I'm sure this has been done

[bonybroad]

And probably done to death!
But...
I have been AGONIZING over this DDP thing.
We have done it twice before with our 2 kids now ages 6 and 8.
We are going for a week in June, when it is ridiculously hot from what I have been hearing.
We will be having a grocery order, so no buying drinks at the parks.
There are 2 adults and 2 children in our party.
I checked the QS and the regular DDP.
QS $74 per day per person - $296 per day
By my calculations, 8 QS meals would come to $60. That's for a whole day for all 4 of us.
(I used Pizza Planet and Pecos Bill's for pricing)

DP $83 per day per person -$332 per day.
By my calculations, again, $30 QS and $88 for TS for all four of us. Total $118.

Let's say we eat 4 snacks per day at $5. Add $20 to each plan.

There is no way this would be a deal for us.
I don't think we will be adding the DDP this time.
I think the idea is a great one, and I said, I have done it before. I think the convenience of having it pre-paid is great. But the convenience is a little restricted by HAVING to make TS reservations EVERY day, and thus allowing little flexibility with touring plans. That was my biggest complaint the last time. We want to go to HS, but we could only get ADRs at MK.
Sorry if we have seen this discussion 1001 times. Just posting my figures to see if anyone else has done the math and come up with this.

 

[Sandisw]

And probably done to death!
But...
I have been AGONIZING over this DDP thing.
We have done it twice before with our 2 kids now ages 6 and 8.
We are going for a week in June, when it is ridiculously hot from what I have been hearing.
We will be having a grocery order, so no buying drinks at the parks.
There are 2 adults and 2 children in our party.
I checked the QS and the regular DDP.
QS $74 per day per person - $296 per day
By my calculations, 8 QS meals would come to $60. That's for a whole day for all 4 of us.
(I used Pizza Planet and Pecos Bill's for pricing)

DP $83 per day per person -$332 per day.
By my calculations, again, $30 QS and $88 for TS for all four of us. Total $118.

Let's say we eat 4 snacks per day at $5. Add $20 to each plan.

There is no way this would be a deal for us.
I don't think we will be adding the DDP this time.
I think the idea is a great one, and I said, I have done it before. I think the convenience of having it pre-paid is great. But the convenience is a little restricted by HAVING to make TS reservations EVERY day, and thus allowing little flexibility with touring plans. That was my biggest complaint the last time. We want to go to HS, but we could only get ADRs at MK.
Sorry if we have seen this discussion 1001 times. Just posting my figures to see if anyone else has done the math and come up with this.

I am a little confused by your numbers. The QSDP is $29.99 per day for adults and 8.99 for kids--that is about $78 per day or $546.00 for the entire trip.

Your 8 CS would run around $60.00 and your snacks (averaging $3.00 each) would run $24.00--that comes to $84.00--$6.00 more than the plan. In addition, you would have the refillable mug for drinks at your resort. If you drink soda or coffee, those would be covered during the times you were there.

While the savings is not substantial, it certainly would save you something. We are doing it for our August trip--not so much because it is a huge savings, but rather for convenience. It is paid for in advance and I know exactly what my food budget will be.

 

[Dipstick]

It depends where you are going to eat at...I think if you get the basic DDP (1 snack, 1 counter service, 1 table service) this could be valuable. I believe I was told from my TA that it is $40/day per person for the basic DDP.

Here are my calculations...
$3 - 4 snacks
$10 counter service
$20 - 30

The dollar amounts given were averages...so the amounts can be more or less. This is just taking into account entrees and not desserts or drinks.

Come to think about it...you're right...where is the value?
It is not really that much cheaper if anything...I should have probably priced this out before we agreed to this plan.

 

[smiths02]

The quick service plan would cost $77.96/night for your family
For every night of your stay, you would get 2 counter service adult meals, 2 counter service kids meals, and 8 snacks (plus you get the resort mug)...you may be able to skip on the grocery order and save money there.

The DDP would cost $101.96/night
For every night of your stay, you would get 2 adult Table service meals, 2 children table service meals, 2 adult CS meals, 2 kids CS meals, and 4 snacks.

Also, in June, if you eat at any character buffets, there will be "holiday" surcharges.

Also, DDP covers tax

 

[smiths02]

It depends where you are going to eat at...I think if you get the basic DDP (1 snack, 1 counter service, 1 table service) this could be valuable. I believe I was told from my TA that it is $40/day per person for the basic DDP.

Here are my calculations...
$3 - 4 snacks
$10 counter service
$20 - 30

The dollar amounts given were averages...so the amounts can be more or less. This is just taking into account entrees and not desserts or drinks.

Come to think about it...you're right...where is the value?
It is not really that much cheaper if anything...I should have probably priced this out before we agreed to this plan.

An adult table service at a character buffet dinner (or Le Cellier for example) with holiday surcharge and tax can run well over $30

On the regular DDP, the real savings is for the kids at the character buffets...if you eat at a character buffet, their plan has paid for itself plus you still have snack and counter service

 

[bonybroad]

Okay, I think I am using the wrong numbers!
Where can I find the actual prices of the dining plans?
I am looking at the disneyworld.com site, and trying to figure it out, and i hate that they won't just tell you how much it is.

 

[smiths02]

Regular Dining:
Available only with vacation packages that include accommodations at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel plus at least a 1-day theme park ticket per person, Disney’s Magic Your Way Package with the Dining Plan is a convenient and affordable way to experience many of the unique Disney dining locations found across the Walt Disney World Resort. The additional cost (on top of a regular Magic Your Way package) is $39.99 per night per adult or junior (ages 10-17), $10.99 per night for children (ages 3-9).

*

One table service or buffet meal – includes entrée, dessert (at lunch & dinner) or juice (at breakfast), or full buffet, plus non-alcoholic beverage and tax (gratuity not included)
*

One quick service meal – includes entrée, dessert (at lunch & dinner) or juice (at breakfast) plus non-alcoholic beverage, OR combo meal plus non-alcoholic beverage or juice (at breakfast) OR combo meal plus dessert and non-alcoholic beverage (at lunch and dinner)
*

One snack from a wide variety of options

Quick Service Dining:
Available starting 1/11/09, only with vacation packages that include accommodations at a Disney-owned-and-operated hotel plus at least a 1-day theme park ticket per person, Disney’s Magic Your Way Package with the Quick Service Dining Plan includes counter service meals and snacks at most quick service dining locations found across the Walt Disney World Resort. The additional cost (on top of a regular Magic Your Way package) is $29.99 per night per adult or junior (ages 10-17), $8.99 per night for children (ages 3-9).
*

Two quick service meals – includes entrée, dessert (at lunch & dinner) or juice (at breakfast) plus non-alcoholic beverage, OR combo meal plus plus non-alcoholic beverage or juice (at breakfast) OR combo meal plus dessert and non-alcoholic beverage (at lunch and dinner)
* Two snacks from a wide variety of options

Plus:

* One Resort refillable drink mug per person, per package (eligible for refills at quick service locations only in your Disney Resort hotel)

 

[Sandisw]

Okay, I think I am using the wrong numbers!
Where can I find the actual prices of the dining plans?
I am looking at the disneyworld.com site, and trying to figure it out, and i hate that they won't just tell you how much it is.

Here is a site that has the information:

http://www.plan-a-magical-vacation.com/disney-world-dining.html

Good luck!!!

 

[bonybroad]

I think I see where my error is...
I am thinking it is $74 per person, but it is $74 for all four of us.
Sorry, brain dead.
Maybe I won't rule out the QSDP.
I still don't think I will do the full DDP. Too much planning for this brain dead gal!

 

[Dipstick]

An adult table service at a character buffet dinner (or Le Cellier for example) with holiday surcharge and tax can run well over $30

On the regular DDP, the real savings is for the kids at the character buffets...if you eat at a character buffet, their plan has paid for itself plus you still have snack and counter service

I forgot to included taxes...what is the tax rate in the state of Florida? I worked out the plan to be worth it if you include the desserts, and beverages plus tax...normally though I wouldn't order a dessert with my meal because the meal itself can be filling.

I guess it is worth it...

 

[Dustmouse]

Also, in June, if you eat at any character buffets, there will be "holiday" surcharges.

Why would there be holiday surcharges in June?

 

[Colleen27]

Why would there be holiday surcharges in June?

It is summer/peak season. From around Memorial Day until shortly after Independance Day, holiday pricing is in effect, same as around Christmas and Easter. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining.htm#season

 

[TammyLynn33]

With us its not so much Cost as it is knowing its pre-paid...