debating adding DDP

[#1eeyoregirl]

Ok...I keep going back and forth on whether or not i should add the reg DDP to our package so any opinions will be greatly appreciated.

It is 5 of us: me, DH, DD(17), DD(8) & DS(3)
We have booked:
Day1 - O'Hana dinner
Day 2 - Biergarten dinner
Day 3 - H&V bkfst, T-Rex dinner(OOP)
Day 4 - CRT lunch(OOP), Wishes dessert party(OOP)
Day 5 - Donalds Safari brkfst, LeCellier dinner
Day 6 - eat & drink around WS
Day 7 - Crystal Palace brkfst
Day 8 - Chef Mickey brkfst

We will most likely plan on CS everyday for the kids which the two younger ones may end up sharing and DH & DD17 will most likely have one each day as well and I probably won't get a full meal at the CS or share w/DH. We are also planning on ordering water and other snacks from Garden Grocer. Of course we are planning on Mickey bars, dole whips, kaki gori and i am sure a few more goodies (and we will hit Goofy's Candy shop) TIA

 

[Nadjalu]

The best thing for you to do is go thru each of your choices and pick a meal for everyone in your party, what you think they would order.
Of course do this for ALL meals and snacks you plan on having. (yes I know snacks is a bit spontaneous, but you can estimate)

Then add up each day's meal bills, then total for the entire trip. That number will tell you if you will save money by buying a dining plan.

Remember when doing this to add the cost of a beverage for everyone and dessert if they would choose that. (as they are included in the plans, but when paying OOP they are extra).

It is the only way to really know what is best for your family.

Have a good trip!

 

[Faldred]

You'd have to do the math to be sure. With that many ADRs and planning on doing as much CS as you are, I think DDP might very well work out for you, especially with 2 on the kid's plan. The extra CS credits from sharing meals can be used for a breakfast or two here and there to split (supplemented by snacks or the garden grocer supplies), and any snack credits hanging around will certainly help on the eating tour of Epcot.

But again, do the math. And remember that Le Cellier dinner is now 2 TS credits. So assuming 7 nights, you're one credit short -- no biggie, just pay the least expensive meal OOP (for the adults, one of the breakfasts, for the kids, one of the sit-down meals).

It also comes down to how much flexibility do you want. If you're pretty much certain you're not going to cancel any meals, then it's not a big deal, but if you think you might drop one or two last-minute, the dining plan may be too restrictive for your needs.

EDIT: when doing your price comparisons, be sure to add 6.5% sales tax for the out-of-pocket numbers. DDP price includes all taxes.

 

[dpmfloyd]

another vote for taking some additional time to do a mock up. go onto allears.net or even here wdwinfo.com and look at all the menu prices and add it up.

our first trip, we were on the fence about the DDP. we did a mock up, and it turned out not doing it would only save us roughly $20-40. In grand scheme of things, we did it - and LOVED it.

good luck!

 

[#1eeyoregirl]

Thank you all I have done comparisons including tax, tips and alcohol (DH & I enjoy having a drink or two with our dinners) and it comes out pretty close. What really has me concerned is the CS and snacks. I just really don't know if we would utilize those to the fullest and that is what really has me flip flopping back and forth. I am thinking that those may come in really handy tho when we eat around the WS. To add it for our family it is $1200 and I have added up what i think we would use IF we were on it that Disney would cover and it comes to aprox $1191 which isn't much of a difference.

 

[Cafeen]

Thank you all I have done comparisons including tax, tips and alcohol (DH & I enjoy having a drink or two with our dinners) and it comes out pretty close. What really has me concerned is the CS and snacks. I just really don't know if we would utilize those to the fullest and that is what really has me flip flopping back and forth. I am thinking that those may come in really handy tho when we eat around the WS. To add it for our family it is $1200 and I have added up what i think we would use IF we were on it that Disney would cover and it comes to aprox $1191 which isn't much of a difference.

To confuse you even more...

I notice you have a 2nd ticker that's 1 year away (today in fact ). With your first trip in just over 2 months, this puts 2 trips within a year... Would APs (at least for those going on both trips) be a possibility? It's a bit more to shell out now, but it would open up the option to buy the Tables in Wonderland card which would save you roughly 20% on all TS meals that qualify (off the top of my head, I don't know if any you have planned don't)

TiW is available to AP holders and FL residents ($75 for AP, $100 for FL residents). It discounts the TS meals by 20% (and a few CS).

It's just another option .

From my standpoint, if the difference will only be $9, and you think you're going to eat the way the plan describes, I'd go ahead and pick it up. You never know when that extra CS or 2 will come in handy.