How many OOP meals on DDP??

[NJDisneymom]

If you've done the regular DDP in the past, do you ever pay OOP for other meals?? Or is the 1 TS, 1 CS and 1 snack enough.

I had about 14-15 ADR's booked originally (wasn't sure which DP if any we were going to do) but only have 8 nights of TS credits so I managed to narrow it down and I currently have 9 TS ADR's but may add 1-2 more (probably just 1 more). I ran the numbers and it is NOT at all cost effective for us to do the DxDDP. Looks like my cheapest meal booked so far is about $80 for the 5 of us so I'm thinking that would be the one I'd pay out of pocket for.

Just curious if most people who do the dining plan stick with just that or end up paying OOP for a meal or two???

 

[catne]

We rarely buy any extra meals when we get the DDP...generally, we stick with the plan ...basically we use the counter service for lunch and the TS for dinner. We get a large pastry at resort bakery or park bakery & save overnight (in a 2 gallon ziplock)...then we have that pastry & in-room coffee for breakfast. We may take a box of cheese/cracker sandwiches and a box of breakfast bars to supplement for snack, but usually end up bringing most of those home.

We occasionally buy a bottled water, but more often at lunch counter service, one of us gets a soda and the other gets a bottled water as the DDP beverage. We split the soda and take the bottle with us in the park.

Very rarely we buy a snack in the parks (like a Dole Whip) but most of the time we're plenty full between meals to not need a snack.

When we do DxDP, it is fun, but it is too much food. We do like to use DxDP when we're there for just a couple of nights...and then we use the credits to do one signature meal & one regular TS per day (so it's still only 2 meals in the day) We end up using most of the snacks up on the last day to take treats home.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We have traveled to WDW 7 times with the Basic DDP - 1TS, 1CS and 1 Snack and I don't think we have ever done any OOP meals. We usually bring cereal/granola bars, donut or something quick to eat for breakfast when we are heading out for the buses, we do CS for lunch and TS for dinner. Sometimes we will use Snack credits for breakfast items and then split snacks and drinks in the afternoon. Really, I think the DxDDP is a waste of money unless you are doing mostly signature/2 TS meals. Plus the TIME, my husband and kids would freak out if we spent that much time eating at TS meals. One TS meal per day seems to be a good fit for us.

 

[smiths02]

When we did the DDP previously, we had 4 adults and a 2 year old. There was a lot of splitting of CS meals.

We had 1 meal OOP (T-Rex)...we had plenty of food (even extra snack credits).

We also had cliff bars or something for breakfast one morning, but we didn't really utilize any of the food we brought with us (with the exception of water).

 

[3pletprincesses]

we did the DDP last fall and I think we paid for 1 meals out of pocket and that was because we arrived early on the first day and left late on the last day.

 

[mom2elle]

When we went last March we stayed for 8 full days, 7 nights on the DDP. We paid OOP for CRT lunch rather than use up 2 TS credits. We are planning to go again in Nov and I will probably pay OOP for at least one meal (we are planning 2 different TS meals again). I know 'Ohana breakfast will be one of the least expensive TS meals so I will pay OOP for that.

 

[mousegear]

Every year, our family always take 6 night/7 day trip to WDW with DDP (free or not). We take some snack/granola bar and order case of water from costcos. DDP is more than enough food for us and maybe one OOP TS meal and one OOP CS meal since we do arrive 9~10AM on first day and leave around 4~7PM day. Between three of us, we sometimes only order 2 CS meals and share. The left over CS credit is used for breakfast.

 

[*QueenB*]

While we haven't done DDP before we more than likely will for our September trip. We will either go to T-Rex or Rainforest OOP and have already paid for CRT OOP. However one of our DD won't have credits so we'll be sharing with her and she does NOT eat like a bird . Will buy water and some crackers at a grocery store before trip.

 

[Jasperann]

We had left over credits on the DDP last March. But not many. We also did not pay OOP for anything, but some bottles of water. Which we really could have used snack credits for instead. It is plenty of food and our family can eat...

 

[rachel09985]

We normally pay oop for a breakfast or two. Those are cheaper so it's better than a dinner oop! Try to ook some breakfasts and pay oop for them

 

[WantToGoNow]

We always pay for one meal OOP - in the past it has been Rainforest Cafe, however this time we are planning to go to T-Rex instead. We will also be paying OOP for 50's Prime Time Cafe this trip because the kids really want to go there and there's not another TS restaurant we want to drop - this will be the cheapest for us to pay for. We are usually a meal short for our last day but we usually split a few CS meals throughout the week to save credits to use on that last day.

 

[worm761]

We did. I think it depends on how your family eats. We are a three meals a day family. Plus I have a growing teen boy. I don't do cereal for breakfast. I don't like it so I want a hot meal. We paid for many meals OOP on the dining plan. I have considered going to the deluxe because of that but DD will only be two and half when we go for our next big trip. I don't think it would work with her being so little. But I do plan to get the basic. For the trip coming up we only have the quick service plan but are planning six meals OOP for eight nights.

 

[brymolmom]

We don't pay for any OOP when on DDP.

In fact, we do one or two 2 credit meals and still don't spend any OOP (except for maybe one or two appetizers).

It is a lot of food without paying for anything OOP....

We split CS meals and bring cereal in our luggage for most breakfasts...

I can't imagine paying for an extra TS...By day 5 I am so sick of eating so much food I don't even fully appreciate the TS places on our last couple of days of the vacation.

 

[pooch]

DD (adult) and I have taken 5 trips with free Reg DDP and have never really needed to pay for any significant food OOP. We split a CS meal for breakfast, another for lunch and then get our own TS meal for dinner. We also ask for the packaged apple slices for our CS dessert and munch on them while waiting in line giving us a "free" snack. Except for adult beverages, we probably spend no more than $20-30 OOP during a 7 day trip.

 

[catra121]

I usually just go with whatever plan we booked (though now I am addicted to the deluxe plan as it suits my dining preferences better). The only thing I found we paid OOP for on the DDP was for additional snacks (usually a bottle of pop or an ice cream sundae). Only problem with the regular DDP for me is that I am usually hungry all the time with it...it's just not enough food for me.

 

[kaybird]

We always have enough food, and usually struggle to use up extra credits on the last day. I would say plan your OOP towards the end of the trip to see if you really need them. BTW: our family DOES NOT eat like birds!!!

 

[aloha517]

I was wondering the same thing...we are going for 5 nights but are doing CRT and the Candlelight Processional ...each cost 2t credits so we will be paying oop for 3 meals! I am hoping that a 40% discount will be offered and then I can upgrade to deluxe ddp...but then i will probably have more credits than i need .

 

[carrie6466]

right now we are going for 7 nts/8 days and have 9 adr's. We are either going to pay oop for two breakfasts or try to decided 2 meals not to go to. Probably going to pay oop for the breakfasts, though. They are Cape May and 'Ohana. We're only doing one other character meal (Akershus) because we just like non-buffet dinners better.

 

[DannysMom]

I'd say it depends on your family & eating style. We prefer sit down meals, as well as signature dinners a few times. We had so many meals scheduled, that it made total sense to upgrade to the DxDp, even tho we will probably have credits left over at the end of the trip. The estimated OOP cost for those meals more than covered the cost the upgrade DDP to DxDp. (Oh yeah & we would have more than likely ordered appetizers even on the reg plan, so those are covered now too.)

We will also have the flexibility to get our nearly 2 year old twins a CS meal or some snack credit foods, at any time they need to eat. Or if at dinnertime they are not fit for company, we can bag our dinner plans & go back to the room & order room service. I try to plan for anything.

 

[POOHS3]

As it stands right now we are paying for 3 meals OOP on the regular dining plan. We have two signatures/dinner shows booked, although I have been trying to change my Brown Derby to Mama Melrose (Fantasmic).

I always have 1 to 2 extra meals booked because in the past there is usually 1 to 2 that we do not make it too, and have to cancel.

We usually go in August, so I always purchase a case of water and buy some breakfast snacks. My husband and I are usually good with coffee in the morning. The kids always need something in their tummies.