I have calculated and DDP is a good value!

[MissMagnolia]

Dining Plan Cost Comparison:
8 nights = 8 snacks, 8 CS, 8 TS per person (607.84 + 159.84 = 767.68)

Day 1 (Sunday 1/4):
Dinner: CS at HS - ABC Commissary
Fried Fish $7.09
Fried Fish $7.09
Chicken nuggets (incl. side & drink) $4.49
Ham and cheese wrap (incl. side & drink) $4.49
Drink $2.39
Drink $2.39
Chocolate mousse $3.59
Chocolate mousse $3.59
Total: $35.12

Snacks:
Frozen lemonade $3.29
Frozen lemonade $3.29
Pretzel $3.29
Pretzel $3.29
Total: $13.16

Day total: $48.28

Day 2 (Monday 1/5):
Breakfast: Snack at MK - Main Street Bakery
Chocolate chip muffin $3.00
Chocolate chip muffin $3.00
Cherry turnover $3.00
Cinnamon roll $3.00
Total: $12.00

Lunch: TS at MK - Crystal Palace
2 adult buffets @ 20.99 $41.98
2 child buffets @ 11.99 $23.98
Total: $65.96

Dinner: CS at MK - Cosmic Ray's
1/2 chicken & BBQ ribs $13.99
1/4 lb. cheeseburger $6.09
Kid's meal with drink $4.49
Kid's meal with drink $4.49
Drink $2.39
Drink $2.39
Chocolate cake $3.59
Chocolate cake $3.59
Brownie $2.39
Brownie $2.39
Total: $45.80

Day total: $123.76

Day 3 (Tuesday 1/6):
Breakfast: TS at Epcot - Princess Storybook
2 adult buffets @ 22.99 $45.98
2 child buffets @ 12.99 $25.98
Total: $71.96

Snacks:
Pretzel $3.29
Pretzel $3.29
Lemonade slushie $3.29
Lemonade slushie $3.29
Total: $13.16

Dinner: CS at Epcot - Sunshine Seasons
Rotisserie pork chop $9.99
Grilled salmon $9.99
Kid's meal with drink $4.25
Kid's meal with drink $4.25
Drink $2.49
Drink $2.49
Chocolate chip cookie $1.49
Chocolate chip cookie $1.49
Chocolate chip cookie $1.49
Pie $3.59
Total: $41.52

Day total: $126.64

Day 4 (Wednesday 1/7):
Breakfast: TS at AK - Donald's Safari
2 adult buffets @ 18.99 $37.98
2 child buffets @ 10.99 $21.98
Total: $59.96

Lunch: CS at AK - Pizzafari
Pepperoni pizza $6.09
Hot Italian sandwich $7.09
Kid's meal with drink $4.49
Kid's meal with drink $4.49
Drink $2.39
Drink $2.39
Apple pie $3.59
Chocolate cake $3.59
Total: $34.12

Dinner: TS at AKL - Boma
2 adult buffets @ 26.99 $53.98
2 child buffets @ 12.99 $25.98
Total: $79.96

Snacks:
Pineapple bites $3.99
Pineapple bites $3.99
Ice cream cookie sandwich $3.99
Ice cream cookie sandwich $3.99
Total: $15.96

Day total: $190.00

Day 5 (Thursday 1/8):
Breakfast: CS at All Star Movies?
Adult breakfast platter $6.29
Croissant breakfast sandwich $5.99
Child's breakfast platter with drink $4.09
Child's Mickey waffle with drink $4.09
Drink $2.69
Drink $2.69
Total: $25.84

Lunch: TS at DHS - 50s Prime Time Cafe
Old-Fashioned Pot Roast $16.99
Chicken Pot Pie $16.99
Kid's meal $7.59
Kid's meal $7.59
Drink $2.00
Drink $2.00
Brownie sundae $5.99
Seasonal cobbler $7.49
Total: $66.64

Dinner: CS at DHS - Studio Catering Company
Barbecued pulled pork sub with chips $7.59
Chicken caesar wrap $6.69
Child's meal $4.49
Child's meal $4.49
Drink $2.39
Drink $2.39
Marble cheesecake $3.59
Marble cheesecake $3.59
Total: $35.22

Snacks: (Herbie's Drive-In)
Blue raspberry frozen cooler $3.29
Blue raspberry frozen cooler $3.29
Blue raspberry frozen cooler $3.29
Banana frozen cooler $3.29
Total: $13.16

Day total: $140.86

Day 6 (Friday 1/9):
Breakfast: TS at Contemporary - Chef Mickey's
2 adult buffets @ 22.99 $45.98
2 child buffets @ 12.99 $25.98
Total: $71.96

Lunch: CS at MK - Columbia Harbor House
Fried fish basket $7.09
Anchors Aweigh sandwich $6.69
Child's meal with drink $4.49
Child's meal with drink $4.49
Drink $2.39
Drink $2.39
Apple crisp $3.59
Chocolate cake $3.59
Chocolate chip cookie $1.19
Chocolate chip cookie $1.19
Total: $37.10

Dinner: TS at Polynesian - Kona Café
Slow roasted prime rib $21.99
Shrimp and scallops $20.99
Child's meal with drink $7.59
Child's meal with drink $7.59
Drink $2.39
Drink $2.39
Banana-chocolate crème brulee $5.99
Kilauea torte $5.49
Total: $74.42

Snacks:
Pineapple float (Aloha Isle) $3.99
Ice cream cone $3.69
Ice cream cone $3.69
Ice cream cone $3.69
Total: $15.06

Day total: $198.54

Day 7 (Saturday 1/10):
Breakfast: Snack @ Epcot - Sunshine Seasons
4 muffins or breakfast pastries @ 3.00 (?) $12.00
Total: $12.00

Lunch: CS @ Epcot - Sunshine Seasons
Rotisserie pork chop $9.99
Grilled salmon $9.99
Kid's meal with drink $4.25
Kid's meal with drink $4.25
Drink $2.49
Drink $2.49
Chocolate chip cookie $1.49
Chocolate chip cookie $1.49
Chocolate chip cookie $1.49
Pie $3.59
Total: $41.52

Dinner: TS @ Epcot - Tutto Italia
Tagliatelle Egg Pasta $25.00
Bucatini Gratinati $24.00
Spaghetti with drink $9.50
Penne with drink $9.50
Drink - soda $3.00
Fresh Lemonade $4.50
Gianduja - Chocolate Torta $10.00
Cannoli $12.00
Italian Gelato Sundae $5.00
Sorbetti $5.00
Total: $107.50

Day total: $161.02

Day 8 (Sunday 1/11) - Seaworld Day:
Breakfast: CS at All Star Movies?
Adult breakfast platter $6.29
Croissant breakfast sandwich $5.99
Child's breakfast platter with drink $4.09
Child's Mickey waffle with drink $4.09
Drink $2.69
Drink $2.69
Total: $25.84

Snack @ DTD:
4 things at Goofy's Candy Co. $12.00
Total: $12.00

Day total: $37.84

Total of what we "ordered" above: $1,026.94 (I went through the menus and figured what we all would order typically)

$1026.94 - 767.68 (total cost of DDP) = $259.26 SAVED!

Total of the desserts: $116.14 (which can be subtracted because probably wouldn't order without DDP)

Restaurants we may not eat at without DDP and only do CS for the meals (amounts are the difference)
$39.00 Diff from Boma to CS
$40.00 Diff from Chef Mickey to CS
$30.00 Diff from Kona to CS
$60.00 Diff from Tutto to CS

Total cost of dining with all the subtractions: $741.80

Dining plan cost - Total cost of dining with all the subtractions: 767.68 - 741.80: $25.88

So we would save $25.88 without doing the dining plan BUT we wouldn't get desserts or get to eat at Boma, Chef Mickey's, Kona, or Tutto Italia. IMO, the DDP will work great for us!!

I didn't include the tax into anything because this was a headache to figure as it was!!!

Some may also say that we wouldn't be paying tips at CS restaurants, but that isn't a big deal to me. The TS we would probably exclude would be a total cost of about $330.00 which would be about $60.00 in tips (at a tip of 18%). Even at $85.88 extra to get desserts with all meals and the better meals at the TS restaurants is worth it!

 

[simonkodousek]

You have a really good way of figuring if the DDP is worth it or not. I'll be doing the same on our next trip in July '09, so thanks for your insight!

 

[DisneyForLife]

All I can say is WOW

That is amazing, it must have taken you forever

Thank you for all your work, it has helped me decide to do the plan.

I was undecided until you figured it all out for me...........

 

[tonilea]

I think we could eat cheaper with out the dining plan, but it will allow us to try lots of places that we wouldn't if we were paying OOP.

 

[MissMagnolia]

No problem DisneyForLife! It is the obsessive planner in me. I didn't figure the most expensive meals at the TS restaurants either. I just figured meals that we will most likely order after looking at the menus on allearsnet.com.

 

[design_mom]

We did the same thing for our trip last December. Our out-of-pocket total (no desserts, only a few TS meals, a few snacks) came to within $25 of the DDP cost. However, we still opted not to do the DDP because I didn't want a TS meal every day (didn't want to plan our touring around meals... my kids get bored at TS meals.) So, while I think DDP is a good value, I don't think it fits everyone's touring style.

I wish they'd let you use your TS credits for TS *or* a CS meal. It would still be a good deal.

DH and I are going for a long-weekend (no kids) with Free Dining in September, I can't wait to try it out though. It sounds fabulous.

 

[angikay30]

Great Job!

I did the same thing - I created an Excel spreadsheet - I reviewed all the menus and decided what everyone would order for the table service. Then I reviewed all the Counter Service menus and took what I felt to be an average amount that the Counter Service meals would cost (so this is one of the areas you were more concise about!) - did the same with the snacks - just took the average.

I also calculated the tax and tip (tip I did so I could guess-timate how much $ tip will cost this year)

This is how my values looked:

Cost of Dining Plan (2 adults & 2 children) for 8 days -- 767.68 (although its free in Sept!)

Est Cost of Table Service + Tax = 784.67
Est Cost of CS = 224
Est Cost of Snacks = 96

Total = 1104.67

That's a savings of 336.99
...and by my estimations I'll need around $145 to tip 18% at each TS

Your's was extremely interesting in that you removed the particular meals that YOU would NOT do if you were on the dining plan.....that shows all the more the value of the dining plan. It's a vacation - and for you to get the additional quality TS for only $25 more is well worth it!

I must say - I really wish they'd put that darn tip BACK in the dining plan - I love the pre-pay feeling...and give us a choice of either appetizer or dessert at least....we're not big on the desserts.

 

[MissMagnolia]

I completely agree about the tip and the appetizer/dessert choice. I also much prefer the appetizers to desserts. I did this in Excel as well.

Dining is a huge part of our vacations (at least for me - DH may have a different opinion, he's an eat and get movin' type of guy where meals were an "event" in our house growing up). I think the TS meals are a good time to slow down and relax a bit in the air conditioning when at WDW. True, not for everyone, but it's good for our family. My children have a wide variety of foods they will eat because of the varied dining experiences they have had.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I can honestly say I have never done that, and most likely never will!

I am on the dining plan and only hoped were getting a good deal! Reading your post, I feel a bit more confident we are!!!

Lots of work..kuddos to you! Great information, Thanks!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Looks good Missmagnolia! You are very organized!

I did all the totals before we went in May and decided that it was a good deal for us too for now, until DS turns 10 and will be charged as an adult, then it will no longer be a good deal for us.

 

[ugadog99]

I basically did the same thing as the OP when trying to decide if DDP was for us. It really did work out to saving us money, so I think we will always decide on DDP.

 

[chell]

Do you have the same kind of OCD that I have? I LOVE to go through our menus to do all this. Actually just last night I finished it for our December trip. We are splurging since it is our Honeymoon but we will be paying right at $700 for the Deluxe Dining Plan but eating about $1,065 worth of food. That is a huge difference. So for us this time it really is worth it.

Thank you for taking the time to put this together for everyone to see!

 

[MusiqChic99]

My sister tried it on her last trip but said they could have eaten cheaper without the plan. HOWEVER they ate at a lot of character meals and TS meals that they wouldn't have thought to eat before.

I think if you at least break even it's still a good deal since it's prepaid. All you have to worry about is extra cash for tips.

 

[sandym718]

I did the same thing, and it's a great deal for us,too. I'll be "recalculating" once the 2009 DDP info comes out. We saved a ton using the plan in 2007, would still save a good deal on the 2008 plan, 2009...we'll see!

 

[haveitall]

My DH and I are upgrading to Deluxe during free dining. I figured we will be eating about 2,500.00 worth of food for our 15 day trip and spending less than 900.00. Great deal. 42 TS ADR planned, 28 snacks each. It will be a great time and we will be doing alot of signuture meals.

Disney here we come.

Sylvia in MN

 

[jenndisney]

You put the numbers together to figure out what is the best for your family. That is the way to do it! We did the dinning plan our last trip and loved it. Since DD is now a 12 year old adult, but eats like a kid, we come out way behind. We will still do 8 TS meals (one signature) for our 9 night trip, but it must all be out of pocket. Until she gets to where she would order more, we come out $300+ behind.

Enjoy every bite and know you planned it out well!

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

Oh I love it!!! You must be a Virgo too!

I like the DDP and we have used it (during free dining), but for this last trip, we went with the DDE card and it worked out well for us. This upcoming trip, I plan on keeping track and figuring out which would have worked better for us. (We have one TS for each day, just like DDP)

I think it will be DDE for now, but as soon as my kids are old enough to qualify for the DDP, you better believe that it will be the better deal!!!

 

[pta-mom]

You did a great job on your plan & it's obvious it works for your family, especially if you would have gone to those places even if you did not have the plan. The one thing I think about though is that we do not eat dessert hardly ever but rather prefer a snack during the day. So, to factor in dessert cost at every CS & TS meal would increase what we would normally spend. As well, there would be tax & tip on all those desserts at the TS location.

Not saying it isn't a good deal, just reminding people to make the plan according to what they would eat if on the DDP & if off the DDP....it is not always the same.

 

[MissMagnolia]

True pta-mom, that is why I figured the costs of the desserts and deducted them at the end (since we only infrequently order dessert). We are still good with the DDP even after calculating that out. I can certainly see when our children are 10, the DDP may not be a good choice since they don't eat much.

And yes, chell, OCD...that's me!! I am an obsessive overplanner (but it always works out for all when I do, thankfully! ) .

 

[novembermagic]

I did not add up the cost of anything last year, but after the changes made to this years dining plan, I really appreciate all of your hard work adding everything up for each day and item! I really wish the tip and appetizer was included again. Last year, if you planned ahead and really took advantage of the TS- along with eating at all of those places you may not have otherwise, then you'd benefit from the DP, now you really have to think about the tips and everything you have considered. THANKS for the insight!