Do you find DDP worth it

[Sandisw]

I think that you can make the DDP work in your favor compared to what that food would cost you OOP.

However, what we found, that in most cases, our savings were based on things we might not have gotten had it not been for the DDP.

So, that QS lunch would not have included a dessert all the time--however, if I calculated that as part of the equation, then yes, we saved.

Since we now have the TIW card as an AP holder, we use that for the TS meals and drinks we have. What we like about it the most is that we eat the way we want and don't have to worry about making our eating fit the plan.

This upcoming trip, we are doing TS only 3 of the 5 days. No DDP works with this schedule so for us, having TIW makes more sense.

 

[AllieV]

We went to disney with some friends who were on the dining plan. It was such a pain. They couldn't join us for some of our meals, we had to get different checks when we did eat together, and they were always stopping for their "daily snack" and standing in lines because they didn't want to lose anything. Ugh! They're not even big eaters, so I'd see them throw away half of their snacks.

 

[goofy4wdw2]

We went once without DDP and we were about even...this time we are going without DDP but we will be using TiW. I'm guessing we will save or will be close to breaking even again because I will be more willing to order an appetizer or drink and know that I'm getting a little discount. I usually want to order an appetizer while on the DDP but never do because it's "not on the plan." I'm very excited to go and order exactly what I really want, not what's included on a pre-set plan.

 

[sept09bride]

Question what is a TIW card???

 

[ToddyLu]

It is a card that AP holder's and DVC members can purchase for $75-$100 I forget which. Anyway, you use the card at many WDW restaurants and get 20% off your meal INCLUDING alcohol. However, they do automatically add a $18 gratuity. Fine with us we were going to pay that anyway. If you eat at least $375 dollars worth of food it pays for itself.

 

[ToddyLu]

TIW-Tables in Wonderland card. We love it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It is a card that AP holder's and DVC members can purchase for $75-$100 I forget which. Anyway, you use the card at many WDW restaurants and get 20% off your meal INCLUDING alcohol. However, they do automatically add a $18 gratuity. Fine with us we were going to pay that anyway. If you eat at least $375 dollars worth of food it pays for itself.

You mean 18% gratuity. $18 might be a bit high for some diners.

TIW is mostly good for table service and a few counter service where table service is limited (like AK). And there are some table service like Teppan Edo that does not take it.

AP = $75
DVC/FL Residents = $100

You buy it at Guest Services and it is good for about 12-1/2 months. The kind of round the end date for the card.

 

[hakepb]

I never understand the prepaid argument?

Sadly it is no longer as strong as it used to be. When the DDP included tip (and appetizer). Back in the good ole days, I felt like Mickey was treating me to every meal.

To me it's the freedom to order anything on the menu. (something my cheap behavior normally does not allow) and the easy ability to try new restaurants without being worried if that specific meal is worth that final bill.

I still don't get the multiple TS meals a day. With transportation a meal takes 3 hours. How do you ride any rides between that?

 

[missycj96]

As is it now, the dining plan is for the most part not worth it. Plus you are locked in. I never order desert with every meal so even if there is some savings i would not have ordered all that anyway. I used to like the dining plan but not so much any more - too much money for what it is. I do think if you are traveling with a group it at least ends awkwardness about bill splitting. But i prefer to eat what i feel like and not be locked in. Plus with kids, table service meals are not so great - mine dont sit.

 

[kck182]

We have done trips without the plan and have not been nearly as happy. We go to eat out and we plan 1 TS every day. We know which snacks are the best use of credits and we tend to eat at TS's that are character meals or at the higher end without being 2 TS's.
I get sticker shock every time I see the bill!
Even when the promotion was a $750 gift card for booking deluxe and we had 2 rooms, we blew through those cards very quickly.
I am much happier pre paying for my meals and given the makeup of our group, we see a savings.

 

[londonderrydisneyfan]

Considering we now have two "adult" kids the DDP isn't really worth it for us. The only time I could see is using it is if we have a 1-2 day portion of a split stay. I could never do the plan for an entire trip.

 

[jenifred]

I remember when Disney did "wishes" on the old silver and gold plans. And a meal counted as a wish - no restrictions. You could have anything you wanted, and the waiters were happy to give you multiple courses because the gratuity was included. The more you ate, the more money the waiter made. Once in Italy, it was just my mother and I. We did not even look at a menu. The waiter said he'd "take care of it". He gave us three appitizers, two salads, two soups, two entrees and two full desserts. It was awesome... but I knew that wasn't going to last long. The DDP does not seem too far behind.

We love to eat at the more expensive resturants, so we have done the DDP as long as its been offered. It was very cost effective for us. But now that the price is almost double what it started at, I have been debating whether to swtich to TIW. For our next trip, I finally did the math with the help of Excel and some online menus. Here's what happened.

The details:

We are AP holders. We are going with 4 adults, 1 kid, 1 infant. Since we are a party of six, tipping was not an issue. We pay 18% regardless. I assumed we would eat the same number/type of meals and snacks as the DDP. We are eating at three buffets out of five sit down meals. So on those days we are still going to get desert and drinks included. I estimated the average cost of a snack at $3. (yes, that may be low balling it) And since we really don't eat the counter desserts, I did not include the cost of those.

After the cost of the card, we will save a whopping $30.00 by using TIW. If you include the cost of those little choclate cakes, two sit-down desserts and bump the snack price to $4.00, DDP is cheaper by about $65.00. But...

We are getting the TIW card anyway. Why?

1. When we go back in January, we will use the card again. Since we will have already recouped the cost of the card, we will save more next time. If you are going more than once each year, TIW makes sense.

2. I don't really need all that food. If I'm not on the meal plan, I won't eat all five counter meals, five chocolate cakes or all the snacks. Neither will my kids or my parents. I always come home with a bag full of extra snacks and we will probably split some of the counters. So I'm betting we will probably save more than I projected.


As far as value, the TIW and DDP are about the same. Ultimately, TIW will save me money because I won't be paying for extra food that I really don't need. Plus, with TIW, I may be less likely to come home 7-8 pounds heavier. Post-vacation dieting stinks!

 

[disneynutz]

Like most Disney deals, when first introduced, the DDP and TIW were a cost savings, now not so much.

The best savings is to eat in your villa or off site. Disney food as we all know is over priced, tends to be the same in several places and the portions are shrinking.

Bill

 

[BestDadEver]

I would like to do meals in the villa . W will see about that . Breakfast would be no problem buy after that we would probably eat out . I am just going to have to track it next time I am down there . I dont think DDP it's going to be less for me .

TiW may be better but would need to use multiple trips to make it work , and I dont have enough points for multiple trips .

Thanks for all the responses they were very helpful .

 

[Tara]

Once the DxDP worked really well for us. It was just me and DS, who was 8 at the time. We took a surprise 5-night trip and stayed at CBR, so no kitchen. We ate a buffet breakfast every morning and a signature restaurant dinner each night (well, 1 day we had breakfast at CRT and dinner at WCC). We tend to eat a late breakfast and an early dinner, so a light snack between was plenty for us. I had great dinners, DS had his beloved grilled cheese for dinner, and I was able to get a hearty breakfast in him (he's a light eater in general) each day. And we made great use of the snacks...I think we used virtually every single credit (lots of frozen lemonade because it was so hot).

When we stay on points in a villa, we eat out less, and now DS is a Disney adult (he's 10), so it's a bad deal. (Literally, he wouldn't eat anything different than he did before, but I'd pay so much more money for the plan since he's an "adult.") So it's TIW for us from now on.

 

[Sammie]

Because of our eating habits and just the two of us, we find paying out of pocket to the best deal. TIW does not work for us, as we usually take just one trip during the year and we don't buy alcohol, so it did not help us.

 

[canopynut66]

been going for years and have figured it with discounts and what we used to spend on food (as we are on vacation and we do not cook nor make coffee then) and the dining plan when it is free we take and really like it. have to get ADR'S so you can get to go eat where you want...in fact free dining is out today for 9/30 to 12/2012 for Visa Card holders and then it goes to public Thursday and we had booked many months ago and used a discount and we will lose that discount in order to take the free dining and then we up grade to MYWD to get one TS and one CS per day as we now stay at POP. this be our 65th trip and we have tried all except DVC's and not interested in those.

 

[gmboy95]

I am trying to figure out if it's worth it to get DDP ,and it seems that from what I remember being thier that I spent just about the same money as the DDP would cost .

I figure 2 adults plus my 2yo son is $117 . We went to crystal palace was $80 without tip plus a quick service meal at the park was $32 I belive . I am going off memory so not 100% on the#'s but thats $112 without the 3 snacks also thinking the drinks on threcrystal palace bill wouldn't be included right. So with this math it doesen't seem like a saving just about breaking even .

Am I missing something . Seems like a lot of people use them and probably wouldn't if they just brake even . So why is it a good deal to you?

Although disney.has cut back on things like including the tip, it is still just worth it, but not by much!!!

 

[Brian Noble]

I have never, not once, spent as much OOP just eating what, when, and where we wanted as the "appropriate" dining plan would cost. Usually, that's because I don't have exactly the "right" number of meals---we are either 1-2 under, or (sometimes) 1-2 over. What's more, even with we do eat the "right" number, inevitably some are less expensive---breakfast on a sleep in day, a lighter lunch somewhere, whatever. Not to save money, but that's just because that's how we do things.

If you plan enough spending at eligible restaurants, the TIW card is a better deal.

Seems like a lot of people use them and probably wouldn't if they just brake even .

Some people think they would save money, but don't in the end. Instead, they compare what they "got" with the menu prices, even though that includes a bunch of stuff they would not have bought otherwise. (For example, the CS desserts are almost always awful.) Others do it for the convenience of pre-paying and knowing what their food budget is for the week. Some view it as an affordable way to upgrade their dining experience. And, some buy it simply because Disney tells them that they should.

 

[mikeandkarla]

We book it for our NYE trip, since NYE and NY day itself are black out days for TIW. Then we always book a Fantasmic dinner package using it, since TIW also isn't usable for that. Last year Fantasmic was cancelled on "our day" but what the heck, we tried.

As DVC members, do I remember right that we do not pay the holiday upcharge for the DDP? We havent used it for a couple years and didnt know if that still applied.

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