Dining Plan or Not when staying on points

[lisareniff]

I debated this our last trip, and we decided not to do the DDP even thought we were doing a split trip and could do half of the trip.

We are a family of 4 and typically eat at one CS and one TS a day. However, we didn't feel it offered that much savings for what you needed to commit. I went throught he menus and wrote down what I thought we would choose eat for the trip and compare it to the cost.

- we have one Disney Adult (DD11) and my DH being a vegetarian which schews our typical cost down
- we don't want to be influenced to eat more food (I don't need any help in that area!)
- we did not want to spend our vacation working about working the system
- the cost savings was not that much for what we would typically eat (using the system as intended).
- you are committed to eating at all those ADR's to get the savings (think sick, meltdowns, etc.)
- we had a car and like to have some food in the room for casual eating therefore not needing as much CS and snacks.

 

[wildernessDad]

We do it. We like it.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

we've used it our last three trips. DH loves it!

I told dh that if they eliminate the tips our trip in Dec will probably be the last one on the DDP. He is devastated

 

[dianeschlicht]

Appreciate your feedback but this gives only CS, TS & 1 - snack daily. He told me you got breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks which is the premium dining package for $39.95 instead of $69.95. I'm confused now. I spoke to him yesteday morning and he was supposed to send me an email with the info on this package but I haven't seen it yet. Now that I've seen the premium package is around $149 pp I'm a little worried.

The cost of the dining plan is $39.95 a day per person, so I'm sure that's what he was talking about. It's the only "plan" we have available to us.

 

[BCV23]

You can use both DDP and DDE. We do.

We've used the DDP on three trips now. It does save money over DDE in our experience. We love having TS meals. It just makes for so much more of a relaxing family time IMO. But we find we can use the QS credits for breakfast in the villas and then pay OOP for some TS meals using DDE.

I disagree that TS meals means more food. Counter service meals seem larger to me....and not nearly as good.

A 2 or 3 TS plan would be ideal for our family. We used to do the old premium plans under different names but they are pricey and for various reasons, I don't think we would get full use of them anymore. I don't think they are currently available to DVC members. But of course the old DDP wasn't until spring of 2006 either.

 

[JimMIA]

The cost of the dining plan is $39.95 a day per person, so I'm sure that's what he was talking about. It's the only "plan" we have available to us.

The cost for 2007 is actually $38.99 per night for an adult (10+) and $10.99 per night for children 3-9. Taxes are included in that price, as well as the 18% gratuity on the TS meal.

Diane is right about this being the only plan available to us as a DVC perk. You have to be a Florida resident or an AP holder to get the DDE card.

However, we do get smaller discounts (10%) at many restaurants, but not for all meals. I believe there are a few restaurants (Swan/Dolphin?) which offer more than 10% for specific meals.

 

[gracelrm]

We used the DDP for the first time on our recent trip. There are five of us - DH, DD14,DS11, DS7 and myself. At the beginning of our 7 day trip, I loved it. By the end, I was tired of it. I know I did not have to eat all that food, but I did and I regret it. I was raised to "clean my plate" and have never been able to shake that! It was nice (in my mind) for DD14 & DS11 since they order off the adult menu that I didn't have to worry about how much they were spending on food they might not eat. But then again, I worried about how much food was being wasted! I guess for me - it wasn't a good thing, but you have to understand I carry so much guilt about everything that has to do with food and money (Thanks mom & dad! ) I don't think we'll do it again, until our older kids become bottomless pits - or maybe if it's just a long weekend trip for DH & me.

 

[castleri]

Appreciate your feedback but this gives only CS, TS & 1 - snack daily. He told me you got breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks which is the premium dining package for $39.95 instead of $69.95. I'm confused now. I spoke to him yesteday morning and he was supposed to send me an email with the info on this package but I haven't seen it yet. Now that I've seen the premium package is around $149 pp I'm a little worried.

For the extra you would pay for the premium plan you should certainly be able to get some fantastic breakfasts and an additional snack. The premium package includes some recreational activities also but for the difference in price you could probably do just as well paying as you do them.

The bottom line is that unless you book a package through CRO paying cash you cannot book the premium plan. You might want to get an AP and buy the DDE card for use for adult beverages and any extra TS meals you may decide to do.

 

[ebenmax]

We used it for the first time this past week and it was wonderful for our family of 5 - DH, DD20, DS16, DD4 and me. Although we used 2 TS for our dinner at California Grill, our total bill was over $340!! (no alcohol) With my older children eating like full adults, it was well worth the $$.

We found that we had lots of leftover snacks, so we got things for the room
such as jars of salsa and con queso, large bags of Tostitos, and boxes of Mickeyroni and cheese to bring home.

We will definitely do it again as a family, but we may not do it if it is just DH and I. We also have the DDE and used it for our character breakfast and will use that for the two of us.

Great savings overall on both plans for our family.

Ellen

 

[BCV23]

For the extra you would pay for the premium plan you should certainly be able to get some fantastic breakfasts and an additional snack. The premium package includes some recreational activities also but for the difference in price you could probably do just as well paying as you do them.

The bottom line is that unless you book a package through CRO paying cash you cannot book the premium plan. You might want to get an AP and buy the DDE card for use for adult beverages and any extra TS meals you may decide to do.

Actually, the premium plan includes tons of recreational activities. Unlimited golf including rental shoes and clubs, tours, horseback riding, all boat rentals (except for the Grand last I knew). We did fireworks cruises on the Gold plan although I'm not sure it is still included. It was one of those perks not listed but included back when we use to do the plan. Private golf and tennis lesson were included too.

It did not include snacks but rather three meals/day.

My DH always kept close track of our receipts and we always came out ahead....in the early years way ahead.

Has anyone ever actually checked to see if the premium or platinum plans can be added to a DVC reservation? I know DVC promoted the DDP but I don't recall any definitive word on whether the other two could be added once they started to allow DVC to add the DDP.