DxDDP or OOP?

[21stamps]

I currently have the DDP but will cancel for OOP or DxDDP

Please help me decide! I did use the calculator, it looks like I break even, so I guess the question is if OOP is better for flexibility.

Here is the list over 4 nights-

Day 1- Ohana breakfast @ 11am. Whispering Canyon early dinner. Room Service crab cakes/snacks later. Rapid Refill Cup.

Day 2- Cali Grill brunch? (undecided on this) BOG breakfast or dinner (preferably dinner)

Day 3- Room Service breakfast. H&V F! Dinner.

Day 4- 1900 Park Fare breakfast.

Day 5 Checkout Day- Chef Mickey's breakfast. T-Rex lunch.

There will be a few mickey bars and dole whips in there. And QS as well.

 

[sharonabe]

Well, if you do the Cali Grill, you have more meals than even the DxDDP will give you, so you'll be paying OOP for at least one of the ones already planned plus any QS you do. Looks to me like OOP will be a better value.

 

[MichiganScott]

If you want an all-inclusive feel, get the DDP. If you want to save money, do OOP.

 

[21stamps]

If you want an all-inclusive feel, get the DDP. If you want to save money, do OOP.

I don't think I save money either way unfortunately. It seems like I would, but the dining plan calculator says I break even. I don't want to feel "forced" to eat a quick service instead of a snack though, so I may be better OOP.

 

[rwdavis2]

OOP due to the flexibility. After having done DDP (at a discount) I would not ever pay for any dining plan.

 

[21stamps]

OOP due to the flexibility. After having done DDP (at a discount) I would not ever pay for any dining plan.

I did DDP last time and still ended up paying a few meals out of pocket (room service twice and H&V). I do think I'll go OOP this time.

Ty for the input everyone!

 

[SunnieRN]

Well, if you do the Cali Grill, you have more meals than even the DxDDP will give you, so you'll be paying OOP for at least one of the ones already planned plus any QS you do. Looks to me like OOP will be a better value.

I don't see how she will be over using the DxDDP, and she will have snack credits for the breakfast treats she wants. The only thing I see that would be OOP is the room service meals.

Day 1: 2 Entitlements used (+OOP room service meal)

Day 2: 3 Entitlements used, if you go to brunch

Day 3: 1 entitlement used, (+ room service OOP)

Day 4: 1 Entitlemet used

Day 5: 2 Entitlements used.

So room service and a day 4 dinner OOP, with tons of snacks, or forego brunch for breakfast at Mona or the Wavve and schedule a dinner for day 4, leaving you with room service OOP.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think it depends on what you are ordering. I always try to book more TS restaurants that are not buffet or AYCTE when using the DxDDP. To me, the DxDDP pays off because of the appetizer that my family tends to purchase.

Look at the meals that you think you will order and add that cost up. IF it says you have broken even and still have credits to use on the meals you have not yet scheduled, I woudl go with that, you are now ahead. Honestly, I would skip room service, but that is just me.

 

[sharonabe]

I don't see how she will be over using the DxDDP, and she will have snack credits for the breakfast treats she wants. The only thing I see that would be OOP is the room service meals.

Day 1: 2 Entitlements used (+OOP room service meal)

Day 2: 3 Entitlements used, if you go to brunch

Day 3: 1 entitlement used, (+ room service OOP)

Day 4: 1 Entitlemet used

Day 5: 2 Entitlements used.

So room service and a day 4 dinner OOP, with tons of snacks, or forego brunch for breakfast at Mona or the Wavve and schedule a dinner for day 4, leaving you with room service OOP.

I was counting the room service meals which are 2TS credits each. With only 4 nights, they only have 12 credits to use and with the room service and Cali Grill they have 13 credits.

 

[Nancyg56]

I was counting the room service meals which are 2TS credits each. With only 4 nights, they only have 12 credits to use and with the room service and Cali Grill they have 13 credits.

Yea, you can use them but I think they are not the best use. That is probably why we disregarded them. Lol!!

 

[sharonabe]

Yea, you can use them but I think they are not the best use. That is probably why we disregarded them. Lol!!

I agree on the value, but OP didn't say how they were going to use the plan.

OP! How do you plan to use your credits???

 

[LovesTimone]

This is a highly debated subject..... So here's my 2'cents worth...

We enjoy and prefer the DDXDP - reasons --- 1) DH loves to have everything paid for up front except for tips, and Adult beverages, and souvenirs. 2) Appetizers, and desserts what's not to love. 3) So no worrying about who is ordering what, just get what you want. 4) Sure everyone can get a snack or Yes you can have your own snack and No you don't have to share with your sister...4) sitting down in the air conditioning 5) letting the character's come to you 6) someone waiting on me 7) not searching for a table.

Only you know your family needs and how they normally eat at home? So it should be the same at/on vacation so I would take this into consideration.

So if you pay oop and you want to try the steak option but its 45.00 dollars, and the chicken option is only 32.00.. which do you order? While both sound good... but you really want to try the steak.....most people when paying oop will go with the less expensive option. But when your neighboring table gets their meal and they ordered the steak are you going to wish you went with the steak...... When your back to the daily grind are you going to talk about the chicken or what a great steak you had at..

For us it takes the stress out dinning and lets us relax, and enjoy our family more.... and for us that's the whole point of vacation.

 

[21stamps]

Yea, you can use them but I think they are not the best use. That is probably why we disregarded them. Lol!!

I agree on the value, but OP didn't say how they were going to use the plan.

OP! How do you plan to use your credits???

I agree that room service is a bad value on the dining plan, but it also seems like a waste to pay OOP for something when doing the DDXDP, so I was counting those - or at least one of them- in the credit count.

Even without using credits for room service I have too many TS for the DDP.

So here's my thought process- do the DDXDP use all the credits and not have to 'worry' about any food costs while there. (I think I've ruled out Cali Grill brunch bc that is a short MK day, and probably won't take a break.)
Or- just pay OOP for everything.

I like the fact that the dining plan is pre paid. I just don't know if on this trip it will end up costing substantially more than if we didn't use it.

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree that room service is a bad value on the dining plan, but it also seems like a waste to pay OOP for something when doing the DDXDP, so I was counting those - or at least one of them- in the credit count.

Even without using credits for room service I have too many TS for the DDP.

So here's my thought process- do the DDXDP use all the credits and not have to 'worry' about any food costs while there. (I think I've ruled out Cali Grill brunch bc that is a short MK day, and probably won't take a break.)
Or- just pay OOP for everything.

I like the fact that the dining plan is pre paid. I just don't know if on this trip it will end up costing substantially more than if we didn't use it.

That's how we roll. I use the plan and we always order what we want. I do know how my family eats and how they will order, do thats helps in determining value. I knew why you included the room service, but was just explaining why some of us ignored it.

It's a gamble when you choose the ddp. We have always "won" but bothered have not. That's why it is complicated, I think.

 

[21stamps]

That's how we roll. I use the plan and we always order what we want. I do know how my family eats and how they will order, do thats helps in determining value. I knew why you included the room service, but was just explaining why some of us ignored it.

It's a gamble when you choose the ddp. We have always "won" but bothered have not. That's why it is complicated, I think.

The more I look at it the more I don't think it makes sense. Really the character meals are the only reason I was considering it. We aren't eating at any signatures, and the rest of our meals will be qs or snacks.

I did feel like the DDP was worth it on our last trip, mainly because I liked the pre paid aspect. But on that trip I paid for room service OOP twice, and also for another character meal OOP, so if I actually crunched the numbers it probably wasn't "worth it" lol.

 

[Nancyg56]

The more I look at it the more I don't think it makes sense. Really the character meals are the only reason I was considering it. We aren't eating at any signatures, and the rest of our meals will be qs or snacks.

I did feel like the DDP was worth it on our last trip, mainly because I liked the pre paid aspect. But on that trip I paid for room service OOP twice, and also for another character meal OOP, so if I actually crunched the numbers it probably wasn't "worth it" lol.

I always need to look at the meals we choose. If we are choosing mainly character meals, we opt for the DDP. AS my DGD got older we went to fewer of those,and opted for TS meals that offered appetizers, and wanted TS meals for lunch. That made a difference. This is where that number crunching comes in, there is no right answer until you do.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[jimmytammy]

My issue with DDP is this...way too much food, way too much time spent eating and making sure you make all those ADRs in time