Deluxe Dining Plan or DDE?

[MemphisBelle]

Which is the better deal? I have DDE. I calculate that they both come out the same but with the Deluxe I'd get more food. I'm not sure if that's a good thing! Then if I skip a meal or eat lightly, I'd be better with DDE.
The basic Dining Plan is too many counter service meals and not enough table service for us. We typically eat 2 sit-down meals a day. We like the finer restaurants so we'd eat at some signature restaurants. I would order a salad or soup so it's nice to have that included as an appetizer on the Deluxe Plan. From those who have tried both options, which did you prefer?

 

[TDC Nala]

If they come out the same, then all you need to consider is :

Would you prefer the meals prepaid, and
Are you fine with each person ordering appetizer, entree and dessert at all meals?

If you like to vary what you order (i.e. order dessert or appetizers only occasionally, would prefer 2 appetizers to one entree, etc), go with the DDE.

 

[snykymom]

And DDE includes alcohol, so the occasional glass of wine, beer or cocktail would be discounted, while on the DDP it's not.

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree with both of the PP's about the DDE and DxDDP comparison.

To that I would like to add that our group found a sense of freedom in not having any dining plan because we could cancel a meal and not worry about 'making it up' so we got what we paid for. One night we weren't in the mood for our ADR, so we called and canceled. We snacked our way around the World Showcase and had a fantastic time.

That's kind of a personal story for me, and I am a bit biased. See I was with my little sister, who was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer just a month after we came back. Who knew as we snacked in March 2007 that by May she'd be fighting for her life? It was her idea to snack around the world and I am forever grateful that I didn't feel at all forced into doing something that we didn't really want to do.

If you were experiencing a clear savings on the DxDDP I would suggest you go with that. When it's close - having freedom may be a better fit for your group.

Regardless of what you decide, i am sure you'll have a magical vacation.

 

[TDC Nala]

And DDE includes alcohol, so the occasional glass of wine, beer or cocktail would be discounted, while on the DDP it's not.

This is true - but if the OP already has DDE, they could get the discount on the alcohol anyway.

 

[honeymo78]

We've looked at using DDE or DxDDP for our future DVC trips. We don't like eating much counter service and would eat 2-3 TS meals a day regardless of which plan we are on. We always get our own dessert and even only ordering 1 appetizer at most meals, DxDDP was about $200 cheaper that what we would pay using DDE, and DxDDP would allow us the option to each get an appetizer at every meal if we wanted (calculations were for a 4 day dec trip and 7 day Oct trip). We don't order much alcohol so DDE savings for booze is negligent.

 

[Marc A.]

Good to hear opinions on this. We have the DxDP for our upcoming trip and based on how it goes we will either do it again or purchase the DDE for our trip in March.
I know the one thing I do like is not having to look at prices of the apps, the entree and the dessert because I know sooo much is overpriced so in that regard I like the dining plans. We also dont care for the long lines and crowds of CS meals.
More info/opinions please!!!