How many DVC'ers use DDP??

[dvcdisney]

We have used DDP since it was offered to DVC members. We are a family of 2adults and 2 children. We thought it was a great deal in the beginning. Then they changed it and although it didn't seem like such a great deal, we still did it. We used it on our last vacation about a month ago. We have a split vacation in the summer, so we have decided to get the DDP for one week and not for the other.

We have stayed in studios, 1 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms and not once have we used the stove or cooked anything. We do use the fridge for drinks and get milk, juice and water.

 

[lisa3635]

We use the dining plan. We have 1 child. We stay in studios. I've never stayed in a 1 or 2 bedroom. I don't like to cook on vacation. We look forward to going out to a nice sitdown dinner everynight. I feel like we'd only use a full kitchen water and soda. I think it would certainly make since for a large family. We also use the magic express so getting groceries can be expensive. if you drive or rent a car i think that makes a difference too.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Without children we sometimes use DDP. It's good for us at Christmas for the Candlelight Processional package, and Fantasmic Package. Otherwise, we're happy to use the TIW card which isn't valid for those two things.

We like eating at Artist Point, and I enjoy appetizers more than desserts in general, that's another reason that the TIW is better for us.

I'm trying the Quick service plan in June. I figure that since we're in a studio, we can get water, some cereal, banana as snacks, and I won't have to worry about bringing anything from home. It's going to be me and DH. Since the quick service meals also include a dessert, those things will suffice as snacks for me. It's a split stay, so I am satisfying our "need" for a LeCellier steak during the non-Quick service time!

Bobbi

I changed my dining plan from regular dining plan to the quick service. Its only for 3 days post my cruise...I'm hoping I can use a snack credit for those parfaits at Roaring Fork!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We used the DDP for the first time on our just completed trip. Since there were 7 adults in our party we thought it would work great. It worked out great for us.

 

[TagsMissy]

We'd definitely continue with counter service plan.... regular dining plan I am not certain -- we just found it was too much food for us to every day have a sitdown and counter -- plus we had to plan vacation around reservations and I don't like that.

 

[whamma]

We just got back from a 3/20-3/28 stay and used the DDP. We kept all of our receipts and I plugged everything into an Excel spreadsheet. We (me, DH, DS and DD 6 yrs old) spent almost exactly the same on the DDP as we would have if we'd paid out of pocket (without any discount) for the food we purchased using the plan.

Our 11-year-old son is a very picky eater so paying the adult rate for him doesn't pay off for us anymore. When we go again in July I'm thinking about trying TIW. Back in the day when I had 2 at the child rate AND tip was included--the DDP was a BARGAIN! But those days are gone.

 

[Dean]

I find that hard to believe! We did a very detailed accounting for two trips using DDP and two trips without DDP but using the TIW card instead. We came out $250 ahead of the game when we used the TIW card versus the DDP for us. We find we like to have appetizers instead of desserts, and we like the signatures as well as having a table service each day. We also do NOT use the counter service much, so we ended up way ahead using the TIW over the cost of the DDP. We wont be using the DDP ever again.

My assumption was they used the price paid vs the price the items they got would have cost. For most people a difference of $250 is NOT a savings of $250, often no where near. Would one have ordered the same choices on cash, what about other discount options (TIW, DVC, AP)? It might still be a reasonable choice but it WOULD NOT be a savings of $250 for 99% of people for the situation I described.

 

[Disneymom2266]

Our family has never done it, with 2 kids adult age, it would cost us $160.00 per day! I can`t see eating that much, plus when we drive, we like to go into Orlando and eat at a regular restaurant. We usually go for 8-10 days, so Disney food starts to all taste the same to us after awhile. Some days we eat a huge bfast and then snacks. The DDP to us makes you feel you have to eat so much. If I went by myself with friends, for $40 a day, it would be worth it.

 

[La2kw]

I can't believe you guys are complaining about too much food!!! My DH loves the food, I think the only reason he likes WDW!

We love the DDP we had used it on our three non-DVC vacations and will definately use it on our 1st DVC vacation.

Like others have posted I love the fact that your meal is paid for (except tip) and you basically can eat and go. No budgeting or worrying about running out of money. We get the basic DDP, which I feel has the right amount of food for our family.

Your meal is not paid for if you still have to leave the tip. That tip also varies depending on what you order, since tips should be based on what the meal would have cost you if you paid for it. I find it much more convenient to charge my meals to the room using my DDE card for a discount. After all, even with the DDP, you still have to pay for the food. I just pay at the end, instead of in advance. I can eat at a TS restaurant if I want. I can eat an appetizer if I want. I can eat three appetizers and no entree if I want. I can eat an appetizer and three desserts if I want. I can eat every meal at TS if I want. I can eat 0 meals at a TS if I want. I don't have to eat what Disney says I should, I can eat what I choose to eat. To me, that's convenience.

 

[La2kw]

Our family has never done it, with 2 kids adult age, it would cost us $160.00 per day! I can`t see eating that much, plus when we drive, we like to go into Orlando and eat at a regular restaurant. We usually go for 8-10 days, so Disney food starts to all taste the same to us after awhile. Some days we eat a huge bfast and then snacks. The DDP to us makes you feel you have to eat so much. If I went by myself with friends, for $40 a day, it would be worth it.

We feel exactly the same way. $160/day is what it would cost us. For 14 nights, that's $2240! In the 20+ years we have been going to WDW, I have never spent that much on food.

Some of our favorite places to eat aren't even on the DDP. Ghiradelli's, HOB, Bongo's, RFC, Picabu, and BlueZoo aren't on the DDP. Sorry, but we can't survive without our Ghiradelli sundaes!

We also enjoy heading offsite for a couple meals. We enjoy Qdoba, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Whataburger, Jersey Mike's, Panera Bread, and BJ's Brewhouse. We also enjoy Emeril's, Tchoup-Chop, and Margaritaville at Universal.

 

[christianweecare]

Do we use the plan?

Most of the time unless we have a very brief stay (over night).

DH & I own at SSR. We take trips by ourselves and with extended family. We like having access to the dining plan.

We mainly stay in studios when we stay.

 

[edk35]

We have used both the regular DDP and the Quick Service. With the DDP, we felt too tied down to our reservations even though on previous trips we had always had about 1 TS per day. I think it was a mental thing but regardless, it added a stress to the trip we never had before.

We just used the new QS plan and that was much easier and worked very well for us. We have 3 adult(1 DD is 10) and 1 child. The selection was much better than expected and we save quite a bit of money. It was nice for each of us to have a cup and to get snacks and not worry about the $$ adding up. We will probably do it again next time.

How long were you there using the quick service plan?? Did it get old?? What places did you eat at and did you eat at any TS out of pocket?? Thanks

 

[edk35]

I changed my dining plan from regular dining plan to the quick service. Its only for 3 days post my cruise...I'm hoping I can use a snack credit for those parfaits at Roaring Fork!

Hey Hope...let me know how you like the quick service. I am sorta on the fence about that one too. I think my boys would would like that plan the best. I mean even if we did one or two table service meals it would work out better in the long run.

 

[edk35]

I think this could be possible, depending upon the ages of the kids. As we've already discussed, if you have kids 3-9 years old, then the DP is more than likely going to be better, especially the DxDP. You have to factor in that savings into the mix as well.

I will admit though, that the regular DP since they changed it by removing tips and appetizers, isn't as much of a savings as it once was, but it still is a savings.

We have just done extensive spreadsheets comparing DP, combo of DP & DxDP, TIW and DxDP, and for us as 2 adults, 6 year old and 2 year old, the DxDP is the way to go. The TIW card, actually will cost us several hundred dollars more over the DxDP and that is because snacks aren't covered, as well as the fact that we would need to purchase kids' meals for our very hungry toddler, but with DxDP, we can use the appetizers for that.

It really does depend upon the situation, but for us, we only order what we can eat, and so we only compare apples to apples, so in our comparisons where the TIW card would cost quite a bit more, that was only ordering base meals, no beverages, 1 kids' meal and 1 appetizer or additional kids' meal for the baby, and the TIW card still comes out to be a lot higher for our family situation (we also do not drink alcohol, so we wouldn't be using if for that either).

Good luck to all - it seems so many DISers don't care for the Dining Plans, and always seem to favour the TIW (we've used it 2x now), and in our opinion, it's not that simple.

The good thing is that Disney offers so many dining choices now, that there is bound to be something to fit most family's needs.

Tiger

Yeah I just wish they had a mix of plans for one stay. I would try it for sure then. It would be nice to have a couple of days with the DDP, the QSP and then just wing the rest. Oh well.....

 

[saremca]

We don't eat enough to justify it, so no.

 

[Hopefully]

We have always used the plan, but I was unsure about our upcoming trip.
For sure it was a bargain when it included appetizers and tips and I believe we saved money, but at any rate we liked the convenience it offered, plus DH likes the fact that it is paid in advance. (At that time we were booking DVC through CRO).
After much thought and research for our upcoming trip we have decided to go with the basic DDP AND the TIW card. This trip we will be 4 adults. We will use the TIW to cover the occasional (or frequent ) appetizers and the "adult" beverages in the evening. Also, since we will be attending the F & W event we will be able to use our snack credits for food samples, which is a good deal for us.
We may not save much, but it works for how we normally eat and we enjoy it.
I will order breakfast items, water, juice, soda, beer, wine and some snacks from wegoshop.com for breakfast and snacks in the afternoon.
Also we plan to go to Vero Beach next fall and the TIW will still be good to use there.
HTH

 

[eliza61]

I tried the DDP once, never again

• At best it saves my family of 4 $75.00 really not all that much
• still had to pay oop for too many things
• Hated to have to constantly think "Is this on the dining plan or Can I use the dining plan at a signature restuarant?"
• If we changed our minds and wanted to skip our TS meal, I hated the "but we can't skip it or we waste the TS credits" feeling.

I know some people can plan their restuarants to maximize the credits but thats not me so it just didn't save me all that much money to make it worth the time.

 

[jgazda]

We are using the deluxe on our upcoming trip and if we order what I think we are going to order (thanks allears) it will have saved us a bundle. We can share apps/entree's with our two year old and not have to order her anything extra.