I need veterans advice on DDP

[CarterFamilyof12]

So basically, we are a family of 12 (13 if you count the 2 year old) that will be traveling to Disney this year. I am not firm on my exact dates because I think its going to depend on the free disney dining plan and whether or not we can get it.

This is our FIRST time to Disney with all the kids (the adults have all been before) . We will be there 9 days 10 nights- 3 adults, the rest are kids. Staying in 3 rooms. We are in no rush, no desire to attempt to see it all- merely to avoid crowds and long wait times (plan to use Lines/TouringPLans for that.)

IF we can get free Disney dining, we plan to arrive Sept 23rd.

If we cannot, we will push it back 2 weekish to October so I can also stay an extra couple days for a medical conference at the Hyatt.

I have several questions about this:

It it worth paying for the park hopper feature (which they required in 2015) in order to get free Disney dining OR should we just just buy 9 day base tickets for all, book with the best discount we can find and pay as we go?

These two scenarios will dictate the exact date of travel. If we do not get Free Disney Dining, we will arrive 2 weeks later and probably do the above ^^^.

We are committed to live debt free, so I really need to decide which way we are going so we can solidify our budgeting. We are using the Disney savings plan, so I'd like to be able to contribute appropriately and with a large group, I dont want anyone to feel, hungry, but also dont want to spend way more than I need to, either.

Advice?

 

[DHisaDisneyScrooge]

We are going in a few weeks with free dining and park hoppers were not required.

 

[CarterFamilyof12]

Huh, when did you get yours? I read online and heard in the DisUnplugged podcast they required the parkhopper option when offered in late April/early May 2015 for the early fall free dining deal.

 

[G719]

The fall free dining did require hoppers or water park option added on. The other poster may have received a pin code offer or a bounce back.

I think the free dining is a good deal especially for those with larger parties. What resort are you planning on? The values get the QS plan and the moderates and deluxes get the regular plan.

AND there's always the chance free dining won't even be offered or will be trimmed back more so plan accordingly.

 

[DHisaDisneyScrooge]

We booked in October for Jan/Feb.

 

[CarterFamilyof12]

Yeah I think we are going to make a "scenario A" and "scenario B" situation. Thats my current idea anyway- thinking that if by, lets say Mid-May free dining is not offered, then we will go with scenario B and book with discounted tickets, discounted rooms rates, base tickets and pay as you go situation.

I think we are leaning towards the pop century because its so kid oriented. Im not set on it. We may do Coronado Springs- and get the table service meals. I honestly cant see us doing a table service meal every single day. Ive read sometimes you can swap credits, but I'm just not sure yet.

 

[DisNerdsince08]

First of all, congrats on the commitment to live debt free! We just became debt free ourselves this past year and thoroughly enjoyed paying cash to book our next trip! We have done the dining plan many times, and here are some things we have learned:

Pro:
Convenient--You pay for your meals upfront so there's no "thinking" involved once you get to the parks. With the introduction of magic bands, there's even more convenience with access to your meals and snacks at the tip of your fingers (or on your wrist anyway! ha!). I always encourage first timers or those individuals that haven't been to Disney in many years to spring for DDP. It's really nice to not have to worry about how much each meal costs while you're enjoying your vacation.

Con:
Extra Cost--We priced it out last year when we went we calculated it to be approximately $60 per adult per day (Fact check me on this because Disney may have raised the price for the DDP since the last time we did any major pre-trip DDP cost calculating. We aren't doing the DDP this next trip so we haven't
checked the price in a bit)

In my experience, if you don't eat $60 worth of food per day and/or you don't want dessert with every meal and/or a snack every day, the DDP won't be worth your money. AGAIN--please FACT CHECK the individual price. I'm not positive how much the DDP costs per adult THIS YEAR. Of course, if you do luck out with Free Dining, price won't be an issue, but as the other poster mentioned, Disney may or may not put out the promotion.

With regards to Park Hopper option, we always get it "just in case." We have a one year old and you just never know when she might have a meltdown. Having the option to go back to the room to rest and return later is fabulous. It also provides some flexibility with our scheduling because we can do one park in the morning, go back and nap, and then go to another for dinner if we like. We love to eat dinner at World Showcase in EPCOT so Park Hopper is great for us.

Whatever you decide, you need to pick what is best for YOUR family. Just make sure if you do decide to change your dates, you book no later than 180 days out because that's when your window for Advance Dining Reservations opens to allow you to make your dining reservations (a MUST with any group, but ESPECIALLY a group your size! ) I hope this post helps!

 

[senadler]

Since you are a large group in multiple rooms, I would consider whether the deluxe plan (either upgrading with free dining or not) would work for your party. Keep in mind that the credits are combined (Adults and children) and you can share them. This worked very well for us the past October when we were a group of 10 in two rooms, one with the plan, and one without.

 

[sharonabe]

You said you have 3 adults and the rest are kids. For Disney dining, adults are 10 yr and up. Do you have 10 kids that are 9 and under?

 

[CarterFamilyof12]

well by adults I meant, actual adults. (to split up for rooms 1 adult +3 children in a room) they are 12,11,10,9,9,7,6,4,3,2 So in Disney speak we have 6 child admissions and 6 adult admissions

 

[aaarcher86]

We booked in October for Jan/Feb.

Where did you get this deal? Are you over seas?

FD isn't available in the US for those months.

 

[sharonabe]

well by adults I meant, actual adults. (to split up for rooms 1 adult +3 children in a room) they are 12,11,10,9,9,7,6,4,3,2 So in Disney speak we have 6 child admissions and 6 adult admissions

Okay, next question. Are you planning on staying together and eating together for ALL meals? There was a post a year or so ago where one member of a large party used all the snack or QS credits for the whole group because they didn't realize they were pooled. Will everyone understand how the DDP works?


With 6 Disney kids, the plan will probably save you some money IF you eat the way the plan works. Other things to consider:
Are you a sharing meals type family?
Do you drink soda/tea/coffee/milk with every meal or do you prefer water?
With 6 adults, if you all eat together, you'll have 6 desserts at the table along with whatever desserts the kids have on their menu. That's a lot of dessert.
Do you want to do one TS every day or are you more of a QS type family?
Will you do more than one character buffet?

As a PP stated, doing the DxDDP for one or more rooms could be the way to go. You get 3 TS credits and 2 snacks/night, AND you can definitely share these meals with others not on the plan (haven't seen reports of anyone trying/doing this with the regular DDP). For whatever reason, Disney isn't making the kids with the DxDDP order off the kid's menu either, so you could pay the kid's price for the plan and feed adults with the credits. Since you also get an app with every meal, sharing food will be easier too.

 

[CarterFamilyof12]

Okay, next question. Are you planning on staying together and eating together for ALL meals? There was a post a year or so ago where one member of a large party used all the snack or QS credits for the whole group because they didn't realize they were pooled. Will everyone understand how the DDP works?

I will be the one basically planning and explaining it all to everyone. All meals will be together except 1 (TS meal for date night with my husband).


With 6 Disney kids, the plan will probably save you some money IF you eat the way the plan works. Other things to consider:
Are you a sharing meals type family?
Sometimes- yes with my youngest 4

Do you drink soda/tea/coffee/milk with every meal or do you prefer water?

Its split, most kids drinks tea/milk/juice but some will only drink water.

With 6 adults, if you all eat together, you'll have 6 desserts at the table along with whatever desserts the kids have on their menu. That's a lot of dessert.

We will most definitely share, or, if possible ask to use it as a side credit (ive read you can ask sometimes they will let you do that- and then let the baby eat that (he will be 2.5)
Do you want to do one TS every day or are you more of a QS type family?

I think I am leaning towards all QS type and maybe we can pay out of pocket for 2-3 Table meals.

Will you do more than one character buffet?

Probably not.

As a PP stated, doing the DxDDP for one or more rooms could be the way to go. You get 3 TS credits and 2 snacks/night, AND you can definitely share these meals with others not on the plan (haven't seen reports of anyone trying/doing this with the regular DDP). For whatever reason, Disney isn't making the kids with the DxDDP order off the kid's menu either, so you could pay the kid's price for the plan and feed adults with the credits. Since you also get an app with every meal, sharing food will be easier too.

I'm going to make some scenarios out with this idea and see how it may play out on paper. I appreciate your help and time

 

[supersnoop]

I'm going to make some scenarios out with this idea and see how it may play out on paper. I appreciate your help and time

www.distripplanner.com should help with mapping out those scenarios

 

[DHisaDisneyScrooge]

Where did you get this deal? Are you over seas?

FD isn't available in the US for those months.

It was available through 12/22.
I booked online at the Disneyworld website.

 

[aaarcher86]

It was available through 12/22.
I booked online at the Disneyworld website.

That was SPD, not free dining.

 

[DHisaDisneyScrooge]

That was SPD, not free dining.

O good grief, potato/potato!!

 

[supersnoop]

O good grief, potato/potato!!

SPD is nowhere near the same discount as "free dining." It's closer to half-price dining, if you book a deluxe resort.

 

[aaarcher86]

O good grief, potato/potato!!

It's not. It's an entirely different discount. It's confusing to call it free dining. Sorry.

 

[Nancyg56]

well by adults I meant, actual adults. (to split up for rooms 1 adult +3 children in a room) they are 12,11,10,9,9,7,6,4,3,2 So in Disney speak we have 6 child admissions and 6 adult admissions

WIth the ages of the kids, price the cost of Dxddp with as many kids in one room as can fit. I would put one adult and the rest kids. The 2 YO is free so stic that chld on the other room. Credits are pooled and they can now be shared with no differentiation betwee adult and child. Disney allows this, you are not breaking rules. You probably could save a bundle on meals this way.