Hooray! I'm dropping the DDP!

[Antonia]

I know it sounds good and I was excited about it. However, it is just DH and me. We can eat late, early, whatever and we're just going to wing it. We are staying in a DVC villa and the DP would not be free to us anyway.
I feel so free! No more worrying about 10 TS credits, 10 CS credits, 10 snacks and if the menus have been changed due to free dining. I pretty much think for us, we'll break about even and now we can go with the flow. We do have some TS ADR's that we'll keep and we'll not worry about apps, entrees, desserts, etc. We'll order what we want when we want.
Now if it was free dining for us and we had a big family or kids that might be a different story.
I'm unbelievably happy to be OFF the DDP! My vacation's not all about eating anyway!

 

[KirstenB]

Amen sister! Having to be at a place at a certain time sounds way too much like work to me. I just like to eat when I'm hungry, and my wants are simple. BTW, we're DVC members too. With 2 young kiddos, we never eat in sit down restaurants anyway.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

I am probably not going to use the DDP again unless it is free too. My DD10 is way too picky and does not eat much. It is so hard choosing TS restaurants, I just don't know if it is worth all that time and effort.


We used to do all CS and 1 or 2 Ts before the DDP arrived and we survived just fine. I understand the way you feel and I know you'll have a magical vacation no matter what.

 

[Antonia]

I know I won't starve. And I feel like all the pressure is off. Like I said, I have a few ADR's if I need them. Plus we have a car - we can always go off-site. Seems like everyone else will be eating on-site!

 

[deany]

Much as I am going to enjoy the FREE DDP, I would never pay for it as we rarely take the time to sit down and eat TS every day. I have found it hard to predict where and when I want to eat months in advance.

 

[mrs_incredible]

I am so for ditching the dining plan!!! It was a great daeal, but it was EXHAUSTING!!!!!! We ran from park to park to resort trying to make our reservation times. We lost a lot of time during our last trip. My husband's main reson doe going to WDW is to eat, and he and I were honestly sick of eating by the end of our trip!! We ended up with extra table service credits by the end of out trip, so went went to Hoop Dee Doo! Next trip - room only with no dining!

 

[princesstigerlilly]

Once I decided to not go with the plan, I felt a sort of freedom, too!

 

[love~disney]

I agree with ditching the DP. There is no way my husband and I could eat all of that food or would want to. We are simple people who are not going to Disney for the food. I can't imagine trying to plan our fun around dining times. We eat when we are hungry not just because we planned it.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

OOP's (or non-DDPers?) UNITE!

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Dining Plan or not, I think you will still need ADRs. At times I'm sure there are certain restaurants that will be full and not taking walk ups. Unless you're just going to eat CS or whatever, then ignore the above advice. Either way, enjoy!

 

[mom2my3kids]

We decided not to do the plan also. I thought it was great idea, but after going over the menu's and deciding we didn't want to be tied down for so long every day with ts we opted out of it.

 

[Antonia]

Oh, I've got ADR's - just ditching the DDP!

Now my vacation seems like FUN! So if we want to keep a TS ADR fine, but we are not tied to so many TS credits. If we want to go off property to eat a meal, we can feel free to do so. If I don't feel all that hungry, I won't have to feel like I'm cheating myself out of something I've already paid for. I was starting to feel like I was going to be force-fed. Of course, if anyone on the DDP offers me their dessert, I might just take it.

 

[dznymom1]

I know what you mean! I booked it for our trip starting Thursday, and I already resent all the time and effort it took to book ADR's. I think I spent too much time on these boards and just got caught up in all the excitement! I am traveling with my sister and she is very excited so I am stuck with it, but I don't think I will do it again. I like my old method of calling in the morning to see if I could get in somewhere I wanted to go, and if not SO WHAT? Of course, I am also DVC and have the kitchen to fall back on.

If I see you anywhere Antonia, I will be happy to offer you my dessert. I figure by Day 3 I am gonna be stuffed and looking for excuses not to eat!

 

[estnh]

I am in complete agreement with you! We have used the DDP on our last two trips. The first time was great--it was like being a kid in a candy store! But by the second time, our vacation felt stifled by the regimentation of our meal reservations. It seemed like when we were hungry, we had no ADR, and when we had ADRs we didn't feel like eating.

Several times we also felt obligated to stop what we were doing (read that as having a good time!) to keep a ADR.

NO MORE DDP--its a vacation, not a trip to the mess hall!

 

[Cruz Family]

I know the dining plan is not for everyone but I just do not get this whole "freedom" thing. I mean it makes sense if you are going to do mostly CS dining, but other then that I do not see what the big deal is.
Some people are making such a big deal about "not being on the DDP" it makes me wonder if they are trying to convince themselves about all this so called "freedom" they will have.
I know I will have the "freedom" of going to many new restaurants and ordering just about any app., entree, dessert, and drink I want. As well as the "freedom" not to look or worry about the prices. We will also have the "freedom" to try new things and not worry we will be hungry if we do not care for them. We also have the "freedom" not to worry about tax and tip with every meal and when we have really great service I can take out a little cash and truly show a waiter/waitress how much I appreciate their efforts.
I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder!
Anyway have a great and "free" trip.

 

[princesstigerlilly]

I know the dining plan is not for everyone but I just do not get this whole "freedom" thing. I mean it makes sense if you are going to do mostly CS dining, but other then that I do not see what the big deal is.
Some people are making such a big deal about "not being on the DDP" it makes me wonder if they are trying to convince themselves about all this so called "freedom" they will have.
I know I will have the "freedom" of going to many new restaurants and ordering just about any app., entree, dessert, and drink I want. As well as the "freedom" not to look or worry about the prices. We will also have the "freedom" to try new things and not worry we will be hungry if we do not care for them. We also have the "freedom" not to worry about tax and tip with every meal and when we have really great service I can take out a little cash and truly show a waiter/waitress how much I appreciate their efforts.
I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder!
Anyway have a great and "free" trip.

I am one who mentinoned having a sort of freedom by not being on the DDP. I also added this guy, , because I said it sort of tongue in cheek. I suppose I struck a nerve as I read your post as defensive and I certianly didn't mean to pass judgement on those guests, like you, that go with the plan. I am sorry if I came across that way and you felt like you had to defend your choice my intention was to speak to the OP about her post and to let her know I identify with her, not to offend DP users.

Just as people eat different foods, people eat different ways. It's about what makes you happy. Not having the DP is good for me. Having the DP is good for you.

 

[Disneyenthusiast]

We also decided against the DDP. We will make ADRs, but mostly were interested in the 2TS places. For the price of 2TS, we can eat pretty much anything anyway. We only want to eat 1 large meal per day and nibble.

 

[eliza61]

Too rhe OP,
That's exactly why we don't do the DDP. We have teenagers who have a bit of freedom now to tour the parks and it is just to stressful trying to plan exactly where we going to eat. Especially since we go at a lighter time of the year we have a lot more fun.

 

[eliza61]

What I mean by freedom is simply not having to plan my day around my ADR's. I simply wake up and decide what park I want to go to and that's it. I see too many people saying "we have to be in so & so park at 6:00 oclock because we have dinner reservations" That's not a fun way for me to tour.

 

[DiszyDeanette]

I know it sounds good and I was excited about it. However, it is just DH and me. We can eat late, early, whatever and we're just going to wing it. We are staying in a DVC villa and the DP would not be free to us anyway.
I feel so free! No more worrying about 10 TS credits, 10 CS credits, 10 snacks and if the menus have been changed due to free dining. I pretty much think for us, we'll break about even and now we can go with the flow. We do have some TS ADR's that we'll keep and we'll not worry about apps, entrees, desserts, etc. We'll order what we want when we want.

I must have missed something. People on the DDP... worry about "apps, entrees, desserts, etc." They don't order what they want, when they want? Funny, without the DDP the only thing I would "worry" about was how much things cost. With the DDP my single worry was eliminated. But I guess if somebody actually got worried about appetizers, it would be best to drop the plan.