Deluxe DP Die-Hard Thinking About Downgrading...?

[nimbuscat]

Hi and help!

I have always been a die-hard proponent of the deluxe dining plan--we are foodies, we like to sit down for 2-3 meals a day, etc etc. However...as I'm finalizing plans for our August trip, I'm realizing I could make do with the regular plan. It's a nearly $1000 savings over our 9-night trip. Realistically, what I'm giving up in order to downgrade would be:

- lunch at CRT (we've done breakfast there before...)
- a handful of pre-park opening character breakfast buffets
- Rainforest Cafe at AK breakfast, which I was strangely looking forward to...

Would you do it? I can't decide if I'll miss all those breakfast ADRs or not! I replaced them with Starbucks/snack credits in my new tentative plans. Decisions, decisions...I'd definitely value your input! Thanks!

 

[sharonabe]

You will also be giving up apps, if that is a consideration.

However, with a $1000 savings, I'd be downgrading. And Rainforest Cafe breakfast is actually a pretty good OOP option if you still really want to try it.

 

[LinderInWonderland]

We had more than enough food on the regular DDP. Appetizers aren't included, but if you want one you can just pay OOP the same as if you order adult beverages. (We got an appetizer exactly once.)

We went for 8 days, had two character breakfasts and the rest were dinners. We barely used our snacks (and used them poorly at that). We had Larabars, bananas, juice and breakfast cookies in our room for snacky breakfast.

This time, I feel like we have a much better handle on snacks/substitutions. We even fit a 2 TS meal at HBD for F! because we have a whole day planned to snack around the world during Flower & Garden - but even if I didn't there are still affordable TS restaurants that I could pay OOP for one meal (Kona breakfast, Plaza dinner, for example).

I wish you well in your trip planning!!

 

[Lisa F]

I just can't get excited about most CS places so I ended up deciding to upgrade to the DxDDP. it is just me and my 8 year old son so the math works out really well. I am doing 4 nights of DxDDP spread over 5 days (first 5 days of split stay) and then paying OOP the last 2 days plus one breakfast on the day we leave and doing the later breakfast/early dinner thing all days. But the other plan I was thinking of had regular DDP with some OOP breakfasts. It ran about even for me and I was able to swap out some "trying too hard" QS meals for TS meals too, but $1000 is a lot of money and a lot of character breakfasts. I bet you could do a hybrid and throw some OOP breakfasts back in and still come out ahead.

 

[nimbuscat]

I spent most of the afternoon going back and forth, but ultimately, decided to stick with deluxe! The biggest factors for me were that a) it's already paid in full (dvc point rental), and b) like the pp, I was kind of getting sick of the idea of at least 9 CS venue meals. I guess I'd rather pay more and enjoy more extravagant dining this trip. Truth be told, our next big family trip will probably be on regular plan because of cost, so I'll enjoy deluxe while I can! Thanks for all the input!

 

[babesboo99]

Last time we went we had the regular dining plan this Fall we upgraded to the DxDDP. So using this will be new to us it's me DH and my 9 year old twins so i'm thinking it will be worth it. since i already have 2 reservations that take 2 credits plus 5 other reservations we are there for a week i'm hoping it works out that we save money. but even though we love knowing it's paid for already

 

[Nancyg56]

I just can't get excited about most CS places so I ended up deciding to upgrade to the DxDDP. it is just me and my 8 year old son so the math works out really well. I am doing 4 nights of DxDDP spread over 5 days (first 5 days of split stay) and then paying OOP the last 2 days plus one breakfast on the day we leave and doing the later breakfast/early dinner thing all days. But the other plan I was thinking of had regular DDP with some OOP breakfasts. It ran about even for me and I was able to swap out some "trying too hard" QS meals for TS meals too, but $1000 is a lot of money and a lot of character breakfasts. I bet you could do a hybrid and throw some OOP breakfasts back in and still come out ahead.

Just like you, I am sick of the CS options and like more TS to choose from. WE chose the DxDDP on liar next trip in part with that in mind.

 

[Lisa F]

Just like you, I am sick of the CS options and like more TS to choose from. WE chose the DxDDP on liar next trip in part with that in mind.

I am still grooming my plans, honestly. I was super stuck on going to BoG, kiddo went there for lunch with his dad and was not impressed really lol. With how hard the reservations are to get I started thinking about Plan B and juggling some things around and replacing Ohana DDP dinner with Narcoossees (prob pay for kid OOP just because he'll eat $9 mac and cheese and dessert) and replacing BoG with Ohana. So bam instead of $66 worth of value for the 2TS I get $110 value (hells to the yes on the lobster, though I would NEVER pay that oop. never. but I will enjoy the living heck out of it on plan for basically $66 for the whole meal including app, drink and dessert!) Also now considering swapping our planned WPE lunch with a breakfast at Boma. That will really just leave 2CS meals from my old plan that I incorporated into my new plan - one is splitting a meal at Flame Tree (so really that is pretty much the $33 I value an adult credit) and then splitting a meal at Tangierine cafe which is more than the corresponding kid credit.

Before I was doing regular DDP and some stuff OOP but when I discovered the two added together was only $20 less than DxDDP I decided to just go for it and now I'm figuring in things I didn't think I could do before, all for the same cost. There are a few CS I like but Flame Tree, Tangierine and WPE were the only 3 I was looking forward to. I was trying very hard to use the last 2 credits (I couldn't even find one whole meal that we'd both love) and honestly and not happy about my choices. Much happier about adding lobster and another character breakfast for the same price!

 

[Lisa F]

I spent most of the afternoon going back and forth, but ultimately, decided to stick with deluxe! The biggest factors for me were that a) it's already paid in full (dvc point rental), and b) like the pp, I was kind of getting sick of the idea of at least 9 CS venue meals. I guess I'd rather pay more and enjoy more extravagant dining this trip. Truth be told, our next big family trip will probably be on regular plan because of cost, so I'll enjoy deluxe while I can! Thanks for all the input!

lol I feel to blame now. I have DVC too and the lower cost of the deluxe plan (since they are still under last year's prices) makes it an even better value for me. Just by a few bucks a day but hey, I think it adds up to be another character breakfast OOP by the end of the 5 days.

I mean YES you can live without the deluxe plan. NO you will not go hungry. at all. There will still be too much food IMO. that said I really just can't get excited about most of the CS places. If I weren't splitting my stay and I was doing some of my DDP meals in the MK it might be different I guess.... I could do BoG lunch and maybe pecos bills for dinner. but none of that holds a candle to Narcoossees, Boma breakfast, CA Grill, Coral Reef CP package, Cape May breakfast or Garden Grill breakfast, all of which I added after dumping the need for CS meals. siiiiiigh.

 

[Nancyg56]

I am still grooming my plans, honestly. I was super stuck on going to BoG, kiddo went there for lunch with his dad and was not impressed really lol. With how hard the reservations are to get I started thinking about Plan B and juggling some things around and replacing Ohana DDP dinner with Narcoossees (prob pay for kid OOP just because he'll eat $9 mac and cheese and dessert) and replacing BoG with Ohana. So bam instead of $66 worth of value for the 2TS I get $110 value (hells to the yes on the lobster, though I would NEVER pay that oop. never. but I will enjoy the living heck out of it on plan for basically $66 for the whole meal including app, drink and dessert!) Also now considering swapping our planned WPE lunch with a breakfast at Boma. That will really just leave 2CS meals from my old plan that I incorporated into my new plan - one is splitting a meal at Flame Tree (so really that is pretty much the $33 I value an adult credit) and then splitting a meal at Tangierine cafe which is more than the corresponding kid credit.

Before I was doing regular DDP and some stuff OOP but when I discovered the two added together was only $20 less than DxDDP I decided to just go for it and now I'm figuring in things I didn't think I could do before, all for the same cost. There are a few CS I like but Flame Tree, Tangierine and WPE were the only 3 I was looking forward to. I was trying very hard to use the last 2 credits (I couldn't even find one whole meal that we'd both love) and honestly and not happy about my choices. Much happier about adding lobster and another character breakfast for the same price!

Yes. I am traveling with my oldest son and his wife. He has not been back to WDW since he was 12, and I want him to enjoy it, since you would think I am dragging him into his worst nightmare. My DDIL and I have been doing some preliminary planning for parks and meals, including some of the most iconic Disney restaurants. Hopefully the food will make the trip worthwhile! LOL!