Help Me Out - Am I Doing This Right?

[melomouse]

I need some math & method wizards to help me see if I'm doing the right thing for my January MYW package - DS' 16th birthday for 8 nights at WL.

Yes, we've done DDP - once three weeks ago and once for free a year ago. It works well for our little family - me and DD(11) and DS. For 2008, I won't miss the appy and figure that the tips will run an average of $28/meal - based on the fact that I was signing checks for up to $160 a night and CS for up to $45 - no gratuity on those.

These are our ADR's so far - and I planned on OOP for HDDR and CP:

Kona
Le Cellier
Spoodles
Teppan Edo
Crystal Palace
HDDR
Brown Derby
Ohana

What's my other option? Get an AP, get an AP room rate at WL and a DDE card?

I think that tho it's not as great a deal as '07 DDP, it's STILL a good value for my family. With DD getting a taste for steaks on vacation and DS already there - and fewer character/buffet meals in the mix - am I right on this?

What do you think?

 

[plutolovr]

I've done both, dining plan and DDE. Right now I prefer the DDE, but I have a couple of trips with a large group, so the DDE saved me a ton of money. It's also good for discounts on alcohol, but since your group is pretty young, that probably won't make much difference.

 

[melomouse]

LOL - Ya, plutolvr - it's just me. One lite beer or a glass of wine and that's it!! Wish that it were that I could hang with a group of friends and enjoy a couple of margaritas AND get a discount!!!!

 

[LizinSTL]

I need some math & method wizards to help me see if I'm doing the right thing for my January MYW package - DS' 16th birthday for 8 nights at WL.

Yes, we've done DDP - once three weeks ago and once for free a year ago. It works well for our little family - me and DD(11) and DS. For 2008, I won't miss the appy and figure that the tips will run an average of $28/meal - based on the fact that I was signing checks for up to $160 a night and CS for up to $45 - no gratuity on those.

These are our ADR's so far - and I planned on OOP for HDDR and CP:

Kona
Le Cellier
Spoodles
Teppan Edo
Crystal Palace
HDDR
Brown Derby
Ohana

What's my other option? Get an AP, get an AP room rate at WL and a DDE card?

I think that tho it's not as great a deal as '07 DDP, it's STILL a good value for my family. With DD getting a taste for steaks on vacation and DS already there - and fewer character/buffet meals in the mix - am I right on this?

What do you think?

I'd do the DDP. I'd pay OOP for Brown Derby (without the appetizer, it'll be a cheaper meal than HDDR.) That's the only OOP you'll need to do. The rest would total 8 TS credits, I think and you said you'd be there 8 nights.

Your cost for the ddp will be $911.76 for 24 TS credits, 24 CS credits and 24 snacks.

Value of snacks (figure an average of $3) $ 839.76 left
Value of CS meals (figure an average of $12) $551.76 left
HDDR @ 54.99 each (6 TS credits) $386.79 left
Ohana @ 26.99 each (3 TS credits) $306 left (oop $16 tip)
CP @20.99 (3 ts credits) $243.03 left (oop $12 tip)
I picked the lunch price since you didn't specify

So unless you think you can eat dinners at Kona, le Cellier, Spoodles, and Teppan Edo for less than $61 per restaurant(beverage, entree, dessert and tax for 3 people) then I think the DDP is going to be a winner for your family.

 

[melomouse]

Wow - Liz! You are a genius!!! That is exactly what I was looking for - someone to crunch numbers since I am math-challenged.

It seemed to work in my head but I was getting worried as we all do in this planning nonsense and I was 2nd guessing myself.

It's also hard because so many here are all ranting about the changes and that makes even me - lol the seasoned "vet" - question myself! While I understand DDP '08 doesn't work for lots of families, for mine it does.

Thanks for the validation and the "figurin'"!!!

 

[septbaby]

If you are checking out on the 2/1 then you only have 7nights so 7TS credits.

Jan 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31st

You are more Disney experienced than I, but do you really think you'll need those extra TS meals that will be OOP? We planned one, canceled on site and used a CS credit for that meal instead and we didn't even finish a shared breakfast platter!

You don't have any buffets, yet you have a 16yr old DS?

 

[melomouse]

Thank you so much!

Yes - it IS eight nights - check out is 2/2 - (told you I am math-challenged). Do I NEED the extra TS? No. DS just made a list of where he wanted to go and I booked!

And this is another great reason we have DIS boards!!!!! thank you