For $124 would you...

[KelleyD]

OK so in a nutshell 4 night trip with DH and DS 18 months. I posted for help on another thread for my ADR's...but this is a money question:

4 nights on DDP x2 = $303.92
I have 4 ts dinners planned - 3 character 1 dinner.
I have 3 character breakfasts (all about my boy!) for $121.94 oop (tax not included)

plan plus oop = $425.86
NOW:
4 nights on DxDP x 2 = $559.92 thats a difference of $134.06 total.
So what would I do with the extras??
Add a breakfast for departure.
Now I would go to the Sci-Fi for lunch, Coral Reef for lunch, maybe do Cinderella lunch or dinner (i know the vaule of the two table service isn't worth it...)
Add a signature rest. that I hadn't planned? I would trade LTT for a signature...I am sure my husband would be happy about that.

Some other "benefits" - I will be going in September so I wouldn't have to worry about crowded counter service
Lots more snacks!
refillable mug...My husband loves his soda...oh are they coke products? because of course he is a pepsi man.

negatives - more food then we would need. Can my 18 month old go to a sig. restaurant?

For the $134 I think I am sold but want to hear what the experts think!

 

[mickey2000]

Did you remember tips ??

Mug doesn't work for parks .........

 

[KelleyD]

no i didn't figure taxes in the oop. I wasn't sure what the rate was but figure about $10 total for the oop tax?

Anyway I guess what it come down to is no matter what, we think we get a value with the DDP. For our 4 dinners and 4 counter service lunches we are at $315, so no matter what we will go with the DDP.

The things on the DXDP that we don't need - the mug. We would use it but we wouldn't buy it. We probably wouldn't do an appetizer every meal, but occasionaly if something struck us, we would...so that would be a slight additional oop expense that i didn't calculate.

I guess what I am really looking for is any positives or negatives that I missed. In my mind if I add a signature dining, I could almost make up that difference right there. The ability to do in room dining would be nice also...although one of us could just run down to get the counter service meals if we were in the room and son was napping.

I am trying to use the rationalization that the next time we get to Disney, we will probably wait until son is a bit older...unless Disney sends us the 40% again...so hard to pass that up...anyway so other then that, I figure when son gets a bit older and able to enjoy the parks, we will have a tougher time doing all the dining, so this may be the only time we do it.

Anyway I apprreciate any comments - le tme know if i am missing some logic that makes it a bad deal? Something I am missing that makes it a great deal??

Thanks.

 

[cjstarr]

no i didn't figure taxes in the oop. I wasn't sure what the rate was but figure about $10 total for the oop tax?

Anyway I guess what it come down to is no matter what, we think we get a value with the DDP. For our 4 dinners and 4 counter service lunches we are at $315, so no matter what we will go with the DDP.

The things on the DXDP that we don't need - the mug. We would use it but we wouldn't buy it. We probably wouldn't do an appetizer every meal, but occasionaly if something struck us, we would...so that would be a slight additional oop expense that i didn't calculate.

I guess what I am really looking for is any positives or negatives that I missed. In my mind if I add a signature dining, I could almost make up that difference right there. The ability to do in room dining would be nice also...although one of us could just run down to get the counter service meals if we were in the room and son was napping.

I am trying to use the rationalization that the next time we get to Disney, we will probably wait until son is a bit older...unless Disney sends us the 40% again...so hard to pass that up...anyway so other then that, I figure when son gets a bit older and able to enjoy the parks, we will have a tougher time doing all the dining, so this may be the only time we do it.

Anyway I apprreciate any comments - le tme know if i am missing some logic that makes it a bad deal? Something I am missing that makes it a great deal??

Thanks.

As Mickey2000 ask "Did you figure in the "Tips" You need to add tips & taxes both in, then subtract the DDP and this will give you your OOP.
Also I will "e" you a spreadsheet to help you figure out your expense if you would like.
I'm sure Tricia would not mind.

 

[KelleyD]

hmmm. I didn't figure tips in because I have to pay them no matter what. I know I will pay more tips with the DxDP because we will have more table service and more expensive meals. But I consider that kind of a wash, we eat more we tip more...so I didn't include tips like I said because they are oop no matter what.

As for taxes, I would not be paying tax on any meals with the meal plan right? So assuming I have the three oop breakfasts at 6% thats an additional $7.32 oop.

So am I to assume that they way everyone here does their calculations is to include the tip in as an oop? Because if I do that then certainly my oop will be greater with the deluxe because of the higher end meals and the more ts meals...but how would it ever work out that this plan would be better if you calculate them in? I would go from 4 ts , 3 character meals to maybe 2 character, and a signature...obviously more in tipping...am I missing something?

Also since we are talking about this, what do people normally tip for a buffet? We are generally 20% tippers, but never tip 20% of the total bill on a buffet...

Thanks again everyone...

 

[cjstarr]

hmmm. I didn't figure tips in because I have to pay them no matter what. I know I will pay more tips with the DxDP because we will have more table service and more expensive meals. But I consider that kind of a wash, we eat more we tip more...so I didn't include tips like I said because they are oop no matter what.

As for taxes, I would not be paying tax on any meals with the meal plan right? So assuming I have the three oop breakfasts at 6% thats an additional $7.32 oop.

So am I to assume that they way everyone here does their calculations is to include the tip in as an oop? Because if I do that then certainly my oop will be greater with the deluxe because of the higher end meals and the more ts meals...but how would it ever work out that this plan would be better if you calculate them in? I would go from 4 ts , 3 character meals to maybe 2 character, and a signature...obviously more in tipping...am I missing something?

Also since we are talking about this, what do people normally tip for a buffet? We are generally 20% tippers, but never tip 20% of the total bill on a buffet...

Thanks again everyone...

My Bad Kelley, taxes are included.

 

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

I say go for it and get the DxDP for the reasons you have already listed. If it's not a matter of "we can't afford it," I would say you only live once and if you like to eat, the DxDP is probably the way to go. You can also stock up on some bring home treats for the 18mo with the snack credits if you don't use them all. I haven't eaten at any of the sig restaurants yet, but I have Narcoosees and Yachtsman Steakhouse both booked for our upcoming honeymoon with 12 year old included.

You may also consider one of the dinner shows to use 2 credits. Not sure what type of kid your 18 mo is, so can't make any suggestions.

To reiterate, if you won't be back for a few years, do it. Enjoy life, enjoy your vacation. You never know what tomorrow may bring.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Honestly with an 18 month old it is probably to much time in restaurants. When our son was that age he could tolerate one TS meal per day otherwise it was way to much stimulation and he is very mild mannered. Naps took up some time during the lunch hour period. You may be wasteing money IMO. I would pay oop and see how many ressies you actually make it to.

 

[frannn]

If any of this has been discussed in earlier posts, I apologize for reiterating. Is this your first trip? If so, I don't think I'd do DXDP, especially with an 18 month old. Unless your DS is the type that can sleep anywhere, you may wish to have some scheduled down time each day, especially at the hight of the heat. You also may not want to do the late night hours at the park, and may be governed by your DS's moods. You'd be limiting the amount of actual rides/shows you could experience. Doing so many long meals would take even more time away from your park touring. If you've been before, this doesn't matter as much. In this case, I'd do the DXDP. Please also keep in mind that if there is free DP in Sept, you may end up just paying the difference between the reg & DX DP. his is what they allowed with the bounceback promo that we booked last year for our Sept '08 trip.

 

[JLKennedy]

I must be a rotten mom....my kid slept in the stroller each day and we kept trekking.

Keep in mind, if you do decide on a dinner show or CRT, the tip IS included, so that will not be an OOP expense.

We have 2 young kids (well 3 & 9) and will be on the Dxddp b/c our youngest is much more interested in characters now, so we'll be maximizing the character meals (breakfast & dinners), lunch we'll do on a whim, or cash them out for other things.

 

[frannn]

I must be a rotten mom....my kid slept in the stroller each day and we kept trekking.

Keep in mind, if you do decide on a dinner show or CRT, the tip IS included, so that will not be an OOP expense.

We have 2 young kids (well 3 & 9) and will be on the Dxddp b/c our youngest is much more interested in characters now, so we'll be maximizing the character meals (breakfast & dinners), lunch we'll do on a whim, or cash them out for other things.

My point was that some kids aren't so prone to sleep in the stroller. Ours did, so we got to keep going even while she slept- she experienced many rides that she will never remember...then again, I've been known to pass out in COP....

 

[JLKennedy]

Oh, I know what you were saying, I was just being faceous stating I'm a bad mom, my kid doesn't get to go back to the hotel to nap, he can sleep in his Maclaren. I am fortunate that my kids will sleep anywhere, if tired enough.

 

[KelleyD]

OK so I have been hashing and rehashing...will he sleep in the stroller - i don't know.
I kind of thought there would be less for him to see at the parks because of his age(?) and that by going to ts lunch he might fare better then the crowded cs...
no bounceback...40% off room rate

Anyway, here is where I am at:
Hands down the DDP is way better then oop.
So now the comparison of the 2 (no gratuities inlcuded for either plan and tax included in the oop)

DDP - $303.92 + $180.27 oop = $484.19
DxDP - $559.92 + $17 oop = $576.92.(Now that $17 was for 1 meal...either breakfast when we leave or a lunch. But we may be able to skip it entirely or use snack credits for it, but it is also included in the ddp oop)

So I have a difference of $92.73 to "make up". The extra 8 snacks at the average value of $3 would be $24. So now we are at $68.73. I do not want to include the mugs because we wouldn't purchase them...but they are worth $24...Basically if we decided to do 1 ts lunch at a non buffet, we would almost break even. Saying that however, if we do a ts lunch unless we were on the dining plan, we would never order a dessert. Also we could include appys for dinner, but reviewing my menu there would only be 1 place to do that and at an average of $7 for an appy(?) that would only be $14. So I could get it down to $54.73 which would be made up with a ts lunch.

Now if i do the regular and add the ts lunch in as an oop (no dessert, 1 appy)but subtract the $17 for breakfast because i would free up a cs, i would be at (oh I am using Coral Reef for my ex) I would add in $49.25 but subtract the $17 and I would be at oop of $212.52 for a total difference betwen the 2 packages of $60.47...less $24 snack credits $36.47 to "make up". That doesn't include the mug again...but still i don't know if it has much value. Take off for the $14 appys I am at $22.47. Now I look at that and say, ok do I want to dine at sci-fi or not? Because I would hit that amount there without appys and dessert...
Hmmmmmmmmmm same boat I was in before...confusion....

 

[Muushka]

Just a few thoughts from another OCD planner!

You added the value of the extra snacks. But if you didn't have the plan, would you get the snacks? We never get snacks when we go, so I can't add that $3 per snack to the value of the plan because it is money I would not spend.

Also, when I am going to have to figure out whether or not to get the DxDP, tips will be a major consideration. On the regular DDP you tip for 1 meal per day. No tip for counter service. On the DxDP you will essentially be tipping for 3 meals a day, that is a chunk of change.

My next thing to consider is that with the regular DDP there is 'wiggle room'. Meaning if you just plain didn't feel like sitting down and eating ANOTHER big meal, you don't have to. With DxDP, that big meal is already paid for, so why would you waste it? I remember the first time we did the DDP I got sick (picked up a nasty Coxsackie virus there at WDW). For an entire day I felt like I was going to die! No meals for me that day. Because I wasn't on the DxDP, I basically just had to rearrange 1 TS and 1 CS, no problem. On the DxDP where the heck would I put 3 TS??? And another 2 snacks???? I get sick just thinking about it!

Happy planning!

 

[iloveokw]

WOW I am really going be be a pain, but my DD who loved every stranger she ever met freeked out at 18 months - you would not believe how many kids at that age are scared of the characters, etc. I wouldn't do the character meals at that age unless you really want them. Also at that age they don't even know the significance.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Have you factored in the heat? Last September it was hot. Really really hot. Hi 80's low 90's every day. It was hot

Some days it was just too hot to eat alot. Or we would have a good breakfast and dinner, with just a snack midday.

18 months is hard. I haven't been with kids younger than 3 years, so can't really help there. How does your son do at TS at home? A nicer place rather than a friendly's type. Can he handle multiple courses? Can he handle doing this a couple times a day?

You are also eating up alot of park time. Mornings are cooler and you are going to be spending some great park time at TS breakfasts.

Just some thoughts from one OCD planner to another

 

[KelleyD]

Hopefully this wont be a double post. Had my response all typed up with the quotes and lots of funny symbols and I just do see it anywhere...where oh where did it go??

I am tired now so I can't be as lengthy or witty . Thank you everyone for all your thoughts on this, and I did come to a decision.

We will do ddp and pay oop for the extras. With all the buffet meals we are having, i just cant get the dx to be a value. So now onto the planning on which days and when...just when you think you are done, they suck you back in! to the planning i mean.

 

[REL1203]

Can someone explain to the DxDP to me... I know its 3 meals a day, but is there a limit on TS meals? Can you theoretically use 3 TS meals a day every day of your trip?

 

[Muushka]

Can someone explain to the DxDP to me... I know its 3 meals a day, but is there a limit on TS meals? Can you theoretically use 3 TS meals a day every day of your trip?

It is not 3 meals a day, it is 3 TS credits (plus 2 snacks) a day. Meaning if you eat at Artists Point for dinner, you will use 2 TS credits. And yes there is a limit on TS meals. Once you use all your credits, they are gone! Hope this makes sense!

 

[Mom2JPL]

I say if you're booking the adr's for dinners and character meals, then the DxDDP is the way to go! We used the DDP in Oct, kids were 4, 2.5 and 12 months at the time of trip. It worked great, but I would have really loved if they had the DxDDP as an option then. This year we're going in Nov for dd 5th bday, she'll be 5, ds3 and dd2. I would LOVE to get the DxDDP, but dh doesn't want to ($$$$ wise). I'm working on convincing him...wish me luck!