Dining Plan for DVC members?? Worth it?

[canwegosoon]

Sorry to oppose those that think the DDE is a better savings over the DDP...to me it is not. I have done both, and for me, I have always felt that the DDE basically means I do not have to leave a tip(20%) and a dollar or two. And while the savings does add up quickly(I think I saved over $300-which I used as tips anyway, the investment in the $65($50 at the time) is a smart idea to basically have all your tipping expenses at a fixed rate of $65). If you are planning trips that you are offsite for several days, eat in your room, very light eaters, or traveling in a large group...then perhaps you would make out better.

BUT since the DDP includes the tip and the tax...I think it is a huge savings. Since were are not huge eaters...this is what we did. We split Lunches and used extra CS as breakfasts, and used snack credits as breakfast too. The TS dinners since I have 2 boys that are almost 9, they got their kids meals and shared our appitizers, we usually ate 1 dessert and took one to go(or left it). We brought home snack "souvies" and really enjoyed ourselves with less than $20 OOP for food needs. We are not drinkers, so perhaps that is anther reason why we don't need the DDE as much. I think the DDP is a great value...even if you only do buffets and CS, since your costs are fixed, and you cover that $20% tip/tax that the DDE does.

The point is you really have to look at how you are planning to vacation, if you have special dining requests...we do not do signature restaurants...etc. I look at the menus and make a rough plan and see where I would get the better discount. Then get the DDE or DDP...but get a discount!!!

 

[Jynohn]

We very rarely eat counter service meals. We prefer to have a big sit down breakfast and a nice dinner, usually skipping lunch all together. So for us, the DDE card seems to work out a lot better. With the dining plan, I think we'd have a lot of wasted snack/counter service credits, and would have to use two credits for a lot of the signature restaurants that we enjoy.

Also, after hearing people complaining/arguing with cast members all week long about what items are included on the dining plan, it just seems like a lot of hassle that I'd rather not deal with. I'd prefer to use my card, get my 20% discount, and not have to keep track of anything else. We've saved over $300 with the DDE on our last trip, and still have two more trips planned with it this year. So it works out pretty well for us!

 

[slp87]

The DDP works well for shorter trips, multiple rooms where you only get it for one, big eaters, and children that qualify as kids but eat as adults.

And for those of us who have "adult" children that eat like kids, it's not a good deal.

Our DD was 11 on our last trip and doesn't eat much at all. Although the DDP wasn't available last March, I kept track of our expenses to see if it would be worth it in the future. We (DH, DD, and myself) were there 9 days and ate a table service daily. We were still under the DDP price by about $200. We do a lot of sharing and could never eat all the food offered on the plan. If you typically eat an appetizer, main course and dessert, then it would be worth it for you.

 

[JimMIA]

We've used DDE, DDP, and DDE with DDP. To me, the key to whether or not DDP is for you lies not in the intrinsic value of the DDP, but in your normal WDW dining habits.

We enjoy eating onsite (although we may rethink that strategy as a result of the recent menu standardization), and we always eat either a nice dinner or do a character meal each day. So the one TS per person per day suits us perfectly (more on that below).

Our family is DW, DD4-going-on-24, and myself -- or in DDP-speak 2A/1C. So it costs us roughly $89 per day.

In my comparisons, I consider only two things. I compare the cost of what we would really order for our big meal or the day vs. the cost of DDP for the day. I completely ignore the value of the CS and snack credits (although we use almost all of them) because if we were paying cash, we wouldn't spend as much as DDP gives us for those things.

We can't eat a nice meal or character meal, including tax and tip, for $89. We can get food for less than that, but we can't eat the way we normally eat at WDW for that.

I do, however, agree with a point Dean made above. For us, DDP works a lot better for a short stay (virtually all our stays are 4-5 days) than it would for a longer stay. With the menu standardization, I don't think I'd use DDP for more than about 7 days. I'd just get tired of the same old dishes over and over.

I think DDP is like a lot of things Disney. You look it over and compare it to your idea of a WDW visit and see if it enhances your experience. If not, don't get it.

 

[edk35]

We've used DDE, DDP, and DDE with DDP. To me, the key to whether or not DDP is for you lies not in the intrinsic value of the DDP, but in your normal WDW dining habits.

We enjoy eating onsite (although we may rethink that strategy as a result of the recent menu standardization), and we always eat either a nice dinner or do a character meal each day. So the one TS per person per day suits us perfectly (more on that below).

Our family is DW, DD4-going-on-24, and myself -- or in DDP-speak 2A/1C. So it costs us roughly $89 per day.

In my comparisons, I consider only two things. I compare the cost of what we would really order for our big meal or the day vs. the cost of DDP for the day. I completely ignore the value of the CS and snack credits (although we use almost all of them) because if we were paying cash, we wouldn't spend as much as DDP gives us for those things.

We can't eat a nice meal or character meal, including tax and tip, for $89. We can get food for less than that, but we can't eat the way we normally eat at WDW for that.

I do, however, agree with a point Dean made above. For us, DDP works a lot better for a short stay (virtually all our stays are 4-5 days) than it would for a longer stay. With the menu standardization, I don't think I'd use DDP for more than about 7 days. I'd just get tired of the same old dishes over and over.

I think DDP is like a lot of things Disney. You look it over and compare it to your idea of a WDW visit and see if it enhances your experience. If not, don't get it.

Thanks for that informative answer. That makes so much sense. I LIKE YOUR ANSWER. This board really does open your eyes to all sorts of possibilties.

 

[mb168]

Bellevue Lounge, Victoria Falls, Martha's Vineyard Lounge,Outer Rim Lounge,
Mizner's Lounge,Territory Lounge,Ale and Compass Lounge AND,Crew's Cup Lounge

I just thought of it like this: if I have four drinks, the fifth is free!!!

Great, now I have to go back and test them all....

 

[detroitdad]

With the menu standardization, I don't think I'd use DDP for more than about 7 days. I'd just get tired of the same old dishes over and over.

Sorry--could someone clue me in on what is meant by "menu standardization"? Are there only certain entrees/items that you can select from the different restaurants. I'm just starting to look into this and this kind of jumped out at me. If there are 100's of restaurants participating, why would there be the same dishes over & over?

Thanks

 

[edk35]

Sorry--could someone clue me in on what is meant by "menu standardization"? Are there only certain entrees/items that you can select from the different restaurants. I'm just starting to look into this and this kind of jumped out at me. If there are 100's of restaurants participating, why would there be the same dishes over & over?

Thanks

Maybe the poster was talking about the kid's menu. That changed and from what I have read...a lot of the sit down places have the exact same kid's menu. So that could get old for a child. At least that is what I think the poster meant.

 

[Sammie]

Sorry--could someone clue me in on what is meant by "menu standardization"? Are there only certain entrees/items that you can select from the different restaurants. I'm just starting to look into this and this kind of jumped out at me. If there are 100's of restaurants participating, why would there be the same dishes over & over?

Thanks

No you can select what you want. Some feel that Disney is making the menus similar at different locations. I personally don't see it but then I like the DDP.

That there is not as much variety, some of the more exotic dishes have been removed, so they say. Again I have not seen it.

So there are two sides. Some say they are making the menus the same due to the DDP and I say, certain items were not big sellers and have been removed which happens everywhere.

You can check the menus online. There still appears to be plenty of variety.

 

[detroitdad]

No you can select what you want. Some feel that Disney is making the menus similar at different locations. I personally don't see it but then I like the DDP.

That there is not as much variety, some of the more exotic dishes have been removed, so they say. Again I have not seen it.

So there are two sides. Some say they are making the menus the same due to the DDP and I say, certain items were not big sellers and have been removed which happens everywhere.

You can check the menus online. There still appears to be plenty of variety.

OK. Thanks! I understand where it's coming from now. Personally we have so many different types of places on our list that I don't see this being an issue. Although I will admit that there is not a lot of variety for the kids menus.

 

[byoung]

We have used the DDP on our last 3 trips, I think it is well worth it. I also have the DDE still use it for drinks etc also on weekends when staying on the AP discount.

 

[JimC]

Sorry--could someone clue me in on what is meant by "menu standardization"? Are there only certain entrees/items that you can select from the different restaurants. I'm just starting to look into this and this kind of jumped out at me. If there are 100's of restaurants participating, why would there be the same dishes over & over?

Thanks

The breadth of menu items at the various restaurants have declined. We eat on property a lot and it is very noticeable. For example Tony's menu is now short enought to be a menu board, not a full fold menu as it used to be. Items we would look forward to as unique for that restauarant are largely gone. This menu change began shortly after DDP. Many suspect that it is in response to the popularity of DDP and Disney's attempt to control cost and enhance profitability of the program.

 

[BCV23]

I disagree about the shortening of menus coinciding with the DDP. It has been happening slowly but surely for years!

And I still see a huge variety in dining at WDW. Thank goodness.

Also agree that the DDP doesn't lead to weight gain anymore than dining without it. It is all about choices. We've done the DDP twice with no weight gain...actually lost a couple of pounds on one trip.

detroitdad, with very few exceptions you can order anything on the menu on the DDP. There is a seperate DDP forum under Restaurants that can explain the DDP better including any exclusions.

 

[Mike]

BUT since the DDP includes the tip and the tax...I think it is a huge savings. Since were are not huge eaters...this is what we did. We split Lunches and used extra CS as breakfasts, and used snack credits as breakfast too. The TS dinners since I have 2 boys that are almost 9, they got their kids meals and shared our appitizers, we usually ate 1 dessert and took one to go(or left it). We brought home snack "souvies" and really enjoyed ourselves with less than $20 OOP for food needs. We are not drinkers, so perhaps that is anther reason why we don't need the DDE as much. I think the DDP is a great value...even if you only do buffets and CS, since your costs are fixed, and you cover that $20% tip/tax that the DDE does.

The point is you really have to look at how you are planning to vacation, if you have special dining requests...we do not do signature restaurants...etc. I look at the menus and make a rough plan and see where I would get the better discount. Then get the DDE or DDP...but get a discount!!!

I think your opinion might change next year when your 9 year old boys turn 10 and are suddenly considered adults. This will add about $58/day to your DDP but I would guess that the amount of food that they eat will not change drastically. I think the benefit of the DDE will then become more apparent.

We are renting a GV in December. My SIL wants to get the DDP but I refuse to. She has 3 kids (2, 4, and 7) so it makes sense for her family. But my 3 kids will be 12, 10, and 5 - so the DDP would cost me over $170/day That is way too much. Sadly, the only way she can purchase the DDP is if everyone in the GV does.
We like to go offsite occassionally and also eat small meals in the room from time to time. If all of my kids were under 10 then I would probably try the DDP. But until they start eating like "adults" (whatever a 10 year old adult is ) then it will be the DDE for us - especially since we will be getting 3 vacations (a total of 5 weeks) out of one annual DDE membership.

 

[hbg4]

Depending on the size, age and appetite of your family the benefits of preparing most meals in your villa compared to eating out all meals may be more cost effective.

My DD and I used the Magic Your way Dining plan on our last DVC visit in October.

Since my DD qualifies for the child price of $10.99 per day the adult price of $39.99 evened out. So for one daily character meal each, the other meals were practically "free".
We usually have a sit down meal once a day anyway when we stay on DVC property, so this was ideal for us.

For our next trip when we have another adult staying I'll rethink the savings versus the convenience of the DP.

 

[SuziQZee]

Hi Everyone!!

Thanks for sooo much great info!! Whenever I have "Disney questions" I always come to the boards and just absorb whatever info I need!! I have a dining question that I need answered and hopefully someone can help. We are taking our 2nd DVC trip June 2007 and will be taking my mom and sister with our family of 5. My family has APs but my mom and sis need to purchase 10 day tix. Is it possible for my family to purchase the DDP without making my mom and sis purchase also?? I've read that everyone staying in the same room needs to purchase the DDP. And if I wanted to add the DDP to our trip I would do this through MS? Right?? Our APs will be up 3 full days before we are scheduled to leave. The DDP is according to nights stayed at the resort or according to days purchased on tix?? I've gotten conflicting info on this.

The last two years we've been very careful in regards to how many and which character meals to attend due to money. The DDP would allow us to attend any and all character meals (especially dinners) we would want. We could also order some nicer meals. We all love seafood but never order it when we go to Disney.

Thanks!!

 

[tubtruck]

For me yes, some complain of too much food, I dont have this problem as we eat at signature dining places at least twice a week so if anything have to pay for extra meals on top but our savings are still huge. All depends on what you eat and where you eat it.

 

[BCV23]

SuziQZee, if you are staying at a DVC resort on points, the DDP is not tied in any way to tickets. It is based solely on the nights of your stay.

But you must purchase the DDP for every night of your reservation for every member of your party.

Hope that helps. Happy planning!