Help, Is DDP A Good Deal

[luvindisneyworld]

This would be our first time using the plan and I am trying to figure out if it would be a good deal for us.
It would be just be me and DH and I am wondering if it is a better deal to do the DDDP or the regular DDP.
We love all restaurants and we love trying new things and have been many times so we dont worry about being rushed.
We would love to eat at Jikos,CG and places like that but we also like all the restaurants that just take one credit also.

So I dont know what do to about it or to even worry about it .

So would you please tell me your experiences with it and if you really saved any money?

Thanks

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Last year, it was just DF and me and we found the DDP to be a great deal for us. This year, not so much so we'll be passing on it. It did save us some money, and while I agree the appetizers more often than not went to waste, it just felt like all we were doing was eating all day long and trying to use our credits.

In retrospect, I think I'd rather pay a little more and not feel obligated to eat because there's a credit to use.

 

[TDC Nala]

It can be. If you don't have any young children (much better deal for them) and you plan on eating at table service daily, it can work out for you. (The tip isn't included anymore, so it's not that big a bargain for anyone who would be happy with counter service. If you want table service, you'd be paying tips even if you paid for the meal out of pocket).

With the basic plan you'd get an entree and a dessert. If you planned on ordering entrees and desserts anyway, you'd make out pretty well on the dining plan. If your usual way of eating would be to skip the dessert, not so good. If you plan on ordering appetizers with every meal, plus dessert, and eating at a lot of 2 credit places, you should look at the deluxe plan.

If you want appetizers but not desserts, and you're not interested in counter service, then it might be better to pay as you go.

 

[Tricia1972]

It can be. If you don't have any young children (much better deal for them) and you plan on eating at table service daily, it can work out for you. (The tip isn't included anymore, so it's not that big a bargain for anyone who would be happy with counter service. If you want table service, you'd be paying tips even if you paid for the meal out of pocket).

With the basic plan you'd get an entree and a dessert. If you planned on ordering entrees and desserts anyway, you'd make out pretty well on the dining plan. If your usual way of eating would be to skip the dessert, not so good. If you plan on ordering appetizers with every meal, plus dessert, and eating at a lot of 2 credit places, you should look at the deluxe plan.

If you want appetizers but not desserts, and you're not interested in counter service, then it might be better to pay as you go.

I agree with what she said.

Well put!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Okay one more question.
If say we wanted to get one app and then one dessert would we be able to do that instead of us both getting desserts. We always do that around here and share each thing. Instead of doing 2 of each.I am asking about just the regular DDP. Or have they completely stopped the apps all together.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Okay one more question.
If say we wanted to get one app and then one dessert would we be able to do that instead of us both getting desserts. We always do that around here and share each thing. Instead of doing 2 of each.I am asking about just the regular DDP. Or have they completely stopped the apps all together.

They don't allow any substitutions and they've been pretty strict on this policy. The reason is that desserts are more cost effective for them and if they allowed people to get an appetizer and dessert and split, the table turnover rate would be slower.

 

[Surr]

Okay one more question.
If say we wanted to get one app and then one dessert would we be able to do that instead of us both getting desserts. We always do that around here and share each thing. Instead of doing 2 of each.I am asking about just the regular DDP. Or have they completely stopped the apps all together.

No, the plan does not allow apps at all. You would have to pay for the app if you want it. You could only order one desert, but one is included for each person.

I am with you though. I would rather share the app, and share a desert.

 

[TDC Nala]

According to some posts we saw here at the beginning of the year, substitution of appetizers for desserts on the basic plan is not permitted. Allowing substitutions would negate the entire reason for eliminating the course from the basic plan in the first place.

At buffets, the DDP credit is good for the full buffet. At fixed-price, set menu meals (in locations where ONLY the fixed price, set menu meal is offered, like Ohana or CRT) you would get appetizers if they're included with the meal. At regular-menu places, adults are no longer entitled to an appetizer under the basic plan - just the deluxe.

 

[Tricia1972]

They don't allow any substitions and they've been pretty strict on this policy. The reason is that desserts are more cost effective for them and if they allowed people to get an appetizer and dessert and split, the table turnover rate would be slower.

This is correct.

They have stopped appetizers all together on the regular DDP. Any appetizer has to be paid for Out Of Pocket (OOP)

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Well now that just stinks that is just Ridiculous .
Okay well I am going to have to see what DH says about this.
I think there should be a choice of the 2,but oh well my opinion doesnt mean anything now does it?
We like desserts but we never order 2 and we never order to appetizers either.

 

[TDC Nala]

Allowing a choice would also negate the faster table turnover and larger restaurant capacity per serving period they achieved from eliminating a course. People would do what you want to do - order one of each and share. Might as well offer three courses and up the price.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Well they have really already uped the price anyway taking away the gratuities and having to order dessert.
I still would not have a problem then bringing up the price a bit and offering both or even just a choice of the two.

Allowing a choice would also negate the faster table turnover and larger restaurant capacity per serving period they achieved from eliminating a course. People would do what you want to do - order one of each and share. Might as well offer three courses and up the price.

 

[TDC Nala]

The deluxe plan offers both for a higher price. What posters appear to want is last year's plan back again. They want all 3 courses but don't want to pay for the deluxe.

I'd think it'd be feasible for them to put all 3 courses back into the basic plan and raise the price about 5-10 bucks. If WDW decides that's what people want, they may do it. They'd have to give up the lower price point, so they couldn't really market it as "affordable for families" anymore. as for the included tip, personally I don't see that coming back.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

I am just thinking that the Deluxe would just be to much for us,I dont want to feel like that I am eating the whole trip to just to feel like I am eating what I paid for.
I dont know I am going to really have to research this.

The deluxe plan offers both for a higher price. What posters appear to want is last year's plan back again. They want all 3 courses but don't want to pay for the deluxe.

I'd think it'd be feasible for them to put all 3 courses back into the basic plan and raise the price about 5-10 bucks. If WDW decides that's what people want, they may do it. They'd have to give up the lower price point, so they couldn't really market it as "affordable for families" anymore. as for the included tip, personally I don't see that coming back.

 

[Tricia1972]

I am just thinking that the Deluxe would just be to much for us,I dont want to feel like that I am eating the whole trip to just to feel like I am eating what I paid for.
I dont know I am going to really have to research this.

Not sure if I sent this to you already, but I have a DDP document in Excel.

What you do is go through the menus of the places that you plan to eat at and enter what you want to eat.

You also need to make a few adjustments to the formulas so your number of days on the DDP or DxDDP are figured correctly. I have instructions on how to do that in the email that comes with the attachment.

What it does for you is calculates the cost OOP including tax and gratuities. It compares this cost to the cost of the DDP and DxDDP and tells you which is the best deal for you.

It figures things like the appetizer is not included on the DDP, but is on the DxDDP, and even adds in the average snack costs for you (OOP, DDP and DxDDP)

Let me know if you'd like a copy of the spreadsheet, I'd be happy to send it to you. Just PM your email address to me.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

Well, we're actually going to be saving money with the regular DDP. Our trick is to go to restaurants where we get the most bang for the buck. And we do not use our table service ADRs on breakfast, but only use them on the restaurants that make economic sense.

For us, we don't need the appetizer. We like the desserts, though. And we mix in buffets and all-you-can-eat meals.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Yes that would be good,Thanks.
mistycaldwell@charter.net

So do we have to pay tax and gratuity also? I know about tip but not sure about tax.

Not sure if I sent this to you already, but I have a DDP document in Excel.

What you do is go through the menus of the places that you plan to eat at and enter what you want to eat.

You also need to make a few adjustments to the formulas so your number of days on the DDP or DxDDP are figured correctly. I have instructions on how to do that in the email that comes with the attachment.

What it does for you is calculates the cost OOP including tax and gratuities. It compares this cost to the cost of the DDP and DxDDP and tells you which is the best deal for you.

It figures things like the appetizer is not included on the DDP, but is on the DxDDP, and even adds in the average snack costs for you (OOP, DDP and DxDDP)

Let me know if you'd like a copy of the spreadsheet, I'd be happy to send it to you. Just PM your email address to me.

 

[Tricia1972]

Yes that would be good,Thanks.
mistycaldwell@charter.net

So do we have to pay tax and gratuity also? I know about tip but not sure about tax.

Tax is only if you're paying OOP. In order to most fairly compare the plans you need to add tax to your OOP cost. The Spreadsheet will do that for you.

Tax is included with the cost of the DDP and the DxDDP.

 

[byoung]

Yes now a good deal, last year a great deal!

 

[TDC Nala]

The 2008 basic dining plan includes tax. It does not include gratuities. The appetizer has been removed for adult table service meals.

While you can get the appetizers with the deluxe plan, it also does not include gratuities. I do believe both plans include tax.