DVC In-Room Dining, Experiences and Strategies

[Tiggerette]

Hi DISers,

I'm writing to ask for your experiences and strategies when enjoying in-room dining in your DVC villa. I am working on my "cost analysis matrix" to determine whether to participate in the Disney dining plan (DDP) as well as plan our stay-at-"home" non-ADR meals. Part of the appeal of the DDP is the use of in-room dining at certain DVC resorts. Since we are planning split stays, there is potential for us to be in multiple DVC villas over the course of our stay. So I appeal to my fellow DISers for your personal insights and thoughts.
Thank you very much for your time with these questions! *big hugs* -Krista "Tigger-ette"

- How was your in-room dining experience at your DVC resort?
- Did you find that particular payment such as DDP meal credit, cash/credit card or other payment informed your choice to use in-room dining?
- Were your in-room dining menu choices limited by using the DDP?

- Anything else to know about DVC resort in-room dining?

Thanks again!

 

[com_op_2000]

My in-room dining experiences have nothing to do with DDP. We have never done the DDP and most likely never will; we have looked into the use of DDP and found that paying OOP and our in-room dining work best for us.
We had a Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago in our room. DW cooked the turkey and dressing in the room, we invited family over, they brought the sides and dessert and we had 8 people dine in a 1-bdrm at OKW, plenty of room. We have cooked BBQ on the outside grills at OKW and AKL. Since most of our stays are in studios DW usually prepares a one-pot meal (IE: stew, soup, lasagna) then we warm those up in the micro-wave for lunches or dinners.

 

[Judique]

Hi DISers,

I'm writing to ask for your experiences and strategies when enjoying in-room dining in your DVC villa. I am working on my "cost analysis matrix" to determine whether to participate in the Disney dining plan (DDP) as well as plan our stay-at-"home" non-ADR meals. Part of the appeal of the DDP is the use of in-room dining at certain DVC resorts. Since we are planning split stays, there is potential for us to be in multiple DVC villas over the course of our stay. So I appeal to my fellow DISers for your personal insights and thoughts.
Thank you very much for your time with these questions! *big hugs* -Krista "Tigger-ette"

- How was your in-room dining experience at your DVC resort?
- Did you find that particular payment such as DDP meal credit, cash/credit card or other payment informed your choice to use in-room dining?
- Were your in-room dining menu choices limited by using the DDP?

- Anything else to know about DVC resort in-room dining?

Thanks again!

If by in room dining you mean room service, then DDP is not a good value as it is pretty expensive - double the credits.

We sometimes order room service but mostly we just go out or we stock our own kitchen.

DDP is sometimes used for split stays where we get it for 1-2 nights, when we know we will do table service. Even that is borderline for cost - out of pocket usually saves money, but we are old hands at this and not so likely to over order as when the experiences were new.

 

[Tiggerette]

Thank you both for your insights, and for those reading the thread. Your comments have helped me realize that since this our first DVC booking since purchasing into DVC, I wasn't even thinking about crockpots, grills and these "comforts of home" in a hotel room. Or.... not really hotel room I suppose. Such a DVC newbie!
Thank you very much for your ideas and your time!
-krista "Tigger-ette"

 

[SSRFred]

Although I cannot comment on the DDP related to in room dining because we not do buy the DDP, if you happen to stay at the Polynesian, I highly recommend the 'Ohana Twilight Feast. It is $40 per adult, $10 per child and they deliver the entire 'Ohana dinner to your villa freshly made. We loved it. It was so much food we had leftovers for lunch the next day. Depending on how many people would be eating, I would even suggest ordering for 1 fewer person because there is too much food.

 

[ParrotBill]

Yes, best that you visit at least once and learn what cooking pots and utensils are available so you know what you can really cook yourself.
Room service delivery is a terrible deal - expensive.

Many DVC members, including ourselves, do this: Buy some breakfast items, drinks and snacks, and perhaps food for 1 or 2 lunches or dinners to save some money. If on Disney Dining Plan, we'll go light on food in room since we will east a lot each day. We still get the DDP often because we just like the care-free approach and chance to east in all the fun places. And a meal in the room may be needed if we choose a signature meal requiring two table service credits.