Do you get DDP when you camp?

[JimPGH]

I'm looking some advice on this. Seems like would only get 1 meal in the parks a day, probably lunch. Do you cook out?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We have never done DDP when camping.
2) Part of the fun are the cookouts.
. . . starting the fire
. . . cooking
. . . smelling the fire, food, and the woods at the same time
. . . talking around the fire and table
. . . telling kids to cleanup afterward or no Mickey tomorrow

Just our thought . . .

 

[ChrisinNJ]

My friend always buys ddp when at the Fort. She goes to the parks every day and plans her table service meals in advance. She does not cook on her Disney vacation. She brings simple breakfast and snack foods and her family fends for themselves. If she has any counter service credits leftover she uses them to get meals for the ride back to NJ.

 

[bama_ed]

Jim, as you can tell you'll get a variety of answers.

Some folks (like my friend NorthOfMouse) say, "I'm on vacation so let's eat out".

Some folks (like myself) have never done the Dining Plan and wouldn't even take it if it were free.

Some folks do a comparison of the Plan versus paying out of pocket and a surprising (to me anyway) number of folks choose OOP.

We eat breakfast in our popup, pack a meal into the parks which gets stored in a locker till mealtime, and we eat one meal in the parks each day. Normally not table service since there are some pretty good counter service options IMO.

I'm feeding 5 adults (kids are older) and I try to spend less money so we can come back to the Fort more often. Non-park days we eat all three meals at the Fort usually by cooking meals. I usually get a Giddy Up & Go takeout from Trails End one night (abouy $25 for 10 pieces of chicken and sides) and maybe pizza delivered from Papa Johns. But we grill a bunch of meat first night there for the whole week so we eat pretty well when we eat in. It's not all peanut buttter and jelly sandwiches and potato sticks.

It depends on how your family eats (big eaters, grazers, snackers). Also from the Fort perspective, there is limited counter service choices at the Meadow Pool and I don't even remember how Trails End fits in the Plan but often times folks have to leave the Fort to eat someplace new. It's not hard to hop the boat to the Contemp or the bus to Wilderness lodge, just saying the Fort has limited choices for the Dining Plans.

Bama Ed

 

[North of Mouse]

Sooo right, Bama Ed, in that cooking and Disney doesn't go together for me!
But, we really only eat one meal out per day, then eat something 'very' light if we get hungry. DDP is way too much food for us.

So JimPGH, what is 'right' for your family is the 'right' thing to do - no wrong answers!

But, having said that, there are vacations that I 'do' enjoy cooking. We leave Sat. for the Smoky Mtns. and do lots of cooking by the stream at the park campgrounds. One difference is it's 'cool' and I like to cook outside (too hot for me at FW ).

Have a great trip!

 

[loislane]

In 2009, DH and I visited and got the free dining. We were staying at POP so cooking wasn't an option, but we got tired of being tied down with a meal reservation every day.

In 2011, the whole family visited and again stayed at POP with free dining, but by then Disney had downgraded the plan to just the quick-service option for value resorts. So, we had two QS meals per day. Halfway through the week, we were all getting pretty sick of the QS options and I was seriously craving some fresh veggies and other healthy options. (Salad does get a tad boring after a while if that's your only veggie option.)

This upcoming trip, it sounds weird, but I'm looking forward to preparing a lot of our own meals as we camp at the Fort. Yes, it makes a little extra work while I'm on vacation and supposed to be relaxing - but I think it will be a worthwhile tradeoff to eat some healthier options and have more variety.

On top of that, adding even the QS plan would add about $2,000 to our trip. Even with one dinner reservation, planning a few QS meals, and buying groceries for the rest of the meals, we won't spend that much money!

 

[2goofycampers]

We have bought the DDP a lot in the past. We probably won't anymore, just not worth it anymore. We come out cheaper paying OOP. This time we're planning on eating some at the TT. Eating off property and at Duke of Earl. And 2 splurges one at Boma and one at Cape May Cafe.

Check the menus, do the math, see which way is cheaper for your family.

 

[double r]

We did it the last time with friends as they like it, it was ok but like some of said to much food and planning where to eat to get the reservations you want tie you down. Now we just pay out of pocket for our favorite spots and eat back at our unit.

 

[JimPGH]

Thanks all!

 

[heartsy77]

No, to us the point of camping is to save $ on hotel and food. However, I will say DH cooks 90% of the time camping. I cook 90% of the time at home so on vaca I seldomly cook!

After thinking about it we do 2-3 dinners out while at WDW. All the breakfast ,lunches, and snacks holds the expenses down while camping and using our DVC.

 

[DanenRox]

Remarkably, cooking on vacation is almost fun. With cooking apparatus and supplies somewhat limited, it's impressive what can be conjured up. I find the pace slower and the appreciation factor increased. We've been without the meal plan for years now and while I do miss it at times, I can't justify the expense. Worse now because you must keep reservations no matter what arises...ugh...too much pressure for vacation.

 

[mrsarbogast]

I love cooking when I'm camping. hate cooking at home but love cooking in my camper. it's weird...
but glad to hear that I'm not the only one. lol.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[DanenRox]

I love cooking when I'm camping. hate cooking at home but love cooking in my camper. it's weird...
but glad to hear that I'm not the only one. lol.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

me toooooo!

 

[DentalDana2]

We are doing the DDP for our upcoming trip. We plan on having breakfast at our site (with the exception of one day to go to Chef Mickey's). Part of the fun for a Disney vacation, IMO, is planning my ADRs. With the August heat and humidity, I just can't imagine cooking 9 dinners at the popup! We probably won't be coming back for ~3yrs, and by that time, ODS will be over 9 and I'm not sure DDP will make sense at they point.

 

[Talascam]

Bama Ed, can you get pizza delivered to the Fort!!!???? We usually eat breakfast in the trailer and a big lunch out then a small snack for dinner back at the site. If we can get Papa Johns pizza, I may now have a new favourite lunch delivered to our site!!! We will be checking in July 11 and I am counting the sleeps!!

 

[bama_ed]

Bama Ed, can you get pizza delivered to the Fort!!!???? We usually eat breakfast in the trailer and a big lunch out then a small snack for dinner back at the site. If we can get Papa Johns pizza, I may now have a new favourite lunch delivered to our site!!! We will be checking in July 11 and I am counting the sleeps!!

Yes you can. I'm not a fan of the Trails End takeout pizza (although in fairness it does have its fans here). So with 3 young adults and 2 parents 2 large pizzas will barely get by for us. I outlined it here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3070685&highlight=papa+johns

I've also seen Domino's delivery vehicles travelling the back roads near the Fort.

Didn't do this on our 2013 trip since the family didn't come along but did it in 2012 and 2011.

Bama Ed

 

[SinceDay1]

Yes you can. I'm not a fan of the Trails End takeout pizza (although in fairness it does have its fans here). So with 3 young adults and 2 parents 2 large pizzas will barely get by for us. I outlined it here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3070685&highlight=papa+johns

I've also seen Domino's delivery vehicles travelling the back roads near the Fort.

Didn't do this on our 2013 trip since the family didn't come along but did it in 2012 and 2011.

Bama Ed

We like the Trails End pizza ok, but getting Papa Johns or Dominos is a better deal with all the specials they have.

Richard

 

[Talascam]

Thanks for the info! We are leaving July 11 (5 sleeps until we leave!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? *wink*). In all 6 trips we have made to the Fort in the past 8 years, I have never seen a fast food delivery car in the park which was why I asked. Very cool. Will definitely have to make use of that option.

Thanks again.

LL

 

[musicmama]

Yes, we got DDP on our Fort camping trip. Pretty much need DDP when travelling with hubby as TS is his favorite part of the trip (well, almost). I'm a compulsive planner plus we have several "must-do" restaurants so working for ADRs doesn't bother me. Our Disney trips tend to be leave early, get back late days, and cooking doesn't fit well in that scenario (and my idea of grilling is electric, not charcoal or propane).

I know, I know, we're kinda lame campers...

 

[Running_Bell]

We do a combination of cooking and eating out. We never buy the DDP though. We added it up and would never eat out or eat as much as we needed to justify the expense.... and we've never seen it offered for free to campers. We like to pick one restaurant at each park and either do a breakfast or lunch.... then we eat at campsite for the other meals and days we don't go to parks. We usually plan the cooking ahead of time so there isn't a lot of prep. The day before we leave I prepare food, chop/dice veggies, marinate chicken/pork in plastic baggies, cook any grounded meat for pasta/tacos,etc...... I even cook my pasta in advance and refrigerate (add some olive oil so noodles won't stick). When I heat up the sauce and mix with noodles... it heats the noodles as well... it saves time and tastes the same. .