DVC members..Will you be using the 2008 DDP

[dtheboys]

With the changes in the Dining Plan in 2008....
Will you be using the Dining Plan this year?

 

[OlderMan]

We usually cook most meals in our villa, so DDE is not an option for us.

It's much less expensive to cook ourselves than eat out all the time.

JMHO......

 

[dopeygirl76]

I actually sat down with our plan for eating - so sad that we had planned our meals so far out!!! I went to the menus on allears.net and did a total for each meal on the DDP, then added the tax and figured the tip (now not included) at 18% which would be part of our expense. I figured our snacks to be roughly $3 each - which is a little high and with that the DDP is only a saving of $35 for our family. We have decided to try to go without - we are going to take the amount of money including tips we would have spent on the DDP and do some in room cooking and eating better - no need for 2 desserts a day - but we sure do eat them!!!

 

[keishashadow]

I voted "yea" provisionally

We only have enough points to stay in studios (until our final add-on) would be hard pressed to whip up a decent meal there.

Personally, unless we visited more often than once or twice a year; cannot see myself cooking @ all as in "it's my vacation too = no cooking or cleaning"

Poll is phrased well as to "good deal".

It was a "great deal" for us; no OOP food expense @ all; such large quantities of food @ lunch & dinner did the job/fixed $ amount budgeted for food.

The thing that bothers me the most is de facto price increase in lieu of servers' tips. While we experienced a decline in service @ times, to remove it entirely will probably be a major cut in pay for the CMs. Supposedly, contractually, they will revisit the issue if this does come about.

 

[tgropp]

We just got back 2 weeks ago after 5 nights of eating on the DDP. In all honesty, it was just too much food. We seldom ate our dessert. Having said that, eliminating the appetizer the tip for $1.00 less was a Very Steep Increase that Disney changed from the old DDP. I wish that they would give you the option of having either an appetizer or dessert since we seldom eat dessert. We will probally use it again this year, but that will probally be the last time since just the entree is not worth it

 

[lisareniff]

The old DDP just came out even for us (DH - veggie and DD 11) so the new plan would only be worse. That is when comparing what we would choose to eat vs. the cost of DDP. I like the freedom to choose what, when and where I eat.

 

[bzzelady]

No...we won't be using DDP in the future.

I might possibly consider it if they change to offer a choice between and entree or dessert.

 

[DMKEDM]

I didn't vote, as my preferred option -- "we'll try it and see"-- isn't available...

We head for BCV tomorrow (yay!) and after much thinking (and very little actual analyzing) we decided to try it...I did guesstimate the cost of the meals we've eaten on the DDP the last couple of years, and even w/paying tip (do we pay tax now, too?) and not getting an appetizer, we came out way ahead...

What I didn't/couldn't calculate, tho, is whether we'd actually eat a TS meal each day we're there if it weren't "pre-paid"...we never did prior to the DDP...but we've also come to really value the dining experience as part of our WDW trips since the DDP...

Also, what I liked best about the DDP was not ever having to have any money to pay for food...that won't be true anymore, given that we have to pay the tip (and possibly the tax; I just don't remember right now whether the tax is included in the DDP)...and there doesn't seem to be a way around that...

So, we'll experiment next week...we'll eat where & what we want--since I have to pay at least a portion of each meal's bill, we're going to ignore the DDP vs the out-of-pocket differential...at the end of the week, I'll add up what we would have spent out of pocket, and compare it to what I did spend out of pocket plus the cost of DDP...

At this point, I have no idea how it will turn out. It's very possible we'll have "all counter service days" (I don't cook at home much less on vacation!), and maybe even days w/TS meals (a nice b'fast and a nice dinner, for example)...

We'll see...I'm feeling fairly clueless about it right now!

One thing we did figure out: the deluxe plan will be a great deal if/when we plan a trip w/all signature dining...something we're likely to do, but not a week after the holidays!

Anyway...we'll see...

 

[DBorges]

Yes we will..

We have added subtracted wished prayed and we figured what the hell is is vacation live like a king for 11 days and enjoy..

 

[starbox]

I voted no - but we probably will get the DDP for the 5 days we take my parents to AKV as an anniversary gift because I know they'll stress out about how much the meals are costing - it's easier just to tell them it's all prepaid and have them enjoy it.

It won't save money, that's for sure. Our personal vacations will be DDE and we'll eat much better food for less!

 

[DVC Mike]

We have never used the DDP. We prefer to eat at the higher-end / signature restaurants and enjoy a glass or two of wine. For us, the DDE card works out best. Plus, with my wife's food allergies, she doesn't like to eat CS -- only TS.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

No, not for this April trip. It will be too hard to get all 3 grown boys together at one restaraunt every night for the whole week. I am going to cook dinners that can be heated up as they come and go. Maybe we will all sit down together once too!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I'm not sure if it's a good deal or not, but we voted no.
We have never used the DDP, and likely never will.
We are hardcore DDE people..

MG

 

[Conan the Librarian]

We love it. We totally dislike the idea of cooking on vacation, so, we don't.

On the new DDP, we will use the basic plan, not the delux. Now THAT is too much food.

When our adoption plans come through, then we will talk about cooking 'in room'. Right now, it's just the two of us, so, we DDP.

 

[50 years Too!]

We have never used the DDP. We prefer to eat at the higher-end / signature restaurants and enjoy a glass or two of wine. For us, the DDE card works out best. Plus, with my wife's food allergies, she doesn't like to eat CS -- only TS.

Mike, did you calculate the Premimum DDP. Sounds like your eating habits might work with it.

 

[50 years Too!]

We love it. We totally dislike the idea of cooking on vacation, so, we don't.

On the new DDP, we will use the basic plan, not the delux. Now THAT is too much food.

When our adoption plans come through, then we will talk about cooking 'in room'. Right now, it's just the two of us, so, we DDP.

Good luck on the adoption!
Not, DDP, but we are visiting Savannah in June. Where do you like to eat?

Thanks, Deb

 

[nhdisnut]

Even though we loved the previous version of the DDP, the changes make it less than worth it for us. The loss of an appetizer, the fact that tip is no longer included, and the whopping $1 decrease to offset the changes just make is less of a value IMHO. If the price had dropped a few more $, or if the option was a choice of having either an appetizer or dessert....then maybe we would reconsider.

 

[Donald is #1]

I voted no but the real answer is "I don't think so". I did the math comparing the DDP versus using my DDE card and for me I think that I am better off with the DDE card. However, for my November trip, my sister & I are still deciding. She is leaning towards it even though the math I did showed that it was cheaper with the DDE card.

 

[ITGirl50]

We haven't used DDP and probably won't use it. I'm afraid there is way too much food and I'd feel like I have to eat when I don't want to. What is the DDE?

 

[Donald is #1]

We haven't used DDP and probably won't use it. I'm afraid there is way too much food and I'd feel like I have to eat when I don't want to. What is the DDE?

DDE is Disney Dining Experience. It is a card that you can purchase for $65 if you have an annual pass. The card gives you 20% at most of the table service restaurants.