Does dining plan make sense for us?????

[DISNEY FIX]

We have 12-13 TS slated for 8 day March trip. We might do 4 CS and could probably eat about only half of the snacks. Our party is 3 adults 1child and 1infant. We also have the DDE and are going during the Holiday price increase. I started to do the math and besides for giving myself a headache I don't know if I have all the factors involved. Who else is in our position?
Help is the DDP not for us?

 

[Selket]

We're also going during the March holiday period. Whether or not the surcharge for the buffets will affect your bottom line much depends on how many of the TS's are buffets. Do you have a lot of them booked?

Seems like you could use up the snack credits - on drinks, etc. Bottles of water are included. There might be some packaged items you could get and take home with you.

The bigger problem seems to be the 4-5 TS meals not covered. I would guess that with those extra meals and if you're sure you won't use the 4 CS meals then you probably wouldn't end up ahead. The only way to know for sure is to run the numbers.

 

[SGMCO]

It sounds like you're going with the Deluxe Dining Plan.
Have you compared the Basic Dining Plan to the DDP?
You may do better with the Basic Dining Plan.
You get 1 TS-1 CS- 1 snack--per day
$37.99 Adult and $9.99 per Child per day (plus the tip).

That was plenty enough food to eat while we were there.
Also since you only get 1 TS per day, there's not as much
time lost trying to get to ADRs.

 

[Melissa_E]

We have 12-13 TS slated for 8 day March trip. We might do 4 CS and could probably eat about only half of the snacks. Our party is 3 adults 1child and 1infant.

I have a thread farther down where I did the math, we're staying 8 days/7nights, DxDP. I figured out where we are going to eat so far (12 out of 21 possible meals and we're using 14/21 TS credits as we're doing two signature meals). Then I guessed what I'll order at each restaurant, what my daughter will likely order and plugged the numbers into a spreadsheet. With only having those 14/21 TS accounted for, I'm ahead by $8. There is one day where we only have lunch planned and one day where we don't have any meals planned, so obviously there are a number of meals that we don't have planned, but will eat. We also don't have any snacks planned.

Depending on what you order, the DxDP may be for you.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

We're also going during the March holiday period. Whether or not the surcharge for the buffets will affect your bottom line much depends on how many of the TS's are buffets. Do you have a lot of them booked?


Yes about 8 of the TS are buffetish.

Seems like you could use up the snack credits - on drinks, etc. Bottles of water are included. There might be some packaged items you could get and take home with you.

I understand about using up the stuff but.....Overeating is something we don't want to get into.

The bigger problem seems to be the 4-5 TS meals not covered. I would guess that with those extra meals and if you're sure you won't use the 4 CS meals then you probably wouldn't end up ahead. The only way to know for sure is to run the numbers.

Yes it is a problem and don't want to get into a have to eat it type situations. Also doen't sound like it makes $$ sence to be paying for the extra TS an having a bunch of CS leftover.

It sounds like you're going with the Deluxe Dining Plan.
Have you compared the Basic Dining Plan to the DDP?
You may do better with the Basic Dining Plan.
You get 1 TS-1 CS- 1 snack--per day
$37.99 Adult and $9.99 per Child per day (plus the tip).

That was plenty enough food to eat while we were there.
Also since you only get 1 TS per day, there's not as much
time lost trying to get to ADRs.

Yes I was looking int the Basic DDP. I thought it came out too expensive already if it doesn't fit our current dining plans. Paying OOP too much on top of the DDP.

I have a thread farther down where I did the math, we're staying 8 days/7nights, DxDP. I figured out where we are going to eat so far (12 out of 21 possible meals and we're using 14/21 TS credits as we're doing two signature meals). Then I guessed what I'll order at each restaurant, what my daughter will likely order and plugged the numbers into a spreadsheet. With only having those 14/21 TS accounted for, I'm ahead by $8. There is one day where we only have lunch planned and one day where we don't have any meals planned, so obviously there are a number of meals that we don't have planned, but will eat. We also don't have any snacks planned.

Depending on what you order, the DxDP may be for you.
I don't think the DxDP makes any better financial sense than the basic DDP as far as not using enough CS and too many TS. Or am I missing something????

Thanks for the help and please keep the ideas coming because I want to make sure we are not missing out on a good thing.

 

[septbaby]

We have 12-13 TS slated for 8 day March trip. We might do 4 CS and could probably eat about only half of the snacks. Our party is 3 adults 1child and 1infant. We also have the DDE and are going during the Holiday price increase. I started to do the math and besides for giving myself a headache I don't know if I have all the factors involved. Who else is in our position?
Help is the DDP not for us?

If you're going during a mark up period the DP will save you that mark up because that price remains fixed. There are a couple of ways I see to "analyze" your dilemma:

Reg DP $37.99 per adult per day will cover 8 of your 13 TS meals (if none are 2TS) all of your CS choices and all of your snacks. In that plan you'd have 4 unused CS credits and go in search of 4 TS credits (ie. pay OOP with the DDE card). If you keep those 4TS meals at an average of $30 each(assume you pay for the buffets as they are typically cheaper), with the DDE card you'd spend an additional $96 per adult for the trip; about $12 per person per day to keep all of your Reservations or current choices. Keep in mind you still have a bonus of 4 CS credits so you could switch one of those TS meals to CS and save even more money. You Do not get appetizers on the regular DP

Deluxe DP $69.99 per adult per day will cover all of your 17 planned meals. You will have 8 bonus snacks if you only use one per day per person and you'd still have 7 more meal credits you could plan. Appetizers are included with Lunches and Dinners on this plan. You also get a $12.49 mug for each person on the DP.

If you really think your ADR list is pretty set, ie. you won't cross 20 meals, you likely don't need the Deluxe plan. However if you have 12-13 because you got rid of some that you'd really like to try, you might reconsider.

One thing for sure: if it were me I'd buy one of the Dining plans for two reasons: One it protects against the holiday surcharges. Two if you want to dine separately as long as you have a KTTW any adult will have freedom to eat and use the plan. With the DDE the cardholder has to be there with the card.

Wish I were going to the WDW in 2 months. Do me a favor and drop a few crumbs on the floor for the "DISSERs" who couldn't make the trip!

 

[DISNEY FIX]

If I understand it correctly, we would have to turn some of the TS into CS in order for the basic DDP to make sense for us? Currently we have a TS Dinner every night and the throw in 3 TS breakfasts. Withe the DDE card being useable every day except for Easter we might just about have the same saving as on the DDP. Since we are reallocating the $$$ from CS to TS. Does that make sense?

 

[septbaby]

I don't know that you have to switch things for the standard plan to make sense:

You have enough TS meals to make that plan work for you. Get the DP.
The DDE card will help with the cost of the meals over an above your 8 (assuming 8 night trip, 7 if only a 7 night trip).
You indicate that you have 4 CS meals planned, so 4 CS credits would be unused if you simply stick to your plan.

With the DDE card in round numbers you will pay full menu price as the 20% discount will get eaten up by an 18% base gratuity; so I say it's a wash. A $18.99 Character breakfast buffet will probably cost you $19 with the DDE.

The Delux plan might make sense if you plan to add a few more TS choices and want appetizers. You'd really have to look at the menus price your likely meals and compare to the DDDP price.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Thanks for the input I was hoping to save a few bucks with the DDP but if I need to get the DxDP I might be defeating the purpose. I need an accountant......Snowy day I will run the numbers or if same else has let me know.
Thanks
Chris