DVC Dining Options

[BWV Dreamin]

We actually will be doing all this summer--the QSDP for one night, the DxDdP for another, TIW for all the sit downs and then OOP for everything else. The only thing I won't ever be doing at Disney is cooking!!!

Are you going to do all of this during one stay? I know reservations can now be broken up into "segments" but I'm just a little leary of trying to adjust anything once my reservation is in place.

 

[Geezer]

DDP is too expensive, so we buy the TIW card and fluctuate between using that for dinners out and breakfast and light meals in the villa.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

We do breakfast in the villa and then use the TIW card for all our dinners as we usually eat table service for dinner!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Tried the DDP once and it's too much food, not enough flexibility! Sometimes we like a big breakfast, or no lunch, or just appetizers for dinner and we seldom do dessert so the DDP is too restricting. I cook some in the villa on every trip, and I love to eat out side of Disney! Don't get A/P's anymore, so no TIW card, we do a few OOP dinners like the Bistro, Boma, Blue Zoo or Jiko. I guess I don't fit any category!

 

[Rochester Disney Fan]

Since my two kids are under 9 I purchase the DDP and then schedule mostly Buffets just when that particular restaurant opens. This avoids the wait for the kids and also lets them eat something other then Macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets all week.After they turn 9 I am thinking about the TIW card.

 

[MichaelColey]

I'm sure we're in the minority here, but this is roughly what we do:

Breakfast: A quick breakfast in the room. We usually get english muffins, eggs, precooked bacon and cheese from Sam's and put together bacon egg and cheese muffins for breakfast.

Morning: We try to hit rope drop and get a good morning in at the parks.

Lunch: This is where we vary the most. If we're going back to the timeshare for a nap, we'll often wait and have a late lunch back at the timeshare. If the whole family comes to the park (i.e. we have a stroller), we'll pack sandwiches and chips. If my wife stays at the timeshare with the baby (she isn't as much of a Disney nut and actually enjoys a break), the older kids and I will often do a QS meal in the park. These are pretty reasonable ($10 for me, $5 for the kids).

Afternoon: Some days, we'll stay at the park. Other days, we'll head back for a nap.

Dinner: Usually either something easy (crock pot meal) or quick (like spaghetti or grilling steaks) at the resort, or we'll go out (off site) to eat (like Giordano's with a Restaurant.com certificiate). Once in a while, we'll eat QS at a park.

Evening: If we had an early dinner, some nights we'll go back to the parks to use FPs or see fireworks.

So most of our meals are at the resorts or something we brought from the resort. Some are QS meals. Some are off-site.

If we did the DDP, it would cost our family about $850 per week. The way we do it, it's well under half of that.

We do have a TiW card, but since we don't do many TS meals, we don't get much value out of it. (We did on one trip.) We do use it at Beaches & Cream and at the AK QS restaurants, though.

 

[DizGirl20]

Wow, you guys are giving me such creative ideas!

We have always done the DDP in the past, but now that my youngest has turned 10 we are looking at almost $1300 if we elect DDP for the week. That is a tough number to swallow (no pun intended )! I really appreciate finding out how others handle dining. Thanks!

 

[Bill and Jen]

Wow, you guys are giving me such creative ideas!

We have always done the DDP in the past, but now that my youngest has turned 10 we are looking at almost $1300 if we elect DDP for the week. That is a tough number to swallow (no pun intended )! I really appreciate finding out how others handle dining. Thanks!

When our Oldest turned Disney "adult" the dinning plan become less of a value for us.

 

[cseca]

I actually just did a price comparison between eating with TIW vs. DDP based on the prices listed on allears and wdwig. I was curious since I thought our final cost with TIW was so high. And then I did the numbers with DDP and there was no comparison. That's because we don't generally do dessert on TS meals. And sometimes we like to get an appetizer instead of an entree or dessert.
DDP is not flexible enough for us. Plus I like to do more TS than QS.
And after doing all the numbers, even with extra TS and less QS we still come out ahead with TIW.

When DDP came out the first year, tip and appetizer were included. THAT was a total deal. Now it's just way too much $ for us.

 

[DizGirl20]

Just wanted to send along an update that I think we are going to try TIW. It feels weird not to be calling today to add DDP (we have done it for our last 3 trips) but we are going with TIW this time. OK. There I said it!

We do plan to spend one day at WWOHP and we might consider watching the Space Shuttle launch (assuming it does go off as planned). So there might be 2 less days eating at WDW. I promise when we come back I will do a quick analysis of TIW vs DDP and let you know the results. Thanks for all the feedback. It reaffirmed my decision!

 

[mouseaider]

We usually just pay out of pocket, but this last time we bought the TIW and loved it. We saved a lot of money (5 of us for seven days) already and we are using it again in October for my DW and I.

We tried the DDP once but we felt like we had to eat way to much and we won't do it ever again.

Good luck with you decision.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We used to pay OOP for all of our meals, but then we discovered the DDP. We love it....especially the DxDP

 

[Anthony1971]

Pay OOP
we like to eat Sit Down lunches which keeps us away from some of the mid day heat.
If we do dinners we like signitures where 3 course is a must plus wine.. you get fleeced with the DP here
Most of all we like to eat when we want and what we feel like...

for the nay sayers we go to guest services in the morning and find an opening... never had a problem finding somewhere great to eat

However we have and still use the DP for short 2-3 day says where we may go to the parls once

 

[dsneygirl]

Pay OOP
we like to eat Sit Down lunches which keeps us away from some of the mid day heat.

We really prefer our sit down at lunch as well. And with the TIW there are a lot of really reasonably priced options for a nice lunch.

 

[MsRem]

We do DxDDP and do as many character meals for the kiddos and a few signature places. Now as DVC members and planning on more than once a year and definitely getting APs, were wondering if we can do the TiW card along with DDP? A few of us usually will get alcohol with dinner.

 

[daisyduck123]

We do DDP almost every trip, & have a TIW card.

We use TIW for alcohol & places like Shula's (having Father's Day dinner there this year!).

 

[Hollymom1229]

We do TIW because we love the flexibility of it as opposed to the DDP. We love appetizers and adult beverages, while we are not big dessert people. So the DDP would almost never turn out to be a good deal for us. Also, if we do three courses at a restaurant we are splitting the app and the dessert at a minimum, and sometimes even the entree. So the DxDDP is way too much food for us. With TIW I can get an entree and a glass of wine at Jiko and get my discount and then the next day go to Le Cellier and have a lunch of soup and another appetizer. TIW is the better match for our eating style and has always proved more affordable than the DDP.

 

[DVC Mike]

We've been buying and using the TIW card for a few years now, and we find that meets our needs best. The DDP is an upfront commitment to too much food.

 

[rentayenta]

We have done the DDP twice but won't do it again.

We eat most breakfasts (omlettes, cereal, fruit) in the room plus late night snacks (pizza rolls, popcorn etc...)

This next trip we plan on getting the TiW card.

 

[DizGirl20]

We do DxDDP and do as many character meals for the kiddos and a few signature places. Now as DVC members and planning on more than once a year and definitely getting APs, were wondering if we can do the TiW card along with DDP? A few of us usually will get alcohol with dinner.

Yes, I believe you can purchase DDP and use TIW for whatever the DDP doesn't cover (drinks, appetizers, etc.) or an extra meal.