Has anyone cancelled DDP and NOT regretted it?

[gardendame]

I am stressing over the DDP. This will be our first trip ever to WDW. Many trips scheduled and cancelled due to health issues with 2 of the 3 children. I was so excited when the DP was made available, but now I am having second thoughts.

I have had to struggle to make what few ADRs we have and am still not happy with the choices. The only two places for certain we definitely wanted to try were Chef Mickeys and LTT, both of which are not available during our stay. The person helping us with our ADRs was really, really trying to be helpful. He kept asking which park we would be in on which day. I felt like an idiot by saying "we don't know." When I did make a few ADRs, I have found myself having to schedule just about every minute of every day, just to accomodate the DDP. This is NOT my idea of a vacation.

We are not a list-following, over-scheduled family, especially on vacation. We do not know our way around the different parks, and I certainly have no clue as to how long it takes to get from point "A" to point "B". I'd hate to be in the middle of having a wonderful time at, say, MK, and realize that we have 1/2 hour to make it across the world to our ADRs far, far away.

Since we can't get the ADRs we want, and the children's menu has changed, I am beginning to think that the DDP is not for us. Maybe we would be better off just walking into a counter-service place when we collectively agree that it is time to eat. I hate the idea of playing "Beat the Clock" at the happiest place on earth!

I know for some families the DDP is a real budget saver. I am really torn on what to do. At this point (4 weeks out) if I cancel the DDP, I will lose $50 as it is within the 45 day deadline.

Thoughts and opinions needed (and a little pixie dust wouldn't hurt!)

 

[Aimeedyan]

It doesn't sound like it's for you, either. Not everyone enjoys a table service meal each day. If you don't, the DDP is not a good choice.

I don't see how making dining reservations is somehow unique to having the DDP - we have always made reservations for where we wanted to eat, regardless of how we were going to pay for it. We did the DDP just once, because it was free, but that didn't change our touring plan - it just changed the way we paid the bill at the end of the meal!

It's only a budget saver if you regularly eat a table service each day or desire to eat one. If you are happy grabbing a sandwich at a CS spot on the run, then it's not worth the hassle IMO.

 

[everest]

I think only you can answer your question as far as is it right for your family. Something I have seen in other threads is the we don’t want to run across the park to catch dinner and I can tell you I would rather do that than stand around and wait for a table because I didn’t have a reservation. You mentioned maybe more CS spots will work for your family and that might be good for your family if neither of the above situations appeal to you. It certainly is not for everybody, but my family really enjoyed the convenience of the DDP and the preset times for dinning were something we looked forward to and didn‘t need to plan while we were there.

 

[neatokimmo]

We were there for 6 days and if we didn't have the structure of TS planned out some, then we would of spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to do for the day. The trip was for my mom and you would of heard "Mom, where would you like to go today?"- "Oh I don't know you pick" - "No it's your trip you pick" - blah blah blah

We also didn't mind the extended downtime, it was hot and we were tired.

Good luck in whatever you choose - Kim

 

[gardendame]

Thanks everyone. I was just venting.

It isn't that we don't enjoy TS - we love it. And the downtime would be relaxing. But not being able to get the TS meals we want kind of zaps the motivation. Then, scheduling undesired TS just for the sake of using our credits seems kind of crazy.

My point is, I'm not sure if I want to stop having fun just to hitch a ride across the park to have a meal somewhere I didn't really want to go in the first place.

I'll sleep on it tonight and decide in the morning. Maybe I'm just disappointed that I don't get to go to Chef Mickey's

 

[Traveliz]

Good luck with you decision but in the meantime call every day -- twice a day - whatever - and keep trying for Chef Mickey's - things change all the time!

Liz

 

[LisaMaz]

I'll sleep on it tonight and decide in the morning. Maybe I'm just disappointed that I don't get to go to Chef Mickey's

Just curious when exactly do you want chef mickey's?

 

[ep4244]

Howdy Gardendame -

Here's my suggestion - I only make TS ADR's for first thing in the morning or dinner time so we don't have to stop mid-day to run to a restaurant, we can start or end our day with a great meal and enjoy non-stop fun the rest of the day.

 

[robinb]

You're 4 weeks out and you still don't have a plan for your parks? That is your first item of business. Then you will know if you will be in Epcot, MGM or the MK on a particular day. That comes FIRST and then the ADRs come next. Of course, if you find that a particular ADR can only be had on a certain day you need to be flexible.

Good luck!

 

[gardendame]

Just curious when exactly do you want chef mickey's?

We will be there 11/19 through 11/25. At this point, I am asking them for anything that is available on any of those days. So far, nothing. I plan to keep trying.

 

[gardendame]

You're 4 weeks out and you still don't have a plan for your parks? That is your first item of business. Then you will know if you will be in Epcot, MGM or the MK on a particular day. That comes FIRST and then the ADRs come next. Of course, if you find that a particular ADR can only be had on a certain day you need to be flexible.

When I made our original reservations (years ago, before the health issues began) there was no dining plan and we were told to begin making ADRs for character meals 90 days out. The trip kept getting pushed back and rescheduled. This time, we finally made it to the 90 day mark and I began on that day trying to get ADRs. I began calling first thing that morning. I knew we would be there for Thanksgiving and wanted LTT. I knew (at that time) that I wanted Chef Mickeys on the evening of our arrival. Neither one was available and I was told at that time that I should have began calling 180 days out! Huh???? Big difference between 90 and 180 days! Plus, now thanks to the DDP, not only do the character meals book up early, but so does every meal of every day.

We did not want to go to Disney Comando Style, nor did we want to have to micro-manage our vacation. So, the limit to our planning was to arrive at the world, check into our hotel, and have dinner at Chef Mickey's. We would watch the fireworks, then take a ride on the monorail before calling it a night. We were going to eat at LTT for Thanksgiving and spend that day at MK. That was going to be the limit to our planning.

We will be at Wolfgang Puck for Thanksgiving. I am sure it will be fine. My point is that this is a restaurant we would never have considered going to, so I feel as though I am throwing a table service credit away. Sort of like - let's say you are going to see a movie - something you have been dying to see. You get to the theatre and that particular movie is sold out. Your choices are to either see a movie you never would have seen in the first place, or go home and rent a DVD.

At this point, I would much rather grab a turkey leg off of a cart in the park and say "Happy Thanksgiving" than stop what I am doing and go to Downtown Disney just to have lunch at a restaurant I really can't get excited about.

Good news on LTT. When I called again last night and said I would take anything available during that week, I was told that lunch was available every day that week except for Thanksgiving!! I don't know if that many cancellations were made, or if the other people helping me weren't really looking that hard.! LOL Anyhow, we get to go to LTT We won't be there for character dining, but at least we will be at one of the places we wanted to have TS.

I'll keep trying for Chef Mickey's!

 

[gardendame]

Howdy Gardendame -

Here's my suggestion - I only make TS ADR's for first thing in the morning or dinner time so we don't have to stop mid-day to run to a restaurant, we can start or end our day with a great meal and enjoy non-stop fun the rest of the day.

Howdy! I really like your suggestion. Thanks!

 

[gardendame]

UPDATE!!! Called first thing this a.m. and got ............(drum roll)......

CHEF MICKEY!!!!!!!

Got it for 8:50 in the evening, but that is just fine!!! Things are looking up

 

[robinb]

We did not want to go to Disney Comando Style, nor did we want to have to micro-manage our vacation. So, the limit to our planning was to arrive at the world, check into our hotel, and have dinner at Chef Mickey's. We would watch the fireworks, then take a ride on the monorail before calling it a night. We were going to eat at LTT for Thanksgiving and spend that day at MK. That was going to be the limit to our planning.

I understand not wanting to "Commando" but this is your very first trip to WDW and you are falling into the most common Newbie mistake. Waiting until you're there to make a plan. IMO, failing to plan at WDW is a plan to fail. Especially during a busy time like Thanksgiving.

There is a huge difference between being a park commando (ala The Unofficial Guide) and having a basic park plan. You have everything you need at your fingertips to choose a park (or two) per day and to put some of the big events in a time slot. You should know when to see the Wishes, when to see SpectroMagic, when to see Fantasmic! and when to see IllumiNations before you arrive.

You will want to do this very basic planning even if you do not go with the Dining Plan. It is far too over overwealming to make plans once you get there. Walt Disney World is a huge place, you will be excited, the kids will be excited and you will get pages and pages of brightly colored information to wade through when you arrive. Believe me! You won't want to wade through everything when you get there. You'll want to experience the magic right away!

So ... please take my advise (or start another thread on the Theme Parks and Strategies Board if you want others opinions too ) and make a plan. Also, plan on going to the parks early and taking a mid-day break for your kids.

As for Thanksgiving, have you seen this?
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/men_thks.htm
Perhaps you can choose a more traditional meal somewhere else.

The Dining Plan may not be for you, but I think that it would be one less thing to worry about with 2 kids with diabetes.

ETA: Yay for Chef Mickeys!!!!

 

[everest]

Keep calling everyday to see if you can get a time that best suites you. Also robinb really is giving you good advice. I will also beg you to at least make a basic plan, because I want you to come back and say you had a great time and not one of those who come back and say we were overwhelmed and we will not be going back!

 

[rlduvall]

UPDATE!!! Called first thing this a.m. and got ............(drum roll)......

CHEF MICKEY!!!!!!!

Got it for 8:50 in the evening, but that is just fine!!! Things are looking up

Way to go girl!!!

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

The first thing you have to do is make a plan of what park you will be in on which day. There are people who can advise you as which park would be best. I use Tour Guide Mike's Plans to help me pick my park (he gives you his advice as to which parks are good to go to and which to avoid by your specific dates) but there is advice on this board and other sources too. If you use TGM you buy this online and will have your scheduling done very quickly. One piece of advice I can give you from my own experience with kids is to go the the MK very early...as soon as it opens or a little earlier. You can do so much before the crowds come in. We usually switch parks after that. You also need to know what attractions are open and which ones you should go to first. It sounds stressful but if you do your homework now it will be much more relaxing when you get there. We usually pick the Epcot mornings to sleep a little later. The park is so large it is a little more forgiving of late risers

That being said we stay on property and so I book dinners just by where we want to go. It doesn't matter which park we will be at earlier. We go back to the resort for some rest and relaxation and then go to dinner. Are you staying on property? I would book meals as you are going during a busy time and with two diabetic children you need to know you have a place to sit down and eat. Dinner is the easiest to schedule. From there you can decide if you want counter service for lunch or a sitdown lunch or would rather have a character breakfast( you dont need a full lunch after these).

The DDP is just a way to pay for things, the above needs to be done whether you buy the DDP or not. The only negative I see is if you dont want to use CS very often then perhaps it would be better to skip it. I personally dont really like CS but think I am going to give the DDP a try anyway and have picked out a few CS's that dont appear to be too bad. Good luck , I will be glad to help you in more detail if you would like.

 

[kath1210]

The first thing I do when planning my Disney trips is make a chart with 7 columns, one each for date, crowd level, recommended park(s) to visit, parks to avoid, dining plans, and EMH. If you PM me your e-mail address, I'll send you my template.

Then, I look at the Touring Plans website to fill in the crowd level, recommended parks and parks to avoid columns for each date. I then look at the WDW website to get the regular and extra magic hours for the parks. Then I use this information to plan what parks we'll visit each day. Then I make my ADRs.

Honestly, unless I am sure that I'll be staying at the parks late, I generally make ADRs early or late, and at the resort restaurants, so they do not interfere with our playtime at the parks. If I make ADRs for restaurants in the parks, I try to make them for about the time I figure we'll be done with that park.

It almost sounds like you started a little backwards, trying to make ADRs before you knew where you were going. It's not too late! Have a great trip!

 

[Jake & Crew]

No stress!! This is FUN!!

That said, would plan which park (Tour guide MIke worth the $20 for this!)

Simple: if 1st day MK/MGM/Epcot good in the am , you chose which park ~ don't get wrapped in which rides in which order since that is not your families (or my dh 's) style too stressful. Once you have the park, look at the rests and pick the one you think you want ~ you can change this as your vaca goes forward!!!

Main thing is the $$. we went for 3 days in May ( 2 adults/2 kids) $200 in cash for food & incidentals for EACH DAY ~ pictures of splash moutain etc ( and we did not souvenier shop with this money). We spent ALL the $$ ~the least expensive meal we had was burgers & fries at MK for $35 (no wine mind you) oh, and each day we had one meal paid for (CRT bkfst one day, AK breakfast one day and the Poly Aloha show the third).

Bottom line, less stress ~ SAVE your money and do the dining plan! Have fun ~ this is a GREAT trip

 

[chrissyk]

We just returned from doing DDP on an 8 night trip, and we'll never do it again. I don't know if we have it booked for Thanksgiving or not (can't remember), but I'll be calling DVC Member Services in the AM to make sure that it's cancelled if it is on there. The food was SO BAD and the service was worse DH and I were so bummed, because we really liked a lot of the places we went to on the DDP in the past. I won't regret cancelling the DDP off of every future trip from now on.