Disney Dining Plan for DVC members

[VA_mouseman]

I understand that if we want to take advantage of the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), we have to sign up and pay for it prior to check-in (our next trip is January 2008, to the BWV).

As I understand it, the published prices are $38.99 for per adult/day, and $10.99 per child (3-9)/day.

Are these the same costs for DVC members? I can't recall what I was quoted when I made my res.

I'm still looking into the concept of dining credits and how to best use them and if it's the best way for us to go (we'll be a group of 8 (4 adults, 4 kids) who likely will have breakfast in the room but will dine out otherwise).

Have others participated in the DDP? What's been the experience?

 

[emlutz23]

The price is the same for DVC members as it is already discounted. We really like the DDP. We also eat our breakfast in the room, with the exception of one Character breakfast. Typically you will get more for your money when you do dinner buffets, though vs. a breakfast.

I also feel the DDP is really worth your money if you like to order appetizers and dessert in addition to the entree.

We like to try and do one of the signature dining experiences. We plan ahead by either paying OOP for an extra CS or getting a pizza in our room so we have the extra TS to use.

For our family, we like it and it works!

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think the plan price and details have been finalized for 2008, yet.

 

[disneynutz]

I understand that if we want to take advantage of the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), we have to sign up and pay for it prior to check-in (our next trip is January 2008, to the BWV).

As I understand it, the published prices are $38.99 for per adult/day, and $10.99 per child (3-9)/day.

Are these the same costs for DVC members? I can't recall what I was quoted when I made my res.

I'm still looking into the concept of dining credits and how to best use them and if it's the best way for us to go (we'll be a group of 8 (4 adults, 4 kids) who likely will have breakfast in the room but will dine out otherwise).

Have others participated in the DDP? What's been the experience?

You must request the DDP with your res prior to your arrival. You pay for the DDP when you check in. It 2008 there might be a price change and/or the tax and tip my no longer be included under the plan.

We have used the plan in the past but we only use it for short stays and we eat at the most expensive restaurants we can find. A lot of people get so sick of eating that they end up using a TS credit for a $9.00 dollar hamburger. Not me, our average meal while on the DDP runs $65.00 per person for dinner. I have also had people tell me that they go home with unused credits. WHAT? We purchase drinks from the resort store and stock the refrigerator with our snack credits.

 

[NemoMOm]

We have used it for the last 5 trips and love it. It is only worth it if you like to eat at TS. The best way to get an idea if it is worth it is to go to allearsnet.com and look at prices at the restaurants where you would like to eat. We did this and we would have saved only $100 before snacks,drinks, desserts, and appetizers. That may seem like alot of food but my DS and DH have a VERY fast metablism and eat all day long. Even on the DDP DH is always hungry and loses 5-8lbs on our trip.

 

[disneynutz]

We have used it for the last 5 trips and love it. It is only worth it if you like to eat at TS. The best way to get an idea if it is worth it is to go to allearsnet.com and look at prices at the restaurants where you would like to eat. We did this and we would have saved only $100 before snacks,drinks, desserts, and appetizers. That may seem like alot of food but my DS and DH have a VERY fast metablism and eat all day long. Even on the DDP DH is always hungry and loses 5-8lbs on our trip.

That explains it. He transfers it to me. I gain 5-8lbs on every trip.

 

[wildernessDad]

You sign up for it before check in, about a week before or more. But you pay for it upon check in.

 

[hellerjw]

This will be our 3rd time using the DDP and we love it. We typically plan several character meals during our stays and we feel in those cases the DDP does save us money, particularly since gratuity is included.

In my experience you basically have to either give up breakfast or dinner on the DDP each day and do one of those on your own. We tend to like a big breakfast so we usually let that be our "table service" meal for the day and almost always do the character breakfasts to get the most value out of it.

We have never left with any remaining credits, often scheduling something on our last day there just to make sure we use it up.

I do say if they do away with the "pre-paid gratuity" aspect of the DDP it will be less appealing to us and we may no longer do it.

 

[beachblanket]

Rather than buying the dining plan, the DVC "smart money" generally recommends buying a "basic" annual pass at the member DVC price ($334) and then using it to get the discounted Disney Dining Experience card ($65).

The latter gives you a 20% discount on food AND drink for up to a party of 10 at pretty much any WDW TS you'd want to eat at. So -- depending upon the season and length of your stay and your breakfast and lunch preferences (particularly if you use the kitchen in your villa for the former) -- doing the annual pass/DDE approach often makes more sense financially than buying the dining plan, particularly if you don't plan on eating till you faint!