and I was a bit hesitant..having never booked a package before. Yes, it did require a slight bit more planing than I normally care to do..but the way things have changed due to the plan..I'd have to do that whether we were on the plan or not. My husband loved it for the pure convenience of it. It was also nice to know the kids could choose what ever they wanted from the menu (no little ones). It really contributed to the overall feeling of the vacation..being fun and stress free.