Help choosing package

[Nana2Callie]

I'm not sure where to post this, but I'm on the fence about a current package that I have booked at POP which includes resort, tickets and dining plan (we have an 11 year old so paying adult price for dining) and am really on the fence about the dining being cost effective. We do character meals almost every day and enjoy the snacks. But, I could do POP and tickets with the current offer and get a room discount. Help me figure this out please... thanks.

 

[minnie mum]

Sorry, but there's really no way for anyone to help you with this. You need to do the Disney math to see what works best. Much depends on the places you want to eat at. Here's a link to a dining calculator that can help:

http://www.distripplanner.com

PS: we've never been able to save any money with the DDP. We are 2 adults, and the DDP is a poor fit for the way we prefer to dine. I'll take a decent room discount any day.

 

[Serenebean]

Agreed that there is no right answer for everyone, but in addition to using the dining calculator, take into account what your nightly rate is and what the discount would be and compare to the DP cost. For example - we went and stayed at Caribbean Beach where the room was $130ish per night...20% off of that was only like $26. The DP per adult is $60.81 per day, so that was a good deal. We just went and stayed at the contemporary and got a room discount which was way more valuable than a free dining plan. I planned on adding up our receipts from the trip we just took without the DP and seeing how we did, but I think its really a wash in most cases. I especially do not like that everyone "has" to get a dessert and it drives up the bill and jacks up tax/gratuity, etc. Yes I know you dont really have to get the dessert, but people probably feel like they should since it is included.

I'd also consider based on your number of nights, would you be needing to pay OOP for anything? That is where the calculator link above helps. Also, do you find yourself ordering appetizers that arent included? As much as people like snacks, I have been floored lately with people posting pictures bringing home 45 snacks because they had extra snack credits or QS that they converted to three snacks.