Help me feel better about not doing DP

[TDC Nala]

Another note about TIW....You can't use it at the counter service places in the parks.

You can at Animal Kingdom. Yak & Yeti CS excepted.

 

[Dean]

There are limited CS to use TIW, certainly not enough savings to justify the cost. TIW also provides some free valet parking in some cases. Both are specialty options IMO and for many I still believe that simply getting nothing is the cheapest and best options since DVC and the pass discounts cost nothing extra. But it does depend on the group and choices. For Signatures, TIW is by far the best option. If you have kids in the 3-9 group, DDP is often the best. For short trips with planning for the top places, DDP can be the best option as well. Everyone should look at their situation and decide. If it's about break even, stupid to commit to something that you can't get out of. Think if someone gets ill on your trip, that may change your plans.

 

[La2kw]

We are usually at WDW for two weeks straight, and eating out every meal for two weeks would be tiring and unhealthy. Plus, we have never spent as much money on food as we would have to spend if we purchased the DDP. We have been going to WDW for about 20 years, so we have plenty of experience with Disney. Using the TIW does save money. We definitely do not eat 3 desserts a day, which is what you get if you are like us and enjoy all the yummy pastries and treats like Dole Whips, french pastries, and funnel cakes, etc. With those treats, we rarely order desserts at restaurants. Frankly, the cs desserts are terrible now, compared to what they used to be before the DDP came to be.

We also eat a couple meals in our room, which is where the DVC kitchen is a plus. Breakfasts are always in the room, and we always take a picnic to the waterparks, which we visit at least 3 times during the two weeks we are usually at WDW.

 

[La2kw]

Another reason we don't use the DDP. We love HOB, the cuban sandwiches at Bongo's Cuban Cafe, the sundaes at Ghiradelli's, and the meals at Picabu. We also occasionally enjoy the RFC, Fulton's Crab House, and Bluezoo. None of those are on the DDP. DVC members get 20% off at HOB and many of the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin, 10% at Ghiradelli's, and 10% at RFC.

 

[Tiger926]

We are usually at WDW for two weeks straight, and eating out every meal for two weeks would be tiring and unhealthy. Plus, we have never spent as much money on food as we would have to spend if we purchased the DDP. We have been going to WDW for about 20 years, so we have plenty of experience with Disney. Using the TIW does save money. We definitely do not eat 3 desserts a day, which is what you get if you are like us and enjoy all the yummy pastries and treats like Dole Whips, french pastries, and funnel cakes, etc. With those treats, we rarely order desserts at restaurants. Frankly, the cs desserts are terrible now, compared to what they used to be before the DDP came to be.

We also eat a couple meals in our room, which is where the DVC kitchen is a plus. Breakfasts are always in the room, and we always take a picnic to the waterparks, which we visit at least 3 times during the two weeks we are usually at WDW.

We go for 2 weeks at a time too - we don't eat out every day and we only order what we can eat. Just because you are on a Dining Plan does not mean you have to eat 3 desserts per day - we never do that! We combine DxDP, DP, eating in room for breakfast (and occasional lunch when kids are napping or swimming), our own snacks, Signatures, use DVC/AP discounts and utilize concierge lounges. The biggest thing we do is spread the DPs out over the days of our stay, and this is great!

There are lots of options available, and that is why I never answer people when they ask if the DPs are good or not. It is not a black/white answer - there are so many variables that go into play. We don't eat junk food, drink pop, coffee/tea, eat fruits/veggies and drink lots of water while we are in WDW for 2 weeks, but the biggest factor is that we practice portion control and self limits. Whether we were paying OOP, TIW or DPs, we do this and this makes all the difference, IMHO.

As many others have said, it depends upon the make-up of your party, when you travel and how you eat/snack and perhaps whether you drink alcohol, as to whether TIW or DP is a better option. Trying to answer this question as a finite decision is not going to be easy though, as there are many other variables that go into play. Like I said, we just crunched the numbers (hubby is a banker and all about spreadsheets) and with only ordering an entree, 1 dessert for entire table to share, 1 kids meal (we have 2 kids) and no beverages (not even water), the TIW card costs more at every meal over the DP. When we throw in DxDP, it's an even bigger savings as we get appetizers if we want (these feed our hungry toddler), as well as bottled water. For our little family, the combination DxDP and DP is the best alternative - we've done DxDP for almost 2 weeks and it was a bit more than we needed (financially and snacks, etc.), DP is not enough as we like 2 TS meals per day, plus we don't care for CS at all. So, it's a combo scenario for us that saves us the most money, allows for 3 meals per day (we have low blood sugar), lots of snacks (most of which are used for water, fruit and occasional ice cream or pastry treat for a hungry kid) and this also allows us to eat in our villa as well!

There is something for everyone at Disney, so good luck to OP in making her decision. We've done it all in terms of eating, and we re-evaluate each and every trip based on all of the needs I've discussed.

Happy eating, Tiger

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

Hi...I'm new to the DVC side of the house!!

DH and I have been to WDW twice in the last year (ironically...both times for our weddings...one for us...one for the family). Anyway, we have incredibly stressful jobs (I spent last year in Iraq and he is there this year), so when we vacation at WDW, we like to do it in style. I LOVE the restaurants there, and eating is one of my favorite parts of a Disney vacation.

That being said, we did DP in June (when we "eloped") and I remember saying to DH (in somewhat of a food-coma one night) "never...deluxe...dining...plan...again!" It was WAY too much food, and we felt obligated to eat it all to "make it worth it."

In Jan, we bought our TIW card and LOVED that, because we got the discount and we had total flexibility to eat where and how much we wanted. It worked out great for us.

If you can get free DP...GREAT! Otherwise, I think TIW is the way to go, if you have that option. Or just split meals so you can taste a little of everything and not walk away feeling over-stuffed.

 

[edk35]

I have always been tempted to try the DDP but then like many others.....something just bugs me and we never do it. HOWEVER we are trying it for ONE night in July because I added a night to our trip before we check in on the villas side at BC. I think the true value of DDP was when they offered the appetizer and the tip was included. I can't seem to get over that whole dessert thing and like some have said on here.....we might want an appetizer at a TS meal and of course more money out of pocket. I do make ADR's but I also change a lot once I am there. I like the flexiblity of winging it sometimes too. We also like to eat our big meals sometimes at lunch and I don't think we would be getting the "value" out of the DDP by doing that.


I don't necessarily want to be cooking on our trip but we do eat a light breakfast in the room most mornings. My oldest son is a grazer so he tends to eat all day long a bit here and there so the DDP is not going to work for him either. One day when dh and I go solo without the kids to WDW...I could see us trying it. However right now....we are not too into the food scheduling thing. Sometimes my dh and sons want to grab counter service and my dd and I will make a lunch ressie somewhere.

THIS IS WHY I POSTED that thread last week ......my idea of the "Disney Dining Plan Designed By You". Where it would be nice to just have a few days on the DDP or mix it up and have a day or two of quick service. I wish we didn't have to stick to one plan the entire time. I would love to say "add 2 days of the DDP, 2 days of the Quick Service" and we will wing the other days. That way you could use the dining plan so that it works for you. More flexibility.

 

[pennst8r]

Has anyone else noticed that for TIW it says: Effective January 1, 2008 a charge of 18% gratuity will be added to all Tables in Wonderland transactions, regardless of party size.


All transactions.....does that include counter service?

 

[hakepb]

Actually, there are more places onsite that use the DP then the TIW card as you can only use the TIW card at a few CS places, but you can use DP at almost all CS places. Also, there are several major exclusions with TIW: blackout dates, holiday surcharges are applicable and several major restaurants such as Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo do not participate in TIW program. It seems most DVCers tend to favour the TIW card, but in many cases, it might not be the best savings, and so a careful look at menus and snacks is important when trying to make that decision. The other thing is the cost of the card and auto gratuity to consider.

Yes you are correct about limitations on the TIW card, but overall we get enough value in the TS locations we use TIW on to make it worthwhile. I think we maximize the TIW vs DDP by usually eating a TS breakfast (breakfast is cheaper making it bad value use of DDP, and I prefer to start my vacation days sleeping in and eating a proper breakfast), with a few dinners. There ar dinners that make DDP worthwhile (like LeCellier, but I could never get a resie there, so that comparison is pointless to me)

It might just be me, but I do not think I need to use my TIW card on every meal. To me it's my ticket to savings and freedom! (unlike DDP pre-paid dining where I think I must use DDP for all my food) YMMV

 

[hakepb]

Has anyone else noticed that for TIW it says: Effective January 1, 2008 a charge of 18% gratuity will be added to all Tables in Wonderland transactions, regardless of party size.


All transactions.....does that include counter service?

I never got charged a tip at AP (at SSR) last July with my DDE card...

 

[Hazzard101]

I've heard of children being defiant before, but I've never heard it used this way!!

Wow. tuff room. I am glade I dont make messtakes.

 

[TDC Nala]

Has anyone else noticed that for TIW it says: Effective January 1, 2008 a charge of 18% gratuity will be added to all Tables in Wonderland transactions, regardless of party size.


All transactions.....does that include counter service?

No, table service only. Tips are not expected for counter service.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

Wow, all great responses. I think everybody has to figure out what works for them. But the bottom line for us this year was that two of our four kids are adults in the eyes of Disney. They will never eat the kind of food you need to eat to make the DP worthwhile for us.

If Disney doesn't let my 12 & 10 year old eat off the kids menu we will be walking out of 3 reservations during our trip. They are pizza, mac-n-chz, chicken strip kind of kids, and if they are not allowed to order them we will have to leave. It should be interesting.

 

[Sherri]

I do love the DDP. We have gone all but once without it. I can see
both the advantages and disadvantages about both sides. It works best
for my family as far as knowing what we need to budget for. We are going
over Thanksgiving this year and going to use it again. The deciding factor this time was the fact that our airline tickets are much less than we anticipated, and we still have days on our passes, so dining will be our only major expense. In real life $40.oo a day per person seems like a lot, but in the World of Disney, it seems almost like a bargain to me.