How we get value out of the DxDP

[Masonmj84]

1. We only use it for 2 meals a day (and not 3). Specifically, a breakfast or lunch plus a signature dinner.

2. We love most of the signature restaurants and would rather spend the later hours of our day enjoying a relaxing sit down meal (as opposed to walking around in the parks on tired feet).

3. We honestly prefer the more expensive items on the menus (I could order the filet almost every night).

4. Almost all of our breakfasts are character breakfasts (and we love going to character breakfasts in the parks before they open).

5. On days when we do a TS lunch, we book the earliest ADR and eat a light breakfast at our resort’s QS restaurant using snack credits (e.g., for yogurt parfaits, smoothies, pastries, etc.) and our resort mugs.

6. We avoid snacking after 3 pm.

7. We don't drink alcohol, so the beverage choices that come with the dining plan generally suffice for us.

8. We find that at the signature restaurants, the portion sizes are small enough that we're usually hungry enough for an appetizer, entrée, and dessert (provided we don’t eat too many snacks or snack after 3 pm).

I realize that "value" is a relative term since OOP prices at WDW are so over-inflated to begin with. But the chunk of change that is the DxDP is worth it to us, given our preferences (especially if we stay moderate, get free DDP and upgrade). The only thing that saddens me is that I know Disney will continue to find ways to erode its value.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Great post! Makes sense to me.

 

[jlk806]

We usually get the Dx plan for the first half of a split stay (4-5 nts each hotel). During the Dx portion of the trip, we do at least 1 dinner show, and 1 signature. Since the plan expires at midnite on our switch hotel day, we use the credits that day as well, as to make our credits from the 2nd half of the trip (traditional dining plan) stretch farther by not using any of those credits on the switch day. We take whatever snacks are left over and get yogurt, cereal and other snacks for breakfast food to keep in the room fridge for the 2nd half of trip... and I am totally fine with bringing home at least a dozen Mickey rice krispie treats to snack on once we get home!

 

[jedi jen]

We do DxDP and my family loves it. We love the signature restaurants and have few to none QS meals. Usually use it for lunch after RD morning and a signature restaurant for dinner. In the past I used it to go to character meals with my young kids. I like knowing our food is taken care of too. This trip, we have 5 going, so may not get 5 DxDP meal every time and share. We plan to add a few character breakfasts before RD inside the parks too.

 

[bedogged]

1. We only use it for 2 meals a day (and not 3). Specifically, a breakfast or lunch plus a signature dinner.

2. We love most of the signature restaurants and would rather spend the later hours of our day enjoying a relaxing sit down meal (as opposed to walking around in the parks on tired feet).

3. We honestly prefer the more expensive items on the menus (I could order the filet almost every night).

4. Almost all of our breakfasts are character breakfasts (and we love going to character breakfasts in the parks before they open).

5. On days when we do a TS lunch, we book the earliest ADR and eat a light breakfast at our resort’s QS restaurant using snack credits (e.g., for yogurt parfaits, smoothies, pastries, etc.) and our resort mugs.

6. We avoid snacking after 3 pm.

7. We don't drink alcohol, so the beverage choices that come with the dining plan generally suffice for us.

8. We find that at the signature restaurants, the portion sizes are small enough that we're usually hungry enough for an appetizer, entrée, and dessert (provided we don’t eat too many snacks or snack after 3 pm).

I realize that "value" is a relative term since OOP prices at WDW are so over-inflated to begin with. But the chunk of change that is the DxDP is worth it to us, given our preferences (especially if we stay moderate, get free DDP and upgrade). The only thing that saddens me is that I know Disney will continue to find ways to erode its value.

This is the exactly what we do. The deluxe plan is restful as long as you do not try to book THREE meals a day. Doing a signature restaurant every day is the best value as well as the best tasting!