First time with DxDDP....

[goofy4tink]

I've done the regular ddp many times, as well as used my TiW card. This time we are going deluxe. So...we have all our ADRs lined up...many signature spots.
My question??? Is there anything I need to know about using the DxDDP??? Anything wo watch for, or good tips on snack usage??? I know they leave us each a refill mug....staying at BWV doesn't make that a huge plus, but it is what it is.
So...any hints or thoughts?? I just don't want to make any blunders that could have been prevented.

 

[havoc315]

Just realize it is a ton of snacks, so don't bother "saving them." Use them for breakfast, extra beverages, there is no reason to try to "conserve."

In terms of $$$ value, you will do well to use signature restaurants as you seem to be planning.

It can be way too much food if you don't plan well. It seems some people "go crazy," --- For me and my family, I still wouldn't want more than 1 character meal, or more than 1 buffet per day. And remember, the DxDP can be a value even without maximizing every entitlement.

 

[goofy4tink]

Looks like I'm doing okay then..here's my lineup...
Sun arrival...Yachtsman
Mon...CP breakfast, AP dinner
Tues..LeC for lunch, Coral Reef late dinner
Wed...Goofys breakfast, FF dinner
Thurs...Akeshus breakfast, 50's dinner
Fri...Donald's breakfast, Brown Derby dinner

Figured we could use our refill mugs for coffee and grab a pastry (snack credit) in the early am on our way to a park. Then try to use other snack credits in WS at Food and Wine kiosks.
Tried to plan late morning breakfasts, with dinner around 7/7:30. Space out all that eating.

Thanks for the insights.

 

[Cafeen]

Pretty much what havoc listed above. Don't worry about "saving" snacks so much, or you'll end up with a bunch at the end of the trip. I do tend to keep to stuff over about $2.50 just to be safe, but my coworkers appreciate the treats (and it's my pittance for talking about the upcoming trip, non-stop, for 8 months )

Also, at CS locations, you may need to specify that it's DxDDP (if you're doing any). I know when I arrived last year with a budding migraine from not-eating yet (it was about 1:30pm and I had been up since 4), so when I went to Cantina de San Angel for lunch and told them I was on a dining plan, they ran the card through and told me I had 0 credits.

Due to migraine I just paid the $19.20 for the meal (no clue why I remember that number...) and checked at Guest Relations afterwards. All credits were there, and I'm guessing it was the difference between Dx and DDP that threw the guy. Of course, the restaurant was also newly reopened at this time, so training could easily have been an issue too. Just one of those things.

 

[goofy4tink]

Pretty much what havoc listed above. Don't worry about "saving" snacks so much, or you'll end up with a bunch at the end of the trip. I do tend to keep to stuff over about $2.50 just to be safe, but my coworkers appreciate the treats (and it's my pittance for talking about the upcoming trip, non-stop, for 8 months )

Also, at CS locations, you may need to specify that it's DxDDP (if you're doing any). I know when I arrived last year with a budding migraine from not-eating yet (it was about 1:30pm and I had been up since 4), so when I went to Cantina de San Angel for lunch and told them I was on a dining plan, they ran the card through and told me I had 0 credits.

Due to migraine I just paid the $19.20 for the meal (no clue why I remember that number...) and checked at Guest Relations afterwards. All credits were there, and I'm guessing it was the difference between Dx and DDP that threw the guy. Of course, the restaurant was also newly reopened at this time, so training could easily have been an issue too. Just one of those things.

My blood sugar drops very nastily if I don't eat every 3-4 hrs, so I can imagine your distress!!! We don't have any CS plans, so that shouldn't be an issue. Thanks for that heads up though!!

 

[catra121]

I found that it worked out great to use the refillable mug and get a bagel (or muffin or whatever) in the morning before we headed to the parks then I used my second snack credit of the day for a bottle of pop while at the parks. I didn't have ANY snack credits left over at the end and I didn't have to pay for ANY food OOP which I loved!

And just one other thing, since it is a lot of food, if you don't want or feel like a dessert or appetizer and any of your meals just skip it. It will save you money on tips and if it's not something you want then you shouldn't feel bad about not ordering something that is "included." Of course, when you want it you shouldn't feel bad about that either...lol! I think I only skipped dessert once and never an appetizer.

Have fun! I really loved the Deluxe Dining Plan.

 

[lin7]

We too have skipped dessert, but than again we're not too big on dessert. Even if you skip dessert on the DxDP, you still come out ahead. I don't think you feel like you want to maximize your dollar when your on the DxDP plan vs the basic plan, cause even if you skip a dessert or appetizer you still come out ahead. Have fun on the plan, our family really enjoys it. We don't like breakfast, so we usually do early lunch and later dinner, it has worked well for us.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

And just one other thing, since it is a lot of food, if you don't want or feel like a dessert or appetizer and any of your meals just skip it. It will save you money on tips and if it's not something you want then you shouldn't feel bad about not ordering something that is "included.".

This is a great tip! The CM will offer to box it for you to go but you will never need it! It will stack up in the fridge (Don't ask me how I know?!) Plus if you don't get it it saves you a few bucks.

Beware too that the tips DO add up very quickly with dxdp. We love it but we figure that money in now. The first time we were in sticker shock from the amount of tips!

 

[pkdof]

I say get dessert to go and have it for breakfast the next morning. Anyway, did DxDP with my two teens, and we used a few credits for snacks in the park, then used what was left over to buy those amazing cupcakes (cannot wait to get another Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake) to eat on the plane home.

 

[Mikey'swife]

If you like Cheese ask before ordering your app if you can have the cheese plate as your dessert, Many of the Signatures will allow this as your dessert. Some of the signature restaurants have really pretty desserts that are really not that great but the cheese plates are phenomenal. Then you can enjoy a smple salad or soup or other appetizer and still get the cheese plate at the end of the meal. I much preferred the cheese to dessert at California Grill, Yachtsman and Flying Fish and I am a huge dessert fan but then you have all those snack credits which can be used for yummy desserts.

Karmel Kuche has some wonderful items that actually stay pretty good for a few days and if you have kids and left with snacks at the end Goofys candy has a bag with 6 small unicorn lollipops which are nice to pull out months after your trip to reminice. My kids love them and I stocked up at the end of our last trip

 

[POOHsie]

The best thing we did with our snack credits was use them to buy food plates at Food&Wine. I see you will be in WDW during that time. Even the lobster roll at the American Pavilion took the snack credit, that was an expensive plate if paid OOP. We went to F&W 2 different days, and spent a lot of snack credits on terrific international foods.

 

[goofy4tink]

I found that it worked out great to use the refillable mug and get a bagel (or muffin or whatever) in the morning before we headed to the parks then I used my second snack credit of the day for a bottle of pop while at the parks. I didn't have ANY snack credits left over at the end and I didn't have to pay for ANY food OOP which I loved!

And just one other thing, since it is a lot of food, if you don't want or feel like a dessert or appetizer and any of your meals just skip it. It will save you money on tips and if it's not something you want then you shouldn't feel bad about not ordering something that is "included." Of course, when you want it you shouldn't feel bad about that either...lol! I think I only skipped dessert once and never an appetizer.

Have fun! I really loved the Deluxe Dining Plan.

Yep, that's what I am planning as well....coffee and bagel from Boardwalk Bakery to hold me over until our late breakfast/early lunch around 10:30ish each day.
Love the idea about not ordering dessert. That will save on tips. Thanks.

This is a great tip! The CM will offer to box it for you to go but you will never need it! It will stack up in the fridge (Don't ask me how I know?!) Plus if you don't get it it saves you a few bucks.

Beware too that the tips DO add up very quickly with dxdp. We love it but we figure that money in now. The first time we were in sticker shock from the amount of tips!

When people ask about using the dining plan, I always remind them to add in tips...it can be a huge amount!!!

The best thing we did with our snack credits was use them to buy food plates at Food&Wine. I see you will be in WDW during that time. Even the lobster roll at the American Pavilion took the snack credit, that was an expensive plate if paid OOP. We went to F&W 2 different days, and spent a lot of snack credits on terrific international foods.

That's what we plan to do. I can't wait for my dh to get that lobster roll..it is incredible. We plan on using those snack credits in Epcot...a lot.

 

[Missyrose]

The best thing we did with our snack credits was use them to buy food plates at Food&Wine. I see you will be in WDW during that time. Even the lobster roll at the American Pavilion took the snack credit, that was an expensive plate if paid OOP. We went to F&W 2 different days, and spent a lot of snack credits on terrific international foods.

THIS! Once we started doing the math and figured out that not only would the DxDp be cheaper than paying for all the ts meals we had planned OOP but that we could use all those snack credits to take a bite out of our F&W Festival budget, we were sold!

 

[Laketravis]

I feel like I should know this, but does the DxDDP include 3 TS credits each day? Or is it 2TS and 1CS?

 

[Tricia1972]

I feel like I should know this, but does the DxDDP include 3 TS credits each day? Or is it 2TS and 1CS?

It's three meal credits to do whatever you want to with. They're interchangeable and you can use them for TS or CS.

Generally speaking, to break even or get ahead on the DxDDP, you need to make sure that 2/3 of your meals are TS. (perhaps that's where you're getting the 2 TS 1 CS mindset from)


As to the original question, I'll echo the sentiment of don't conserve snack credits and skip an appetizer or dessert or too. Beware though, some servers will try to force a dessert on you because it's included. I left Narcoossee's because my little sweet snowflake was possessed and I wasn't going to subject anyone else to their presence one second longer (out of character for him) Anyway, we left and I told the party to skip dessert because I was full. They came back to the villa with a cupcake that the server just brought out, without permission, with a cupcake for me because it was included.

 

[*love*2*shop]

We are a Party of 2, are tips automatically tallied up and told what you must give?? or just a suggested amount?

Beware too that the tips DO add up very quickly with dxdp. We love it but we figure that money in now. The first time we were in sticker shock from the amount of tips!

 

[goofy4tink]

We are a Party of 2, are tips automatically tallied up and told what you must give?? or just a suggested amount?

Nope, I think it's groups of 6 or more that have automatic gratuities. For the two of you, you figure out your own tip.
If I remember correctly the checks may have what an 18% tip is and what a 20% tip is right on the bottom. But, I could be wrong.