do buy the DDP or not to buy?

[destinflgirl]

that is the question.... my boyfriend and I are going to Disney World for our 1 year anniversary since we met and we are staying at Port Orleans Riverside which I am very excited about but now looking at the Disney Dining Plan I am really thinking it might be worth it to add on for both of us. We are going to 7 nights/8days and we plan on going to the poly show, chef mickeys for character dining and then alot of dinners. I see that you get appetizers entree, dessert and drink for a table service meal... which sounds like a pretty good deal plus the snacks and stuff... do you really come out ahead or just break even? Not sure if it's worth doing or not... and if it is.. would you use double credits for poly show and stuff?

 

[laceemouse]

Yes, the Poly Laua show takes two credits, as do a couple of other things. You really need to look at the menus and decide what you would pay WITHOUT the plan to determine if the plan is a good deal for you. Most people on here go home and add up all their receipts and say "WOW, we saved 500$" or something like that, HOWEVER, they really need to look at what they would have bought normally, not what they did get. Lots of folks love the plan and love not having to consider prices when they order. It just depends on you.

 

[Fionasmommy]

We used the DDP in June and saved a lot!! I originally wanted it just for the convenience of having most of the food paid for in advance. We're not big eaters - it was me and my mother (both on Weight Watchers) and my DD, who is the world's pickiest eater. So, I knew we wouldn't be getting our own appetizers and all that jazz, but it was still worth it to me just to have it paid off and know that we'd get one decent (not fried) meal each day.

So, anyway, we didn't go with any expectations of saving money or making a huge attempt to "maximize" the plan.

Yet - we still saved! We stuck to our diets, DD was still picky and didn't eat much and yet we still managed to save on DDP!

We paid out of pocket for our one 2 credit meal - lunch at the castle - because I didn't want to run out of credits during our stay. It was $108 for 3 of us, OOP.

The rest of the days, we had breakfast in our room (breakfast bars and paid OOP for DD to get a mickey waffle from the food court each day). Lunch averaged $30-$40 per day, and our TS meals averaged around $95. Snacks were roughly $3 each (mostly ice cream for DD, and a few bottles of water), so that was around $9 per day.

So, for the $90 per day we paid for the dining plan, we ate an average of $140 of food. There was actually only one day that we came close to breaking even - and even then we were atleast $15 ahead. Other days, when we ate at Le Cellier or Concourse Steakhouse or even Kona (twice!! ) we came out $60 or more in savings for the day.

It is definitely worth it, and now I can't imagine ever going without it!

If you can stand to eat only CS meals the whole time - or prefer it! - then it's probably not for you. If you only want to eat TS meals, it won't work for you then either. But if you like the idea of a quick lunch and then a nice, sit down dinner (or vice versa), give it a try!

 

[seven dwarfs]

You have asked the Million Dollar question! To do or not to do!

We have done it with and without the plan. It really depends. If you like to eat and like to eat alot and would order 3 course meals then great. If you like to snack and order a meal sometimes then no. The times we had the plan it was great. Lots of food and cheaper then if we had order the same without the plan. The timed we did not have the plan we ordered light and did not always eat a TS. It really is all about what you want and what you like. Good luck in your choice!

 

[OverplanninJess]

My DBF were at the "world" a few months ago and it was our first experience with the DDP. We both decided we would never go back again without it!!! We saved all our receipts to tally up what we saved-it came out to over $350!!! Dinners at Chefs de France and Le Cellier would have cost us over $100 each! Without the plan we could not have eaten the GREAT meals we had-even counter services were great!!! I highly recommend the dining plan-I doubt you'll regret it!!!

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

We loved the dining plan it gave us a chance to try some great restaurants, prior to it we would mostly eat dinner outside of the world or the food court at the hotel. If you're planning on eating at the disney restaurants the dining plan is great, it is nice to order from the menu and not worry about prices, or not get appetizers or dessert because it's too expensive.

 

[destinflgirl]

Thanks for all the great replies everyone! I think I am going to go ahead and try it this time around. Is there any restricted food? I know Narcoossee's is 2 credited a piece but is there any entree restrictions or can you order any entree... cause the surf and turf and lobster looks pretty good!

 

[princess-rn]

Thanks for all the great replies everyone! I think I am going to go ahead and try it this time around. Is there any restricted food? I know Narcoossee's is 2 credited a piece but is there any entree restrictions or can you order any entree... cause the surf and turf and lobster looks pretty good!

We are looking to purchase the DDP next year (if they still have it) I wonder the same thing...are there any restrictions on the menu or is everything part of the DDP?