I need opinions on DDP, please!

[lenshanem]

I factored in our TS meals we already have booked. I figured in entrees, drinks and 20% tip (I know DDP is 18%, but we would normally leave 20%.) and tax, plus any discounts we might qualify for. (We normally wouldn't get an appetizer and dessert.) The total was $529. The DDP for my family would be $699.

So my questions lies in is the DDP worth it for us? As a family of four (with two kids) would we spend $170 extra on other food other than our TS meals for seven nights? (Or $24 a day?)

Four of our seven meals are character meals, so you're really looking at only three TS meals that we would get an appetizer and dessert with the DDP. So the difference we'd pay - would we spend that much on CS meals (I know it includes meal, drink and dessert.) and a snack per day? And would we even buy all that anyway? I could even forget the dessert at the CS meals cause my oldest has food allergies and I can bet most of the desserts that come with the CS meals will be unsafe for her anyway.

I know snacks can be expensive. An ice cream per day alone would be $74 for the week for all of us! That would take it down to almost $14 a day for all four of us. I know CS for four would be more than that.

I dunno, it is so close really - almost a wash. I almost think the decision lies in what would be easier for us to do? (Instead of what is the real savings for us...)


I'd really appreciate any thoughts!

Thanks!

 

[Hound 109]

I factored in our TS meals we already have booked. I figured in entrees, drinks and 20% tip (I know DDP is 18%, but we would normally leave 20%.) and tax, plus any discounts we might qualify for. (We normally wouldn't get an appetizer and dessert.) The total was $529. The DDP for my family would be $699.

So my questions lies in is the DDP worth it for us? As a family of four (with two kids) would we spend $170 extra on other food other than our TS meals for seven nights? (Or $24 a day?)

Four of our seven meals are character meals, so you're really looking at only three TS meals that we would get an appetizer and dessert with the DDP. So the difference we'd pay - would we spend that much on CS meals (I know it includes meal, drink and dessert.) and a snack per day? And would we even buy all that anyway? I could even forget the dessert at the CS meals cause my oldest has food allergies and I can bet most of the desserts that come with the CS meals will be unsafe for her anyway.

I know snacks can be expensive. An ice cream per day alone would be $74 for the week for all of us! That would take it down to almost $14 a day for all four of us. I know CS for four would be more than that.

I dunno, it is so close really - almost a wash. I almost think the decision lies in what would be easier for us to do? (Instead of what is the real savings for us...)


I'd really appreciate any thoughts!

Thanks!

Because many of your TS meals are Buffet, the savings is not as great (as you mentioned). But is 4 counter service meals & 4 snacks worth $24 per day? I'd say probably closer to $40 per day.

So yes.... a small savings. Have fun.

hound

 

[Linda 441]

As a family of four (with two kids) would we spend $170 extra on other food other than our TS meals for seven nights? (Or $24 a day?)

Absolutely. A counter service meal, drink and dessert that you get is an average for an adult of $12 each (I checked the menus)X2- $24. That gives you the kids CS and the snacks FREE each day. Seems worth it to me. And, then at the TS meals you get the have dessert if you want - even though you said you normally wouldn't it, I know we struggle with that a LOT. We say no a lot when we go out and it will be nice to say yes on vacation and not choke on the price of dessert.

 

[LizinSTL]

Do you want to be talked into it or talked out of it??

I think the DDP is a no-brainer decision when you are talking about a family with children and you want to do a table service meal per night of your vacation (on average). You can not lose money if you use your TS allotments- even on buffets and/or breakfasts if you are paying the kids prices for DDP for half of your party. Their cost for one character meal is often more than the total cost for them for the day.

 

[bicker]

Do you want to be talked into it or talked out of it??

LOL!

In a way, that's what it boils down to sometimes. How do you quantify the value of having most meals paid for in advance? the convenience of being able to order anything on the menu without worrying about the price of each? There is no way to evaluate whether the Dining Plan is right for you without answering those questions and those questions can only be answered by your for yourself.

 

[fws]

I agree with the OP - the DDP is a no-brainer if you're eating table service meals. Counter service is at least $12, often more. If you've got kids, you're not worrying about them ordering things and wasting money. Plus it lets you 'go mad' and enjoy desserts etc. Another advantage is that the kids can 'pay' for the meal with their card - makes them feel very grown-up. The DDP is wonderful!!!!

 

[LizinSTL]

LOL!

In a way, that's what it boils down to sometimes. How do you quantify the value of having most meals paid for in advance? the convenience of being able to order anything on the menu without worrying about the price of each? There is no way to evaluate whether the Dining Plan is right for you without answering those questions and those questions can only be answered by your for yourself.

Well, I've spent time typing long responses about the value of the dining plan. How great I think it is for families with kids (even doing buffets)- I've done the numbers for people, based on their ADRs and sometimes, they really wanted to be talked out of it. It was a waste of my time. The OP seemed sort of the "I want to be talked out of it" camp so I thought I'd ask up front!

The one thing I still can't wrap my mind around is how some people who have about 1 TS/day and are staying at a value resort or DVC think that they are somehow going to get by cheaper with the DDE. That covers basically the tip. So does the $37 on the DDP. We didn't have a single day of our trip that didn't well exceed our daily cost. Even when we had chef mickey for breakfast, skipped lunch and shared cs dinners.

 

[robinb]

I think you will spend more than $24 per day on CS meals and snacks. The ease of the DDP makes it a no-brainer for me . I did my own "reality-check" and compared the DDP with our DDE discounts with one appy and one dessert to share and the DDP was still $15 cheaper before I even added our CS meals and snacks.

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks for all the opinions! I added it onto our BCV ressie today.

I was even quoted a lower price than the $699.72. I was told I owe $685.72 at check-in. Don't know what is up with that...

 

[seajoker]

We, a family of 4, just returned on sunday from a 8 night stay. I have just added up only our TS receipts and we saved $245. Add in snacks and CS and the savings are well over $500. I think research is the optimal goal with the dining plan. We made reservations at TS restaurants that would maximize our $$$. Another thing to consider, you need not to worry if you or your kids eat all of their food, trust me their is sooo much food on the DDP.

See our restaurants under my recent 7 night posting in this section

Seajoker
AKL Nov 2006