From DxDp to DDP to No Dining? Thoughts?

[JJsmama]

We will be at the world this summer for 5 nights. I was planning to do DxDP and have made many ADRs. I wanted DxDP because I wanted to do HDDR, which we have never done, and character meals. I am still planning to do the TS meals, but wonder if DxDP is not the way to go since my 2 older sons are charged as adults, but don't eat like adults. They will eat entrees, drinks, shakes. Sometimes, we would probably split 2 entrees between us. Rarely appetizers. Never all three courses at one meal plus two snacks in between. Me neither - unless one was a light salad.

Then I decided to just do DDP, but that is not really right either. We do need to eat three times a day and I don't want most of those meals to be fast food. ALso, adding HDDR plus the third meal a day adds up to close to the amount to be on DxDP anyway, so I get back to feeling that I should just do DxDP.

It is not really about the money, but how the money is used.. Know what I mean? So, now I am thinking of putting the amount I would spend on DxDP on a gift card for myself and just using that to cover all meals and tips, snacks, etc. I do like the idea that it is paid for, so I don't start telling the kids "No" too much just because I chose not to do the dining plan.

Has anyone done this and how do you feel about it?

 

[deannanb]

we did the DXDP - and are doing it again this summer.
I had ADRs made for every meal - with a few counter meals planned.
we did HDDR and the Luau - and character breakfasts and at at Cali Grill.

as we needed I cancelled the ADRs and we ate counter service or TS at the Wave (stayed at CR).

Look at the menus for the places you have the ADRs made - and try to decide what your kids might eat (include HDDR) - what is the price difference? would staying on the DXDP allow your kids to try something they might not try? order one dish that they like and something they haven't tried before - the same with the appetizers. They don't have to eat all of the food - just try something new.

I did think sometimes we were going from meal to meal, but in general, it was nice to not worry about what we were going to eat because of prices.

 

[bookwormde]

I am in a little different situation, since I am DVC and can do DxDP on only part of my stay, but when I am doing 2 credit dinners I spread out the remaining credits by paying cash for my "light eaters" at the non buffet TS meals.

bookwormde

 

[Mrs D]

We will be at the world this summer for 5 nights. I was planning to do DxDP and have made many ADRs. I wanted DxDP because I wanted to do HDDR, which we have never done, and character meals. I am still planning to do the TS meals, but wonder if DxDP is not the way to go since my 2 older sons are charged as adults, but don't eat like adults. They will eat entrees, drinks, shakes. Sometimes, we would probably split 2 entrees between us. Rarely appetizers. Never all three courses at one meal plus two snacks in between. Me neither - unless one was a light salad.

Then I decided to just do DDP, but that is not really right either. We do need to eat three times a day and I don't want most of those meals to be fast food. ALso, adding HDDR plus the third meal a day adds up to close to the amount to be on DxDP anyway, so I get back to feeling that I should just do DxDP.

It is not really about the money, but how the money is used.. Know what I mean? So, now I am thinking of putting the amount I would spend on DxDP on a gift card for myself and just using that to cover all meals and tips, snacks, etc. I do like the idea that it is paid for, so I don't start telling the kids "No" too much just because I chose not to do the dining plan.

Has anyone done this and how do you feel about it?

I agree that the dining plans aren't an exact fit for everyone.

What I do when on the DDP is bring breakfast items or have a Garden Grocer delivery of breakfast items. We have cereal & milk, oatmeal, granola or cereal bars, bagels for breakfast in the room. If a morning snack is needed we grab it in the parks. A counter serve meal for lunch and a table serve meal for dinner. Sometimes the CS and TS meals are switched or we'll do the occasional TS breakfast. But typically breakfast is something quick in the room before we head out. So far that has worked well for us.

HTH!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We will be at the world this summer for 5 nights. I was planning to do DxDP and have made many ADRs. I wanted DxDP because I wanted to do HDDR, which we have never done, and character meals. I am still planning to do the TS meals, but wonder if DxDP is not the way to go since my 2 older sons are charged as adults, but don't eat like adults. They will eat entrees, drinks, shakes. Sometimes, we would probably split 2 entrees between us. Rarely appetizers. Never all three courses at one meal plus two snacks in between. Me neither - unless one was a light salad.

Then I decided to just do DDP, but that is not really right either. We do need to eat three times a day and I don't want most of those meals to be fast food. ALso, adding HDDR plus the third meal a day adds up to close to the amount to be on DxDP anyway, so I get back to feeling that I should just do DxDP.

It is not really about the money, but how the money is used.. Know what I mean? So, now I am thinking of putting the amount I would spend on DxDP on a gift card for myself and just using that to cover all meals and tips, snacks, etc. I do like the idea that it is paid for, so I don't start telling the kids "No" too much just because I chose not to do the dining plan.

Has anyone done this and how do you feel about it?

You don't "have to" order the appetizers on Deluxe if you don't want them. Look at what you will eat, what you'd pay for that, and then decide. With Disney adults that don't eat like Disney adults it may be best to pay OOP. But with character meals and HDDR they will be charged adult prices no matter what they eat so it may still work out in your favor. I too am considering DDP vs. Deluxe for our September trip since my Disney child will be almost a Disney adult and eats more than most kids meals provide, plus I have a Disney infant that can eat a regular kids meal on his own. I'm probably going to be paying for extra food OOP anyways, so I'm calculating which option is best for us too.