Do you still like the DDP?

[bluslag]

We're going to WDW in 2 weeks and have the DDP ordered and we will have 6 in our party. My question is not if the plan is still a good value but do you still like the plan? Of course this is for people that have used it recently. I ask this because part of our reason for using the plan is the ease of it. We have 2teenagers and it is fun for them to order anything on the menu. If they want a app I am sure we will allow it because it is vacation but I think they will be very careful because they know how much food they can have on the plan. Last year we enjoyed looking for places for lunch and really enjoyed not getting out money everytime. Some of our lunches were not the best but a lot of them were very good. We would have had lunches anyway so we kind of think that is what we are getting free. We had a great time last year trying to figure everything out and I hope it is a much fun this year. We were such rookies last year that we followed everything by the book. We never even thought of using our snack credits for anyhing but a snack. We even thought of it as a challenge to use all of our credits and we succeeded.

 

[christa112]

We used the Dining Plan in 2005 & 2006 and I loved it. We are using it again this Sept, and even though some things have changed I am opting to do it again. I just like the fact that we don't have to worry about spending money on food. My family can get by with eating 2 times a day and having a snack or two between meals.

 

[wdwlvr629]

We have used it twice in the past and while I haven't used it yet in '08, I will be in less than a month. Anyway, while I still plan to use it, I think they should've given an option of either an appetizer or dessert. I would prefer a salad over a sundae! Also, I wish they would've kept the tip as part of the price, I wouldn't have even cared if the price per person went up. I just liked that you paid up front and didn't have to worry about carrying cash or hitting your credit card with charges for tipping. Last, but not least, since they did drop the appetizer and the tip, they should have decreased the price a bit more, one more way for Disney to make a quick buck!!! However, you don't see me choosing not to do the DDP as a result! Just MHO.

 

[disneyfan2]

I think they should've given an option of either an appetizer or dessert. I would prefer a salad over a sundae! Also, I wish they would've kept the tip as part of the price, I wouldn't have even cared if the price per person went up. I just liked that you paid up front and didn't have to worry about carrying cash or hitting your credit card with charges for tipping.

I agree i would have paid a little more to have everything included. It is so nice to know that getting the DDP would take care of all expenses ahead of time. I paid cash for tips but would have preferred not to worry about it at all. Also agree about the app/dessert issue. After 1 week of 2x day desserts i could not look at another brownie sundae for a long time!
So much for Disney idea of healthy eating. The salad would be so nice instead of always dessert.

 

[JimMIA]

I've always thought there were several legitimate reasons for using DDP. There is the obvious financial aspect of the plan, which most of us focus on. But there is also a convenience factor, and many people like having their food costs prepaid, before they get to WDW. There is also a hidden cost to DDP which is sometimes significant -- the increased room rate you have to pay to be eligible for DDP in most cases.

For us, the primary reason for using the plan was financial -- with 2A/1C, and given our normal dining habits at WDW, we saved an average of $75-100 per five-day trip. The elimination of the included gratuity wiped out that advantage for us, so we are no longer using the plan. Our decision was made easier by the fact that we always drive up to Disney, so we have a car and are not a captive audience dependent on Disney transportation. And, being DVC owners, we don't have any increased room cost because of using DDP.

However, even though the current plan actually costs about $10 more per adult per day for significantly less food, many families will find that it's still beneficial for them. The benefits of the plan depend greatly on a variety of factors, including some that have nothing to do with the DDP itself.

For example, if you are eligible for a better room rate, but can't take advantage of it because you would not be eligible for DDP -- that extra room cost is really a DDP cost to your family. That may be especially true if you are just as happy staying in a nice place offsite.

By the same logic, if you would normally fly in, DME, and use Disney transportation exclusively, renting a car to eat offsite would be a cost of NOT doing DDP that you'd have to factor in -- although eating offsite might still give you a significant savings.

You really have to look at the full picture, and make the decision that seems best for your family...remembering that there are non-financial benefits to DDP as well.

[ETA: In May, we're going for five nights. We're not getting DDP, and we're only planning to eat one meal onsite - a character dinner at Norway. We're going to be eating at least as well as we usually do onsite, including Charley's and Columbia, so we may actually spend more money, but get better value. We'll see.

I'll try to keep a reasonably accurate record of our food expenditures, and if it's accurate enough, I'll come back and post the results.]

 

[accountingbabe08]

We used DDP May 2007 and September 2007 (free). we loved it. In february 2008 we went using Deluxe. when we went in May my 15 yo would get an extra cs meal everyday we didn't run into any problems didn't run out of credits. I took into consideration that we would buy mugs and appetizers at times . My 15yo son appetite.and decided it was only going to be another 20 dollars a day to get two additional meals. In february the Dxddp worked very well for us. We loved it. we are doing the dxddp in october when we go.

 

[dkbunches]

We used it in September 2007 when it was free and absolutely loved it! We would be willing to pay for it just for the ease of use and convenience, but the real bonus for us was the experience of trying new places/foods, that we otherwise would not have tried. I have a family of very picky eaters who like very basic American food. I however love trying new things, so for one of our meals we went to the one in Animal Resort that serves African style food (starts with a J I believe but just lost the name from my head). It is the new favorite of our entire family! Everyone got to try new things, found new things they really liked, and it was the favorite meal of the week.

When we were trying to budget for meals in the past we pretty much did the same places, same type food. This way we had much better variety, and there was always something for everyone. No one went hungry!

 

[Disneyof3]

We just returned on last Thursday and we used the DDP again. We are a family of 5 with kids 6,8,11. Not thinking of the value because I haven't added up the bills yet but before I went I figured it was good for us and that is why I bought it. We had no problems using this plan at all. I was worried going down this would be hell due to the tipping and the appetizers gone, but WOW it was easy as pie again. I had all the ADR's booked ahead and the the CS mostly figured out. The snacks was the hardest and when we got there the CM were great with the snacks. We found it easy because us 2 adults and my 11 could eat anything despite the price. The 2 youngest found lots too eat because alot the TS I choose were buffets and they could eat anything they wanted too. There was tons of food and we were never hungry if anything too full from lunch and couldn't eat all dinners. We ate breakfast at 8:30 and lunch at 11:30 - 12:00 and supper at 7:30 and we were still full. I believe this plan will work well with your family if you like to eat and not have to worry about the price. Enjoy....