DxDDP, DDP or none?

[DisGirl819]

I've done a spreadsheet (yes I'm that kind of planner) with meal prices for all the meals I'd like to eat while at the world. We prefer TS over QS for most meals, its easier with two little ones to not have to fight for tables, stand in line, etc...but we'll probably do some QS meals anyway. We're also staying at BLT so we'll have a kitchen and some food there for breakfasts, etc.

So the total I came up with for our OOP cost for all the meals I wanted to have (a variety of TS, signatures, QS and snacks) for 8 nights is: $1359 (including tips). For DxDDP our total for 8 nights would be: $1432 (and we'd have to pay tips) and for DDP: $832 (excluding tips).

These are the restaurants we want to eat at if it helps:
LTT
Via Napoli
Garden Grill
Chefs de France
Donald's BF @ Tusker House
Tusker House lunch
50s Prime Time
Cape May Cafe
California Grill
Chef Mickey's
Mickey's Backyard BBQ
1900 Park Fare
Ohana
Artist Point
WCC
Cap'n Jacks
T-Rex
Wishes Dessert Party

(I know T-Rex and the Dessert Party would be OOP and not on a DDP, that is ok but I only figured the cost of those in to the OOP cost) I also have not added in the expense of the OOP meals not included in the DDP. The DxDDP would cover every meal except T-Rex and the Dessert Party).

So...what do you think. DxDDP, DDP or just put the money aside on a gift card to pay for meals? I'm trying to figure out the best use of our money. We always do the DDP but with DD now going to be 3 I have to factor in cost of her meals, plus OOP for DS when he won't eat off our plates. He's only 1 but he eats more than his sister most meals!

 

[StuckInKS]

There is really no way to know, without a complete run-down of all the meals and snacks you plan to get + their costs. For example, allocating your most expensive dinners to DDP credits and paying OOP for the rest might be cheaper than DxDDP, but how do we know how much you will be paying OOP? Also, with one you get double the snack credits, but we don't know how many snacks are included in your OOP total. Does your OOP total include all of the 16 restaurants listed and exclude the last two selections? You have 18 TS credits listed, but how many CS meals do you plan on (those would use credits to)? Does it even equal 8 CS credits (which you would receive with the DDP)?

All factors to consider (or maybe I just have to much time on my hands )


ETA: I got $1264 for your DxDDP total ($79 x 2 adults x 8 nights + 2 'under 3's' who would be free).

 

[DisGirl819]

I did some more number crunching...and DD will be three by the time we go so we have to put her on the DDP.

So my OOP total (I'm keeping everything constant, including all the same restaurants and number of snacks, and QS for each scenario so I don't get too confused) is: $2268 (and I did a middle of the road estimate for food at all the restaurants and included tips). I forgot to multiply by two adults for the meals...oops.

The total for DDP +OOP: (most expensive meals on DDP except the signature restaurants since that didn't seem like the best use of 2 TS credits): 1966 (and this also includes tips)

The total for DxDDP: 1742

So...is it really right that the DxDDp would be best for our selection of restaurants? And yes, if we had QS credits we would use them in addition to some OOP dining. We need three full meals a day with the kids.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I did some more number crunching...and DD will be three by the time we go so we have to put her on the DDP.

So my OOP total (I'm keeping everything constant, including all the same restaurants and number of snacks, and QS for each scenario so I don't get too confused) is: $2268 (and I did a middle of the road estimate for food at all the restaurants and included tips). I forgot to multiply by two adults for the meals...oops.

The total for DDP +OOP: (most expensive meals on DDP except the signature restaurants since that didn't seem like the best use of 2 TS credits): 1966 (and this also includes tips)

The total for DxDDP: 1742

So...is it really right that the DxDDp would be best for our selection of restaurants? And yes, if we had QS credits we would use them in addition to some OOP dining. We need three full meals a day with the kids.

It looks like Deluxe would be best for your family. Also, the extra appetizers and snacks can offset any extra food you might have needed for your 1 year old.

 

[DisGirl819]

It looks like Deluxe would be best for your family. Also, the extra appetizers and snacks can offset any extra food you might have needed for your 1 year old.

You are so right about the extra food for DS! I didn't think about that

 

[loganpaulsmom]

We are doing a split stay this year.. and I think that I have decided that I am going to do DDP and then DDXP. I factored in all of the restaurants that I want to eat at and I would still have at least 5 restaurants that I would be paying for OOP.. So.. Instead doing DDXP for part of my stay.. the day I "check out" on my split stay starts my new DDXP and that would allow me to start my dining plan and thus having nothing OOP for the begining of my trip..
I am thinking that it is cost effective to do the dining plan especially when you want to do TS and Signatures..

 

[JJsmama]

We are doing a split stay this year.. and I think that I have decided that I am going to do DDP and then DDXP. I factored in all of the restaurants that I want to eat at and I would still have at least 5 restaurants that I would be paying for OOP.. So.. Instead doing DDXP for part of my stay.. the day I "check out" on my split stay starts my new DDXP and that would allow me to start my dining plan and thus having nothing OOP for the begining of my trip..
I am thinking that it is cost effective to do the dining plan especially when you want to do TS and Signatures..

If I might make a suggestion: If I did this, I would reverse and do DxDP first, then DDP second. I say this because every year we are so excited about the food and snacks, etc for the first couple days. By the last couple days, we are definitely ready to have a piece of fruit and skip a meal or split something light at the very least.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I second get the dxdp first and then ddp. That is the order we do it in as well. On your last day of dxdp you can use whatever snack credits you have left (which we always have alot) to buy things to use for the rest of your trip.... as opposed to getting random stuff you don't need. Plus it will give you an entire extra day of 3 meal options before they expire as opposed to just 1 or 2 before you head home.

To the original person, for our family if we do deluxe and use about 2/3 of the meals (especially if any are fixed price) our family comes out way ahead. The kids meals are a deal! Plus add in the appetizers and you shouldn't need much if any for DS. My DS will be 2 this trip and he eats like a horse... so that is my plan. He's fairly adventurous as far as an eater but I figure the two kids can split a kids meal and then eat off of our plates for appes and an extra dessert.

 

[juliebean]

This is going to be a stupid question...

But, I thought you had to buy tickets to use the dining plan? That's what stopped me from doing a split stay... What am I missing?

For the OP - keep in mind that any buffets are "open" to your younger child too. Seems like your family would do best with the deluxe. We are, I kept looking at the numbers and it just didn't make sense to pay for the dining plan and then pay more OOP to the point where it was more than the deluxe. Took a while to sink in!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

If you are an AP passholder or are renting DVC or DVC owner you do not have to buy tickets to get the dining plan.
A split stay also can be done with dining for only one portion though. Before we bought AP's we would do 4 days of DxDP and then 2 days without. We just found that we didn't need that many meal for the whole time and our last few days we were tired of eating. Plus we ended up with only 1 full day without meals. (The day we switched resorts we still had meals left from DxDP) We'd normally do something cheap oop (think Plaze, Beaches and Creme) and have snacks saved from the day before for breakfast. Then pay for a couple of snacks. In the end doing the split like that saved our family about $350 v. doing deluxe for those last couple days (even figuring in what we paid oop).

 

[DisGirl819]

Thanks for all the replies! I talked to DH and I think we're going to upgrade to the DxDDP. Numbers convinced him

And you can also get the DDP/DxDDP w/o tickets if you're military booking their military rates. That is what we're doing. The reason they do that is b/c we have to purchase our park tickets on base before we leave (or from Shades of Green) and can't get the tix as part of our package.

 

[juliebean]

Thanks for clarifying the split stay thing - we don't fall in the military/DVC/AP groups - just a normal vacay.

We ended up doing something of our own split stay with the deluxe - half on property/half off - it allowed us to use the kids stay and play free and get in all the princess dinners & cover dinner the night we arrive, without breaking the bank. Then once we get the teenager back from the band, we'll pay out of pocket for some of the less expensive options and take advantage of the hotel breakfast. We really liked flame tree last time and thought we'd do Prime time OOP - didn't seem that expensive. I think the whole split stay thing - however you have to work it, is a good idea.