Im speechless

[disneydreamin247]

Not only do you get a drink with each meal on the DDP, but the drinks are larger than the mug's capacity. I don't really see the need for a mug anymore, aside from souvenir purposes, for three reasons. 1) I don't want to have to go to the CS/food court of my resort to get a drink every time I need one. 2) I order groceries for my room, including a 12 pack of soda, a case of water, and juice which eliminates the need for a mug 3) the darned things just don't hold much. I understand the business purpose of making them so small, but I also understand the reason that it makes them very much unnecessary for me personally.

 

[aubriee]

I don't get people who can't figure out the value of the mug for some people. Let me give you a couple simple illustrations.

Coffee in the morning
Water/cold beverage when returning from the park on a hot day

We don't spend our QS credits at our resort because we want to get to the parks. So either we pay for coffee, or we use the mug. We could blow a snack I guess, but those are for Mickey Mouse ice cream bars.

Granted, it isn't saving a lot of money. Over the course of the week it might be savings us a couple bucks. But it goes home as a souvenir. In fact, I use one every day for the drive to work. It has absolutely paid for itself in my case.

All that said, I've never complained about the dining plan not including it. It has never included it.

Not only do you get a drink with each meal on the DDP, but the drinks are larger than the mug's capacity. I don't really see the need for a mug anymore, aside from souvenir purposes, for three reasons. 1) I don't want to have to go to the CS/food court of my resort to get a drink every time I need one. 2) I order groceries for my room, including a 12 pack of soda, a case of water, and juice which eliminates the need for a mug 3) the darned things just don't hold much. I understand the business purpose of making them so small, but I also understand the reason that it makes them very much unnecessary for me personally.

The mugs may or may not be cost effective for some people depending on where they stay. For example as an AP holder I don't have to buy park tickets to get the DDPs. In Dec I did a split stay at CSR and YC using the DxDDP at each, so got two mugs. At CSR I was in building 9A (close to pool bar and main building), so used the mug several times a day. At the YC I was on the far end facing the quiet pool, so there was no where near to use the mug. The only time I used that second mug was the day I claimed it. The rest of the week it sat in my room. I left both in my room when I came home. I go to WDW several times a year and already have tons of those mugs sitting on a shelf out in my garage. I'm not a coffee drinker, so never use the mugs at home.

I'm going back to POFQ in May on the basic DDP. Since POFQ is so small and no room is very far from the food court, we will probably buy mugs and again leave them in the room, but if I was staying at one of the other moderates and my room was far from the food court then we'd not buy them. Last Oct we were at CBR and seldom used them.

 

[disneydreamin247]

The mugs may or may not be cost effective for some people depending on where they stay. For example as an AP holder I don't have to buy park tickets to get the DDPs. In Dec I did a split stay at CSR and YC using the DxDDP at each, so got two mugs. At CSR I was in building 9A (close to pool bar and main building), so used the mug several times a day. At the YC I was on the far end facing the quiet pool, so there was no where near to use the mug. The only time I used that second mug was the day I claimed it. The rest of the week it sat in my room. I left both in my room when I came home. I go to WDW several times a year and already have tons of those mugs sitting on a shelf out in my garage. I'm not a coffee drinker, so never use the mugs at home.

I'm going back to POFQ in May on the basic DDP. Since POFQ is so small and no room is very far from the food court, we will probably buy mugs and again leave them in the room, but if I was staying at one of the other moderates and my room was far from the food court then we'd not buy them. Last Oct we were at CBR and seldom used them.

I also travel alone with children, so I can't run down in the morning or send anyone else. For us it just doesn't pay off. I'm also not a coffee drinker so I buy OJ with breakfast as well. Mugs don't hold much value for us.

 

[POOHS3]

There are 5 of us in my family. We usually buy at least two mugs every trip. We have done the dining plus in the past. I belive (someone correct me if I am wrong) with breakfast you get two drinks. So with the mugs plus all the extra drinks, we have plenty for when were hanging out in the room.

I agree it would be nice, but they just don't offer it.

 

[Tigger1]

I find it wierd that the reg dining is the only plan without a mug too.
We are going to get the counter service the first night, then we switch rooms. So we will have a mug the first day. We will not need it thereafter as we will be in concierge room. I just like getting my mug and its more special when it comes with the plan. I would not pay $14 for it as we rarely use it (except at Vero Beach).

I just dont see why the reg plan does not have a cup and 2 snacks like all other plans. Wait a minute, then the coat of the plan would go up, Halt, I do not need the cup or extra snack if that is to happen.

 

[TDC Nala]

I belive (someone correct me if I am wrong) with breakfast you get two drinks.

According to the 2011 brochure, the extra drink at breakfast was discontinued this year. Haven't seen reports about it yet.

It's already been explained why the regular dining plan doesn't include a mug.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I find it wierd that the reg dining is the only plan without a mug too.
[snip]
I just dont see why the reg plan does not have a cup and 2 snacks like all other plans.

The regular dining plan IS the regular - basic, original - dining plan. All other plans are variations of it. Adaptations were made to other plans when they were created, but because the basic dining plan is the most popular plan (see earlier posts in this thread), Walt Disney World apparently sees no need or point in including incentives for guests to purchase this already top-selling plan.

 

[blessedby3]

I guess Im thankful I am in the minortiy and like the "less popular" QSDP That way I still get to enjoy my mug....I love it for a souvineer, but would have a hard time paying for it. We will be getting 6 more in May

 

[Tricia1972]

According to the 2011 brochure, the extra drink at breakfast was discontinued this year. Haven't seen reports about it yet.

It's already been explained why the regular dining plan doesn't include a mug.

We used the DxDDP January 18-28th and I can confirm that breakfast is now 'just' one drink.

 

[bellelab]

I guess Im thankful I am in the minortiy and like the "less popular" QSDP That way I still get to enjoy my mug....I love it for a souvineer, but would have a hard time paying for it. We will be getting 6 more in May

Totally agree!

DH is a huge soda drinker (I know, so healthy, right?) so he gets pretty excited about the mug. Plus we love that the QSDP gives us 2 snack credits as opposed to one. Our 2 kids (and us too) Disney snacks. We also don't like taking time out to sit down for a long meal. Granted, this may change as our kids get older. We did the regular dining plan last time but felt it wasn't worth the extra cost for our family. You'd be surprised the variety of QS meals out there.

We bought the mugs last time we were on the regular DP and used them a ton. Both in the morning and at night.

 

[Tara922c]

Even without the mug I still found the regular ddp to be a good value for our family. Last year I think we paid around 45 a day per person for the ddp, and one buffet cost around 35 bucks. Really for us it isn't about savings, it is about not worrying about needed food money while on vacation. We don't do the QSDP because we like to do TS meals, and I don't think it is a good value. We don't do DxDDP because it is way too much food, and we like the freedom of eating offsite if we feel like we need an extra meal. As far as the mug goes I could take it or leave it. I guess if you want the regular dining plan, and the mug, you have to shell out an extra 15 bucks for the mug. I don't need a mug for dd3 because she doesn't need all that soda. (we bring juice boxes for her) I don't feel like walking all the way to my resort for a soda so I bring diet dr. peppers from home. On our first trip we only saw the lobby one time, and that is when we checked in!!! I guess I would rather pay 45 bucks for my family of three to each have a mug then to be stuck with a plan I don't want like QSDP, or pay an extra 500 to upgrade my family to DxDDP for a week.

 

[buzzrelly]

We were on the regular DDP last October and bought the mugs out of pocket. We loved them, but we stayed in the tower at the CR. It was so convenient to go down in the am and get coffee and sit out on the balcony and drink it...such fond memories.

But something a previous poster said made me think....we did a split stay last time. On our arrival night we stayed at ASMO. We didn't get the DDP because we got there late in the afternoon so I figured it wouldn't be worth it. But now I'm thinking that maybe I SHOULD have gotten the QSDP for just that one night. We ended up going to DTD that night and eating at Earl of Sandwich and we also went to Goofy's for snacks. What am I missing? Am I crazy or would I have been better off getting the QSDP for that one night?

 

[havoc315]

But something a previous poster said made me think....we did a split stay last time. On our arrival night we stayed at ASMO. We didn't get the DDP because we got there late in the afternoon so I figured it wouldn't be worth it. But now I'm thinking that maybe I SHOULD have gotten the QSDP for just that one night. We ended up going to DTD that night and eating at Earl of Sandwich and we also went to Goofy's for snacks. What am I missing? Am I crazy or would I have been better off getting the QSDP for that one night?

Probably better off paying OOP. Seems most of the snacks are Goofy's aren't covered by the DP.

So would the dinner at Earl, plus *covered* snacks, been worth over $30 per person?

 

[TDC Nala]

The make your own snacks at Goofy's are apparently no longer included but you can still use credits for snacks there, as long as you select something other than the make your own.

 

[catne]

We were on the regular DDP last October and bought the mugs out of pocket. We loved them, but we stayed in the tower at the CR. It was so convenient to go down in the am and get coffee and sit out on the balcony and drink it...such fond memories.

But something a previous poster said made me think....we did a split stay last time. On our arrival night we stayed at ASMO. We didn't get the DDP because we got there late in the afternoon so I figured it wouldn't be worth it. But now I'm thinking that maybe I SHOULD have gotten the QSDP for just that one night. We ended up going to DTD that night and eating at Earl of Sandwich and we also went to Goofy's for snacks. What am I missing? Am I crazy or would I have been better off getting the QSDP for that one night?

would have been worth it, in my opinion. You would have gotten your dinner at Earl of Sandwich paid for, as well as 2 snacks (either at Goofy's or your resort...many travel-friendly snacks available like the Minnie's bake-shop cookies.) And you would have had counter service breakfast the next morning...and a refillable mug. Easily more than $30 value.

 

[buzzrelly]

Live and learn I guess...I NEVER would have thought of this. This is just one of the MANY reasons I love the disboards!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Live and learn I guess...I NEVER would have thought of this. This is just one of the MANY reasons I love the disboards!

No one has mentioned this (I think) but you would've had to buy a ticket for the one night stay too in order to get the DDP unless you were an AP holder or staying on a military discount.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you do a split stay on a package reservation and you want DDP on both packages, then you do have to buy tickets with both. It's at least a 1 day ticket for everyone unless you want the free dining promotion, then it's at least a 2 day ticket. If you're an annual passholder you can do it with ticketless packages, and DVC members going through DVC Member Services can always book DDP without a ticket purchase.

 

[havoc315]

would have been worth it, in my opinion. You would have gotten your dinner at Earl of Sandwich paid for, as well as 2 snacks (either at Goofy's or your resort...many travel-friendly snacks available like the Minnie's bake-shop cookies.) And you would have had counter service breakfast the next morning...and a refillable mug. Easily more than $30 value.

Not so sure of that. Earl -- sandwich plus drink plus dessert is unlikely to be more than about $12. Resort breakfast is very cheap, especially since they eliminated the second beverage -- only about $8-$9. Even with the 2 snacks, OOP would be under $30.
Yes, the resort mug puts the so-called value over 30, but only if you are going to make tons of use out of the mug.

 

[disneydreamin247]

If you do a split stay on a package reservation and you want DDP on both packages, then you do have to buy tickets with both. It's at least a 1 day ticket for everyone unless you want the free dining promotion, then it's at least a 2 day ticket. If you're an annual passholder you can do it with ticketless packages, and DVC members going through DVC Member Services can always book DDP without a ticket purchase.

And this makes it more expensive and completely not worth it, unless of course you booked an AP rate and didn't need to buy tickets.