? for those NOT choosing DDP but staying on site.

[OU1247]

What made you choose not to purchase the DDP? Are you going off property to eat or just paying out of pocket to eat at DW? After looking through the menu prices for TS (which we will use once per day) it still made since to choose the DDP for our 8 night stay in July for our family (2 adults, 1 13yo boy and one 9 yo boy) even with tip now excluded from the DDP. I'm just curious as to what the alternatives are.

 

[angelmav]

What made you choose not to purchase the DDP? Are you going off property to eat or just paying out of pocket to eat at DW? After looking through the menu prices for TS (which we will use once per day) it still made since to choose the DDP for our 8 night stay in July for our family (2 adults, 1 13yo boy and one 9 yo boy) even with tip now excluded from the DDP. I'm just curious as to what the alternatives are.

Well I would say that its not a requirement for everyone to have a TS on site every day as part of their vacation as the first part to that answer. Plus if you look at Bfast or dinner prices and thats what you would prefer for a TS, then it could cost more to go with the plan. Add to that the fact that many know there will be times when they wont be hungry, maybe have a light eater or two or would just rather have that in their control when the time comes are all valid reasons.

Plus, if you arent used to the heat, that is another factor, it really diminishes the appetite!

If you get the plan, dont get mad if you have lunch at Le Cellier and someone in your group has a hankering for the $13 steak sandwich!

 

[fla4fun]

I don't get the DDP because I have an AP. Since about half of my trips are solo trips, I usually make out better with the AP discount on the room than buying a package with the dining (even free dining isn't a great deal for me, as I can typically save more on the room than the dining or my OOP food costs). I don't eat at TS every day, typically every second or third day, especially on my longer trips when I stay in a DVC villa and can eat meals in. I do have the DDE card, and that saves me some money on dining.

I feel the dining works out best for people who do like to go to TS every day. I also feel the savings are more competitive between AP and package pricing when you start adding more people to the mix, as your accommodations don't increase as much in cost as your meals do. But each family needs to do the math for themselves to see which is the better deal.

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

We choose not to purchase the DDP because we just don't eat that much food. We usually do breakfast in our room and CS for both lunch and dinner. We don't normally snack much at home, either. I always pack granola bars and water bottles to save even more $. We've done pizza back in our room, too. We also don't want to take the time for a sit down meal. We have too many rides and attractions to see!! Our routine for the last 2 trips (and plan to do for our next trip, too) is to have a character breakfast the last morning. That's the most expensive meal we eat the entire trip.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

These are the reasons my family and I do not purchase the DDP. Because we always stay Club Level they have all the food to offer us at breakfast and in the evening right there. We are also not the type of people who like to make ADR's at 180 days out and we also sometimes change plans at the last minute and do something else. Finally since we always have a car when visiting WDW, we don't mind eating at offsite restaurants and there are a few places we always enjoy going to.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

We have AP's and don't do the DDP either. We used the AP discount for room only and like another poster mentioned, eat in the room for breakfast and bring snacks. We usually eat one special meal on our mini vacations & this time we're going to Cape May again. If we're in a park at lunch time we usually split a meal as most of them are huge. We did the DDP the first time we booked a package, but found out it was way too much food for us to eat, so it was sorta a waste!

 

[mom2my3kids]

We did free dining last year and it was great, but my my son turned 10 years old and I won't pay 38.00 for him to eat. He does not eat that much, plus we don't want a TS every day we have 3 planned for our October trip. One breakfast, One lunch and One dinner. The rest will be eating at our DVC or eating counter service meals.

 

[OU1247]

Thanks for the responses everyone. This will be our boy's first trip to DW and my wife really wants to spend as much time as possible on the park (we are driving in, so off property is an option). Plus, besides football and competitive swimming, the boys favorite pastime is eating so I don't think portion size will be a problem.

I'm a planner and playing devil's advocate to myself. I want to make sure I have all of the available information to make the best decision because I HATE wasting money.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I forgot to mention the only restaurant inside WDW we would eat at is the Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Besides that if we want to have a quick bite for dinner at in WDW we don't mind going to a counter service place like the Earl of Sandwich which is also at Downtown Disney Marketplace or Gasparilla's Grill & Games at the Grand Floridian.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We're DVC, and we're not doing the DDP. We'll get AP's and use the DDE card. Here's my logic: First off, there are 6 of us, DH, myself, DD13, DS11, DD5, and DS2. We plan to do 1 TS per day, more or less. After looking at the plan changes, I realized that we'd prefer splitting a couple appetizers, and maybe a few desserts, but didn't need 5 desserts at every stinkin' meal. Since we're 6, we get the auto-gratuity (which just annoys me, has nothing to do with anything). But given those things, why not get what we want? Also, we're doing several buffets--not the best use of TS credits. really not too many "fancy" meals. We also can prepare simple meals in our room. I'll bring along some snacks for the little guys and a case of water.

Now, I tend to be cheap, and my one concern is that I'll "cheap" myself out of getting what I want. So we plan to put the cost of the plan on a gift card, and then use that for all meals and snacks. We'll also keep receipts and see if we actually saved money. But I finally realized that it wasn't so mauch about saving a few bucks, as getting what we really wanted to eat. We don't eat dessert every day now, so why do it there?

 

[druidcat]

We aren't doing the DDP because DD 12 is an extremely picky eater and DH is diabetic. With the change from appetizer to desert only from 2007 policy it is just not worth it to us.

 

[Colleen27]

What made you choose not to purchase the DDP? Are you going off property to eat or just paying out of pocket to eat at DW? After looking through the menu prices for TS (which we will use once per day) it still made since to choose the DDP for our 8 night stay in July for our family (2 adults, 1 13yo boy and one 9 yo boy) even with tip now excluded from the DDP. I'm just curious as to what the alternatives are.

We won't be using it in December, because we're going to be in a villa and traveling with an infant so we won't be eating as many meals "out" as we normally would. We'll just be paying OOP for a few TS character meals and snacks (we rarely eat CS) and using the kitchen for the rest.

 

[java]

We're staying concierge this time for the first time and have no idea what that will mean in terms of food. I am hoping it will cover breakfast? For us with 4 children- 13 and 10 considered adults and the 5 and 3 kids- it was more than I think we need. The 3 year old generally eats half of what I have. And with the portions at Disney my 13 and 10 year old will easily share a meal as will dh and I.
In the past we have used the DDE card. We still may this time if I go AP or not. For us I just didn't think it made sense. (Plus I have a MIL that lives close by and she will feed us at least one HUGE meal)

 

[angelmav]

Thanks for the responses everyone. This will be our boy's first trip to DW and my wife really wants to spend as much time as possible on the park (we are driving in, so off property is an option). Plus, besides football and competitive swimming, the boys favorite pastime is eating so I don't think portion size will be a problem.

I'm a planner and playing devil's advocate to myself. I want to make sure I have all of the available information to make the best decision because I HATE wasting money.

If your driving in there are plenty of neat and certainly the same or better quality restaurants for alot less just outside the gate. Boston Lobster Feast springs immediately to mind...I think what has happened the last few years is Disney has convinced everyone that eating the Dining plan way is the only way to go, and even without the great incentive that it once was will still have that carry over affect (they are probably right), but when you break it down, $38 plus tips is still alot for each person per day weather its a 'savings' or not.

 

[PirateSusan]

We have done DDP in the past, but since it has changed, it does not work for us anymore. We like to visit other resorts for a "sit down" breakfast and then we like a "sit down" dinner. Counter service or a snack is fine for lunch.

 

[septbaby]

Thanks for the responses everyone. This will be our boy's first trip to DW and my wife really wants to spend as much time as possible on the park (we are driving in, so off property is an option). Plus, besides football and competitive swimming, the boys favorite pastime is eating so I don't think portion size will be a problem. QUOTE]

Be sure to schedule some buffets. There are plenty of good ones at Disney. Even the "All you care to eat" serve to the table would work for the bottomless pits you'll have for the next 5 plus years! Also the breakfast platters served in the resort CS places are a lot of food (eggs, meats, potatoes and biscuit) and would get them off to a great start. We shared one, skipped the meats and still didn't finish.

 

[OU1247]

Be sure to schedule some buffets. There are plenty of good ones at Disney. Even the "All you care to eat" serve to the table would work for the bottomless pits you'll have for the next 5 plus years! Also the breakfast platters served in the resort CS places are a lot of food (eggs, meats, potatoes and biscuit) and would get them off to a great start. We shared one, skipped the meats and still didn't finish.

Will they let you share like that or is it a "what they don't know won't hurt them" kind of thing?

 

[LindyN]

All You Can Eat platters served at the table by a server are considered Table Service. The skillet at Whispering Canyon is limited to one person. Other AYCE venues (Akershus, CRT, Ohana) you are charged by the person at the table.

The CS breakfast platters are good for hearty appetites. Think of McDonald's "Big Breakfast" and you'll have a good idea of a CS platter. We usually buy one of these to share.

 

[AnninIowa]

We took our first trip to Disney in October 2005 and had the dining plan...and we hated it! Way too much food for us and we hated being nailed down to a schedule of where and when to eat.

We went last February without the plan and had a much better trip. We only did 2 TS restaurants, and just walked up to both. Otherwise we found lots of counter service restauants that we actually liked better than TS restaurants.

We are going back this coming May, again without the plan. We have 4 TS ressies, and will do walk-ups for ESPN Club and Big River Grille. We don't get appetizers or desserts, and usually order the cheaper things on menus, such as salads or sandwiches. We usually just order water to drink, too.

Even if we end up spending a little more out of pocket, it's worth it to me for the freedom and not feeling sick from so much food. Besides, my absolute favorite meal is a sandwich from Earl of Sandwich! I plan to get at least three this next trip!!

 

[tndisneyfan]

We chose not to do the DDP for our trip in May. We used the DDP twice before. One reason is it doesn't seem to be as good of a deal as before, no appetizer, tip not included, and higher cost. It still may be a good deal just not as good as before. We also don't want to spend the time it takes to have an ADR each day. Table service meals take up a lot of park time. We are staying six nights in May and are only doing 2 table service meals.

Another thing I didn't like about the DDP, is feeling like I had to take full advantage of the plan. Sometimes I wasn't that hungry at lunch. Without the DDP i would probably have just got fries and a drink or just a snack. With the DDP i felt like I had to to get the combo w/dessert to get my moneys worth.