for those that have been able to keep track of how much the DDP saved you ...

[scubamouse]

how do you do it?

do you keep receipts? is it tallied on your bill? do you keep a spreadsheet?

I'm a math geek and I have to say I've been amazed at how you all have calculated your savings ... while on vacation!

 

[lucincia]

Keep all your receipts

For counter and snack services, you note the price from the menu.

For table services, you get two receipts, one you sign with actual price and the other one you keep with everything 0'ed out. I just jot down the price onto the receipt I keep.

 

[PatsGirl]

I kept all my receipts and when I got home tallied them up and voila! spent $450 (one adult/one child for ten days) and spent $700 -- can't be beat!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I just kept a pen with me and wrote on the bills (I use a comfort grip pen at work and now I hate other pens so I carry one with me at all times so when I have to sign something I have a good pen).

It wasn't too difficult most of the time. The only exception is when I used the last 7 CS credits and 11 snack credits at the end - We had several trays of food and I forgot the exact amount - but you can always look at the menu prices and estimate whatever you haven't written down.

BTW, I paid $840 (6 nights x 4 people) and we spent that easily on just the table service meals (total = $1046.04) and enjoyed some really great meals. Our counter service was about $325 and snacks were about $55.

Actually it helped to write down the amounts because it meant that I always checked the bill and that allowed me to make sure that they had deducted the right amount of credits - once they deducted too many and once they did not deduct enough (it was snack credits - and the CM only deducted 2 not 4 - when I brought it to her attention, she said "Happy Holidays" and moved onto the next customer. I think she just didn't want to take the time to correct it )

 

[nbodyhome]

When we were on the free dining plan, I kept the receipts. Of course, it isn't really what it saved me - because ordinarily, I could eat on property for $10 - $12.00 a day for myself (so it wouldn't be too smart for me to normally buy the dining plan). But it was interesting to see what the price normally would be.

Denise

 

[MickeyP]

Most people on the dining plan tend to splurge (myself included). So it's even more extreme to see the savings of the higher end restaurants.

 

[lucincia]

Most people on the dining plan tend to splurge (myself included). So it's even more extreme to see the savings of the higher end restaurants.

Yeah, we very rarely order appetizers and desserts. But, while on dining plan last week, we did all that (heck they're included - might as well use them and try everything).

Combine that with walking 1000 miles each day in the parks, you gain no weight at the end

 

[triplefigs]

When we checked out, there was a computer print out of everything we had "charged" on the DDP. I just added it all up. Plan was $800 for 8 nights, we "spent" over $1400 and paid about $150 Out of Pocket. Not too shabby. I'll definitely use the plan again.

 

[Ilovestitch]

We only had a 3 night trip- the dining plan cost us $200 and when I tallied up the receipts we had $260 worth of food. We paid $45 out of pocket on stuff like snacks that weren't on the dining plan, smoothies, drinks.

 

[Julia M]

Yeah, we very rarely order appetizers and desserts. But, while on dining plan last week, we did all that (heck they're included - might as well use them and try everything).

Combine that with walking 1000 miles each day in the parks, you gain no weight at the end

That's what I thought about...........would we have normally ordered all the food you get with the dining plan? This is especially true for sit downs, would we order an appetizer and dessert for everyone in our party? Some people would, of course, but we wouldn't. Maybe one appetizer for the 5 of us to share, or maybe dessert (to share) once, but not like on the dining plan.

So, I figured what our meals would have cost for our 10 day trip, eating as we usually eat. It was 5 sit down meals, one luau for dh and dd (the boys didn't want to go, so we'd probably munch concierge offerings, and maybe the boys get something at Captain Cooks), and then a counter service lunch, with oldest ds ordering off the adult menu, dd doing some kids meals and some regular meals (depending on location and what is offered) and youngest ds off the kids menu. We don't take alot of snacks, but I figured two drinks a day, shared by the 5 of us (that's pretty typical for us)

Dh wanted the dining plan for convenience, and I figured if the prices weren't too far off, it was probably worth it, since we would get to splurge.

So, here is what I found. I'll be curious what the actual numbers are, once I get there in a week.

My table service choices would be: Dinner at 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, Boma and Whispering Canyon (but no desserts or appetizers), lunch at the Biergarten, and 2 people (not 5) at the Luau.

Then I figured 3 CS dinners, and then CS for my lunches. I was conservative here....figuring $7 for a meal and $2 for a drink, for 3 adults, and $4.50 for a kids meal for 2 kids (dd is an adult, but I figured kids meals for her CS)

The total was $1524, and we are paying $1350. And that's what we would pay WITHOUT the extras, like appetizers and desserts and snacks.

So, we purchased the plan.

Julia

 

[oots]

we also received a print out from the poly. we paid $700 for DP and used $888. we also spent about $250 out of pocket for other meals. I do believe that if we had not been on the dining plan we probably would not have (all 5 of us) ordered appetzr & dessert at each meal-some for sure.