Disney Dining Plan vs. Paying out of Pocket

[poly princess]

Hello...

DH and I were wondering how good of a value the DDP is. We are trying to figure out which is the better bargain. Most morning we will be character dining and we have 2 signature restaurants planned. Is it possible to enjoy 2 sit down meals per day, at a cheaper rate paying OOP vs. paying for DDP.

Thanks!

Poly

 

[jcemom]

I think you really just have to do the math. Sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil. Write down what you have planned for each meal, each day...breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks. I just make columns with each day on one side, and each meal on the other.

Look up the cost of each meal (I just ballpark it based on what we might like to order, don't have to have it down to the penny), tack on a few dollars for tax, and write that next to each meal spot on your paper. For snacks I just figure on $4 each to keep it simple.

Circle the most expensive TS meals (don't forget to divide the cost of the signatures by two, since they take two credits each) -- those are the ones you will use your DDP credits on.

Next, take the cost of the DDP plus the cost of the "leftover" TS meals and add them, and write that figure down. (I am assuming you won't need to pay for any CS meals or snacks OOP, but if you do you'd include those also.)

Then, forget the DDP and add everything together, including the cost of the refillable mugs, if you would buy them, and write that figure down. Compare the two. Keep in mind that the convenience of the DDP is worth something. If it's only slightly more expensive, then I'd go with the DDP.

ETA: The only way not getting the DDP would be less expensive is if you will be losing a good many CS credits, and/or eating TS meals that aren't a good DDP value.

 

[Jonathan Swift]

Download the spreadsheet linked in my signature. It will do the math for you.

 

[jcemom]

Download the spreadsheet linked in my signature. It will do the math for you.

That sound much easier LOL. Thanks!

 

[tzeitel]

For us the DDP has worked great since we do tons of character/buffet/family style meals. Like the previous poster said - do the math

I am horrible with math but love looking at the menus - http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

I make a list of restaurants we might like to try and then check the menus. Just add entrees, non alcoholic drink and dessert (no apps on the DDP but they do have them in the DxDP). Same with the CS places and add a snack ($3-4). Sometimes it is not worth it for the Signatures, you might want to pay OOP for those (especially f you could use those credits for character meals).

 

[OhMari]

I came out a little under, but I liked the convenience of having the plan paid for before I went on my vacation. You still have to pay out of pocket for tips.

 

[beansmom]

and we are the opposite of ohmari. I don't like having to keep track of credits and feel like I have to 'get my money's worth'. We generally share a meal and snacks so we end up eating way too much food.

if we can get a room only discount and pay OOP for our food, we come out ahead. We also have APs so we really don't want to have to buy tickets to qualify for free dining.

 

[leebee]

DD and I have used the DDP for some trips and paid OOP for others. It really depends on how your family eats. In general, we find we save about $200 when we pay OOP (two people, week-long trip). I think this is because we do not always do a full TS meal every day when OOP, and also don't do character meals anymore. Also, even when we do TS, DD often will only get an appetizer, or something small, instead of a full meal. Disney portions are, in general, generous, and that effects how we eat (as does the heat, I think). We have found that, at breakfast and lunch, we share a breakfast platter or combo meal (depending on the time of day) and at dinner will either share an app and an entree, or just get two entrees, and rarely do we order dessert (not big dessert people).

Don't get me wrong: When the dining plan is free, we do free dining! However, when it's not free, we often choose OOP because for us, it's usually a bit cheaper.

 

[jrw118]

I have to say that I am encouraged by a Thread like this one. We booked through a travel agent for our upcoming trip and are unable to add the dining plan due to it being a group offer. This will be the first trip out of 5 that we will not have it. We have always thought we saved money on the dining plan and that it is a good deal. Our kids like character meals, fantasmic, and we like steak so the dining plan was always very convenient and cost effective. This trip since we cannot have it, I have decided to rent a car. There will be a total of 4 adults and 2 kids in our party so it he dining plan is a large chunk of change. ( Approx $1540) I am still concerned that it will cost more out of pocket. We will be there for 6 nights. We have scaled back our dining plans and to be honest it is a little liberating to not be scheduled every day. We will still do Ohana, fantasmic (mm), cape may breakfast, beaches & cream. We are planning to do some chain restaurants for lunch and the other dinners. I am going to try to keep track and see. $1500 is a lot for 6 nights. We got a fantastic deal for the vacation package so even if we are over a bit we will still be ahead as our package saved z$$$$$

 

[4HppyCamprs]

DD and I have used the DDP for some trips and paid OOP for others. It really depends on how your family eats. In general, we find we save about $200 when we pay OOP (two people, week-long trip). I think this is because we do not always do a full TS meal every day when OOP, and also don't do character meals anymore. Also, even when we do TS, DD often will only get an appetizer, or something small, instead of a full meal. Disney portions are, in general, generous, and that effects how we eat (as does the heat, I think). We have found that, at breakfast and lunch, we share a breakfast platter or combo meal (depending on the time of day) and at dinner will either share an app and an entree, or just get two entrees, and rarely do we order dessert (not big dessert people).

Don't get me wrong: When the dining plan is free, we do free dining! However, when it's not free, we often choose OOP because for us, it's usually a bit cheaper.

Agree completely.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[crisi]

For certain parties, the Tables in Wonderland card is a good option. Its available to AP holders, Florida residents and DVC members (IIRC). You pay for it and then you get a 20% discount on some restuarants (mostly sit down). It covers alcohol. It covers parties up to ten. One year there were ten of us and it made sense to buy an AP for one adult to get the TiW card - even with the increased cost of the AP, we saved a ton. But again, do your math - it tends to be a good deal for us because we do a lot of signature dining and drink with a family of four.

 

[Minniesgal]

We think it is terrible value and won't use it. We love TIW instead.

 

[Pakey]

I can make the DDP come out ahead if I go into a restaurant and order the most expensive entree,which is usually not what I want, and I eat a dessert which I definitely do not want.

If I price out what I really want to eat, I can never make the DDP work for me. This is for 2 adults who want to eat mostly signature dinners with a few character breakfasts.

The truth is, I don't want to have to work that hard to try to save money. I want to eat what I want and where I want (which always includes the places not on the DDP).

 

[AuroraRora]

The DDP never worked for us either - we'll sometimes snack throughout the day as opposed to one set meal, and we rarely get drinks or desserts (prefer to drink water and get a different "dessert" snack elsewhere), and we also like to have wine/cocktails with TS meals or at HS/Epcot.

We considered it for our October trip because Free Dining seems to be a possibility, but we'll be spending a lot of our time at the F&W Festival booths and have a bounceback discount on the room that will save us more.

 

[kreckl]

Hey Jonathan Swift~ I downloaded it twice but there isn't a drop down arrow/option to put in numbers of people/nights/etc. Any ideas??

 

[jeankeri]

Did the DP once, the last year it included gratuities. For TS meals it was great, my boys had aged out of character meals (though we might have done Crystal Palace for the lunch buffet ) so that was not the big 'get 'for our family. What the boys hated- not having all items part of the plan. Being on vacation, they wanted the choice of dessert on the menu, or forgoing dessert on the menu to get something later in the parks. Not all snack cart items were included, so the experience on the whole was frustrating. Promised the boys half way through the trip we would never do the DP again. Not that gratuities are not included, this makes a big difference on the cost savings as well.

 

[Jonathan Swift]

Hey Jonathan Swift~ I downloaded it twice but there isn't a drop down arrow/option to put in numbers of people/nights/etc. Any ideas??

Was there a message when you opened it about security settings? The drop downs may be disabled if you don't allow the excel file access.

 

[eliza61]

I can make the DDP come out ahead if I go into a restaurant and order the most expensive entree,which is usually not what I want, and I eat a dessert which I definitely do not want.

If I price out what I really want to eat, I can never make the DDP work for me. This is for 2 adults who want to eat mostly signature dinners with a few character breakfasts.

The truth is, I don't want to have to work that hard to try to save money. I want to eat what I want and where I want (which always includes the places not on the DDP).

Boy you hit the nail right on the head Pakey.

When I did the ddp I stressed waaaay more about food than ever. It was almost as if our entire vacation revolved around the ddp. hated it. I can't tell you how many meals I forced myself to eat the most expensive steak because god forbid I did not get the "value" out of our dining points.

That's how I never understood when people say they purchase it and forget about food?

Anyway, now that it's over 50 bucks a night, rarely and that's with us eating every night would I spend that on meals. I do have a tiw and dvc card so I get discounts that way.

It stop being a value when they took away the tip and appertizers

 

[ryansstitch]

I have to say that I am encouraged by a Thread like this one. We booked through a travel agent for our upcoming trip and are unable to add the dining plan due to it being a group offer. This will be the first trip out of 5 that we will not have it. We have always thought we saved money on the dining plan and that it is a good deal. Our kids like character meals, fantasmic, and we like steak so the dining plan was always very convenient and cost effective. This trip since we cannot have it, I have decided to rent a car. There will be a total of 4 adults and 2 kids in our party so it he dining plan is a large chunk of change. ( Approx $1540) I am still concerned that it will cost more out of pocket. We will be there for 6 nights. We have scaled back our dining plans and to be honest it is a little liberating to not be scheduled every day. We will still do Ohana, fantasmic (mm), cape may breakfast, beaches & cream. We are planning to do some chain restaurants for lunch and the other dinners. I am going to try to keep track and see. $1500 is a lot for 6 nights. We got a fantastic deal for the vacation package so even if we are over a bit we will still be ahead as our package saved z$$$$$

I think you'll come out ahead. With OOP dining costs, you eat when you are hungry and only pay for what you want. You do have to do the math to know for sure with your family, but when DH and I are at WDW, we average $50-60 per day, and on a day wit a signature dinner, that increases to about $150, but that includes meals, snacks, a beer or 2 for DH and one glass of wine for me, appetizers at dinner. Breakfast for us is usually maybe cinnamon roll and coffee or breakfast sandwiches (not sure what we will do now with Main Street bakery in its Starbucks-ified incarnation) Granted we bring our own fruit in because I refuse to pay more for 1 banana on property than a pound of bananas down the street at Publix! But with DDP, we'd just be dropping extra cash on tips because we would feel obligated to use those TS credits even when we really just want to grab a waffle sandwich or some other lighter fun food, much cheaper and no tip required.

 

[Karlzmom]

I'm going to go a slightly different direction with my answer..you asked if you would enjoy a signature restaurant with the DDP. Think about what is attracting you to to a Signature Restaurant. Take a moment if you need to . Don't the Signature Restaurants have an amazing list of appetizers and salads? Sorry, not on the plan! Look at the wine list and the after dinner drinks [Grand Marnier Flight, anyone?] Nope! Can't have that either!!

So, if you are on the dining plan, you get to order an entree [granted, it will likely be interesting and well prepared] for TWICE the credits of the normal dinner. Can I just say that while I love the Signature places, I have had few dinners that would be worth TWICE the price over a "regular" TS. Same with the desserts.

Yes, you could you your DDP credits, then pay OOP for the "goodies", but then you have thwarted the "Ease" of the DDP and may as well just pay OOP. Not to mention, how irked are you going to be to get a sizable bill ON TOP OF the double DDP credits at the end of your meal...tums, anyone?

Have you looked at TIW? Can you make it work for you? I have found it to be far and away the best way to do signature restaurants.

Good Luck!