DxDP and CL...

[WDWKOOK]

I would love to read anyone's experience doing both the DxDP AND CL.

We have a split stay coming-up in two weeks and last night DH suggested adding the DxDP to the first five nights of our split at the WL/CL. I've made the ADRs already just in case we do add the DxDP, but it seems like with 2-3 TSs everyday, we won't be at the Lodge much to enjoy the lounge.

We could convert more one TSs to two TSs (SD) so that we could spend more time at CL, but then I feel like some of the value of the plan is lost with doing more signature dining.

Any thoughts?

 

[Cafeen]

With the way the DxDDP is setup, Signatures are still a value. Of course, you're not going to get as much value out of the plan, but you'll still come out ahead. They also typically have higher quality food and are kept to higher standards, so that may be something to think about.

How the numbers break down is this...

For 2011, 1 DxDDP credit costs about $23. This credit includes App, Entree, Dessert, Drink. This means that a signature's covered items would have to total about $46 to break even. Looking at the menus, it's quite easy to reach this mark for a single person's meal.

The reason why DDP doesn't work well with signatures is three-fold. For starters, that TS credit is costing roughly $30 instead of $23. This pushes the mark to $60. At the same time, even with spending 2 TS, appetizers are not included, so you'd want to hit that $60 mark with only app, entree, and dessert. Add to that the much more limited number of TS credits available on DDP (thus, reducing the chances to bring the average up).

So, from a math perspective, it still works out. From a food perspective, well, I like the sigs quite a bit (but I'm far from an expert). I think I'm doing 5 over 9 nights in Sept. (Jiko, CG, Citrico's, LeCeller, FF).

 

[WDWKOOK]

With the way the DxDDP is setup, Signatures are still a value. Of course, you're not going to get as much value out of the plan, but you'll still come out ahead. They also typically have higher quality food and are kept to higher standards, so that may be something to think about.

How the numbers break down is this...

For 2011, 1 DxDDP credit costs about $23. This credit includes App, Entree, Dessert, Drink. This means that a signature's covered items would have to total about $46 to break even. Looking at the menus, it's quite easy to reach this mark for a single person's meal.

The reason why DDP doesn't work well with signatures is three-fold. For starters, that TS credit is costing roughly $30 instead of $23. This pushes the mark to $60. At the same time, even with spending 2 TS, appetizers are not included, so you'd want to hit that $60 mark with only app, entree, and dessert. Add to that the much more limited number of TS credits available on DDP (thus, reducing the chances to bring the average up).

So, from a math perspective, it still works out. From a food perspective, well, I like the sigs quite a bit (but I'm far from an expert). I think I'm doing 5 over 9 nights in Sept. (Jiko, CG, Citrico's, LeCeller, FF).

I really appreciate your quick response and your analytical approach - just what I needed! Thank you!

 

[havoc315]

Personally, for me, doing the deluxe dining plan plus the club level would be overkill.
The club level easily provides your breakfast in the morning, and desserts in the evening. Also appetizers in the evening, which many people turn into a meal.
And of course, snacks through the day. and beverages available all day.

To throw on top of that-- appetizers at lunch and dinner, desserts at every meal, 2 snacks per day, refillable mug...
Definite overkill.

I suspect if you booked both, you would end up letting one or the other go to waste.

You can still easily eat a nice ts lunch and nice ts dinner-- but doing your appetizers, snacks, and desserts at the club. And it would cost less than the dxdp.

 

[WDWKOOK]

After giving it more thought, I think we've decided to do what we usually do and forgo the DDP. The only times we ever had the DDP was back when the appetizer and tip were included. Since they removed those features, we've never done it again. And since we get 20% off TS food and drinks with the TIW card, it's hard to beat that by buying a plan that has components we don't need when staying CL, like snacks and mugs. But after August 4th our APs expire so we may re-consider the DxDP for a future trip if we don't have TIW.

We always have at least one ADR, sometimes two, per day without the DDP. We don't really do CL for the food alone. Although breakfast is convenient, DH and DD love a nice, hot breakfast with some eggs, etc... so I usually book one breakfast every other day. And we always have one TS late lunch or dinner everyday. We don't ever try to make a meal out of the 5-8 lounge offerings. So that's why I was asking the question since we have those ADRs anyway.

 

[catne]

think you made the right decision...Deluxe & CL would be too much of something! We had DxDDP for just a 2 night stay at Contemporary Resort, and we got a free upgrade to club level when we checked in. Sorry to say other than the adult beverages in the evening we did not really get any use of the lounge food at all (and it looked wonderful...but we were booked for breakfasts, lunches and dinners and were stuffed, stuffed, stuffed.) And since that trip, we've done the DxDDP again and just went with the two meals a day (one regular table service for late breakfast/early lunch and then a 2 TS signature dinner) and we were still plenty stuffed so even doing it that way we'd not use the lounge food offerings either.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

think you made the right decision...Deluxe & CL would be too much of something! We had DxDDP for just a 2 night stay at Contemporary Resort, and we got a free upgrade to club level when we checked in. Sorry to say other than the adult beverages in the evening we did not really get any use of the lounge food at all (and it looked wonderful...but we were booked for breakfasts, lunches and dinners and were stuffed, stuffed, stuffed.) And since that trip, we've done the DxDDP again and just went with the two meals a day (one regular table service for late breakfast/early lunch and then a 2 TS signature dinner) and we were still plenty stuffed so even doing it that way we'd not use the lounge food offerings either.

I totally agree with this. We like the dxdp but do not like it in conjunction with CL. We found that if we snacked before dinner at CL then we didn't need an appetizer at dinner and could easily share dessert and still be stuffed. Plus there were evening desserts at CL. We did do CL breakfast, out to lunch, and signature dinners but it was still just way to much. I think we would have saved ALOT of money if we just payed oop as we went. In addition, with the 2012 dxdp prices I think it is now harder to make the cut with just two meals.