help understand DDP and value

[kikiV]

I am going to DW for a timeshare week. We have the option to buy DDP. We've always been lousy eaters while on vacation, many days eating junk and no dinner. This year I would like to try a lot of the restaurants but then I think, wow, DH will order that $40.00 lobster if I give him the chance. So I started to think about the DDP. We could get some pretty nice meals out of it. I saw that snack meant basically fritos or a drink but then I read above on the DDP section lists of foods that are considered snacks and holy cow is that a wide variety. Is that list real?! Does anyone think that it is too much food to consume every day? Do you actually spend less money on food for the week doing it this way vs. buying food on a daily basis as you go? And is it hard to "wing it" for meals if you don't have ADR's and you need to eat at those specific restaurants? Just looking for some input if we should do it.
Thanks.

 

[Chellymouse]

We used the DDP for the same reason last year and we did eat MUCH better for MUCH less. However, with the changes from the 07 to the 08 plan...the jury is out. We are going to try it in Aug and if it's as bad as we've heard then we are going to cancel it for Dec. We normally budget $100 per day (for 2 adults) not using the DDP and found ourselves eating alot of junk with a few decent meals thrown in. We ate very well for $70 a day on the 07 plan without complaint. If you are trying to eat better for a reasonable cost, the DDP is worth it.

 

[kikiV]

I must have missed it. What have you heard about 2008?? We usually budget 100.00 per day for 2 adults and 2 kids so you can see why we eat lousy. Did you find that you had to be in the right place at the right time all the time to eat your meals?

 

[bumbershoot]

I must have missed it. What have you heard about 2008?? We usually budget 100.00 per day for 2 adults and 2 kids so you can see why we eat lousy. Did you find that you had to be in the right place at the right time all the time to eat your meals?

2008 does not include tips or appetizers (in 2007 it included both).

You get a table service credit, a counter service credit, and a snack credit per person per day with the current plan. As far as I understand it, and I might be grossly over or understating it, the meal credits include an entree and dessert, and I believe a non-alcohol-containing beverage.

Kids 3-9 have to order from the child's menu, if there is a child's menu at the restaurant you're eating at, to use their credits.

If you go through the menus found online and look at what you might eat, then compare that to the cost of the dining plan, you'll find out if it's worth it to you. Most people do find that you need to make ADRs, or Advance Dining Reservations, for the table service places, so you're not turned away because of no room when you go to eat at those places.

 

[Vavasmon]

I just finished my dining trip report using the DDP for 8 days. We had an ADR for a sit down dinner each night (we wanted a sit down meal). People were being turned away without reservations. I would have made the same ADRs if I was paying OOP. We did not change what we ordered or where we ate (some that was driven by last minute planning. I would have paid the same tips also). I left 10 snack credits on the card when we came home because we don't snack. Before selecting the DDP I did my own spreadsheet of possible meals per person, etc. I should also note my DD is 12 so she is an "adult" - but she eats the adult meal so I can't complain.

The entire report (with pics) including DDP value and OOP payments by day is: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1763042&page=1

My financial summary was:

We enjoyed being on the DDP and it was a good value considering we were paying holiday pricing for the buffets/family style locations. According to my spreadsheet we received 1144.47 worth of food from our DDP credits. This averages out to 47.69 per day per person (the plan is 37.99 per day). So we did save money using the DDP.

Had I of had the deluxe plan an additional 145.91 worth of cost would have been covered. I don’t think we would have ordered any more food – we were content at the meals. That 145.91 is the sum of all the breakfast meals, the appetizer at Raglan Road, and the two mugs. That would average to 53.77 a person so we would have lost money (that plan is 69.99).