Dvc & Ddp

[dgaston]

I'm leaning toward doing the DDP for our 3 nights at AKV in January. I will have to pay for 5 people, 2 of whom will only be there for 2 nights. That's my oldest son and his girlfriend. I'm thinking of sending them to the California Grill for a romantic evening. Then my 19 year old and his friend can use the QS wherever they like (it's usually Pizza Planet, believe it or not). I do have reservations at Boma, Sci Fi, and Le Cellier per requests.

So this decision is being made more on the basis of convenience (and me not having to eat at Pizza Planet!).

 

[Tramp68]

My daughter is going to be 10 for our next trip. She eats about as much as a butterfly and there is no way she will be ordering off of the adult menu. Do you all think it is misuse to misstate her age and pay for her as a child?

If we cannot pay for her as a child the plan is a HUGE waste of money for us.

I also don't think we could ever justify the deluxe plan. We just don't eat that many sit down meals due to time restraints.

 

[Tiger926]

My daughter is going to be 10 for our next trip. She eats about as much as a butterfly and there is no way she will be ordering off of the adult menu. Do you all think it is misuse to misstate her age and pay for her as a child?

If we cannot pay for her as a child the plan is a HUGE waste of money for us.

I also don't think we could ever justify the deluxe plan. We just don't eat that many sit down meals due to time restraints.

Of course it's misuse - she is classified as an adult in Disney's eyes. I do believe there should be a junior classification (between child and adult), but there is not, so if you want to travel to Disney, then you must play by their rules.

It sounds like the Dining Plan may not be for you, if your daughter is not going to eat enough to justify the expense of an adult credit.

Good luck, Tiger

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Sorry, Tramp68, if she's 10, Disney considers her an adult. I feel your pain--my DD is the same way. She's 12 now and eats a little more (in that final growth spurt, plus a dancer/runner). In our case, it was balanced by her younger brother who was technically a child but who leaves buffets visibly fatter.

I agree that the plan might not work for you. At the least, I would be ticked to see so much food wasted. OTOH, I believe that if you pay OOP, you could buy her a kids meal or just, say, a burger, if that's all she'll eat. Or at a sit-down meal, maybe just an appetizer.

 

[pilferk]

2 adults, 3 children between 18 months and 5 years.

We'll be doing the DDP in January '08, and the Deluxe DDP in December '08.

The standard plan, while not saving us the 30-35% it used to, will still save us 15% - 25% (depending on the day) over OOP costs. To us, that makes sense.

Your Mileage May Vary, though, depending on the make up of your family (the more children, the better the deal), when you like your meals (TS's are best used for dinner, CS's for lunch), what you like to have at your meals (we're dessert people, and are not satisfied with tap water as a drink), and a whole host of other factors.

 

[BCV23]

Chuck, I think there is a difference between loss of value (the appetizer) and actual increase in price. Since so many people complain that they had too much food on the DDP, for many there may be no actual loss of value. And of course, at buffets no loss at all re the appetizer.

Tax is still included, right?

$30 seems low to me for entree, dessert, beverage and tax but of course it can vary quite a bit. The price of dinner at B&C will not begin to compare to dinner at Tutto Italia.

 

[Amy5000]

When I read about the 2008 plan I was going to do all this hard number crunching to see if it was worth it. But then I realized that even if the plan for an adult is a wash, (although I could easily see me spending almost $40 per day, I could stay under if I choose also), it's a bargain since I have young children (2 little ones). The plan is a bargain for them:

Child DDP = $9.99 per day
Child lunch at Crystal Palace = $11.99 plus tax
Child lunch at Akershus = $13.99 plus tax

As I said, for the kids it's a real bargain, especially if you hit the buffets.

Also for us there are other factors: 1) we will not have car; 2) we are in a studio, (no full kitchen); and 3) I really don't enjoy cooking very much so I would much rather go to a restaurant or get a meal to go.

Anyway, just my thoughts.

 

[Chuck S]

Chuck, I think there is a difference between loss of value (the appetizer) and actual increase in price. Since so many people complain that they had too much food on the DDP, for many there may be no actual loss of value. And of course, at buffets no loss at all re the appetizer.

Tax is still included, right?

$30 seems low to me for entree, dessert, beverage and tax but of course it can vary quite a bit. The price of dinner at B&C will not begin to compare to dinner at Tutto Italia.

If you think $30 is conservative, lets figure $35. Now with tip no longer included, 18% is $6.30, which effectively means a price increase, without even counting the appetizer, of $6.3. 6.3/38.99 (2007 price) is equal to an increase of 16%.

Or, add that $6.30 to the $37.99 2008 price, which means the real price is now $44.29. It may still be a value to some, but not nearly the value it was last year. And for some people, there is no value. We normally eat at a table service meal every day, and a CS as well, and never spend $44 per adult on food everyday. Some days more, some days less, but overall the length of a trip, we save more spending it out of pocket.

 

[Tramp68]

I knew I was cheating with the 10year old but was doing a guilt check

I did solve my problem, though. My parents are going at the same time and they are not doing the meal plan, so I moved her to occupy their room. Now I only have to buy the DDP for 3

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Tramp68, that sounds like a good idea. It drives me nuts to see all the $$ going out the window for a kid who eats 3 bites! If course, having DVC, I hope that I can bring leftovers back to the room this next trip, so someone (probably my DS with the hollow leg) can eat them later.

 

[drag n' fly]

We would normally get the basic plan if we had the kids with us as the cost is far too high with the deluxe plan. With that being said dh and I are going without the kids in April and are getting the deluxe plan. We want to hit all the 2 credit places we normally would not go to and have a nice relaxing non commando holiday.