DxDP: To Do or Not to Do

[Christine]

Okay, I need someone here with better analytical skills that I have. This is not for me, but for part of our 16 group party.

They have 3 rooms:
1st room: 3 adults and 2 children (kids will be 3 & 4 y/o at time of trip)
2nd room: 2 adults
3rd room: 2 adults (these two have some health issues so not large eaters and not drinkers, although I can't rule out a drink here and there).

The lead in the 1st room is considering doing the DxDP on the first room and spreading credits out across the 3 rooms for dinner use only. Breakfast and lunch will probably be OOP unless they happen to eat somewhere expensive. The kids, of course, barely eat.

So far the ADRs are:

Arrival day: Citricos for a group of 16. Would like to pay for kids OOP (if they even want to eat) and use 14 credits among the 7 adults in her 3 rooms. Other guests in the party do their own thing. That's a use of 14 table credits, leaving one in the bank for Day 1.

2nd day: Dinner at Chef Mickey's: Use 9 TS credits across the entire party, leaving a balance of 6 TS credits for that day (now at a total of 7).

3rd day: Dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe: Use 7 TS credits across the 3 rooms and pay OOP for children. This leaves 8 TS credits for the day.

5th day: Cape May Character Meal: Use 9 TS credits across the 3 rooms.

6th day: Garden Grill: Use 9 TS credits.

Now, not all ADRs have been made and she's not totally ruling out using the credits for counter service; however, only where it makes sense financially. They will also have a ton of snacks.

Do you think the plan for them is overkill? They are very concerned the kids won't even be ordering kids meals at certain meals as they are not big eaters and will have had snacks throughout the day. They may very well just eat off some of the adult plates.

I've also tried to work the numbers for the regular dining plan across all three rooms and it costs quite a bit more.

Am I missing something? Would it be detrimental financially to use the DxDP at more counter service locations for lunch?

My relative is looking for both convenience *and* fiscal responsibility. She is treating extended family to their meals and they are all adults so there is the concern of people worrying about what they order, but she doesn't want to do the plan if she'd be better off OOP.

I know that was probably confusing so if you need more details, just let me know!

 

[Pumbaa_]

It’s truly a math exercise. Someone needs to roll up rheir sleeves and spend a good chunk of time crunching numbers

I would also suggest perhaps, if the dxdp works, have another room w the qs plan. You can share amongst the group and not waste the pricier dxdp credits

But again, this is a math exercise and will take a good chunk of time. But well worth it plus she will have a pretty accurate food budget if they decide to pay oop

 

[Pumbaa_]

If they are going in 2020, we don’t know yet if there will be any change in how the plan will change, if at all

 

[Christine]

It’s truly a math exercise. Someone needs to roll up rheir sleeves and spend a good chunk of time crunching numbers

I would also suggest perhaps, if the dxdp works, have another room w the qs plan. You can share amongst the group and not waste the pricier dxdp credits

But again, this is a math exercise and will take a good chunk of time. But well worth it plus she will have a pretty accurate food budget if they decide to pay oop

Yes, definitely math! I get to a certain point and my brain starts to hurt.

Do you think I'm worrying too much about using some of the TS credits for a counter service lunch? Or does that generally destroy the value, if she is mostly getting dinner credits? I think the answer is "it still works" but I can't get there.

 

[Christine]

If they are going in 2020, we don’t know yet if there will be any change in how the plan will change, if at all

The trip is 2-9 November 2019. So, coming up soon!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Editing...

 

[kaytieeldr]

Five people, seven nights, DxDDP = 105 credits.
night one: -14 credits
night 2: - 9 credits
night 3: -7 credits
Night 4: nothing listed
Night 5: -9 credits
Night 6: -9 credits
Credits used = 48
Credits remaining = 55

 

[Christine]

Five people, seven nights, DxDDP = 105 credits.
night one: -14 credits
night 2: - 9 credits
night 3: -7 credits
Night 4: nothing listed
Night 5: -9 credits
Night 6: -9 credits
Credits used = 48
Credits remaining = 55

Yeah, seems a bit of an overkill if I only use them on table service dinner/breakfast. I'll have to see if some of the project counter service still keeps the value as a break even.

 

[sharonabe]

Yeah, seems a bit of an overkill if I only use them on table service dinner/breakfast. I'll have to see if some of the project counter service still keeps the value as a break even.

Okay, let's break down the value of each credit and see if that helps. When you do the math for THIS scenario of 3 adults/2 children and use $5 for the value of each snack, then the value of each meal credit is right at $26. All of the adult meals they will be paying for are way above that $26, so using the remaining credits for QS meals will probably be fine.

I'd still add in a character breakfast or two or at least an early lunch ADR on a couple of those days.

 

[Christine]

Okay, let's break down the value of each credit and see if that helps. When you do the math for THIS scenario of 3 adults/2 children and use $5 for the value of each snack, then the value of each meal credit is right at $26. All of the adult meals they will be paying for are way above that $26, so using the remaining credits for QS meals will probably be fine.

I'd still add in a character breakfast or two or at least an early lunch ADR on a couple of those days.

Thank you! That really helps and what I was looking for. Yes! Their dinners will go WAY over $26 per credit so they did CS for about $16 with maybe a beer, I think they'd be doing alright.

 

[chimoe]

I found the best use for TS Dining plan was for Charcter meals. Those run about $50+. Also if you are DxDP, you need to go to Signature TS restaurants like BOG, CRT, etc. I will tell you this, the last day or so you will be raiding the resort gift shop and will have enough rice crispy snacks for quite some time

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Unless all the adults particularly want to do all the character meals, why not book the character meals for just one adult plus the children at times when the children may eat (and if they don’t it doesn’t matter because they have the characters experience) and then book Signature 2 ts dining for all the adults (including the one who dined with the children) later in the evening?

 

[Christine]

Unless all the adults particularly want to do all the character meals, why not book the character meals for just one adult plus the children at times when the children may eat (and if they don’t it doesn’t matter because they have the characters experience) and then book Signature 2 ts dining for all the adults (including the one who dined with the children) later in the evening?

At least 9 in the party (and those include the children) are not going to separate for meals.

I feel like if I am buying the plan for 5 people, yet spreading it across 9 people, I should need so many TS choices if it's mostly used at dinner but maybe that's not the case.

Also, we booked our rooms within our 180 day window, so having great difficulty now getting anything good.

 

[sharonabe]

I feel like if I am buying the plan for 5 people, yet spreading it across 9 people, I should need so many TS choices if it's mostly used at dinner but maybe that's not the case.

The math says you're fine. Your plan will at least break even. Many people just come, read the OP and then answer without reading through the entire thread.

P.S. I think when I get home from church, I might do one other math exercise to help ease your mind. Stay tuned.....

 

[Christine]

The math says you're fine. Your plan will at least break even. Many people just come, read the OP and then answer without reading through the entire thread.

P.S. I think when I get home from church, I might do one other math exercise to help ease your mind. Stay tuned.....

Thanks, much appreciated! Believe it or not, my job is "financial" but I struggle with the dining plan valuation exercises!

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Also, we booked our rooms within our 180 day window, so having great difficulty now getting anything good.

Have you looked on Open Table?

 

[Christine]

Have you looked on Open Table?

Yes, have looked on there a few times. I'm really have better luck with the reservation finder. That has scored me two places I was struggling with.

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks, much appreciated! Believe it or not, my job is "financial" but I struggle with the dining plan valuation exercises!

Okay, my math exercise this afternoon. I've totaled up what the buffets will cost for all 9 and did an average of the two a la carte places for the 7 adults. I didn't include the kids in the a la carte total, because you will pay OOP for them anyway. I did include an alcoholic beverage for the adults at the a la carte, but didn't at the buffets. They are allowed one at the buffet, so if any will get one, you need to add about $13 per beverage to the totals below. So, the total OOP for the 6 meals you have planned is right at $2438. The total for the DxDDP for 3 adults/2 kids for 7 nights (you are staying 7 nights, right?), is $3050. So that means they only have to "spend" $612 for the entire rest of the trip on QS and snacks to break even.

Now, I will tell you that at the a la carte places, there's going to be a ton of food on the table. SEVEN apps, entrees, and desserts is a LOT of food. If paying OOP, I would assume, there would 2-3 apps and desserts to share, but maybe not.
One other thing to remind them of is the tip. With 9 at the table, there will be an automatic 18% at every TS meal. With the DxDDP at a la carte, that's going to add up quickly. Just taking 4 apps and desserts away would decrease the gratuity about $35.

 

[Christine]

Okay, my math exercise this afternoon. I've totaled up what the buffets will cost for all 9 and did an average of the two a la carte places for the 7 adults. I didn't include the kids in the a la carte total, because you will pay OOP for them anyway. I did include an alcoholic beverage for the adults at the a la carte, but didn't at the buffets. They are allowed one at the buffet, so if any will get one, you need to add about $13 per beverage to the totals below. So, the total OOP for the 6 meals you have planned is right at $2438. The total for the DxDDP for 3 adults/2 kids for 7 nights (you are staying 7 nights, right?), is $3050. So that means they only have to "spend" $612 for the entire rest of the trip on QS and snacks to break even.

Now, I will tell you that at the a la carte places, there's going to be a ton of food on the table. SEVEN apps, entrees, and desserts is a LOT of food. If paying OOP, I would assume, there would 2-3 apps and desserts to share, but maybe not.
One other thing to remind them of is the tip. With 9 at the table, there will be an automatic 18% at every TS meal. With the DxDDP at a la carte, that's going to add up quickly. Just taking 4 apps and desserts away would decrease the gratuity about $35.

Thank that really helps. When you stress that we will already being paying $2438 for what we have and only need to make up $612 it seems easy. Another way I looked at is was that the price was $3050 for the 5 people in one room. But spreading that around on 9 people and dividing the $3050 by the 7 nights, means that the daily food rate on the plan for 9 people is roughly $435 per day. So thinking about 9 people eating out each day; I think it would be relatively easy to hit $435 per day.

Now, the one thing you pointed out that really does bother me is ALL THOSE APPETIZERS and DESSERTS!! They would never do that normally and then adding the tip to that....whew. Something to consider. Now, there are 16 of us in the group (two separate families) and there may be one or two nights that we do eat together, separate tables of course. If we were close enough, I think there might be more sharing of the apps and desserts. On our Citricos and Grand Floridian Cafe dinners, we are eating together.

 

[sharonabe]

Now, the one thing you pointed out that really does bother me is ALL THOSE APPETIZERS and DESSERTS!! They would never do that normally and then adding the tip to that....whew. Something to consider. Now, there are 16 of us in the group (two separate families) and there may be one or two nights that we do eat together, separate tables of course. If we were close enough, I think there might be more sharing of the apps and desserts. On our Citricos and Grand Floridian Cafe dinners, we are eating together.

16 sharing 7 apps and desserts sounds easily doable. Maybe those paying OOP offer to pay the tip or at least contribute towards it to offset some of that charge.